Category: News

1962 Jaguar E-Type, Estimate £250,000

One of the most iconic cars in British history, the E-Type is a genuine piece of motoring heritage worth owning, if you ever get the opportunity. This 1962 version is a 3.8 litre coupé being sold at the Silverstone Festival Auction this August. It has full FIA/HTP papers, meaning that it can compete in events straight away, giving you the perfect reason to get out on track and enjoy the racing season.

More details at Silverstone Auctions.

The Little Car Company Baby II

Bugatti turns 110 this year and to celebrate, The Little Car Company – makers of some of the best toys for petrolheads ever conceived – have worked with Bugatti to develop the Baby II, a 75% scale, fully-electric reincarnation of the iconic Bugatti Type 35. Impeccably hand-built on a made-to-order basis (meaning plenty of customisation options), it’s a strictly limited edition of 500 cars worldwide. Yes, it’s a toy, but it’s one that can still hit top speeds of 42mph with multiple driving models, so you might want to keep an eye out if you let your kids take it out for a spin around the garden.

To discover more, contact sales@thelittlecar.co

Pullman Editions 1955 Monaco Grand Prix Poster, from £420

Pullman Editions’ vintage style posters recapture the glamour and suspense of a bygone era, and in no poster is that more evident than this ode to the Monaco Grand Prix. Racers tearing past the legendary Hotel Monte Carlo with a view of the Côte d’Azur in the background, it’s part travel inspiration and part nostalgic flashback to the early days of motor racing. Either way it’s the perfect gift for any classic petrolhead.

More details at Pullman Editions.

McLaren 765LT V8, £379,995

There’s nothing sexier than an orange McLaren and in its signature Elite Paint Ember Orange colour, this McLaren 765LT V8 is one of the most stunning modern hyper- cars around. It’s inspired by the legendary McLaren F1 GTR Longtail – a car that is itself worth about $20 million. Its modern counterpart doesn’t have quite such a big price tag, although it’s still an impressive £379,995. It’s powered by a 4.0 litre twin- turbo V8 with a top speed of 205mph.

More details at Amari Supercars.

1939 Talbot Lago T120

The Talbot Lago T120 is the kind of car that can’t help but put a smile on your face when you see it dashing around a country lane or taking part in vintage sports-car championships. This is one of only two T120s created, designed as a replica of the formidable T150 Tourist Trophy Sports, making it exceptionally rare. This car has a well-documented history dating back all the way to 1939 when it was gifted as payment to a racing driver, since then it has gone on to become a successful racing car in its own right, competing in endurance rallies and road tours.

More details at Tom Hardman.

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The Laureato’s seen much the same highs and lows as the big players on this list, just taken down a notch in actual value, which makes sense. Girard-Perregaux’s integrated sports watch has all the same ingredients without the prestige. Still good over three years; not great over 12 months.

Date
Opening Price (£)
Closing Price (£)
Price Change (£)
Price Change (%)

1 Year (Aug 2022 – July 2023)
£12,635
£9,567
– £3,068
– 24.28%

3 Years (Aug 2020 – July 2023)
£7,026
£9,567
+ £2,541
+ 36.17%

*Statistics accurate at time of writing article using WatchAnalytics.

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G-Shock China just listed a new Mudmaster GWG-2000 colorway that is also expected to be released worldwide. The GWG-2000CR-1A has a black and gray mud and earth-like camouflage design on the stainless steel bezel and band. Some of these markings extend to the numerical hour markers and dial of the watch. Based on a previously […]

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There’s a lot of nuance to consider when it comes to collecting Rolexes. If you’re looking at vintage models then you’ll find that the desirability of particular references, dials and bracelets can differ wildly from what you may expect. Fortunately, if you’re buying a new or recent Rolex, you don’t need to worry yourself about tropical dials, the more important thing is what bracelet you’re going to get it on. The three main Rolex bracelets are the Jubilee, Oyster and President bracelets, along with the hybrid Oysterflex, so let’s take a look at their history, design and which Rolex models they’re available on.

Oyster Bracelet

Flat, three-link bracelets are some of the most common designs when it comes to metallic bracelets and that makes a lot of sense. They’re simultaneously sporty and elegant as they’re relatively understated while also being very practical and easy to wear. In many regards, they are the baseline bracelet that all others are compared to, which is particularly true of the Rolex Oyster bracelet as it’s one of Rolex’s oldest bracelet designs.

The Oyster dates back to the 1930s, a time period where it was rare for watchmakers to manufacture their own straps and bracelets – most watches were sold without straps, which had to be bought separately. As such, the original bracelet that would come to be known as the Oyster wasn’t made by Rolex but a well-known manufacture called Gay Fréres. A specialist who went on to supply bracelets for Patek Philippe and Audemars Piguet and who still exist today – now with Rolex as its parent company.

Early iterations of the Oyster pre-empted what would come to define many of Rolex’s most popular designs. It was sporty, tactile, durable and stylish. Over the years the design has been updated several times with the main focus being the end links that connect it to the lugs or clasp, which have changed shape to be more ergonomic and resilient. As one of Rolex’s most versatile bracelet, it’s also offered with the widest selection of clasps including the Glidelock for divers, Easylink rapid extension and Fliplock.

The Rolex Oyster bracelet is available on:

Submariner
Yacht-Master
Explorer
Daytona
Sky-Dweller
Air-King
GMT-Master II
Datejust
Oyster Perpetual

Jubilee Bracelet

The Jubilee bracelet first emerged in 1945 so while it’s technically younger than the Oyster, it’s still a venerable design with plenty of history. It’s a five-link piece with slightly broader external links that flank the middle three. This construction makes it particularly versatile when it comes to materials it looks good in as the smaller links makes it feel more elegant, meaning gold and bi-colour suits it really well.

The Jubilee is intrinsically linked to Rolex heritage, being specifically designed for the Oyster Perpetual Datejust. The Datejust rides the line between sporty and refined and so the Jubilee was designed to compliment both aspects of its personality. Although early models suffered from issues like stretching that made them bad for rigorous activities – modern Jubilees don’t suffer this to anywhere near the same extent. As for the clasp, it’s equipped with the standard Oysterclasp.

The Rolex Jubilee bracelet is available on:

Datejust
GMT-Master II

President Bracelet

One of the most distinctive of Rolex’s bracelets is the President. It first appeared in 1956 alongside the earliest Oyster Perpetual Day-Dates, a model that quickly earned the moniker “Rolex President” after it became the favoured watch of several White House residents. The Day-Date is arguably Rolex’s most classical dress watch and as such is typically presented in precious metal. Hence, precious metals are also a mainstay of the President bracelet.

In terms of style, the President is also a three-link piece like the Oyster but is instantly recognisable thanks to the prominent semi-circle shape of its links. In some regards it’s almost a Jubilee-Oyster hybrid. What really makes it special though is zooming out and looking at the whole piece rather than the individual links because together they create a rolling pattern of hills and valleys that looks eminently more luxurious than the flat Oyster. Adding to that luxury is the use of the concealed crownclasp that is very subtle on the wrist.

The Rolex President bracelet is available on:

Day-Date
Datejust

Oysterflex

A short twist at the end of the tale is the existence of the Oysterflex bracelet. Typically, the term bracelet applies to metallic watch bands while we apply the term strap to alternative materials such as leather, fabric and rubber. Considering that the exterior of the Oysterflex is rubber you might think that it’s a strap but in reality, there are metal components too, making it a hybrid. Specifically, there are two metal blades around which the elastomer exterior is moulded over, giving the bracelet strength while retaining flexibility.

The Rolex Oysterflex’s hybrid nature makes it difficult to define – not fully bracelet but not fully strap either. What is certain is that it’s very comfortable and the perfect fit for Rolex’s sporty models like the Yacht-Master, Daytona and Sky-Dweller. It’s something of an interesting coincidence that in those three collections the Oysterflex is master of land, sea and air. It can be equipped with Rolex’s sporty clasps like the Glidelock.

The Rolex Oysterflex bracelet is available on:

Yacht-Master
Daytona
Sky-Dweller

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Two new Pro Trek PRG-601 models with Tough Solar power and the Triple Sensor were released in the United States before anywhere else. These models feature a cloth band that is made from recycled plastic bottles and equipped with a quick-release lever. The PRG601YB-2 has a blue ion plated stainless steel bezel, blue dial, and […]

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I’m not going to pretend to be a baseball fan, the most of a game I’ve ever watched was in a Simpsons episode. But even then, it’s impossible not to be aware of the greats of the game like Babe Ruth, who held the home run record for over 40 years, and the man who eventually took that record off him, Hank Aaron. Oris have teamed up with the Hank Aaron Chasing the Dream Foundation to celebrate this American legend’s legacy with the new Oris Big Crown Pointer Date Hank Aaron Limited Edition.

To give the brief biography, Hank joined the baseball world in 1951 at a time when the sport was still segregated, meaning he had to play in the Negro Leagues. However, his immense skill saw him rapidly pull down boundaries and by 1954 he was recruited to Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Milwaukee Braves (later the Atlanta Braves). Twenty years later in 1974 he finally surpassed Babe Ruth’s longstanding record with his 715th home run – finishing his career in 1976 with 755. Following retirement, he created the Chasing the Dream Foundation with the aim of providing grants and scholarships to 755 children, one for each home run. To date, the number of children helped is over 800.

I think it’s important to give context to this special edition because it’s not immediately obvious from the front of the watch that the piece is connected to Hank or that it’s a special edition at all. The case is classic Big Crown, featuring a flowing, round shape in stainless steel at a diameter of 40mm with a fluted bezel giving it a retro aviation aesthetic. There’s also the titular big crown at 3 o’clock, designed for easy use while wearing flight gloves.

When you look at the dial you get your first hint of the baseball connection, but it’s pretty subtle. The red, white and blue colourway is an homage to the uniform worn by the Atlanta Braves. The red numerals with blue outlines is the same style used by the text on the team logo, although the typography doesn’t match. Of course, if you don’t know your MLB teams, it’s just a fun colourway that has the distinct flavour of Americana even if you can’t quite place why.

However, as with the majority of special editions, the caseback reveals the truth plain and simple. It has an engraving of Hank Aaron in his signature batting pose and the inscription “Hank Aaron Limited Edition” above his head and the limited edition number below. Since we’re talking about it, the model is limited to 2,297 pieces, which is Hank’s career Runs Batted In (RBI) statistic, a record number that still stands.

There is one more nod to the world of baseball to be found on this watch and it’s actually the strap. It’s a blue leather number with white stitching in the same style as the stitching found on a catcher’s mitt. It’s another brilliant example of making a thematic design choice that will make fans of the sport happy while also looking completely natural on a watch. There’s also a second strap that comes with the set, a NATO in team colours.

On the inside, the watch houses the Oris 754 automatic movement with 38-hour power reserve. It’s not Oris’ most impressive calibre being a base Sellita SW200 movement, especially in comparison to the recent Calibre 473 model, but it’s use here is no surprise as it’s standard for the Big Crown Pointer Date.

While it shares the same movement as the core collection steel pointer dates at 40mm on leather strap, the Hank Aaron Limited Edition does cost a fair bit more. It’s £1,950 compared to £1,600. But that £350 extra gets you an additional strap, a commemorative caseback, a cool colourway and a commemorative watch box. So, I think the value adds up pretty well. Additionally, all previous winners of the Hank Aaron Award will be gifted one of the 2,297 pieces, so the public availability is actually much lower than it seems – round about 1,500, – making it very exclusive.

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Fears Watch Company is one of the biggest success stories in British watchmaking across the past few years. A heritage revival brand that is going from strength to strength, so much so that last year they opened their flagship showroom in Bristol, the brand’s traditional home city. With the showroom approaching its one-year anniversary, now is the perfect time to launch a pair of Fears Brunswick Boutique Editions that are exclusively available from the showroom and Fears Owners’ Club.

The two Boutique Editions take the form of the Brunswick 38mm and Brunswick 40mm with new Mallard Green dials. As you might be able to guess from the name of the colour, Mallard Green is inspired by the green-blue colour of a mallard drake duck’s head. As one of the most prevalent birds in the British countryside it feels like a suitably patriotic colour from the brand that produced watches for both the Jubilee and Coronation. Fears have also announced that future core models will receive boutique editions in Mallard Green.

Zooming in on the dials of these watches, we see that the Brunswick 38mm features sunray brushed finishing across both the main dial and small seconds subdial. The Brunswick 40mm also features a sunburst pattern but it doesn’t appear to have quite such a high sheen and is more matte. There’s also the difference in that the 40mm has central hours, minutes and seconds, lacking any form subdial but balancing that out by having a slightly raised disc for the hour scale. Picking between the two is really a matter of personal taste. Both are solid.

As the Fears Brunswick Boutique Editions are essentially exclusive colourways, the cases and movements of the watches will be familiar to anyone who knows the collections already. But it’s still worth recapping them quickly for those discovering Fears for the first time. The Brunswick 38mm has a stainless steel case in a cushion shape measuring 38mm x 38mm presented on an Alcantara strap and housing the top-grade ETA 7001 manual movement with 40-hour power reserve. The Brunswick 40mm has the same case at a 40mm sizing, is presented on a five-link steel bracelet and houses the ETA 2824-2 automatic with 40-hour power reserve.

It’s worth noting that while these are exclusive to the Fears Bristol Showroom and the online Fears Owners’ Club, they’re not limited editions. That means there will be continuous production and anyone who wants to buy one will be able to do so by taking a trip to Bristol. The asterisk of them also being available to the Fears Owners’ Club is so that international fans have a viable route to purchasing one as well. In terms of price, they’re exactly the same as their core collection equivalents – £3,350 for the 38mm and £3,750 for the 40mm.

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Mühle-Glashütte are a German watch brand that often slides under the radar here at Oracle Time, which is something that needs to change because they make some great watches. Previously we’ve only really covered the S.A.R Rescue Timer, however, if you peer into some of their other collections there are some real hidden gems waiting to be discovered. Watches like the Mühle-Glashütte 29er Big, which has just been expanded with two new aquatic colourways.

The name 29er is a reference to a particular class of sailing boat, a two-person high performance skiff that’s used in junior racing. Juniors who do well in the 29er often graduate to the Olympic class 49er. How that translates to the wristwatch is that it’s designed for use around (not necessarily in) the water with 100m water resistance.

Additionally, the 42.4mm case rides the line between casual and sporty, being equally at home relaxing in the sun as it is engaged in the frenetic activity of a race. The case itself is round but what makes it very distinctive are the straight lugs that are surprisingly broad and flat with angled ends – when paired with a bracelet they make the piece look much squarer than it actually is. Completing the design are the sapphire crystal, pronounced crown guards and combination of brushed and polished finishing across the metal surfaces.

In terms of the new colourways, they’re very light and summer ready. The first has a lovely sand colour dial with a darker blue flange around the periphery paired with steel applied indices, steel hour and minute hands and a red seconds hand. Whether you’re out on a boat, chilling in the club house or lazing on the beach, the colours here are perfect.

Second up is the pacific blue edition. It’s a touch more vibrant and daring than its counterpart with a pale blue dial and petrol blue flange, both of which really contrast to the seconds hand and make it stand out. This one feels more energetic, it wants to go out and be adventurous, to take part in those races – although the 29er Chronograph models might be more practical in that regard.

Below the surface and visible through the exhibition caseback is the Sellita SW 200-1 automatic movement with Mühle-Glashütte modifications. Those modifications include the obligatory branded rotor but also an upgraded woodpecker neck regulator that helps to improve the accuracy and reliability to a very nice -0/+8 seconds per day. It also has a very reasonable 41-hour power reserve.

Both versions are available on a choice of three-link steel bracelet or canvas strap in either blue or brown depending on the reference. My favourite combination is the sandy dial on blue canvas. Regardless which you prefer, the two new watches are the most colourful in the entire 29er Big range and I love that they’re a little bolder and more fun. I also expect them to share the same price as the existing models at €1,750 on bracelet or €1,600 on canvas (approx. £1,500/£1,370).

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While it might be the 60th anniversary of the Carrera, Tag Heuer have by no means forgotten about what is arguably their most famous chronograph, the Monaco. The square shape, matching square subdials and signature racing livery colourways make it supremely attractive and collectible. Now, Tag Heuer has unveiled the latest special edition, the Monaco Racing Blue, celebrating the motorsport heritage of France.

If you take a look back at the history of racing livery, the ethos regarding what colours should be used has changed over time. In modern racing most cars feature team or sponsor colours but going further back, cars tended to feature their national colours. That’s where we get British racing green, Italian red and German silver from. For France though, their national colour is a vibrant blue as seen on historic racers like the Bugatti Type 35 and at the Circuit Paul Ricard – it’s this shade of blue that the Monaco Racing Blue is inspired by.

As such, the bi-compax chronograph subdials (consisting of small seconds and a 30-minute timer) are bright blue. A colour that is matched by the perforated leather strap and blue dot hour markers. It’s an interesting choice to have the primary colour of the watch be present on relatively small portions of the display rather than across the entire dial, which would emphasise the colour more, at least on paper. However, by concentrating the blue into specific areas its vibrancy is more apparent – preventing it from becoming either diluted or overpowering if the whole dial was the same colour.

As is, the rest of the dial is sunray brushed silver, giving the piece a quasi-industrial vibe. Although maybe I’m just thinking industrial in a building worksite sense because of the hi-vis yellow chronograph hand in the centre and yellow baton marker at 12 o’clock. To my understanding there’s no thematic reason for the yellow, it’s just a colour that compliments the blue and adds an extra layer of vibrancy, which it does very well.

Outside of the new dial, there’s not too much more going on that we haven’t seen before. A 39mm square case in blasted titanium provide plenty of light weight durability and inside it houses the Calibre 11 Automatic. The Calibre 11 is base Sellita SW300-1 a with a 40-hour power reserve and hour, minute, chronograph seconds, small seconds, 30-minute timer and date complications.

For me, the most exciting thing about the Tag Heuer Monaco Racing Blue is what it implies might be coming in future, particularly because they’ve already released the Racing Red Skeleton. If they were ever to release a Racing Green edition in celebration of British racing green, I would fall over myself trying to get one – much as I imagine the French are excited by the Racing Blue. Although with only 1,000 pieces available, getting hold of one might be tricky. But then again, at a price of £8,050 it is one of the most expensive non-skeleton Monacos available currently.

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The G-Shock DW-5600KUA22-1 is the latest G-Shock release that is exclusive to China, at least for the time being. The theme of this model is reminiscent of the Tokyo Music Night Series, and is inspired by the laser lights used at dance parties, concerts, and night clubs. The laser-inspired patterns on the face and band […]

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