Welcome! In this series, we highlight some of the most compelling new watches that have entered the A:S inventory each month.
There's no way around it — this June has been a positively golden month here at Analog:Shift.
More specifically: we've got a ton of cool precious-metal watches on offer, from a solid yellow gold Navitimer to a white gold Cartier Tortue with a salmon dial, and everything in between. Fear not, however! There are still plenty of steel-cased beauties to go around, from a special Hublot 'Not for Sale' service watch to a Vulcain Grand Prix packing serious Polerouter vibes. Check out these (and plenty of other) favorites below, and be sure to refresh our home page often to peruse the latest summer drops!
Breitling Navitimer 'Mille Miglia' ($24,950)
Breitling Navitimer 'Mille Miglia' - SHOP HERE
While the Navitimer — a watch that effectively doubles as a mechanical calculator — is special enough on its own, this solid-gold version from the late 1960s is a cut above the rest. Measuring 40mm and featuring a black dial with contrasting silver subdials and gilt printing, it’s quite simply a thing of beauty. However, this particular example — which is powered by the hand-wound Venus cal. 188 — requires an even closer look: A handsome, detailed caseback engraving indicates that the watch belonged to a member of the Royal Vintage Car Club Belgium who raced in the famed Mille Miglia. Beautiful and storied, this is the type of vintage watch that captures collectors’ attention from across the room.
Hublot 'Not For Sale' Service Watch ($1,995)
Hublot 'Not For Sale' Service Watch - SHOP HERE
In the ‘90s, taking your expensive mechanical Hublot watch in for service meant that you would get more than just a receipt on your way out of the boutique — you’d get a “loaner” watch. These quartz-powered Brutalist pieces were never sold at retail, and they were never meant to be collectible. But this hasn’t stopped them from appearing on the secondary market, complete with a gigantic “SERVICE” mark on the dial and “NOT FOR SALE” branded across the steel caseback. Measuring 36mm and looking like the type of watch that Marcel Breuer might strap on while designing an office building, the Hublot Service Watch is a strange vestige of a more civilized time.
Cartier Tonneau 'Paris' Diamonds ($19,950)
Cartier Tonneau 'Paris' Diamond - SHOP HERE
Now here’s something you don’t see everyday: a salmon-dialed Cartier Tonneau in a guilloché pattern produced by the maison’s Parisian atelier with a diamond-set bezel and a manually-wound movement. Typically, you’d combine that particular set of attributes together and be left sweating at an auction, wondering who in the room you were gonna have to fight in order to secure your dream watch. That you can snag such a thing for under $20K and be left with an absolute stunner of a rare Cartier? Priceless. (It even comes on a black alligator leather strap with a signed, matching deployant clasp. Pretty cool!)
Patek Philippe Gondolo Annual Calendar ($42,500)
Patek Philippe Gondolo Annual Calendar - SHOP HERE
When most people think of complicated Patek Philippe, they picture conventional round-cased watches in the 35-40mm range. However, the Gondolo collection — launched in 1993 in honor of the maison’s relationship with now-defunct Brazilian retailer Gondolo & Labouriau — bucks that trend in favor of cushion-cased novelties. This Ref. 5153J-001, measuring 39mm in yellow gold, dates to the 2010s and features a beautiful perpetual calendar layout with applied indices; triple apertures for the day, date, and month; a moonphase display; and a lovely gold dauphine handset. Powered by the automatic Calibre 324/206, it’s the ideal QP for someone who desires a timepiece at the intersection of classical design and more offbeat modern styling.
Cartier Tank Obus ($22,500)
Cartier Tank Obus - SHOP HERE
While there are myriad distinctive versions of the Cartier Tank, the Obus is certainly among the most striking. Designed in the 1920s, it marries a traditional rectangular Tank form with bullet-shaped lugs that lend it an ornate, architectural quality. Though it’s ducked in and out of the Cartier oeuvre over the past century, vintage versions powered by hand-wound movements housed in slimmer cases are particularly desirable. This 1980s Ref. 79131 is a prime example: Measuring 19mm wide and 32mm tall, it features a traditional silver dial with a chemin de fer minute track, blued steel ‘sword’ handset, and black ‘Roman’ indices found throughout the greater Tank collection. Paired to a black alligator-pattern leather strap with an aftermarket gold-tone pin buckle, it’s the ideal accompaniment to cocktail attire for a fine evening on the town.
Vacheron Constantin Day Date Moonphase ($25,950)
Vacheron Constantin Day Date Moonphase - SHOP HERE
Some people consider the 1990s a horological wilderness — but not us. Some of the loveliest (and most overlooked) pieces stem from this neo-vintage decade, among which are complicated models from the likes of the ‘Holy Trinity.’ Case in point is this tremendously cool Ref. 47009/451J from Vacheron Constantin. Housed within a 34mm yellow gold case with a stepped bezel and an integrated ‘brick’ bracelet, it features a symmetrical day-date display in the form of dual subdials, plus a handy moonphase readout above 6 o’clock. Powered by the Calibre 1126 ultra-thin automatic movement — itself based upon the Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 889 — it’s the type of neo-vintage masterpiece that buyers would do well to pay attention to.
Bulova Accutron 214 'Alpha' ($4,500)
Bulova Accutron 214 'Alpha' - SHOP HERE
Are you a fan of Gilbert Albert’s sumptuous shaped designs for Patek Philippe but would prefer not to take out a second mortgage to purchase one at auction? Then the Bulova Accutron Cal. 214 ‘Alpha’ might just be the right watch for you! Housing the brand’s famed Calibre 214 electronic movement, it features a heart-shaped case in solid yellow gold that further accentuates its adventurous personality. With a tone-on-tone champagne dial, lovely applied indices, and minimal branding, this 34mm 1960s dress watch is perfect for both men and women and would make a lovely, collectible gift — especially considering its correct, signed black leather Bulova strap and yellow gold pin buckle.
Vulcain 'Grand Prix' Dress Watch ($1,495)
Vulcain 'Grand Prix' Dress Watch - SHOP HERE
Searching for the Polerouter aesthetic but don’t fancy spending “vintage U.G.” money? You might try this Vulcain ‘Grand Prix’ from the 1960s. Measuring 35mm in stainless steel and featuring a smooth bezel, a ‘twisted-lug’ design, and a handsome silver dial with an engraved minute track, a ‘roulette’ date wheel, and a ‘dauphine’ handset, it looks every bit the Polerouter part. Powered by an automatic movement held safely beneath a screw-down caseback, it comes paired to a black leather strap with a stainless steel pin buckle, making it an ideal everyday companion for someone whose tastes run more classic.
Piaget Jumbo 'Beta 21' ($26,500)
Piaget Jumbo 'Beta 21' - SHOP HERE
There are certain instances in which a battery-powered watch might carry more (horological) weight than a mechanical equivalent — and such is certainly the case with this Beta 21-equipped Piaget ‘Jumbo.’ Housed in an oversized 33.5mm rectangular yellow gold case with a prominent stepped bezel and integrated lugs, it features a black dial applied indices, a ‘railroad’ minute track, and a ‘baton’ handset powered by the famous Beta 21 — an early Swiss-made quartz movement developed by a consortium of brands including Rolex, Patek Philippe, Omega, and Piaget. Paired to a black alligator leather strap, this piece still exudes elegance and class nearly 60 years after its debut.
Longines 'Art Deco' Tank ($1,995)
Longines 'Art Deco' Tank - SHOP HERE
Looking not unlike a Patek Philippe Ref. 1450 'Top Hat,' this handsome Tank-like Longines is perfect for your dressier days. Executed in yellow gold and powered by a hand-wound Longines cal. 9L movement, it features beautifully sculpted, claw-like hooded lugs combined with a silver dial, applied 'dart' and 'Arabic' indices, a sub-seconds display, and a gold 'dauphine' handset. For someone on the hunt for a more approachable midcentury dress watch from one of Switzerland's most historic makers, this spectacularly cool piece with its brown saddle leather strap couldn't be more appropriate.
