Yes, most buyers still prefer big watches, and yes, most manufacturers still make watches that are 40+ mm despite a very small-yet-vocal slice of enthusiasts asking for downsized cases. Major brands invest big money into focus groups and market research before launching a new model, and that often leads to larger watches. At HODINKEE, we're constantly striving to curate a wide assortment of watches that reflects the diversity within our community. You've probably noticed that in our pre-owned drops we offer a little bit of everything, from avant-garde pieces to the timeless. This week's selection is no different, but if anything, it skews a bit classic. But the fact is the Omega that just sold at Phillips Geneva Six is among the very first wristwatch tourbillons ever made, dating from way back in 1947, long before tourbillon wristwatches had a chance to become cool, and even longer before some deemed them passé. And now it is the most expensive Omega ever sold at auction, bringing in CHF 1,428,500. Both watches also suppressed the thickness of the dial by placing it on the same plane as the going train, and the gears for winding and setting. The Piaget AUC had a subdial with conventional minute and hour hands but the Bulgari Octo Finissimo Ultra had two separate dials for the hours and minutes. Those same machines are used today in the company's case finishing facilities. The cases for all Grand Seiko watches featuring this technique, not just the Spring Drive or quartz, will go through Seiko Epson, where skilled craftsmen polish cases down to 0.05mm through tons and tons of experience. I probably don't have to say it at this point, but I'm a big, unabashed fan of Ochs und Junior. The minimal aesthetic is polarizing, but it really resonates with me and I like purpose-driven sense of engineering that prevails throughout the watches themselves. There really is no other watch brand quite like Ochs und Junior either, and it flies in the face of most modern luxury conventions.

Above is the movement, but this time, seen from the dial side. The peripheral winding rotor, as well as the module for the automatic winding train, have both been removed, and the mainspring barrel, as well as the going train, have been removed too, leaving the tourbillon, for now, in place. Baltic has used their traditional typeface for the Arabic numerals, but never before have we seen what all 12 numerals look like on a Baltic watch. Well, now we know, and if you’re into typography and/or good design, you will certainly enjoy the look here. Who doesn’t love a flat four? When I was a kid, I was obsessed with Old World explorers, and I was very disappointed to learn that we've explored a lot of the Earth, but maybe my version is discovering new things on Mars. It's my own way of being an explorer. It's a simple, democratic solution to a complex problem. If you place an order for the Kurono Anniversary 朱鷺:Toki in the ten-minute window, your order will be fulfilled. replica jaeger lecoultre orologi In the metal, this presents tremendous value. At $895 this watch is competing, as many in watch circles have noticed, with Seiko's Baby Alpinist offering. To me, this feels and wears like a $2,000 watch, easily. And it has that extra storytelling flare. We can't always connect with our normie friends about our horological inclinations, but tie-ins to pop culture certainly help. And almost everyone has seen Interstellar.

Seiko certainly knows when it's got a good thing going and while it might not want to mess too much with success, it certainly knows how to give its watches a cool and fresh new look. For evidence, look no further than today's expansion of the Seiko Black Series with three of the brand's most popular watches. The Oris Pro Pilot X "Laser" has an MSRP of $5,200 – it's available now at authorized Oris dealers, including the Hodinkee Shop.