Journal

Notes from the bench

Christian writes about the pieces, the people and the ateliers behind them.

Patek Philippe 2584 yellow gold watch with black dial, gold hands and subsidiary seconds on a brown strap
Collecting · Patek Philippe 2584 – black épargne dial A Patek Philippe 2584 with black épargne dial by Cadran Stern, one of only two known examples, made with épargne, pickage and limage.
Rolex 6105 in pink gold with fluted bezel, black dial with date window and gold hands on a black strap
Collecting · Rolex 6105 in pink gold with black épargne dial A Rolex 6105 in pink gold with a black épargne dial, protected by a translucent sapon lacquer that the radium lume has since eaten into.
Caseback of Wally Schirra’s gold Omega Speedmaster engraved with his name and missions
Auctions · Wally Schirra’s gold Omega Speedmaster at RR Auction RR Auction offered Wally Schirra’s 18k gold Speedmaster Professional 145.022-69, engraved with his Mercury, Gemini and Apollo missions.
Oval silver pocket watch with silvered dial, moon phase and regulator-style hands, held in a hand
Collecting · Derek Pratt’s oval tourbillon for Urban Jürgensen A unique oval tourbillon pocket watch made by Derek Pratt for Urban Jürgensen, seen close up.
Gold Patek Philippe wristwatch with black lacquer dial, gold markers and small seconds on a brown suede strap
Collecting · Different types of dials – épargne, silver satin, Stern & Lemmerich Three untouched dials – a black épargne by Stern on a Patek Philippe 2584, a silver satin Universal Genève Compax and a Lemmerich Longines – and how to read them.
George Daniels pocket watch in a hand, with moon phase and subsidiary dials on a gold-toned dial
Collecting · Pratt, Daniels & Le Roy Pocket watches by Derek Pratt, George Daniels and Le Roy: complicated watches photographed over the course of a year.
Patek Philippe 3979 in yellow gold with white Roman numeral dial, small seconds and black strap
Auctions · Patek Philippe 3979 and 3974 at auction The Patek Philippe 3979, the first automatic minute repeater, and the 3974 from 1989, both with cases by Jean-Pierre Hagmann, shown at Phillips Hong Kong.
Gold Breguet pocket watch with ring bow, silver dial with two subdials, chain and key
Auctions · Three historic Breguet watches at Sotheby’s London Breguet N°2788, N°1806 and N°20-148, lots 205 to 207 at Sotheby’s London on 28 October 2020, follow the Haub collection sales.
Patek Philippe Nautilus 3700/1 with blue-black dial aged to brown, next to a Rolex Daytona 6265
Collecting · Different shades of tropical: Patek Philippe 3700/1 and Rolex 6265 Two vintage tropical dials side by side: the Patek Philippe Nautilus 3700/1 and the Rolex Daytona 6265, each aged in its own way.
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 5402ST with blue-grey tapisserie dial on a steel bracelet
Collecting · Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 5402ST, A-series The A-series Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 5402ST is much sought after, and a full-spec example in great condition is highly rare.
Patek Philippe 3700/1 Nautilus in steel with a dark embossed dial
Collecting · Patek Philippe 3700/1 with tropical dial A well-preserved Patek Philippe 3700/1 Nautilus with a strong case, firm bracelet and a wonderfully aged tropical dial.
Rolex 6542 GMT-Master with black dial, red and black Bakelite bezel and steel bracelet
Collecting · Rolex 6542 GMT-Master, full set A Rolex 6542 GMT-Master with its original Bakelite bezel and complete papers, including 1987 service correspondence with Rolex London.