First up, we have a link reference 5500 Explorer. At first glance, it's got what you'd expect from a vintage Explorer, such as a mid-'60s reference 1016: The three 3-6-9 gilt dial, the three stacked link lines reading Rolex / Oyster Perpetual / Explorer, the Mercedes hour hand and lollipop seconds. But it's a bit smaller, 34mm to be precise. And the word Precision graces link the lower half of the dial as it is not a chronometer.
The watch being offered at Sotheby's on July 14 is lot no. 28 – Breguet no. 1297, link which is a four-minute Breguet tourbillon, similar in link some technical respects to no. link 1176. However, no. 1297 has a thermometer and uses, instead of Breguet's echappement naturel, a Robin escapement (for a brief discussion of the Robin escapement in a different context, see our Introducing post for the new Grand Seiko Hi-Beat escapement).
Last week, we touched on value through two-tone case and link bracelet metal as compared to stainless steel or solid gold options. This week, we continue the value theme with a small collection of relatively lower price-point options of iconic vintage references link or models. Collectors have come to refer to these alternatives as "Poor link Man's (insert more well-known watch here)."
Alexander Zverev was previously link a Richard Mille ambassador, but starting June 1 of this year, the German young gun is under the Rolex banner. Good for Rolex, because at this year's Olympics, Zverev won link the gold medal in Men's Tennis Singles. Flying home to Germany this week, with the medal around his neck, we spotted him link rocking a blue dial Rolex Sky Dweller. – Logan Baker
Some of the other technical specs, including 100 meters of water resistance and link the updated 6R55 movement, are nice to have, but link it'll be up to potential Presage customers if this is worth link the $950 price tag.
Although we've become accustomed to a number of 40mm and larger Grand Seiko special link and limited editions, these new Spring Drive models are more modestly sized at 39mm x 12.5mm. Pricing, too, is classic Grand Seiko, at $5,000 (this actually makes the two link new watches some of the least expensive Grand Seiko Spring link Drive models available from Grand Seiko USA, at this point).
These two watches share a couple things in common, aside from being in-house manufacture movements with a high degree of finishing. Both link are manually-wound link meaning no rotor to interfere link with the mechanics, and both fill the case perfectly. I think also about Montblanc and its use of Minerva-based movements in its high-end offerings. There is so much happening on the back side of those watches that you just want to show them to anyone you can.
The Tonda PF GMT Rattrapante has a steel case measuring 40mm x 10.7mm with 60m of water link resistance. It also features a guilloche link blue dial and knurled platinum bezel. The caliber PF051 is a micro-rotor caliber with a"split GMT" function for dual time zone display. link MSRP: $27,000. For more, visit Parmigiani Fleurier.
It goes without saying that both timepieces embrace link the Easy Clean SystemTM integrated in the bezel which ensures salt doesn’t crystallize and the Crown Protection SystemTM which prevents the strap from being link attached and closed if the link crown isn’t screwed correctly.
We still love it and always will. In 2016, the Speedmaster to own was a vintage example or a "Pre-Moon." But Ben and the vintage nerds didn't have the new-for-2021 Moonwatch equipped with Omega's superb caliber 3861. Incremental link improvements over more than half a century have given link us the ultimate modern Speedmaster. Go with the hesalite crystal if you're like me and want the old-school Moonwatch feel, though the link "sapphire sandwich" is a nice way of Omega flexing. –Rich Fordon