8 of the best dress watches of 2020 over $10K, featuring Grand Seiko, Cartier and Jaeger-LeCoultre
Dress watches are the epitome of traditional horology. I know, sports watches are trendy and consume a large portion of the conversation – but there is something, whether tangible or intangible, that dress watches provide that a sports watch simply cannot and never will. They may not be your daily wearer, you certainly won’t take a dress watch to the beach. But for those crucial moments, whether a wedding or a job interview, the formal dress watch provides a certain kind of gentlemanly confidence boost that you just can’t find in professional tool watches. When I go out into the world as Zach Blass, I wear my Black Bay Fifty-Eight – but in those moments when I need to be Mr Zachary B. Blass, only a dress watch such as my Lange 1815 Up/Down 221.021 can truly elevate me to the task at hand. While they do not always get as much time in the spotlight as they deserve, let’s take a look at eight of the best dress watches of 2020 over $10K. Piaget Altiplano Ultimate Concept I have to confess I have a bit of a bias here, as once upon a time I did work for…
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Editor’s note: Before you ask, yes we have a date. April 2, 2021. It ain’t exactly days away, but at least we know how long the advent calendar has to be. A fair bit of chocolate is the upside. We are happy to report that one of the largest entertainment-related casualties of the pandemic, the delay of Daniel Craig’s last outing as James Bond in No Time to Die, can at least have closure with a release date. The anticipation factor being this high not unusual. Bond films have been eagerly anticipated pieces of cinema for the last 50 years, causing great buzz and excitement when they are announced. For watch enthusiasts though, it doesn’t mean there is only a new movie to watch – it means a new Bond watch to lust and drool after. From Rolex, Seiko, Hamilton, and most recently Omega, actors who have taken on the role of 007 have always had some spectacular timepieces on their wrists. For the first time however, a Bond actor has actually had a role in the design of the watch worn in a film, with Daniel Craig playing an advisory role in creating the last watch he will wear as…
Earlier this week, we shared our thoughts on phrases we are completely guilty of using at times, but wondered if it would be best to retire them. We’re not declaring right or wrong here, but rather just initiating a bit of a thought experiment and evaluating what effect our cultural rhetoric (so to speak) has on our industry and collecting community. It is no secret that tastes have homogenised quite a bit, and a case could be made that our common vernacular is one of the roots of the problem. Arguably, it creates a code of buyer conduct – rules that dictate our purchase decisions and remove independent thought from the equation. Worse still, it engenders yet more snobbery in a pastime that already has a bad rep for being, for lack of a better phrase, up itself and not as inclusive as, say, model trains. We put the question to you, the readers, and now present #shitcollectorssay: the Reader Choice Edition. A quick note that some reader responses were purely words and phrases some find objectionable: “timepiece”, “in-house”, “lightplay” for example, and even overused adjectives such as “stunning”. Thanks to all for getting involved, and answering the call. Giving…
This week, in an unusual move from the obsessive tool laboratory of Sinn Spezialuhren (yes, Special Watches — only tools and instruments may apply), comes a glittery fresh take on the social media and forum hive-mind favourite, the 41mm Sinn 103 pilot’s chronograph. In the Sinn 103 Sa G version they have taken what is a very compact and Leica-quality like monochromatic pilot’s watch and added colour. And what that intense sparkly green has done is transform this serious tool into a delicious piece of wrist candy. Metallic green sparkles in the sun and adds a delightful twist to a superb piece of ergonomic German engineering. If that wasn’t enough, it is also the debut of a Concepto movement in place of the ETA-based Valjoux 7750. More on that later. The venerable 103 has been a staple of the Sinn portfolio for many years. It is testament to both German engineering and the bulletproof nature of the Valjoux 7750 that you’ll find pre-loved, banged up ones still holding their value and soldiering on with close to COSC-accurate hearts. The detailing is classic ’50s pilot’s watch, without a single applied index in sight, and a purist vision of aviation wristwear. While you can…
Over the last few years we’ve seen lots of brands turn to their archives as inspiration for new watches. Heritage is very, very popular. But what if you don’t have a century or more of archives to dig through in search of exciting designs? What if your brand was only founded in 1980? For Hublot, celebrating their 40th anniversary this year, that hasn’t been a problem. Perhaps thanks to having such a legendary innovator as Jean-Claude Biver at the helm for so many years has seen that philosophy ingrained into the very fibre of the brand. Innovation has been at the core of what Hublot has done for a long time. From their R&D sharing partnerships with brands like Ferrari, to their pioneering approach to new watchmaking materials, Hublot hasn’t looked back because they’ve been too busy moving forwards. In the year of their 40th anniversary, Hublot hasn’t wavered, releasing a number of novelties that explore new concepts, materials and movements. With that in mind, these are a few of the best Hublot watches of 2020 that offer a capsule insight into what the brand is capable of four decades into their journey. Prices and availabilities: The Hublot Big Bang…
