Hodinkee
Pre-Owned Picks: Rolex Or Grand Seiko?
Rolex may be king, but Grand Seiko is holding court.
2,445 articles · 75 videos found · page 50 of 84
Hodinkee
Rolex may be king, but Grand Seiko is holding court.
Quill & Pad
In Martin Green's opinion, the Tudor Ranger has a timeless quality that some might look upon as being too plain but has a deeper charisma that reveals itself over time. At 39mm, the Ranger is neither too large or too small. And he looks at if it's a better deal than the Rolex Explorer.
Teddy Baldassarre
Rolex watches are indisputably some of the most popular and coveted timepieces on the planet, and every watch enthusiast has their own ideas about (and often their own criteria for) what the best Rolex watches are. But how much do you really know about how your favorite Rolex model came about, why exactly it's so special and distinct from all the rest, and in some cases why it is historically significant to the watch industry as a whole? In this feature, we take a tour through nine of the most important and/or interesting Rolex watches, from their original conception to their place in the modern horological canon. Origins of an Icon The most famous Swiss watch brand in the world was originally not even Swiss: it was founded by a German in the United Kingdom. Hans Wilsdorf (1861-1960), an orphan raised by his uncles in Kulmbach, Germany, learned entrepreneurship and self-sufficiency early in life, and began his career in the Swiss watch industry in 1900 when he started as a clerk at the watchmaking firm of Cuno Korten in La Chaux-de-Fonds, responsible for the maintenance and accuracy of hundreds of pocket watches per day. In 1905, two years after moving to London, Wilsdorf (below) partnered with another businessman named Alfred Davis to establish Wilsdorf & Davis, the company that would become Rolex. Wilsdorf & Davis, based in London’s Hatton Garden commercial district, was founded with a mandate to make reliably precise watches at affordable prices. In 1914, days...
Time+Tide
Editor’s note: Zach originally wrote this article back in January 2021, in which he digs into why he bought the Grand Seiko SBGA413 instead of waiting for the Rolex Oyster Perpetual 36 ‘Candy Pink’. We think it is a great example of turning the negativity of the ‘unobtanium’ phenomenon into a positive. There are so many other watches to explore, … ContinuedThe post The other pink watch: why I bought the Grand Seiko SBGA413 instead of waiting for a pink Rolex OP 36 appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Hodinkee
My love for Rolex started with my Dad, and was cemented with my Grammy win.
Teddy Baldassarre
Only at Rolex can a watch dubbed a King be described as humble compared to other watches with less lofty but still commanding titles like Master. The Rolex Air-King, despite being the oldest existing model in the mega-brand’s star-studded lineup, has never attained the levels of mainstream popularity and collectability enjoyed by household-name watches like the Daytona, Submariner, GMT-Master, and (arguably) even the Yacht-Master. Rolex hopes to change that this year, however, making the newest version of the Air-King a headliner of its 2022 collection, unveiled this week at Watches & Wonders 2022 in Geneva. Aviation History The Rolex Air-King (technically Rolex Oyster Perpetual Air-King) traces its history all the way back to 1945, when it was launched as part of a trio of timepieces called the “Air Series” that celebrated the accomplishments of Britain’s Royal Air Force in World War II, alongside the discontinued Air-Giant and Air-Tiger. The Air-King, the last survivor of that collection designed “to honor the pioneers of aviation,” went through a number of evolutions throughout the years. The original model’s 34mm case (considered large at the time, believe it or not), cream-colored dial and manual wind movement would eventually be replaced by the now-familiar design most recently updated in 2016: a black dial with a 60-minute scale and inverted triangle at the 12 o’clock/60-minute position (a feature of historical pilots’ watches); large 3, 6, and ...
Time+Tide
Another week, another weekly round up. If the brands keep bringing it, I will keep summing up the highlights. Here we go! Omega oust Rolex with brand new technology that promises 0/+2 second accuracy a day New Spirate™ System debuts new hairspring with ultra-fine 0/+2 regulation capability The system debuts in new Speedmaster Super Racing watch Its … ContinuedThe post FRIDAY WIND DOWN: Omega tops Rolex, JLC collectibles and another release from Grand Seiko appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Time+Tide
Omega dominated the 2023 Golden Globes red carpet Their range of styles and dial colours make their watches very easy to style Rolex, Cartier, TAG Heuer, and more were also spotted – but not nearly as many as Omega While high-brow enthusiasts may find themselves above the superficiality of watchspotting, it is hard to ignore … ContinuedThe post Omega dominate 2023 Golden Globes’ red carpet. Rolex, Cartier, TAG, Vacheron, Bulgari also make appearances appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Time+Tide
This past year was quite a journey for my collection, with new additions and trades – as I am known for every now and again. While I have been bad about it the last few months, with consecutive new watch addition honeymoon periods, typically I try to avoid wearing the same watch two days in … ContinuedThe post The three watches Zach wore most in 2022 – Rolex, Grand Seiko, Zenith appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Hodinkee
Kick off your 2023 in style with a selection of curated vintage watches from the likes of Rolex, Blancpain, Lange, and more.
Hodinkee
Authenticated, warrantied, and coming to your local Rolex retailer.
Time+Tide
The pre-owned market for watches has become bigger and bigger each year – so much so that resale giants like eBay have doubled down and entered the mix, while a company like WatchBox can afford to sign Michael Jordan (yep, the basketball GOAT) as an ambassador. Recently, we have seen brands like Richard Mille do … ContinuedThe post Rolex launch certified pre-owned program, but we are left with more questions than answers appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Deployant
In this week's article, we break the mould and take a look at six luxury watches that are not a Rolex or an Omega timepiece.
Hodinkee
It's the icon to end all icons, collectible and controversial in equal measure. Here, we explain everything you need to know about the crowned chronograph from Rolex.
Hodinkee
As Hodinkee Magazine Vol. 11 details the Rolex Daytona, the Vintage team plays along in the H Shop.
Hodinkee
I'd like to buy the world a...Rolex GMT-Master II Pepsi.
Time+Tide
Celebrity watchspotting can be a bit trivial at times – a Royal Oak here, a Richard Mille there. These are snapshots of individuals who have made it and have the means and access to strap any watch to their wrist that they desire. Which is why it is that much more interesting to hear the … ContinuedThe post Kid Cudi has a bar mitzvah to thank for his gold Rolex Day-Date President appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Hodinkee
The Oyster 6426 – still the most straightforward Rolex around.
Hodinkee
Led by one of the most interesting Rolex OPs we have ever come across, this week's vintage lineup has something for everyone.
Hodinkee
Hey, the logo is a crown for a reason! Check out all of our Vintage Watches offerings now, Rolex and non-Rolex.
Hodinkee
Let's be Sinn-cere, Patek Philippe might read clunky but it really Rolex-es off the tongue.
Teddy Baldassarre
The Rolex Explorer is in many ways the quintessential dressy tool watch from Rolex’s Oyster Perpetual collection - less flashy than the GMT-Master, less bulky than the Submariner, while still rooted, like those two models, in a history of adventure and discovery. While it has changed very little since the 1950s, today’s Rolex Explorer is the culmination of many decades of aesthetic and technical evolution, guided by a watchmaker for whom the subtlest details make all the difference in the world to its avid legions of fans. Underpinning the Explorer: Oyster Case and Perpetual Caliber The Rolex Explorer, like all Oyster Perpetual timepieces in Rolex’s Professional collection, is an expression of two technical milestones that Rolex and its visionary founder Hans Wisdorf contributed to watchmaking history. The first is the so-called Oyster case, developed in 1926, which revolutionized the construction of watch cases with its dustproof, waterproof, hermetically sealed structure, secured by a threaded caseback and a crown that screwed tightly into the case. In 1931, Rolex made history again with the creation of its first “Perpetual” movement (below), whose self-winding mechanism was driven by an oscillating rotor. The marriage of these two inventions gave rise to the “Oyster Perpetual” line of timepieces that remain at the heart of Rolex’s collection today, beginning with the Datejust in 1945 and coming to full fruition with the tool-oriented, yet still luxuri...
Quill & Pad
The OAK Collection is filled with extraordinary, museum-quality, one-of-a-kind timepieces, many of which are either historically important, unrepeatable special orders, or rare limited editions. These include (but are not limited to) five Patek Philippe watches once owned by Henry Graves, 16 Nautiluses, seven Voutilainens, and a plethora of rare Rolex and Patek Philippe models!
Hodinkee
A true chronometer from Longines and an early variant of an iconic Rolex lead the way.
Time+Tide
Tom Cruise was on the mother of all press trips for Top Gun: Maverick and he obviously had the watch roll to back it up throughout his travels. Here is a comprehensive list of every watch we’ve spotted so far, from Cartier to Vacheron to Rolex and back to Cartier – it’s a wild ride … ContinuedThe post Rolex, Cartier, Vacheron Constantin… Just how big is Tom Cruise’s travelling watch roll? appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Hodinkee
You'd be hard-pressed to find three brands more core to HODINKEE Vintage than AP, Rolex, and Universal.
Time+Tide
It’s no secret that buying a Rolex at retail is getting harder than ever – with many referring to their sports watches as “unobtanium”. But this booming demand and chronic shortage of supply is now having a knock-on effect and driving greater interest in other luxury brands according to the boss of Watches of Switzerland. A … ContinuedThe post RECOMMENDED READING: Watches of Switzerland boss reveals Rolex scarcity is spreading to Cartier and Tudor appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Hodinkee
Change – the Rolex way.
Hodinkee
Rolex is really flexing with these two Oysterflex-equipped models.
Hodinkee
Built Rolex tough – and more!
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