Four of a Kind

That is what they keep telling me LOL! It took a bit faster to get a 16520 than what I anticipated. If there is one positive consequence from the current financial crisis, the watch market has stayed resilient whilst some great pieces are coming out from the woodwork.

The Pacific Peso (aka $A dollar) was stifling this watch collector’s search for the next Daytona to complete the set. Sometimes, however, one does not need to look afar to find a bargain. There was my dream Zenith very close in another state. So a quick phone call and some faith in our courier service resulted in a speedy birthday delivery time. I love getting watches on my Birthday.



Yes the black dial is more collectible, but it has always been the contrast of the white dial that drew my fancy. A closer look will easily reveal why this model drove the popularity of the ‘Daytona’ to the point of becoming the most coveted sports chronograph. A crown that the Rolex Daytona wears to this day.




I just love the contrast of the white dial with the black sub dial registers and the red Daytona wording. Together with the slimmer hour and minute hands, this tritium dial gives the watch a more majestic appearance than its current successor.

The lightness of the bracelet appears flimsy but it is surprisingly comfortable on the wrist. Finally, the domed watch glass also pushes my buttons.

What is inside this watch is just as groundbreaking. Rolex cleverly used the revered Zenith El Primero 400 chronograph calibre, subjecting it to over 200 modifications to reach their rigorous standards. These changes effectively made the Rolex 4030 movement more reliable with vibrations down to 28,000 and accurate with the use of a Breguet hairspring and the Microstella regulation system.

Now that my collection is complete I look forward to how the Daytona will evolve from here.

Here is my collection.





Thanks for having a look at my newest addition. Catch you again soon!

Big Ben Calling

I’ve just come back from a work related marathon tour of the UK and Prague. Naturally I managed to squeeze in a few moments to explore what horological treasures London has to offer.
After a week of hectic meetings discussing the current financial mess, I finally had a whole Saturday to myself to relax and explore the sites. Some good walking shoes were a wise investment.
First stop, a walk down New Bond Street. This is a true luxury bazaar in every sense.

I stumbled into Wempe to be surprised by a very thorough collection of A Lange & Sohne including the split second chrono.



Further down I see Watches of Switzerland.



However I was really searching for the London Patek Philippe Boutique. As luck would have it, it was closed for renovation. Maybe that was a wise thing, as the alternative would have been a personal liquidity crisis (hmm maybe I could have issued some CWO’s (Collaterised Watch Obligations) now there is a thought).





It took a few excursions up and down New and Old Bond Streets until I finally noticed ASPREY showcasing a Rolex 'Paul Newman Daytona' in Gold. I dream of this watch and thought this picture would make a nice tribute to a great man, actor and philanthropist.



‘Paul Newman earned 10 Academy Award nominations but his only Oscar win was for best actor in the 1986 film The Color Of Money with Tom Cruise, portraying the same pool shark, Fast Eddie Felson, he had played when he was nominated in 1961 for The Hustler. A passionate racing car driver since the early 1970s, Newman became co-owner of Newman-Haas racing in 1982 and also founded Newman's Own, a successful food company he built from the ground up in which all the proceeds go to charity. More than $US220 million has been given away to humanitarian projects worldwide from sales of salad dressing, pasta sauce, lemonade, popcorn, salsa and wine. In 1988 he started Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, a residential summer camp for seriously ill children’.

Now off to Burlington Arcade which is a real treasure trove for the vintage watch collector.



I passed by David Duggan who had a rich assortment of Rolex including another Paul Newman Daytona and a wonderful 3970R.



Now, The Vintage Watch Company’s selection would surely drive most vintage Rolex collectors wild. The selection was truly astounding as were the prices. I suspect there is also a real ‘Oyster Pearl ‘ amongst the assortment for everyone.



The best was left at the end of the Arcade. I will leave the photos to do the talking.



WOW, is all I can say at this point.



Here is a Photo for all you Vintage Omega fans.



In summary, one has to say that London is as ever changing as the weather forecasts LOL. A real mecca for the watch connoisseur who demands only the best. The Rolex crown seems to resonate in this place with the highest concentration of vintage watches I have ever witnessed. Guess the notion ‘ they don’t make them like they used to’ bears favour here.

Daytona Madness Pt3 - The Good Shepherd

The mystical Daytona aura has further secured its grip on my heart and soul. After a long drought (about 10 months) I finally got my second and definitely last brand new SS 116520 Daytona. I was at work when I got the surprise email from my AD. Your heart starts pounding faster, priorities change and the hasty walk up to the AD’s shop takes a mere instant. Wish I had the camera to take a shot of my big grin when I placed it on my wrist. All my work colleagues believe I’m watch crazy and this behaviour must confirm it LOL. That said, the passion for watches is very infectious.

I’m still trying to figure out why I sold it the first time, guess it was a guilt response after I bought the Patek 5100J. One gets to appreciate things more the second time round. The 116520 now forms an essential part of my rapidly growing Daytona collection.



I consider each watch in the trio to have very different personalities.





The 6263 is the patriarch of the collection, possibly one of the most striking dial combinations, with each angle revealing another reflective mystery to the eye. The wonders of the Valjoux 727 movement are clearly from another era.

The 116509 by contrast, I believe is the most progressive in the collection. This wondrous dial must clearly be branded as a modern ‘exotic’. I feel that the WG version is more sporty and great to wear on sunny weekends. Another differentiator is its heft.

Of particular interest is difference in the cases when you place the SS and WG side by side.



I think the SS Daytona looks more sedate and conservative when compared to the 116509 WG. The 116520 is a very practical daily wearer. A perfect work companion that complements suave business attire without any pretence. Only another fellow collector would ever appreciate its true significance in horological lore. When noticed on my wrist by the layperson, its seductive lines will often command a discreet second peek.

Wristshot



Naturally only a Daytona zealot will empathise with my assertion that while all three are from the same family they are quite different watches.

A Zenith Daytona is surely the next logical target, however before I can entertain that thought, I need to wage war on the mounting credit card bills. Surely a project for 2009.

Daytona Madness Pt2 - a good companion

Well I have finally worked out that when it comes to Rolex I'm definitely a Speedracer versus a Sea-Dweller or Submariner. My Daytona tale started earlier last year when I had a Z 116520 SS blackface and then sold it (boy have I regretted it since).

Two months ago I started with a 'Grail' 6263 Panda and awaiting another black SS 116520.



HOWEVER LOL, I have always loved the black dial 116509 WG, the dial and contrast is just amazing. A new version of the term 'Exotic dial' comes to mind. No wonder Rolex use this one in all their promotion. A new one at an AD at MSRP is just pure madness. So after some very tough bargaining I managed to get a great deal from the first AD in Sydney but as we were looking at the watch the seconds hand fell off. Bad Karma or what?!

Disappointed, I tried one other AD and they had my conquest in stock so I was lucky to secure it to my wrist.



With a huge celebration in order, my wife and I went to one of Sydney's finest restaurants with arguably the best views of the harbour. It is called 'Level 41'. We had the full six course 'Degustation' with wines and a Laphroaig whisky for me at the end.

Wristshot with the desert tasting plate.



First impressions are very positive. Love the 'Click' sound when one pushes the chrono button. The power reserve of 72hrs and quick wind-up is very practical. Especially when you want to change watches on weekends.


I have to say only Rolex could get away with a full white gold sportswatch with such class. The dial of the 116509 gives a more 'Tres Chic' look and a less formal vibe when compared to the SS models.


Still getting used to the weight of the watch on the wrist. I needed a bit of bling in my collection.

Hope enjoy the post and thanks for looking.

Case of déjà vu – Rolex - third time lucky.

We say that things often come in cycles. That is certainly true when it comes to my collection of Rolex. Rolex is a brand that can be easily overlooked and that was the case in my early collecting habits as I was seduced by lesser known brands.

Whether love or hate it, Rolex certainly deserves to wear the crown in watch making. Value for money, technical robustness, in-house and independence are all prerequisites that appeal to me.

My first introduction to Rolex was a grand experience, as I managed to secure a SS Black Face Z series Daytona. Loved the price point (compared to my Pateks), the accuracy and the 72 hr power reserve which made it the perfect working week watch. Unfortunately it was sacrificed to provide partial funds for my Patek 5100J purchase.

Second introduction came in January this year when I was mesmerised by a tritium dialled Submariner 5513 from 1984. Whilst the dial and hands were perfect, the case was worn and the bracelet was not original. Again it was sacrificed for another Patek.

This behaviour must be suggestive of insanity LOL!

The saying that a watch collection represents a person’s personality certainly rings true. All my WIS colleagues know that I love Patek due to their ability to capture the essence of the watch making art. I suspect that I flock back to Rolex due the aura of their stainless steel sport watches. Isn’t there is a latent explorer, submariner, sea dweller or Daytona racer in all of us. As with Patek, a Rolex movement represents the same level of technical brilliance but in a more robust way.

So with great excitement I fell for the Rolex hex for the third time.

Very quickly the collection was established with a F 16600 Sea-Dweller which faithfully serves my as my daily companion in a hectic working week. I have to say that in terms of accuracy and efficiency the 3135 movement rates very highly.



The dial is pragmatic, extremely legible and one can easily underestimate its intricacies such as the highly accomplished black enamel that under close scrutiny oozes quality.




I’m a firm believer that every serious collection needs a ‘Grail Watch’ to effectively act as a foundation stone. With respect to Rolex, my interpretation of this phenomenon is 6263 silver dialled Daytona.

I caught a glimpse of this magnificent beauty about a year ago, however it was not to be mine. About a month ago, as fate would have it, I stumbled into my regular Rolex and Patek AD. Whilst having a general chat about all things watches he mentioned that a former customer sold an old 6263 silver dialled Daytona. Wow I thought to myself !!!!!

As soon as it came back from the Rolex Service Centre, one look and it was mine.



Love the dial, the plexiglass, the winding noise




The 727 movement is a noisy bugger which is another nice surprise.



A wristshot.



Still kicking myself that I am a lucky owner of a 6263. So far my wife and I have had two bottles of Champagne and a very nice bottle of one of Australia's best Chardonnay.

A wine befitting the 6263.




Sea Dweller shot with the Grail in background.



Thanks for having a look!! Catch you again soon!!

Breakfast with the Magnificent Seven

Thought I would share one of my personal weekend joys. Usually on a weekend morning when I'm sipping on a coffee and reading through the watch forums I take out my collection.


As you can see, the collection has grown from just a 5035G two and half years ago. I often kick myself as to how lucky I am to pursue my dream collection. It is humbling to think that more deserving collectors are lucky just to own one of these wonderful mechanical wonders.

Hope you enjoy your weekend breakfasts as much as I do.

It’s All About Timing

There is a great deal of irony to this latest tale. Actually I first laid eyes on my latest Patek acquisition, about four years ago. At the time I was still learning about the vast array of watch brands on offer. Whilst browsing through the website of a well known Melbourne second-hand watch dealer, I noticed a BNIB Patek 3940J for sale. Almost immediately I coaxed my better half to give the dealer a ring to determine the price. After my wife told me the price, I nearly fell off my chair in disbelief. Thoughts such as: ‘how could a watch cost over $45k’ and ‘I could never justify that amount’ raced through my bewildered mind.

That was four years ago, how perspectives change. Over that time, I periodically browsed through the dealer’s website to see it there was anything of interest. The gracious 3940J kept smiling back at me each time. Initial impressions were that it would be too small on my wrist and that it would not distinguish itself next to my 5035.

Whilst in Japan earlier this year, I was in the lucky position to personally acquaint myself with a 3940. Despite its 36mm size, surprisingly it did not appear peculiar on my 7.8inch wrist. Rather it communicated a timeless sense of style and elegance. Its gracious lines, traditional yellow gold and minimalist sleek design is a sharp contrast to the current fusionised, loud behemoths that keep gaining in popularity.

Within a month of coming back from my holiday, I finally laid claim to the 3940J. To make the occasion more memorable I flew down to our cultural capital Melbourne.

Melbourne City




It is always more enjoyable talking to a watch dealer that is passionate about his work. Amongst our WIS babble he did mention that there was a dramatic rise in the level of interest in the 3940. Actually this comment is not unexpected as four years ago this watch was an expensive pursuit, but given all the price increases, a 3940 on the secondary market represented real value (obviously I’m not alone in this line of thinking). At the same time I’m getting a sense that astute watch collectors are reverting to the classics.

Co-incidentally a fellow Sydney collector was also in town so we decided to check out a local watering hole called the ‘Treasury Bar & Café’.

Chris checking out the beverages





I must admit that acquiring a Patek Philippe grand complication does result in one experiencing an indescribable level of pride and joy. Whether true or imaginary, I feel that including a perpetual has taken my collection to a higher level.

3940J in its house



Good things to come in little packages. Now I finally I understand why Patek was always revered in their ability to develop petite grand complications.


A final wristshot


I am enjoying wearing the 3940J and find it is a great addition to the collection.

Thanks for having a look. Catchyou soon!!