On Monday, Patek Philippe canceled its 2020 new product launches. There’s no point generating sales buzz for new watches the shuttered company can’t make. Does this mark the beginning of the end for our New Watch Alert? Maybe. Anyway, we’re not there yet. We’re here, with this week’s cream of the crop . . .
New York Times writer flags the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore, A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1, Vianney Halter Antiqua, F.P. Journe Chronomètre à Résonance, Richard Mille RM 001, Ulysse Nardin Freak, Urwerk UR-103, MB&F HM4, Bulgari Octo Finissimo Tourbillon and the Apple Watch. As they say on Sesame Street . . .
Aesthetics are subjective, but the following five watches are drop-dead gorgeous. (Click here for Ugly Watch Parade.) Of course, you may not agree. That’s the advantage of subjectivity – to each their own. I, for one, would love owning one or preferably all these beautiful watches. Here are 2020’s most attractive-looking watch designs (so far).
Posting a Gruen ad based on bombing Tokyo probably won’t endear me to Grand Seiko’s PR department. Never mind. I do so to point out that this country has faced greater threats than Coronageddon (Dust Bowl ad next week). Survivors will emerge smarter and, in many ways, better. Meanwhile, the New Watch Alert remains spoiled for choice. But choose I did . . .
The Audemars Piguet [Re]master01 Selfwinding Chronograph comes hot on the heels of their Code 11.59 – the Swiss watchmaker’s failed attempt to move away from its dependence on the Royal Oak. To move the metal, AP’s gone back to its roots, launching a new watch based on their 1941 chronograph, reference 1533. “Gone back” as in retreated? Well . . .