Military
We all love military watches. Due to the rigours of military life, very strict specifications were set and these timepieces are reliable, robust pieces. But there is something infinetly more about them. It’s hard not to get carried away with the romance of a wristwatch bearing the scars of war and painted with the patina of a time long past. As a relic of a previous life, it is easy to let our imaginations run wild with what the watch has been through.
If you are one of those who basks in the nostalgia of a time of utility, where the purpose of a wristwatch was pure, you are at the right place. It seems that the honesty of the design is something we can all relate to, and for that it commands respect.
Perhaps it is the vicarious nature of these objects that so tickles our fancy, allowing us to step into the wrist, so to speak, of those who wore them before us. After all, isn’t our choice of watch, often, simply a reflection of how we see ourselves?
Military
We all love military watches. Due to the rigours of military life, very strict specifications were set and these timepieces are reliable, robust pieces. But there is something infinetly more about them. It’s hard not to get carried away with the romance of a wristwatch bearing the scars of war and painted with the patina of a time long past. As a relic of a previous life, it is easy to let our imaginations run wild with what the watch has been through.
If you are one of those who basks in the nostalgia of a time of utility, where the purpose of a wristwatch was pure, you are at the right place. It seems that the honesty of the design is something we can all relate to, and for that it commands respect.
Perhaps it is the vicarious nature of these objects that so tickles our fancy, allowing us to step into the wrist, so to speak, of those who wore them before us. After all, isn’t our choice of watch, often, simply a reflection of how we see ourselves?
What makes a transitional watch?
Evolutions in watchmaking are rarely quick or abrupt. Things evolve gradually, shifting from one state to another over an extended period of time. Because of this, it's sometimes possible to pinpoint watches that are arguably transitional in nature, marking those changes, in a subtle, but noticeable way.
A Collector’s Guide to the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak ref. 14790
We have long been fascinated with mid-size executions of iconic designs, notably the Nautilus and the Royal Oak. Having recently had the opportunity to visit the archives at Audemars Piguet in Le Brassus, we thought this was the perfect opportunity for an in-depth Collector's Guide on the most distinctive of the mid-size Royal Oak references - the 14790.