Rolex Datejust 1601

Rolex Datejust Turn-O-Graph 1625

Black on black

Mr F looking the business in his murdered-out outfit sporting the Hublot Black Magic. Black on black FTW!

Rolex Day-Date 1803

The Day-Date is one of our all-time favourites. A classic like few others! This 1971 1803 features a somewhat rare combination of dial & hands that lack tritium - these were made for specific markets in which the use of tritium was not allowed. Pretty cool.

For our Dutch readers: TWW is working on a website dedicated to the Rolex Day-Date. The work in progress can be viewed at www.torpedo-watch.nl/research

Zenith Rainbow Flyback

The Rainbow Flyback is a modern classic & collectors favourite, combining a decent size with classic looks and a killer movement. The flyback El Primero movement, non-screw down pushers, excellent readability and telemeter make it a true pilots chronograph in line with classics like the Heuer Bundeswehr Chronograph and Breguet Type XX.

This particular example is in pristine condition and complete with box, papers & tags.

Hublot Super B Flyback Black Magic

This Hublot is a big departure from our normal style but we fell in love at first sight - hey, what can you do?! The Super B was the first Hublot of the Biver-era and is, although similar in size, somewhat more elegant than the brutal Big Bang. The Black Magic features a PVD-coated case with hardened rubber bezel & pushers, Tungsten rotor and Hublot-signature rubber strap.

Louis Vuitton Keepal 50 Damier Ebene

Louis Vuitton, Rolex and a nice Ray-Ban - what more does one really need in life? We're simple guys, easy going, happy with very little ;)

This is the Keepall 50 in Damier Ebene, just a few weeks old in pristine, unused condition. While the price on these bags is kinda hefty, the details are to die for;

Don't forget about the ladies..

Yacht-Master medium (35mm) in steel / platinum and Yacht-Master ladies (29mm) in 18ct yellow gold.. Tres chique!

Rolex GMT-Master 16750 'Swiss'

At the last Rikketik fair we snapped up this Rolex GMT-Master 16750 with an unusual matte luminova dial as indicated by the 'Swiss' at 6:00. These dials combine the looks of vintage with modern techniques - pretty cool and rare.

Zenith Prime

A few weeks ago we got hold of this lovely Zenith Prime. The Prime uses a handwound version of the famous El Primero chronograph movement, one of the first automatic chronographs. This little marvel is very, very classy..

PAM 190

This Radiomir utilizes a handwound movement with 8-day power reserve by Jaeger-LeCoultre.. Tres Chic!

Luminova

Around '98 Rolex stopped using tritium. For just two years they used luminova before switching to superluminova. These watches can be identified quite easily: at 6:00 you'll see 'Swiss' instead of 'Swiss Made' or 'Swiss T<25'. These are commonly refered to as the 'Swiss-only's'.

The beauty of patina

Yesterday a friend came by to deliver this little prince charming: a Rolex Datejust ref. 6605. The original dial has changed colour and aged gracefully to this über cool warm tone - no plastic surgery done here folks. We love the + (brevet) crown and original hands. The bracelet is of a somewhat later vintage, but it finishes off the look nicely. The 6605 is the last Datejust to feature the butterfly movement and (semi-) Bubbleback style caseback. Also, this style of bezel is not to be found in the 1600-series that replaced the 6605. This watch has had a full movement service and runs like a champ.

My white friends

We got this white dialed Panerai Base (PAM114) in a trade. The white dials are not nearly as loved as the black ones, but the fan base is growing and in our opinion it's a awesome piece, especially for summers.

Classic

Just last week we acquired this Datejust.. oh boy how we love these little marvels! This one sports a case in wonderful condition, a matte blue Sigma dial and a tight rolled Jubilee: in other words, the good stuff. Although the Datejust is not nearly as high profile as a Submariner or Daytona, it is a great classic worthy of some love and attention. In a configuration like this one it's likely more rare than a FF 5513 or a white 1680...

We're back!!

After a few setbacks we're back in business and ready to start blogging again. So, let's get this party started! F just sent me this crazy pic of the Valjoux 230 powering the Heuer Bundeswehr Flyback. This Heuer is a very affordable vintage considering the goodies it's packing: military heritage, nice size @ 42mm, killer movement and a nice complication (flyback chronograph) to finish it off. Nice piece!

Gold Rush

The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak is another great classic. Although concieved in the seventies as one of the first stainless steel luxury watches, we prefer it in 18ct gold. The gold brings the subtle size and unusual design to the next level - killer cool.

This Royal Oak is a vintage automatic with date in splendid condition. It measures about 38mm across with a height of approx. 7mm. The back is engraved with the serial number: 2x8.

White Rolex Day-Date

Did we mention we love the Rolex Day-Date?

The Day-Date is a great classic both loved and hated all over the world. A status symbol like few others. A sign of power for those who have it or aspire to.

Past sunday we managed to snap up this white gold Day-Date with fluted bezel in wonderful condition, complete with box and papers. A killer piece.. a tight president like the one pictured is something you don't come across every day and it takes the whole watch to another level.

The dial was originally white but changed colour like also seen on the (now) cream dialed Explorers from the same era. We love the vintage flavour it brings to this Day-Date.

Caught red-handed

A little change from all the Rolex stuff: Omega Speedmaster Automatic, so-called Schumacher edition. This watch was available with either a red, yellow or blue dial, all fitted with matching straps. Although admittably we're not the biggest fans of the Speedmaster Automatic, this is a cool and unusual watch at an affordable price. Packaging is great too which is a nice touch for a special edition piece.

This watch was available new from 1996 till 1999. It ( & the red version) was unvieled [sic] on 22 July 1996 by Michael Schumacher at his go-kart track in Kerpen, Germany. It was NOT a limited edition & is not marked so. Any auctions you may have seen claiming this are wrong. It is basically a Speedmaster Automatic ( reduced ). The dial, hands, strap & packaging are all different from the standard reduced.
SOURCE

We'll be posting some other non-Rolex watches in a few hours. Stay tuned.

Always travel in style - LV Keepall

We promised a few additional pics from the BaselShow and first up is the travel gear. We said it before and we'll keep repeating it: LV is the way to travel in style. LV'ss traveling gear is classic like Ray-Ban Aviators, Porsche 911s and Rolex Submariners are classic. The good stuff.

The main entrance of BaselWorld2011 from the LV point of view

The two featured bags are both Keepall 50s, the biggest LV's you'll get into hand luggage / carry-on. Note that one of them is equipped with the shoulder strap and thus has the addional leather strap on the side while the other is the regular version without said extras.

Keepall 50 with shoulder strap

Skip hardsided - softsided is the only way to roll. Unless you're Russian.

Vintage patina

Locked up

It's all in the details

New look for 2011 spotted in Basel

Check out this guy sitting next to me! He looks so cool rocking his mullet and fu manchu. That's class - right in your face.

BaselWorld 2011 Pictorial - A few watches

Yesterday we flew to Basel for a quick visit to BaselWorld, the worlds biggest annual watch fair. Most major brands are represented and present their new stuff for 2011. We had very little time but still managed to snap a few pics. In this post it's just watches, we'll feature a few from the trip and the atmosphere in another post.
Not new, still cool: the diamond/ruby/sapphire GMT-Master in white gold. Too bad it's missing the diamond encrusted bracelet!




The new Explorer II. Killer piece measuring 42mm. Word is it'll be €6.080 in The Netherlands.


The classics - here to stay. DD trumps DDII anyday, no matter what Rick Ross wears ;)



Another heritage piece from Tudor: the Advisor. This watch features an alarm. Word is it'll be around 4k in €. It seems Tudor is taking the NATO hype very serious. We love it.


Omega Planet Ocean.. we're not the biggest fans but this diamond version is pretty bad ass LOL!


This matte bezel is not too bad either.


Speedmasters featuring Omega's new chronograph movement. Note how the minute and hour totalizer are in the same subdial. There's also a Planet Ocean with the same mvt. Google it.


Blancpain had a display with vintage Fifty Fathoms which was actually one of the more interestings bits of the show besides the lovely hostesses.

Final pic for now: the new handwound Patek manufacture chronograph with perpetual calendar reference 5170. Price will be approx. 140k in €. Ouch. Makes both the 3970 as well as the 5970 seem like a good buy.

Rolex Submariner 5512

The hints in the sneak preview posted below were not really subtle.. but for those of you who need a lil' more help: we got our hands on a Submariner 5512 in excellent condition!

The 5512 is the chronometer brother of the well-known Submariner 5513, in this case indicated by the two additional lines of text - superlative chronometer officialy certified. While the 5513 is an awesome piece the 5512 still trumps it - it's more rare and unusual and pretty hard to find in decent condition at reasonable price.

Our 5512 was built in '68 and features a GF rivet bracelet - killer cool. It was the watch of choice by Steve McQueen who wore it on the same bracelet. As seen in the pics it's in very good condition and the patina is awesome.