Entries by GaryG

Watches And Art: At Baselworld 2017 With Artist Alexa Meade And Maurice Lacroix

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While in my day job I’m rumored to be a moderately creative guy, and in my youth I was a bit of an instrumentalist, suffice it to say that when it came to drawing and sculpting I never really showed any aptitude. That hasn’t kept me from admiring the works of visual artists, though, and over the past several years my attention has been drawn to the works of one painter in particular: Alexa Meade. You may imagine my surprise when I found her staging an art installation for Maurice Lacroix at Baselworld 2017!

A Contemporary Watch Collector Goes Vintage

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To my longtime friends in the watch hobby, and perhaps to regular readers here as well, the mention of my name may conjure up a number of connotations: patron of the independents, fan of A. Lange & Söhne, admirer of Patek Philippe grand complications, and longtime customer of Jaeger-LeCoultre, among other characterizations more or less favorable.

But these likely never included vintage maven! So how did I get here?

Collector’s View: Parmigiani Ovale Pantographe On The Wrist And What It Tells Us About Parmigiani

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I hadn’t had much contact with Parmigiani over the past few years, so I was eager both to wear one of the brand’s most distinctive watches and to learn more about its current collection and plans. The moment I liberated the Pantographe from its box I was impressed: this is one serious watch. Read on to learn what I thought about this watch and what the brand might do to bloom.

Why I Bought It: Patek Philippe Reference 5370P

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The first weekend of November 2016 was a big one for me: in addition to attending the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève, I collected not one, not two, but three spectacular watches. The watch I left home certain to bring back was one that I had been waiting patiently for since January 2016: the split-seconds chronograph Reference 5370P from Patek Philippe. Here’s why I bought it.

Does Hand Finishing Matter? A Collector’s View Of Movement Decoration (Archive)

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Anyone who visits online watch forums with any frequency very likely comes across at least a few heated discussions of “finishing,” a topic that seems to fascinate, and divide, enthusiasts. What is it and why are opinions divided?

Exclusive Preview: Kari Voutilainen Watches For SIHH 2017 (Live Photos)

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SIHH week 2017 is off to a great start for our small group of California collectors. The highlight of our first day was our now-traditional Saturday night dinner with independent watchmaking legend Kari Voutilianen. Each year, Kari meets with us to share and explain the watches that he will be introducing at SIHH. And here they are.

Year-End Auctions 2016: I Came, I Saw, I Learned, I Bought

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This is the second year in a row that I’ve had the opportunity to attend the November watch auctions in Geneva. On last year’s trip, a good friend and I had the pleasure of participating in several events organized by Patek Philippe as well as the biennial OnlyWatch auction. This year, we returned for the previews and salesroom action at major houses including Phillips, Christie’s, and Sotheby’s.

The Great Chime-Off: Patek Philippe Minute Repeater References 5074P And 5078P

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Over the past few weeks, I’ve had the pleasure to write here about two truly splendid minute repeaters, both property of a good friend: Patek Philippe Reference 5074P and Reference 5078P. They both look great, but I’m guessing that if you’ve been following this series you’re most interested in how they sound. Well, here’s your chance. Welcome to the great Patek Philippe chime-off!