You’ve been waiting all week long for Friday to come, and here we are. Celebrating the weekend, once again, we have a stellar Market Watch(ing) lineup. We have some classic favorites, up to and including the Mother-of-All-Watches (MOAW), the Patek Philippe 2499. No more wasting time, let’s get to it.
Neil’s Picks
Sinn EZM1
I picked a Sinn; weird, right? This one is more special than most. The EZM1 is the benchmark by which all subsequent EZMs are compared. I don’t use the term “grail watch” often but this would certainly fit that requirement. This is a watch that showcases the Lemania 5100 beautifully. Central minute counters are something we lust over here at W4L, and the countdown bezel adds another level of functionality. What makes this even more appealing is the amazing condition it’s in and the fact that it includes a genuine case, multiple straps, flashlight, papers, and tools. While it’s the “Ar” version and not the more rare “3H” tritium version, I’m sure any Sinn aficionado would love the chance to own one of these.
$4,399
Tudor Heritage Black Bay 36
Tudor’s Heritage Black Bay 36mm was without a doubt one of my favorite watches from Baselworld this year. It has Tudor’s “vintage” charm they give to all their Heritage line without looking dated which allows this watch to look outstanding anywhere from a Red Bar meetup, to the mountains, and back to a black tie event. I said it before, the dial is simple and classic and the size is perfect. What’s more, 36mm was a bold choice in this era of bloated cases. I’m impressed that Tudor was able to show restraint. This piece reminds me why I love vintage Explorer I‘s so much. At well under $3k for a brand new watch with a full set, this is a hard deal to pass up. I doubt you’ll find a modern watch from a major manufacture that looks and performs this great at anywhere near this price.
$2,575
Isaac’s Picks
Wakmann Triple Date Chronograph
One of my favorite ways to gauge overall interest in vintage chronographs at any given time, is to look towards the lower end of the market, and see what triple date chronographs by Wakmann are selling for. Just two short years ago, these were seen as budget pieces, and were trading as relative bargains, considering their complicated nature, good looks, and timeless design. Today, these watches are a hot commodity, and their price tags reflect this. While they may not be as accessible as they once were, they’re still great watches in my opinion.
$3,195 or Make Offer
Doxa Display Pennant
Next up, we’ve got something the dive watch collectors are sure to like – a Doxa dealer’s display pennant, that resembles a red and white diver down flag. According to the seller, this was purchased from the collection of a local watchmaker in Bulgaria, and is believed to have been produced in the 1970’s, when Doxa was still manufacturing the legendary Sub 300T. Useless? Maybe. Cool? Definitely.
Bid Now
Dean’s Picks
Patek Philippe Ref 2499 Perpetual Calendar Chronograph
A rare occasion indeed this week as probably the most coveted watch in the world has been recently been posted for sale online. The watch in question in is the Patek Philippe Ref 2499 Perpetual Calendar Chronograph. I don’t think anyone quite understands why this watch is as popular as it is. It’s something intangible, yet also very real which probably has something to do with the brand that produced it, the rarity of the model, and the fact that it was more or less the flagship watch serially produced by Patek for 30 odd years. There is a lot that can be said about the 2499 and I am no scholar on the subject. I’d refer to you to the great Reference Points article Hodinkee did on the Patek perp cal. chronos a little while back for more info. The watch that Ciani has listed for sale for a cool half-million-dollars-and-change looks to be in excellent condition which goes a long way with these pieces. It’s a third series watch, which basically means that it has a baton dial with no tachymeter scale. Also, it has an acrylic crystal as opposed to the sapphire which would debut on the 4th series. Sure, it’s the most common iteration of the 2499, but still.
$550,000
Rolex White Gold Day-Dates
$45,000
$12,500
Blancpain Fifty Fathoms BUND No Radiations
$34,500
Heuer Autavia Diver 100
Another rare bird here, but this one is a bit more peculiar. The origin of these highly sought after Diver 100 Autavias is a bit muddy, but they are very collectible regardless. They were absolutely a model produced by Heuer in the ’80s, one of the most “modern” vintage Heuers. However, in recent years, many more have popped up for sale than were originally thought to have existed, and most of which appear to be NOS. Our friends at Calibre 11 did a nice article on this watch, and I tend to believe their theory. What it comes down to is the Diver 100s with the cool decompression bezels were likely serviced by TAG Heuer at some point, and the original Rolex-style bezels were replaced with these service parts. Then throw in the fact that the rest of the watch was restored, and you have what looks like a minty, NOS Diver 100. It’s very possible that some of the ones that have popped up are put-together, not just restored, but that’s a different story for a different day. At the end of the day, these watches are desirable for Heuer collectors, and cool as hell.
13,500 CHF
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