BEST FROM: aBlogtoWatch & Friends January 8th, 2023
For our first roundup of the new year, we take a look at some of last month’s standout articles by our team here at aBlogtoWatch, as well as some noteworthy news bits from our friends across the Web. To kick things off, we revisit our team’s picks for the best new releases of 2022 — a year that saw the unveiling of many adventurous releases and introduced an encouraging number of new enthusiasts to the hobby. December ’22 made for an interesting month of news within the space, with Rolex announcing its long-rumored “Certified Pre-Owned” watch program, a move that will arguably shake the watch collecting landscape for years to come. We also saw the launch of Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy’s watch company, Brick Watches, which was rightfully (and somewhat comically) lambasted by community gatekeepers. In more positive news, Collective Horology released an absolutely knockout collaboration with Armin Strom, and vintage Heuer collectors gathered at TAG Heuer’s first in-person watch meet-up in the United States in over four years. Let’s dive in!
1. Team aBlogtoWatch’s Picks: The Best New Releases Of 2022
With the worst days of COVID-19 behind us and comfort levels on the rise again, 2022 gave us a return to a sense of normalcy, with more watch meet-ups and in-person gatherings. Moreover, one could argue that the online watch community was strengthened during the last two-plus years, as enthusiasts from across the globe took to online platforms to connect over their passion for their favorite hobby. Accordingly, many of the watch brands adopted a more experimental approach in both the products they released and how they released them. This led to some fresh, fascinating new releases, as well as continued overall enthusiasm in the space. Ranging from the entry-level Omega x Swatch “Moonswatch” to the Richard Mille RM 88 “Smiley,” this article features our favorite new releases in a wild, optimistic year in watchmaking.
Source: aBlogtoWatch
2. Rolex Launches Its “Certified Pre-Owned” Watch Program
One of the most noteworthy pieces of watch industry news from the last month is that Rolex has launched its own “Certified Pre-Owned” watch program. This program will give customers the opportunity to purchase pre-owned watches that are certified as authentic and guaranteed by Rolex. As a reaction to diminished inventories in Rolex authorized retailers and the exorbitant prices of pre-owned and gray market prices for popular Rolex pieces, this program will no doubt have far-reaching implications for collectors of the crown. The question that remains is whether these implications will be of more benefit to the collector or the brand. In this article, David Bredan breaks down the details of the program.
Source: aBlogtoWatch
3. The Synchronicities Of Zenith Ambassador Aaron Rodgers
The watch brand ambassador is an interesting concept. While watch collectors tend to value attention to detail and compelling stories, large watch brands continue to hire influential celebrities to champion (or simply wear) their watches in order to try to convince people that their watches are worth wearing. I’m sure that this approach yields benefits when marketing watches to the masses. However, as a collector, I can’t help but think it’s a little cheesy (not to mention borderline condescending) when I see a watch advertisement featuring a famous, handsome man with a wistful “come hither” look on his face while wearing a watch on a yacht or sports car. While Zenith Ambassador Aaron Rodgers arguably fits the archetype, he is much more interesting and polarizing than your standard watch ambassador. This article, written by Ed Rhee, offers readers a window into the psyche of the enigmatic Green Bay quarterback while illustrating how his personal story lines up with the ethos of the Zenith brand.
Source: aBlogtoWatch
4. Team aBlogtoWatch’s Picks: The Watches We Wore Most In 2022
Though I’ve only been writing for aBlogtoWatch for a short time, I have been an avid ABTW reader for many years. The yearly “Watches We Wore Most” article, written collectively by ABTW staff members, is always a joy to read. Like most of us on the media side of this profession, all the staff members here are seasoned watch collectors with our own tastes, biases, and collecting journeys. This year, there are some remarkably unique pieces on this list, including the obscure Zenith Defy A3642 and a vintage Tag Heuer Silverstone. This article also asks our community members to chime in with their most-worn pieces in the comments section, which is also chock full of interesting choices. It’s always fascinating to take a closer look at why a particular piece speaks to the heart of a watch collector, and there are so many great picks here!
Source: aBlogtoWatch
5. Time Machines: The Omega Speedmaster Teutonic And The Design Revolution That Never Was
At this point, it’s a cliché to say that the Omega Speedmaster is one of the most iconic watches of all time. Within the collection (and beyond the legendary moon watch), there are numerous rabbit holes worthy of exploration, including the Mark II, Mark III, etc. One of the more obscure references within the line is the Teutonic – a piece that boasts the Speedy’s iconic design language and DNA, but in a particularly quirky fashion. In this article, Sean Lorentzen dives into the origins of the Teutonic and why it’s such an interesting piece, as well as why it didn’t quite catch the fanfare that it arguably deserves. Further, he explores how some of the Teutonic’s design cues can be seen in some of Omega’s modern pieces.
Source: aBlogtoWatch
6. Collective Horology And Armin Strom Team Up For An Ultra-Limited New Watch
Founded in 2018 by childhood friends and veteran collectors Asher Rapkin and Gabe Reilly, Collective Horology has made it its mission to create interesting, thoughtfully designed collaborative watches for enthusiasts. In addition to fantastic collaborations, what sets Collective apart from other watch clubs is its “buy-to-join” concept. As per Reilly and Rapkin, this approach benefits both Collective members and watch brands: “Members share a bond in that they all own at least one Collective watch.” Collective’s most recent release — Gravity Equal Force P.03 — is a beautifully thought-out riff on one of Armin Strom’s Flagship watches. Featuring a striking open-worked dial with two green displays, it is the first model in the Armin Strom line to feature a 41 mm titanium case and Super-LumiNova coating on the numbers. This write-up for Robb Report explains why it’s a great release and a fitting addition to the Collective lineup.
Source: Robb Report
7. No One Has Time For Barstool Sports Founder’s $2,400 Watches
Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy recently started a watch brand, and let’s just say that the watch enthusiast community is not, um, enthused. Portnoy’s Brick Watch Company was launched in November 2022, and it didn’t take long for collectors to notice and voice their disdain for the generic, bland designs and poor price-to-value ratio of Brick Watches. In this article, High Snobiety spills the tea on Portnoy’s arguably ill-advised and lazy attempt to break into the watch space.
Source: High Snobiety
8. Scrapbook – TAG Heuer Hosts Vintage Collectors GTG In NYC
Last month, vintage Heuer collectors gathered at Veronica Restaurant in New York City for the first Heuer watch get-together in America in over four years. Approximately 20 collectors were in attendance, including Hodinkee founder Ben Clymer, the famously double-wristing collector Morgan King, and Analog:Shift owner and vintage watch expert James Lambdin. Hosted by Nicholas Biebuyck, Heritage Director at TAG Heuer, the event was an opportunity for passionate Heuer collectors to gather and connect over some truly extraordinary vintage Heuer timepieces. Read more about it over at On The Dash.
Source: On The Dash