Welcome! In this series, we highlight some of the most compelling new watches that have entered the A:S inventory each month.
How goes it, fellow horological treasure pickers?
If you’ve been paying attention to the watch media lately, then you’ve seen Audemars Piguet’s latest trove of 21 shiny new watches, among which are several cool Royal Oaks. But we think you should turn your attention to the lovely ‘Bamboo’ we’ve got on hand: Though its sumptuous precious metal design is a far cry from the OG luxury sports watch, its incredible artistry is sure to draw you in.
Fear not, however: If rough-and-tumble tool watches are more your speed, we’ve also got an awesome 1980s Seiko quartz-powered diver, plus a Unimatic made in collaboration with HODINKEE. And as for complicated pieces — we’ve got those, too. (Just feast your eyes on the beautiful 1940s triple-calendar that we’re proudly offering for sale this month.) As usual, these are just the tip of the Swiss-made iceberg, so don’t hesitate to reach out to us if there’s something we can help you hunt down.
Seiko 'Pepsi' Quartz Diver ($575)
Seiko 'Pepsi' Quartz Diver - IN THE SHOP
You’re looking at the best $600 you could ever spend in quartz watches. The Ref. 7548-700B — which precedes the famed SKX-series of mechanical divers — features a battery-powered movement based upon the architecture of the famed Ref. 6309 series. Robust, highly legible, comfortable, and good looking, this 42mm diver comes with a bi-color blue-and-red ‘Pepsi’ bezel, a luminous black dial with puffy tritium plots and a day-date display, plus a matching steel multi-link bracelet. Dating to the 1980s, it’s the type of watch that will attract knowing nods from collectors of all stripes.
Bulgari Diagono Sport Chronograph ($2,450)
Bulgari Diagono Sport Chronograph - IN THE SHOP
If it’s good enough for Al Pacino to wear in Heat, it’s good enough for the rest of us! The Bulgari Diagono Sport Chronograph predates the Octo Finissimo craze by some two decades, but its “BVLGARI BVLGARI”-signed bezel and quirky lug design are indicative of the avant-garde things to come. Measuring 35mm in stainless steel, it features a black dial with a triple-register chronograph and date display powered by a handy quartz movement. Meanwhile, an integrated black leather strap with a cool stainless steel pin buckle seals the deal.
Vacheron Constantin 'Calatrava' ($8,500)
Vacheron Constantin 'Calatrava' - IN THE SHOP
If the dial of this magnificently cool ‘Calatrava’-type dress watch read “Patek Philippe,” we’d be talking about a very different price point. But this 34mm yellow gold beauty was actually produced by Vacheron Constantin — and at well under $10,000, it’s an absolute steal. Dating to the 1960s, it features an incredible black dial with patination that’s beginning to turn “tropical,” plus a set of applied yellow gold indices, an outer 1/5th-seconds track, and a ‘pencil’ handset. Powered by a hand-wound movement and paired to a brown leather strap with a yellow gold pin buckle, it’s an ideal, dressy companion for a black-tie affair.
Piaget 'Tiger's Eye' ($12,250)
Piaget 'Tiger's Eyes' - IN THE SHOP
Could there be anything more delightfully 1970s than this eccentric Piaget dress watch? Housed in a square-shaped 24mm yellow gold case with a hobnail-texture gold bracelet, it features a tiger’s eye bezel surrounding a gold section in a raised hobnail texture, within which is a beautiful tiger’s eye dial fitted with a gold ‘dauphine’ handset. Thin, comfortable, and lovely, it’s powered by an ulta-thin, hand-wound movement and is completed with a Piaget-signed clasp. A spectacular version of a midcentury “jewelry watch,” it’s ready for a second lease on life on the wrist of an appreciative owner.
Unimatic Modello Uno Carbon GMT Limited Edition for HODINKEE ($1,750)
Unimatic Modello Uno Carbon GMT Limited Edition for Hodinkee - IN THE SHOP
Unimatic’s mashup of Bauhaus-inflected design and modern horological tropes is a consistently winning formula. But when the Italian microbrand teamed up with HODINKEE to offer a unique take on its GMT model, all bets were off: Its 41.5mm black carbon case and engraved 24-hour bezel insert are simply too cool for school, while its striking dial indices recall the best of classic tool watch designs from the likes of Tudor and Rolex. Powered by the automatic ETA 2893-2 movement, it’s the ideal watch for the frequent traveler and adventurer.
Audemars Piguet 'Bamboo' Dress Watch ($24,500)
Audemars Piguet 'Bamboo' Dress Watch - IN THE SHOP
The Royal Oak will never lose its place at the top of the Audemars Piguet food chain — but the ‘Bamboo,’ with its integrated, ‘beaded’ bracelet and its bamboo shoot-like bezel, may be even more innovative than Genta’s famed luxury sports watch. Measuring 27mm in yellow gold, this spectacular 1970s example features a handsome champagne dial with diamond-set indices and — believe it or not — a thin automatic movement. Eye-catching yet subtle with respect to its proportions, it’s the perfect dress watch for a collector who appreciates a bit of ‘70 glamor.
Movado Calendograph 'Pink Gold' ($5,250)
Movado Calendograph 'Pink Gold' - IN THE SHOP
Housed in a 34mm solid pink gold case, this complicated complete calendar watch is proof positive of Movado’s position as one of the great 20th-century watchmaking maisons. In addition to its attractive ‘cornes de vache’ lugs, it featured a highly patinated silver dial with applied ‘Breguet’ indices, an outer pointer date track, a sub-seconds display, and apertures for the day of the week and the month. With its Spanish-language displays powered by the hand-wound Movado cal. 475, it’s possible to infer that this piece was sold in a Spanish-speaking market in the 1940s.
Longines Pearl Cocktail Watch ($3,950)
Longines Pearl Cocktail Watch - IN THE SHOP
We’re not sure if you’ve heard, but classic 20th-century cocktail watches are once again all the rage, and this magnificent piece from Longines is emblematic of the trend: Housed within a compact 17mm white gold housing, it features a diamond-set bezel and spectacular diamond-set lugs; a simple silvered dial with applied ‘doorstop’ indices and a thin ‘pencil’ handset, a hand-wound movement, and an incredible bracelet consisting of strings of pearls alternating with diamond-set links. Imagine the look on a significant other’s face when she opens a gift revealing this 1950s beauty!
Mathey-Tissot Two-Tone Dress Watch ($850)
Matthey-Tissot Two-Tone Dress Watch - IN THE SHOP
Is it possible to capture 1970s Piaget vibes at a fraction of the cost? Sure is. This incredible two-tone, chrome-plated Matthey-Tissot is just the thing to conjure full-on disco vibes: Featuring a 27mm rectangular case paired to a matching rouleaux-style bracelet, it boasts a cool silver dial with horizontal striping, applied gold-tone cardinal indices, and a gold-tone ‘dauphine’ handset. Proudly powered by a reliable, Japanese-made quartz movement, its thin case and bracelet are the ideal, lightweight accompaniment to a fashionable night out on the town.
Tissot 'Pontiac' ($2,950)
Tissot 'Pontiac' - IN THE SHOP
The world of ‘award’ watches is a fascinating one — and one that is almost entirely a thing of the past. This cool stainless steel Tissot features the Pontiac logo on the dial, and was indeed given to a recipient of the carmaker’s Service Craftsman Award following 20 years of faithful service. Powered by a hand-wound movement and measuring 34mm in diameter, it boasts a silver dial with applied indices and luminous hands in excellent condition. Whether you wear it while driving a Pontiac is up to you — but we’d highly recommend it!
