by Ian Skellern
As read by you, here are the top ten most viewed articles on Quill & Pad in 2021 in no particular order.
Why I Bought It: Rolex Stella-Inspired Oyster Perpetual 41 With Turquoise Blue Dial
Rolex Oyster Perpetual 41 mm with turquoise blue “Stella” dial
There aren’t that many rules that GaryG applies to watch collecting, but one rule that he has found critically important is that it’s crucial to handle a watch before buying it. This story however is about how Gary completely violated that rule and nonetheless came away happy with a watch that few people would have guessed he would buy: the 2020 Oyster Perpetual 41 from Rolex with a bright turquoise blue dial.
For more, see Why I Bought It: Rolex Stella-Inspired Oyster Perpetual 41 With Turquoise Blue Dial.
The Diving Bezel: The Most Versatile Watch ‘Complication,’ Even If You’re Not A Diver
Dietmar Fuchs wearing his Blancpain Fifty Fathoms (photo courtesy Aaron Wong)
Thanks to its bezel, as Dietmar W. Fuchs explains, the diver’s watch is a much more versatile timepiece than many people think. Aside from teaching you how to use it on land, in the skies, and under water, here he answers the perennial question of who made the first true diver’s watch: Blancpain, Rolex, or Panerai.
For more, see The Diving Bezel: The Most Versatile Watch ‘Complication,’ Even If You’re Not A Diver.
Five Modern Retro-Styled Watches From Jaeger-LeCoultre, Panerai, Breitling, Blancpain, And Seiko
Breitling Superocean Heritage ’57 Outerknown Limited Edition
The “good ol’ days” aren’t over yet – at least in the world of mechanical watches, where the appreciation of traditions and the creation of lasting values are as essential as the balance wheel and the escapement. Here, Sabine Zwettler takes a look at five of her favorite modern retro-styled watches from Blancpain, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Panerai, Breitling, and Seiko.
For more, see Five Modern Retro-Styled Watches From Jaeger-LeCoultre, Panerai, Breitling, Blancpain, And Seiko.
John McGonigle Oileán H-B1 Triple Calendar Chronograph: I Don’t Know Of A More Beautiful Complicated Movement Available For The Money
Oileán H-B1 Triple Calendar Chronograph
John McGonigle launched the H-B1, the first watch under his solo brand Oileán, in 2021. It’s a beautifully hand-finished triple-calendar column wheel chronograph powered by a highly modified new-old stock Valjoux 88 movement. While not cheap, Ian Skellern thinks it’s the best value-for-money, exquisitely hand-finished, complicated watch he has ever seen.
Why I Bought It (The Day Before It Was Discontinued): Rolex Oyster Perpetual 39 With White Dial Reference 114300
Rolex Oyster Perpetual 39 mm with white dial Reference 114300 (photo courtesy Peter Tung)
After years of consideration, Bhanu Chopra took the plunge and bought both a Rolex Oyster Perpetual 39 mm and a Submariner Reference 114060. And less than 24 hours after finally taking ownership of them, Rolex discontinued both watches! Here he shares the story of how it all went down. Spoiler alert: he couldn’t be happier!
For more, see Why I Bought It (The Day Before It Was Discontinued): Rolex Oyster Perpetual 39 With White Dial Reference 114300
In A Royal Oak And Nautilus World, Why I Love The Vacheron Constantin Overseas Deep Stream Chronograph
Vacheron Constantin Overseas Deep Stream Chronograph in steel and titanium[/caption]
Quill & Pad reader and frequent commenter Greg has been after GaryG for a while to write a piece on his Vacheron Constantin Overseas Deep Stream Chronograph, most recently in response to Gary’s article on three “keepers” from his collection that don’t get a lot of wrist time. Gary didn’t include the Deep Stream on that list as it is a quite frequent wearer for him, but now its time in the spotlight has come.
For more, see In A Royal Oak And Nautilus World, Why I Love The Vacheron Constantin Overseas Deep Stream Chronograph.
The Return Of The Dress Watch! Back From The Brink With 5 New Watches From Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin, Chopard, And Montblanc
Chopard L.U.C QF Jubilee (photo courtesy Chopard/Federal Studio)
“Dress watches” were initially just “watches.” While their popularity may have dwindled over the years as more casual and sporty watches have taken off, many brands have stayed faithful to the concept of the dress watch as Martin Green highlights here with five beautiful new examples.
Mythbusting: 3 Persistent Patek Philippe And Rolex Myths Debunked
Rolex advertising
The rise of the internet, and the consequent evolution of the watch-watching community, has inevitably amplified the phenomenon whereby certain objects have come to exert an extraordinary hold over the collective imagination. Here, Colin Alexander Smith debunks three watch myths circulating widely and freely online and in print concerning former French president Nicolas Sarkozy’s Rolex and Patek Philippe, the Khanjar Rolex Sea-Dwellers, and what in fact Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay were wearing on their wrists as they summited Mount Everest.
For more, see Mythbusting: 3 Persistent Patek Philippe And Rolex Myths Debunked.
Patek Philippe Shows Off Its 2021 Rare Handcrafts Featuring Sky Moon Tourbillon, Minute Repeater QP, Golden Ellipse, Ladies First, And Nautilus Watches
Patek Philippe Sky Moon Tourbillon Haut Artisanat Ref. 6002R-001S
In 2021, Patek Philippe is once again drawing attention to the decorative arts that help make its watches so exceptional, further staking claim in the preservation of many of the traditional skills and techniques that date to the manufacture’s roots. Nancy Olson highlights six new versions of familiar watch models presented to highlight Patek Philippe’s Rare Handcrafts.
Complete Guide To Type 20 Pilot’s Watch Chronographs
Breguet Type XXII Reference 3800ST from 2010
Type 20 is a specification by the French Ministry of Defense for the standard-equipment pilot’s watch chronographs. Unlike German pilot’s watch specifications, those for the French Type 20 are not clearly documented but are rather based on common characteristics shared by various manufacturers. Bhanu Chopra explains what makes these watches so sought after and goes through the main models and characteristics.
For more, see Complete Guide To Type 20 Pilot’s Watch Chronographs.
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