As a collector there is no stopping, so every year for some reason new (or new vintage) watches enter my collection and 2019 was no different. Closing the year, time for a quick retrospective on what were my personal highlights coming into my collection in 2019. In no particular order, read why those additions have made it into my highlights for the year.
Girard-Perregaux Vintage 1945 Chronograph GMT
Did I need another rectangular watch in general or another Vintage 1945 particularly? Certainly not as I’m probably well covered already. However, getting older, I tend to lean more and more towards coloured gold watches rather than the colder white metals. The GP Vintage 1945 Chronograph GMT has a very harmonious, symmetric dial that I was attracted too and when I managed to add this coffee light brown strap, this one really blew me away. I can see a lot of wrist time coming up for this watch in 2020.
Girard-Perregaux 1966 Date and Moon Phase
I never owned a steel 1966, which of course is no actual argument for getting one, esp. as I have both white and pink gold 1966 watches in my collection. As an owner of the fabulous 1966 Annual Calendar EoT, there should be no argument to get a steel 1966 calendar watch and that was my thoughts exactly. Wrongly judged, as the 1966 in steel brings some new and different to the table. The dial is very different with its silver finish and multi-faceted indexes. What makes it a highlight though, this is a fantastic value for money and a watch you can wear without hesitation anywhere while standing out from crowd. It actually is quite a head turner I noticed.
Girard-Perregaux Sea Hawk 7100 cream dial
Another highlight for me was finding the Sea Hawk I with a cream dial. The cream is just incredible and when you then have such superbly aged tritium indexes you are in heaven. What more, this watch overall is in perfect condition, something very rarely seen for this model and even had the original sapphire black bezel. Usually that bezel had been damaged with cracks and often replaced but not on this watch. Quite a highlight of 2019.
Girard-Perregaux Gyromatic 7373 black dial with gilt indexes
Overall, the Gyromatic 7373 is one of my favourite vintage time-only Gyromatics. It has an interesting case with nicely shaped lugs and comes in a good size. Inside runs the Gyromatic Caliber 21, which not only is super reliable but also very accurate to that day. But the combination of a steel case with gloss black dial and gilt hands and applied markers is truly special. You cannot capture the magic in photos, but on the wrist, this watch really stands out.
Girard-Perregaux Deep Diver 9076C
In 2019 I actually bought my 3rd green dial Deep Diver 9076C and this time, it is as perfect as can be. The first one went to a close friend, the second one is still in my collection and overall a great condition Deep Diver, however, the green shine has faded away a bit. My 2019 addition Deep Diver 9076C on the other hand really radiates in green. A green highlight of 2019.
Girard-Perregaux Olimpico Chronograph 9245
To be honest I had passed on this Olimpico 9245 with white dial and black subdials a few times over the years. I was always convinced that my other Olimpico 9245 with blue dial and white subdials is the cooler version. Don’t get me wrong, the blue dial is super-cool, but when earlier in 2019, a close friend of mine decided to let go this white 9245, I offered him a trade and I added it into my collection. Since then, I can assure you that my friend is very regrettable to have let go this watch. I now wear the white dial more often than the blue dial.
Patek Philippe 2552
Yes, a watch that is not a GP made it into my highlight list for 2019. But I had to raise the bar very high to make that happen, but a vintage Patek Calatrava certainly get over that bar. But his is not any Calatrava, Reference 2552 a.k.a the Disco Volante houses the first automatic wrist watch movement from Patek Philippe, the famous 12-600 AT, for many the most beautiful automatic caliber from Patek of all times. And it doesn’t stop there. This watch also was offered to me from another close friend to purchase. Overall, this is probably still the best condition 2552 I have ever seen and then these watches come not for sale very often, so this was a very generous gesture of my friend to pass this watch to me. A special 2019 highlight and a watch to cherish for the rest of my life.
As a collector there is no stopping, so every year for some reason new (or new vintage) watches enter my collection and 2019 was no different. Closing the year, time for a quick retrospective on what were my personal highlights coming into my collection in 2019. In no particular order, read why those additions have made it into my highlights for the year.
Girard-Perregaux Vintage 1945 Chronograph GMT
Did I need another rectangular watch in general or another Vintage 1945 particularly? Certainly not as I’m probably well covered already. However, getting older, I tend to lean more and more towards coloured gold watches rather than the colder white metals. The GP Vintage 1945 Chronograph GMT has a very harmonious, symmetric dial that I was attracted too and when I managed to add this coffee light brown strap, this one really blew me away. I can see a lot of wrist time coming up for this watch in 2020.
Girard-Perregaux 1966 Date and Moon Phase
I never owned a steel 1966, which of course is no actual argument for getting one, esp. as I have both white and pink gold 1966 watches in my collection. As an owner of the fabulous 1966 Annual Calendar EoT, there should be no argument to get a steel 1966 calendar watch and that was my thoughts exactly. Wrongly judged, as the 1966 in steel brings some new and different to the table. The dial is very different with its silver finish and multi-faceted indexes. What makes it a highlight though, this is a fantastic value for money and a watch you can wear without hesitation anywhere while standing out from crowd. It actually is quite a head turner I noticed.
Girard-Perregaux Sea Hawk 7100 cream dial
Another highlight for me was finding the Sea Hawk I with a cream dial. The cream is just incredible and when you then have such superbly aged tritium indexes you are in heaven. What more, this watch overall is in perfect condition, something very rarely seen for this model and even had the original sapphire black bezel. Usually that bezel had been damaged with cracks and often replaced but not on this watch. Quite a highlight of 2019.
Girard-Perregaux Gyromatic 7373 black dial with gilt indexes
Overall, the Gyromatic 7373 is one of my favourite vintage time-only Gyromatics. It has an interesting case with nicely shaped lugs and comes in a good size. Inside runs the Gyromatic Caliber 21, which not only is super reliable but also very accurate to that day. But the combination of a steel case with gloss black dial and gilt hands and applied markers is truly special. You cannot capture the magic in photos, but on the wrist, this watch really stands out.
Girard-Perregaux Deep Diver 9076C
In 2019 I actually bought my 3rd green dial Deep Diver 9076C and this time, it is as perfect as can be. The first one went to a close friend, the second one is still in my collection and overall a great condition Deep Diver, however, the green shine has faded away a bit. My 2019 addition Deep Diver 9076C on the other hand really radiates in green. A green highlight of 2019.
Girard-Perregaux Olimpico Chronograph 9245
To be honest I had passed on this Olimpico 9245 with white dial and black subdials a few times over the years. I was always convinced that my other Olimpico 9245 with blue dial and white subdials is the cooler version. Don’t get me wrong, the blue dial is super-cool, but when earlier in 2019, a close friend of mine decided to let go this white 9245, I offered him a trade and I added it into my collection. Since then, I can assure you that my friend is very regrettable to have let go this watch. I now wear the white dial more often than the blue dial.
Patek Philippe 2552
Yes, a watch that is not a GP made it into my highlight list for 2019. But I had to raise the bar very high to make that happen, but a vintage Patek Calatrava certainly get over that bar. But his is not any Calatrava, Reference 2552 a.k.a the Disco Volante houses the first automatic wrist watch movement from Patek Philippe, the famous 12-600 AT, for many the most beautiful automatic caliber from Patek of all times. And it doesn’t stop there. This watch also was offered to me from another close friend to purchase. Overall, this is probably still the best condition 2552 I have ever seen and then these watches come not for sale very often, so this was a very generous gesture of my friend to pass this watch to me. A special 2019 highlight and a watch to cherish for the rest of my life.
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