Cookies
4540
What makes a stealth timepiece
Stealth is about evading detection. There are many ways to which this is achieved:
- Camouflage
- Small size
- Thinness
- Being signature-less
- Does not have an easily found price-tag
- Being from a brand people perceive as being "cheap"
- Looking old and crappy
On my journey, I have encountered a few pieces which brought to mind the definition of the word. Here are my top 5 picks:
1. Citizen Chronomaster
Photo credits: Gear Patrol
This is one piece which can escape detection even from your wife. They would just think it is just a regular quartz piece. You could tell them it costs $300 and they would believe you.
Price: USD$3-4k
2. H Moser & Cie Swiss Alp Watch
This watch employs deception, much like a shape-shifting octopus mimicking a poisonous fish, or a Leaf Insect which looks like a leaf.
Price: USD $27,000 (limited series)
3. FP Journe Octa S in blackened titanium
Photo credits: The Key Stone
This watch employs thinness, being of a matt black tone, and an obscure brand to non-WIS. Who would even expect the price? I did not include the chronometre bleu because the novel material tantalum and it's vibrant blue dial is too eye-catching even if it is thin and small.
Price: USD$34,000 (back in 2014)
Price: USD$34,000 (back in 2014)
4. Patek Philippe Calatrava 5522A
Photo credits: Hodinkee
This Patek employs deception too, from being similar to the sea of pilots watches out there. From afar, I would have easily mistaken this for a Hamilton or Laco pilot. It is made in stainless steel. Who would have expected a Patek to disguise itself as a pilot's watch?
Price: USD22,000 (back in 2017, limited edition of 600 pieces). At the moment, trading at USD75,000.
5. JLC Dirty Dozen Pieces
Photo Credits: Art Kameletdin at Timekeepers Club
This piece definitely looks old, so old that people would probably think the wearer is a WWI/II enthusiast or got it from a junk store in Vietnam. The only give-away is the brand on the dial.
Price: USD8000 upwards, depending on condition
💰1729 Marketplace Listings for Patek Philippe›F.P. Journe Chronometre · 1 for sale · 2833 discussions›
stealth timepiece....which one is your favourite ?!
i've been always intrigued by the notion that 'only' the wearer knows what it is and for the rest it is a normal timepiece ! in that sense i think there are few which are quite good stealth timepieces in my view... 1) 5101P is a killer...though it gives a...
Patek all the way! Oh, my… What a watch!
Admittedly, the other two have simpler faces, and may more obviously fit the "stealth" theme you suggest. (And, of course, as you allude to, the print on the Patek's dial rather gives away what is going on.) But still… (I'm turning this into a which watch...
in deed 5101P is a stellar timepiece !
not far I would say the Laurent Ferrier Galet Classic Tourbillon is a stealth too, very elegant & classic dial but doesn't give up more than that !! ...
Hidden beauty
I remember first being introduced to the idea of a stealthy timepiece as preferable to a 'showy' complication on this very site! I feel Patek embodies the idea of a timepiece being understated to all but the wearer. My favourite contemporary piece which e...
in deed Colton...that Lange is seriously stealthier !
it packs every thing including perpetual calendar which by itself is a huge complication !! Best, mahesh.,
That's a lovely Patek. The Credor Eichi II in pt, as well as any white metal Simplicity are kings of this.
White metal vintage dress watches do very well as their smaller size leads to more stealthiness. ...
that is beautiful guilloche...true that !
i would consider the 'essence' of Eichi II is the dial...the main attraction, if so would it be still stealthy ?! i do think, it is very elegant and the minimalist of all - with those hand painted porcelian white dial ! thanks for the wrist shot. Best, ma...
true...but unfortunately not many does it !
the LF Galet Classic Tourbillon & Lange 1 PC Tourbillon are such. there used to be a Reverso Tourbillon too... ...
Of course I have to choose the 5101P
Elegant and sleek design with a hidden tourbillion, 29mm in width. Could be worn anywhere, only a true purist would be able to recognize the masterpiece on your wrist.
i think the H version of Gronefeld is a very good one, hiding the remontoire on the dial side the salmon dial !
5101 is a remarkable timepiece in deed but I agree from a value perspective Gronefeld is miles ahead !!
What makes a stealth timepiece
Stealth is about evading detection. There are many ways to which this is achieved: Camouflage Small size Thinness Being signature-less Does not have an easily found price-tag Being from a brand people perceive as being "cheap" Looking old and crappy On my...
that in deed is a good set...i love the JLC & the Citizen
i do agree with most of your definition of stealth but pt 6 & 7 are too hard ;-) thanks for the pics...esp. the JLC dirty dozen is a gem ! Best, mahesh.,
Very very stealthy indeed
These are guaranteed to pass through all customs un-noticed. Excellent means of alternative investments.
That is a heavy weight champion my friend 😜
I would also add his Duality to it but then it is even harder to see one !
Hard to choose but if I’ve to choose only one....
Then the geophysic is my way to go ! Longines is gorgeous one too. You my friend never cease to surprise!!
Very true....how could I miss this !
it probably is the stealthiest of all. Thanks for sharing
Great selection, Mahesh! The Patek is just amazing, and there are quite a lot of other choices in the "stealth watch" category, one of my favorite of all as a watch lover...:-)
In this category, I simply include those top-quality watches that "we" love, but that (nearly) all other people have no clue what they are...So let me add one of my favorite Pateks to this list, which outside of the watch enthusiast community, can literal...
That indeed is a grail
I agree Fab, most will not recognize it - only a trained eye will appreciate it. Thanks for sharing the wonderful wrist shot !! Best, Mahesh.,
Oh my God!!!!
This Patek is a dream!!! My personal stealth watches: Moser Perpetual Purity IWC Minute Repeater: Moser Henry Double Hairspring: Cheers Thomas ...
I just realize Moser naturally falls into this category with its simplest dials...
probably one of the most simplest perpetual calendar dial across all brands ! Thanks for chiming in....with a chiming IWC 😜 Best, Mahesh.,
Thank you dear mahesh! 🙏
Your KILLING 5101P is starting to make my completely extinguished fire (I sold my 5146G without any hesitation to get my grail IWC MR!) blaze again for PP. Sincere thanks for that. All the best for you Thomas
The IWC is just so ...honest!...
The perfect marriage of form and function. Well picked! Cheers, pplater.
Thank you for your kind and warm feedback, dear pplater!
Yes, also for the reasons you mentioned, this IWC MR is my personal #1... Cheers Thomas ...
Patek 3939 minute repeater - small, simple, sublime
I must say I find it unnecessary and annoyingly distracting to see the the word tourbillon and especially the serial number on the dial. Who cares about the SN?! Images from Hodinkee and Sotheby's. ...
Totally agree
In fact I was editing my post to express that thought while you were replying. Brilliant minds think alike.
Gorgeous, classy
True it is...there is no need of anything to be printed on the sub-dial. Thanks for sharing ! Best, Mahesh.,
That 5101P is certainly a cool stealthy but my favorites are...
... actually two that you might have already seen somewhere one day... obviously not that ordinary for the ones who are in the know ...
how good i'm - i was expecting this ;-)
personally though the PP PC a heavy weight champion in its own category...i thin the LF Tourbillon Enamel in steel is a serious stealth watch actually i post your LF (pic by nico) in one of the responses above. it is a marvellous piece. thanks for sharing...
Thanks for mentioning, I did not see Nico's LF photo before you mention it
As for the other one, thanks for your kind words my friend. I can only agree that the Wonder Watch is a heavy weight champion, however what I meant is that only a well-informed eye can differentiate a 3448 from a less prestigious annual calendar (of cours...
A never ending and amazing story.
I particularly love the dial colour of the gondolo.
+1
in deed a great timepiece, but comparatively underrated in market probably due to the case i think.
stand-a-lone yes, but it didn't have the effect as other anniversary models of PP.
if i'm right, current market price is lower than its retail price.
It's difficult to fathom . . .
. . . a candidate more apt . . . . . . than the original Omega tourbillon cased in steel. Only one made. ;-) ...
that is a BIG BOY !
i love the dial and indeed a true stealth !! any idea why Omega didn't proceed with this model ? thank you for sharing the pictures. Best, mahesh.,
Omega produced a handful of 30I tourbillon movements . . .
. . . that were released to the general public. Most were cased in yellow gold or sterling silver; only one in a jumbo steel case. Can't remember off the top of my head how many were sold, but it's under twenty. Art
Thank you Art - i love this Omega...serious one !
& I like the way the tourbillon is kept unexposed...adds to the allure.
All three are great choices Mahesh
as they all hide their real self behind a discreet dial. I would choose the Gronefeld Remontoire Hodinkee from your selection because it is the only one that fits my wrist and also I consider the movement of Gronefeld one of the most spectacular looking m...
that 3939 is gorgeous, very subtle in white metal & i love the breguet numerals too.
i wish there was no mention on the subdial...but as you say, it is a grail ! Thanks sham. Best, mahesh.,
All beautiful and amazing watches
I consider this T30 also a Stealth watch . (Pic by SJX) ...
very true...it think in a way it is the most 'Un-Journe Journe' if i may say so...
the key aspects of Journe have always been the Journe hands in combo with an assymetric dial... T30 (& in a way T10 too) is totally out of that. The only thing that shows out Journe here is the crown. i believe even the 'hunter case back' is unique. T30 f...
A marvellous topic, mahesh...
...and, as a collecting 'theme', a personal favourite. The Patek and the LF tourbillons are both magnificent watches but you have to wonder why (however discreetly) the word 'tourbillon' has to appear on the dial. Is it a 'just in case' thing? From memory...