The summer is now moving by as fast as the market does, but the good finds haven't ceased coming out of the woodwork. We're back with a variety of vintage watches, suited for tastes of all sorts. Pink gold reigns supreme this week, with the inclusion of two such watches, one being a Triple Calendar from Ulysse Nardin, along with a Jaeger-LeCoultre Futurematic. For those that prefer a steel sports chronograph, fear not, as there's an Omega Speedmaster Ref. 105.003 and a Ref. 1133G Heuer Monaco ?both of which are in ridiculously good condition. Last but not least, keep scrolling to find one of the most exciting, provenance-heavy Omega Seamaster 300s I've stumbled across in a long while. Let us begin https://www.replicacopys.com .
Ulysse Nardin Triple CalendarThe stories that explain personal connections to certain types of replica watches never fail to amaze, and if you think hard, you'll find that even yours are no exception. If you've been collecting replica watches for a while with even the slightest degree of obsession, I am sure you have some stories to tell. I'll get you started with a tale of my own that cemented my love for triple calendars.
During a visit to the local lab I use for slide film processing here in Toronto, I passed a seedy looking pawn shop with an oversized Eterna triple calendar, sitting pretty in the window. Since the shop was closed, I made a point of coming back the next day before they opened to claim it as my own. Fast forward to 7AM next day, and I'm sitting on a park bench outside a church, in the company of two homeless gentlemen ?drinking coffee, talking politics, and feeding birds. A couple hours later, and after a bit of negotiation, I'm headed to work with a new old triple calendar on my wrist.
Since that memorable day, I've had a soft spot for triple calendars, because they offer value in a complicated fake watch that is hard to beat. Additionally, they're just aesthetically pleasing, arguably affording the looks of a more mechanically complicated timepiece, if you want to see it that way. With all this in mind, I was delighted to come across a similarly compelling triple calendar, this time from Ulysse Nardin. To be frank, the modern offerings from UN aren't quite my bag, but the back catalogue is an entirely different story, and filled with some truly nutty stuff. Case in point, this.
If this isn't one of the sharpest replica watches you've ever seen, I'm not sure what is. Upon first glance, every last detail is incredibly tasteful and well proportioned, and it only gets better as that glance lingers on into a stare. At 38 mm across, there's a lot to get lost in, including the 18K pink gold case's angular lugs, that would appear to have remained sharp. This continues as you focus in closer on the dial, that's adorned with both numeral and dot indices, along with a contrasting date track in blue. Out of respect for this publication, I'll keep things family friendly, but this is the sort of fake watch I could get carried away talking about in a spirited, expletive-ridden manner.
This triple calendar from Ulysse Nardin is going up for sale in Monaco on July 17 in Monaco Legend Auctions' sale of watches. Its estimate has been set at ?,000-6,000. See all the details here.
ADVERTISEMENT Heuer Monaco Ref. 1133GMany tend to steer clear of overly loud watches, and with good reason. Sometimes you just want to blend into the background, and if you're like myself, sometimes is most times. This is usually where a person in my position then makes a case for interesting exceptions, and if you've read this column before, that is indeed where I'm headed. No, there's no aftermarket, iced-out monstrosity in store, but instead, what's probably one of the most respected, avant-garde chronograph designs from a major manufacturer. If you're going to do "loud," this is how it's done.
Ask anyone to list off notable chronographs designs of the last 50 years, and the name Monaco is bound to come up in conversation. It all boils down to the revolutionary nature of the design, and how the world had never seen something quite like it before. Now that the world is more than familiar with the watch, vintage examples are understandably desirable, but my beef, so to speak, with far too many examples is with the often overly polished cases. One of the strongest, if not the strongest, design elements of the Monaco is its austere and architectural case shape, that's practically a work of art. Polish those lines away, and you're left with a clunky square on your wrist with hopefully a nice dial. The full package is what you want, and if you want it relatively soon, I'll gladly point you in the right direction ?this is an unpolished, near new old stock example, which includes the original boxes and papers. If that wasn't enough, then make sure to review that caseback shot, where you'll notice the original caseback sticker.
If the blue and red "Steve McQueen" style Monaco is the fan favorite, then the grey Monaco is the sleeper hit. Heuer's Monaco is a hefty watch, and if you've had the pleasure of having one on your wrist, you know they pack some serious presence. While a grey dial doesn't physically shrink a case, it's definitely a quieter wear, almost balancing out the size the watch. If you've been hemming and hawing over the idea of a Monaco for a while, and feel like putting the pedal to the metal, it's more than worth your time to check this one out.
Fortuna will be offering this Monaco in their sale of "No-Reserve Watches," taking place on the 9th of July in New York. The estimate has been set at $5,000-10,000, and as you'd guess, there's no reserve. See all the details here.
ADVERTISEMENT 1968 Omega Seamaster 300 Ref. 166.024You've probably heard a million and one collectors profess their love for a "watch with a story," and if you possess both a working pulse and a decent grasp of the English language, chances are you'd agree. Instead of boring you with a preamble, I'm just gonna get it out and let you know that I came across a fake watch earlier this week with some of the most fascinating, well-documented provenance I've seen in a long, long while. The fake watch also happens to be a bit of a head turner, as well, which never hurt. It's an Omega Seamaster 300, but no ordinary one as you'll quickly learn, so let's get right into what makes this one special.
Although the fake watch is nice, the real source of unfiltered cool here is who originally wore it. Our original owner in question was a man by the name of Lieutenant Colonel George Aikman Finter, who was a badass in the most traditional sense of the word. LTC Finter served in post-war Germany, then later as an intelligence officer in Chile, and finally would go on to serve a total of four tours in Vietnam. This extended U.S. military service earned him the Legion of Merit and a Bronze Star. Additionally, LTC Finter also received six citations and medals throughout his Vietnam service. In short, the man saw quite a bit of action, all while wearing this Ref. 166.024, which we'll know examine more closely.
Though the provenance is what sells a fake watch like this, the fake watch itself is in great shape, making this a desirable fake watch regardless of its provenance. Plus, who wants to justify a poor looking fake watch with a nifty story? The full package is where it's at, and that's definitely what you're looking at here. From the evenly aged luminous compound, to the sharp case lines, to the pristine bezel insert, every box is checked. It doesn't stop there, thanks to the inclusion of LTC Finter's " ... IDs, passports, licenses, concealed carry permit, photos, report of casualty, Bronze Star Citation, record of personal property, hand-signed letters of condolences from Richard Nixon and General Westmoreland and more." In other words, this is as good as replica watches with military provenance get.
This piece from San Francisco's Fog City Vintage will be offered in a Christie's sale taking place in December in New York, giving you some time to read up on G.A.F. himself. You'll find a host of photos here.
1963 Omega Speedmaster Ref. 105.003You might remember that just a few weeks back, we took a look at an example of the Ref. 105.003 Speedmaster, which many refer to as the "Ed White." Before this, it had never been at the top of my radar of Speedmaster references, but it's since climbed increasingly higher after the surfacing of another example, that's perhaps even more attractive. Between a borderline unhealthy obsession with all things NASA, and a personal history of Speedy ownership, digging deeper into the details of the Ed White has been a joy on every level. With this in mind, I'm excited to spread the word about that aforementioned example which surfaced, as its definitely worth looking into for all the right reasons.
This particular example was manufactured during the first year of the reference's production, in which few examples were produced. Condition wise this one checks all the boxes, as well; it's all original, down to the crown and pushers, with a flawless dial, and a 7912 bracelet. Fitted to that bracelet are No. 6 endlinks, which Speedmaster collectors will know are near impossible to track down. It's likely that this is the best example on the market today.
At the end of the day, the Ref. 105.003 not only represents a crucial stage in the evolution of Speedmaster case shapes, but the end of a simpler era of Speedmaster. Flip through an up-to-date Omega catalogue, and you'll be amazed at just how impressively far this chronograph line has come in terms of both design and technology. To think that this reference predates the "Professional" case shape really puts things into perspective, and, for this example to have endured the years while remaining in such terrific shape is no little feat.
A collector on Instagram that goes by the handle @sumnersdr is selling this piece. It's listed for $22,000, and you can find more information here.
ADVERTISEMENT 1960 Jaeger-LeCoultre FuturematicSymmetry is simply desirable, and there's science to back it up. From people subconsciously equating facial symmetry to overall attractiveness, to certain Wes Anderson shots looking quirkily wonderful, there's no two ways about it. As you'd expect, the same applies to wristwatches, which this next piece of the week ought to prove. It could be argued that for the most part, fake watch dials are generally symmetrical, though this one takes thing one step further. This fake watch comes from Jaeger LeCoultre, and was rather ahead of its time ?it's the famous JLC Futurematic.
Despite the scifi-sounding name, the Futurematic is an elegant dress piece from JLC. The only potential aspect some might see as outright futuristic is the caseback mounted crown, though this is in fact an older style construction than you'd think. What it ultimately means for the fake watch is that added, extra degree of symmetry, which you can't help but falling in love with on the wrist. To be fair, certain crown designs throughout history have been heralded as iconic, but on this piece, the absence of a lateral crown works, and really well. Symmetry is also achieved through the presence of a power reserve register at the nine o'clock position. This is one complication that I usually don't get too excited over, but in the name of symmetry, I welcome it with open arms.
Also worth noting is the case material in question here ?18K pink gold. Follow the sales and surfacing of Futurematic examples for long enough, and you'll quickly learn it's slim pickings out there if a clean Futurematic is what you're after. Then, consider that the majority of regularly available examples are typically gold plated. All of this adds up to a rare opportunity to own a special watch, in a really special configuration.
Matthew Bain has listed this 37mm Jaeger-LeCoultre with an asking price of $7,900. Find the full listing here.
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