The end of 2019 is nigh and we’ve shared some interesting watch posts with you. So with that in mind, we thought we’d recap on some of our favourite watch posts of 2019. We’ve admired, written about and even had our hands-on some very exquisite timepieces from some of the worlds most renowned watch brands. We hope to bring you more of the same stuff in 2020. Thanks to all of our readers and followers, who took the time out to read, comment and share our posts – see you in 2020!
TUDOR BLACK BAY P01
Part of the resurgence of the Tudor brand in recent times has been largely due to their reliance on their historical models, creating reissues and building upon their roots to provide watches that have been hugely successful. Anything for the myriad of Black Bays, inspired by their Submariners of the past to the Monte Carlo reissues, this recipe has worked brilliantly. So not done with drawing from their past, this year at Basel, Tudor did something slightly different and reissued a watch that was never in production- the Tudor Black Bay P01
LOVE LETTER TO THE ROLEX DAY-DATE
The Rolex Day Date: I will admit, I found it quite hard to decide where to begin for such a conflicted watch. Iconic, yet forgotten in this day and age. I am writing this article in an attempt to revive and pay my respects, to what is in my opinion, Rolex’s most underrated watch.
VACHERON CONSTANTIN OVERSEAS QP ULTRA-THIN
Having a sports watch with an integrated bracelet was all the rage back in the 1970s. Having a steel sports watch that not only looked the part but was also a tool watch that would accompany you through pretty much everything and be your faithful wristwatch companion, was essential. The Royal Oak, designed by one Gerald Genta, was AP’s answer to this conundrum. Patek Philippe had theirs in the form of the Nautilus (also design by Mr. Genta) and Vacheron Constantin had what was called at the time, the ‘222’ (design by a young Jorg Hysek), which marked the brands 222th anniversary. It would later evolve into the Overseas via the 333 and Phidias. Back in January at SIHH, Vacheron introduced a new solid 18-carat rose-gold Overseas Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin.
A. LANGE & SÖHNE DATOGRAPH PERPETUAL TOURBILLON
The Lange 1 is being thoroughly celebrated this year but recently, we managed to get our hands on the Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon from this year’s SIHH. As mentioned previously, this watch is nothing new but what Lange have done is taken, arguably, one of their most recent sought-after complicated wristwatches and added a touch of distinction. When we first saw the Datograph Perpetual Calendar in 2016 it came exclusively in platinum and featured a black dial, however, this 2019 version features a white-gold case and perhaps one of the only colour dials in the world that makes me salivate: salmon.
THE ROLEX EXPLORER 1016
The Explorer is perhaps one of the most underrated watches from the Rolex sports range line-up, but this doesn’t diminish its notable feats. The humble and diminutive 36mm wristwatch that is easily distinguished, even from afar, by its iconic 3-6-9 dial is an everlasting constant. As you are likely aware, Rolex is one of the biggest brands in the world, if not the biggest and their constant involvement in exploration and numerous projects to put their wristwatches to the test, are too often forgotten. Like many of the watches that they’ve designed over the past decades, including those that have come and gone, Rolex emphasis has always been on reliability, quality and value and no other watch makes this statement more poignant than the Explorer – which has been in production since 1953.
AUDEMARS PIGUET ROYAL OAK EXTRA-THIN 15202BC
This year marked the birth of the CODE 11:59 for Audemars Piguet, which has received plenty of mixed opinions. While I understand that AP have to look to the future and broaden their horizons, the Royal Oak will always be a staple of their collection and just a few weeks ago we managed to get our hands on one of the, arguably, most sought-after 2019 novelties. We’ve seen many salmon dials in the past and while some have also bestowed this characteristic upon this example, I think you’ll see it is anything but salmon, I’d even go as far to say it has more of a gold hue, with just the slightest hint of pink.
MARLON BRANDO’S ROLEX GMT-MASTER
For the final leg of this year’s auction season, we head to New York where Phillips will be hosting their thematic ‘Game Changers’ auction, which bar a few watches, sits on the slightly vague side. Whereas they’ve had more obvious ones like the previous double stamped auction in Geneva, the term ‘Game Changer’ is used liberally and applies to watches that were owned by prominent Americans and also watch models in general that have been influential.
TUDOR BLACK BAY 58
Last year, Tudor introduced arguably their best vintage inspired watch in the Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight. While 2018 was the year of the GMT and the watch people couldn’t stop talking about, the BB58 was a nod to the past but done with Tudor panache.
BLANCPAIN AIR COMMAND
The trend of re-editions is vogue these days, however, this is something Blancpain have been doing for some time- I guess you could say they’ve been ahead of the game for quite a while. The Fifty Fathoms has been part of the Blancpain range for many years; based on the original 1953 first full-purpose legendary dive watch. In 2019, Blancpain re-introduced another one of their past legends: the Air Command.
GLASHÜTTE ORIGINAL SEAQ
Earlier in the year The Swatch Group revealed some novelties for 2019 and among the pieces introduced, a vintage-inspired watch from Glashütte Original piqued our interest. It’s not often that a watch manufacturer from the green, rolling hills of Glashütte introduces a vintage-inspired timepiece, simply because not many of them have continuously been around that long. But reaching into the archives is something that Glashütte Original can do and in doing so have recreated the SeaQ, which is part of their new range called “Spezialist”.
WISHING YOU ALL A HAPPY NEW YEAR AND A FANTASTIC 2020!
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