Watches Blog Wrist Watch Reviews

Welcome back to Wrist Game or Crying Shame, the weekly must-read event that has become the internets Clash of the Keyboard Warriors This week, well have some fun with the Patek Philippe 5524G and see if its worth spending your frequent flier miles. But firstLast week, I showed you what has to be the most polarizing Speedmaster Limited Edition to date with the Apollo XVII 40th Anniversary model. Polarizing means that you like it or not. Or, in the case of sunglasses, it means you cant see sh*t on your heads-up display. And folks, you did not see or like this watch. This Speedy was routed in an 85% Crying Shame loss.Yes, Ive embraced schadenfreudeMe? I enjoyed giving Gerard youll recall that [...]

In this new Sunday morning column, two of our writers go head-to-head in an epic showdown for the ages. Strong opinions and hysterical hyperbole are welcome (so feel free to join in with the fun in the comments section below). And don't forget to let us know which watches you'd like to see torn to shreds/effusively exalted next week. We'll try and feature as many of our readers' choices as we can. This week its the turn of the Patek Philippe Nautilus. Let battle commence.Rob NuddsI was a slow convert to the Patek Philippe Nautilus. For years, I just didn't get it. The furor surrounding this weird anomaly in the brand's catalog? Why? If I wanted a steel sports watch, I'd go to a brand known f [...]

Since the introduction of the Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711/1A in 2006, the watch has reached a mythical status. Especially during the last few years, it seems this watch has been picked up by a larger audience than ever before.With a retail price of?26.810,- Euro, not an easy sell for an all stainless steel watch with no complications other than a date. Wrong These watches have a long waiting list today, and a pre-owned Nautilus 5711/1A is not a cheap alternative with prices starting at around 40.000,- Euro. It is the watch craze we live in today I am afraid, but it has gone to extremes with the Nautilus.Patek Philippe Nautilus 3700/1A and 5711/1A TodayThis article is a comparison between th [...]

It seems not even Patek Philippe is immune to the olive green trend weve seen sweep the industry in recent months. Following the high-profile discontinuation of the 5711 blue dial earlier this year, we knew something was just around the corner. This model, reference 5711/1A-014, is touted as the last of its kind. The last Nautilus of this generation, or so we believe. The question to you, dear Fratelli, is do you think that this olive green version is a fitting swan song for one of the industrys most enduring classics?The Patek Philippe Nautilus has undergone many subtle changes throughout its almost half-century of existence. Few iterations have been as beloved and well balanced as the 5711 [...]

Nothing really new under the Sun with this Patek Philippe Nautilus 5726/1A, but you bet that they need to create (another) waiting list for it. Were talking about the Nautilus with annual calendar and moon phases display.It is no secret that I love and respect the Patek Philippe Nautilus. The original reference 3700/1A being my favourite by far, with the original monobloc case construction (porthole) and caliber 28-255C movement. A close second is a watch that was introduced 30 years later and stayed very close to the original design, the reference 5711/1A. I did a comparison article between the original Patek Philippe Nautilus 3700/1A and the (current) reference 5711/1A here.Patek Philippe [...]

A 7-year waiting list for the Patek Philippe Nautilus. Youll already need to own a Patek Philippe already in order to order a Nautilus. A new Patek Philippe Nautilus is the perfect investment. Just a few of the discussions and statements we have read, heard and had ourselves about the Patek Philippe Nautilus in the past.The Patek Philippe Nautilus collection consists of 33 different watches today, the newest model being this Nautilus 5740/1G, or the Nautilus Perpetual Calendar. The Nautilus 5740/1G is actually the first grand complication in the collection. While the simple three-hand Nautilus 5711/1A is the most wanted reference, there is also a date moon phase model (reference 5712), an a [...]

I guess by now youve heard of the Patek Philippe 5711. If not, let me brief you: basically, it is the modern stainless steel iteration of Gerald Gentas (other) classic. It is one of the most desirable sports watches on the planet. In all seriousness, any list without the Nautilus in the top ten is lying to you. It is so desirable, in fact, that Patek Philippe can command 30,400 for a new one. Better still, pre-loved dealers are seeing prices for the recently discontinued blue dial model approach quarter of a million smackers. Thats a lot of cheddar for any mouse. However, if you cant be mithered mixing it with the plebs as they chase after the boring 5711, how about you park your Ferrari on [...]

After the dust clouds settled at Baselworld 2019, the Patek Philippe Alarm Travel Time 5520P was one of the most talked-about watches of the fair. Another great introduction is the updated version of the Patek Philippe 5235R Annual Calendar Regulator. It may be less talked about than the Alarm Travel Time 5520P, but its at least as divisive.Its funny how most of the discussion about Patek Philippe as a brand is about the design of their new watches. There is hardly anyone that doesnt think that Patek watches are technically brilliant and that their level of craftsmanship is almost unparalleled. The design of new Patek watches, on the other hand, does cause a lot of discussions. Some of the d [...]

This week on Wrist Game or Crying Shame, I enjoy a neo-vintage Patek Philippe Gondolo 5014G. The question will be whether you feel the same or not. But firstLast week, I showed you the more recent Omega Seamaster Bullhead in white dial form and a healthy dose of red, white, and blue. Well, folks, I literally couldnt have scripted a more appropriate watch post election because this oddball finished with a Wrist Game win by wait for it four measly votes. Our Head of Operations, Daniel, is currently administering a recount. I expect results by 2022. Todays watch is bound to polarize, but I dont care. Lets talk about the Patek Philippe Gondolo 5014G.Patek PhilippeI absolutely need to level wit [...]

Salmon dials have a strange effect on me. Whether it was one of the salmon dial Rolex Datejusts?in the 1990s, the salmon dialled Chronoswiss R|gulateur Automatique CH1223, Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Jumbo 14802 or Sinn 356 watches, I felt heavily attracted to them. Yet, I never bought one as I felt too scared. With this Patek Philippe 5270P (P for platinum), the dial has yet again that same effect on me.Patek Philippe 5270P Salmon DialAlthough I regret not buying the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak with the salmon dial (and the prices went berserk), I could have bought the Chronoswiss or Datejust with that dial. Yet I actually never dared to do it. Not because I think rose or salmon isnt masculine [...]

Whether you like Patek Philippe and its watches or not, I think there's one thing we can all agree on: the brand is up there at the very top of watchmaking artistry. Today, the Genevan manufacture presents a world debut of six models from the current collection as part of its 2021 rare handcrafts exhibition. Each watch features artistic decorations such as manual engraving, grand feu cloisonn enamel, grand feu champlev enamel, grand feu flinqu enamel, manual guilloch , and gem-setting. Of these six, I wanted to take a look at one in particular, the Ref. 5374G-001 minute repeater with a perpetual calendar.Why this one in particular? Well, not only is it my favorite of the collection but lo [...]

Among many ladies releases from last year, perhaps the most bittersweet was Patek's minimalistic manchette-styled Twenty~4. Considering what modern women demand from a watch, it fell just short. My heart went out to the rectangular design but not to the movement. Almost as if Patek heard my cry, the brand has decided to start this year in a big way. I'm thrilled that two of the three ladies' novelties, feature the in-house Caliber 324 S C self-winding movement.Patek Twenty~4 AutomaticMany of you know that I adore ladies watches. They are sophisticated and many of them have a touch of flair that I love. Even without diamonds, they are attention-grabbers. Unfortunately, very few of them have a [...]

First conceived in 1999 by Patek, the Twenty~4 watch became a fleeting icon. In its day, it championed the renaissance of timeless, feminine design in the rectangular form. As such, it quickly gained popularity with women wanting to wear a Patek timepiece on their wrists. But after fading from the spotlight, is it ready to retake old ground once more?After producing different variations of this rectangular timepiece, 2018 saw an automatic version in a round case join the Twenty~4 family. However, the allure of the petite, rectangular Patek was kept alive by the gold timepiece which paid homage to the 90s releases. This October, Patek has reinvented the aesthetic of the very first Twenty~4. U [...]

One of my biggest fears is that I take things for granted. And by things, I mean both immaterial and material ones. Let me focus on the material side of my fear since this is a watch website and not a self-help platform. When you see as many watches as I do a privileged situation, I know it can cause an overload of the senses. You go numb a bit. Watches start to look alike, and prices become numbers without meaning. That's bad. A watch journalist needs to be sharp and open-minded like a child. And during the recent Watches And Wonders show in Geneva, I did feel like a child again, and what I saw sharpened my senses. After an intense touch-and-feel session, I was back in on cloud nine with Pa [...]

Patek Philippe graces us with two new timepieces inspired by vintage watches from the Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva. The first release is the Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar 5320G. The reference 5230 was introduced in 2017 with a cream-colored dial. While that watch is no longer part of the current collection, Patek Philippe decided to re-introduce it with a stunning new aesthetic. The second release is the Patek Philippe Chronograph 5172G, introduced in 2019 in a beautiful deep blue color. For both releases, Patek Philippe chose to equip the watches with beautiful gilded opaline rose gold dials, or as most people call them, salmon dials. Lets take a look at these two stylish beauties.Th [...]

Right out of the gates, Patek Philippe releases two of the biggest show stoppers of Watches Wonders 2022. The first is the all-new Patek Philippe Annual Calendar Travel Time Ref. 5326G-001. The watch is a brilliant display of vintage-inspired style and technical ingenuity. It combines an annual calendar and a travel time complication?that displays two time zones. It is launched together with the automatic Calatrava Ref. 5226G-001 which features the same stunning overall new style. This is a pair of watches that introduces an explorer-chic that is brilliant. Lets find out more.The big introduction for Patek Philippe this year is the Annual Calendar Travel Time Ref. 5326G-001. For the timepie [...]

Our friend Jeff Stein from OnTheDash shows his grails from Heuer. An amazing article with an overview of his Heuers with beautiful close-up pictures and descriptions.I confess I dont know that much about Heuer. There are other Fratelli that have more knowledge about these. There are also websites like Jeff Steins OnTheDash. His website is considered to be the authority on the subject. Ive had the pleasure to meet Jeff for the first time not too long ago in Switzerland, but we have known each other for much longer as we shared an old friend in common.Skipperrera. Image by Analog Shift.Vintage Heuer GrailsJeff Stein also makes some recommendations on alternatives to each of these grails. He wr [...]

For this weeks 52Mondayz, I chose to wear the Omega Seamaster Ploprof 1200M. The Ploprof has become an icon of the watch industry over five decades. But it hasnt become the icon everyone is after, simply because its a watch that not everyone can wear. However, after wearing it for four weeks straight, I was reminded that the Ploprof is definitely for me.I dont recall precisely when I had my first encounter with an Omega Seamaster Ploprof, but it was in the early 2000s. Robert-Jan and I visited fellow Fratello team member Gerards store as we did regularly back in those days. I still remember Robert-Jan pointing me in the direction of a freakishly bold watch with a big red button on it, and fr [...]

Omega likes to celebrate some of the Apollo missions. Although you might think this is a recently-adopted practice of the last few years, it started in 1969 with the gold Speedmaster commemorating Apollo XI. Here we pick-up on a lesser-known animal The Omega Speedmaster Professional Apollo 15 35th Anniversary model.Omega likes to celebrate some of the Apollo missions. Although you might think this is a recently-adopted practice of the last few years, it started in 1969 with the gold Speedmaster commemorating Apollo XI.Then, in 1976, Omega celebrated the 1975 Apollo/Soyuz rendezvous with a special Speedmaster, limited to just 500 pieces. Apart from some Apollo XI commemorative editions in the [...]

Welcome back to Wrist Game or Crying Shame, the weekly series that aims to make all of your New Years Resolutions come true This week, we take a look at the Omega Speedmaster Reduced, reference 3510.50.00Fear not, Mike fans. Im not taking-over this column permanently. Im just standing-in for everyones favorite bargain (or not) hunter for one week and one week only. So what have I decided to put to you during my time in the hot seat? Ive chosen a model that has given me some sleepless nights. Is it a quiet classic? Is it an unfortunate misadventure? There are strong opinions on both sides, so Im turning it over to you, the Fratelli, to make a sound judgment. I bring you the Omega Speedmaster [...]