Rockstars rocking vintage watches, Part 3 – Wilsdorf Watches
In this final instalment of the Rockstars Rocking Vintage trilogy, we see two famous musicians go the way of Wilsdorf. He founded both Tudor and Rolex, and here we have spotted two desirable tool watches from the Wilsdorf group on the wrists of two artists from different generations – once again proving that vintage staples are timeless and appreciated by everyone truly initiated in the hobby. Anthony Kiedis – Rolex Explorer II ref. 1655 in stainless steel Recently we showcased celebrities who wear blacked-out Milgauss watches from Rolex, and though Anthony Kiedis was on the list, he has also been spotted wearing other respectable watches – including this Rolex Explorer II ref. 1655 in stainless steel. The original Explorer II model, which introduced the big orange GMT hand, has been affectionately referred to as the “Steve McQueen” or “Freccione” (which means arrow in Italian) and is one of the most widely sought-after Explorer II watches on the market today – fetching respectable numbers at Phillips, Christie’s, and Sotheby’s Auctions. The 39mm watch is so classic and cool, even action star Jason Statham has been continually spotted wearing the reference. Bruce Springsteen – Tudor “Snowflake” Submariner ref. 9411/0 in stainless steel…
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Stainless steel watches have definitely captured the hearts and wallets of collectors, with consumers joining waitlists for desired models and praying they can snag one “at-retail”. The VIP nature of the access, and the level of spend it takes to get in the good graces of dealers, has become so significant it is arguably less expensive to just cough up the premium on the grey market. Still, it can leave a bitter taste in your mouth knowing you’ve paid almost twice as much as the retail price of the watch. It’s just the principle really. But what if you could get your money’s worth without having to give into the infuriating, and enimgatic ecosystem of these hot watches? What if instead, precious metal options were on the table and you could actually save money? Here are three gold sports watches that are cheaper than their steel siblings. Patek Philippe Aquanaut (5167 versus 5066J) The Aquanaut is the most casual line of watches from Patek Philippe. A cousin of the Nautilus, this porthole cushion watch allows the wearer to have the haute mechanical aspects of the brand without the overt flashiness that can come with many haute horology pieces. Paul McCartney,…
It’s fair to say that Andrew has been in the game a little while now. He’s spoken to more than his fair share of weird and wonderful people for Time+Tide, from Hollywood actors and directors, to watch ambassadors and even the man behind the Apple Watch. It takes someone pretty special to raise his heart rate these days. But when he got off a call with Paul de Gelder recently, he was fired up. Seriously fired up. And after hearing what Paul had to say this week, I can see why. Paul is a former navy clearance diver, turned TV show host and is also the incredible survivor of a shark attack in Sydney Harbour. Paul has shared his story to a lot of people as a professional speaker, and 68 people have passed out during his talks – generally when he shows the slide of what a shark did to his arm in those Sydney waters. So, if you’re looking for some inspiration this Friday, or just a remarkable story as you head into the weekend, this is mandatory watching. But I can recommend cracking open a cold beer, or whatever your drink of choice is, because it isn’t…
Editors note: While you might think these uncertain times would lead to a decline in luxury spending, auction houses are still raking in a great deal of money – with collectors assuaging their boredom under lockdown with incredible timepieces that come up for auction. The market for hot vintage watches is still going strong, with even modern in-demand models commanding unexpected premiums. As my colleague Brendan would put it – high-value vintage watches have proven themselves”pandemic-proof“. This reminded me of an article we published some time ago, which explored the hammer prices of celebrity-owned watches, and whether or not the “X factor” they carried translated into greater bids. Since this list was last published, we have seen some historic watches sold at auction. Let’s check in on just how much their celebrity status impacted their sales. Marlon Brando – Rolex GMT-Master “Apocalypse Now” RRP in 1980 — $950 USD Sold at auction in 2019— $1,952,000 USD Buy similar today — $18,691 USD Celebrity premium — 10,343.53% After her husband heard about the success of Paul Newman’s Rolex Daytona at auction, Brando’s daughter Petra Fischer-Brando realized there was a great opportunity to raise money for their charity. The proceeds of the sale, as well as Phillips’s portion of the commission,…
Editor’s note: I don’t want to go all salty Kanye West on Taylor Swift at an awards ceremony here, but imma just pop up here to say that Thor has declared himself the winner in the Fantasy Watch Collection under $5000 edition, EVEN THOUGH I polled more likes on Instagram, and was within one, or even tied up in the commenters’ votes. Also, Beyoncé’s video was indisputably better. *mic drop* (Congratulations, Thor) Instagram has given me the Oscar for Watch Journalists, the Emmy of Watchgeeks. I won the all-important $5000 round of #fantasywatchcollectionweekend and to quote the song, I’m walking on sunshine. The honour of being part of this team comes with a degree of pressure. For example, could my place be jeopardised by the potential embarrassment of making the wrong personal choice of wristwear in the team Zoom wrist check? Another example, being on the receiving end of continuous prodding from the Editor and colleagues to buy More, More, and yet More watches with an ever-dwindling budget. I dare you to explain to a group of frustrated locked-down Australians that you are “consolidating the collection” or, even worse, trying the “less is more” argument. But this is all…
Ever since the “panda” dial Paul Newman Rolex Daytona sold for the GDP of a small African nation, it’s become the preserve of mega-rich rockstars only. And thus, we have just two examples of rockstars wearing it, one from the new school – old mate, Ed Sheeran who is quite the enthusiast and journeyman Eric Clapton. Both on Bund strap, both frequently on stage, and both stellar examples. If there’s ever been inspiration needed to work on your songsmithing to fund your watch habit, surely this is it? Eric Clapton – Rolex “Paul Newman” Daytona ref. 6239 white “panda” dial in stainless steel It’s only fitting that a man who needs no introduction wears a watch that needs no introduction as well. Eric Clapton, one of the greatest guitar players who ever lived – and known mentor and hero of John Mayer – presents as the ultimate badass wearing a Rolex “Paul Newman” Daytona ref. 6239 routinely during his performances – and on the classic Bund strap Paul Newman made famous. Most of us would think this is the sort of watch you would never be able to forget was on your wrist, but Clapton is a total legend completely immersed…
Despite being an important pillar of the brand today, the Longines Record Collection is sometimes overlooked by the collector community. In its most refined form, the Record Collection represents the clean classicism that is so beautifully embodied by the brand, and offers a breadth of watches tailored for everyday wear. This year Longines have continued to develop what the Record Collection can be, with the Longines Record Australian Limited Edition adding a luxurious twist to what is on offer. Offering the simple, yet elegantly designed profile of the 38.5mm steel case, the bezel is set with 52 internally flawless VVS diamonds weighing a combined 0.624 carats. A further 13 diamonds are set as hour markers into the single piece of white mother-of-pearl dial. Simple, luxurious and tastefully considered. Powering the new Longines Record Australian Limited Edition is the Longines caliber L888.4, a COSC certified chronometer that offers an impressive 62 hours of power reserve. It is visible through the sapphire caseback that also records the limited edition number that your watch is in the series. Another exciting feature of this quietly gem-set Longines is the strap options that the watch arrives with. After receiving it, you will find the three different…
The luxury watch industry is only growing around the world, and with many online publishers covering the world of horology extensively it has never been easier to learn about timepieces, their value, and the level of demand. One thing I do truly love about this hobby is there is a clear sense of community, a watchfam so to speak, that tries to look out for each other whenever possible. Today I would like to draw our attention to a very unfortunate incident that hit one of the most respected vintage watch dealers in the world: Amsterdam Vintage Watches. Image: Ⓒ DE TELEGRAAF The staff arrived to work on October 22 to find the windows of their store shattered on the pavement and boxes littered in front of the door. More than 40 watches from brands such as Rolex, Cartier and Patek Philippe were taken by the burglars – who clearly knew the value these premium brands command. Below, we have included a list of the references taken, along with their serial numbers, and we urge everyone to please proceed with caution if you happen to be in the process of trying to source one of the models (although it is…
Celebrity watch spotting is a pastime of watch enthusiasts — there is something more genuine about a watch in the wild on a famous wrist than a planted timepiece as part of a contractual ambassadorship. While many opt for flashy precious metal and gemstone-covered watches to convey a sense of status and success that ties to their celebrity, those in the know can tell which celebrities are truly one of us. Usually by displaying impeccable taste with Phillips-worthy vintage creations slapped on their wrists. This kicks off a three-part series of rockstars rocking vintage watches — spotted with some help from Nick Gould — that any mere mortal would kill to have in their collection. Adam Levine – Patek Philippe Nautilus ref. 3800 in yellow gold While many opt for the coveted 5711/A in stainless steel, Maroon 5 singer Adam Levine proves he is above following trends by pairing his wrist with the classically sized 3800 in yellow gold. While very similar to its modern sibling, the JLC-based movement, smaller proportions, and older dial font have a timelessness that newer versions have seemed to have lost. As the saying goes, respect your elders – and Adam Levine clearly respects the earlier origins…
Editor’s note: It seems to be yet another sub-sub-sub-culture within the watch collecting community. And that is the people that get some kind of a kick out of Rolex imperfections. I suppose, in lots of ways, it makes sense. They are so rare as to be freaks of nature. Recently, a new Oyster Perpetual model with misplaced double batons has been doing the rounds. While it is treated, naturally, with a very high does of skepticism, for a few days there, it was everywhere. But this one, that was first uncovered last year, is certified legitimate and next level curious. How could something so detectable, so obvious, have slipped past QA? Revisiting the confounding case of the ‘Double 9’ Air-King… It’s a modern-day escape from Alcatraz, where the escapee is a defect on a watch that makes it to market, and Alcatraz is the Rolex manufacture. That, I suspect, is flattering Alcatraz. Because, the fact that a modern Rolex with a defect you can actually see even exists is unthinkable to the point of immediately being suspected as a hoax. But here it is. Not only does a ‘double nine’ Rolex Air-King 116900 — with a nine where the ‘3’ numeral should be — allegedly…