The Watch Appreciation Thread - Part two (Rolex, Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, Jaeger LeCoultre,

[Dino944]

I'm curious what you guys recommend as respected watch/horological journals, blogs, vids, etc...

I'm less and less interested in Hodinkee and Revolution as a resources, but am still looking to keep up on the industry and new releases, etc...

Where do you guys get your interwebs info?

I used to get a variety of print magazines. There are none that I subscribe to at the moment. I look at Hodinkee occasionally more as entertainment, but discount it since they are now more of a sales machine. The 2 watch sites I look at the most frequently are Fratellowatches (particularly articles by Robert-Jan Broer) and SJXwatches. Both started by bloggers/watch forum moderators. They both have a lot of experience with watches, both provide detailed information.

As for videos and items on youtube, I've watched several. I haven't found anything I watch regularly or feel is particularly informative...at best a few are entertaining. Reviews can be helpful, but I find the information in several online videos are not always accurate...and I can't identify with some of the personalities, which leads me to discount their opinions.

I also try to pick up catalogs at boutiques/ADs and/or sign up online so I get updates and information about new releases. I also still regularly buy the wristwatch annual catalogs each year. Some information remains the same, but I usually find helpful or informative details about the movements when reviewing the specs.

In addition, I am in contact with some fellow collectors via emails/texts/and a few in person. We rarely have the same taste in watches and our collections are often quite different or headed in different directions, but interaction with them is always informative and fun.

 

[Phileas Fogg]

I'm curious what you guys recommend as respected watch/horological journals, blogs, vids, etc...

I'm less and less interested in Hodinkee and Revolution as a resources, but am still looking to keep up on the industry and new releases, etc...

Where do you guys get your interwebs info?

I have an app on called Watchville, available on the App Store (Not sure about android).

it’s sort of an aggregator and features most of the various blogs, HODINKEE included, and is a Nice place to get updates and information.

 

[Phileas Fogg]

Has anyone see this HODINKEE “travel clock” ?



How did they find 96 people stupid enough to pay $6000 for this ugly garbage?

the marketing fluff is vomit inducing as well

The HODINKEE Travel Clock

The HODINKEE Eight-Day Travel Clock | HODINKEE

limited.hodinkee.com

They’ve certainly sold some over priced garbage in the past, but this is on another level

Here’s an article in which they try to do some damage control around this:
A Quick Note To Our Readers: Travel Clock Edition
https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/a-quick-note-to-our-readers-travel-clock-edition

I suppose they are free to market and sell at whatever price anything they feel their readers would buy.

But I don’t care how well made or thought out this maybe, it’s an absolutely arcane item. One could say the same of a wrist watch, but at least I can wear it, use it to tell time (assuming no other complications) and just plain enjoy looking at it; but a ******* alarm clock!

 

[K. Nights]

Here’s an article in which they try to do some damage control around this:
A Quick Note To Our Readers: Travel Clock Edition
https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/a-quick-note-to-our-readers-travel-clock-edition

I suppose they are free to market and sell at whatever price anything they feel their readers would buy.

But I don’t care how well made or thought out this maybe, it’s an absolutely arcane item. One could say the same of a wrist watch, but at least I can wear it, use it to tell time (assuming no other complications) and just plain enjoy looking at it; but a ******* alarm clock!

Their excuses for turning off the comments on instagram were pretty pathetic.

A) "We wanted everyone to judge the clock on the merits of its uniqueness"
Read: "We didn't want you to realize how dumb and overpriced this product is"

B) "Some of the comments went TOO far. We don't support cyberbullying!!!!"
OK, maybe just remove those comments then?

 

[Phileas Fogg]

Their excuses for turning off the comments on instagram were pretty pathetic.

A) "We wanted everyone to judge the clock on the merits of its uniqueness"
Read: "We didn't want you to realize how dumb and overpriced this product is"

B) "Some of the comments went TOO far. We don't support cyberbullying!!!!"
OK, maybe just remove those comments then?

yeah, the “cyber bullying” thing has gotten to be the excuse for just about everything now. Makes one wonder why even bother with social media. Mr. Blackwell damn better be glad he didn’t live today.

How do you bully an inanimate object?

 

[Ambulance Chaser]

I look forward to the HODINKEE sundial: "Powered by the sun's rays, this clock never needs winding or servicing and will provide many years of faithful service. For materials, we sourced a very rare granite found only in Southern Croatia. Due to the exclusivity of the build, this clock is available in a limited edition of 99, and once it's gone, it's gone."

 

[SmellBlind]

yeah, the “cyber bullying” thing has gotten to be the excuse for just about everything now. Makes one wonder why even bother with social media. Mr. Blackwell damn better be glad he didn’t live today.

How do you bully an inanimate object?

The bullying comment was in reference to some comments directed at specific Hodinkee staff members

 

[Phileas Fogg]

The bullying comment was in reference to some comments directed at specific Hodinkee staff members

well that’s never right but yeah, they could have, and have in the past, edited and removed such comments.

that people have the energy to get that worked up about something like that is beyond me. I just find the product an unnecessary indulgence. Coming from me that’s saying something.

 

[WSW]

Here’s an article in which they try to do some damage control around this:
A Quick Note To Our Readers: Travel Clock Edition
https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/a-quick-note-to-our-readers-travel-clock-edition

I suppose they are free to market and sell at whatever price anything they feel their readers would buy.

But I don’t care how well made or thought out this maybe, it’s an absolutely arcane item. One could say the same of a wrist watch, but at least I can wear it, use it to tell time (assuming no other complications) and just plain enjoy looking at it; but a ******* alarm clock!

Not even a well made one! I can at least nod at a nicely done travel clock, setting aside the price. They threw in a cheap Pontifa movement from old stock discontinued AP promo desk clocks, poorly glued leather to the case and misaligned a couple of the outer screws.

It does speak to the broader issue of luxury journalism. You are not going to get critical and insightful articles when so much of your ad revenue depends on those very same brands. Sites like Hodinkee are good to view press releases etc but I prefer enthusiasts' forums for more candid thoughts and ideas.

 

[Phileas Fogg]

Not even a well made one! I can at least nod at a nicely done travel clock, setting aside the price. They threw in a cheap Pontifa movement from old stock discontinued AP promo desk clocks, poorly glued leather to the case and misaligned a couple of the outer screws.

It does speak to the broader issue of luxury journalism. You are not going to get critical and insightful articles when so much of your ad revenue depends on those very same brands. Sites like Hodinkee are good to view press releases etc but I prefer enthusiasts' forums for more candid thoughts and ideas.

it does appear as though the blog exists to sell merchandise more than anything else at this point.

Again, they are free to do it or anything else they want, but it should not come as a surprise when something so intended as nothing more than an expensive gimmick stirs up such passion.

 

[9thsymph]

Not even a well made one! I can at least nod at a nicely done travel clock, setting aside the price. They threw in a cheap Pontifa movement from old stock discontinued AP promo desk clocks, poorly glued leather to the case and misaligned a couple of the outer screws.

It does speak to the broader issue of luxury journalism. You are not going to get critical and insightful articles when so much of your ad revenue depends on those very same brands. Sites like Hodinkee are good to view press releases etc but I prefer enthusiasts' forums for more candid thoughts and ideas.

Yeah, this model is becoming all too frequent, but Hodinkee has milked it particularly well: start with quasi-journalistic content (it was never pure journalism, though, folks), then start blurring the line between that content and paid ads, then blur the content further with colabs, then move to selling your own in house stuff at the same cost as the luxury brands you "cover" (even though YOU are not a luxury brand) - Congrats! You are now one big commercial!

Yeah, I think I'm done with them. I don't really care about the clock for any specific reason - it just sort of clarifys the general state of the always-be-closing vibe that is pervasive throughout their content these days...

 

[Scuppers]

I'm curious what you guys recommend as respected watch/horological journals, blogs, vids, etc...

I'm less and less interested in Hodinkee and Revolution as a resources, but am still looking to keep up on the industry and new releases, etc...

Where do you guys get your interwebs info?

I subscribe to Watch Time and use the Watchville app

 

[Journeyman]

Tudor missed a big opportunity by not going with square hours markers. Maybe it didn't want to make a watch too close to the original, but if the original worked, why not?

Tudor used square hour markers on the Pelagos, but not on the Black Bay series:

 

[Texasmade]

I’ve been wearing my Speedmaster FOIS quite a bit the last week. Right now it’s on the Speedmaster Racing rubber strap and I’m probably going to switch it to the flat link bracelet soon.

 

[Viral]

I just got a call from Wempe for a ND Submariner a few hours ago........I've been on their list for a few months. Apparently they now charge tax for shipping it out of state AND they wanna charge me shipping.

I get free shipping on a $12 t-shirt from the Gap............WTF!