Double-breasted suits, phones with cords and mechanical watches – those were the days! These are the days, too. At least for mechanical watches. Despite Coronageddon and the smart watch crisis, there’s little danger of a New Watch Alert drought. Our carefully curated collection of traditional timepieces continues . . .
Over at HoDinkee, our favorite champagne socialist tackles Audemars Piguet’s new pseudo-vintage self-winding chronograph – a watch we condemned as a lazy and cynical attempt to sell unused Code 11.59 movements. Surprise! Stephen Pulvirent has a different take . . .
We all have our “Grail Watch.” You have yours, I have mine: the Patek Philippe Split Seconds Chronograph, Jaeger-Coultre Duomètre Quantième Lunaire and Breguet Répétition Minutes. Any of these would be most welcome on my wrist. But we all know what you really, really want . . .
Jaeger-LeCoultre versus Rolex is an ongoing debate in the watch nerd world. Jaeger-LeCoultre makes nicer watches than Rolex, that’s just a simple fact. Also true: Rolex is a vastly more popular brand. But popularity isn’t always a virtue. In an uncertain world, flying under the radar can be an advantage. JLC is a great way to go . . .
“As serviceable as they are beautiful.” When was that a selling point? For watches I mean. New watch alert! SWATCH’s Sistem51 automatics are sealed – they can’t be serviced. I wonder if anyone could service a Bulova American Clipper. At $425 list, I’m thinking there’s no point. None of this week’s new watches are as disposable, but all require disposable income. Hide your plastic and let’s get stuck in . . .