WRISTCHECK’s Post

10 past 10: This is the explanation When I'm at airports, I see these big advertisements for watches... and the watch is always set to 8 or 10 minutes past 10. Have you noticed that, too? For anyone who has ever wondered why watches almost always show the same time in photos … here‘s the explanation: No, photographs of clocks are not always taken at eight or ten minutes past ten. The smiley theory The traditional Japanese manufacturer Seiko is said to have started setting its watches to 10 past 10 in the 1960s. This is because this hand position forms a V on the dial that resembles a smiley - and is supposed to trigger a positive impulse in the buyer. A theory that sounds good. However, a test conducted by the University of Jena in 2007, in which test subjects were presented with watches with different hand positions, was unable to prove this assumption. The brand theory The following sounds more plausible: If the hands are at 10 past 10, they - as a rule - allow a view of the manufacturer's logo, the date and the lettering on the dial. In addition, the hand position creates a symmetrical appearance that appeals to the viewer's eye. The tradition theory The watch industry has a long tradition - and changes very slowly. In the case of Rolex, probably the most popular manufacturer, this can be seen in the fact that it consistently sticks to what has been tried and tested. Its success proves it right. So why change something if it's always been done that way? This doesn't answer the question of the position of the hands, but perhaps gives some insight into why almost all manufacturers follow the same pattern

Affordable Tool Watches: At W.O.E., we aim to preserve watch culture in the NatSec community. I often worry that people will conclude that they need an (Omega/Tudor/Rolex/Hublot etc) to be a cool guy. This could not be further from the truth (especially the Hublot). Here are a few “affordable” watches from my toolbox that I absolutely endorse. I will take off an “expensive” Rolex and put one of these on and receive the same satisfaction. These are all very different watches and brands and should not be viewed as equals or substitutes. - Arabic Seiko aka the “Seik-W.O.E.” aka the W.O.E. hype watch. (SNKP21J1) - you already know. -Bamford Mayfair - picked it up in London returning from an overseas assignment and added a special engraving. Simple and fun quartz, love it. -Tornek-Rayville 660 with acrylic inlay and date - absolutely love this piece, a daily wear the past few months and the best bezel in the business. Will probably cop a Paradive also. -Cabot Watch Company (CWC) SBS - 1990’s Tritium dial - a brand with a history that few can rival. Fixed spring bars, I likey. - Seiko 5 sports (SRPG35)- a cool and simple field watch that anyone can afford. It’s not the best quality or most durable watch in the world, but for the price is just right. -Elliot Brown Holton - Absolute tank, developed in partnership with and issued to the UK Special Boat Service. We will do a Dispatch on them at some point. -Sangin Overlord- love the company, community, and watches, I specifically got this one because it’s a simple quartz field watch with strong nods to our community. Easy grab and go, if you know you know, type watch. Final thought, I purchased each of these after fairly extensive research. Don’t buy them just because you see them here, take your time and look around. Find out what works for you and your lifestyle. The journey is part of the fun. If you are a watch FNG, come on in, the water's fine. -W.O.E.

Top 3 Automatic watch rotors according to Chrono 10:10 When people talk about what they like about their watches, they often mention the shape, the strap, the beautiful complications, maybe the color… Well, today, we’ll have a look at something a little less considered. Ladies and gentlemen, we present to you the top 3 most beautiful rotors we have ever seen. 1) A.Lange & Söhne Saxonia Langematik Perpetual The famous German brand is known for making some of the finest dress watches the world has ever seen. Their finishing is out of this world, the precision and details cannot be compared to anything else, but what is really breathtaking is the mechanical parts. Through the open caseback, we can see the one and only micro-rotor in 21k gold. Why have we chosen this particular example? We simply love how they managed to fit the name of their company (which is certainly not the shortest) and the name of the model in one tiny rotor. As a bonus, the blued screws add something extraterrestrial to this watch. This is the most beautiful micro-rotor we know. 2) Vacheron Constantin Traditionnelle Perpetual Calendar Openworked A skeletonized Vacheron watch is already stunning enough, but the rotor on this watch takes it to a whole new level. Made entirely in platinum with just the edge in gold, this rotor is probably the most complicated one you can imagine. To make it even more unbelievable, Vacheron engraved it, making the whole back look as if it was set with diamonds. On the rotor, we can also find the signature Maltese Cross, again made in platinum. This watch shows the biggest strength of Vacheron - combining high watchmaking with art. 3) Breguet Classique “Grande Complication” 5317BR/12/9V6 We could hardly make a list of beautiful watches without mentioning Breguet. With this watch, most people will probably admire the guilloche dial and incredible finishing, but we were really impressed by the hand-engraved rotor. Made in gold and matching the color of the case, the rotor is a feast for the eyes. The mix of engraved edges and a very big and bold polished B in the center is what we define as horological magic. If there is a watchmaker that can pride themselves on making watches as beautiful from the front as they’re from the back, you can surely count Breguet among them.

Top 3 Automatic watch rotors according to Chrono 10:10 When people talk about what they like about their watches, they often mention the shape, the strap, the beautiful complications, maybe the color… Well, today, we’ll have a look at something a little less considered. Ladies and gentlemen, we present to you the top 3 most stunning rotors we have ever seen. 1) A.Lange & Söhne Saxonia Langematik Perpetual The famous German brand is known for making some of the finest dress watches the world has ever seen. Their finishing is out of this world, the precision and details cannot be compared to anything else, but what is really breathtaking is the mechanical parts. Through the open caseback, we can see the one and only micro-rotor in 21k gold. Why have we chosen this particular example? We simply love how they managed to fit the name of their company (which is certainly not the shortest) and the name of the model in one tiny rotor. As a bonus, the blued screws add something extraterrestrial to this watch. This is the most beautiful micro-rotor we know. 2) Vacheron Constantin Traditionnelle Perpetual Calendar Openworked A skeletonized Vacheron watch is already stunning enough, but the rotor on this watch takes it to a whole new level. Made entirely in platinum with just the edge in gold, this rotor is probably the most complicated one you can imagine. To make it even more unbelievable, Vacheron engraved it, making the whole back look as if it was set with diamonds. On the rotor, we can also find the signature Maltese Cross, again made in platinum. This watch shows the biggest strength of Vacheron - combining high watchmaking with art. 3) Breguet Classique “Grande Complication” 5317BR/12/9V6 We could hardly make a list of beautiful watches without mentioning Breguet. With this watch, most people will probably admire the guilloche dial and incredible finishing, but we were really impressed by the hand-engraved rotor. Made in gold and matching the color of the case, the rotor is a feast for the eyes. The mix of engraved edges and a very big and bold polished B in the centre is what we define is horological magic. If there is a watchmaker that can pride themselves on making watches as beautiful from the front as they’re from the back, you can surely count Breguet among them.

These are probably my favorite watches. The story, the aesthetics and the fact that you can see how everything fits together are all fascinating to me. These watches were early creations by legendary watchmaker Abraham Louis Breguet, during his time in exile in Switzerland during the French Revolution. Made in approximately 700 examples, these pocket watches were popular because Breguet was already very famous in the late 18th century and though his other works were expensive, these were available at a relatively low price. Breguet offered payment plans! The customers would reserve the watch with a down payment of one-quarter of the price (a subscription or souscription in French). "Between 1793 and 1795, Breguet sought refuge in Switzerland to escape the worst consequences of the Terror. It was then that the idea for a "souscription" (subscription) watch, which customers would reserve with a down payment, came to him. His ambition was to produce a reliable, accurate, quality watch at a reasonable cost price and in sufficiently large batches to satisfy demand. The calibre he created for these watches was especially elegant, with the barrel in the centre and a pleasing symmetrical layout for the train. Generally large in diameter, the souscription watch had a large dial graduated in five-minute increments so that time could be easily read, to within one or two minutes, with a single hand. This did away with the need for motion work, which incidentally causes friction. A further advantage of these watches was that they were simple enough to be repaired and maintained by any watchmaker, which was far from true of other Breguet watches." (From the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie's website: https://lnkd.in/gJtxiJqc) I think there are lots of lessons here for AI-App development, as well: 1. "Ask, Look & Listen" to the market and your Clients.   2. Figure out what they need in terms of pricing, payments and use cases. 3. Make it easy to understand, with regard to how it works and why. 4. Make it reliable, accurate and of high quality at a reasonable price. 5. Make it easily serviceable by anyone. Looking at this watch, I would add that it's important to make it beautiful, too. There's a wonderful review of these watches and their modern progeny at: https://lnkd.in/gaCqbAMr See also this deconstruction: https://lnkd.in/gCXgrWkx My agency, CUBE Consulting & Communications, uses MindStudio.ai to develop AI-Apps that are "Human Made for Easy Work, Simply Done". CUBE is the technical consulting affiliate of GRC Solutions Korea (www.grcskorea.com), which develops solutions designed collaboratively with Clients, from customized task-based training that addresses immediate needs to resolving hard-to-solve issues using proven techniques & bespoke systems.

#I love watches. #Used to do marketing for Montblanc and CEO Nicolas Baretzki. That was a fun time shooting with Adrien Brody, Toni Garrn, Rebecca Mir, and other talented faces to highlight the lifestyle that comes with a nice watch - the esprit, the awareness, the way people treat you differently with a more sophisticated watch #A watch is not just a watch. A watch is a lifestyle.  It says everything about a person you need to know #It's very interesting how it's emotionally connected to our brain - you'll look at your watch collection, and you'll instantly remember the moment you've bought it #Men buy new watches, when they get a promotion, enter into a new relationship, change careers or just want to reward themselves for doing something right. It's our most important fashion accessory. #But I also love tech and gotten into the habit of wearing smartwatches to ensure that I walk 10.000 steps a day, work out, figure out a good sleep rhythm which is always messed up from flying around the world #These digital assistants that keep us healthy and fit are essentials #But a lot of smartwatches look odd - they are like wearing an OLED display on your wrist. They don't feel right   #They don't feel like a watch #Huawei does things differently, and I love that. Look at this watch - it's the #HuaweiWatchUltimate. Wears and feels like a Digital Rolex Submariner - Body out of Zirconium-based Liquid Metal - makes it corrosion-resistant and fit to dive 100 Meters - comes with a ISO 22810 rating, like a real divers watch  - 4.5 times stronger than stainless steel - some people want a Patina on their Rolex, I don't :D - Ceramic Bezel with a sapphire glass dial #It feels really good on your wrist - like wearing a real watch, not a toy. #Women have lot of opportunities to express themselves - lipstick, make-up, different styles of bags, elaborate shoe designs. For a men it's a good suit, nice shoes and the right watch that makes your outfit #Well, I guess you can wear a gold chain to channel your inner #MarkZuckerberg, but I leave that up to you :O) The Huawei Watch Ultimate is the next level for Golfers: Comes with 15.000 golf courses, and an AI caddy that analyzes the green, the bunker and the entire 3D course for you and gives recommendations for the right golf club It's quite wild what a watch can do for you in 2024. Used to just make you look good Just got invited by Huawei and the wonderful Michelle Kreisig to the stunning city of Barcelona to checkout the entire Huawei smartwatch line-up, and they have something for everyone #If you are the sports guy and you want something that has a military meets luxury style in a full titan body, it's the Huawei Watch GT5 Pro. Look & feel: Montblanc Iced Sea Automatic   #For the ladies, if you are a Cartier girl but want something digital - have a look at the new Huawei Watch GT5 in Ceramic White Look & Feel: Ballon Bleu de Cartier Now I am curious what's on your wrist? Cheers Benny

You see this watch on the wrist of Anant Ambani? It’s an 18.2 Crore worth Richard Mille. Yep, it’s expensive enough to get you a luxurious apartment in any Indian city. But do you know the story behind the man who revolutionized the watch industry in less than two decades? Richard Mille was born in France in 1951, and started his career in the watch field in 1974, working for a local company called Finhor. He later joined Matra, a larger group that acquired Finhor and became the manager of its watchmaking division, which included the brands Yema and Cupillard Rième. In 1992, he moved to Mauboussin, a prestigious jeweller, to set up its watch business and learn more about the high-end market. However, Mille had a vision of creating his own brand, one that would combine cutting-edge technology, avant-garde design, and exceptional craftsmanship. He wanted to make watches that were not only beautiful and functional, but also durable, comfortable, and resistant to extreme conditions. He wanted to make watches that were like racing machines on the wrist. In 1999, he founded his own company, Richard Mille SA, in partnership with Audemars Piguet, one of the most respected Swiss watchmakers. He also collaborated with Renaud et Papi, the research and development arm of Audemars Piguet, to develop his first model, the RM 001 Tourbillon, which he launched in 2001. The RM 001 was a groundbreaking watch, featuring a titanium baseplate, a function indicator, and a tourbillon, a complex mechanism that counteracts the effects of gravity on the accuracy of the movement. The watch also had a distinctive tonneau-shaped case, inspired by the curves of a Ferrari, and a skeletonized dial, revealing the intricate inner workings of the movement. The watch was priced at $135,000, making it one of the most expensive tourbillons in the world at the time. The RM 001 was an instant success and marked the beginning of a new era in watchmaking. Richard Mille followed it with a series of innovative models, such as the RM 002, the RM 003, the RM 004, and the RM 008, each introducing new features, materials, and complications. Today, Richard Mille is one of the most sought-after and admired watch brands in the world, with a loyal and passionate fan base. The brand produces only around 5,300 watches per year, making them extremely rare and exclusive. The average price of a Richard Mille watch is over $200,000, and some of his models can fetch millions of dollars at auctions. Richard Mille is, without a doubt, the watchmaker to the stars. Is your mind back to work or still in Jamnagar? :) #RichardMille #LuxuryWatches

3 Watch Collection: Blue Edition Blue watch faces haven’t been around very long, relatively speaking. Despite that, they’ve made a hell of a splash and are now a fundamental part of the horological world. Here’s a run-down of the ultimate trifecta of blue-faced timepieces for the modern Smurf fanatic. Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra 150M (Sport watch) - I can already hear some of you lamenting over why this pick isn’t a Rolex Smurf and you need to get over that. Smurfs are great but they’re not quite as fun (or as affordable) as Omega’s Aqua Terra, which feels like the best possible version of your first watch. Get one on a rubber strap to minimize dings and maximize wrist sweat for $6,000. H. Moser & Cie Endeavor Perpetual Calendar (Dress watch) - This Moser has perhaps the most captivating blue dial of all time, thanks to the ‘Grand Feu’ enamel work that defines its Abyss Blue fumé look. Inside, the HMC 800 calibre runs a flawlessly complex perpetual calendar movement that contrasts the simple outward appearance of this Endeavour. At $85,000 it ain’t cheap but nothing this good ever is. Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Blue Ceramic (Everyday watch) - If a blue dial alone isn’t enough, here’s an AP that’s as blue as a watch comes, with an all-blue ceramic case and bracelet, as well as a blue Grande Tapisserie dial and subdials. Somehow, despite its blocked-out-blue build, it’s not a ridiculous timepiece and would actually look great on the wrist of anyone who can foot the $132,000 price tag. Total Collection Cost (USD): $223,000

Below is a Tiffany Patek Philippe Nautilus Worth - $3,500,000 (KES 500M) Ever wondered why Patel Phillipe Watches are very Minimalistic yet hold such high values in the market? Here are 10 reasons why: 1) Since 1839, Patek Phillipe has produced fewer than 1 million watches. Even the most basic watch in the Patek collection can take up to nine months to complete, with the most intricate designs taking up to two years. 2) The company takes its work so seriously that prospective buyers must complete an application form to demonstrate that they are of a sufficiently high social caliber to deserve a Patek Philippe watch. 3) Every single part of the timepiece is hand-finished by an expertly trained employee with an unrivaled dial faceted buttons and hand-polished hands and an absolutely flawless presentation in every sense of the word. 4) A Patek Phillipe watch requires a total of 1035 employees from start to finish, including experts who design the mechanisms, wash workers who sculpt and hand finish each individual component, and all other factory and corporation workers. 5) On November 11th, 2014, the iconic Patek Phillipe super complication pocket watch went on sale at a much-anticipated softies event in Geneva, Switzerland. By the time the final hammer fell, the price had risen to the highest ever paid for a timepiece, including both pieces 6) In terms of more modern Patek Phillipe and luxury watches, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, John Mayer, Brad Pitt, and even the Dalai Lama have been seen wearing them. Sutekh timepieces have previously been owned by Pope Pius IX, Christian IX of Denmark, Victor Emmanuel II, Q Viky 7) A scientific process is used to determine the color of a Patek Philippe watch dial. When a batch of dials comes out slightly different, rather than being discarded, these watches with various shades can become the most sought-after pieces in the collection. 😎 Wrist bracelets, like dials and timepieces, go through a rigorous manufacturing process at Patek Philippe. Every Patek Philippe watch bracelet is hand polished to the brand's exacting standards, which takes an average of seven hours per bracelet. 9) Patek Phillipe has chosen to maintain their elite and luxury status by avoiding many of the social media sponsorship activities that you would expect from a leading brand. Their attitude is that if someone wants the highest quality wristwatch, they will know where to go. 10) Patek Phillipe's expert designers are passionate about their work. Working at a much slower pace than many luxury and high-end brands, Patek Philippe takes three to five years to research and develop a new timepiece, and it is this painstaking process

Nothing is more appealing to watch collectors than true icons from iconic brands, creating a double moat for market entrants. There is not enough space on a watch for large logos, as there is in fashion, so many customers want easily recognisable timepieces.  But turning a watch into an icon does not happen overnight, or even in a matter of years - it often takes several decades. There are more than 20 product lines that the watch industry introduced more than 50 years ago. While in technology and fashion people are excited about completely new product launches (just look at Apple), in watches a new colour of a 70+ year old icon is enough. In fact, I have called it somewhat innovative that there are so few real innovations in watches. And when super-innovative brands like HYT, URWERK, MBF or Ressence come on the market, even after decades they can't come close to the sales figures of some of the true icons. In fact, for some brands, the majority of sales are based on just one iconic line. For example, the Royal Oak is estimated to account for more than 90% of AP's sales - including the Offshore. Jaeger LeCoutre's Reverso is probably also super-dominant in JLC's sales (though I prefer the Memovox). Morgan Stanley's Edouard Aubin, one of the best analysts in the business, has put together a nice chart of the oldest icons. Cartier's Santos and Tank are both at the top of the list of oldest icons of watches still in production. I am sure this is one of the reasons for Cartier's recent success. Cartier participated well in the watch hype of 2021 and 2022, with rising prices, but almost completely missed the softening, as you can see in our watch index ChronoPulse (https://lnkd.in/ebBk-VSd). What iconic watches do you have in your collection or even on your wrist (or on your wish list)?