October was an exciting month in the watch space, with aBlogtoWatch hosting two great events in Los Angeles: one at Feldmar Watch Company in celebration of the Ariel Adams-designed Zodiac Super Sea Wolf Pineapple Dream, and another at the Queen Mary in Long Beach, where enthusiasts gathered to learn more about the heritage of Longines and check out rare pieces from the brand’s museum collection. In other news, Only Watch ’23 has now been postponed until an unknown date in 2024 due to questions surrounding the whereabouts of approximately half of the money the auction has raised since its creation in 2005. We’ll also take a closer look at some truly exciting recent watch releases, including the Bulgari Octo Finissimo CarbonGold, the Ming LW.01, and the Girard-Perregaux Neo Constant Escapement. Let’s get into it!
1. Recap: Zodiac Launches Ariel Adams-Designed Pineapple Dream Watch With Feldmar And eBay In Los Angeles
Last month, Los Angeles-based watch enthusiasts and aBlogtoWatch readers gathered at Feldmar Watch Company to celebrate the release of the Zodiac Pineapple Dream, designed by our own Ariel Adams. The watch itself is an outstanding interpretation of Zodiac’s most popular model, the Super Sea Wolf. Hosted by Zodiac Brand Director Michael Pearson and Ariel Adams, the tropical-themed event had an excellent turnout, and like Ariel’s last Zodiac design (the Aquamarine Dream), the Pineapple Dream was extremely well received by collectors.
Source: aBlogtoWatch
2. Ariel’s Thoughts: Evolved Collaborations And A New Era Of Success For The Watch Industry
Collaboration watches have recently come even more into vogue than they already were and for good reason. Generally speaking, they represent a fresh break from the mainstream, and when executed well, they can inject a whole new voice into watches we’ve come to know and love. In this insightful article, Ariel takes a look at the emergence of the trend, exploring how collaboration watches are exciting for collectors and a positive practice for the industry as a whole.
Source: aBlogtoWatch
3. Event Recap: Longines Celebrates Its History With aBlogtoWatch And Ben Bridge Aboard The Queen Mary
aBlogtoWatch hosted two knockout events this month, and we’d be remiss not to mention both of them. Longines is a brand whose heritage needs no introduction. It is recognized as one of the most historic brands to date, and its modern heritage-inspired watches are arguably among the best in the entire industry. Given the brand’s vast back catalog of marine-inspired timepieces, the world-famous Queen Mary seemed a fitting place to host watch collectors for an opportunity to get a closer look at some rarely seen vintage pieces from the brand’s museum as well as the modern Longines watches inspired by them. Over 200 enthusiasts arrived to tour this unique collection of Longines references past and present, with a wide assortment of Longines models gracing attendees’ wrists alongside an eclectic showing of other brands.
Source: aBlogtoWatch
4. News: Only Watch 2023 Postponed To Indefinite 2024 Date
In the wake of allegations concerning the finances of Only Watch, it’s been announced that Only Watch 2023 will be postponed until 2024. Recently, Association Monégasque contre les Myopathies (AMM), the association behind the auction that was created to benefit Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, released financial records that ultimately raised concerns about the whereabouts of approximately half of the $110 million the auction has raised since its inception in 2005. While it’s a relatively well-known fact that watch auctions (and the numbers they fetch) should be taken with a grain of salt, it’s concerning that the future of Only Watch is in question. Not only is the auction for a good cause, but it has consistently yielded some of the most innovative and exciting products to come out of the watch world on a yearly basis. We can only hope that Only Watch comes back in the future, albeit with more transparency regarding the allocation of its finances.
Source: aBlogtoWatch
5. Hands-On: Bulgari Octo Finissimo CarbonGold Automatic Watch
While Bulgari is still regarded by some as a jewelry or fashion brand, those in the know can acknowledge the brand’s creativity and true innovation when it comes to watches. For most enthusiasts, Bulgari’s flagship model is the Octo Finissimo. While the Octo sits squarely within the ever-popular integrated bracelet genre, it is far from derivative, both stylistically and technically speaking. When it was released in 2014, it was the thinnest automatic timepiece in the world, and since that time the brand has continued to use the model as a canvas for experimentation. New for 2023, the Octo Finissimo CarbonGold is comprised of forged carbon, giving it an extremely light, almost airy energy on the wrist. Moreover, the pairing of carbon and rose gold yields a novel, refreshing aesthetic.
Source: aBlogtoWatch
6. Ming Surprises with What Could Be the Lightest Watches Ever Made
In Ming’s short history, the brand has solidified itself as a well-respected mainstay in the independent watch scene, with most of its new releases selling out within minutes of release. Further, as the brand has become more popular, it has also continued to expand its boundaries with creatively high-end, innovative watches. With its latest watch, the LW.01, Ming has released one of the lightest timepieces ever created. Measuring just 6.5 mm thick and weighing a mere 8.8 grams for the manual version and 10.8 grams for the automatic version, the LW.01 is a true work of art.
Source: Worn and Wound
7. Introducing: The New Girard-Perregaux Neo Constant Escapement
Speaking of innovation, perhaps the most technically impressive release from last month is the new Girard-Perregaux Neo Constant Escapement. The Constant Escapement utilizes the principle of “constant force” — meaning that the escapement is fed a consistent flow of power, regardless of whether the watch is fully wound or barely wound. This helps maintain accuracy irrespective of the force transferred by the mainspring. While this isn’t the first Constant Escapement released by GP, the new Neo Constant Escapement takes the technology used in previous iterations of the complication (such as Constant Escapement L.M. from 2013) and converts it into a much more wearable, attractive package. Our friends at Fratello break down why the new Constant Escapement is such a groundbreaking, exciting release.
Source: Fratello Watches
8. The Evolving Craft Of British Watchmaking
British watchmaking is undergoing somewhat of a renaissance, with UK-based brands like Christopher Ward, Garrick, Fears, and others creating exciting products and gaining dedicated followings. This article takes an in-depth look at the history and impact of British watchmaking, explaining England’s contributions to horology over time as well as the role that icons such as George Daniels and Roger W. Smith have played in expanding the UK’s horological footprint. Featuring interviews with prominent British watchmakers, the piece also considers what the future looks like for British watchmaking.
Source: A Collected Man
9.WatchTime New York 2023 Wraps Eighth Edition with Over 2,000 Attendees and 36 Brand Exhibitors
Last month, over 2,000 watch enthusiasts attended the Annual WatchTime New York collector show, experiencing timepieces from more than 36 brand exhibitors. Among the new timepieces presented at the show were the Arnold and Son Luna Magna Meteorite in red gold, the Bremont Supermarine GMT S302, the Speake-Marin Openworked Sandblasted Titanium and Red Gold, the Czapek Quai des Bergues in 40.5 mm, and many more. With eight shows now under its belt, WatchTime New York has become one of the biggest and most-attended annual watch shows in the business, giving collectors an immersive forum to learn and connect over new products.
Source: WatchTime