Only Watch 2023: Lots 33-48. All the Colors of the Rainbow (This Year’s Auction Theme)
Held every two years, the Only Watch charity auction of exclusively unique pieces has grown into THE most anticipated watch auction worldwide and features some of the most creative and innovative horology on the planet. This year the theme is rainbows: some brands ran with that superbly, while others took a different path. Here Ian Skellern highlights Lots 33-48.
The Diving Bezel: The Most Versatile Watch ‘Complication,’ Even If You’re Not A Diver
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.
Only Watch 2023: Lots 17 – 32, Including My Favorite Watch of Them All
The theme for Only Watch 2023 is rainbows: some brands ran with that superbly, while others took a different path. One brand that nailed the theme created Ian Skellern’s favorite watch of the whole auction: Lot 27. The Grönefeld 1941 Principia Mandala
Only Watch 2023: Lots 1 – 16
Held every two years, the Only Watch charity auction of exclusively unique pieces has grown into THE most anticipated watch auction worldwide and features some of the most creative and innovative horology on the planet.
A. Lange & Söhne Zeitwerk Minute Repeater and its Large Digits: Does it Cause Hyperdigitalia? – Reprise
Joshua Munchow has a strong affinity for A. Lange & Söhne, for one because beginning with the Lange 1 and the later Zeitwerk, and now with the new Odysseus, the brand has created a very specific aesthetic around large digital displays. Here he explains why and how Lange’s large numerals and letters work (and not only for him!).
Meet the Spaceman: A Popular Fashion Watch of the 1960s and 1970s that was Almost Forgotten in a Drawer – Reprise
Launched in 1969, the Catena/Zeno Spaceman is special thanks to its funky design as well as its its fiberglass and chrome case. The Spaceman’s blend of ovals, curves, and straight lines was just right for that groovy time in fashion, touching a nerve in a hip watch-buying public. It was a polarizing watch: people generally either hated it or loved it at first sight, and remains so today. Here is the brief history of this fun vintage watch.
MB&F HM8 Mark 2: Horological Hypercars!
With the MB&F HM8 Mark 2, Max Büsser returns to his roots to deliver a watch that deftly captures the automotive spirit. It’s a hypercar for the wrist.
Grand Seiko 1960 Re-Creations: Celebrating a Turning Point – Reprise
To celebrate its enduring legacy, Grand Seiko has re-created the original Grand Seiko model from December of 1960, and it is all the right kinds of vintage Japanese minimalist design that any self-respecting WIS would appreciate. The Grand Seiko 1960 Re-Creations are the essence of Grand Seiko.
Milanaise Mesh Watch Bracelets: What’s the Attraction?
As many watch lovers know, straps and bracelets have the ability to make or break a watch. While many might find the “vintage” appearance of mesh too delicate for today’s watches, for Elizabeth Doerr, mesh remains one of the most beautiful ways to dress up a watch, whether new or old. Here she explains her attraction to mesh, and why you might like it too.
Louis Roederer’s Collection Series is the Future of Champagne; However, Today Belongs to the Sensational 2015 Cristal
Ken Gargett thinks that the 2015 Cristal is a wine of purity. Wonderfully fresh, we have notes of white florals, citrus, honey and chalk. Gentle notes of stonefruit emerge, with a walnut backing, all held together by that line of salinity. This is layered and complex, a beautiful Cristal with serious intensity. Great focus and such length. Impeccably balanced and with a lingering finish. It should drink beautifully for the next 10 to 20 years.