pocket watch

This is the very first pocket watch from Swiss Angular Momentum, and continues along the trend I have been predicting that pocket watch releases are becoming popular among luxury Swiss watch makers. These releases aren't meant for large volume sales, but there seems to be an "image" rationale for releasing these more traditional style timepieces. As always, Angular Momentum chooses to do this in its own unique manner - so you have a very non traditional pocket watch here.

They call it the Freehand Pocket watch, from their Freehand watch collection. The term refers to the fact that the watch makers chooses how he wants the watch to look as it is being made, as opposed to having undergone lots of pre-design work. You get a really organic feel that appears to stem from the emotions of the designer themselves.

The pocket watch is an evolution on Angular Momentum's newer Tec/500 diver watch. Both share the same style dial and hands, and also have the same wonderful enamel based luminant in two colors that make up the dial. The 46mm wide case features a Staybrite steel case with an intentionally unpolished side. There are sapphire crystals on the front and fear of the watch with a uniquely designed view into the Swiss automatic movement. Also of interest is the fact that Angular Momentum decided to make the crown a separate structure than the ring of the pocket watch - as often times these elements are integrated. This is easily one of the most unique Swiss pocket watches of the year.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

This seems to be the year of pocket watch from haute luxury watch makers. Something about a "return to classic tradition and heritage of the brand." Say that out-loud in an obnoxious ambiguously European accent for the "full effect." From Glashütte Original comes the lovely limited edition Pocket Watch No. 1. Maybe it is their first pocket watch, at least I think it is in the modern era.

Really the pocket quite is quite classic, in most every design sense. Details are still thin, so I can't tell you about the price or size yet. Expect that it is "of average pocket watch size." I do know that the case is in 18k rose gold, with hinged lids on both the dial and caseback. The dial is enamel, with blued steel hands, and painted Roman numeral hour markers. It has a tasteful looking subsidiary seconds dial as well.

Movement is the hand-wound 84-10, newly design caliber movement that has a few nice features. In addition to the time, the movement has a quarter repeater mechanism. Activating a lever on the side of the watch enables the watch to repeat the time back to you in an audio form, that is accurate to the closest quarter hour. The movement also features a zero-reset mechanism for the seconds hand, which resets the seconds indicator when you pull the crown out for accurate setting.

The Pocket Watch No. 1 comes with a matching rose gold chain. The watch looks very handsome, but carrying around a pocket watch these days is certainly an acquired taste. Glashutte Original is making just 25 pieces in this limited edition, that will be officially unveiled at Baselworld in March.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

A Patek Philippe Yellow Gold Calibre 89 pocket watch, the world's most complex timepiece as mentioned by my colleague Ariel Adams last month, just sold for a world record price of CHF 5,120,000, or $5.068 million at Antiquorum's 35th Anniversary Sale in Geneva. "The incredible result realized for the Calibre 89 in our 35th anniversary auction indicates that the market for the most complicated and important watches in the world remains exceptionally strong," notes Antiquorum Chairman Robert Maron. "We are extremely honored to have sold this exceptional and unique timepiece for the second time in Antiquorum's history and are thrilled that we have once again achieved a world record price at auction." With a staggering 33 complications, the watch weighs nearly 2.5 lbs. and has an 18k yellow gold case. It was made to honor the 150th anniversary of the famed Swiss watchmaker.

Want to check out the Breguet Ref. 1160 pocket watch that you've been hearing so much about? Didn't get a chance to see it while it was at the Breguet exhibit at the Lourve in Paris? Well if you are in Los Angeles or New York City at the right times in October, you'll have your chance to see this amazing replica. No, you won't get to see the original. That is going to be unavailable for the masses to enjoy out side of the vault display in Israel for a while I suspect.

If you are unfamiliar with the story, it is pretty simple and you can Google it for more details, though understand that no one really knows the whole story, so take what you read about the "later history" of the watch with a grain of salt. Breguet was commissioned almost 200 years ago to make the most complex watch in the world for Marie Antoinette. She died before it was completed, but Breguet eventually finished the Marie Antoinette Pocket watch after years of efforts. After passing ownership several times over the years, the watch eventually ended up as part of a pocket watch and clock exhibit at a museum in Jerusalem, Israel. There it was mysteriously stolen in the early 1980s, and just as mysteriously discovered again about 2 years ago. Which leads me back to the replica. Swatch Group (which owns Breguet) owner Nicolas Hayek wanted to make a replica of the Marie Antoinette watch that was faithful to the original. Only problem is that he didn't have the original to model it after. All that existed were some diagrams and photos. Ironically, soon after the replica was finished, the original turned up. I am sure the people who spent the few years painstakingly trying to reproduce the pocket watch were frustrated to say that least - that if they had only waited a bit longer they would have had the original to check out. Oh well!

Breguet is planning a quick tour of the Breguet Ref. 1160 to be shown at the Breguet Boutiques in LA and NYC this month (see details below). The one-off piece is NOT for sale, but you'll conveniently be at a Breguet store if you are feeling up to a new timepiece acquisition.

Beverly Hills
October 14 (10-2 pm)
October 15 & 16 (10-6 pm)
The Breguet Boutique
280 North Rodeo Drive
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Telephone: (310) 860-9911

New York City
October 19 (2-6 pm)
October 20 & 21 (10-6 pm)
The Breguet Boutique
779 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10065
Telephone: (212) 288-4014

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Using their brand new manually wound Caliber 4400 movement, Vacheron Constantin releases a new rare pocket watch. This is actually the first time since 1992 that the exclusive Swiss brand has released a new pocket watch. While demand for pocket watches is not nearly the same as for wrist watches, it is a matter of heritage and of course personal style for some.

The Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Contemporaine pocket watch will be included in their Excellence Platine collection for the timepiece is totally done in platinum. It is a smaller in size for a pocket watch, being 43mm wide, but is still heavy given the luxurious material. The dial is classic Patrimony collection-- stark, simple, and elegant. All of the watch itself is in platinum including the case, dial, and hands. The watch comes in a leather pouch with a leather strap to hold the pocket watch. It will be limited to just 50 pieces.

Images via The Hour Lounge.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Mahatma Gandhi was never known as a man of many possessions. Regardless, everyone needs a watch, Gandhi included. As part of Anitqorum's March 4-5 watch auction, Gandhi's Zenith alarm pocket watch will be made available. The circa 1910-1915 pocket watch is not in the best condition, as you can see the subsidiary hands are missing, and the dial needs to be refinished. The new owner will have to decide whether to restore the watch, or leave it as is for display purposes only. Overall, it is amazing that such a watch would ever be available in an auction.

Before Gandhi died, he gave the watch to his grandniece, Abha Gandhi (who was also his assistant for 6 years). From there the watch must have in a private collection or two before being now available - though it possibly could have stayed in the family. Interestingly enough, in the same lot are other Gandhi items including his glasses, sandals, bowl, plate, and letters to authenticate it all. The expected auction yield for the pocket watch itself is between $20,000 and $30,000 dollars.

Ariel Adams publishes the watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

The latest important watches auction from Antiquorum features a couple of watches with famous provenance. The auction in Geneva from May 12 to May 13 will include the LeRoy and Fils pocket watch, once owned by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The 18K rose gold and polychrome enamel minute-repeating pocket watch by Le Roy and Fils, circa 1890, is estimated at $90,000-$105,000.The auction's over 700 lots also include an IWC wristwatch owned by Charlie Chaplin estimated at $15,000-$18,000. The auction is top-heavy with a bunch of pricey Patek Philippe watches and some beautiful pocket watches like the Apollo and the Four Seasons watch created by George Michael Moser in the 1770s, a jeweled piece set to sell for $145,000 -$180,000.

[via National Jeweler]

Pocket watches don't always have to be round and antiquated. Tissot's T-Pocket is a modern version of the traditional timepiece. The T across the top can also serve as a supporting stand. The watch is available in steel or black PVD. The watch has an integrated alarm, a quartz movement and a battery with a three year life. It has a suggested retail of $350.