Welcome! In this series, we highlight some of the most compelling new watches that have entered the A:S inventory each month.
Welcome! We’ll get right to it: The biggest horological news of the month is the debut of the Zaf Basha Collection, a spectacular assemblage of incredible vintage Jaeger-LeCoultre timepieces put together over the years by a noted JLC authority. Entrusted to Analog:Shift for sale and stewardship, this wide-ranging array of time-only and complicated pieces is a sight for sore eyes — and a wonderful opportunity to own a true piece of Swiss-made history.
Zaf Basha Ultimate Jaeger-LeCoultre Collection
But wait, there’s more: In addition to the Basha collection, we also have a huge variety of other compelling pieces on offer this month, from a chunky Bulova Accutron to a blue-dialed Seiko ‘Pogue’ chronograph to a dainty 1920s Longines cocktail watch. As always, we pride ourselves on stocking best-in-class examples of the world’s coolest vintage timepieces. What follows is but a small variety of the cool stuff in our vault; if there’s something specific you’re searching for, be sure to drop us a line or make an appointment to come visit us in our NYC showroom. We’d be happy to help find you your dream watch…
After all — that’s what we’re here for.
Jaeger-LeCoultre Memovox 'Parking' Alarm ($7,450)
Jaeger-LeCoultre Memovox 'Parking' Alarm - IN THE SHOP
In 1958, Jaeger-LeCoultre celebrated its 125th anniversary with a special Jubilee collection. As part of this special capsule, it debuted the Memovox ‘Parking’ ref. E856, a cool riff on the maison’s alarm-equipped timepiece: Designed specifically to track the remaining time in a common parking meter, its central alarm disc is demarcated with 30-minute, 60-minute, 75-minute, and 2-hour demarcations, allowing the wearer to ascertain a quick picture of the remaining time. Housed in a 35mm stainless steel case, this example features a wonderfully patinated silver dial.
Bulova Accutron 218 'Jumbo' Day-Date ($1,950)
Bulova Accutron 218 'Jumbo' Day-Date - IN THE SHOP
Before the quartz movement had firmly caught on, technologies such as Bulova’s Accutron tuning fork movement still hummed along, dutifully keeping time in some of the funkiest designs of the 1970s. This particular Accuton is a wonderful example of the American-founded brand’s avant-garde stylings: Housed in a 41mm cushion case, it features a black dial with a bright red rehaut, applied indices, a luminous ‘baton’ handset, and a handy day-date window. Powering it is the Caliber 218 tuning fork movement, while a cool steel multi-link bracelet completes the package.
Concord Delirium Diamonds Ultra-Thin ($2,950)
Concord Delirium Diamond Ultra-Thin - IN THE SHOP
Certain timepieces wear their technology on their proverbial sleeve, and this wildly neat dress watch from Concord is one of them. Called the Delirium, it dates to a time when Swiss firms were trying desperately to compete with their Japanese counterparts, whose quartz technology was set to upend the mechanical Swiss norm. Measuring 20mm wide, it features a diamond-set yellow gold case and a minimalist, vertically-brushed dial with a simple black ‘pencil’ handset. Paired to its correct, signed black leather strap with a yellow gold pin buckle, it’s a veritable time capsule.
Seiko 'Blue Pogue' Chronograph ($1,995)
Seiko 'Blue Pogue' Chronograph - IN THE SHOP
A blue-dialed version of the watch famously worn by astronaut William Reid Pogue during the Skylab 4 mission in 1973, this Reference 6139-6005 ‘Blue Pogue’ is a fantastic example of Seiko’s early automatic chronograph. Well sized at 41mm in a cushion-shaped case and paired to a matching steel bracelet, it features a bi-color blue and red tachymeter bezel, an internal 60-minute bezel, and a blue dial with a 30-minute counter, a day-date display, applied indices, and a luminous ‘baton’ handset with a red central seconds hand.
Longines Ladies Diamond Cocktail Watch ($3,950)
Longines Ladies Diamonds Cocktail Watch - IN THE SHOP
Ladies' cocktail watches from the early to mid-20th century consistently provide some of the most fascinating designs in all of the horological kingdom. This particular example, produced by Longines in the 1920s, is housed in a svelte platinum case with a diamond-set bezel and fancy lugs. Paired to a woven rope-like bracelet, it boasts a delightfully patinated silver dial with stylized ‘Breguet’-like indices. Powered by a tiny hand-wound movement, it’s a masterpiece of Art Deco design, and will prove the perfect accompaniment to a black-tie gown, or even a handsome business suit.
Hanhart Pilot Flyback Chronograph 'McQueen' ($9,950)
Hanhart Pilot Flyback Chronograph 'McQueen' - IN THE SHOP
Famously spotted on the wrist of Steve McQueen, this Hanhart Ref. 417ES Pilot Flyback Chronograph from the 1950s features a host of characteristics that collectors go absolutely gaga for: There’s the beautifully fluted rotating timing bezel; the oversized winding crown; and the prominent pump pushers. But beating inside the watch is a hand-wound movement with flyback capability — when combined with the stark black dial, dual-register layout, stainless steel construction, and distinctive WWII-like looks, it gives this watch a “cool” factor unique among military-inspired chronographs.
Zenith El Primero 'TV Case' ($5,450)
Zenith El Primero 'TV Case' - IN THE SHOP
You think you know Zenith’s El Primero? Think again. This ‘TV Case’ watch gets even weirder than the already-unconventional classic references such as the A386 and A384. Coming it at 40mm, it features a wacky tonneau silhouette not unlike that of a television; prominent chronograph pushers; a smooth bezel; an integrated steel multi-link bracelet; and an incredible blue dial with an outer tachymeter scale, a triple-register chronograph display, and the brand’s signature 4:30 date window. Being an El Primero model, it of course features automatic winding — and plenty of charm, to boot.
Milber Skin Diver ($2,250)
Milber Skin Diver - IN THE SHOP
With skin divers — those fun and affordable 1960s and ‘70s divers with tell-tale downward-sloping lugs, no crown guards, and stark dials — the name on the dial doesn’t really matter. What does matter is character, and this watch has it in spades: There’s the fully-hashed steel dive bezel; the black dial with luminous ‘dash’ and ‘Arabic’ indices; the large ‘baton’ handset; the ‘roulette’ date window at 3 o’clock; the automatic Swiss movement ticking away within; and the Milber-signed stainless steel bracelet attached to its lugs. Truly, it’s 36mm of unmatched tool-watch cool.
Universal Genève Golden Shadow 'Tiffany & Co.' ($4,950)
Universal Genève Golden Shadow 'Tiffany & Co.' - IN THE SHOP
Where does one even begin with such a compelling horological proposition — is it the fact this watch represents a serious detour away from UG’s more well-known chronograph production? Is it that it’s powered by an ultra-thin automatic movement, or that its sumptuous yellow gold case measures a perfect 35mm in diameter? What about the fact that its white dial is Tiffany-signed, meaning that it was sold at America’s most famed jeweler? Or how about the caseback engraving, which seems to suggest a profusion of Tri-State Area-based travel in 1973? How about: all of the above?
Omega Speedmaster Specialties Olympic Games ($5,250)
Omega Speedmaster Specialties Olympic Games - IN THE SHOP
Your typical Speedmaster — with its ability to track elapsed time and its multi-use tachymeter scale — is an intriguing mechanical proposition on its own. But this Olympic Games Specialties version from the 2010s ups the utilitarian factor significantly: The five subdials, modeled after the five rings of the Olympic Games logo, display small seconds, a 7-day totalizer, the day of the week, a 12-hour totalizer, and a 30-minute totalizer. Powered by a COSC-certified automatic Calibre 3888 movement, it offers a unique complication paired with Omega’s signature Speedy looks and a comfortable bracelet.
