The watch industry is awash with too much news to cover. Each week, we’ll break down everything worth knowing. This week: an affordable “Pepsi” GMT, a vintage Heuer auction and a military-inspired watch.
It’s Business Time
Because of the scarcity of GMTs on the market and an MSRP about a fourth of a similar Rolex GMT Master, the Alpina Alpiner 4 GMT has always been a remarkable value. Now, the brand has unveiled a new “Business Time” version with an attractive red, white and blue “Pepsi” chapter ring, with the red portion making up 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., hence the “Business Time” designation — assuming your office actually still adheres to the 9-to-5 workday.
Richemont Group’s Sales Slide
According to recent reports, 2016 hasn’t been particularly kind to the Swiss watch industry. Richemont Group just released sales figures that mirror this: a 14 percent decrease in sales worldwide over the last year (with markets like Europe and Japan slipping by 20 percent and 25 percent, respectively).
A WWI-Inspired Watch
Longines has been pushing a lot of heritage-inspired timepieces as of late. The newest of the bunch is the Military Heritage, which draws its inspiration from the trench watches the brand made during World War I. It has early 20th-century Arabic numerals and an oversized crown — though, at 44mm in diameter, it is considerably bigger than military watches from that era.
Last Chance
Online vintage dealer Crown & Caliber amassed a collection of 100 rare, vintage Heuer sport watches for its “Heuer 100” auction. The auction started Tuesday and will close at 12 p.m. EST on September 22, so if you’ve been in the market for some old-school Heuer, it’s your last chance to bid.
Three Young Companies Reinventing the Fashion Watch
“Fashion watch” is a slur in the watch world. But these brands are reimagining what an affordable, design-oriented watch can be.
Found: Heuer Autavia GMT 741.603
Further proof that the “Pepsi” scheme is one of watchmaking’s greatest colorways. From Corwn & Caliber’s Heuer 100 auction comes this vintage Heuer Autavia GMT with a Pepsi dial, claimed to be in new old stock condition.
