Posts Tagged ‘Precious Metal’
A Very Unique Rolex 1611 Datejust Khanjar
In today’s collector climate, where Rolex buyers obsess over the slightest font alignment of a rail dial, it’s refreshing to find an authentically unique dial. An authentically unique piece, at that. Khanjar or Omani Rolex are their own market with a dedicated following. In recent years, they’ve become more highly sought after. This could be…
Read More1 of 100: A. Lange & Söhne Triple Split
A traditional double rattrapante is a notoriously difficult complication to engineer, assemble, and service. In 2004, Lange introduced a double split that was for many years a king of the genre. Lange are famous for machining and assembling an entire movement only to fully disassemble, check for wear, and finally re-assemble a completed caliber. Most…
Read MorePre-Daytona Rolex 6238 in Yellow Gold
Describing a gold wristwatch as elegance personified would be an incredible pretentious thing to do. And yet, here typing this, I am tempted to. These 6238s, like many early Rolex chronographs, don’t shout with bright colors or oversized lugs. They simply are icons. I’ve written before about the legacy of the Daytona and how the…
Read MoreAn FP Journe Vertical Souverain Tourbillon
Describing technical innovation within a largely antiquated art is a mildly-hilarious thing. However, to properly describe this Journe, that is the task I have been set. The tourbillon is a complication which constantly rotates an escapement to even the effects of gravity on its balance spring. I’d refer you to this article by Breguet if…
Read MoreSymphony in Silicon: Patek Philippe 5550P-001 Advanced Research
This marvel of engineering is one historically significant piece of unobtanium from the great Patek. Never one to rest on laurels, Patek Philippe has been leading the way in mechanical watchmaking innovation for some time. In 2011, their ‘Advanced Research’ division (roughly 70 R&D employees who enjoy an experiment) created the first entirely silicon escapement.…
Read More1 of 15: FP Journe Octa Calendrier in Black Mother of Pearl
Lying deliciously at the intersection of engineering, design, eccentricity, and investment lies this work from Francois-Paul Journe. When a collection begins to get serious, annual or perpetual calendars often make the list. With extreme rarity, engineering provenance, and a five day power-reserve, this particular Octa Calendrier serves its clientele very precisely. One of Journe’s accomplishments in…
Read MorePatek Philippe 5196P Tiffany-Signed Calatrava
Almost all Patek guys would consider the 570 to be the Calatrava. The 570 is an origin to so much of modern watchmaking, what the Stones are to rock. It was the clear inspiration when Patek Philippe decided to return to the simple Breguet-numbered Calatrava in 2004. However, much like the Stones, it’s easy to screw…
Read MoreA. Lange & Söhne Zeitwerk Striking Time
Fair warning, this may devolve to a love letter. I’ll try to remain objective. Today we feature a hardly-worn white gold A. Lange & Söhne Zeitwerk from The Keystone. As a ‘standard’ striking-time Zeitwerk (if there is such a thing) 145.029, it’s not a particularly rare reference. However, it is a perfect one. Without a…
Read MoreGrönefeld 1941 Eight Second Remontoire
I must plead guilty to sleeping when Contrapante introduced this Grönefeld to their inventory; I should have been more attentive. They’ve always kept a staggering inventory and this remontoire is no exception. Leave it to the slightly unhinged Dutch to design a constant power escapement like none other in this Grönefeld 1941 Remontoire. The remontoire…
Read MoreZenith G381 Yellow Gold El Primero
Some intangible thing about the early El Primero references is ultra-desirable. The movement is remarkable, the case is perfectly proportioned, the dial perennially interesting. They came from a time when Zenith was innovating hard with the first automatic chronograph and leaving the rest of the pack to catch up. The pride they clearly had at…
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