Watch Facts

18k gold case 38x45mm. This watch was Andy Warhol’s Collection. Beta 21 quartz movement. The Beta 21 quartz movement is an electronic movement used in wristwatches. Developed in the late 1960s by the Swiss consortium CEH, it features a high-frequency quartz crystal oscillator (8192 Hz) for enhanced accuracy. While it had a limited production run, the Beta 21 movement played a crucial role in the advancement of quartz watch technology, marking the start of the industry’s quartz revolution.

was first launched in 1972, it immediately captured the attention of all watch lovers in the world. There are 2 important aspect to this watch. Firstly for its truly original styling, the work of Gérald Genta, the incomparable designer who imagined its octagonal bezel, held in place by eight visible screws, and its integrated bracelet. Secondly, because the Royal Oak was the first high-end sports watch. It went against the trend and made this watch in steel, a metal that would go on to win new respect. The brand gave its Royal Oak a self-winding movement with calendar function. It took its innovative shape from a porthole on HMS Royal Oak, the ship that would also give it its name. The brand’s wider interest in trees came later. In the photo, features a very early 2nd generation Royal Oak in two tone 18K and Stainless steel

• Worn by Steve McQueen in the racing film, Le Mans.
• In 1971, Steven McQueen starred in the racing “documentary styled” movie Le Mans; directed by Lee Katzin.
• This is before the trend of brand using movies to build their presences; and the production team went out to purchase these watches at retail price.
• McQueen took one Monaco and gave it to his chief mechanic; thanking him for keeping him alive for the past few months.
• At first, Haig Alltounian didn’t want the watch but McQueen told him he had already done the engraving on the case back, he couldn’t give it to someone else.
• The Monaco watch was first introduced in 1969, bearing a few significant details, first and foremost is the case shape, being square isn’t the easiest to make it water resistant; but they’ve managed to get the Monaco to withstand water to 100m.
• 39mm stainless steel case.
• The movement was the legendary cal 11. In 1967 a group of companies; Breitilng, Hamilton-Buren, Heuer, and Dubois-Depraz— joint effort to develop a new automatic chronograph movement.
• In 1969, they unveiled the Cal. 11. The Heuer Caliber 11 was the company’s first and arguably most famous automatic chronograph movement.
• This watch is up for auction on December 12th at Phillips auction (New York).

IWC Mark XI Military British Royal air force circe 1950s.   Stainless steel case in 36mm. Fixed lugs, antimagnetic cover tap. Manual winding Caliber 89.   Sweeping centre seconds, arabic numerals and circled T (tritium).

For those who like IWC watches, you may already know the Portuguese was introduced in 1939 but how did it begin? At the end of the 1930s two Portuguese businessmen – Rodrigues and Teixeira – who are in the watch industry visited IWC in Schaffausen inquiring the development of a large stainless steel wristwatch housing a movement with the precision of a marine chronometer. Development ensued and the birth of the Portuguese was born. Here is a, case size 42mm (bracelet non original)

The Omega Flightmaster, a variant from the Speedmaster line. Introduced in 1969, the Flightmaster features the most comprehensive functions with dual TimeZone, chronograph, day and night, etc. The version shown here is the Cal.910 which has the day & night indication whereas the later Cal.911 has the sub seconds indication. Manual winding chronograph in stainless steel.

Case is in 47mm in stainless steel. Ref 3838 was the first design Panerai created for the Italian Navy. Patented luminous substance used on the dial.

From Jean Claude Biver personal collection. 18k pink gold case in 35mm. The 1518 was the first perpetual calendar chronograph wrist watch ever produced in a series (1941). Only 281 pieces were made until 1954. This watch is up for auction at at Phillips on June 27/28 2020 in Geneva. Estimate 1,200,000 – 2,400,000CHF

The Rolex GMT-Master watch was originally designed in collaboration with Pan American Airways and issued by the airline to their crews on long-haul flights. The original GMT Master watch has a 24-hour display fourth hand complicationdirectly linked to and displaying the same time zone as the standard 12-hour hand. This GMT hand enabled the crews to set the watch to GMT or another time zone, and using the rotatable 24-hour scale bezel set to the correct offset a second time zone could be read. GMT or UTC is the time zone that is required for all aviation planning, weather forecasts, schedules and other paperwork.

• Vacheron Constantin brings us the Maison’s heritage pieces.
• Chosen with patience and talent by the Masion’s heritage department specialist, vintage watches covering the entire 20th century are now part of the “Les Collectionneurs” collection.
• These pieces are carefully restored by the maison and comes with a certificate of authenticity, and a 2 year guarantee.
• 34 mm case in stainless steel.
• Manual winding movement cal 434, 30-minute counter chronograph wristwatch.
• Two-tone silvered dial, 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock, small seconds at 9 o’clock, pulsometer scale.