⌚Watch Rules 101 + More!

Watch rules, dragon watches, Miami's vintage watch show and more!

Welcome watch nerds

This is Watch Bites. This week, we’re crying over the surreal beauty of a Glashütte, questioning the validity of ‘watch rules’, and more, so check your wrist, fix your posture, and let’s get into it!
🍿 5 min read

Here's what we got today:

  • The Year of The Dragon Approaches… 🐉

  • Watch rules are totally bogus 🚫

  • Zenith goes blue and we’re happy with it

  • The ultimate military watch collection 🎖

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

Listen, There Are No Rules To Watch Collecting.

Do a web search on ‘watch collecting’ or a similar prompt and you’re 100% likely to come across several articles claiming the ultimate guide to watch collecting.

“Never buy watches as an investment” is a common trope. Likewise, “Don’t buy the first watch you like” is often found on various sites. The truth is, as anyone with any sense/experience knows, that the very idea of rules in such an emotional game is borderline idiotic. The whole point of watch collecting is to please yourself (and yes, for most some, that means pleasing others) and by choosing a timepiece that ticks that box, you’ve already won. Throw money away if you want to. Shun a good deal later for gratification now. Wear a gaudy masterpiece if it makes you happy. Hell, wear a watch that doesn’t even work if that’s what gets you going. There are enough rules to remember day-to-day, so why the heck anyone should adhere to arbitrary rules about something so subjective?

Wear what you want. Flex it hard. Screw anyone who says otherwise! As the great Abraham Lincoln (probably) once said… f*ck em!

The Year Of The Dragon Brings Good Fortune…And Watches

All across the Orient, people are gearing up for the advent of the Year of The Dragon, arguably the biggest yearly event in the East.

To mark the occasion, a huge number of watchhouses have released special edition tickers, some of which are particularly ‘loud’ (I’m looking at you, B&R), while others tread the fine line between character and charm, such as IWC and TAG Heuer. For many Westerners, the Oriental New Year barely registers, meaning these releases are just aesthetically interesting variations of watches we know and love, such as TAG’s Carrera and JLC's Reverso. And while you might not celebrate the new year in February, you could be so into Game of Thrones that a $100,000+ Les Cabinotiers Vacheron Constantin is just what you’ve been waiting for.

Regardless, for watch geeks from Baltimore to Beijing, there’s plenty of eye candy to behold and some unbelievable craftsmanship to boot, for which we should all be thankful. Plus, dragons are just pretty damn cool, right?

Watch Fact

The Seiko Astron was the first GPS solar watch ever, with satellite-tracked time zone adjustment, recognizing 39 time zones. It even has airplane mode!

3-Watch Collection

3 Watch Collection: Armed Forces Edition

It doesn’t take a genius to recognize the military's influence on watchmaking over the years. From pilot’s watches to field tickers, here’s an unbeatable trio of watches for the soldier in you.

Blancpain Fifty Fathoms No Rad (Sport watch) -  First issued to the German Navy in 1960, this limited-edition diver hosts a colorful radioactive symbol above 6 o’clock. At $16,000, the watch is more than just a fun-looking ticker, it’s the peak of Swiss watchmaking, with a 1151 automatic movement, 300m water resistance, and a 100-hour power reserve.

Hamilton Khaki Field Murph 38mm (Dress watch) - Sure, this $895 high-flyer is technically not a dress watch, but in almost every setting it passes as one thanks to an uncluttered dial, 38mm case, and classic shape. There’s little to argue with here and let’s be real - if it’s good enough for Matthew McConaughey’s astronaut in Interstellar, it’s damn well good for us Earth-bound bums.

Casio DW-6900MS-1 (Everyday watch) - No military watch list would be complete without a Casio and of all the chunky Casios, the fattest, baddest one is surely this all-black, always-ready, 6900 series watch. Packed with features and almost literally impossible to break, it’s perfect for everyday wear and wants nothing more than to be put to the test. Oh, and it only costs a touch above $100.

Total Collection Cost (USD): $17,000

Watch News Bites

Quick Bites

  • Nivada Grenchen’s recycled Depthmaster is an ultra-limited run of just 10 divers that make good use of old stock movements and uniquely-blemished dials. ‘Interesting’ is an understatement.

  • This year’s Original Miami Beach Antique Show saw crazy vintage watches go on sale, including a sexy Vacheron chronograph and a John Player Daytona that even your grandma would mug you for.

  • If you asked for a fresh pair of blue-faced Zenith Pilots, your wish has been answered in absolute style.

  • The do-it-all, high-end German watch that your wallet hates to love is likely the only timepiece you’ll ever need. If only you could get your hands on this Glashütte without having to go full Ocean’s Eleven…

Pre-Owned Watch Deals

Watch Scout by Watch Bites


Nomos Club Campus

  • Case: Steel, 38mm

  • Condition: Very good

  • Box & Papers: Yes, box and papers included


Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra GoodPlanet
  • Case: Titanium, 38.5mm

  • Condition: Great

  • Box & Papers: Yes, box and papers included

H. Moser & Cie. Pioneer Centre Seconds

  • Case: Steel, 42.8mm

  • Condition: Very good

  • 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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