The crazy tale of the pimp, the ransom and the lost F.P Journe watch worth $100,000
Talk about a conversation piece. The loss and eventual return, against all odds, of a F.P Journe Centigraphe S, now worth $100,000 USD, was a tale that made my jaw drop. Particularly given it involved a pimp, a ransom and a desperate chase to be reunited with this watch of a lifetime. The man at the centre of this wild story was my good friend Leonardo, aka @yachtleo, a Boston collector who first shared this story through his private Instagram account. Below, Leonardo gives Time+Tide the whole story. The tale unfolds “Two years ago, one fateful summer day, I was sitting in the relatively empty First Class carriage of an Amtrak Express train going from New York to my Boston home after spending a nice weekend in the Big Apple visiting friends. It wasn’t unusual for me to take this three-hour fast train ride several times a year – it’s faster than flying and drops you off in the middle of Manhattan. “It also wasn’t unusual for me to take my backpack and one or two watches with me on the visit. Wristwatches have long been a source of pleasure for me ever since falling in love with my father’s…
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Times are changing and for the better. For the ladies’ watch category, the marketplace has traditionally taken the course of shrink it, pink it and bling it. We too often used to see watches utilising quartz movements, not that there’s necessarily anything wrong with quartz, but the assumption seemed to be that women were not interested in a mechanical option as well. The Patek Philippe Twenty-4 collection has greatly evolved since its introduction in 1999, introducing an automatic segment in 2018 to compliment the quartz configurations. Today, the Patek Philippe Twenty-4 welcomes three new references to the lineup, two of which are automatic and one watch in steel with an olive green sunburst dial that will likely make men wish the Twenty-4 collection was designed specially for them. Patek Philippe Twenty-4 Automatic in steel & rose gold The Patek Philippe Twenty-Four Automatic is, to an extent, like a smaller version of the Pilot Calatrava New York Exhibition Limited Edition but with a date aperture at 6 o’clock. It has a conventional circular case and a dial with applied Arabic numerals to designate each hour. The polished cases are 36mm in diameter and 10.15mm thick from the sapphire crystal of the…
Value is a key buzzword in the watch world. Considering this is a luxury industry, any proposition that poses an opportunity to get more than you paid for inspires awe and intrigue from buyers worldwide – and rightfully so. At the same time, Rolex can be a challenging brand for new consumers. The ability to buy one at retail rarely occurs for those without extensive purchase history, while the secondhand premiums are often fairly daunting. I won’t deny Rolex watches are incredible – I absolutely love my Submariner. But Wilsdorf sibling brand Tudor now offers pretty much everything Rolex brings to the table, sometimes even surpassing the technology found from “the crown”. The Tudor Pelagos Blue Dial is a great example of the success the brand can have when they push past the boundaries that big brother restricts itself to. The case Rolex may have titanium casebacks on particular Sea Dweller models, but they have never produced a watch entirely in the lightweight metal. Tudor’s tagline is “Born to Dare” and they live up to the slogan fabricating the Tudor Pelagos Blue Dial in a titanium case. Measuring up at 42mm in diameter, 14.3mm thick, and 50mm lug to lug…
Whether you are Darth Vader’s distant cousin or just enjoy the stealthy look of a ninja assassin, let us tempt you to the dark side. NOW, Time+Tide’s Watch Buying Guide, reviewed almost 200 of the best new releases from the last 12 months and among them were some real black beauties. From lume-infested diving watches to a flying tourbillon from Louis Vuitton that’ll inspire you to blow your budget (or possibly sell your house), the only real question is what’s your preferred shade of black when it comes to your wrist? Zenith DEFY El Primero 21 Carl Cox Edition The Zenith DEFY gets a futuristic remix in carbon fibre courtesy of the legendary Carl Cox. The chronograph sub dials reflect the superstar DJ’s status as the “three-deck-wizard” with the running seconds dial neatly fashioned to look like a spinning 12” record. To help with visibility in dark and sweaty clubs meanwhile, the bezel has luminous material within the composite, and even the stitching on the strap is infused with Super-Luminova to make sure you never miss a beat. Price: $28,200 AUD Bell&Ross BR 03-92 Diver Full Lume Bell & Ross has made the Square Diver their own – and this…
The vintage vibe already seems strong this year as we clearly see in new releases from Big Box brands and microbrands alike. So what’s happened to the modern, rugged sports chronograph, a staple of any decent watch collection? Well, have a look at the Sirrush Corbetti. Here’s a microbrand debut that just might possess that tool toughness you’re looking for in a solid everyday sports watch with popping fresh details and a Swiss movement. We do love a good sports chronograph and, yes, some of us do actually use them for timing – even if Powerpoint presentations and boiling eggs aren’t quite as glamorous as fast laps around the Le Mans circuit. Nevertheless, we potentially could use them for such adventurous pursuits at least, and that’s the feeling we’re after. While most of the world is still reeling from the effects of the pandemic and workplace lockdowns, we need inspiration and that’s where the Sirrush Corbetti comes in. With a sharp Nordic design, inspired by the world of supercars, it’s a fresh look at the sports chronograph. With its Mediterranean name and strong motorsports connotations, let the daydreams commence! And yes, you’ll have to learn how to use a tachymetre…
Well, Conor McGregor is already at it again. In the wake of two bold Jacob & Co. acquisitions, the UFC superstar has now added some more bling to his collection – only this time he went with a classic 36mm yellow gold Rolex Day-Date ref. 128348RBR with a green ombré dial with diamond markers and diamonds set into the bezel and centre links of the presidential bracelet. McGregor is no stranger to Rolex watches. He has added many pieces from the crown to his collection already, but two things about this latest acquisition deviate from his normal taste and preferences. First, he’s previously opted for larger case sizes. Most, if not all, what he has previously been photographed wearing are at least 40mm in diameter (i.e the Daytona, Sky-Dweller, Day-Date 40, Yachmaster II etc). Secondly, while by no means his first diamond set watch, it would seem this is the first diamond-set Rolex watch to enter his collection. He has been pictured with diamond-encrusted Franck Mueller, Audemars Piguet, and most recently his two new Jacob & Co. watches, but today he adds Rolex to the list. Unfortunately we cannot share the price of the watch, as any number would be…
Valentine’s Day is nigh and it’s time to start hinting you want cupid’s clock as well as his arrow. But as some of us know all too well, some partners are easier to convince then others – especially if they’re not every bit the watch enthusiast that you are. Watches are also regrettably expensive which, particularly in these chaotic times, can be quite a deterrent. But what if you could share your next watch purchase? Would that make a new addition more feasible? To get you started, here’s a list of six Valentine’s Day watches, all 36mm in diameter, you can happily share with your partner. Tudor Black Bay 36 The Tudor Black Bay 36 is held by many watch enthusiasts as the Rolex Explorer alternative. It’s not so much that it is an homage – absolutely not the case – but that it also a great 36mm diameter watch. In fact, it actually has more to offer in some ways with greater dial colour variety, greater water resistance at 150 metres and, last but certainly not least, this snowflake-handed watch is less than half the price. Price: $2,950 USD. Breitling Superocean Automatic 36 The Breitling Superocean Automatic 36…
Last year was a year of many firsts. It was the first time I worked from home for months in a row. It was the first time I wore a mask every time I left the house. And it was the first time that a regular production G-Shock collection started selling above it’s recommended retail price on the secondary market. I am, of course, talking about the Casio G-Shock GA2100-1A ‘CasiOak’ collection, that sent the watch community into a passionate frenzy. So why is this new collection from G-Shock so damn popular? It boils down to a couple of things in my mind. Firstly, its nickname is in reference to a particularly desirable Swiss luxury mechanical sports watch, which rhymes with “joyful hope” (Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oak in case you’re still wondering). This is a particularly good example of one of my favourite phrases “high fashion, low rent” where, through a kind of cultural subversion, you get access to an otherwise off-limits category but in an obviously tongue-in-cheek way. If Swatch made a time-only wristwatch that reminded you of a Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711 without looking like a straight-up homage, I’d imagine it would be similarly popular. Secondly, it’s just…
When it comes to being in the middle of nature, surrounded by water, land or sheep, all you need from a watch – durability aside – is the time. Simple and uncomplicated, it’s why the field watch remains the timepiece of choice for casual watch wearers with a sense of adventure. With that in mind, Mike Christensen took the latest Farer Field Watch collection out for some winter waves and fresh air down on England’s Jurassic Coast, to see how it fared. The elements, the seasons, the warmth, the cold, the skies, the terrain, the rain, the snow, the wind, the sun. The browns, the greens, the silvers, the blues, the whites, the yellows. The air, the space, the depths, the hills, the oceans, the woods, the leaves, the wilderness. The touches, the smells, the sights, the noises, the silence, the tastes, the thirst, the hunger, the senses. The rest, the thinking time, the freedom, the serenity. Beyond the realities of parenthood and work, can you tell I am a bit of an outdoorsy person? I was brought up to thrive in the great outdoors – climbing trees, digging holes, exploring woods and jumping into the lakes, rivers and oceans…
Yes, maybe you use your watch mostly to tell the time. But how about the joys of using a good old chronograph to time your bike ride to the shops. Or flying into another time zone with a GMT on your wrist (it will happen again one day). Let’s tempt you with the best value watch complications taken from our NOW magazine watch buying guide. After all, time-only watches are all well and good, but sometimes a bit of extra functionality doesn’t hurt. Dan Henry 1937 Dress Chrono Dan Henry is possibly the world’s most generous watch collector, sharing his collection of incredibly rare and sought-after pieces in the form of his own eponymous microbrand. The 1937 Dress Chronograph, available in four different colour and dial configurations, is inspired by a range of art-deco examples from the 1930s. Keeping classic-friendly dimensions at 38mm, the watch also has the wallet-friendly VK61 mecha-quartz Seiko movement. Price: $375 USD Baltic Bicompax 002 Vintage-inspired and value-driven, this is a chronograph with a classic and compact design. Setting the tone, the high domed acrylic crystal and case echo distinct 1940’s vibes. Inside, the handsome sector dial showcases two distinct finishings, the outer chapter ring is…