In between the publication of our Summer issue and the one you are holding, the horological world found itself enthralled by something you are or were no doubt tracking. To be fair, I am personally aware of collectors who did not pay attention to the Antiquorum-Omega kerfuffle way back in 2008, and those who do not engage with the auction world anyway, who may thus be blissfully unaware. If this is you, then you might reasonably expect that this story is irrelevant; you probably did not get beyond looking at the visuals and the header, which might have left you scratching your head. On the off chance that you did, and are reading this, the good news is that this story is at least partially intended for you.
From the outset, the story of the Omega Speedmaster that fooled first the auction house Phillips, then the buyer, Omega itself, is a cautionary tale for everyone who is interested in timepieces. Even if you never bought a watch at auction, and never intend to, the socalled Frankenspeedy saga (aka Omegagate) tells us all something about the wider world of watches. It even speaks to the futility of knowledge itself, in the face of a determined adversary with bad intentions. To begin with though, let me lay out the big news event itself, which I will look at chronologically.
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BUOYANT HEAVYWEIGHTS
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From pioneering chronographs to revolutionizing dive watches, Longines has always been at the forefront of horological advancements. Explore how the Swiss brand's journey through water-resistance shaped the future of dive watches-and made a splash in the process
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HOLDING THE HIGH GROUND
Chanel's 2024 collection represents a rare moment where haute couture and haute horlogerie coexist perfectly
SARTORIAL TIMING
Parmigiani Fleurier encourages us to take a second, and perhaps third, look at the new Toric collection of watches
LEFT HAND DRIVE
The DOXA SUB 300T Aristera is a tribute to the brand's heritage in dive watches, combining the original design with a left-handed twist for 2024, offering the standout features that made DOXA renowned while breaking new ground in functionality
LIVING HISTORY
A. Lange & Söhne has spent the better part of this year celebrating the 25th anniversary of the seminal Datograph. With the Datograph Handwerkskunst, the watch is elevated to the highest level
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SWEET SPOT
The Longines Legend Diver is just the right amount of watch for a contemporary sports model that could also pull dress watch duties
