Most expensive Rolex: GMT II Ice

It already exists a few years but today I saw it was for sale on a watchsite. I was surprised the watch 'only' costs € 267.047, the listprice is € 510.000. The watch is limited to ten pieces, the case is made of white gold, there are 2281 diamonds and 112 baguettes with a total of 25,01 carats.

I don't like all the bling bling, but I have a lot off respect for the craftmanship. The placing of the diamonds is beautifully done, but you won't see this thing on my wrist! It's more a rapper or arab kind of thing. The economic crisis is probably the cause this watch is far below its listprice.

Some pictures

Zenith Christophe colombe

Why is this watch named after Cristopher Columbus? This Zenith and the ancient seafarer have more in common than you think: how to achieve precision measurements with instruments that are subjected to constant motion. However, the name is not only a tribute to one of the greatest adventurers of all time; it also refers to a historical heritage, as Zenith produced a Lépine chronometer movement at the beginning of the 20th century whose escapement was already known as the “Echappement Colomb”.

The dial has a guilloche machine engraved texture on it. There is almost a Breguet feeling. The watch looks great on posters, but I don't know if you even can wear this watch because of the 'bubble'.

The watch is the top piece of the Zenith collection. It's an instrument where all the skills of the manufacturer are gathered. Zenith did a great job making this timepiece. I am not a watchmaker but I can tell you the movement is extraordinary, it must have cost a fortune to make it work. The watch is limited to 25 pieces, retail price is around 200 000 dollar.

Size isn't everything

Everybody has an opinion about this topic, mine is very clear. I see them all over the net, big oversized watches on a small wrist. There is nothing wrong with a larger watch but it certainly most fit your wrist, otherwise you look like a douchebag. Some people like to show off with a huge watch. They like to be seen as a watch fanatic but instead they look ridiculous, every WIS will recognize and ignore this sad behavior. It's a bit like driving a Porsche when you have no driving license. Oversized watches on a small wrist should be forbidden by law.

Some few examples

Some old watches

Earlier I wrote about vintage watches, here some pics of some stunning Rolex vintage.

Modern Vs. vintage watches

Modern watches are more durable, they are better constructed and more scratch resistant, thanks to modern materials. Vintage watches on other hand are easier to scratch because plastic crystal is used also the old mechanical movements require a better maintenance.

When you want to buy a modern watch you just walk in to an AD and buy the watch you like. If you like a vintage watch you have to search a reliable seller. Buying a vintage piece is a great risk. But vintage watches are so cool! A vintage watch is so much more than a normal timepiece, the history of the watch makes it so special an unique. Also some vintage pieces are very collectible, some people speculate on the secondary market for vintage watches. For example a Rolex red submariner nowadays is ten times more expensive then when it just got released.

When you are new to mechanical watches I would buy a modern piece, you know what you get, no surprises. Maybe this Tudor is the best of both worlds: a modern watch with a vintage look. In my opinion it's the best bang for the buck ( at least 5 times cheaper then its vintage brother) This Heritage chrono was presented at Baselworld 2010 and was a real success, great move from Tudor!

The watch on the left is the heritage chrono,the other watch is the vintage piece

Green Rolex Daytona at Basel 2011 ?!

Every year when Baselworld is coming up, people make suggestions about which Rolex model will be updated. Last year it was the Explorer I and the new submariner with ceramic bezel. This year a green dial Daytona? It's just a thought but it is possible and I will tell you why. Remember the sub with the green bezel? It was presented in 2003 fifty years after the first submariner was presented to the public. Some other examples

1953-2003 50 years submariner

1954-2004 50 years GMT

1956-2006 50 years day date

1960-2010 50 years Cosmograph Daytona, new green Daytona????????????

SIHH 2011: most desirable watch

Le Salon Internationale de la Haute Horlogerie has just finished and a lot of new watches were introduced to the public. My absolute favorite watch was the Panerai PAM00382, this new submersible with an in house P.9000 calibre is made out of bronze! This is very unique and special I like the way how Panerai experiments with alternative materials. The case back of this killer watch is made from steel so no allergic reactions take place.

Bronze is  an alloy based on copper and tin. The bronze chosen by Officine Panerai for the case of the new  submersible is very resistant to corrosive action by sea water after all it still is a diving watch. The specific color of this beautiful timepiece  is the result of the reaction of the bronze to external agents (air, humidity, heat and wear) and it does not alter the properties of the material but is rather a sign of its ageing, making each exemplar unique.

I like the way Panerai refresh their watches but still be loyal to the history of the brand. The bronze case, green dial and in house movement, makes it a nice vintage looking watch