Feature: Sporty Roman Numeral Watches Part 1 - Romain Jerome Steampunk 46

Who said watches with Roman numerals has to be dressy? 

There seems to be a preconception that watches with Roman numerals are dressy. Think Cartier. Off the top of my head, Cartier has really made the Roman numeral design their own, especially when combined with a rectangular case. A cursory Google search seems to also confirm that the vast majority of watch brands utilises Roman numerals to “dress up” their models.

One might pose the question whether Roman numerals always makes a watch look dressier? Are there instances where the watch errs on the side of casual, Maybe even sporty, with a large diameter case? ask no more. In the following 3-part series, we will look at 3 watches all with Roman numerals, in 3 very different interpretations, and none of them can really be described as “dressy”. Maybe you could get away with wearing the with a suit, but I doubt any of them would fit in with a black tie event. (In the traditional sense. We’re not talking Aussie black tie, which can mean anything from a tux to jeans, t-shirt, sports jacket and sneakers.)

Part the first:

Romain Jerome Steampunk 46 - 2015

I still remember the first time I came to know Romain Jerome. And my reaction is far from favourable. The watch? The titanic DNA. the reaction? Let's just say it was NSFW. Well. NSFAnything really... however, something that polarising definitely sticks in your mind and over the years RJ has broadened their horizon to include some incredible pieces such the subcraft, to the extremely niche market Hello Kitty watches... and somewhere in between, watches that appealed to my childhood nostalgia such as the Space Invaders and the Super Mario Bros... Let’s just say that I’ve come to appreciate its quirks and its audacity to be so different in a seemingly still-quite-conservative Swiss Watch industry. Yeah I know there are a lot of so-called self-anointed “disruptors” but who are we kidding? Most of the industry is still extremely traditional, despite what their marketing material may say.

It is however, quite saddening to hear of their bankruptcy earlier this year, as well, their funding dried up in the very trying luxury market, especially for an independent niche brand such as RJ, and all the more depressing especially when I've had the opportunity to meet some of the really lovely people working for the brand at Baselworld (when it was still around...) Hopefully the brand will somehow find its way back, but in the meantime, let's have a look at one of the more distinctive designs from the brand. 

This might be an entry level sort of watch, but by no means does it mean cheap and cheerful. Far from it. The moment you hold the piece in your hand you know you have something quite special. You feel it in its weight. You see it in the details, and you definitely notice it in your wallet. Comes with the territory of being a limited production run. This version? Just 999 pieces. There are a couple of other versions; a shinier polished steel case and one in 18k rose gold.

Now I’ve always had a soft spot for everything steampunk and retro futuristic style. I think calling this piece steampunk is probably stretching the term a little, but I am very taken with the style, and now that they’ve tossed the “rusted” bezel look of the titanic, it works even better with just a smooth, albeit somewhat aged industrial look, nicely juxtaposed with the smooth black case claws and shiny screws on the dial. 

Speaking of the dial; yes there is a dial, even though at first glance it might seem skeletonised. In closer inspection there is no hint of the movement, but multiple layers of patterns, in different finishing, which gives it a subtle three-dimension design. Although the OCD in me may prefer a completely symmetrical look, I do like the fact the small propeller running seconds at 9:00 position acts as a charming small reminder of its beginnings as a ship-themed watch. 

The strap is usually the first thing to come off a watch for me, but in this instance, one major obstacle stopped me from doing so... I didn’t know how. It’s not the usual arrangement of spring bar, strap, and lugs. Apparently one needs to use a special tool to remove the strap. Whilst I wait for said missing tool to arrive, I have no choice but to wear the OEM Strap. And it’s actually not a bad thing. It tapers from being quite thick at the lugs to thin and soft at the other end. It holds the shape and supports the watch quite well, at the same time being very comfortable to wear. One thing I didn’t like is the folding clasp (and RJ aren’t alone in this) which felt cheap and flimsy. So off it came and a sturdy, thick pin buckle I had lying around went on. Perfect. 

The watch comes with a solid case back, making identifying the beating heart that much more difficult. According to the internet, it’s built by LaJoux-Perret or Concepto on a Valjoux 7750 base, meaning it should be relatively reliable but not exactly “uh-house”. Does that turn you off? It depends on what you want out of a watch movement. As nice as an in-house movement is, sometimes you just want something simple, reliable, and most important aspect of all - serviceability. A competent watchmaker will be able to service simple. Complications, well... can be complicated and lead to unwanted um... complications...

Despite its outlandish styling, and seeming large-watch size, the watch as a whole is quite stealthy, helped by the use of matte black case and black strap. I was hoping to put a vintage dark brown calf strap on the watch to bring out the steampunk vibe even more. Its relatively short lug-to-lug length makes it much more wearable than the diameter suggest, and yes, it sits very well and comfortable on the wrist. It is not a watch that will have mass appeal and it doesn’t need to. Given the relatively low production run and the uncertainty over the brand’s future, chances of seeing a Romain Jerome watch in the wild is likely to remain in the realm of a steel Daytona in stock for retail.

Lug to lug 48mm

Diameter 46mm

USD 12500 or approx AUD 19000

The Definitive Guide to Watches in Formula 1: 2020 Edition

Formula 1 for 2020 is back on! And what a start to the season with an excitement and drama-filled first race of the season in Austria! So we thought it was time we updated our feature on watches in Formula 1. Can you believe the last time we did a post on this topic it was back in 2013! Certainly a lot has changed since then, so without further ado, it's LIGHTS OUT AND AWAY WE GO!!!

Rolex - The official timing partner for Formula 1 since 2013, and continues to dominate all the track landscapes with the corporate green and gold logo. 

Pirelli - The official supplier of tyres for all the teams. Pirelli has a partnership with Roger Dubuis, and there are models specifically made in collaboration where the strap is made from actual tyres of race winning cars.

Roger Dubuis Excalibur Spider Pirelli

And now, in order of the current Constructor's Championship standing so far in 2020 (after the first race), here are the watch partners for each team:

1. Mercedes - IWC has been a partner with Mercedes-AMG team since 2013 and it seems to be a very successful partnership as they continue into 2020 and possibly beyond. Numerous limited editions has been produced for both the teams and the drivers, with Lewis Hamilton taking the additional step in customising his own version. IWC watches can also be seen on numerous top management in the team including Toto Wolfe and various engineers/team members.

IWC limited edition Pilot watches for Mercedes-AMG

2. McLaren Renault - It's so refreshing to see McLaren so high up in the standings after many years languishing mid-pack. Let's hope this new trend continues. The official watch partner is Richard Mille, who himself is a fan of racing and races classic cars himself. Amazingly Richard has cornered the market, partnering up with three teams on the grid. The partnership with McLaren extends to drivers in the team both wearing Richard Mille timepieces.

The RM50-03 - valued at just under USD$1 million

3. Ferrari has a long standing partnership with Hublot and again, it is one that is working extremely well for both parties, as Ferrari owners are very much Hublot owners. Numerous limited editions produced, as well as watches designed by Ferrari like the Hublot TechFrame.

4. Racing Point BWT Mercedes - Formerly Force India, we have mentioned before regarding their partnership with TW Steel. This was followed by an obscure "lifestyle" partnership with Felio Siby, who designed an even more obscure watch, powered by a movement from Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier. This didn't last long and after Force India went into administration in 2018, and was taken over by a consortium lead by billionaire Lawrence Stroll, it's had no watch partnerships. 

Felio Siby Force India Watch

The current drivers for Racing Point, however, do wear watches and Sergio Perez is even a bit of a watch collector. He has admitted to owning around 20 timepieces and each of them were purchased for special occasions as a memento, the first one for the first salary that he received, followed by first podium, first child, etc. He has been quite diplomatic in not mentioning any brands. However, a quick dig around the interwebs revealed a few stand outs. Franc Vila presented Perez his very own watch back in 2010, when he announced his debut with Sauber for the following year in F1. Of course, when you drive for Sauber, you had to represent the team's watch partner which was Certina. When Perez went over to McLaren in 2013 he had TAG Heuer watches, and I'm assuming he had to wear TW Steel with Force India.

And Lance Stroll? He's had an Oris watch from his days at Williams, but no watches right now at Racing Point, but given he's the son of a billionaire...

Franc Vila Sergio Perez

5. Alpha Tauri Honda - Previously Scuderia Toro Rosso, or Red Bull junior, they've had an ongoing partnership with Casio Edifice. Given this season has only just started we're yet to see a proper Alpha Tauri watch, as Casio is still marketing the previous Toro Rosso edition.

The 2020 Alpha Tauri F1 Car

Casio Edifice Toro Rosso

6. Renault - The partnership with Bell and Ross has been going for a few years now, and again, there is a certain synergy between the brands. Also, both being French probably helps too. The Bell and Ross watches for the Renault F1 team over the years has always been quite striking and distinctive, using various F1 design motifs and team colours as inspiration. The drivers are given a limited edition watch that corresponds to their racing number.

Bell & Ross BR X-1 Tourbillon R.S.20

 

7. Alfa Romeo Racing Ferrari - The second team partnered with Richard Mille. Kimi Raikkonen, one of the drivers for the team, has his own Richard Mille watch. In more recent times, Alfa Romeo only returned to F1 racing in 2018, as a title sponsor for the Sauber team. It last competed in F1 back in 1985. From 2019 onwards, Alfa Romeo took over the team completely the and Sauber name was dropped from the entry list. Certina used to be a long standing watch partner with Sauber team. 

Richard Mille RM50-04 Kimi

8. Williams Mercedes - Oris was a long time partner with Williams until they shifted their focus to more eco-friendly initiatives. There is currently no watch partner for Williams, although it seems driver George Russell is wearing an IWC Pilot, possibly due to his ties with Mercedes as a factory-backed driver, and Nicholas Latifi, being the son of multi-billionaire Michael Latifi, can probably buy whatever watch he wants. Latifi is the owner of Sofina Foods and invested 200 million Euro back in 2018 for a 10 percent stake in McLaren Group. Sofina is also the main sponsor for the team this year and quite possibly may become the owner.

George Russell (Left) seen wearing an IWC Pilot in 2019. Can't tell what Robert Kubica is wearing though.

9. Aston Martin Red Bull Racing - TAG Heuer has been a partner with Red Bull ever since they parted ways with McLaren. Red Bull was with Casio, and they still are via their junior team, Alpha Tauri. TAG Heuer has close ties to F1 and was at one stage the official timekeeper for Formula 1 (as Heuer, back in 1974 and remained until the end of the decade, when it passed the torch to Longines). One of the best selling lines of watches from TAG Heuer is actually called "Formula 1". 

TAG Heuer Formula 1 Red Bull Special Edition

10. HAAS - the third team with ties to Richard Mille, and a team that's going through really tough times on track. Partnership extends to drivers, both of whom can be seen wearing RM timepieces.

HAAS F1 team

And there you have it. 2020 will be an interesting year for Formula 1, as they deal with the aftermath of the Coronavirus and work out the best way to get the race numbers up. There are also a number of changes coming up in 2021, with Racing Point becoming the official Aston Martin racing team, and the possibility of Williams changing hands... one thing is for sure. Formula 1 is never lacking in drama and we hope to bring you another edition of watches in Formula 1 next year.

Profile: Anita Porchet

Anita Porchet - Portrait from thenakedwatchmaker.com

What do you think of when the word ‘enamel’ is mentioned? 

I think of shiny smooth white dials, a kiln firing at 800 odd degrees Celsius and... that's about it really. Not much else comes to mind. Nevermind the fact that the art of enamelling is an art form that one may not master even after 20 or even 30 years of experience. There is nothing quite like a clean, crisp, white enamel dial, and Seiko’s use of it is a testament to the elegance in simplicity. But the art of enamelling, that’s a whole ‘nother thing. What? How hard can it be to do a white enamel dial? You've come to the right place. 

Many years ago when I was lucky enough to have visited Manufacture Jaeger-LeCoultre, during a tour of their in-house enamel workshop, founded by Miklos Merczel, we were told that enamelling was a craft in danger of being lost to time – it wasn’t being taught in schools, and apprentices weren’t willing to invest decades into honing the craft. 

Things have changed dramatically since then. Due to the increased demand of enamelled timepieces over the past decade it is again being professionally taught, and new life given to a once dying craft. However, this may be a blessing and a curse. It is no longer as rare as it used to be, and although the price of admission isn’t exactly low, those with the means are able to acquire a piece of miniature art relatively easily. It almost became industrialised insomuch as a craft can be; a product, rather than art. There are views that the Swiss watch industry should keep some things ‘sacred’ and not mass produce everything because of demand. 

Hermes Cape Cod

So what exactly does it take to become a master enameller? Like watchmaking it is a highly skilled craft and takes years, if not decades, to be anywhere near good enough for your craft to be recognised and perhaps commissioned by brands (watch or otherwise) or an in-house artisan. 

Currently, one of the most respected and revered is the independent master enameller, Anita Porchet, although if you ask her, she would not call herself that. In fact, after two decades of producing amazing pieces for the likes of Patek Philippe (who were one of the first to recognise her talent), Vacheron Constantin, Piaget, Hermes, and other prestigious Maisons, she still feels that she has not mastered the art. And therein lies the problem of the industry. 

Piaget The Rose - Featuring Cloisonné technique

As with many crafts, increasing popularity entices more people to study it, with some not hesitating to label themselves “enameller” with mere months of experience. For sure there are some talented artists who may acquire the skills of miniaturising art, but enamel isn’t like painting. It requires time to be familiar with the raw materials, to know when the grain is fine enough, and to time each firing in the kiln to perfection, as a few seconds too long in the kiln can ruin months’ worth of work. Impurities in the glass can cause bubbles or discolouration. There are no shortcuts. 

Working on Piaget - The Rose

Anita Porchet was born in La Chaux-de-Fonds and learnt the basics of enamel work through her godfather, before studying fine arts. It would turn out to be portentous when she won a Patek Philippe prize shortly after graduating. Her significance is as such that in 2015 the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie presented her with the “Hommage au Talent” prize. It is important to note that as well as her own artistic work and her apprentices, she has also taught, including at the School of Applied Arts (EAA) in La Chaux-de-Fonds.

Various enamel colours

She started out solo in the 1980s, establishing her home studio in the countryside somewhere between Geneva and Lausanne in 1993. She now has three apprentices. During her long career she has experienced the dramatic rise in demand of the craft last two decades; from almost no takers to brands spending millions creating enamel timepieces. Back in the mid-1990s, Patek Philippe requested from Anita Porchet her first enamel dials. Then other Maisons followed. She became more skilled and more proficient, and over the years created an unique signature, as well as mastering a wide range of disciplines:

Champlevé - which consists of cutting away troughs or cells in a metal plate and filling the depressions with enamel. The raised metal lines between the cutout areas form the design outline.

Paillonné (Spangling) - which involves applying microscopic specks of gold leaf to the enamel

Cloisonné - a technique that allows the motif to be outlined with a gold wire finer than a hair’s breadth

Grisaille - a technique by which an image is executed entirely in shades of grey and usually severely modelled to create the illusion of sculpture

Limoges - white painting - using enamel very finely ground with heavy vegetable oils, which gives a very thick white paste. 

Dawn on the lake by Anita Porchet for Patek Philippe's175th anniversary

A Patek Philippe dome clock with cloisonne and paillone enamel

Some of her more challenging work included creating the ceiling of the Opéra Garnier on the Métiers d’Art Chagall & l’Opéra de Paris “Tribute to Famous Composers” for Vacheron Constantin, the reproduction of Judith by Gustav Klimt on a Patek Philippe pocketwatch involved a combination of techniques.  

Opéra Garnier on the Métiers d’Art Chagall & l’Opéra de Paris “Tribute to Famous Composers” for Vacheron Constantin

Porchet has achieved her consistent level of quality only after years of experimentation, and it can take up to a year to finish a complex dial. Each firing in the kiln can last between 30 to 90 seconds. Even if the timing is perfect, it is no guarantee the step WILL be successful. “Cracks on enamel do not all happen for the same reasons,” Porchet explains to Robb Report. “The origin of the cracks can come from the quality of the colour, from the thickness, or from the metal. I try to find a solution for each case, but it’s not always possible.” It is this skill, accumulation of experience over time, that makes Anita Porchet a master enameller, a title which I’m sure she will refuse.

*I mentioned the significance of Patek Philippe to the career of Anita Porchet. One of the first things that those new to Patek (and who are not native French speakers) learn is that the ‘émail’ on some dials does not refer to electronic mail but that it is the French word for enamel. Thus, an enameller is an ‘émailler’. 

Quick Look: Chanel Coco Clock

This recently popped up on one of my feeds and quite frankly, I was intrigued. Mind you, Chanel isn’t a brand that’s on my radar, and even though I was aware of their accomplishments in the watchmaking world, Chanel to me were handbags and perfumes, with the occasional lipstick thrown in the mix.

Now, dear readers, before your thumbs start tapping and drawing out the pitchfork emoticon, hear me out. Or rather, keep scrolling. 

I still remember quite fondly the time my colleague and I visited the flagship boutique at 31 Rue Cambon, because she wanted to buy the bag. I think it was the 2.55. To be honest I don’t remember this particular detail. They all look the same to me. Yes, iconic and unmistakably Chanel in black with quilted diamond pattern, but otherwise... Of course, who can forget the No.5 perfume? As someone who is not a keen disciple of the fashion industry, I think that pretty much covers it... 

Let’s get back to the topic at hand. When I saw this my interest piqued. What a wonderful and whimsical display! Such Playfulness. I needed to know more! But guess what? Clocks, being something less “commercial” today, it was surprisingly difficult to find any information of note to quench my thirst. What’s that you say? The official website? Sure. Have a look. It’s not exactly brimming with information on this particular item of whimsicality. Therefore i fired up Google, and let my fingers do the research.

Chanel J12 feat. Coco, Limited to 555 pieces each colour.

It appears that this caricature of Coco Chanel was first used to tell the time on the J12 ceramic watch back in 2017 (that I could find. Leave a comment below if I’m wrong), in a limited edition of 555 pieces per colour (well, black or white). They have brought her back in a table clock form this year. There was a different version of the clock previously featuring a dial inspired by her love of coromandel screens. The obsidian case is of course, inspired by the shape of the stopper on the perfume No.5, which in turn was directly inspired by the shape of Place Vendôme in Paris.

Chanel Coromandel Clock

Bird's eye view of Place Vendome

What I really wanted information on, and something that was difficult to come by, was the movement in the clock. From first glance it’s skeletonised mechanical movement, but it’s too large to be a watch movement, as my first instinct was that it was the Calibre 2, designed with the help from Romain Gauthier, in the shape inspired by a Camellia flower; a favourite of Coco’s. Upon further digging, I managed to find what i needed. The movement appears to have been designed by Chanel Creative Studio and produced by the famed L’Epee Manufacture. You know, the ones that do all the clock collabs with MB&F, not to mention some really cool clocks of their own. The dial features a playful caricature of Coco Chanel, complete in diamonds and pearls, with cloissone enamel by master enameller Anita Porchet.

Chanel Calibre 2 - in the shape of a Camellia flower

8 Day clock movement, designed by Chanel, produced by L'Epee

The other collab which is much more distinctively L’Epee, the Chronosphere, was more widely covered.

The Chronosphere, Collab with L'Epee

So there you have it. I’m sure I wasn’t the only one dying to know what was powering the mademoiselle clock. There’s gotta be at least another 1-2 of you out there. And in case you’re wondering why there was another Chanel related article, it was the search for this clock movement that led me to the whole Kenissi movement supplier, which was covered in the previous post.

Coco Clock Specs:

Dimensions: 110mm x 153mm x 61mm

Cased in Obsidian

18k gold base with 136 diamonds

18k gold ring with 305 diamonds

8 Day power reserve manual wind with winding key

LImited Edition of 10 pieces

Price: Approx. $756,000 AUD

Talking Shop: New Kids On The Block - Kenissi, Norqain, Fortis

When we talk about the major players in the Swiss watch movement manufacturing, certain names come immediately to mind - ETA is generally the first, mostly followed by Sellita (keeping in mind that Unitas and Valjoux are part ETA). However, there could soon be a third vying for attention, once their new factory is fully operational sometime in 2021-22.

If you guessed Kenissi, you’d be correct. If your reaction is “huh?” then keep reading.

Not much is known about Kenissi’s founder, only that the owner is an industrial supplier of sapphire crystal across the industry. It moved into movement manufacture, managed by Eric Yvon Pirson (head of Tudor), Jean-Paul Girardin (formerly of Breitling), and Philippe Jacques Dalloz. They are constructing a new movement production site (within a building that will be 150m long) in Le Locle, (home of Zenith, UN, Tissot, Mont Blanc and others) on land owned by Rolex, but with ownership shared between Tudor, Kenissi and Chanel.

Kenissi already produces movements for Tudor as their “Manufacture” movement, which debuted in the Tudor North Flag (2015), followed by Breitling in 2017, and then in a highly finished form for the new Chanel J12 in 2019. 

Tudor Manufacture Calibre

Breitling Calibre B20

The movement itself is well known, and the specs are nothing to sneeze at. It features a full balance bridge with two fixed points for added structural rigidity and shock resistance, COSC-certifiation, and with a very practical 70-hour power reserve. The GMT version features a jumping hour which allows the wearer to easily set the local time as well as changing the date backwards and forwards at any moment.

Chanel Calibre J12.1

The new ‘Manufacture’ will mean a massive increase in production capabilities and will allow ease of continued supplies to Tudor and Breitling as well as simultaneously expanding their client base, which already includes Norqain and more recently, Fortis. Given the trajectory, it is not farfetched to consider that more brands will look to Kenissi as a possible alternative to ETA/ Sellita, with Bell & Ross a strong contender to be next (possibly due to its Chanel connections).

Norqain Calibre NN20

Who is Norqain?

Norqain is an independent, family-operated business that was founded in 2018 by Ben Küffer (formerly of Breitling), who brought on his father, Marc Küffer, as Chairman of the Board. Marc was the owner and CEO of Swiss luxury watch producer Roventa-Henex (a private label watchmaker since 1959 - making watches for the likes of Farer), member of the Board of Directors of the Swiss Watch Industry Association for 25 years and also being on the board of Ulysses Nardin. Ted Schneider, from the family that owned Breitling for nearly 40 years, and Mark Streit, the Swiss ice hockey legend and Stanley Cup winner, are also part of the management and board. It also has close ties to Breitling via Kenissi in the form of Jean-Paul Girardin, who oversaw the development of Breitling’s manufacturing capacities, moving there after it was sold to CVC Capital in 2017. Norquain’s dedication to quality, design, and value for money quickly made it a favourite amongst industry insiders.

Fortis are still around?

Yes. They had financial difficulties back in 2017/ 2018, and were taken over by Jupp Philipp, who was a big fan of the brand, but with a background in the food industry. It took him nearly eight months to assess the company and analyse the business before signing on the dotted line in September 2018. Since then they have devised a roadmap for Fortis, and with Kenissi on board, they hope to develop the brand into a contender for the likes of Breitling, Tudor and IWC.

The attraction of the Swiss watch industry may be that of the shiny new products being released every year, but behind every flowery PR prose, there are not just the watchmakers that assemble the watches, the artists who decorate them, but also the parts suppliers, without whom there would be very few watches produced.

The possibility of a third significant player in movement supply is also interesting because it means more competition, and competition is always good for an industry, and this could possibly lead to better pricing. There is a lot of uncertainty in the watch industry at the moment, and there are also concerns about possible job losses in the coming 12 to 18 months, a firm who will probably be taking on more employees is also a welcome thing.

 

Quick Look: Patek Philippe Ref 6007A-001 Calatrava "Manufacture Limited Edition"

2020 so far has been a funny year. Not so much ha-ha funny mind you. I won't bore you with the details though, assuming if you're reading this, you already know full well what's happened...

And here we have Patek, launching a watch from the previous year (yes that's right. They even tell us so on the case back) meaning it has already gone up in value, given it's a steel, limited edition, casual dress/sports watch with a blue dial. 

Ref 6007A-001

The year has been so strange that even us, The Sydney Tarts, having lain dormant for the best part of errr... 5 years?? Felt it necessary to revitalise and re-energise, and resurrect ourselves and start posting again, as we are in a completely "unprecedented" times.

Enough of a tangent though. Let's get back to the watch. Patek is well known for saying that their clients do not actually own one and are merely temporary guardians until their offsprings can lay claim to the sound investment that is luxury watches and ideally sell it to fund further education or perhaps, more investments. And no doubt this watch will be an investment, as steel Calatravas aren't all that common, and this model is only limited to 1000 pieces.

New Manufacture 2019

A quick run down. The watch is 40mm. powered by calibre 324 (the PP equivalent to the JLC 899 or the ETA 2892-A2). It is automatic, so the shortish power reserve won't matter. But even then I do have doubts just how many of the 1000 pieces will actually be worn and how many will be safe queens, and become a part of an investment portfolio. It'll retail for the AUD equivalent of around about $42,000. that's considered a bargain by Patek standards. Trust me.

There are 3 hands, and a date at 3:00, complete with black numerals on white background. Hour markers and hands are lumed. Matte blue dial with the door to the Ninja Turtle's NYC abode as the central decoration. Thick bezel aids in the overall "balance" of the design, finished off with a blue strap and a pin buckle.

So, 1000 pieces worldwide. That can't be too difficult to come by, provided you have a spare $40k to spend post COVID-19, what with the pent-up urge to spend and such and such? Well, don't forget, this is Patek steel watch territory. Meaning it's not as easy as it sounds. Just because you have the dough doesn't mean you get to go...

Oh and yes. The watch celebrates a new Manufacture that they built in Plan-les-Ouates, Geneva, costing 600 million CHF. 10 floors all up; 4 underground. Brings all the crafts under the one roof. (a la Jaeger-LeCoultre and Zenith...) A restaurant for 880 guests, parking for 700 cars, 4 VIP lounges.

The New Patek Manufacture