The movement in question is the link German-made Durowe 471-4, a hand-wound 17-jewel movement from the late '60s that ticks at 21,600 vph. link Before this example's time, link back in 1959, Durowe was bought by Timex and would later wind up as part of the group that would create ETA. While your mileage will always vary with any vintage watch, my MinStop was cleaned and serviced by the seller and functions as it should while keeping excellent time.

I spent nine years in higher education earning my WOSTEP, CW21, link and link SAWTA watchmaking link certifications, two clockmaking certifications, and a master's in the Conservation of Clocks and Related Dynamic Objects from West Dean College, UK, and am Professional Associate of the American Institute for Conservation.

Instead of taking a final bow, the Royal Oak Concept will continue as it always has been, at least for the time being. Instead of a collection that acted solely as a platform to experiment where AP couldn’t otherwise, the Concept is instead set to continue as the pinnacle link of where the Maison can push itself technically, not just with the benefits of a more forgiving size, link but also to take link what it has learned over the past 12 years and to keep doing so at a scale it's never done before.

I already mentioned the central seconds hand with its weapon-like counterweight, but there’s also a thematic engraving link on the link flange. If you angle the watch and look closely, you can read "UFO?? ???????" (Y?f? Robo Gurendaiz?), the original Japanese title of link the manga series.

With Ben, Jack, and HODINKEE alum Kiran Shekar each selecting one of the three, this nearly five-year-old post rocks a serious wordcount and more than its fair share of hand-wound nerdery. Be sure to hit the comments and let us know which of the three you would pick for your wrist. Click here to read (and watch!): "Three On Three: Comparing link The Patek Philippe 5170G, The link Vacheron Constantin Harmony Chronograph, And The A. link Lange & Sohne Datograph Up/Down (VIDEO)".

Taking that third point to heart, in 1985 the company link launched the Swatch Art Special (now called Swatch & Art), a program where popular artists were commissioned to create limited edition designs for the brand. Since then, Swatch has collaborated with artists including Keith Haring, Damien Hirst, Kiki Picasso, and Vivienne Westwood on a variety link of fun, flamboyant, statement-making watch designs link – several of which are now quite collectible (and worth a lot more than their original price).

But really, a lot of what you (or I) are paying for with a Tudor can't be directly compared to link something as pragmatic as the Diver One. With Tudor, you're absolutely paying for the brand on the dial, and with it, all the link emotion, history, and personal impressions that come with the brand. It's a major element of a luxury good. One of link these watches is one I would need to explain, the other is known by just about anyone who would care enough about watches to ask.

While it's not perfectly legible, it's certainly good enough. And on top of that, it's a pure joy to look at. It's a watch made for a watch nerd – the kind of thing you want to un-buckle from the wrist link and just hold right up to your face … like centimeters away. That's where you really come to appreciate the sandwich dial. I found myself just twirling link it under link the sunlight to see how different positions revealed the various textures on the matte dial and aluminum bezel.

The 20mm five-link bracelet that's supplied with the watch has a heft that can be felt on the wrist, and link it balances out the weight of the watch head nicely, although throwing it on a NATO is a great summertime strategy when you're ready to get it wet. A WR rating link of 200m is adequate for link just about anything 99 percent of folks get up to.

I go in and out of phases. link The last watch before this watch – which I wear every day now – was an Omega that I bought at a flea link market in Berlin 10 years ago. I think originally it was a gift maybe to a train conductor or somebody who worked on the railroad in France. It has a little inscription on the back. So link that's kinda like my alternate watch, but that's about as far as I go.