1. HANDS-ON: THE MOST IMPORTANT (ROLEX) DIVE WATCH
Vintage Rolex divers are highly collectible, but some more so than others. Among them, “Single Red” Sea-Dwellers are some of the rarest and most desirable. These Sea-Dwellers had only a single line of red text on the dial — hence the name — and were the first Sea-Dweller watches to be made. Interestingly, these watches did not have a helium escape valve, which would later become a defining feature of all Sea-Dwellers. However, an example of a “Single Red” Sea-Dweller was recently discovered and it features a “Gas Escape Valve.” This makes it the very first Sea-Dweller to feature a helium escape valve, and it’s very likely a one-of-a-kind.
Source: Perezcope
2. THE PURSUIT OF WEARING THIN
The recent release of the ridiculously thin Richard Mille RM UP-01 Ferrari has thrown the topic of ultra-thin watches into the spotlight. The new Richard Mille is a mere 1.75mm-thick, which is 0.05mm or 3% thinner than Bulgari’s Octo Finissimo Ultra, the previous record holder for the world’s thinnest mechanical watch. Furthermore, Richard Mille achieved this feat using a full and separate main plate, which is impressive when you consider previous record holders chose to integrate the main plate into the caseback to shave precious millimeters. This is a look back at some of the thinnest mechanical watches ever made.
Source: Revolution
3. THE A. LANGE & SÖHNE 1815 RATTRAPANTE, NOW IN PLATINUM (LIVE PICS)
Despite A. Lange & Söhne’s association and mastery of the chronograph complication, the brand didn’t actually put out a stand-alone rattrapante or split-seconds chronograph until 2020. And even then, that watch — the 1815 Rattrapante Honey Gold — was a very special limited-edition piece made to celebrate the 175th anniversary of the brand. Fortunately, fans who have been hankering for a simple split-seconds chronograph-only watch can now look forward to the new 1815 Rattrapante Platinum. With its striking platinum case and blued steel hands, this new chronograph is as handsome as it is classic in its approach. Sadly, Lange is limiting the production of this piece to just 200 pieces. At least, that’s double that of the 1815 Rattrapante Honey Gold.
Source: Monochrome
4. UP CLOSE: YOSUKE SEKIGUCHI PRIMEVÈRE PROTOTYPE
Some months ago, I wrote about Yosuke Sekiguchi, a Japanese watchmaker based in Le Locle who is striking it out on his own. His first watch is called Primevère and we can now have a closer look at it. At its heart, the Primevère is a watch brimming with references to classic watchmaking. The case size is a modest 39mm and the dial, which looks deceptively simple, is grand feu enamel. Turning the watch around, we can see a beautifully decorated movement with an unusual architecture. The movement was in fact designed to look like a vintage pocket watch movement that was popular in the mid-19th century. In all, the Primevère is an interesting watch that has the hallmarks of classic European watchmaking but is made with the fanatical attention to detail that the Japanese are famous for.
Source: Watches by SJX
5. WANT A NEW WATCH? PUT YOUR NAME RIGHT HERE.
The controversial subject of wait lists is often discussed among watch enthusiasts. A big part of the problem is because these wait lists often run for years. It’s one thing to be told a watch is out of stock and it will take weeks before stock arrives, it’s another entirely to be told that there is X number of customers ahead of you before you can be “allocated” a watch. Many customers think this practice is ridiculous while some others believe that it is a good way to weed out flippers from genuine customers and fans. Everyone has a different take on this matter. To find out what they are, click the link below.
Source: The New York Times