WristScan

This week's Wristscan is all about watches that have surprised you. Ever bought a watch thinking that you liked it, but it turns out you love it? Ever bought a watch thinking that it was the best purchase ever, only to find you sold it because it failed t...  

. . . surprise." Only one unpleasant surprise over the years; that would be the RGM 222 which I was so prepared to like . . . . . . but unable to bond with. Looking at it now, it still punches the right buttons; irl, underwhelming. The main attraction was...  

Looks like it could have been the beginning of a love story! HAGWE Blomman

[final scene of The Third Man , 1949] . . . turn out the way we hope.

I have a few too many negative surprises...hopefully less as time goes on

. . . be young and stupid. :-)

..the tides of time & the eye of the beholder will eventually suggest a judgement or even final disposition .. Interesting, still ... Best, hs

Watches fulfills your theme. First is this simple Speedmaster "Melbourne". Don't know why but I keep wearing it. Comfortable, reliable and accurate, despite several urban myths about the movement. Second is this JLC. Big, bold and I like it. I never imagi...  

A big Navy Seal. This is! ;) See the difference...? HAGWE Blomman ...  

The "XL" version is way too much for my wrist. Cheers, Nilo

. . . has attitude in spades.

.. one of the (Navy Seal ?) iterations, strong but still balanced character.. Personally, I'm more familiar with the 2crown variant; guess, our friends Blomman & Nico own Best & Happy Easter ! :)

As a keeper of its cousin, I completely understand. (Now, if someone could explain it to me ...)

Yours? HAGWE Blomman

Each time I look at this "plain and simple" time only watch... I see something new - very surprising! :) Another surprising thing about this watch is that it made me change my wearing habits..... Normally one watch/one day maximum per week. This one have ...  

(of course I am biased for this 1966 !) :) Best -- Seeks

It is always good to find a watch you want to wear more, bad you don't get to wear many watches each week.... HAGWE, my friend Blomman

Best! -- Richard.

. . . 'best' ;-) . . .

..these would be, for this week's theme: 1) The Grand Lange 1 Lumen : I noticed that I have been giving this more and more wrist time. Just goes so well with a suit IMHO Was on the way back from a meeting and couldn't resist to take this with this backgro...  

Love em both I would be very surprised if that Lumen shot is not WS of week Sincerely Damjan

. . . and a half . . .

(phone) shot really captures the mood and the moment! Excellent entries. :) Happy Easter! fernando

Very nice pair, my friend! :) HAGWE Blomman

Thanks so very much for the kind words and for looking ! :) happy easter -- Seeks

... A great picture which suggest you got a winner there! Have a nice week end! Very cordially, Abel.

Surprised me a lot. I got it thinking it\'s cool, I like it and also becos I wanted to support my AD sales friend lol. Also thought it\'s cool to have a first Indie, something the ultra conservative (in character and taste!) resisted for a long time. I th...  

And great combo, my friend! :) HAGWE Blomman

. . . your old avatar, Robin. It would've been the 'exclamation point' to this composition. :-)

you remember! Thanks Art :) It was me when I was 22 years old ! I am a much older man now haha Cheers Robin

A small town in Sicily, a Breguet AD, I asked for the Reserve du Patron and he came out with this one... I just bought it, while I didn't plan to buy anything during this trip. Still with me, for almost 11 years, now. HAGWE. Nicolas ...  

Although I've seen her already - can't get enough from this captivating piece ! .. Please, also bring her with you, next time we see each other ! - Pure pleasure for the eyes ! Splendid pics as well, as expected !! Best & HAGWE ! hs

Especially since it has a DATE WINDOW! ;) HAGWE, my friend Blomman

..capture your love for the salmon dialed masterpiece beautifully! happy easter, -- Seeks

from afar. It is a true beauty and you deserve it Nicolas. Best, Tim

Enjoy! -- Richard.

... a love in a watch like this one when you didn´t have plans for a new purchase? Such a beauty and a one of a kind timepiece! Just love it! Keep enjoying and loving my dear Nicolas!! Felices Pascuas mi amigo! para tí y tu querida Familia! Afectuosamente... 

. . . given the theme, Nicolas. Uncharacteristic choice of dial color, case design, and as blomman noted, a calendar complication on top of a chronograph. Funny about this particular watch: it's one of those I find unappealing when viewed online, but magn... 

The typography on the dial & bezel is wonderful.

I had the pleasure to see it in the metal when we met in Paris! Thanks for letting me try it Cheers Robin ...  

.. Well, friends - in fact it has been a rather simple story about Happy - go lucky, and Lucky - go happy: Had been looking and hunting a Vintage Rolex Explorer I for almost 3 years; it should be one with gilt, and from the fifties. I had always enjoyed s...  

Good surprises you find when you least expects it! :) HAGWE, my friend Blomman

.. we should bring our Explos, next time we meet for a Duo or even better , Trio shot ! Best, hs :)

but I Iove the story behind your hunt even more, dear HS :) Best -- Seeks

. . . and not in appreciation. (After all, who doesn't appreciate a vintage Explorer?!) There've been a few surprise findings in my experience, too, but the surprise surrounding this one . . . . . . was surreal. amp;fi=881&pi=5819958&ti=856463&...  

..have a great WE & Happy Easter ! Best, hs :)

. . . the Eastern churches mark the next Sunday as Easter, but as with Christmas, we tend to recognize both celebrations. That's fine for grown-ups, but as kids, we only got presents on one Christmas, and had to dress up for Easter twice in one week. :-)

Well, my 2 last arrivals were some kind of a surprise, came accross these two and couldn't really decide so took both!... Mathey Tissot Type XX and Breitling AVI 765CP, two pilot chronos from the 50s... Have a great easter WE Matt ...  

..Congrats to these new arrivals, which would please everybody, I guess .. Best & HAGWE !!

Quite a rare bird. ...  

I think this is mine now!!! Matt

. . . I am not surprised. :-) Those pilots chronos are identifiably you , Matt. Art

looking at Vacheron and Patek since sometimes now, forgot about toolwatches... and then this all in a sudden :) ...  

...you would have gone for a "simple" steel Patek some years ago ;) cheers François

Please post more pics of it, in HoMe. All the best. AND BRAVO! Nicolas

Review will come on HoMe but I need to translate and adapt all I have written. It will take some time, be patient my friend ;) I love Navitimers since a long time. But I am not a big fan of panda versions. On the contrary, all the first "all black AOPA" a... 

Like you, I am not a big fan of the panda version. But this one! You are always welcome in Paris. I have to show you the growing family of vintage FFs! All the best, Nicolas

806 AOPA all black are terrific and not common, I have this photo of our common friend Noddia on my wrist, watch belonging to an italian collector. An uncommon early Valjoux version. ...  

. . . the 24 hour dial pattern?

. . . with the actual purpose of the watch, as a tool for pilots. You're not so mysterious after all ;-) . . .

. . . in Dr Mamadu's pharmacy ;-) . . .

. . . his courier ;-) . . .

size doesn't matter. :) Happy Easter! fernando ...  

.....yep...my PAM 36 surprises me in the same way. I tend to like watches at 40mm or less...ideally 38mm or so. My PAM 36 is much bigger....but it doesn't seem to matter

But it was more a surprise for me than for you. :) :) :) Best, Nicolas

by that as well :) Happy Easter pa Yours D :)

dear fernando, two superb watches at the opposite end of the complexity spectrum, an elegant 3-hands watch vs the technical King DS! best -- Seeks

I miss my Sax-O-Mat :-( Happy Easter! -- Richard.

I always admired the design and the lines of the GP Ferrari 375 MM monopusher chronograph watch. However, there were several reasons why I never seriously pursued it. For one there was the Ferrari connection, there was the price and there was my impressio...  

And never went for it... But I regret. And if I find one, I may get it. Strange Watch, but not lacking charm. And the monopusher is the cherry on the cake! Best, Nicolas

Non-GP, GP! Both the case shape and the shape of the hands.... Need to see this one in real one day! Happy Easter, my friend Blomman

Happy Easter to you as well. I read somewhere that this model was personally designed by Luigi Macaluso.

Hi All This still surprises on two fronts first that despite its small size 35mm is wears a lot bigger than it is, also while there's a lot going on on the dial it still strikes me as a simple elegant watch. Cheers JML ...  

Hi Thanks, got it in the most unlikely of settings. A very early dealer for Nomos in the UK. When I went to Salon QP a couple of years back - was talking to the people on the Nomos stand & they could remember it. Unfortunately where I got is no longer... 

Still look clean and elegant - then you know it is very well made design! :) Best Blomman

. . . to team sports, like football or basketball: often, the presence of referees becomes apparent when they make a call. Otherwise, they tend to be invisible. Same with this NOMOS. The power reserve and calendar functions come into view only when you're... 

Hi Well the second surprise isn't here yet ( £@$@! customs!), but the surprise is that I've managed to make decision very quickly by my standards ( not the normal months or years) and that I even broke my rule about getting one from abroad - after a disas... 

Hi The worst bit is, because of parcel tracking, I've know were its been sitting for the last few days & could have picked it up. I'm afraid I'm a bit I want it & I want it NOW!! Apols for the shouting :-) ! Cheers JML

And I also avoid to buy from outside. So I totally understand you. Keep the faith! ;) Best, Nicolas

. . . obviously never waited for a precious parcel to arrive ;-) . . .

Still naught so far in 2015...... First off is the 1675. To find a nice vintage rolex in my country is tough. I have to rely on the internet very much and mostly from the US as I am not familiar with the Euro dealers. I saw this full B+P sample and and hi...  

.....a nice 1675 to surprise one

The Moser Perpetual Calender in real - a very positive surprise! :) Best Blomman

as you are asking about "watches that have surprised you" and I would add "and keep amazing me" 1930- 40's chronographs. The more one digs, explores and discovers, the greater the surprise. And when you think you know it all... Z' ...  

show it to you, my friend. On Pspro I still recall posting a post with picture showing 2# 13ZN 3 tachhe. The day after the post had disappeared, relegated to the second page. Les oubliettes... Here it is often more based on who you know more than what you... 

take care. Z' ...  

i can see all right. ... Best Z'

:)

... actually strap on the Girard-Perregaux 1999 Chronograph. It seems to bridge the divide between functional chronograph and dress watch. On my wrist for the last few days. Andrew ...  

and that you comback is with this beautiful GP chrono! :) We have missed you - a lot! All the best Blomman

... on my wrist this week too. It has seen quite a bit of wrist time over our summer. Thanks for the welcome and hope everything is good in the world of Rolex. Regards Andrew

Andrew your "return" is winner of this week Sincerely Damjan

That's so kind, Damjan. The 1999 Chrono is a quiet winner for sure. Regards, Andrew

and the lovely GP Chronograph Vintage 1999. All the best. CC

Hope all is well with you. Warm regards, Andrew

. . . from ear to ear. :-) Welcome back, Andrew. With moist eyes, Art

... favorite meeting place, wasn't it? Hope all is good at your end. Nice to be back and thanks for the welcome. Andrew

Never liked it in pictures ... didn't move me in the case ... but on the wrist, it all made sense. ...  

It is a lovely Watch, in the real. Not the first I would jump on, but a Watch which deserves love, affection. Best, Nicolas

Too bad it has been discontinued. Best Blomman

. . . than the other way around, o_s. As with my RGM 222, for example . . . a draw in virtual reality, not so much in the metal. Art

My Sinn 857 UTC TESTAF Baron. This piece is total fun! Happy Easter! & Happy Passover! -- Richard. ...  

....i find Sinn more and more interesting

I got it, had it serviced and adjusted and it still runs at about +3 sec per week. Not bad for a more than 40 years old watch :-) HAGWE! Ken ...  

Combines Roman numbers and signs at the same time :) All the best WTA ...  

. . . a thoroughly pleasant surprise ;-) . . .

gift from a friend is most beautiful surprise x2 and wrist shots for good measure x2 Happy holidays D ...  

. . . the zenith of automotive design? :-)

eye west of Pecos dear Art ;) Indeed 500K Sincerely D

... will perfectly fit in this week end theme "Watches that have surprised me"! This is a watch I never thought I would ever see on my wrist but... ... a series of coincidences proved the contrary. It has been called "Rasta", "Glace Verte", etc. its stran...  

... have a nice Easter week end! Abrazos, Abel.

I got her for a Ladies Datejust 31 for Valentines and didn't expect her to tell me "Get it, Tiger, it's your BD!" That was this Feb, she really surprised me with the consent of my GO. Last but not least, I was surprised to get a new Daytona for Xmas, whic...  

. . . next Valentines, it's a Pavonina ;-) . . .

we're planning for a trip to Dubai this November, who knows what will happen with all the temptations there :)) Thanks, Art for this great advice...Pavonina, one of the four pillars of GO, she'll be thrilled! Rgds Raymond

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