Watch Facts

Manual winding movement Caliber 95290, 54 jewels, 44mm in Platinum.

The Zenith El Primero Split Second Chronograph ref 03.2050.4026/91.c714, Stainless Steel 44mm case, automatic 36000 VPH movement, grand date display, 50 hours power reserve, COSC, this is the king of all Chronographs, priced at US$16,400

• It also features a perpetual calendar with an equation of time.
• 45mm Case is in Platinum PT950 set with 477 baguette-cut diamonds on case, dial and bracelet, weighing a total of 60.2 carats.
• Manual winding gyro tourbillon movement Calber 177, made up of 679 components with 118 jewels.
• The mechanism has two carriages; the outer carriage rotates once every 60 seconds, the inner carriage rotates once every 24 seconds.
• Inside the inner carriage is the 14k gold balance wheel, balance spring, and the escapement; the tourbillon carriage is made out of aluminium and titanium construction, comprises no fewer than 90 parts, weighs less than half a gram.
• Power reserve is at 8 days.
• Priced at (approx.) 1,380,000€

It has a manual winding caliber GF02; 120 hours power reserve; inner tourbillon inclined at 30° and rotating in 60 seconds; outer tourbillon rotating in four minutes. 18k gold case in 48mm. Priced (at the time) US$560,000.00

18k rose gold case in 43mm with a thickness of 12mm. Manual winding movement DB2004, using the inhouse patented 4 spoke titanium balance with platinum weights. Perpetual calendar with astronomical moonphase. Power reserve is 5 days. Several technical aspects make this a very interesting watch to collect; first of all a legible perpetual calendar is something not talked about more often enough. Many perpetual calendar on the market are simply impossible to read; this DB17 is very legible with a simplistic approach in dial design. Secondly, the moonphase is not only incredible because of its Astronomical Moonphase ability (meaning its accurate up to 122 years), but also it is a spherical moon, adding even more uniqueness to the watch. Produced in very small quantity in the early days of the brands’ launch.

only 51pc made, manual wind using the fusee chain system, Tourbillon and split second chronograph. Calibre L903.0, 43 jewels, tourbillon regulator with fusée-and-chain transmission, solid silver matte dial, small seconds, power reserve indicator. Platinum case in 41mm. Priced at US$508,900.00

Ikepod started in 1993-1994, when Oliver Ike, Swiss businessman who was in the furniture industry, hired Marc Newson to design wrist watches for a new project. Newson’s first watch design was called the “Pod,” he was 23 years old in 1986. Newson assembled 100 pieces of the Pod watch and this experience taught him just how difficult watch design, production, and construction was. The name Ikepod came from Newson’s design obsession with “pod” and “capsule” style that define most of his work. The first Ikepod watch was called the Sea Slug, intentionally named for the exotic ocean creature. It was meant to set a tone that the brand was cool and different. I believe that it was priced under $1,000 when it was first launched.

• Piaget’s executives commissioned François-Paul Journe to design and produce a prototype of this watch.
• 18k gold case is 37 x 12 mm, considering its housing a magnificent Grande Sonnerie, a petite Sonnerie, a minute repeater, a power reserve indicator and an auxiliary seconds hand at 6 o’clock.
• Movement is the Calibre 1996P manual winding with 33 jewels, 350 components , two barrels and a 36-hour power reserve.
• The watch also features a function selector to set it to chime or silent mode.

This is an iconic watch with a significant place in the US space exploration. While most people view the Speedmaster being an astronaut’s equipment; surpassing NASA’s tests and requirements, I think another historic event is more important. The Speedmaster was a key reason in the survival of the Apollo 13 crew members. While all the electronics on board were fried, the Apollo 13 crew was left with their Speedmaster to time critical burns (turning the engine on and off). Precise timing was paramount because this is how they steer the space craft in the correct direction and angle; in order to avoid burn up or bouncing off the atmosphere upon re-entry.

The last version came out in 2010 with a minimalist design; this new version is an interpretation of the circular of time, a geometrical approach. Designed by Marc Berthier. Case is in stainless steel at 38x38mm. Automatic H912 movement with 50hrs power reserve. Priced at 5,900€