Bought a 12-slot watch box three years ago. “Room to grow,” I told myself.
Seven slots remain empty.
The empty slots taunt me. They whisper about the Cartier Tank I haven’t bought. The Grand Seiko I can’t justify. The chronograph I keep researching but never purchasing.
Tudor quietly expanded the Ranger lineup. No press event, just new references appearing on the website. Classic Tudor move.
What’s New # 36mm Case Size
The seasons dictate my watch choices more than I’d like to admit.
Summer was all about the Veles and dive watches. Casual straps, bright dials, pieces that could handle sweat and water.
The Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon gets a refresh. Ceramic everything, updated movement, refined details.
The Changes # The new DSOTM keeps the 44.25mm black ceramic case that defined the original. But the internal movement has been upgraded to the Co-Axial Master Chronometer caliber 3861 - same as the current Moonwatch Professional.
People ask about my watch photos. What camera do I use? What lighting setup?
The answer disappoints them: a phone and a window.
Natural light does 90% of the work. Position the watch near a window on an overcast day. The diffused light minimizes reflections on the crystal and brings out dial texture.
The Citizen Aqualand is back. And for once, a 40th anniversary edition actually matters.
Why This Matters # In 1985, Citizen released the original Aqualand - the world’s first watch with an electronic depth sensor. While other brands were making analog dive watches with rotating bezels, Citizen built something that could actually tell you how deep you were.
Record broken. Three Omega Speedmasters spotted in one day, all on different wrists, none at a watch event.
First one: Hesalite Professional on a guy getting coffee. Worn bracelet, scratched crystal, clearly loved. We nodded at each other.
I’ve been watching the vintage watch market for 15 years. What’s happening now makes no sense.
The Numbers # A beat-up Rolex 1016 Explorer that sold for €4,000 in 2015 now commands €25,000+. Same watch. Same condition. Different decade.
Got a quote today for servicing my vintage Omega. €450. The watch cost me €600 five years ago.
This is the hidden cost of mechanical watches that gets glossed over in every “value proposition” article.
Two weeks in Greece. One watch decision.
Normally I’d agonize over this. Bring the nice one and risk damage? Bring the beater and feel like I’m missing out? The eternal collector’s dilemma.