Australian Watch Authority
Antiques Roadshow guest tears up after discovering value of dad’s vintage Rolex “Red” Submariner
For anyone who collects vintage watches, Antiques Roadshow is like whale song, or the sound of rain on a tin roof – ASMR for those with an undiagnosed hoarding condition. Don’t worry, I’m describing myself too. It’s the public sharing of an almost entirely forgotten history of rare and beautiful objects, the knowledge of which is carefully gathered and protected by the experts who work for the show. This knowledge is then passed on to the eager enquirer, who often delights not only at the sum of money they are told they have, but also the historical tidbits that tell the story of the antique they are displaying. In a recent episode, a gentleman had brought his father’s watch to Antiques Roadshow expert Richard Price to understand a little more about what it was, as well as what it might be valued at. The watch in question was a Rolex “Red” Submariner ref. 1680, which is not only an interesting reference because it was the first Rolex Submariner to feature a date complication, but the line of red SUBMARINER text makes it one of the most desirable vintage sports watches on the market. The story of the watch was that his…
HANDS-ON: The Bausele OceanMoon VI literally has a bit of Australia in every watch
The OceanMoon has been a key part of the Bausele lineup for a decade, released as a watch made for one place – the water. Designed by Christophe Hoppe, who moved to Australia from Switzerland only a little before he started work on this watch, the beaches of Sydney must have offered some inspiration that informed this watch’s development. From the tiny capsule of Aussie sand that fills the lower crown to the bright colours and highly legible dials, the Bausele OceanMoon VI collection is made for the surf and the summer. The case With the 42mm case forged from 316L surgical grade steel, both the size and alloy speak to a substantial diver’s watch that doesn’t cut corners in its production. While not dainty in its thickness, the case is robustly built to protect the watch from the effects of magnetism. Of the five regular production references within the Bausele OceanMoon VI collection, two have been finished with an IP Gunmetal coating while the other three have a more utilitarian brushed finish. The lugs curve downward nicely to meet the contour of your wrist, without being so long as to make it unwearable for those with smaller wrists. Thanks…
MICRO MONDAYS: The Reiser Alpen is a sharp, octagonal sports watch that oozes 70s jet-set glamour
My mum always taught me honesty first, so YES, the fresh and new Reiser Alpen has some octagonal details, and does remind us of a grail watch or two. But I still see it as a refreshingly sharp design, not a homage as such. Strong credit is due in this department to Reiser, as it’s a brand that speaks its own language, and it’s one of extremely tempting 70s glamour. To be octagonal with an integrated bracelet is not easy in this world of Gerald Genta deification, or should that be sports watch gentrification (sorry!), as we tend to focus on similarities. Instead the Alpen draws us in with its hypnotic reflection-twisting dials and bold colours. The debut microbrand Reiser with their Alpen, is a textbook example of how it is possible to design a mechanical wristwatch at a superb price point, with its own design integrity and still pluck those ’70s heartstrings. The first thing you’ll notice is a rectangular interpretation of the classic integrated bracelet design we love, elongated into an angular cushion shape. The 41mm case is a slim 11.45mm in height, and should sit sleekly on the wrist thanks to dramatic angles on the lugless case…
Opinion
A barn find to give you hope – the story of a very special NOS vintage Gruen Ocean Chief
Editor’s note: This week, Eric Ku, vintage watch dealer and friend of Time+Tide, posted about five years having passed since the remarkable watch barn find story involving a LeCoultre Deep Sea Alarm. A man by the name of Zach Norris came across an interesting-looking watch at a local Goodwill store, featuring a price tag of $5.99. He bought it in a heartbeat, suspecting it was worth more than the tag suggested, and was delighted to discover its true value. He was flooded with offers for the watch, one of which came from Eric Ku. He agreed to sell the watch to Eric for a cool $35,000. That’s right, nearly 6000 times the price he paid for it. We put a call-out to see if anyone else had their own story of successful thrift shop hunting, and Frank (@SpeedyFett on Instagram) reached out, telling the tale of his vintage Gruen Ocean Chief. Enjoy! I have a barn find story from a couple years ago that is pretty special. I took my family on vacation to Philadelphia for my kids to experience the old historic area. Little did I know that in addition to the Liberty Bell, just around the corner was…
