⌚Seiko Goes Greek!

Seiko's amazing greek release, Citizen celebrates 100 years, and more!

Welcome watch nerds

This is Watch Bites, where we go through the watch world’s talking points faster than Rolex watches end up on the grey market. Today, we’re covering Seiko’s continental spread, Nevada Grenchen’s latest collaboration, and more!
🍿 5 min read

Here's what we got today:

  • Furlan Marri Reworks the Disco Volante 🕺

  • A Trio of Chiming Watches 🔔

  • An Unexpected Dutch Masterpiece 🇳🇱 

  • The Best Ever Vintage IWC Dress 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

Furlan Marri’s Disco Volante Collection Is Another Win

There’s no denying that Furlan Marri has embraced a strong design profile - few of their competitor’s pieces are as recognizable at a glance. This remains true for Furlan’s latest release, a stunning take on the Disco Volante style that bridges modernity and old-school cool with marvelous results.

If homage watches aren’t your thing, stop reading now as Furlan Marri is clearly (and unapologetically) a brand that takes great pride in paying respect to yesteryear’s most important timepieces. Their Disco Volante (‘flying saucer’, for those of you who haven’t given your lives to Duolingo) is a great example of honoring the old world in a new way. Concentric rising rings form the perfectly round case which, at 38mm wide and with ‘hidden’ lugs and a recessed crown, sits well on all but the beefiest wrists. There’s no doubt that the highlight here is the four-part dial, segmented by Arabic numerals and a sub-seconds dial. Available in three colors - ocean blue, olive green, and cigar brown - there’s something for almost every taste, although the Havana Disco, with its salmon and brown hues, is a standout that matches effortlessly with both the caramel and brown straps that are included in its $2,775 price tag. Under all of that rests the Peseux 7001, a manually-wound mechanical movement that, despite its relative obscurity, offers fantastic value and reliability.

With all of that said, this comes down to one thing - whether this style suits you. The issue with a watch like FM’s Disco Volante is that its owner needs to match it in charisma or character, otherwise it just feels out of place. Then again, isn’t that a mark of iconic watch design?

A Greek-Inspired Prospex Proves That Seiko Still Rules

As Grand Seiko has just announced new pieces exclusive to the US market, it’s only right to highlight Seiko’s latest European exclusive, the SPB473(J1), an update of the brand’s highly-esteemed SPB143. While previous updates (I’m looking at you, SPB453) trended away from the original’s specs by downsizing the case and shifting the date window to a diagonal 4:30 position, this new model sees a return to the 40.5mm case and a big, 3 o’clock date window. Seiko’s mid-level automatic calibre 6R35 is nested behind the faded oceanic dial and it’s interesting to note that there’s a manual-winding function, for those of you who like the ASMR aspect of winding a timepiece.

The dial itself is inspired by the vibrant and endlessly transparent blue seas surrounding the Greek island of Zakynthos and if I do say so myself, it’s one of the most eye-catching dials I’ve seen from Seiko in a long time. Naturally, it’s at home in the water, with 200 meters of water resistance and a multidirectional rotating bezel. Needless to say, this is a no-brainer for entry-level summer luxury at $1,750. The ultimate upside of going through the extra trouble of obtaining a Europe-only ticker is that you’re not likely to see one anywhere else in the world. Limited to just 1,000 pieces, there’s no reason not to set your VPN to France and order one of these ASAP. Plus, you get free culture points for buying your watch in Europe!

Watch Fact

After multiple watch sponsorships for the filming of American Psycho fell through due to the graphic nature of the story, Rolex finally agreed to step up and put a timepiece on the lead character’s wrist but only if producers promised he would never wear it during any violent scenes.

3-Watch Collection

3 Watch Collection: Alarm Edition

Believe it or not, Apple did not invent the alarm, as many iPhone owners think. In fact, alarms date back to a time before phones were even invented. It’s painful to think about, I know but here’s something to make that all better - a trio of the best timepieces with an alarm complication or function.

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Minute Repeater Supersonnerie (Sport watch) - There are really only two kinds of Royal Oaks - loud and quiet. And this Supersonnerie is the latter, despite the remarkable complexity of its inner workings. While its the ‘Grand Tapisserie’ dial, sub seconds dial, and titanium case that initially demand your attention, its the purity of this watch’s alarm tone that you’re really paying $200,000 for.

Patek Philippe Grand Complications 6301P (Dress watch) - Few watches can truly make you feel like royalty and this is undoubtedly one of them. From its hallmark gong tone and timing to the impeccable movement that commands it, you can be sure that every nanometer of this $350,000 watch represents the pinnacle of watchmaking.

Blancpain Villeret Répétition Minutes (Everyday watch) - One of the most modest yet endearingly beautiful mechanical alarm watches of all time, this Blancpain represents a classical line of watchmaking that’s defined by little more than good taste. As each of these Villeret’s is a piece unique, the $300,000 price tag shouldn’t come as a surprise…

Total Collection Cost (USD): $850,000

Watch News Bites

Quick Bites

  • An unexpected limited edition collaboration between Exquisite Timepieces and Nevada Grenchen just dropped. Based on Nivada’s 39mm White Pacman Depthmaster, this piece is just as capable (and at least twice as handsome) as its forebear.

  • Citizen just turned 100 years old and to celebrate a century of success, the Japanese giant held a breathtaking exhibition in new York’s Greenwich Village, where they announced the release of a fittingly classy commemorative pocket watch.

  • Grand Seiko is once again treating its US customers, this time with a pair of US-exclusive Spring Drive watches. Grand Seiko’s typically textured dials are undeniably eye-catching homages to the ever-changing sky over the company’s local body of water, Lake Suwa.

  • The Dutch independent Holthinrichs has just announced a new haute horlogerie collection, spearheaded by the immaculately-sculpted Ornament Nouveau. Check these guys out if you’re bored of staring at the same old watches.


  • Is Anton Suhanov’s Chronotope the new best thing in bespoke watchmaking? I can’t be sure but I have a strong feeling that we’re going to see a lot more of these design elements from now on…

Vintage Watches

IWC Dress Cream Cal. 89 (1954)

Why It’s Worth It: I never thought I’d say the words “You need a vintage IWC dress watch”, yet here we are. This overlooked gem is understated in all of the right ways while carrying enough charm to win over even the coldest of hearts. With a 35mm x 9.45mm stainless steel case, a cream dial, and golden alpha hands, the best versions of this old dog have developed a unique creamy-brown patina over time. Think of it as nature’s ‘1 of 1 clause’, if you will - a special advantage of owning a watch that’s 70 years old.

Pre-Owned Watch Deals

Watch Scout by Watch Bites


Oris Aquis Bico Cal 400

  • Case: Stainless Steel, 41.5mm

  • Condition: Very good

  • Box & Papers: Papers included


Breitling Navitimer B01
  • Case: Stainless steel, 43mm

  • Condition: Near mint

  • Box & Papers: No

Jaeger LeCoultre Polaris Mariner Memovox

  • Case: Stainless Steel, 42mm

  • Condition: Excellent

  • 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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