Baselworld 2015: Introducing the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Reference 114300

I am certainly not the sort of collector who gets hyped-up over the, relatively speaking, "complicated" modern Rolexes; whereas, I'm most intrigued by the simpler Oyster Perpetuals. Let's take a closer look at the new reference 114300....

2015, Rolex, Baselworld 2015, Oyster Perpetual, ReviewLuke RottmanMarch 18, 2015Rare Rolex, Basel World 2015, Rolex, Oyster PerpetualComment

On The Web: An Unbelievably Cool Movado Chronograph Up For Sale

Let's travel back to 1930. At a small factory in La Chaux-de-Fonds, some of the world's finest hand-wound chronograph movements are assembled and fitted into their proper cases. This factory is the home base to a rapidly-growing, but relatively young, Swiss watch company called Movado.

The Blazing Richard Mille RM011 Orange Storm

No other watch brand is as connected to sports as Richard Mille. Whether you're in the stands at Le Mans or only feet from centre court at Rolland Garros, you're apt to spot one of Richard Mille's creations somewhere in the crowd (or strapped on an athlete's wrist). The RM011 Orange Storm is more than perfect for a fast-paced environment....

IN DEPTH: Best Five Vintage Buys Under $500

I spend my mornings studying Pateks, my afternoons advising collectors as they deliberate over their next purchases, and my nights writing about literally superlative Rolexes. Oh, and my grail watch just happens to be an A-series Royal Oak. But through all of this, my budget is still limited to $500, and not a penny more. So lately I’ve been scouring the web for something cool, collectible, and worth my while. I’ve got to tell you, this has been one heck of a search so far, and it won’t get any easier, but that’s where all the fun is in acquiring a watch.

Let’s get down to business: Here’s my list of the best five vintage buys under $500.

The Hublot Big Bang Unico "All Black" Review [WITH VIDEO]

Last year, Hublot launched the first edition of the Big Bang Unico: A wristwatch from their most celebrated collection featuring an innovative in-house flyback chronograph movement. Hublot has now introduced a more recent variation of this piece, the Big Bang Unico "All Black."

Hublot, In-House, LVMH, ReviewLuke RottmanAugust 20, 2014Hublot, Big Bang, Unico, Black Ceramic, Baselworld, 2014, Chronograph, LVMHComment

Introducing The Octa Sport Titanium By F.P.Journe

In June of 2011, F.P.Journe unveiled the Centigraphe Sport: The first, and only all-aluminum wristwatch to ever be proffered to the public. The ability to manufacture a wristwatch with a feather-like weight coupled with post-contemporary looks was a distinction for Journe and a horological coup.

In-House, Review, Watch Review, FPJourneLuke RottmanJuly 25, 2014FPJourne, Octa Sport, Haute Horology, Sports watchesComment

HANDS-ON: Introducing The IWC Aquatimer Automatic

A short while ago, I visited with IWC to get a closer look at the watch I have just been dying to see, the Aquatimer Automatic from SIHH 2014. At a glimpse, this watch isn’t dissimilar to its predecessors, but when actually taking the time to sit down and further examine the watch, the modifications speedily become evident. As with most, if not all, professional diving watches, the case is constructed of super-durable stainless steel and, overall, is rugged in nature. To be honest, it wears a bit loudly on my wrist, but at 42 millimeters in diameter and 14 millimeter in height, it’s ideally sized for a modern dive watch, actually the smallest watch of the Aquatimer collection.

Hands-On, Review, SIHH, Richemont, IWCLuke RottmanJuly 16, 2014IWC, German watchmaking, Diver, dive watches, Boutique Visit, SIHH, RichemontComment

HANDS-ON: Two, Out-Of-This-World, Steel Pateks From Baselworld 2014.

Who could argue that Patek Philippe has produced many the world’s most exquisite watches? Whether it may be the 3940 in white gold, the steel 1518, or the first Nautilus, reference 3700/1A, this colossus of a brand has manufactured an abundance of truly exceptional timepieces. The basis of my visit with Patek was to take a look at two very special, very desirable pieces from Baselworld, watches that I believe will go down in history as nothing short of spectacular.

Hands-On, Patek Philippe, Review, BaselworldLuke RottmanJune 27, 2014Patek, A visit with Patek Philippe, Nautilus, Annual CalendarComment

Watch and Roll from The Stones

The Rolling Stones have recently partnered with Zenith to create a two hundred and fifty piece limited edition of the El Primero Chronomaster. To the best of my knowledge, this is the first time a rock band, or a band of any genre, has collaborated with a high-end swiss company to produce a line of musically inspired watches.

Review, Zenith, LVMHLuke RottmanJune 10, 2014Zenith, Rolling Stones, Classic Watches, Classic Rock, El PrimeroComment

On The Watch: Vintage Racing Chronographs A.K.A. The Monaco Bros

If you read my last “vintage” article, “Watches That Will Make Any Collector Fall to His Knees,” you’d know that I am a hardcore online vintage watch watcher. So what exactly is an “online vintage watch watcher?” An “online vintage watch watcher” is an individual who spends 99% of his or her time scouring through watch listings on various watch-trading sites, but never seems to purchase anything. Yep, so that basically describes me every night of the week. Anyway, I decided that I would go on a quest to find the most perfect, flawless, iconic vintage chronographs out there and this is what I found.

The Panerai Luminor Marina 8 Days Acciaio: A Modern Classic

Today, I’d like to introduce you to the new Panerai Luminor Marina 8 Days Acciaio, a modern sports watch that, I suspect, one day will be a vintage treasure. This watch is the epitome of a perfect Panerai: a clean dial, an in-house movement, a rugged pebbled-leather strap, and a case that has the weight of a solid block of steel. The official name of this watch is the PAM 590, a name that I know we all will be hearing a lot more of.

Richemont, Review, Panerai, SIHHLuke RottmanMay 29, 2014Panerai, SIHH, Richemont, Luminor, 8 Days Power Reserve, Acciaio, Swiss WatchmakingComment

HANDS-ON [WITH LIVE PICS]: Introducing the JLC Grand Reverso Ultra Thin 1931 Chocolate

Today, I spent some time looking back at some of my favorite watches from this year’s shows. As I was sorting through my millions of wristies (no not selfies, wristies), I found a few awesome pictures of an also awesome Reverso. But this was not just any Reverso: this was the Ultra Thin 1931 Chocolate Reverso, the watch that was under the spotlight at 2014’s SIHH. This irrefutably stunning wristwatch combines JLC’s technical sophistication as well as the brand’s appreciation of the icon’s (still referring to the watch) heritage.