"Watch & Act!" Auction Item – Lot 11: The ceramic Bausele pilot's watch with a difference
The Bausele Pilot Automatic All Black features an unusual and eye-catching dial layout. The dial has been rotated, moving the 12 from where it normally sits to what is traditionally the two o’clock position. Built with the modern aviator in mind, it is a functional choice, allowing the time to be easily read without removing the hand from the controls. Taking a closer look at the dial, the hour markers are red numerals that have been applied onto carbon fibre discs. The hands and hour markers are lumed, making the watch easy to read. The altimeter-style date window is both useful, and adds a splash of white to an otherwise black dial. The standout feature of this watch is the 44mm matte black ceramic case, a remarkable inclusion for the money that houses the reliable SW200 Sellita automatic movement, visible through a clear caseback. On the wrist, the Bausele Pilot Automatic All Black is comfortable due to the lightweight ceramic and supple kangaroo leather strap. This watch is generously donated by the founder of Bausele, Christophe Hoppe. What we like about it Andrew – A ceramic case at this price point, with the added value of a story that will…
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As is always the way on Australia Day weekends, I went to an endless succession of parties and barbecues. These shindigs are a great opportunity to go watch spotting and I was fortunate to stumble across a few exciting timepieces that had one thing in common — they were all vintage. So without further ado, here are my top three spots from the weekend: Ash’s Tudor Oyster Prince Ash only recently started getting into watches, but her appetite for vintage timepieces has grown rapidly in the last six months, and now you’ll find her on most weekends scouring markets, garage sales and op-shops for her next antiquated fix. This Australia Day, she chose to wear her early ’60s Tudor Oyster Prince. A gorgeous gold-capped number with a complementing champagne dial, Ash says that she was fortunate enough to pick this one up at Camberwell Market for a steal. It’s not an absolute minter but, as she explains, “It’s just for the weekends, and I like that it’s not perfect, because I can wear it out on days like today and not worry about clattering it on something like a door jam.” A very nice vintage piece indeed that gives off…
In the world of Seiko diving watches, the collection of watches known as Prospex is actually a contraction of ‘Professional Specifications’, a reference to the very high standards that the watches are manufactured to. As a result, all watches in the collection are remarkably robust, water resistant and built with ultimate functionality in mind. In the Seiko Prospex SPB101J1, we are offered a stainless steel sports watch that’s not only water resistant to 200 metres, but also has workhorse automatic movement and an impressive build quality for the price point. The black bezel and dial create a high contrast canvas against the bright white hands and hour markers, which are also filled with glowing Lumibrite for low-light environments. The Seiko Prospex SPB101J1 is fitted to a comfortable stainless steel bracelet, which integrates smoothly into the watch case, and features a three-fold clasp to firmly secure the watch to the wrist. What we like about it Andrew – What can you say about this modern classic that we haven’t already said many times over? A quintessential alpha dive watch, this Prospex will complement any collection, even one that has multiple dive watches in it. Nick – I’m personally a huge fan…
This Oris jazz watch is an homage to the Australian jazz musician James Morrison. It features a gradient ‘dégradé’ blue dial and a caseback engraved with the Academy of Music logo, with contrasting Arabic numerals marking the hours. The golden seconds hand counterbalance is shaped like a trumpet hook, inspired by James’ favourite instrument. This watch – engraved #2 of 1234 – is the first numbered edition available for purchase, with #1 going to the museum as a matter of course. This watch is generously donated by Oris, with the enthusiastic support of the man himself, James Morrison. What we like about it Andrew – The first numbered model of James Morrison’s Limited Edition (#2 of 1234) available to buy, this handsome watch does everything right as a restrained dress watch that is kind of blue. Will be great to hack with lots of strap combinations, too. Nick – A beautiful blue dial, punctuated by gold hour markers and hands, and a link to one of the greatest Australian musicians of all time — what more could you want? James – This would be a great-looking dress watch in its own right thanks to its 38mm case size and gorgeous…
