Dress meets sport: Patek Philippe Reference 5170P

Why I Bought It: Patek Philippe Reference 5170P

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One of the high points of my visits to Baselworld each of the past few years has been the opportunity to tour the display of new introductions from Patek Philippe. Concluding our visit in March 2017, our host asked each of us to name our favorite new Patek Philippe piece, and for me the answer was obvious: the stunning Reference 5170P that had me standing slack-jawed in front of its display case long after the rest of the group had moved on to the other new pieces. Here’s why . . .

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Rolex Yacht-Master

Why People Buy Watches

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People buy everything – from toasters to cars and, of course, timepieces – for every kind of reason. In this article, Chris Malburg consults three of the savviest watch retailers he knows to help explain the behavior patterns of customers considering a watch purchase.

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The light reflections on the deep blue dial reveal the embossed little sailboats on the Ulysse Nardin Marine Diver Artemis Racing

Can We Still Take Limited Editions Seriously, Or Is That Already A Rhetorical Question?

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Limited editions used to be a rarity, but they started to become more popular in late 1980s and early 1990s, almost like a snowball rolling down a hill that gets bigger and bigger. Can we still take them seriously?

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Powered by a legend: Omega Speedmaster Mk40 containing the Omega Caliber 1151 movement based on the Valjoux 7751

Decoding Omega References: 14 Magic Digits And Codification Tables Revealed

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Many watch enthusiasts dream of owning at least one timepiece by Omega. And maybe even a second or a third. The Swiss brand definitely ranks among the most popular watch firms ever. To give you an idea of the overwhelming variety in the current Omega watch world, Sabine Zwettler has put together a guideline of references.

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Two tone Rolex Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph chronogragh

For The Love Of Two-Tone Watches

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A discussion with fellow collectors that is bound to elicit interesting responses is two-tone watches. People tend to either love them or hate them. The lovers consider them the perfect mix between a sporty looking watch and a dress watch. People who don’t care for them may think of them as a weak compromise at best. What do you think?

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2012: RIP Ladoire

Would You Buy A Watch From A Defunct Brand If The Price Was Right? Here’s What You Should Consider

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Let’s be honest: nobody needs a high-end mechanical watch. That we want one is based on the different levels of how a particular watch appeals to our emotions. And in the heat of passion, we sometimes tend to forget that, as in any normal industry, companies sometimes cease to exist for a panoply of reasons. What should you consider if you own, or would still like to own, a watch made by a now-defunct brand?

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Ulysse Nardin Marine Tourbillon

The Enticing Qualities Of “Entry-Level” Tourbillons

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If there is one complicated element that has been in a whirlwind (pun intended) of developments, it has been the tourbillon. And while tourbillons are still fairly expensive, you don’t have to spend $100,000 anymore, as many brands now have great offerings for even a third of that amount.

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BHI: Land, Sea and Air – Watches and Navigation Collectors’ Conference On Military And Navigational Watches

British Horological Institute Announces ‘Land, Sea And Air – Collectors’ Conference On Military And Navigational Watches’ In London

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A once-in-a-lifetime conference for lovers of military and navigational watches is set to take place in London on October 21, 2017. Setting the perfect scene for this day conference, the venue is the beautiful ‘HQS Wellington,’ an ex-Royal Navy ship moored on the Thames in central London. Click to find out more!

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Rolex GMT Master II: too hot, too cold, or just right?

Great Rolex Experiment With The GMT Master II Or How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Crown (Archive)

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The last time I wrote here on Quill & Pad about my relationship with the world’s greatest mass luxury brand was last year when I explained ‘Why I’ve Never Owned a Rolex – And Why I Might Yet.’ Well, to know me is to know that if I say I “might yet” buy something it’s likely only a matter of time. So, too, with this Rolex: the GMT Master II BLNR “Batman” with black-and-blue bezel.

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Beautiful, but functional as well: A. Lange & Söhne Datograph Perpetual

Why I Bought It: A. Lange & Söhne Datograph Perpetual (Archive)

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The date: January 13, 2012. The place: Glashütte, Germany, where one of my best friends had arranged for the two of us to visit A. Lange & Söhne. The vision: my friend extended his arm from the sleeve of his shirt, and what I saw left me reeling – my first view of the Lange Datograph Perpetual in white gold. I was confident from that very moment that this was a watch for me, but pursuit of the piece took four long years.

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