Watch Dandy

First of all, I think it is wonderful news for Audemars Piguet to have had such a strong run at GPHG and Only Watch, but to be completely honest, I expected it. The RD2 winning the Aiguille d’Or was no surprise to me as it is hands down one of the favourite watches in my collection, getting plenty of wrist time throughout the week (it makes the other watches jealous). The fact that the Audemars Piguet CODE 11.59 won such a crucial category in GPHG and then fetched 1,000,000 CHF (I believe that it was one of the most expensive Audemars Piguet ever sold) during the Only Watch auction that same week speaks for itself and the future of the line. I will admit that I had my reservations about the collection at first glance, especially on the time-only and chronograph dials. However, over time, I’ve learnt to appreciate the details of the watches and the sheer craftsmanship that goes into making them. I don’t think I can name another watch having reached that level of brand equity (or any mainstream watch brands), with a more complicated and beautifully finished case (sans engraving) for the same price (bearing in mind…

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Putting on my Speedmaster Professional 50th anniversary this morning, I couldn’t help but reflect and smile on the huge announcement from Omega. The decade has just begun and Omega dropped a bombshell with the announcement of the Omega Speedmaster Caliber 321 in stainless steel.  By now, you would have read that this particular watch was inspired by the third-gen style that astronaut Ed White wore during America’s first spacewalk in 1965 (often referred to as the “First Omega in Space”). Making a modern interpretation of a historically significant watch can be very tricky and contentious. We know that a watch can’t just be a carbon copy of the vintage one, but at the same time it needs to pay respect to the one before it. It’s a fine balance, with every detail potentially making or breaking the overall essence of the watch.  Over The Moon This is one beautiful and thoughtfully executed Speedmaster and what I think many Speedmaster lovers have longed-for. The star of the show is, of course, the calibre 321. Unlike the Speedmaster Professional, this piece is 39.7mm, making it a perfect match for my slender wrist. I love the use of ceramic for the bezel, the…

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2020 has barely begun and Longines has already come out swinging with this — the Longines Heritage Classic Chronograph 1946. Representing the latest addition to the Swiss watchmaker’s ever-popular Heritage Collection, the Classic Chronograph 1946 is a faithful re-creation of a timepiece Longines produced back in the ’40s. The pared-back aesthetic of this homage piece is refreshing to say the least, with the simple opaline silver dial providing an arresting blank canvas, which Longines has adorned with two no-nonsense sub-dials, located at three and nine o’clock and displaying running seconds and a 30-minute counter, respectively. As is the way with so many other models in the Heritage Collection (think the Heritage Classic “sector dial”), Longines has seen fit to bestow the new 1946 with a charmingly antiquated blued steel handset, which is complemented with raised Breguet-style Arabic numerals and a diminutive chapter ring – further adding to the handsomely sparse look. Another boon of the new 1946 is its stainless steel case – it measures in at a popular 40mm across, ensuring optimum levels of bandwidth and accessibility. Capping the case is a domed sapphire crystal that has been treated with several layers of an anti-reflective coating, which should make…

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