SPOTTED! BY AG: Dispatch 8, (a very late) March 2018

Andy Green

Editor’s note: Full disclosure, this one slipped past the keeper in those hectic pre-Basel days. So to all of you people eagerly awaiting your dose of Spotted! (I know you’re out there), I’m sorry. But you know what, it might be late, but it’s still great. And with that, over to Andy.

My March ‘Spotted Dispatch’ is always a fun one. It feels like just yesterday I was adding the finishing touches this time last year, before boarding my flight to Europe, destined for Baselworld. Well, this year is no different! Very shortly I’ll be jetting off to do some international watch spotting, but for now, enjoy some solid watch spotting, which if you noticed the banner image, is a pretty special one!

Rich’s Audemars Piguet Royal Oak reference 15300.

First up, I kicked off the month over coffee with a collector friend, Rich, who happened to be sporting one of my favourites. Rich was rocking one of the classics, an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak (reference 15300), which he likes as it’s smaller than the current offering, the 15400. The 15300 was 39mm in diameter and discontinued in 2012, where it was superseded by the reference 15400 (41mm). For Rich, the Royal Oak is all about the bracelet, and it’s a piece he’s undoubtedly enjoyed wearing.

Striking Sarpaneva Korona Seasons K0 ‘Winter’.

I love a good dial, and when my eyes glanced across this stunning Sarpaneva K0 Seasons, they lit up. This piece belongs to Dane, a local collector who has a penchant for independent watch brands (you might’ve seen me spot another one of his Sarpanevas last year).

Those who know their Sarpaneva will recognise this piece as being ‘Winter’ and that the Seasons collection is unique. Firstly, the collection comprised of four models, each limited to 20 units (Oh, and this is piece 20/20), to represent the changing seasons in Finland. Stepan Sarpaneva also collaborated with Black Badger Advanced Composites for this collection, and each piece is made to order.

Felix’s travel watch, the Montblanc Orbis Terrarum.

Now, I mentioned that the T+T team had some travel planned — well, one particular member happened to be a little more organised than others. Time + Tide editor, Felix Scholz, called in the big guns and hooked up this Montblanc worldtimer to help him manage his time zones and international contributors. It’ll be interesting to check back in with Felix post-Basel, to hear his hands-on practical experience with the piece. Especially as this complication seems to be greatly underrepresented in collections of watch lovers, worldwide.

QT’s Rolex Daytona ‘Paul Newman’, reference 6239, and those famous sub-dials.

I finished off the month on a powerful note, spotting a Rolex Daytona ‘Paul Newman’ (reference 6239) on the wrist of an international collector, QT. It’s a relatively recent purchase for QT, who ended up buying this at auction late last year, as part of a full set. QT spent a considerable amount of time searching for the right piece — as you do when it comes to Paul Newman Daytonas — and he hunted down a good quality example.

Those who know QT know that he’s pretty serious when it comes to his watches, and this particular Newman certainly made its way around Melbourne during a recent trip when he was over.

Until next time, which I’m sure will be a big one!
AG