Watches - another OCD problem
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I was in Melbourne a week ago, and I saw the Vacheron Constantin Historiques 222 in steel. It's a very pretty watch. I still haven't managed to get a look at the Patek Cubitus, because you need to jump through hoops for the local dealer to show it to you, but it was about 15% cheaper and a far nicer piece of design.
The only shortcoming was that it's a boutique only piece, and the one in Melbourne already had three hundred expressions of interest.
Across the road, I saw a Montblanc 1858 "The Unveiled Secret" Minerva Monopusher Chronograph. The movement has been flipped, so that its back becomes the watch's face. The case back is solid, with an engraving of the old Minerva workshop on it. Again, it's a lovely piece.
There was also a Zenith Defy Tourbillon, which is based around a variant of the El Primero 5 Hz movement.
On a more accessible front, the Longines boutique had the new, carbon Ultra-Chron. The bezel is fixed, unlike the original steel version, which got the desk divers in Hodinkee's comments section ranting!
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@Graeme Love that 222...would love to see it in person.
Funny enough, just based on pictures, I think I may prefer the gold version. And I am not a yellow gold guy. But for whatever reason, I seem to be drawn to that one a little more.
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@Graeme Oh no a fixed bezel?! That watch looked so good! Fixed bezels that look like dive bezels really irk me. I don’t need a cheat sheet to remind me where 40 mins is at…
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@Danimal506 I wonder if there was an engineering decision behind the fixed bezel. The steel version's rotates as you'd expect.
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@Graeme Even more odd. I thought you meant that the original watch had a rotating bezel and this reissue does not. I did not realize there is a contemporary version with a rotating AND non-rotating bezel. Very odd.
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@Danimal506 the carbon model is significantly more expensive than the (contemporary) steel model too. That's why I don't think the fixed bezel was done for cost savings, and hence it's more likely to be for technical reasons.
I do like both versions, and I don't think that the fixed bezel would dissuade me from the carbon.
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@Cole Sweet watch, Cole.
You should tell your wife that it is necessary as now you can dive to 600m and not lose track of time and be on time for date night.
What's the screw on the top left? I have not seen that before.
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It is a Helium escape valve...
"OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011
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@Graeme I also like the carbon version, very handsome watch.
I would also, like you, assume it is for technical reasons they have not implemented a rotating bezel.
Bit of a shame really considering that Tudor have managed to manufacture a carbon case with a rotating bezel on the FXD Alinghi models.
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@Giles speaking of that, I keep seeing trailers for a movie
with Woody Harrelson that appears to be about an ill-fated saturation dive. I am intrigued. Guessing there will be dive watch cameos. -
@Giles Aha! Thanks Giles.
Looks like a feature that Q could modify for James Bond to shoot a poison dart or pour a (weak) martini.
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@Cole that’s a lovely watch
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Last production version of the 114270:
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Decided yesterday to pull the trigger on a long time want. Probably close to 20 years in the making. Picked it up today. Absolutely love it. IWC big pilot
@Giles do you still have that platinum one you were holding on to for a friend or something? I can’t remember the details totally
