Patek Philippe online sales have not kicked in the crisis, and 3 other key takeaways from Eric Ku’s lecture for the HSNY
With the ongoing pandemic, everything and everyone has had to adopt new means and methods of connecting and gathering. Each month the Horological Society of New York – who recently visited Melbourne to give watchmaking classes – would have in-person lectures that take a deep dive into the fascinating world of horology and the watch industry as a whole. Back in September, the first-ever virtual lecture was held and featured none other than vintage watch collector and dealer Eric Ku. The idea driving the lecture was “Collecting Watches in the Time of COVID-19”, and, over the course of a little more than an hour, Eric dropped some serious wisdom on viewers such as myself. While I encourage you to watch the lecture in full (when made available to the public), here are four key takeaways I had from the brilliant discussion and its Q&A. Patek Philippe and Rolex are proof the boutique model isn’t going away – at least for the most powerful brands While Eric acknowledges it would take a crystal ball to predict the future with certainty, one thing he did mention that allows me to safely infer the above was when he outlined Patek Philippe’s online sales.…
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For us, there was only one effective way to rate and review the luxurious Seiko Challenger diver, the $9995AUD Seiko Prospex SLA037J1, a re-creation of Seiko’s first dive watch, the 62MAS, launched in 1965. And that was to put it up against a brand nobody baulks at spending that kind of money for a diver: Omega with their Seamaster 300 Co-Axial vintage. Once put in the ring, we let them duke it out, spec for spec. And the verdict? I concluded that some will no doubt be attracted to what might be the very pinnacle of Seiko’s dive range, and an entirely new paradigm for quality within the brand collections. Others, of course, will consider that there are too many other options at that price point. Me, I’m in the former camp. The SLA037J1, limited to 1100 pieces, is the very realisation of 62MAS-inspired divers, and comes at the perfect size, under 40mm. The only issue I could muster is the Grand Seiko vibe it emanates. Surely that is pure bliss? Well, yes and no. The finish is so perfect in every sense, with the slight bevel at the end of a lug so pristine that I would compare it to…
The WMB came out in 2019 as an unusual and strong contender from the newly formed French microbrand Serica, through an idea from the only American on the team, author of A Man & His Watch, Matt Hranek. Inspired by the iconic Wrist Watch Waterproof of the armed forces, a tough-looking everyday tool watch with optional dial colours and hands, it hit a perfect note within the horological community. Covered in Nick Kenyon’s story here, where Nick went as far as calling it the revival of the good, affordable watch. Well, I think he might have been right, and here is the new and sharpened second version, the Serica 4512. This time the military field watch monochromatic charm is still ever-present, but distilled – and with a superb vintage bracelet as standard. The feel is one of a small, bulletproof tool, but with a certain je ne sais quoi (indefinable, ed.) that makes it fit for everything from rambling through the woods to brushed off and elegant under a sharp shirt cuff. Unlike many microbrands that naturally enough haven’t got 40 staff on research and design, Serica hit the nail on the head with the all-important proportions first time out.…
Editor’s pick: The Norm Smith Medal is awarded to the best player in an Australian Rules Football Grand Final. If you win one, you’re all but guaranteed sports legend status for life. If you win two, you’re one of the game’s all-time greats. It’s unlikely you’ll ever have to buy yourself a beer in a bar again. If you win three, you’re a man called Dustin Martin. ‘Dusty’ was the difference in the Tigers win over the Cats on Saturday night, and we’re imagining there’s been plenty of talk over at Kennedy, an Australian jeweller and watch retailer, where he was the face of a campaign in 2020. We won’t be surprised when he once again graces city billboards and ad-banners draped in more Panerai and IWC. Congratulations to Dustin and the Tiges on an epic win. Now, let’s read again about how Kennedy working with sporting ambassadors, as opposed to models, is a good thing. Luxury brands invariably dangle a world of mahogany-panelled exclusivity. Viewed through the prism of their marketing, life is presented as a stately whirl of weekend polo, yachts and vintage convertibles. Access is restricted by a velvet rope and the relative depth of your wallet. But…