The end of 2021 is near and we’ve shared some interesting watch posts with you, despite the difficulties this year has brought all of us again. So with that in mind, we thought we’d recap on some of our favourite watch posts of 2021. 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 2022. Thanks to all of our readers and followers, who took the time out to read, comment and share our posts – see you in 2022!
SEAN’S LOVE LETTER TO THE CARTIER TANK CINTRÉE
Everybody who’s anybody knows, that in recent times, Cartier has been the watch world’s worst kept secret. For years, most collectors didn’t even care about the brand, considering it more of a mainstream jeweller more than a true horological name. In fact, while it is only today that Cartier is beginning to get its recognition as a true watchmaking house underpinned by unique design, they have been trying to shift the public perception of them for a long time.
THE ROLEX COSMOGRAPH DAYTONAS WITH METEORITE DIALS
We’ve covered the Rolex Daytona quite a lot here over the past years and with ever year that goes by, enthusiasts try to guess what Rolex will do with the Daytona and if they will ever release something more akin to the 6263. Five years ago, Rolex introduced a Daytona that many had anticipated: A Daytona with a Cerachrom bezel. Ever since the Daytona 6240, 6241 and ultimately the 6263 that sported the ever fragile but seemingly downright cool, acrylic black bezel – Rolex owners had been crying out for something similar on Rolex latest Daytona. Alas, that call had been heeded and Daytona collectors could now rest easy – or so we thought.
THE ROLEX OYSTER PERPETUAL EXPLORER 36MM
Rolex always like to improve upon what has come before and if I’m honest, the latest upgrade to the Explorer was perhaps needed for better or worse. Just last week we reported one of our favourite articles on the Explorer reference 1016, which not had iconic status but longevity too. The Explorer has been around since the 1950’s and for the greater part of 3 decades, remained unchanged.
THE PIAGET POLO SKELETON
The last few of years have been rather intriguing for steel sports watches. Unless you’ve been living under a rock in some distant far away land, then you’ll know that even getting a hold of a Nautilus (now discontinued but watch this space) or Royal Oak Jumbo is nigh on impossible. Steel sports watches with integrated bracelets from pretty much any high-end watch brand is hot topic these days. Over the past few years, watch brands not ordinarily associated with said timepieces, have started to introduce their own interpretation of steel watches with integrated bracelets. I distinctly remember in 2016 when Piaget introduced a reinterpretation of their Polo sports watch, watch enthusiasts weren’t so quick to warmly welcome it back. It was met with snide remarks about how similar it looked to the aforementioned Nautilus. However, I think this latest release with a skeleton dial has completely transformed it.
THE TUDOR BLACK BAY FIFTY-EIGHT 18K
Previous Black Bay models have maintained the link to previous Tudor diving watches with nice little historical nods through visual elements but perhaps the biggest differentiator has always been the size of the cases, sized at a very modern 41mm. This new Black Bay Fifty-Eight 18K is aptly named after the year in which the first Tudor divers’ watch, waterproof to 200 metres, the reference 7924, dubbed the “Big Crown”, was introduced. However, the 18K part of the name points towards the use of case material.
THE TUDOR BLACK BAY FIFTY-EIGHT BRONZE
In the past I’ve been somewhat, impartial to bronze timepieces and the Black Bay Bronze was no different. I neither love them or loathe them but some clearly work better than others. There’s no denying the Black Bay Bronze is a big watch, coming in at a size of 43mm in diameter but it’s still clearly wearable. Perhaps, what I have liked most is that Tudor have taken this unusual case material and made it seriously cool. To be honest, Tudor’s bronze Black Bay’s never really excited me before but now there is this Black Bay 58 Bronze, which in my humble opinion is a game-changer.
THE ZENITH EL PRIMERO CHRONOMASTER REVIVAL REF. A3817
Zenith has been on a bit of a roll lately with their re-editions and not too long ago they introduced one of their latest re-edition timepieces and luckily for us, we were able to get our hands on an example to get up close and personal to see if this recreated El Primero was all we expected it to be?
THE PATEK PHILIPPE NAUTILUS REF. 5711/1A-014
In the last few years, the watch community has seen a huge shift in the way we find and purchase watches. Traditionally of course, like anything else, one would simply walk into a watch retailer of a brand that we like, find the model that we want, buy it, and leave happily. That sadly cannot be said these days as the increase in people buying on the used markets from dealers like me is largely to do with the impossibility of buying a new watch from a retailer. Today, while there are plenty of other watches that you can still buy new, if someone wants a watch that is popular such a Rolex sport model, Audemars Piguet Royal Oak or of course, a Patek Philippe Nautilus, ‘dream on’ would be the first words that comes to mind. It is not that the waitlist is long, as patience will get you nothing, it’s that in order to qualify to buy these pieces, you have to do a song and dance for your retailer, jump through hoops and buy many other watches from them that are slow movers and generally undesirable.
THE AUDEMARS PIGUET EXTRA-THIN ‘JUMBO’ ROYAL OAK 15202PT
I feel like many of you who have previous posts from us perhaps know that green is one of our favourite colours and if you’ve been keeping a tab on the watch industry – then you’ll know that green dials are a running theme for 2021. Audemars Piguet are well-known for their fine watch making but if there is one timepiece that they’ve become famous for, it would undoubtedly be the Royal Oak. For better or worse, the RO will always be a staple of the AP collection and recently we managed to get our hands on one of the, arguably, the most love it of loathe it Royal Oaks of 2021. We’ve seen many iterations of the Royal Oak over the past few years, but I think it safe to safe this is one not only looks cool but has a stealth-like quality to it.
THE TUDOR PELAGOS FXD
Every time we looked at a new watch from Tudor this year, we couldn’t help but think how they just keep making great watch, after great watch and to be honest, they done the same again with their last release of 2021. We’ve had a good look at the Pelagos in the past and noted it is a rather faithful wrist companion that had loads to offer. Tudor even released a left-handed Pelagos to further strength the range. Since Tudors re-emergence, they experienced quite a lot of success by releasing vintage-inspired timepieces and it would appear they’ve dug into their archives once again to conjure up the latest offering, which not looks the part but is the part too.
WISHING YOU ALL A HAPPY NEW YEAR AND A FANTASTIC 2022!
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