Watch Dandy

Where can you grab breakfast with Philippe Dufour, lunch with Max Büsser, and coffee with Stephen Forsey in the same day? Dubai Watch Week, that’s where. Last week, Stephen and I were there to host a few panels and the first ever HODINKEE meet-up in the Middle East, and boy did the event impress. From the quality of the discussions held during various panels to the event’s ability to act as a hub for watchmakers and collectors from all over the world, it was top-notch across the board. For a few days, it felt like walking around Geneva, only in 85° F heat, surrounded by sand, and in the shadow of the world’s tallest building. Okay, so not that much like Geneva at all.

Yes, you’re looking at a split-seconds Rolex chronograph ref. 4113. And, yes, it’s being worn casually, out-and-about at Dubai Watch Week. In fact, when I spotted it, this watch had been on its owner’s wrist non-stop for the prior 10 days. I know this because Ben and I saw him and his beautiful split in Geneva just a week prior during the hectic week of auctions and the GPHG. To put this into perspective, that’s a $2.4 million watch, the first in a series of only 12, being worn like it’s nothing to think twice about. That’s basically the definition of a total boss move.

This past weekend we hosted a pop-up at Material Good in New York City, featuring some of the most insane timepieces for men and women alike. As you may have read, we had a 1960s Bulgari Serpenti in yellow gold and enamel, a 1960s IWC with cloisonné enamel dial, a 1969 Paul Newman reference 6241, a near-mint 1964 Rolex Daytona reference 6239 with box and papers, and a number of other incredible watches that you just don’t see everyday. We kicked things off with a Friday night cocktail to celebrate and then welcomed guests all day Saturday and Sunday. In case you couldn’t join us, here are some photos from the first ever HODINKEE ladies’ pop-up.

The Swiss watch industry has had more than its fair share of ups and downs this year. And, certainly, so has Girard-Perregaux, which despite its longevity and the tremendous history it has backing it up, has struggled for many years to get itself on solid footing and to establish a solid identity. Historically, there have been several sides to the company: on the one hand there is the very, very refined pocket watch production (much, though not all of it, from the 19th and early 20th centuries). On the other hand, there are the many very solid, if not exactly ground-breaking watches made by GP after World War II, which were generally built around solid, mid-range, third-party movements.