⌚IWC goes insane!?

IWC's wacky new watch, Unimatic's best release, Parmigiani's 200k watch, and more!

Welcome watch nerds

This is Watch Bites, where we wrap up weekly watch insights quicker than you can wind up your vintage Omega. This week, we’re talking about IWC’s innovative new watch material and breaking open the piggy bank for the latest Parmigiani Fleurier.
🍿 5 min read

Here's what we got today:

  • Platinum tickers a-plenty 🏦

  • A banging new Unimatic collaboration 🇮🇹

  • Seiko’s game-changing high-beat ticker 💴

  • Serica drops another brilliant watch 👀

The numbers above represent market trends in secondhand watch prices. The “Price“ column represents the average secondhand price for the top 30 watches of each brand. This data is sourced from Watch Charts.

Watch News

IWC Announces Their Innovative Luminous Ceramic

With news that sounds as though it’s straight out of a superhero movie, IWC has announced their latest development in watchmaking technology - Ceralume. IWC’s engineering arm, XPL, developed this ground-breaking material, which stated that this jump in ceramic tech enables them to build a fully luminous ceramic watch case for the first time. By blending ceramic powders with high concentrations of Super-LumiNova pigments, the evil scientists at IWC have cracked the enigma code in luminous innovation, something that Bell & Ross are undoubtedly jealous of, given their all-too-recent release of a similar but less glowingly-impressive BR-X5 Green LUM watch.

Their novel Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 is constructed from a hybrid ceramic material proven (according to the company’s reports) to “emit a bright blueish light for more than 24 hours”. It doesn’t end there, though - the rubber strap has also been infused with luminous pigments and of course, the entire dial glows in the dark, making this a veritable bat signal for IWC geeks, even on the blackest of nights. Although Ceralume isn’t available to the average punter just yet, images of Lewis Hamilton wearing a test piece are doing the rounds, prompting hopes that the nightlight-slash-wristwatch will materialize en masse soon!

The New Parmigiani Fleurier Chronograph is Simply Amazing

Most commonly associated with the British Royal Family, thanks to a long-standing partnership (read: sponsorship) with King Charles, Parmigiani Fleurier is one of few luxury brands that maintain an air of marvellous mystique. Their latest release, the Toric Chronograph Rattrapante is another watch in a run of watches to induce heart palpitations due to its near-unparalleled beauty.

Built out of 18kt rose gold, it’s a testament to the sublime finish of the watch that the dial is the most eye-catching aspect of this build. Technically named “grené main” (hand-grained), the softly-textured dial feels like a greenish-umber blanket of the finest fabric, punctuated by rose gold and subtly subdivided by tiny numberless indices. The almost complete absence of numerals on the watch is part of what makes it so attractive - there are 11 numeric markers in total, all of which appear in the chronographic sub-dials. 

Of course, the Toric’s Calibre PF361 is nothing to be scoffed at, with 65 hours of power reserve, 285 components, and a hi-beat frequency of 5 Hz. Moreover, the movement’s double-column wheel construction can be viewed through the open caseback, for those who like to look at the underside side of a watch more than its face. The only downside for some is the general dimensions of the case, being slightly large for its time at 42.5mm wide and 14.4mm thick. With that being said, if you can afford this $150,000 beauty, I’m sure its slight chunkiness will be the last thing on your mind.

Watch Fact

In 2006, a Japanese brand, MUSK, released an ‘experimental’ timepiece designed to define the limit of wearability for large watches. At a whopping 90mm in diameter, the MUSK MR2129 looks every bit as ridiculous as you’d expect and thankfully, it’s no longer in production.

3-Watch Collection

3 Watch Collection: Platinum Edition

Less flashy than gold but more unique than silver or steel, Platinum has grown in popularity among watchmakers over recent years, mostly because it’s bloody gorgeous. Here’s a solid collection of Platinum tickers for all of the stealth-wealth watch warriors.

Omega Seamaster 300 (Sport watch) - This Omega sure is modest for a watch worth $54,700 and that’s its greatest strength. As blue as blue can be, the Seamaster 300 in platinum is a quietly intriguing, vintage-inspired diver that hides its ample strengths beneath a beautifully simple dial. There’s probably no better platinum diver for minimalists out there.

Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse 5738P (Dress watch) - Not quite round, not exactly square, Patek’s self-winding 5738P is a stunningly simple dress watch that’s even more understated for being cast out of Platinum. The secret, of course, is that it’s worth at least $60,000, thanks to an 18k gold dial plate and ultra-thin Caliber 240 movement. It’s 100% guaranteed to turn the right heads and catch the most discerning eyes.

Rolex Oyster Perpetual Day-Date 40 (Everyday watch) - The 228236 Day-Date is a poster child for easy-wearing platinum timepieces. Rolex’s unwavering use of 950 platinum (a very high metal grading) across the case and president bracelet makes this watch a must-have for fans of the model and the metal. And at $70,000, you do have to love this ‘noble metal’ to justify its cost.

Total Collection Cost (USD): $184,700

Watch News Bites

Quick Bites

  • Maurice Lacroix has ended a run of goofy-looking Aikons with an undeniably attractive model in the Aikon Automatic Bronze. An integrated leather strap and brushed bronze? Sign me up.

  • To celebrate the 20th birthday of their Tokyo boutique, F.P. Journe has released an awe-inspiring, multi-material Chronographe FB with a new movement that includes a very satisfying flyback function.

  • Parisian micro-brand Serica has another hit with their new 6190 M.S.L. Chronometer. Available in black, white, and grey, this ticker proves yet again that Serica can do no wrong.

  • Unimatic has teamed up with Exquisite Timepieces to create what may be the Italian firm’s most impressive collaboration to date. Limited to 150 pieces, this titanium diver is totally sporty and endlessly wearable.


  • The Citizen, a new watch from one of Asia's largest manufacturers, is uniquely Japanese thanks to its Washi paper dial. I wonder how durable a paper dial can be but thankfully, this one is protected by a full titanium build.

Vintage Watches

Seiko Lord Marvel 36000

Why It’s Worth It: Aside from being a great-looking watch that's finished with quintessential vintage elements, Seiko’s (epically-named) Lord Marvel holds a special place in horological history as the first-ever mass-produced true hi-beat mechanical timepiece. Following Girard Perregaux, the Japanese giant doubled the beats per hour within a watch, taking it from 18,000 to 36,000. Unlike Perregaux, however, Seiko made the innovative movement available to the general public and watches have never been the same since!

Pre-Owned Watch Deals

Watch Scout by Watch Bites


Cartier Calibre De Cartier W7100056

  • Case: Stainless steel, 42mm

  • Condition: Good

  • Box & Papers: Box included, no papers


Panerai 1323 Submersible GMT Navy Seals Limited Edition
  • Case: Stainless steel, 44mm

  • Condition: Excellent

  • Box & Papers: Yes, box and papers included

Vacheron Constantin Overseas

  • Case: Stainless steel, 41mm

  • Condition: Near mint

  • Box & Papers: Yes, box and papers included

Watch Meme

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*Watch Bites does not provide financial advice. None of this is financial advice. This is strictly educational and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any financial decisions. Please be careful and do your own research!

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