It's been an interesting watch year, but not a volume heavy purchase year by my standards, my ridiculous standards. I spent a lot though, so value heavy, thanks to two fancy sonsabitches. Last year the count was 13 watches - which is, like I said, ridiculous - this year the total number of purchases was a sensible 5, the total value was a little less sensible. Those fancy boys were a Cartier, pretty very cool. And even also cooler, a nonsense joined the collection, I mean a Rolex, who would have thought it. Actually I would have and did, but I didn't think it would be an Explorer II.
Cartier Ronde Croisière de Cartier
Moonswatch Mission to Mercury
Pierre Paulin Jump hour
Rolex Explorer II 226570
Seiko Alpinist Night Edition
...while I may have succumbed to nonsense, I have yet to reduce to snobbery.
That's a pretty cool list, we have Switzerland, China, Japan and France (kind of) represented, what can I say, I'm a man of the world. With a price range of £100 - £8500 which is insane (I hope none of my family read this), but shows that while I may have succumbed to nonsense, I have yet to reduce to snobbery.
This makes it easier to pick a top 3, and actually they kind of pick themselves. While the moonswatch is fun, it's nothing inherently special. It has however gotten quite a lot of wrist time while I'm on my travels and need something on the wrist that is quick and not so precious - fitting also as it was bought on travels in Paris. The Pierre Paulin is my first jump hour complication and I enjoyed wearing but it requires a bit of concentration to look through that small hour window, a real shame as it is a lovely watch with some super detail. So that' leaves us with the top 3, by default.
Seiko Alpinist Night Edition
This was a long awaited one, I wanted an alpinist and I wanted a black watch, I got em, I got the twofer. I had mentioned the Alpinist in the 'Top Watch Wants 2024' post I think. After much deliberation I went for the Seiko Daywalker - best nickname of the year also. I have enjoyed wearing it, it's a great size and though it's dark and low key it isn't boring, it gets attention and the lume pops nicely. I want to try it on a nato, I think it will look sweet and lead to more wrist time.
Cartier Ronde Croisière de Cartier
This was my new fancy dress watch, it's a less subtle dress watch than I'm used to. It screams class, it's noticeable and for those who know, they know the flex. I wore it a few times, including to a wedding and a big birthday party and it's a cool piece. It's quite large for a dress watch at 40mm so it is a kind of showpiece, which is something Cartier do well. At the same time, it is classy and elegant. A very cool watch, review coming soon - hopefully.
Rolex Explorer II 226570
The nonsense, such nonsense. I can't lie, I really enjoy wearing the ExII and there is an undeniable feeling that comes with putting a Rolex on the wrist, they sure have done a number on us...and it is a high number. However, it is a great looking and functional watch, and I have worn it a fair bit, more than I would have expected and it's had more wrist-time than a flashier model would have gotten. In that sense, it was the right Rolex for me, it has the same insides as a GMT Master II but flies under the radar to a point. A worthy watch purchase of the year winner, a milestone, an icon, a nonsense.
And now, a look back on the year, and quite a cool year it has been. I am very fortunate and I appreciate it all.
REGRETS?
This is a new section which just came to mind, do I regret buying the Explorer II or maybe not buying the Rolex Air King (126900) or Zombie (126713GRNR) that were offered to me? Should I have pulled the trigger on a Milgauss instead of the Explorer II? I could have bought the JLC Reverso Duoface I've been lusting after, they fit so, so well on the skinny wrist. But enough of these Rolex dilemmas, no, I don't think I regret buying it but maybe I do regret spending so much money on a watch. My first Rolex had to be from the AD and it was, and I love wearing it. No ragrets, ifykyk.
I do kind of wish I had bought an enamel dial Seiko at the Grand Seiko boutique in London, they only had expensive ones though.
BEST DISCOVERIES
This is a bit boring but I am a big fan of the discontinued Rolex Oyster Perpetual 36mm 116000 3-6-9 dial, and I discovered there is a fluted bezel version, the 116034 fancy that, that's fancy. Chopard L.U.C1937 Classic 168544-3002 was one I came across when looking at enamel dial. Now, I'm not sure if it has an enamel dial, but it is a sweet dial, very will balanced dress style with applied roman numerals. I've wanted a regulator for ages, a Louis Erard or something, but this Chronoswiss Régulateur (Limited to 300) is very nice, they make lovely watches and I'd like a complicated one in the collection.
Now I see them together, they are all quite similar in tone but special in their own way. All rather sensible, perhaps I need a break from flash Rolexes or maybe the Cartier has me leaning classy and dressy - 2025 shall tell.
WORST DISCOVERIES
I discovered these abominations in my search for a cheap Milgauss (I didn't find one), these iced out bezels are courtesy of the Geneva Watch Co. (Chrono24 - links way below) and they are not cheap, regardless of the way they look. They are very not okay, not on a Milgauss, the scientists watch. Is the green one ok, at least it mirrors the green crystal - no, no it's not ok.
HIGHLIGHTS
Authorised Dealer Time - Other than the purchase at the AD, that's two years in a row I have bought watches at the AD, an unexpected perk was getting my hands on a Ludovic Ballard and a Greubel Forsey no less. It was very cool to have that happen, it was a benefit I hadn't considered but the staff while obviously wanting to sell are nice and friendly, they love what they do and that shows. These are haute horology timepieces, they are works of art and it's very inspiring to see horological innovation and complicated ideas come to life. They appreciate my appreciation of these horological wonders, they appreciate my monies too I know. These two were straight-up expensive as a bitch though. The Rolex Exhibition was good too, always fun trying on the good stuff.
Online Time - I joined Watch Crunch, I'm not one for social media but I enjoyed my time on there. However, as work and life things took over I just didn't get the chance or make the time for it. I hadn't formed a habit enough to keep me locked in. I guess it's good in a way that I didn't get mad hooked but I wanted to maintain a presence. Â I will endevour to do so next year. I didn't mention the blog or link myself to it as I just wanted to enjoy quality time rather than turn it into a marketing exercise. A good bunch of people on there, some hella-mad watch fans, I really enjoyed seeing other crazy watch-people in action, it validates and vindicates a watchbro..
Creative Time - I added adverts to the site, I wasn't expecting to make money (and I haven't) but I wanted to explore this side of things to maybe expand my online presence and build on the blog/idea. I did create the Watch Bloc website but I didn't have the chance to work on marketing it. It can still happen, it was a very quick turnaround for the idea to be brought to life which was cool and I look forward to giving it more attention.
UNHIGHLIGHTS
I was supposed to move to the seaside but the sale fell through, so, the last quarter of the year has been taken up with this, everytime I turn on the computer or my phone, Rightmove was the defacto website of choice. It's annoying but due to this and work being quite demanding, I have thoroughly neglected my blogging and youtube commitments. I still managed one a month which is mandatory.
And of course, not winning the Euromillions is always a bummer...
THE END
For those who are into it, I hope you had very merry Christmas and wonderful holiday period. I hope Santa brought you complicated cogs and springs in many forms.
Here's to a watchful 2025 with more creative output and less monetary output - unless the AD calls about that mint dial Skydweller!!! I'm off to check out the boxing day sales...
Yours Annually,
Alvin
WATCH BLOC
CHRONO24
Chronoswiss - https://www.chrono24.co.uk/chronoswiss/chronoswiss-regulator-30-world-limited-300--id34625647.htm
L.U Chopard - https://www.chrono24.co.uk/chopard/chopard-luc-1937-classic--id35737133.htm?searchHash=75059c72_oU3KCi&pos=1
Rainbow Milgauss
Green Milgauss
WATCH CRUNCH
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