Horological Meandering

For the watches i bought in 2011, my top 3 would be quite easy to define. In third place, and somewhat surprisingly for me I place the Pam 195. I own only one other Panerai and tend to enjoy my PAM days, but putting all that pressure on the 36 seems unfair. The 195 is so different to anything else in my collection and carries a certain Panerai gravitas...it takes bronze for me.

In silver spot comes another surprise. The Patek Aquanaut. This has to be one of the easiest watches to wear in the world. It is so low-key it can be worn casually without 99% of the population knowing it was anything that special at all. Over the course of the year, I think this watch got more wrist-time than virtually any other. So easy to wear. So comfortable. Can even go swimming in it. Yep.... really enjoyed this watch this year. I vowed not to buy another Patek, but having got so much pleasure from this one this year, I can feel another target being sized up for 2012....

But in gold spot came something I really wasn't expecting. I have owned a basic Reverso in the past but never really got much joy from it. My good friend Nicolas suggested I look at the Retrograde, but warned it was not an easy watch to find. Luck was with me, however, and I found a perfect version with original box and papers. I was totally delighted with it. I cannot say how much joy it brings to wear. 

And the verso is just beyond belief....

So, for 2011 it was this JLC Retrograde that took top spot for me. It has been fun targeting such watches and hunting them down. Some tougher than others, but the pleasure has been fantastic. Here is to 2012....may you all enjoy the hunt and the pleasure each capture brings. If you wish to share your top watches for 2011, please feel free.

In bronze -  appropriately AP's Bronze Bartorelli diver.

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This Reverso Chronograph is such a lovely, no... Exquisite watch!

I'm very happy you got it, my friend.

You have a very nice piece of horology.

And yes, I wish you will have a superb year 2012. No doubt that it will be an excellent one, knowing your impeccable taste.

Our ways may well cross, by the way.

All the best, my dear friend.

Nicolas.

Since I purchased only one. But it has had a tremendous amount of wrist time. The most comfortable watch because of the wonderful bracelet design and weight distribution.

But I love your JLC!

J.

 

3^rd place would go to my Chronoswiss Regulateur 24. It’s a simple hand-wound piece using a caliber from the 1950s and is symbolic of 25 years of Gerd Lang’s work. It is incredibly easy to read and probably gets more comments than any other watch that I own by non-WIS who notice it.

 

2nd place would go to the Jaquet Droz Hommage Londres 1774 Chonograph GMT that I most recently picked up. There just aren’t many manual wind, no date chronographs with lume. It is also nice to have a 13 mm chronograph that is sized to fit beneath ones sleeve

1^st place this year goes to my Blancpain Leman Ultra Slim Grande Date. It is just a classic sports watch that is comfortably sized with a date sized for us with failing eye sight. It is flawlessly finished.It is subtle, the more you look at it, the more you see the detail.

 

J

Bob

nice trio! Best, Andreas

And I'm very happy with it:



Fx

that DB is just outstanding!

Best
Andreas

bronze goes to the daytona , perfect everyday watch

Lange 1 Tourbillon in RG

 

Cartier Santos-Dumont skeleton in WG

and Richard Mille RM 023 in WG

Glad you didn't ask for my top 10

Cheers

Sam

This message has been edited by samwan on 2011-12-23 15:59:04

... these three are phenomenal of course. Never seen this RM before. Nice way to do Roman numerals (which goes for all your top 3 btw).

 

Cheers

Andreas

I love your ALS Langematik Perpetual in PT (I have the RG version and am starting to regret that I didn't go for the PT in the first place) and the FPJ CS is a classic.

Best

Sam

 

It is after all this time of year so please indulge us
Sincerely
Damjan

Have to go out and buy another 5 watches in the next few days in that case

Happy holidays.

Sam

 

... but has to be these three

3. My only non-white metal



2. My most used one out of the three


1. And my gold... absolute love


I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a wonderful Christmas and a great New Year.
I hope the blessings will befall everyone with the years to come.

Cheers,
GG

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just amazing.

Greetings to you too.

Mo

wishing for you another awesome collections next year,

have a merry xmas and wonderful new year,

best,

thanks for the vicarious pleasure. Amazing collection.

Best

Andreas

please show us your top 10 also
I think we deserve it
All the best
Damjan

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First, I think I finaly found my perfect perpetual!

I have searched for quite a while for an example just like this, with the pusher and the German dial. Had it at the Glashütte Spa where they replaced the old moonphase disk with the new one which is much more beautiful, and regulated it so it runs +/- 0 for three weeks. Very happy with this result.

Second, I rebought the Journe CS in 38mm. I had the 40mm but sold it last year after I decided that the smaller bezel works better for me on this Journe because of the thinness of the watch and the way the dial "pops".

Happy holidays to all.

Andreas 

 

 

 

3rd : Rolex Milgauss 1019

I wasn't even thinking about this at all until I try one on. OMG this is a such temptation. I can't resist. Here a pictures for comparison with the latest model. I now end it up with pair (I'm blaming u, blomman)





2nd: The Bomba aka PAM 64

I hated Panerai before so you imagine my dilemma when I find myself choosing this one. The strong character of the watch have a real pull on me. For this one I blame Nico :P





1st : TT DSA USA & Europe

The waiting game for this pair is painful but "deeply" rewarding. I blame both Blomman & Nico.



Thanks for reading

Tyler

Xmas nervous break down I blame you
this was too much after samwan / glorygunners
......
Best and happy holidays to you and all yours
Damjan

My Christmas this year will be quiet but warm(from the joy of playing with these) 

Regards
Tyler

I'll be bringing these to a GTG you're attending to return the favor

Seriously where will the world be without the temptation of the devil

Regards
Tyler

No message body This message has been edited by amanico on 2011-12-25 00:00:57