FRIDAY WIND DOWN: 7th July, 2017
Felix Scholz
It’s a Wind Down for one this week, as I’m currently alone in the office engaging in some fairly serious desk dancing to this sprawlingly awesome mix. But it’s not all fun and games because watches are a Very Serious Business. Just ask the Swiss. Or the Germans or Japanese for that matter. So, have a drink, but make sure it’s a serious one — more Manhattan, less Melbourne Bitter.
What happened?
Omega announced their latest Bond limited edition, the Commander’s Watch. It’s hard to tell, but the summery feel of this Seamster caused more askance eyebrow-raising than most Omega LEs.
Richard Mille announced Margot Robbie as their latest brand ambassador. That is all.
What really mattered?
Patek wrote a letter to their dealers, telling them to stop letting watches out of their stores in original packaging. That means the brown outer boxes and the sealed plastic bag. Why? Tackling the grey market of course. Will dealers comply? Will it change anything?
The lineup for Only Watch 2017 was unveiled and while we’re busy drooling over the Journe, speculating on the Patek, and nodding appreciatively at the WOSTEP watch, I think it’s interesting that wunderkind-auctioneer Aurel Bacs has lost out to Christie’s. Though perhaps that has more to do with the fact that the November 11 auction may clash with Phillips’ Geneva Watch Auction: SIX.
The week in numbers
11: Great vintage watches Melissa found while scouring the internet
49: Watches being auctioned for Only Watch 2017
620: Facebook likes for the new steel Datejust 41
1: Facebook ‘angry’ for the same watch. Old mate is in the minority on that one.