Day 7: IWC Portuguese Automatic

I don't use the term perfect very often, but this watch is perfect. Its the perfect balance of design, precision, and execution. It started in 1936 when two portuguese traders commisioned International Watch Company to build a watch the incorporated an on-board chronometer with startling accuracy. Thus, the Portuguese was born. There's so much to appreciate on this thing. From the automatic movement with 8-day power reserve to the simple-yet-beautiful face and hands, this timepiece is a study in perfect design and engineering. To say anything snarky this time would be a diservice to this watch.

Specs:
• 8-day power reserve automatic movement
• Black alligator leather strap with IWC folding steel clasp
• 42-mm steel case
• Caliber: IWC 50010, diameter 40mm, frequency of balance wheel 18000 oscillations per hour, Pellaton winding crown
• Sapphire crystal face with transparent sapphire back
• Hours, minutes, small second large date functions

Day 6: Sandström Chronolink

Ah, those crazy Swedes have done it again. Long known for its stylish-yet-affordable furniture, funny-sounding names (Tord?), and ability for its near-perfect women to ski in nothing but bikinis, Sweden can now add another item to the grocery list of things it does awesome. The mechanical face flips up to reveal not only the movement of the watch, but an entirely seperate digital watch. It's kinda like a Terminator: all normal and regular looking on top, but kinda big and clunky for no real reason. Then it rips off its face to reveal an advanced technology, but without the blood and goo.

Specs:

(on top)
• Manual mechanical movement
• Black face with second subdial
• luminous hands and numerals

(underneath)
• digital face
• stopwatch functions
• tells time in multiple time zones and cities

Day 5: Cabestan Winch Tourbillion Chain Drive

First and foremost, I hope everyone had a nice holiday and ate their weight in food and all that. While I was spending Christmas on planet Hoth (Erie, PA), I had a lot of time to think about the next watch. And well its kinda nuts, but an engineering marvel. I give you the Cabestan Winch Tourbillion Chain Drive:






1352 components driven by a 450 link chain and nickel silver drums. Seriously, thinking of how this watch was made and works makes me feel like that guy in Scanners right before his head exploded. This little darling will run you about $400K +. And people WILL and HAVE paid that. They can only make 4 a year and productions are already sold out. What recession?

Specs:
umm...
• magic
• microscopic gremlins
• tons and tons of tiny little metal parts

Christmas vacation...more watches on monday!

Day 4: TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Day-Date

Everytime I think of sport watches, I think of TAG Heuer. I never used to notice TAGs until recently. I just thought they were what Tiger Woods wore. But after some education on the brand and its worksmanship, I am a big fan. This Carrera also comes on a steel bracelet, but I like the black leather strap. It sits back and lets the face of the watch take center stage. Very cool.

Specs:
• Stainless Steel case
• Black alligator strap
• Fixed tachymeter Bezel
• Clear display back
• Sapphire crystal
• Automatic movement
• Functions: day, date, chronograph
• Calibre: Cal 16, base Valjoux 7750
• Width: 44 mm

Day 3: Patek Philippe 3970 Perpetual Calendar Chronograph

Patek Philippe is arguably the best watch maker in world. It's the largest independantly owned manufacturer of swiss timepieces and is still owned by the same family. It takes a master watchmaker 6 months to complete just one from start to finish. Everything is hand-crafted and assembled and backed by more than 150 years of watch knowledge. That's why they cost more than most third-world countrys' gross national products. Owning one is like owning a Picasso: you know it's a sound investment. This manual wound 3970 is out of production which means that its going to become more and more hard to find, which ultimately means, its going to be worth a lot of money. Plus it has a moon phase telling you the phase of the moon during the month. The moon. On a watch. I know this is nothing new, but
man...precision, people! Enjoy.

Specs:
• Movement: Mechanical
• Case: 18KT White Gold
• Case Size: 36.4mm
• Dial: White dial with moonphases, day, and date
• Bracelet: Strap with 18KT White Gold Deployant Buckle

TV Watch Sighting!

Watching Conan O'Brien tonight with Jennifer Aniston (the GQ pictures should be considered a national treasure, by the way) and I noticed she was wearing a rather large gold and silver men's Rolex Oyster Perpetual. Now, I'd bet my middle nut that it was John Mayer's, seeing as how he's a HUGE watch geek. Man, what's up with the Rolex sightings? I'm a bit dissapointed. I'd figure Mayer would give her something better than that. Oh well. He's dating Jennifer Aniston and makes tons of money playing guitar and I'm sitting here in my girlfriend's apartment writing about watches on a blog no one reads, so I guess he can give away whatever he wants.

Day 2: 1964 Rolex Submariner

1964 Rolex Submariner



Long before Rolex became the official watch of the 80's Yuppie-douche, it it sat on the wrist of one of the smoothest cats that ever lived: Sean Connery. In 1964, Goldfinger was released to the masses and proved that if you're going to blow up an oil tanker, use a Rolex to know how long you've got to get away. Plus, these vintage Submariners are just plain cool.



This is about the only Rolex I would touch. Everytime I think of Rolex I think of Weekend at Bernie's, because Bernie was the kind of cocaine snorting, embezel from the company, try to kill Johnathan Silverman guy the 80's was known best for. So when you think of the Submariner, try to think of Connery. The man could have seduced Mother Thereasa.

Specs:
• Stainless steel
• Bi-directional rotating black diving bezel
• White luminous hour markers and gilt mercedes hands
• Water-resistant to 200m (660 ft)
• Nickel plated Rolex calibre 1530 automatic 26 jewel movement
• Screw-down crown
• Lazer or machine gun (probably, it was Bond's watch)

TV Watch Sighting!

Watching Good Eats on the Food Network tonight, and noticed Alton Brown was wearing a rather rugged and classic looking stainless steel dive watch. On further inspection (and a good camera angle) my suspicions were right: Rolex Submariner. Must be nice wearing a $3500 watch while cooking pies and not worrying about getting it covered in crap. The show is awesome, though. He's one of the few people on the Food Network that actually deserve what they get paid.

Day 1: Omega Seamaster 300M

Omega Seamaster 300M



I'll start with the only luxury watch I own, the Omega Seamaster 300M. I could not love a human baby more than I love this watch. Its classic and unpretensious, goes with anything, and keeps great time. There's also a seamonster on the back.

Specs:
• Stainless steel
• 41.0mm
• Uni-directional rotating black bezel
• Sapphire crystal
• Screw down crown
• Water resistent 300m (1000 ft.)
• Helium escape valve at 10 o'clock
• Luminous hour markers
• Date displayed at 3 o'clock position
• Features a expanding bracelet so the watch can fit over a wetsuit