2024 AP Royal Oak Releases

As Audemars Piguet’s hero collection, it comes as no surprise that the Royal Oak lineup welcomed the most new models from the brand.

Royal Oak Gem-Set Selfwinding 41mm

Flaunting its creative gem-setting techniques, Audemars Piguet released a pair of white gold Royal Oak 41 models blanketed in 861 baguette-cut stones. The first, in shades of green, brown, and black, offers up a camouflage pattern whereas the blue version leans into a graduated motif.

Audemars Piguet gemologist, Samira Ribeaucourt explains: “To create a harmonious camouflage effect that could be repeated throughout the watch, we carefully selected a variety of gemstones, including some rarely used in the watchmaking industry. The use of tsavorites, smoky quartz, and black sapphires for the green timepiece and Swiss blue topaz combined with blue sapphires for the blue version allowed us to enrich the color palette and achieve more subtle gradations. Finally, the invisible setting enhances the tone of each gemstone, giving the two timepieces volume and depth.”

Royal Oak Frosted Gold Selfwinding 37mm

Frosted gold has been a favorite decorative technique of Audemars Piguet over the last few years, cherished for its textured hammered finish and shimmery effect. One version that joined the lineup in 2024 is the Royal Oak Selfwinding Frosted Gold 37mm in yellow gold.

The watch includes a vintage-inspired smoked gold dial on a flat surface rather than a patterned tapisserie motif that’s typical of a Royal Oak watch. The dial includes a date window at 3 o’clock, and the back of the watch shows us the new-gen Caliber 5900 automatic movement that drives the Royal Oak Selfwinding 37mm models.

Royal Oak Gem-Set Selfwinding 37mm

No surprises here, but 2024 Audemars Piguet watch releases include a solid variety of gem-set models. For instance, AP unveiled a pair of lavish Royal Oak Selfwinding 37mm watches, one in white gold with diamonds and the other in pink gold with diamonds and sapphires.

The case and bezel of the white gold gem-set Royal Oak Selfwinding 37mm includes 122 brilliant-cut diamonds, in addition to 40 brilliant-cut diamonds across the four studs that span across the case and strap. This version is combined with a light green Grande Tapisserie dial and a pearly green alligator strap.

Conversely, the case of the pink gold gem-set Royal Oak Selfwinding 37mm piece includes 82 brilliant-cut diamonds (and 40 brilliant-cut diamonds on the studs) while the bezel is set with 40 brilliant-cut graded blue sapphires. Complementing the bezel are the light blue Grande Tapisserie dial and the light blue pearly alligator strap.

Royal Oak Selfwinding 34mm

Another 2024 Audemars Piguet watch release is the duo of new Royal Oak Selfwinding 34mm watches, one in pink gold and the other in two-tone steel and pink gold.

The two-tone variant is furnished with a gray dial whereas the full gold version flaunts a vivid pink dial. Both versions run on the automatic Caliber 5800 movement, which offers about 50 hours of power reserve.

Royal Oak Frosted Gold Selfwinding 34mm

For 2024, Audemars Piguet also expanded its Frosted Gold Royal Oak Selfwinding 34mm collection with two new models — one in yellow gold and one in white gold — both furnished with special “Crystal Sand” finished dials.

Between the hammered finish of the case and bracelet and the crystal-like surface of the dial, these monochromatic Royal Oak Frosted Gold Selfwinding 34mm watches lean on texture and light for contrast rather than color. As is customary for 34mm Royal Oaks since 2020, this pair of AP watches runs on Caliber 5800, a self-winding movement with 50 hours of power reserve.

Royal Oak Mini Frosted Gold Quartz

We’ve said it many times before but small watches are having a moment — and in 2024, Audemars Piguet was more than happy to oblige with a new set of “Mini Oak” watches in frosted gold. Available in yellow, white, and rose gold, these small Royal Oak watches measure a dainty 23mm in diameter, which is only slightly larger than the 1997 20mm Royal Oaks the new models drew inspiration from.

The Mini Oak watches may be petite in proportions but they still pack a punch thanks to their hammered frosted gold finish that mimics diamond dust. The time-only dials, decorated with the famed Petite Tapisserie hobnail pattern, are rendered in a shade to match the cases and bracelets. Inside the 2024 Mini Oak watches are quartz movements with a seven-year battery life.

More about Women’s Watches:
The Best Women’s Dive Watches – 37mm and Under
Women’s Rolex Watch Guide
Cartier Women’s Watch Guide
The Best Women’s Watches from Watches & Wonders 2024

Royal Oak Selfwinding Chronograph

A new variation of the Royal Oak Selfwinding Chronograph 41mm joined the catalog, this time in 18k yellow gold. Along with the yellow gold case and bracelet, Audemars Piguet opted to use a yellow gold-toned Grand Tapisserie dial that darkens to black at the periphery. We’ve seen this dial execution before on another yellow gold watch by AP — the 50th anniversary “Jumbo” — and it’s a great look on a solid gold timepiece. The dial includes a trio of gold-toned counters, a date window between 4 and 5 o’clock, and 18k yellow gold hands and hour markers.

The sapphire caseback shows off the automatic Caliber 4401 flyback chronograph movement powering the piece, ticking at a frequency of 28,800 beats per hour and supplying 70 hours of power reserve.

Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar “John Mayer” Limited Edition

No stranger to collaborations, Audemars Piguet has teamed up with the most high-profile celebrity watch collector —musician John Mayer. The Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar “John Mayer” Limited Edition is fashioned from 18k white gold and houses a deep blue textured dial that the brand calls “Crystal Sky.” The captivating dial features sharp angles and facets to mimic crystals, which were formed via a metal deposition process known as electroforming.

Aside from the new dial pattern, John Mayer also added other subtle modifications such as replacing the customary red “31” on the date indication with a white one that’s also smaller and stepped. He also opted for a light blue date pointer with the idea that it could fade into the background when not needed but also be easy to spot when necessary.

Like preceding Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar watches, the “John Mayer” runs on the extra-thin Caliber 5134 automatic movement, which debuted in 2015 but is based on the legendary Caliber 2120/2800 released in 1978. The Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar “John Mayer” Limited Edition will be the swan song of Caliber 5134. John Mayer has also been bestowed the “Creative Conduit” title by Audemars Piguet, so expect more creations from the mind of the musician in the near future.

Further Reading:
What is a Perpetual Calendar Watch? 
A Tour of John Mayer Watches

Royal Oak Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon

A pair of new Royal Oak Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon variants were added to the AP catalog, one in pink gold and the other in stainless steel. The pink gold model is paired with a sandblasted gray dial whereas the steel version is fitted with a smoked burgundy sunburst dial.

Both versions sport 41mm cases and matching integrated bracelets. The star of the dial is the flying tourbillon at 6 o’clock, accompanied only by the duo of time-telling hands at the center. At the heart of the Royal Oak Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon watches is the automatic Calibre 2950 movement, visible through the sapphire caseback.

Royal Oak Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Openworked Sand Gold

Audemars Piguet debuted a brand new 18k gold alloy called Sand Gold, which sits somewhere between white and pink gold and changes color depending on how the light hits it. According to the brand, Sand Gold is also fade-resistant. AP introduced the new material on the Royal Oak Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Openworked 41, complete with matching sand-gold-toned bridges and mainplate in the visible movement. That movement is Caliber 2972, introduced in 2022 for the Royal Oak’s 50^th anniversary.

The open-worked dial is home to a flying tourbillon at 6 o’clock, accompanied by white gold hour and minute hands at the center and white gold hour markers along the sand-gold-toned rehaut. The 41mm sand gold case is paired with a matching sand gold integrated bracelet.

Further Reading:
What is a Tourbillon Watch? 
Proprietary Gold Alloys in Watchmaking: Sedna, Everose, Magic Gold and More

Royal Oak Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Extra-Thin RD#3

Audemars Piguet rounded out its Royal Oak Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Extra-Thin (RD#3) collection with a new 18k white gold version in 37mm. The white gold case is further embellished with baguette-cut diamonds while the Petite Tapisserie dial is rendered in smoked blue and punctuated with diamond hour markers and a flying tourbillon at 6 o’clock.

This is the third iteration of the Royal Oak Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Extra-Thin (RD#3), the first two (one in 39mm and the other in 37mm) were made in steel and released to celebrate the Royal Oak’s 50th anniversary. Like the others, the white gold Royal Oak Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Extra-Thin (RD#3) runs on the ultra-thin automatic Caliber 2968, which measures a mere 3.4mm thick.

Royal Oak “Jumbo” Extra-Thin Openworked

Audemars Piguet added to its Royal Oak “Jumbo” Extra-Thin Openworked collection by unveiling a white gold version — set to join the already-existing pink gold, yellow gold, and white gold variants.

Like its predecessors, the white gold Royal Oak “Jumbo” Extra-Thin Openworked features a 39mm case, topped with the signature octagonal bezel and paired with the famed integrated AP bracelet. The skeletonized dial provides a view of the Caliber 7124 automatic movement beating away inside the watch, treated in different shades of anthracite grey to retain the sleek monochromatic tone of the watch while also providing appealing contrasts.

Royal Oak Double Balance Wheel Openworked 41mm

Three new references join the Royal Oak Double Balance Wheel Openworked 41 collection in 2024, in stainless steel, black ceramic, and 18k yellow gold. Regardless of the case material, what’s front and center is the Caliber 3132, flaunting its stunning open-worked architecture.

The steel and black ceramic versions include a new pink gold movement whereas the yellow gold model houses an anthracite grey one. The resulting effect is a very cool take on the two-tone timepiece.

Royal Oak Double Balance Wheel Openworked 37mm

A pair of new references were added to the Royal Oak Double Balance Wheel Openworked 37mm range, one in white gold with a light blue inner bezel and a one in pink gold with a purple inner bezel. The dials offer a view of the striking open-worked Caliber 3132 inside the watches.

In addition to the case-matching integrated bracelets, the Royal Oak Double Balance Wheel Openworked models also come with an additional leather strap, color-matched to the inner bezel rings.

2024 AP Royal Oak Offshore Releases

The beefier Royal Oak Offshore collection also debuted a few new models for 2024, including some unexpected non-chronograph versions.

Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding 41mm

If you’re familiar with Royal Oak Offshore models, you’ll know that the vast majority of them are chronographs. On rare occasions, such as this model that’s part of the 2024 Audemars Piguet watch releases, AP will introduce a non-chronograph version. Meet the time-and-date Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding in stainless steel and blue rubber.

The 43mm steel case is crowned with a blue rubber-coated octagonal bezel, which matches the blue rubber strap beautifully (an additional black rubber strap accompanies the watch). The color theme continues with the smoked blue Méga Tapisserie dial, home to the trio of hands at the center and a color-matched date window at 3 o’clock. There are also resigned crown guards that are more shapely than previous versions. The sapphire caseback reveals the automatic Caliber 4302 powering the new Royal Oak Offshore.

Further Reading:
All About the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Diver

Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding 37mm

Accompanying the larger non-chronograph Offshore is the more compact Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding 37, featuring a grey rubber-clad bezel paired with an 18k pink gold case and a rhodium and ivory guilloché dial in the signature Grand Tapisserie pattern. A date window sits at 3 o’clock, alongside pink-gold hour markers and trapezoidal hands. The grey inner bezel blends seamlessly into the overall design for a polished, cohesive look.

The watch comes with a grey rubber strap that has a unique mosaic texture, reminiscent of the one featured on the Royal Oak Offshore Music Edition. With the quick interchangeability system, the strap can be swapped for a black rubber alternative with a matching mosaic effect. The sapphire caseback reveals the Caliber 5900 movement, an automatic 4 Hz engine launched in 2022, delivering a 60-hour power reserve.

Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Chronograph

Not forgetting the chronograph complication, Audemars Piguet also released the stainless steel Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Chronograph 43mm. On top of its steel case is a matching steel bezel — the only steel bezel option in the current ROO 43mm collection, so far. There are also black ceramic pushers and a winding crown.

The smoked bronze Méga Tapisserie dial is said to be inspired by Habanos cigars; three black subdials with white accents sit on the textured dial, matching the black-and-white tachymeter scale on the inner bezel. The date window is positioned between 4 and 5 o’clock. The chronograph is paired with a brown alligator leather strap, finished with a hand-applied Oxford patina; however, it also comes with an interchangeable black rubber strap for a more casual look. Powering this timepiece is the Caliber 4401, a 4 Hz movement featuring a vertical clutch and column wheel, along with a flyback function, delivering a 70-hour power reserve.

2024 AP Royal Oak Concept Release

The Royal Oak Concept is Audemars Piguet’s most advanced collection, featuring pieces with cutting-edge materials, complicated movements, and just as importantly, a modern design approach to the classic Royal Oak.

AP x KAWS Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon “Companion”

As mentioned, Audemars Piguet loves a collab. And New York-based artist KAWS was tapped by the watchmaker to work on a piece together. The result was the 2024 introduction of the limited edition AP x KAWS Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon “Companion,” named after the artist’s famous character. Companion, which is said to be a dark interpretation of Mickey Mouse with a skull and crossbones-shaped head, x eyes, and gloved hands, is front and center on the dial. To make space for the titanium-crafted Companion, AP opted to remove the traditional center hands and instead go with a peripheral time display where the hour and minute hands rotate around the rim of the movement and dial. These hands move via two visible, superimposed gear wheels, which are in turn driven by pinions and guided by rollers. This is the first time Audemars Piguet has used this type of time display, but it certainly won’t be the last. The tourbillon sits at the traditional 6 o’clock position, where Companion’s chest would be.

Like the mini figurine, the 43mm Concept case is also made of titanium, paired with a dark gray calfskin leather strap, culminating in a sleek monochromatic look. The AP x KAWS watch is limited to only 250 pieces and is powered by the new Caliber 2979 peripheral hour and minute hand-wound movement. This 2024 Audemars Piguet watch release will undoubtedly be a hot item in the collector’s market.

Royal Oak Concept Split-Seconds Chronograph GMT

Audemars Piguet expands its Royal Oak Concept line with the Split-Seconds Chronograph GMT Large Date, featuring the brand’s signature innovation in materials: forged carbon. Audemars Piguet first introduced forged carbon to the watchmaking world in 2007, and this latest model takes it a step further with Chroma Forged Technology (CFT), which incorporates colorful fibers into the case for a striking visual effect. The 44mm case, paired with a black ceramic bezel and pushers, highlights the brand’s avant-garde design approach. The open-worked dial showcases a large date at 12 o’clock, split-seconds chronograph, and GMT functions, creating a perfect balance of aesthetics and utility. What’s more, the blue pigments weaving through the material are luminous, resulting in a super cool effect in the dark.

Inside, the self-winding Caliber 4407 drives the timepiece, equipped with a column-wheel mechanism for the split-seconds chronograph and a 70-hour power reserve. The movement is visible through the sapphire caseback, revealing the intricate craftsmanship Audemars Piguet is known for. Paired with a textured black rubber strap, this watch continues the brand’s legacy of pushing the limits of watchmaking through advanced materials and engineering, solidifying its place in the Royal Oak Concept collection.

2024 AP Code 11.59 Releases

Released in 2019, the Code 11.59 collection introduced 13 references and three new movements simultaneously. The then-new line included time-and-date, chronograph, minute repeater Supersonnerie, tourbillon, and perpetual calendar models. Five years on, Audemars Piguet continues to expand the Code 11.59 range with fresh iterations.

Code 11.59 Selfwinding 41mm

New to the 2024 AP collection are two pink gold Code 11.59 Selfwinding 41mm watches, one with a “Bleu Nuit, Nuage 50” dark blue dial and the other with a dark green dial. Both versions are equipped with textured rubber straps that match their respective dials. These variants run on Caliber 4302, a self-winding movement with 70 hours of power reserve.

Code 11.59 Selfwinding Chronograph 41mm

AP launched three fresh versions of the Code 11.59 Selfwinding Chronograph 41mm, available in green, blue, and black. The green and blue versions sport full pink gold cases whereas the black version includes a black ceramic and pink gold case. The trio of Code 11.59 Selfwinding Chronograph 41m watches are fitted with textured rubber straps color-matched to the embossed dials. The Caliber 4401 self-winding movement powers the chronographs with 70 hours of power reserve.

Code 11.59 Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Chronograph Shades of Gray

Audemars Piguet introduces a new iteration of the Code 11.59 Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Chronograph called “Shades of Grey.” The watch features a gradient grey dial that transitions from dark at the edges to light at the center, with a flying tourbillon at 6 o’clock and chronograph subdials at 3 and 9 o’clock for a clean, balanced layout.

The 41mm case pairs an 18k white gold bezel with a black ceramic middle case, offering a mix of finishes, including satin-brushed, polished, and sandblasted textures. Inside, the in-house Caliber 2952 powers the watch, featuring a flying tourbillon, column-wheel chronograph, and a 65-hour power reserve.

Code 11.59 Selfwinding 38mm

The smaller Code 11.59 Selfwinding 38mm lineup also welcomed some fresh colorways, both in pink gold with embossed dials. One features a light blue dial and light blue alligator strap whereas the other is fitted with a dark blue “Bleu Nuit, Nuage 50” dial and a matching dark blue alligator strap. These smaller versions are powered by Caliber 5900 with 50 hours of power reserve.

Code 11.59 Gem-Set Selfwinding 38mm

AP added a pair of gem-set Code 11.59 watches to its lineup in 2024, both featuring 38mm cases and offered in 18k white or pink gold. The watches boast dials set with 533 diamonds and colored sapphires, resulting in bold bejeweled versions of the AP Code 11.59.

Driving the trio of time-telling hands on the gem-paved dials is the Caliber 5909 automatic movement, visible through the display caseback and supplying 60 hours of power reserve.

Other 2024 Audemars Piguet Releases

In addition to new Royal Oak, Royal Oak Offshore, Royal Oak Concept, and Code 11.59 watches, Audemars Piguet also announced some cutting-edge materials and a vintage revival watch.

Chroma Ceramic and Chroma Gold

Among all the new watches Audemars Piguet has released in 2024, the watchmaker has also announced some innovative materials. For instance, in March, AP unveiled Chroma Ceramic with a multi-colored camouflage pattern, created via the latest Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) technology.

A few months later, Chroma Gold was added to AP’s slate of innovative materials, combining various shades of gold into one pattern.

With the announcement of these cutting-edge materials, it’s only a matter of time before AP will add watches crafted from Chroma Ceramic and Chroma Gold to its collection.

[RE]Master02

In what the brand calls a “Tribute to Brutalism,” the unconventional [RE]Master02 watch launched in 2024 is inspired by the reference 5159BA from 1960, of which only seven examples were made. As the number two in the name suggests, this is the second reinterpretation of a vintage Audemars Piguet watch to join the brand’s modern catalog; the first was the 2020 [RE]Master01 based on a chronograph from 1943.

Limited to 250 pieces and sporting a 41mm asymmetrical 41mm rectangular case in Sand Gold, the [RE]Master02 features a dial in the blue color dubbed “Bleu Nuit, Nuage 50” — the same dark blue to black shade iconic to the first Royal Oak from the 1970s. The distinctive parted dial is segmented into 12 triangles, decorated with a linear satin finish and home to a pair of hands for the hours and minutes. The 2024 Audemars Piguet [RE]Master02 runs on the 52-hour power reserve Caliber 7129 automatic movement, visible from the caseback.

A Busy Year for Audemars Piguet

That covers all the new watches from Audemars Piguet in 2024 — over two dozen of them! However, make sure to stay tuned as we’ll update this article if other fresh AP models are announced.

More About Audemars Piguet Watches
Guide to Audemars Piguet Nicknames
How Much Does An Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Cost?
Audemars Piguet’s North American Service Center Will Move to Raleigh, NC
Audemars Piguet Just Dropped the Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon Spider-Man
Six New Audemars Piguet Code 11.59 Watches Now In Steel
New Royal Oak Offshore in Full Ceramic

The post 2024 Audemars Piguet Watch Releases appeared first on GREY MARKET MAGAZINE.

Know the Model You Want

The first step in shopping for a Rolex is narrowing down the model you want. The Rolex Datejust, Submariner and Oyster Perpetual are their biggest sellers. The Day-Date, GMT-Master II and Daytona are all iconic as well.

Then there are more niche models such as the Yacht-Master, Deepsea, Air-King and Sky-Dweller as well as discontinued models like the Milgauss, Cellini Prince, and Yacht-Master II.

Just go to Rolex.com, or browse some photos above, and see what strikes your fancy. If you’re wondering how to decide which Rolex is good to buy, well, don’t think about resale value too much. As long as you’re paying appropriate market prices to begin with, you’ll be OK.

It’s true that Rolex watches are great at retaining their value compared to other brands, but very few of them actually gain significant value over time–especially when you account for things like inflation, maintenance and insurance. So first, just go with your gut–decide what you think is coolest.

Determine Your Budget

The next step is determining your budget. When you’re choosing where and how to buy a Rolex, you’ll need to decide if you’re open to pre-owned watches or not. As a general rule, aside from modern steel sports models, pre-owned Rolex watches are cheaper than the new retail price. Let’s start with an overview of how to set your expectations when you buy a Rolex with various budgets:

Narrow Your Search to a Specific Reference Number

One important tip when buying a Rolex is to always know the specific reference number of the watch you’re shopping for. There are many generations of stainless steel Submariner Date models, for instance, so if you want the newest model you’re looking for a 126610. The 116610 that preceded it will be cheaper and the neo-vintage 16610 Submariner Date will be cheaper still. If you spend some time researching those models, you’ll learn that the 116610 was the first model with the beloved quick-adjust Glidelock clasp, etc.

Know the Market Value

It’s always a good idea to have a general feel for market price, and you can get that by going on marketplaces like Chrono24 or listing aggregators like Watchrecon. Search using that reference number to get the most relevant results. Ebay can be worth a look, too.

Where and How to Buy a Rolex: Authorized Dealer or Secondhand?

If you want a Datejust or a Day-Date, or even one of the less popular sports models like a Sea-Dweller (particularly if it’s two-tone), just walk into an authorized dealer, ask for one, and wait a few months. You should have it before too long, unless you’re asking for a particular configuration with very high demand (like a mint green Datejust, or a Day-Date with a stone dial).

If you want a Pepsi GMT, steel Daytona, titanium Yacht-Master or turquoise Oyster Perpetual, however, you have almost no chance at getting one from an authorized dealer unless you’re a valued client there already. It’s worth noting that the Rolex waitlist tends to be longer in some places (UK, Australia) than others (USA).

When people are wondering how to buy a Rolex, they often ask if they should put their name down at multiple authorized dealers, and the answer is: sure, as long as they’re not owned by the same conglomerate and they’re fairly close to your home. Rolex AD’s generally prioritize local customers and will often encourage you to patronize your own local store if you visit one while traveling, but not always.

If the market value of the watch you want is a lot higher than the MSRP at a Rolex store, that means it’s very hard to actually get at a Rolex store. Oyster Perpetual models are surprisingly hard to get at retail, despite overtly being the entry-level Rolex model, but their secondhand premium isn’t too terrible–so that’s a good one to buy online from a trusted dealer. And if you want a steel Daytona or GMT without waiting forever, I’d recommend buying secondhand for that too.

How to Find a Trusted Dealer to Buy a Rolex From

Established luxury watch dealers will have numerous online references that you can see on places like Rolex Forums, Watchuseek, Reddit etc. Some forums even have trusted seller lists with the most-recommended sellers. Basically, if you see someone’s name recommended over and over and over again–like Takuya, Chase from Nashville Watch, DavidSW, Lunar Oyster, OC Watch Guy or hopefully Luxury Bazaar–you can feel confident buying a Rolex from them. These grey market dealers’ reputations are worth far more than they would make by scamming you out of a Rolex.

Chrono24 and Ebay: Are They Legit?

Chrono24 is indeed a legitimate watch marketplace, as is Ebay. There is a lot of aftermarket/custom garbage on Ebay (and even some fake stuff listed below the price threshold where authentication kicks in), but there’s plenty of legitimate and rare stuff too. In fact, Luxury Bazaar got started by selling on Ebay! And personally I found my rare “Abercrombie & Fitch”-stamped Oyster on Ebay.

Ebay has its place, as does Chrono24, but keep in mind that there are fantastic sellers and subpar ones alike on there–they’re just marketplaces. So, focus on the specific seller you’re buying a Rolex from. Avoid new sellers and stock photos!

If you work directly with a seller and pay by wire you can expect the best possible prices, but make sure you truly “buy the seller” before doing that. It’s not unusual for a well-established watch dealer to ask for a wire, but again, only do it if it’s a dealer you’re 100% confident about. If you truly found a watch through a Chrono24 or Ebay listing, and it’s your first transaction with that dealer, it’s generally best not to try to “circumvent” the listing fees. Unless it’s a really rare specific watch, though, it’s often easiest to start by simply emailing or calling a well-known dealer.

How to Know if the Rolex You Buy is Real

“Buy the seller” is a permanent mantra on watch forums for a reason. Often, first-time Rolex buyers will consider buying a watch from a random private party because they think they can “meet up at an authorized dealer to have it authenticated.” This is a surprisingly pervasive myth, but Rolex authorized dealers generally do not authenticate watches. They’re there to sell new Rolexes, not help people on Facebook Marketplace sell old ones. And honestly, ideally you should be buying from sellers whose opinions on authenticity you trust more than a random guy you would bring it to.

There are several tips on spotting a fake Rolex that you can learn, but if you’re still unsure about a watch you bought, you can have your watch fully serviced–any decent watchmaker will tell you if something is amiss. If you’re buying a Rolex that’s more than about seven years old, and you don’t know the service history, it’s a good idea to get it serviced anyway.

That’s really everything you need to know about how to buy a Rolex. Just walk into your local authorized dealer and ask for the one you like (seriously, asking about one watch is generally much more successful than a vague interest in several watches). If you want a steel Daytona or Pepsi, it’s true that you won’t get those without major spending history at an authorized retailer, but plenty of trusted dealers can overnight you one to your door for the current market price. And fortunately for consumers, the market price of a growing number of models is falling below MSRP.

More on Rolex:

➢	Rolex’s Bucherer Acquisition Approved by European Regulators
➢	Guide To Rolex Wimbledon Watches
➢	Tudor vs. Rolex: How Do They Stack Up Now?
➢	The “Who Cares I’m Already Late” Custom Rolex
➢	The Best Rolex Alternatives
➢	Rolex 2024 Releases: Lots of Gold But Only One Steel Watch

The post How to Buy a Rolex: A First-Time Buyer’s Guide appeared first on GREY MARKET MAGAZINE.

Even though Chanel now owns 20% of the company, F.P. Journe is widely regarded as the very model of high-end independent watchmaking. They deserve a lot of credit for the current high-end independent watchmaking boom in general. Brands like Gerald Genta, Daniel Roth and Franck Muller set the watchmaking stage in the 1990’s and F.P. Journe, founded in 1999, took it to the next level with their emphasis on beautifully finished in-house movements and thoughtful dials. The only other eponymous luxury watch brand of a living founder with equal success is Richard Mille.

F.P. Journe limited edition watches are often some of the most desirable, but we should note that all Journes are scarce and desirable (and resell comfortably above MSRP). The brand only makes about 1,500 watches per year (1/3 of which have quartz movements), so fretting about what exactly is a “limited edition” F.P. Journe is a bit pedantic. But let’s do it anyway!

What is a Limited Edition?

To a watch collector, a proper “limited edition” has a specific finite known total produced. So, even if a watch’s production is extremely limited, generally watch nerds won’t use the term “limited” unless there’s a manufacturer-stated quantity limit. As in “one of five,” or “one of 20” etc. And it should be noted that although F.P. Journe used the term “Limited Series” for some of its watches, that doesn’t include everything that we think of as “limited editions” in the broader sense. So even though F.P. Journe has declared that there will be no more Limited Series, we expect them to continue making unique pieces for charity events, etc.

F.P. Journe limited edition watches are obviously very special, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re more special than other models that aren’t “limited” in the traditional sense. There are brown “Havana” dials and mother-of-pearl dials only available at boutiques, for instance. Black Label models, featuring rich black dials, are especially exclusive because they’re only offered to repeat boutique customers–but they’re not “limited” per se. Jade dials are even rarer. Same goes for the incredible Astronomic model–it’s so complex that F.P. Journe can only produce a few each year. And most collectors agree that an Astronomic–let alone a Black Label Astronomic–is more special than most actual “limited edition” Journes. Before we list over 80 of those limited/unique Journe models, let’s go over a general breakdown of how the numbers stack up.

Breakdown of F.P. Journe Unique and Limited Edition Watches

Roughly half of all F.P. Journe limited/unique editions are 40mm wide, and more than half are platinum. The first series of watches F.P. Journe ever sold when the brand came on the scene in 1999, the Tourbillon Souverain Souscription, was limited to 20 pieces. But the first actual so-called “Limited Series” was the Ruthenium Series, which debuted in 2001. Here are some of the main categories that limited edition Journe watches fall into:

• Vagabondage Series – 10 models (2 of which are Red Ferrari versions made in collaboration with Jean Todt)
• Tokyo Boutique Anniversary Series – 6 models
• Commemorative 38mm platinum “No. 1000” unique pieces (sold as a set by Cellini) – 6 models
• Ruthenium Series (F.P. Journe’s first true series of limited edition watches) – 5 models
• Commemorative 38mm steel unique pieces (sold as a set to signify the end of the 38mm era) – 5 models
• Unique pieces for Only Watch charity – 5 models
• Unique pieces for Action Innocence charity (purple dials) – 4 models
• Unique pieces paying homage to New York City after 9/11 (according to A Collected Man) – 3 models
• Unique pieces for Fondation Prince Albert II of Monaco charity (with Oracle bone script hour markers) – 3 models

That barely covers half of the limited and unique F.P. Journe watches that we’re aware of, though. See our chart below for a thorough model-by-model list.

Chart of F.P. Journe Unique and Limited Edition Watches

That just about covers all of the unique and limited edition F.P. Journe models we can think of. While it was fun to go through all of these various rare models, deciding on which Journe watch you want probably shouldn’t come down to whether it’s a “limited edition” or not. After all, they’re all rare, and they’re all pretty fantastic.

More on High-End Independent Watchmakers:

➢	A Collector’s Guide to Greubel Forsey
➢	What is a Hyperwatch?
➢	5 Reasons Not to Sleep on H. Moser & Cie
➢	3 Urwerk Watches Not To Miss
➢	Releases from Independent Watchmakers at Watches & Wonders 2024

The post Guide to F.P. Journe Limited Edition Watches appeared first on GREY MARKET MAGAZINE.

Challenge – Otsuka Lotec No.6

Otsuka Lotec, a Japanese watch brand founded by independent watchmaker Jiro Katayama, takes a unique approach with its latest release, the No. 6. The No.6 draws inspiration from an analog meter with a Japanese fan-shaped display. Its retrograde hour and minute hands overlap, rotating on a single axis for a clean, streamlined look. The watch is powered by a Japanese Miyota movement, with an additional in-house module supporting its unique features: retrograde hour and minute hands, a central seconds disk, and a date display on the right.

Designed by Katayama himself, the No. 6 achieves a slim profile by housing the hour and minute hands within the lower part of the fan-shaped dial. The dial is carefully screwed onto the movement, ensuring perfect alignment with the bezel. For a refined finish, the edges of the hands and screw heads are beveled. Precision is key in this model — the retrograde hour and minute hands are set to return to zero in sync at 12:00, with a return timing difference controlled to within 60 seconds. Adjustments to the hour hand’s cam allow for precision down to 0.1 degrees, demonstrating Katayama’s meticulous approach to design and function.

Price: CHF 2,260

Petite Aiguille – Kudoke 3 Salmon

Independent watchmaker Stefan Kudoke’s brand, KUDOKE, is known for handcrafted timepieces that combine traditional techniques with innovative design. The HANDwerk collection’s signature style is instantly recognizable in the KUDOKE 3, but this model takes a unique approach to time display. Minutes are indicated traditionally with a blued steel hand on the top dial ring, while the hours are shown by a triple-armed hand with each arm of a different length. As each arm completes its hour scale, the next continues the sequence, making hours 2, 6, and 10 appear twice — a simple yet clever feature.

The salmon upper dial and silver-plated lower dial, secured with screws that double as minute markers, feature diamond-edged accents for subtle play with light. The HANDwerk infinity symbol appears in multiple spots, from the minute hand to the engraved balance cock. Housed in a 39mm stainless steel case with an onion crown, the KUDOKE 3 is powered by the hand-wound KALIBER 1 movement, visible through the sapphire crystal case back.

Price: CHF 9,905

Sports – Ming 37.09 Bluefin

Ming, known for its minimalist and innovative watch designs, unveiled its latest dive watch, the 37.09 Bluefin. This model balances technical dive standards with the brand’s customary good looks, offering functionality without bulk. Initially aimed at surpassing the technical achievements of the 18.01 H41, Ming took a new approach to create a slim and versatile dive watch. The re-engineered 38mm steel case features dual crowns, reinforced sapphire crystals, and extra gaskets, achieving a 600m water resistance rating. At 12.8mm thick, including the domed sapphire crystal, the Bluefin wears comfortably while maintaining a strong visual presence with its nearly bezel-free design and polished and brushed finishes.

The dial, developed over two years, features laser-engraved sapphire with proprietary chromium-based metallization and layered Super-LumiNova X1 for depth and subtle color shifts. Instead of a standard rotating bezel, the Bluefin’s timing bezel is internal, with a unidirectional mechanism at 4 o’clock designed for underwater use. Completing the design is an FKM rubber strap, shaped to follow the wrist’s curve. The Bluefin is Ming’s most comfortable dive watch to date, balancing practical dive features while maintaining the watchmaking signature style.

Price: CHF 4,950

Chronograph – Massena Lab x Sylvain Pinaud Chronograph Monopoussoir

Independent watchmaker Sylvain Pinaud, known for his meticulous craftsmanship and award-winning designs, teamed up with Massena LAB, a platform focused on unique collaborations in high watchmaking, to create the Chronograph Monopoussoir. This monopusher chronograph was crafted almost entirely by hand in Pinaud’s workshop in Sainte-Croix, Switzerland. Powered by a hand-wound, fully integrated chronograph movement with a column wheel and horizontal clutch, it operates through a single pusher subtly integrated into the crown for start, stop, and reset functions. With its chronograph mechanism exposed on the dial side, every detail was hand-finished by Pinaud.

Sapphire crystal windows along the sides of the 42mm titanium case, as well as a sapphire caseback, provide near-complete visibility of the dial and movement. The movement was built on Pinaud’s original chronograph that earned him the prestigious Meilleurs Ouvriers de France award. The watch is fitted with a Jean Rousseau Paris strap in aged calfskin with a crocodile lining. Limited to only 10 pieces, this collaboration highlighted the best of Pinaud’s talent and Massena LAB’s focus on exceptional, small-batch creations.

Price: CHF 130,000

Iconic – Piaget Polo 79

In 1979, Piaget introduced a watch that would come to define the brash, bold, and opulent vibe of the 1980s. Now, for the Maison’s 150th anniversary, that iconic design was brought back as the Piaget Polo 79. The watch’s unique and instantly recognizable construction, with alternating polished gadroons and brushed block links, flows uninterrupted from bracelet to case and onto the dial, creating a cohesive design that sits naturally on the wrist. The bracelet’s craftsmanship was so precise it looks as though it was sculpted from a single piece of gold.

Today’s Piaget Polo 79 watch stays true to the essence of the original, with updates that modern buyers will appreciate. The case has been resized to 38mm, and the quartz movement was replaced with Piaget’s ultra-thin 1200P1 self-winding caliber, visible through the sapphire caseback. This is a watch revival that further underlines the current trend towards yellow gold watches.

Price: CHF 68,500

More About Piaget Watches:
New for 2024: Piaget Polo Skeleton Ceramic
Five of The Best Piaget Watches
Quick Guide to the Thinnest Watches in the World: Bulgari, Piaget, and Everyone Else

Ladies Watch – Van Cleef & Arpels Lady Jour Nuit

Inspired by the wonder of the night sky, Van Cleef & Arpels has reimagined the famed Lady Arpels Jour Nuit watch, originally introduced in 2008, into a new 33mm white gold model that took three years to develop. A diamond-paved moon and stars gracefully follow a guilloché yellow gold sun in an endless dance across the dial, which features a 24-hour rotating disk that moves almost unnoticeable. Murano aventurine glass creates a depth effect on the dial, capturing the magic of a starlit night. The aventurine dial includes intricate openwork to house the diamond-set white gold stars, while painted blue mother-of-pearl with a guilloché finish takes up the bottom portion of the dial.

A sapphire crystal back reveals the oscillating weight of the self-winding movement, decorated with a polished, starry sky. The caseback also features a delicate enamel decal, showing a fairy that watches over the celestial dance from behind — a whimsical nod to Van Cleef & Arpels’ poetic vision.

Price: CHF 86,500

Jewelry – Chopard Laguna High-Jewelry Secret Watch

Chopard’s latest addition to its Red Carpet Collection is a one-of-a-kind jewelry watch that merges high jewelry with fine watchmaking. Designed under the vision of Co-President and Artistic Director Caroline Scheufele, this secret watch is hidden within a delicately crafted seashell, showcasing Chopard’s commitment to artistry and nature-inspired themes.

Meticulously designed and executed, this limited edition one-of-one cuff watch is decorated with a maritime mosaic with a shimmering pearl and a palette of precious stones in hues of blue, pink, and violet surrounding the dial. Creating this intricate piece required over 1,000 hours of work to bring ethical white gold, ethical rose gold, and titanium together with all the gems including pink, violet, and pastel blue sapphires, topaz, a natural pearl, emeralds, diamonds, purple, Demantoid, and Mandarin garnets. Flipping open the seashell cover reveals a small dial punctuated with a pair of blue hands for the hour and minutes.

Price: CHF 780’000

Ladies’ Complication – Van Cleef & Arpels Lady Arpels Brise d’Été

Inspired by nature, a constant muse for Van Cleef & Arpels, the Lady Arpels Brise d’Été (French for “summer breeze”)watch captures the charm of a fresh summer morning. The dial blooms with white and yellow gold butterflies, crafted in plique-à-jour enamel, set to flutter across the scene with an on-demand animation that also animates the delicate flowers and stems. The flowers, created in vallonné enamel, display shades of blue complemented by spessartite garnet pistils, set against a matte mother-of-pearl background. The champlevé enamel leaves and grass blades set with tsavorite garnets surround sculpted, hand-painted stems that add depth and texture.

This 38mm white-gold timepiece, part of the brand’s Poetic Complications collection, features a self-winding mechanical movement with 36 hours of power reserve. With its “flower breezing” animation on demand, the Lady Arpels Brise d’Été expresses a fleeting moment of nature’s cycle. The result is a layered, poetic scene where the butterflies and flowers come alive — a fabulous example of Van Cleef & Arpels’ mastery of mechanical automatons and decorative techniques.

Price: CHF 169,000

Artistic Crafts – Van Cleef & Arpels Lady Arpels Jour Enchanté

The Extraordinary Dials collection by Van Cleef & Arpels brings together jewelry artistry with fine watchmaking to create miniature worlds that bring the brand’s whimsical universe to life. Newly added to the collection is the limited-edition Lady Arpels Jour Enchanté — a 41mm white-gold watch that captures a moment of “Enchanted Nature” in three-dimensional detail. Inside the case, a graceful figure picks flowers under the morning sun, with light filtering through plique-à-jour enamel leaves and diamond-set branches. Blossoms set with yellow sapphires appear to float in a lush, endless flowerbed, achieved through a new technique called façonné enamel, creating an illusion of depth across the dial.

The watch’s white gold figure spreads wings made of translucent pearly-white plique-à-jour enamel, giving the piece an ethereal glow. Against a background of three turquoise shades, the sun sparkles with spessartites, colored sapphires, and diamonds, each stone seemingly suspended in mid-air thanks to a lifted setting technique that mimics dewdrops. The pair of hour and minute hands are placed on the right side of the dial, legible but immersed in the artistic landscape. The story continues on the caseback, where an engraved motif depicts the fairy taking flight. After two years of development and 180 hours of meticulous work, this seven-piece limited edition watch is yet another winner for Van Cleef & Arpels at GPHG 2024.

Price: CHF 358,000

Time Only – H. Moser & Cie Streamliner Small Seconds Blue Enamel

With the Streamliner Small Seconds Blue Enamel, indie watchmaking H. Moser & Cie. brings together exclusivity, performance, and craftsmanship in a watch designed for those who appreciate refined, independent watchmaking. Housed in a 39mm cushion-shaped steel case inspired by the streamlined aesthetics of early high-speed trains, this model reinterprets the brand’s signature with reworked proportions to fit the new, slimmer caliber HMC 500. Integrated into the case, the steel bracelet features arced, articulated links for seamless flow and comfort on the wrist. Its Aqua Blue Grand Feu enamel dial is achieved through a meticulous process that layers and fires three pigments to create the brand’s signature fumé effect.

Under the hood, the Caliber HMC 500, H. Moser & Cie.’s smallest 21st-century movement, showcases the company’s technical skill. A solid platinum micro-rotor mounted on a ball bearing supports its 74-hour power reserve, while a bi-directional pawl winding system keeps it efficient and slim. This movement also allows H. Moser & Cie. to incorporate new complications into smaller cases, opening doors to future designs.

Price: CHF 29,900

More on High-End Independent Watchmakers:

➢	A Collector’s Guide to Greubel Forsey
➢	What is a Hyperwatch?
➢	5 Reasons Not to Sleep on H. Moser & Cie
➢	3 Urwerk Watches Not To Miss
➢	Releases from Independent Watchmakers at Watches & Wonders 2024

Men’s – Voutilainen KV20i Reversed

As its name suggests, the Voutilainen KV20i Reversed watch flaunts an unconventional “back-to-front” design that brings the movement to the front of the watch. This 39mm platinum timepiece lets you admire the movement’s intricacies, including the single-arm balance-wheel bridge and the synchronized escapement wheels (along with the hour and minute hands) from the dial side whereas the back of the watch is home to the small seconds subdial.

Technically, the KV20i features a large, in-house crafted balance wheel and a unique balance spring with a Phillips overcoil and Grossmann inner curve for enhanced accuracy. The twin escapement wheels provide a direct impulse to the balance, lowering energy needs compared to a standard Swiss lever escapement, thus improving stability and longevity while also achieving a 60-hour power reserve. Every component, from the German-silver bridges and mainplate to hand-finished steel parts, meets Voutilainen’s exceedingly high standards of craftsmanship, which was rewarded with a well-deserved win at GPHG 2024.

Price: CHF 134,900

Men’s Complication – De Bethune DB Kind Of Grande Complication

The DB Kind of Grande Complication demonstrates De Bethune’s unique take on high watchmaking. Housed in a 43.3mm titanium case, this double-sided timepiece features eight complications: perpetual calendar, spherical moon-phase indication, retrograde age of the Moon and leap years, ultra-light tourbillon in blued titanium, jumping seconds, power reserve, and the double display of hours and minutes.

Inspired by the great classical watchmaking tradition, founder Denis Flageollet and his team designed the watch with a reversible case. One side displays the Caliber DB2529 with jumping seconds, a power reserve, retrograde age of the moon indicator, and a 36,000 vph tourbillon — one of the fastest and lightest available today. The other side reveals a more traditional dial with a perpetual calendar (day, date, month, year, and leap year) and a three-dimensional moonphase display, set against the brand’s signature starry sky dial. The manual-winding movement comprises 751 components and supplies 96 hours of power reserve.

Price: CHF 400,000

More About De Bethune Watches:
De Bethune’s DB28xs Aérolite Has an Iridescent Guilloche Meteorite Dial

Calendar and Astronomy – Laurent Ferrier Classic Moon Silver

Laurent Ferrier returns to its roots with the Classic Moon Silver, a 40mm red gold watch that introduces the brand’s first moonphase complication within its renowned Classic collection. Housed in Laurent Ferrier’s signature pebble-smooth case, this timepiece combines an annual calendar and moonphase in an elegant, hand-finished silver dial, accented by slender Roman numerals and a blue chemin de fer minute track. Twin beveled windows for the day and month sit below 12 o’clock, while a small seconds and moonphase display, crafted from aventurine glass and translucent enamel, brings an alluring depth to the base of the dial.

At the heart of this model is the updated Caliber LF126.02 manual winding movement, offering an 80-hour power reserve and packed with over 30 new or modified components to support the annual calendar and moonphase functions. Visible through the sapphire caseback, the movement’s Côtes de Genève decoration and hand-polished finishing embody Laurent Ferrier’s dedication to traditional craftsmanship. Adjustments for the calendar and moonphase can be made via flush-fitted correctors on the case sides, while the rest are handled through the ball-shaped crown, providing an intuitive user experience without compromising the watch’s understated aesthetic.

Price: CHF 86,480

Tourbillon – Daniel Roth Tourbillon Souscription

Thirty-five years after it first launched, Daniel Roth returns with a reimagined classic: the Tourbillon Souscription. Honoring the original 1988 design, it was crafted by skilled artisans at La Fabrique du Temps and fashioned in classic yellow gold. The double-ellipse 35.5 x 38.6mm case measures just 9.2mm in thickness, maintaining the proportions of the original while reshaping the lugs for an improved ergonomic fit.

The solid yellow gold dial — produced in the atelier of renowned independent watchmaker Kari Voutilainen— is decorated with Clous de Paris guilloché, echoing the original’s intricate style but incorporating updated typography. What remains is the hour/minute subdial at 12 o’clock, the unorthodox three-armed seconds hand scales below that, and the tourbillon under that. Beneath, the watch is powered by the exclusive in-house Caliber DR001 manual winding movement with 80 hours of power reserve, manufactured entirely at La Fabrique du Temps in Geneva under the direction of master watchmakers Michel Navas and Enrico Barbasini.

More about Daniel Roth Watches:
A Quick History of Daniel Roth Watches

Mechanical Exception – Bovet 1822 Récital 28 Prowess 1

The Bovet Récital 28 Prowess 1 addresses a longstanding issue in world timers: Daylight Saving Time. Traditionally, collectors had to set world timers for either countries that observe Daylight Saving or those that don’t, leaving many time zones incorrect. Now, thanks to a unique roller-based display, the Récital 28 Prowess 1 ensures accuracy throughout the year. The watch’s 24 city rollers and a time-period roller, each printed on four sides, adjust automatically with a press of the sapphire cabochon on the crown. This mechanism allows all 25 rollers to turn in unison, displaying the correct time for every city, regardless of Daylight Saving adjustments.

In addition to this innovative world-time solution, the Récital 28 Prowess 1 watch includes a flying tourbillon, a roller-based perpetual calendar, and a 10-day power reserve from a single barrel. Developed over five years, the limited-edition watch (only 60 will be produced) features hand-finished, hand-engraved details, and its 46.3mm case is made from grade 5 titanium (also available in 18k red gold and950 platinum).

Price: CHF 702,650

Chronometry – Bernhard Lederer 3 Times Certified Observatory Chronometer

The Bernhard Lederer Triple Certified Observatory Chronometer pays tribute to the relentless pursuit of timekeeping precision. Led by master watchmaker Bernhard Lederer, this watch with its manual-winding movement has, aside from a COSC certification, three other certifications under its belt granted by the Besançon Observatory, the Glashütte Observatory, and Geneva’s Observatory Chronométrique. Using the Central Impulse Chronometer (CIC) movement, Lederer bridges the gap between high-precision observatory chronometers and practical, everyday wristwatches. The watch features an innovative 10-second remontoire mechanism, regulating the minute hand’s movement in 10-second intervals, aligned with a unique scale on the dial.

Crafted in-house in Saint-Blaise, Switzerland, the watch’s solid silver dial, encased in a 44mm steel case, achieves its rich white finish through a complex heating process. The minute hand follows the rhythm of the remontoire d’égalité every 10 seconds, displayed on a scale divided into six steps — one scale for every 10 seconds for a total of a full minute. The watch, awarded the Chronometry award at GPHG 2024, is limited to only eight pieces.

Price: CHF 158,000

Aiguille d’Or Grand Prix – IWC Schaffhausen Portugieser Eternal Calendar

IWC Schaffhausen’s expertise in mechanical calendars began with Kurt Klaus’s revolutionary perpetual calendar in 1985, which automatically accounts for varying month lengths and leap years. Building on this significant legacy, IWC introduced the Portugieser Eternal Calendar, its first secular perpetual calendar that accounts for the leap year exceptions (if the year is divisible by 100 and not divisible by 400, the leap year is skipped; the next one will be 2100) that plagued perpetual calendars in the past. Remarkably, the watch operates with the same streamlined single-crown control as the regular perpetual calendar.

The watch also features an eternal moon phase display, which, thanks to an advanced three-wheel reduction gear train, requires adjustment only after an astounding 45 million years. Featuring a polished and brushed 44.4mm platinum case, the watch includes a glass dial and double box-glass sapphire crystal. Powered by IWC’s in-house Caliber 52640 with a 7-day power reserve, the movement uses the efficient Pellaton winding system, which leverages bi-directional rotor revolutions to maintain energy. Completing this exceptional mechanical watch, and the big winner of GPHG 2024, is a black alligator leather strap with a platinum folding clasp.

Price: CHF 150,000

More About IWC Watches:
Review: IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Top Gun Edition “Lake Tahoe”
IWC 2024 Watches and Wonders Releases
Who Owns IWC?

GPHG 2024 – Final Thoughts

It was a big night for independent watchmaking at GPHG 2024, with many smaller, niche brands like Voutilainen, Moser, De Bethune, Bovet, Ming, and Kudoke taking home big prizes. Van Cleef & Arpels also had a super sucessful evening with three of its watches winning awards.

However, despite the wins of the indies and the jewelry-focused watchmaking, it was still IWC, a top luxury watch brand, that cinched the biggest victory of the night, the Grand Prix for its exceptional Eternal Calendar. Well deserved!

More About GPHG Watch Awards
And The Winners Are… the Winning Watches of 2023 GPHG
And The Nominees Are… the Best Watches from the 2023 GPHG Field

The post The Winning Watches of GPHG 2024 appeared first on GREY MARKET MAGAZINE.

Yellow Gold Day-Date

Of all the yellow gold Rolex watches ever made, the Day-Date, a.k.a., the President is perhaps the most emblematic of the brand. With its namesake calendar windows at 12 and 3 o’clock on the dial, signature President bracelet with semi-circular links in a three-piece configuration, and classic round case, a gold Day-Date has long been the “I’ve made it” watch.

Although Rolex offers the Day-Date in several precious metals, yellow gold is the classic choice — particularly when it’s paired with a fluted bezel. The most modern variations of a yellow gold Rolex President are the reference 128238 with a 36mm case or the reference 228238 with a 40mm case. Regardless of the size, a Date-Date is without a doubt one of the finest yellow gold Rolex watches to own.

More on the Day-Date:

➢	The Ultimate Rolex Day Date Price Guide
➢	The Best Rolex Day-Date Alternative Watches
➢	Slate Ombré Rolex Day-Date 40 Unveiled

Yellow Gold Sky-Dweller

With its annual calendar complication, GMT display, and Ring Command Bezel that interacts with the movement, the Sky-Dweller is one of Rolex’s most complicated pieces. It has been a part of Rolex’s lineup since 2012 and since then we’ve witnessed a few minor updates to both its design and movement.

The most recent Sky-Dweller generation came out in 2023, retaining the same 42mm case, fluted bezel, and date, month, and two-time layout on the dial. The major change is found under the caseback where Caliber 9002 replaces Caliber 9001, featuring the Chronergy escapement. Rolex offers the Sky-Dweller in various metals including the full yellow gold reference 336938, which as of 2024 is available with either an Oyster bracelet or a Jubilee bracelet. There’s even an Oysterflex model (ref. 336238) if the bracelet is too much yellow gold for you. Given that the Sky-Dweller looks quite similar to the Day-Date (albeit a larger and more complicated version), it comes as no surprise that it’s a great-looking yellow gold Rolex watch.

More About Sky-Dweller Watches
What is the Price of a Rolex Sky-Dweller in 2024?

Yellow Gold GMT-Master II

An opulent take on Rolex’s practical pilot’s watch, a yellow gold GMT-Master II is the perfect high-end watch for the luxury traveler. While yellow gold versions were introduced early in the GMT-Master’s history, Rolex discontinued them in 2019. Thankfully, at Watches & Wonders 2023, Rolex revived the yellow gold GMT-Master II in the form of the reference 126718GRNR.

Although the GMT-Master II ref. 126718GRNR retains the customary 40mm case size and 24-hour marked Cerachrom bezel, the gray and black colorway of said bezel was new to Rolex. Rolex opted to pair the watch with a Jubilee bracelet, which was the right choice. The other precious metal GMT-Master II watches of the same generation are exclusively paired with Oyster bracelets, which plays up the sportiness of the watch. Conversely, the Jubilee bracelet not only dresses up the watch but leans into that retro “Root Beer” vibe of vintage gold GMTs. The GRNR is hands-down one of the best modern yellow gold Rolex watches on the market.

More on the Rolex GMT-Master:

➢	A Collector’s Guide to the Rolex GMT-Master II Ref. 16710
➢	What is a Rolex Coke GMT?
➢	What is a Rolex Root Beer GMT?
➢	Best Rolex GMT-Master Alternatives
➢	Off-Catalog Rolex GMT “Coke With Ice”

Yellow Gold Daytona Le Mans

In the summer of 2023, Rolex dropped a surprise release in honor of the 100th anniversary of the legendary Le Mans race — a special edition white gold Daytona with a black Cerachrom bezel, black reverse Panda dial with “Paul Newman”-inspired subdials, and an open display caseback for a view of the Caliber 4132 (which includes a 24-hour counter in honor of the 24-hour race). The watch was produced for less than a year, and discontinued at Watches & Wonders 2024.

However, Rolex quietly replaced the white gold Daytona Le Mans (ref. 126529LN) with a yellow gold version (ref. 126528LN), which in my opinion, looks even better than the original. It sports the same 40mm case and Oyster bracelet but of course, this time in 18k yellow gold. Similarly, the tri-compax dial is now punctuated with yellow gold hands and indices while the black Cerachrom bezel includes yellow gold markings. As expected, the “100” on the tachymeter scales remains red, just like the maiden Le Mans Daytona. The retail price of a yellow gold Le Mans is around $50,000; however, if you can find one of these super rare and ultra coveted pieces on the secondary market, expect to pay around $350,000 — underscoring that the market believes that this is one of the greatest yellow gold Rolex watches to get.

More on the Rolex Daytona:

➢	What is the Price of a Rolex Daytona in 2024?
➢	The Rare and Cheerful Rolex Daytona Beach Collection
➢	Rolex Surprised Everyone with the 2023 Daytona Le Mans
➢	How Much Can I Get For My Rolex Daytona?
➢	Best Alternatives to the Rolex Daytona

Yellow Gold Yacht-Master

When Rolex debuted the Yacht-Master in 1992, it did so with a full gold model known as ref. 16628. From its yellow gold 40mm case and yellow gold rotating bezel to its solid gold Oyster bracelet, the Yacht-Master 16628 was Rolex’s most lavish sports watch at the time. Though the Yacht-Master didn’t share the same water-resistance rating as the Submariner (100 meters compared to 300 meters) and wasn’t technically a dive watch due to its bi-directional bezel, it did have a similar silhouette and dial, not to mention an identical movement.

As a result, the Yacht-Master, particularly in solid yellow gold, was often regarded as a more luxurious iteration of the Submariner. In fact, the very first gold Yacht-Masters used the same case as the Submariner, featuring brushed lugs with lugholes. Those are hard to find because Rolex quickly transitioned to the more rounded and shiny no-holes cases we associate with Yacht-Masters today.

Rolex even furnished some Yacht-Masters with mother-of-pearl dials in various colors along with gem-set indices in black onyx, red rubies, or blue sapphires. Although the yellow gold Yacht-Master 16628 is no longer in production it remains an excellent choice on the secondary market.

More on the Rolex Yacht-Master:

➢	Rolesium Yacht-Master Model Guide
➢	One-of-One Emerald-Clad Platinum Rolex Yacht-Master Shared Online
➢	The Rolex “Cotton Candy” Yacht-Master from 2022

Other Choices

While we’ve selected the Day-Date, Sky-Dweller, GMT-Master II, Daytona Le Mans, and Yacht-Master as our favorite yellow gold Rolex watches the watching giant offers plenty of other options in the classic precious metal.

Take for example the highly popular yellow gold Submariner, which is available with either blue or black dials and bezels. For an even bigger solid gold dive watch, there’s also the yellow gold Deepsea 136668LB with a large 44mm case that’s water resistant to an impressive 3,900 meters. Rolex used to also make the Yacht-Master II in full yellow gold (ref. 116688) but it discontinued the entire collection in 2024.

Vintage Models

On the dressier side of things, there are also discontinued Datejust, Cellini, and Pearlmaster watches in yellow gold, not to mention the best-selling Lady-Datejust models (new and old).

If you’re looking for something funkier, than perhaps consider the yellow gold Oysterquartz Day-Date or King Midas.

For vintage beauties, we can’t forget to mention the Rolex 6036 “Killy” triple calendar chronograph, the Rolex 6234 pre-Daytona chronograph, and the Rolex 6062 triple calendar moonphase. Then there are the vintage Daytona references in yellow gold (such as the John Player Special), which are some of the most collectible Rolex watches in the market.

Several kinds of interesting Rolex bezels were offered on vintage gold 34mm models. For a relatively affordable but interesting yellow gold Rolex, you can consider one of those–like a “Zephyr” ref. 6582 or 1008, for instance.

In short, there are plenty of yellow gold Rolex watches to choose from, whether dressy or sporty, modern or vintage, new or pre-owned. If you’re missing one from your collection, the fun starts with finding the ideal one for your wrist.

More on Rolex:

➢	The Most Expensive Rolex Watches
➢	Women’s Rolex Watch Guide
➢	What is the Best Entry-Level Rolex?
➢	The Most Popular Rolex Watches
➢	Rolex Deepsea Guide: A Timeline of All Models
➢	How to Spot a Fake Rolex: The Ultimate Guide

The post The Best Yellow Gold Rolex Watches appeared first on GREY MARKET MAGAZINE.

According to Esquire Middle East, this watch was designed by collectors at a 2022 Dubai workshop the brand called “Create the Extraordinary.” This white ceramic openworked model is one of three limited edition watches designed at that event. It appeared on AP’s website on November 11, 2024 along with a meteorite Code 11.59 and an ultra-thin perpetual calendar with Eastern Arabic numerals.

What’s Different?

Aside from the color, the main difference between this white ceramic AP Royal Oak Double Balance Wheel Openworked and the two existing black ceramic versions is the aventurine inner bezel. It’s a tasteful but subtle touch. The impressive skeletonized movement and everything else you would expect are also present. Now let’s go over all the specs:

White Ceramic AP Royal Oak Double Balance Wheel Specs

White Ceramic AP Royal Oak Double Balance Wheel Pricing and Availability

The actual market value of the White Ceramic AP Royal Oak Double Balance Wheel, limited to 30 pieces, will probably be around $375,000, given that the non-limited black ceramic version (15416CE.OO.1225CE.01) goes for around $260,000 and the 150-piece limited black version (15416CE.OO.1225CE.02) sells for $330,000. Plus the black ones don’t have cool stone inner bezels like the white version does. Initially all 30 examples will be sold exclusively at Audemars Piguet boutiques. Expect an MSRP around $110,000 if you’re lucky enough to be one of the few VIP’s who purchase one at retail price.

Thoughts

AP has really been leaning heavily into their Royal Oak Double Balance Wheel Openworked line lately, and this white ceramic one is the 21st model in the family. The first two models–one in steel and one in rose gold–came in 2016. 21 variants seems like a lot, but many of them are fancy gem-set references, plus skeleton watches are hot right now in general. Watches with full ceramic bracelets (something Chanel did first, interestingly) are also pretty hot these days, so I’m sure Audemars Piguet will have no trouble selling all 30. We’ll have to wait and see how many hundreds of thousands they’ll resale for, but I expect this to be another successful 2024 Audemars Piguet release.

More on Audemars Piguet:

➢	Audemars Piguet Watch Prices: Historical and Current From Actual Sales Numbers
➢	How to Avoid Buying a Fake Audemars Piguet
➢	How Much Does An Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Cost?
➢	Audemars Piguet x Arnold Schwarzenegger Watches
➢	Audemars Piguet vs. Patek Philippe

The post AP Royal Oak Double Balance Wheel Openworked: Now in White Ceramic appeared first on GREY MARKET MAGAZINE.

With over 30 patents to his name (they’re listed later in this article), the amount of technical contributions that David Candaux has made to watchmaking is immense. He is arguably most known for 30° inclined tourbillons, movements made of titanium, a telescoping “magic crown” that pops up when you push it, and several improvements to both chiming watches and retrograde complications. In this article we’ll take you through various innovations he’s made for past clients and employers, as well as the impressive work his brand is doing today.

Career Path

Truly elite watchmakers often work in the restoration departments of established high-end brands early in their careers. Then, they’ll open up their own workshops and act as third-party consultants to many of those same brands, before shifting their focus to making watches under their own name. This was the path taken by Roger Smith, F.P. Journe, Peter Speake-Marin, Roger Dubuis, Kari Voutilainen, and now David Candaux.

It was also the path of Philippe Dufour, who Candaux counts as a neighbor and mentor. Dufour, the man behind one of the most expensive watch brands in the world, is regarded by many as the greatest living watchmaker. He sponsored Candaux’s membership in the prestigious AHCI in 2017, at which point Candaux already had over 20 years of experience in the luxury watchmaking industry. The watch that Candaux submitted for consideration (the DC1) would become the first release under his own brand. But let’s start at the beginning.

As a third-generation watchmaker from the Vallée de Joux, Candaux began his fateful watchmaking apprenticeship at Jaeger-LeCoultre in 1994 when he was only 15 years old. He started working in the restoration department within a few years, and by age 22 he was running their watchmaker training program. And in 2005, when David Candaux was 25, Jaeger-LeCoultre’s first watch based on his patented innovations hit the market. Even as he experienced success at JLC, he continued to take night classes to learn all the skills necessary to be a “complete watchmaker.” That means he can design, build, assemble and test almost every part of a watch himself.

Notable JLC Watches by David Candaux

Candaux would ultimately contribute to at least 13 patents while working for Jaeger-LeCoultre. They’re owned by Richemont, which is also the company who owns Cartier, IWC, Panerai, Vacheron Constantin, A. Lange & Söhne, Van Cleef & Arpels, and many more. Candaux worked at JLC for 18 years, and a very special minute repeater was one of his first major innovations for them.

Master Minute Repeater Antoine LeCoultre (2005)

It’s worth noting that high-end watches are usually the result of the efforts of several people, and while David Candaux made significant contributions to all the watches we’re about to show you, others deserve some credit too. The Master Minute Repeater Antoine LeCoultre that debuted in 2005, for instance, has a movement based on a caliber by Eric Coudray–another member of the aforementioned watchmaker-inventor elite.

The partially skeletonized look is popular in the hyperwatch segment nowadays, but it was less common at the time. See this photo courtesy of Rostovsky Watches:

This watch added one of Candaux’s earliest and most interesting patented innovations: a chiming mechanism that resonates directly through the crystal, rather than the metal case. That helps make the sound louder and clearer. Plus, the torque meter is an interesting (and advanced) complication that measures the torque coming from the mainspring. Note that this is not a power reserve indicator; it’s just measuring the current flow of power into the movement. Also notable is its 50m water resistance–very good for a minute repeater.

Reverso Grande Complication à Triptyque (2006)

The first JLC Reverso model with three dials was the Reverso Grande Complication à Triptyque released in 2006. With three faces, six patents, and 18 complications, it’s an absolute monster of a watch. It took four years to develop, and its complications include some of the most prestigious in watchmaking, like a celestial sky chart and an equation of time indicator. The equation of time shows you the difference between “normal” time and solar time–i.e. how far off from noon will the sun actually be directly overhead?

The coolest complication of all, though, has to be the “Cinderella” perpetual calendar. The perpetual calendar display is shown on the third (bottom) face of the JLC Reverso Grande Complication à Triptyque, and it can be incredibly thin because it’s not actually connected to the gears/movement of the watch. However, every night at midnight (as long as the watch is closed), the movement advances the perpetual calendar display by one day. It’s a pretty cool example of modern outside-the-box thinking being applied to an ultra-traditional complication.

Hybris Mechanica à Grand Sonnerie (2009)

The 1,300-part Jaeger-LeCoultre Hybris Mechanica à Grand Sonnerie is even more complicated than the Triptyque. It debuted in 2009 with a total of 26 complications including a perpetual calendar, grande sonnerie, power reserve indicators for both the sonnerie and the movement, retrograde date, a minute repeater that chimes the Westminster Quarters (the “Big Ben tune”), and many more. We know Candaux was instrumental in creating this watch, but other master artisans were undoubtedly involved as well.

The Hybris Mechanica à Grand Sonnerie was originally sold as part of a trio (including the aforementioned Reverso Grande Complication à Triptyque as well as a Gyrotourbillon model and a fancy German safe to keep them all in) for $2.5 million. Note that it is not the most complicated wristwatch in the world, although it often gets mislabeled as such. That honor goes to Franck Muller’s 36-complication Aeternitas Mega.

The Freelance Years (2011-2017)

After leaving JLC in 2011, Candaux began working on complicated movements for other brands via his own companies (Du Val Des Bois and later Hepta Swiss) with a small number of partners. Here are the watches that David Candaux worked on during his six-year freelance era (that we know of).

C.H. Meylan Jump Hour Prototype (2012)

One of David Candaux’s first innovations as a freelancer was an “annular ring” seconds hand for a 2012 C.H. Meylan prototype. Instead of a traditional seconds hand, a “floating” dot rotates around the edge of the dial. Interestingly, the seconds indicator on this watch only advances 3 times per second (8 is the modern standard and 5-6 is common on older watches). It also has a jump hour.

Van Cleef & Arpels Poetic Wish (2012)

Van Cleef & Arpels, largely known as a jeweler, has made some legitimately impressive watches over the years. Their Poetic series is particularly exotic, and Candaux worked on the movement of the Poetic Wish, a 2012 ladies’ release.

The Poetic Wish, interestingly, has a 5-minute repeater mechanism. Its unique retrograde hour mechanism is represented by a lady who “walks” from left to right, while the retrograde minutes marker is a kite, “flying” above the beautiful enamel artwork scene of the dial underneath. Candaux worked with Jean-Marc Wiederrecht on this watch, telling Monochrome that it was “exactly the kind of straightforward interaction and collaboration I wanted.”

Fonderie 47 Inversion Principle (2013)

Fonderie 47 is a jewelry and watch brand that was founded by Peter Thum, the guy behind the Ethos bottled water brand that Starbucks bought for $8 million in 2005. Ethos uses a portion of their revenue to provide sanitary water to African communities, while Fonderie 47’s mission is to destroy (and artistically recycle) as many AK47’s in Africa as possible.

According to their website, Fonderie 47 has destroyed 70,000 assault rifles and counting. Philanthropy aside, their 2013 release known as the Inversion Principle is a seriously cool watch: it has a tourbillon, a jump hour, and an expansive retrograde minutes indicator spanning 240° of the dial.

“Never before has there been a watch with jumping hours with such large retrograde minutes,” David Candaux told Watch Collecting Lifestyle. Creating the Inversion Principle watch was an impressive technical feat by Candaux, and credit for the interesting design of this watch goes to Adrian Glessing. The central tourbillon rotates once every three minutes (instead of the typical once per minute), which allows a “quasi-retrograde” 60-second scale to be displayed using only 1/3 of the dial.

Each of the three evenly spaced teeth around the tourbillon cage spends 2/3 of its time hidden behind a gold gunsight-like ring, and thus the seconds are indicated by the one visible tooth. When one tooth reaches 60, it becomes hidden as another one emerges at 0. Two other interesting touches: a lateral power reserve indicator on the left side of the case, and a ratchet wheel capped with darkened steel from one of those destroyed AK-47’s. The six-day power reserve is also impressive.

As of November 2024 there are still some Inversion Principles available at $195,000, and the brand says each sale will fund the destruction of a thousand assault rifles. Obviously that’s a lot of money, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the remaining ones get snapped up soon as hardcore watch collectors increasingly realize what a big deal David Candaux is.

Bovet Dimier Récital 15 (2014)

Bovet is a very high-end and arguably underrated luxury watch brand today. David Candaux is listed as an inventor of a few patented technical movement improvements for Dimier 1738, Bovet’s in-house movement manufacturer.

One of Candaux’s Bovet-owned patents is for an improved design of a retrograde mechanism, allowing it to be more compact. Although Bovet doesn’t publicly credit Candaux, I believe this retrograde design was used in the Bovet Dimier Récital 15, another jump hour watch. It was released in 2014–the same year that patent was filed.

MB&F Space Pirate (2014)

David Candaux’s best-known contribution during his freelance years is likely his work on the MB&F HM6 Space Pirate, also released in 2014. MB&F is known for making absolutely wild designs and the Space Pirate lives up to that reputation. It has ten separate sapphire crystals, including the exhibition caseback. There are two each covering the two turbines and the two spherical time displays (hours on the left, minutes on the right), as well as one over the central tourbillon.

The watch has two winding crowns. The right one sets the time, and the left one can raise/lower a spherical shield over the central tourbillon. It’s obviously not for everyone, but the Space Pirate has generated plenty of buzz and sells secondhand for just a bit less than $200,000 in titanium. Other versions have also been released, including a rose gold model and a sapphire-case model.

Rebellion Sapphire Case (2016)

Candaux, undoubtedly a master of mechanical watch movements, proved his mastery of case production with the Rebellion Magnum 540 Grand Tourbillon Saphir in 2016. Sapphire-case luxury watches are among the most expensive and challenging watches to make. Even a sapphire case with a simple shape takes countless hours of grinding to form, and Rebellion’s case design is deceptively complex and angular.

It took Candaux a lot of time (and specialized software) to engineer the 8-part sapphire case. Only four sapphire-case Rebellion watches were produced. The Magnum 540 Grand Tourbillon Saphir is a unique piece, and Rebellion later made three non-tourbillon “RE-Volt Sapphire” models, crafting one each in red, blue, and clear sapphire. According to Watchonista, each case took almost 800 hours of machining.

David Candaux Watch Brand (2017+)

The David Candaux brand was launched in 2017, and today it encompasses three families of watches: DC1, DC6, and DC7. Candaux works alongside his father (a former Patek Philippe restorer) and a couple of other artisans in a barn in Le Solliat, and it takes months of work to make each watch. They aim to eventually make 30 watches per year, although their output is probably half that right now.

Just as Luxury Bazaar CEO Roman Sharf believes “Purnell is the next Richard Mille,” he sees David Candaux as the next Rexhep Rexhepi. Simply the cream of the crop.

Six Key Traits of David Candaux Watches

• Case diameter between 43-44mm
• Retractable telescoping “magic crown” at 6 o’clock for winding and time-setting
• Titanium movement
• Sloped dial (the entire dial is actually tilted downward towards 6 o’clock for a better viewing angle)
• Single-axis tourbillon inclined at 30°
• Côtes du Solliat movement finishing (a proprietary finish similar to Côtes de Genève)

While Greubel Forsey makes a 30° double tourbillon, that’s a bit different–that’s essentially a tourbillon nested within another tourbillon cage at an angle.

David Candaux uses single-axis tourbillons. Tourbillons theoretically perform slightly differently when they’re upright (i.e. perpendicular to gravitational force). The inclined tourbillon makes it less likely that the balance wheel will rest in exactly horizontal or vertical positions, thus reducing variance. Plus it looks sweet.

David Candaux’s First Watch Under His Own Brand: DC1 (2017)

The inclined tourbillon of the DC1, the debut release of the D. Candaux brand, fills a space on the dial that is horizontally symmetrical to that of the off-center time display. It’s a pretty cool look, especially with the push-button “magic crown” at 6 o’clock just waiting to be popped up like a heated-seat button on a Toyota. Candaux essentially engineered the watch’s whole movement around his special crown, and it’s perhaps his most inimitable design signature.

The dial, which slopes downward from 12 o’clock to 6 o’clock, adds some interesting visual depth. “I try to have perfect symmetry between 3 and 9 o’clock, and complete dissymmetry between 6 and 12 o’clock,” Candaux said in an interview with Tourbillon Watch Studio.

The power reserve window at the top of the dial is a nice touch, too. A few ultra-limited and even unique configurations of case materials and dial colors have been made. The DC1 was the world’s first watch with an all-titanium movement, and that has since become a hallmark of the brand. Titanium is notoriously labor-intensive to work with, and Candaux is proud of the proprietary techniques used by his brand to machine and finish titanium parts.

DC6 (2019)

The DC6 is arguably David Candaux’s most popular and interesting release so far. It’s very similar to the DC1, except for two key differences: first is the Pointe du Risoux guilloche dial texture, a handmade texture Candaux invented himself.

The second difference is that, by removing the central seconds hand, Candaux negated the need for the sapphire crystal to cover the entire dial–so instead, there are two separate domed sapphire crystals covering both the tourbillon and the hour-and-minute display. You can literally touch the dial and feel the guilloche texture.

A tooth was added to the tourbillon cage to act as a seconds indicator now that the central seconds hand is gone. The DC6 has been made with both titanium and carbon cases in a handful of colorways, but all of the variants have that signature Pointe du Risoux finish on the dial.

DC7 (2021)

The DC7, released in 2021, is the most straightforward and “normal” of David Candaux’s current offerings. A single sapphire crystal once again covers the entire dial, and it has central hour and minute hands–a first for the brand. The power reserve indicator is gone and the tourbillon is now at 12 o’clock, but the DC7 has all the other design cues you would expect from a D. Candaux watch, like a sloped dial and the now-familiar magic crown.

David Candaux Watch Prices

The market value of David Candaux watches as of 2024 is generally around the $200,000-$280,000 range–close to their original retail prices.

Now, let’s look back at all the major David Candaux watchmaking patents that we know of.

David Candaux Patents

Here’s a list of over 30 patents that list Candaux as an inventor. Note that for many of these, he isn’t the only inventor. One particularly frequent collaborator is Gaetan Willemin, now of Jämes Aubert Le Brassus S.A.–a high-end watchmaking subcontractor.

What’s Next for David Candaux?

Candaux has told collectors to expect a new line of watches in 2025 called the DC12, featuring a new movement. It will probably have a magic crown, and phenomenal finishing, but we can’t predict much beyond that. We’re looking forward to it.

More on High-End Independent Watchmakers:

➢	A Collector’s Guide to Greubel Forsey
➢	What is a Hyperwatch?
➢	5 Reasons Not to Sleep on H. Moser & Cie
➢	3 Urwerk Watches Not To Miss
➢	Releases from Independent Watchmakers at Watches & Wonders 2024

The post Why David Candaux is a Big Deal in Watchmaking appeared first on GREY MARKET MAGAZINE.

After a fairly cool but brief 1990s reboot, and a super lame 2000s reboot, now that Breitling has bought Universal Genève this looks to be the most credible attempt at reinvigorating the brand yet. Watch geeks have been wondering if Breitling would take UG upscale, and having a service center with a heritage department certainly points that way.

How Old of a Watch Will They Service?

Universal Geneve is aiming to service watches that are up to roughly 90 years old. Depending on the level of damage and the parts that are needed, though, restoration may not be possible for every watch. Universal Genève’s service department confirmed to Luxury Bazaar that they “no longer have any components prior to the 1930s.”

Which Models Can They Service?

“We carry out overhauls on all our models,” Universal Genève told us. So even quartz models are on the table, subject to parts availability. All of their popular vintage models like the Compax, Tri-Compax, Polerouter and White Shadow should be no problem unless they’re severely damaged.

Can Universal Genève Service My Watch?

While many of the top luxury watch brands operate on a send-your-watch-in-first basis, a Universal Geneve service starts with a few quick photos. Take a few clear shots of both sides of the watch, with all numbers visible, send them to sav@universalgeneve.com and within 2-3 weeks the Universal Genève service team should tell you whether or not to even bother sending it in.

Universal Genève Service Cost

Universal Geneve declined to give us a “baseline” service cost, as they really prefer to take things on a case-by-case basis. We do know that the cost of a quote is CHF 150 (about $170) which will be applied to the service if you accept. Keep in mind that, in general, there’s a worldwide skilled watchmaker shortage going on. Don’t expect to pay too much less than $1,000 for a proper full service of any quality vintage watch.

There’s still a lot we don’t know about the direction that UG will go, but it bodes well that they respect their history enough to staff a heritage department with skilled watchmakers capable of restoring vintage pieces. Collector interest in vintage Universal Genève models–particularly the “Nina Rindt” chronograph and the Gerald Genta-designed Polerouter–has been on an upswing in recent years, and this can only help.

More on Breitling:

➢	2024 Breitling Watch Releases
➢	Breitling x NFL: 32 Team Watches To Show Your Support
➢	IWC vs. Breitling
➢	History of Breitling
➢	Breitling Perpetual Calendar Chronograph in Three Flavors

The post Universal Genève’s After-Sales Service and Heritage Department is Open for Business appeared first on GREY MARKET MAGAZINE.

Breitling Aerospace B70 Orbiter

Earlier in the year, Breitling released the Aerospace B70 Orbiter, a 25th-anniversary edition of the brand’s multifunction chronograph. 2024 marks exactly 25 years since two ambitious pilots, Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones, became the first to circumnavigate the globe in a balloon without stopping. Breitling sponsored the duo in what would end up being one of the last flight challenges of the 20th century.

For 2024, this special edition watch introduces the collection–which supercedes the Aerospace Evo–to the caliber B70, a new SuperQuartz movement developed exclusively for the Breitling Aerospace. The movement, advertised by Breitling as 10x more precise than other quartz calibers, boasts a 1/100th second chronograph, alarm function, second time zone, and perpetual calendar.  The watch is lightweight titanium and features a bright orange gradient dial and matching orange mission logo in the same hue as the Orbiter 3.  Remarkably, a piece of the original Orbiter 3 balloon is tucked beneath the sapphire crystal on the case back. So far, there is no word from Breitling on whether or not the B70 Orbiter model will be a limited edition watch.

Aerospace B70 Orbiter Specs:

Model:	Breitling Aerospace B70 Orbiter
References:	EB70101A1O1E1 (metal bracelet) EB70101A101S1 (rubber strap)
Case:	Titanium 43mm diameter 52.2mm lug-to-lug 12.9mm thick
Bezel:	Bi-directional Titanium
Dial:	Orange gradient digital/analog
Bracelet/Strap:	Titanium Black rubber
Movement:	Caliber Breitling B70 Thermocompensated SuperQuartz 2-year battery life
Functions:	1/100th of a second chronograph, countdown timer, additional time zone, two alarms, perpetual calendar, weeks indication
Water Resistance:	100 meters
2024 Retail Price (MSRP):	$4,900 (metal bracelet) $4,700 (rubber strap)

More on Breitling:
The Best Entry-Level Breitling Watches
The Best Breitling Watch
A Collector’s Guide to the Breitling Emergency
Who is Universal Genève and Why Did Breitling Buy Them?

2024 Breitling Navitimer Releases

Breitling set out on a campaign in 2022 to refresh the Navitimer, a pilot’s watch with a slide-rule bezel.  It began with the Navitimer B01 Chronograph in a bevy of exciting case sizes and dial colors and continues in 2024 with the Navitimer 41, Navitimer GMT 41, and the Navitimer Cosmonaute. The Cosmonaute is a limited edition chronograph, while the other two are time-only and GMT/date models.

Breitling Navitimer 41

The first is the Breitling Navitimer 41, a time-only edition of the collection available in a nice variety of design sets. Options include either stainless steel, two-tone (stainless steel/18k red gold), or full 18k red gold.  From there, collectors have their choice of a matching metal Navitimer bracelet or leather and either blue, ice blue, or green dials for the stainless steel models and silver for both gold variants. It’s a versatile edition of the Navitimer punctuated by a clean and understated dial and a contemporary notched bezel.

Each case measures 41mm in diameter and 11.6mm thick and boasts a very modest 30-meter depth rating and a cambered, glare-proof sapphire crystal.  Breitling supplied the collection with the B17, an ETA-based self-winding movement with 28,800 VPH and a 38-hour power reserve.  The collection’s most iconic feature, the slide rule, surrounds the case and assists the wearer in recording various stats in the air, such as fuel consumption and rate of climb.

Breitling Navitimer 41 Specs:

Breitling Navitimer GMT 41

The Navitimer GMT builds upon the foundation of the time-only Navitimer 41 by adding a GMT option to the mix. It features the caliber 32, which is also an ETA-based movement but features a slightly longer 42-hour power reserve, date display, and a GMT hand that operates independently of the other centrally-mounted hands.  The current production collection includes four models, three of which are stainless steel and one of which is 18k red gold.

The red gold model sports a green dial, while the stainless steel trio is available with either a silver, black, or light blue dial. Additionally, collectors have their choice of a leather strap or metal Navitimer bracelet.

Even though Breitling has added a GMT function to the dial, it still retains the clean and understated aesthetic of the time-only model.  The only difference between the two is the 24-hour scale at the dial’s center, a date window at 6 o’clock, and the additional arrow-tipped hand. The rest of the specs are the same, including the 41mm case, 11.6 profile, 30-meter depth rating, cambered sapphire crystal, and convenient slide rule bezel.

Breitling Navitimer GMT 41 Specs:

Limited Edition Breitling Navitimer Cosmonaute B12

Breitling made history in 1962 by sending the first Swiss-made chronograph wristwatch into space during the Mercury-Atlas 7 mission.  That watch was the Navitimer Cosmonaute, a custom variation of the Navitimer made for astronaut Scott Carpenter with a 24-hour scale instead of traditional hour markers to help him distinguish between AM and PM hours in orbit.

Ref. RB12302A1L1P1 is a tribute to that history-making watch from the space race era, produced in limited quantities of 250 watches and featuring a similar 24-hour dial as the 1960s model. The commemorative case back is engraved with the mission date “MAY 24th, 1962,” the distinction, “FIRST SWISS WRISTWATCH IN SPACE,” and “XX OF 250 NAVITIMER COSMONAUTE.”

The watch is made even more exclusive in lustrous 18k red gold and features a contemporary black and green dial, gold Arabic hour markers to match the red gold case, and an exhibition case back to display the decorated caliber B12, including a nice view of the red gold Breitling oscillating weight. Like the other new Navitimer releases, the case is 41mm in diameter, waterproof up to 30 meters, and features a cambered sapphire crystal. However, this model is slightly thicker at 13.6mm and is 47mm lug-to-lug.

Breitling Navitimer Cosmonaute B12 Specs:

2024 Releases from Other Brands:
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2024 Breitling Endurance Pro Releases

Breitling released the Endurance Pro in 2020, a collection of Breitlight® —aka carbon composite—watches with thermocompensated “SuperQuartz” movements. A 38mm mid-size model and a newer-style rubber strap join the lineup in 2024.

Breitling Endurance Pro 44mm and 38mm

When the Endurance Pro was released a few years ago, it initially only featured a 44mm case and white, blue, yellow, orange, and red models. Red and yellow have since been replaced by a stylish light blue option.  Additionally, the collection is available with either a newer, more under-the-radar textured rubber strap or the original “BREITLING” embossed rubber strap. The real buzz, however, is that the “ultimate athleisure watch” is now available in 38mm.  The new size comes in white, light blue, red, purple, or pink. The last two are exclusive to the 38mm model.  Each variation features colorful accents on the dial and crown to match the rubber strap.

Both sizes are presented in Breitlight®, a highly resilient material that is lighter than titanium and steel. Both case sizes feature bi-directional bezels with compass scales, pulsometer scales surrounding the dial, tri-compax dials, 100-meter depth ratings, and flat sapphire crystals. 44mm models are powered by the caliber 82, while the new 38mm Breitling is powered by the caliber 83.  Both are “thermocompensated” movements with a special regulating system to combat temperature variations and feature a date and chronograph function.

Breitling Endurance Pro 44mm and 38mm Specs:

Model:	Breitling Endurance Pro 38	Breitling Endurance Pro 44	Breitling Endurance Pro 44
References:	X83310D91B2S1 (red rubber) X83310F61B1S1 (purple rubber) X83310D41B1S1 (pink rubber) X83310A71B1S1 (white rubber) X83310281B1S1 (light blue rubber)	X82310D51B1S2 (blue textile strap) X82310A51B1S2 (orange textile strap) X82310A71B1S2 (white textile strap) X82310281B1S2 (lt. blue textile strap)	X82310D51B1S1 (blue BREITLING strap) X82310A51B1S1 (orange BREITLING strap) X82310A71B1S1 (white BREITLING strap) X82310281B1S1 (lt. blue BREITLING strap)
Case:	Breitlight® 38mm diameter 45.7mm lug-to-lug 12.1mm thick	Breitlight® 44mm diameter 52.4mm lug-to-lug 12.5mm thick	Breitlight® 44mm diameter 52.4mm lug-to-lug 12.5mm thick
Dial:	Black/colorful accents to match the rubber strap	Black/colorful accents to match the rubber strap.	Black/colorful accents to match the rubber strap.
Bezel:	Bidirectional Compass scale	Bidirectional Compass scale	Bidirectional Compass scale
Bracelet/Strap:	Rubber	Rubber textile	Rubber BREITLING
Movement:	Caliber 83 Thermocompensated SuperQuartz 3-4 year battery life	Caliber 82 Thermocompensated SuperQuartz 2 year battery life	Caliber 82 Thermocompensated SuperQuartz 2 year battery life
Functions:	Chronograph: 1/10th second, 30 minutes Date	Chronograph: 1/10th second, 30 minutes Date	Chronograph: 1/10th second, 30 minutes Date
Water Resistance:	100 meters	100 meters	100 meters
2024 Retail Price (MSRP):	$3,250	$3,400	$3,400

2024 Breitling Chronomat Releases

Breitling beefed up its Chronomat collection for 2024 with collaborations with pro basketball player Giannis Antetokounmpo, fashion mogul Victoria Beckham, and NFL quarterback Boomer Esiason. This year also brought us the first 28mm model. Read on to learn more about the collection’s newest novelties.

Breitling Chronomat Super Bowl LVIII

Breitling released a new limited edition Chronomat just in time for Super Bowl LVIII, paying homage to longtime brand ambassador and NFL quarterback Boomer Esiason. Proceeds from each sale go directly to the Boomer Esiason Foundation.

Ref. RB01343A1C1S1 stays true to the standard Chronomat B01 42 format, featuring the same 42mm case, cambered sapphire crystal, and uni-directional 60-minute bezel.  It also boasts the caliber 01 self-winding movement and water resistance up to 200 meters. The case back is unique to the Super Bowl LVIII Breitling, featuring a colorful Super Bowl logo on the underside of the crystal and an engraved limited production number.

Breitling Chronomat Super Bowl LVIII Specs:

Limited Edition Breitling Chronomat Giannis Antetokounmpo Watches

Breitling has teamed up with brand ambassador and professional basketball player Giannis Antetokounmpo to release a pair of limited-edition Chronomats. A stainless steel Chronomat GMT 40 will be produced in quantities of 1,750, while the more exclusive 18k red gold Chronomat B01 42 will be made in just 250 pieces. This run of 2,000 pieces in total was designed partly by the noted watch enthusiast himself. 

Both models feature an elegant yet sporty muted green dial chosen by Antetokounmpo.  The seconds hands on both watches feature a “GA” counterweight, while the chronograph model is also decorated with the outline of a basketball in the 9-hour sub-dial.  At the same time, Antetokounmpo has respected Breitling’s enduring design codes by including the brand’s trademark rider tab bezel and rouleaux-style bracelet in steel and rubber.

Limited Edition Breitling Chronomat Giannis Antetokounmpo Specs:

Breitling x Victoria Beckham Chronomat 36

Victoria Beckham has extended her posh sense of style to a new limited-edition Breitling Chronomat 36, featuring six ultra-chic steel and 18k yellow gold models and a handful of gorgeous dial options inspired by her Spring/Summer 2024 palette.  At their core, the watches designed by Beckham are standard Chronomat 36 watches, including the caliber 10 self-winding movement, three-hand dial with date, and 100-meter depth rating.

The limited production run sets the new models apart from the rest of the lineup. Breitling will only produce 100 pieces of each yellow gold variant and 400 pieces of each stainless steel variant, as indicated on the dial just above 6 o’clock. It’s also worth noting that this model is the first in the collection to feature yellow gold in quite some time. We wouldn’t expect anything less from the daring Posh Spice.

Breitling x Victoria Beckham Chronomat 36 Specs:

Breitling Chronomat 28

2024 brought us the smallest version of the Chronomat, a svelte 28mm model with a dazzling array of feminine design options such as diamonds, Mother-of-Pearl, and even precious metals. Four models were released: two in stainless steel with plain bezels and either a pink or blue dial, one in stainless steel with a diamond-encrusted bezel and a mesmerizing black dial, and one in two-tone and with a diamond bezel and lovely white dial. Every dial is genuine Mother-of-Pearl and features lab-grown diamond hour markers and Super-LumiNova.

The slender new watches are accompanied by the emblematic Rouleaux bracelet (which made a serious comeback in 2020) and the Breitling caliber 72 Thermocompensated SuperQuartz movement. It’s also worth mentioning that the bezels are fixed but still feature the collection’s signature rider tabs every 15 minutes, honoring the Chronomat’s enduring design codes.

Breitling Chronomat 28 Specs:

Model:	Breitling Chronomat 28
References:	A72310101C1A1 (stainless steel/plain bezel/blue dial) A72310101K1A1 (stainless steel/plain bezel/pink dial) A72310531G1A1 (stainless steel/diamond bezel/black dial) U72310531A1U1 (two-tone/diamond bezel/white dial)
Case:	Stainless steel, stainless steel/red gold 28mm diameter 34.6mm lug-to-lug 8.46mm thick
Bezel:	Fixed; plain or diamond
Dial:	Mother-of-Pearl Pink, blue, black, white
Bracelet/Strap:	Rouleaux
Movement:	Caliber 72 Thermocompensated SuperQuartz 3 – 4 year battery life
Functions:	Hours, minutes, seconds
Water Resistance:	100 meters
2024 Retail Price (MSRP):	$4,800 (stainless steel/plain bezel) $7,000 (stainless steel/diamond bezel) $10,250 (stainless steel/18k red gold)

2024 Breitling Avenger Releases

Earlier in the year, Breitling released three limited edition U.S. Navy Night Mission watches, honoring the United States Naval Academy and two air test squadrons, the Dust Devils and the Bloodhounds. Since then, Breitling has added several more variations to the Avenger fold, including new Night Mission models with colorful strap options, new Super Avenger watches in Titanium, and a handful of 42mm Avenger chronographs with the B01 movement.

Breitling Avenger U.S. Naval Edition Night Mission Watches

This year, Breitling extended its ready-for-anything Avenger pilot’s watch to include a special collaboration with the United States Naval Academy.  The three models from the Avenger Night Mission collection are decorated with the colors and emblems of the U.S. Navy Bloodhounds Squadron (grey/yellow), the U.S. Navy Dust Devils Squadron (red/black), and the U.S. Naval Academy (blue/gold).  All three feature 44mm black ceramic cases engraved with their respective units on the back, matching uni-directional bezels, and water resistance up to 300 meters.

The US Naval Academy model has a refined and almost collegiate aesthetic, thanks to the ornate emblem at 9 o’clock, matte navy dial, and gold accents. A mischievous dust devil with guns a-blazin’ adorns the matte black dial on the USN Dust Devils model, and the USN Bloodhounds model is menacing with the three-headed dog emblem set against a gray dial. The accompanying military leather straps are decorated with color palettes to match the USN dials.

Breitling Avenger U.S. Naval Edition Specs:

Green Breitling Super Avenger Night Mission Chronograph and Avenger Night Mission GMT

Two green models are new to the Night Mission collection: a 44mm Avenger GMT with a rotating pinion bezel and 24-timezone indication and a larger 46mm Super Avenger chronograph with a uni-directional 60-minute bezel. True to the Night Mission series, both feature a stealth, all-black case furnished in ceramic and durable titanium hardware for the case back, crown, and side pushers (chronograph only). Both also feature a dynamic black carbon dial and a military-inspired khaki green calfskin leather strap. However, the chronograph is powered by the Breitling 01 movement, and the GMT features the Breitling 32.

Breitling Super Avenger Night Mission Green Specs

Avenger Night Mission 42 Watches in New Colors

Breitling added new color options to the smaller 42mm Night Mission collection. The first is an all-black three-hand model with a black carbon dial, black military leather strap, and the Breitling caliber 17 time-and-date movement. Two chronograph models also joined the lineup, one with a vibrant turquoise dial and military leather strap and the other with a black carbon dial and a sand military leather strap. Both are driven by the standard caliber 01 Breitling chronograph movement. Furthermore, all three new 2024 models sport a uni-directional bezel and a black ceramic case.

Avenger Night Mission 42 Specs:

New Titanium Super Avenger 46 Watches

Breitling added two new watches to the Super Avenger collection. Both are made of lightweight titanium and feature a black or blue dial with the option of either a titanium bracelet or a calfskin leather strap to match the dial. Both models feature 300 meters of water resistance, a unidirectional 60-minute bezel, and the Breitling caliber 01 chronograph movement.

Titanium Super Avenger 46 Specs:

New B01 Avenger 42 Chronograph Watches

Several 42mm Avenger watches in stainless steel outfitted with the Breitling caliber 01 chronograph movement also joined this year’s lineup. Each variation sports a 42-mm stainless steel case, a unidirectional bezel, and 300 meters of water resistance. Currently, three colorways are available: black, blue, and green. Each is sold with a matching stainless steel bracelet or a military leather strap.

New B01 Avenger 42 Chronograph Specs:

2024 Breitling Superocean Releases

Breitling takes the Superocean in two different yet equally creative directions with the new rainbow-dial Superocean Automatic 42 and 36 and the camouflage-dial Superocean Automatic 46 Super Diver.

Rainbow Dial Breitling Superocean Automatic 42 and 36

Breitling added a new selection of hip and colorful rainbow-dial models to its portfolio, this time to the Superocean Automatic 42 and 36. The Slow Motion-inspired square hour markers and paddle-shaped hands are filled with Super-LumiNova in every shade of the rainbow. 

The 2024 release includes five models.  Four are made of stainless steel and feature a 42mm case and either a turquoise, aquamarine, orange, or yellow rubber strap.  The other model is a 36mm version in stainless steel and 18k red gold with a white rubber strap.  The tip of the lollipop seconds hand on the 42mm model is a vibrant shade of turquoise, while the 36mm model sports a green-tipped seconds hand.  On both models, the square hour hand is filled with green Super-LumiNova, while the minute hand is orange.

Rainbow Dial Breitling Superocean Automatic 42 and 36 Specs:

Titanium Breitling Superocean Automatic 46 Super Diver

Breitling developed a dive watch in the 1960s called the Superocean Slow Motion. It was made for scuba diving and featured chunky, squared-off luminescent hour markers and hands and a contrasting minute ring for optimal legibility while in the water. Today, the entire Superocean collection, including the new Super Diver, is very much inspired by that vintage watch. 

Four new models have joined the lineup, featuring adventure-ready camouflage dials in either black or green and with a metal or rubber strap.  They have a similar design to the rest of the Superocean 46 collection but with a slightly thicker profile (by about 1mm) to accommodate a soft-iron inner case for better anti-magnetism.  It also has an increased 1,000-meter depth rating (compared to the standard 300 meters) and a bi-directional bezel secured with a patented safety lock. Whereas most Superocean models are made of stainless steel, the Breitling Super Diver opts for lightweight titanium.

Superocean Automatic 46 Super Diver Specs:

New Breitling at Geneva Watch Days 2024

Check out our coverage of Geneva Watch Days 2024, to learn more about the novelties Breilting released at the event, including the brand’s first Perpetual Calendar Chronograph watches.

The post 2024 Breitling Watch Releases appeared first on GREY MARKET MAGAZINE.

The other colorful dials introduced that year (yellow, red, green, and turquoise) have remained very popular too, as has the Celebration dial released in 2023. For whatever reason, Rolex never offered these colorful lacquer dials on the Oyster Perpetual 28 or 34. More typical “sunburst” dials are available in all five sizes.

Candy Pink Rolex Oyster Perpetual 31

The Oyster Perpetual 31 is arguably the hottest women’s Rolex watch on the market right now, if not the hottest women’s luxury watch period. The Candy Pink Rolex Oyster Perpetual 31 was discontinued in 2022, when yellow and red dials were discontinued altogether. Based on sales listings for the Oyster Perpetual 31, Candy Pink is by far the rarest color of all, and it sells for around $11,000 while the other colors are closer to $9,500.

The Rolex caliber 2232 that powers the Oyster Perpetual 31, considered a “ladies’ movement,” has a Syloxi hairspring–an innovation that most men’s Rolex watches don’t have. Its power reserve of 55 hours is more than sufficient, and it doesn’t seem to suffer from the notorious amplitude issues of the Rolex 32xx movement.

For many women, the OP31 is a perfect GADA watch. The Easylink comfort adjustment link in the clasp is a pretty beloved feature for many owners, allowing them to easily keep the size comfortable when their wrist swells in the summer etc.

Candy Pink Rolex Oyster Perpetual 36

Many people expected the Candy Pink Oyster Perpetual 36 to be one of the Rolex models discontinued in 2024, but it’s still in the catalog for now. 36mm is a great traditional size for men’s watches, but at this point, the Oyster Perpetual 36 is widely considered to be a unisex watch.

The Candy Pink OP36 has double-baton markers at 3, 6, and 9 o’clock, plus black squares on the minute track at each hour. Although some assume that pink watches are generally for women, plenty of male collectors enjoy wearing the Candy Pink OP36.

Luxury Bazaar listed a Candy Pink Rolex Oyster Perpetual 36 for $10,500 in July of 2024 and it got snapped up almost immediately. As of late 2024, market price is closer to $12,000. That’s not much less than the once-ultra-hot turquoise or Celebration dials (now around $14,000) and not much more than the 31mm Candy Pink model, interestingly.

Specs

Candy Pink vs. Pink Sunburst

The Candy Pink Rolex Oyster Perpetual dials are lacquered and thus have a slight gloss to them, but they’re not exactly shiny. The regular sunburst pink dials offered by Rolex are more shimmery, with a bit more of an “orangey” hue.

Sunburst pink dials are cool, too, but there’s something special about the Candy Pink color. I expect demand will remain strong for these for years to come.

More on Rolex:

➢	Rolex’s Bucherer Acquisition Approved by European Regulators
➢	Guide To Rolex Wimbledon Watches
➢	Tudor vs. Rolex: How Do They Stack Up Now?
➢	The “Who Cares I’m Already Late” Custom Rolex
➢	The Best Rolex Alternatives
➢	Rolex 2024 Releases: Lots of Gold But Only One Steel Watch

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