A lot of pieces have come and gone from the collection since I last did a SOTC post, including about five different Richard Milles (still hunting the perfect RM for me) the odd AP and a few Langes!   There are more pieces which will probably leave over the coming months, as with any collection, as well as a number of pieces which will simply never leave for various reasons which I’ll mention below, but I feel like I’m becoming more rational, less prone to impulse buying the latest new release, and more aware of what I actually like wearing/owning rather than just liking the look of.   Unsurprisingly what remains is largely Pateks and Rolexes almost all 40mm or smaller. So let’s have a group shot and then we’ll get into it!   ROLEX 116234 This is the oldest watch in my collection, purchased for me by my then girlfriend (now wife) for Christmas 2012. It was during that time that I discovered RWG and joined on 3rd January 2013, so in some ways this watch marks the beginning of this journey of madness I’ve been involved in ever since. For all the above reasons it will never leave the DC collection.   PATEK 5711/1A A watch that needs no introduction, this is an unmolested BP V1, complete with undecorated Miyota, famed “Greentilus” dial and incorrect hands. It replaced my blue dial SW200 (I did a side by side comparison of the two a while back) but for all it’s flaws there hasn’t been a Nautilus released since that has persuaded me to trade it in. I kinda like the green/blue colour, I’ve never really been bothered by the hands, and most importantly it’s lovely and thin without any silly movement decoration! Is it the best Patek sports watch though?!? Not so sure anymore... more on that later!   ROLEX 5513 (TIFFANY & CO DIAL) This watch has graced the wrist of several RWG forum members (of varying reputation #stormynight) though it looks a little different to how it did when Pseudonym gifted it to me several years ago. It has been “vintaged” by another member with (involving rather a lot of coffee) and had no bracelet with it. I had a TC bracelet lying around which is what it now sits on, and I recently opened it up and gave the dial a clean to reveal the original bright white text and lume plots. I might have another go at giving it a more subtle ageing if I get time, but if it does go to a new home it will be gifted on, as well it should be!   ROLEX 116500 Another watch that needs no introduction and one of the more recent additions to the DC collection. I’ve always fancied a modern Daytona but wasn’t sure which one to go for. Ultimately I chose this because I love the contrast of the white dial with the black subdials. I’d prefer a steel bezel so if there were ever a rep of the Zenith Daytona that would be my perfect modern Daytona, but in the meantime this is a great watch for a night out or casual wear at the weekend!   ROLEX 116528 What can I say, I like gold. Largely I bought this because I really wanted a vintage gold Daytona but they were unavailable (as you can see I’ve since acquired one) and this configuration of gold case and bezel, black dial and gold subdials is exactly the look I was after, so this was a good substitute. In reality it’s very different to the vintage piece and has a charm all of its own, so for now it is staying, but long term will probably go (most likely in winter when wearing a gold watch just doesn’t quite work).   PATEK 5167/1A Ok, so here’s the thing. I’ve owned both a Nautilus and an Aquanaut for a number of years now, and on many an occasion I find myself stood at my watch box trying to decide what watch to throw on, just to go to the park or the shops or meet friends for a drink, when I don’t want anything flashy or fancy, just a good watch. It usually comes down to either the Nautilus or the Aquanaut, and almost without exception I end up choosing he Aquanaut. It’s not as iconic as the Nautilus, it’s perhaps not as noteworthy in design terms either, but it’s just so damn good, so damn comfy, so damn wearable and readable and classy without being at all overstated, that I honestly prefer it to the Nautilus and believe it is the best Patek sports watch... there I said it!!   A PAIR OF ROLEX 6265s A number of you might have seen a documentary on YouTube called “Time Machines” which follows London based watch dealer Tom Bolt as he meets with various clients (famous and infamous) to discuss exactly what the obsession with watches is all about. I first saw it in 2012 long before discovering RWG and it was undoubtedly a big part of what got me into watches in a big way. I must have watched it around thirty times since. Specifically I was drawn to the two watches that Tom was trying to sell to “nailed on watchaholic” John Bardiger. A steel 6265 which John had specifically requested, and the “golden surprise” which he was being lured into buying, a yellow gold 6265. I wanted these watches... I now have them (well, reps of them, obviously). The steel one has had the rep dial replaced with a gen spec one from Yuki, which necessitates the moving of the 6 o’clock canon pinion slightly higher up the dial in order to fit. As you can see the gold one also has a replacement dial ready and waiting to go off to my modder for the same treatment, though that one is from Phong and was rather more expensive. I can’t wait!!   ROLEX 6239 EXOTIC “PAUL NEWMAN” DIAL Even people who aren’t into watches probably know what this watch is, following the record breaking sale of Paul’s own reference 6239. I got caught up in all the hype like everyone else, and I’ve always liked vintage Daytonas but struggled to decide which of the many options to go for, so I decided to pick one up. I especially liked the look of it on the Phillips branded nubuck strap that the auction house affix to a lot of their lots. So I commissioned Camille Fournet to make me a black nubuck strap very similar to the ones Phillips have (which I would imagine CF make for them anyway). It’s lovely, and is also a very different watch to the other vintage Daytonas that I have, so it doesn’t feel like too much of the same thing, it’s much sportier and funkier to wear.   AUDEMARS PIGUET 15202ST Like the 5711 mentioned earlier, this watch is iconic, but also doesn’t get a great deal of wrist time. I’m loathed to sell it because I really like AP and it’s easily the most wearable of all Royal Oaks for my small wrists, so I’m holding onto it in the hope that at some point I come back around to wearing it more often. It sits nicely in the collection and is the best attempt at a decent Royal Oak Jumbo that the factories have made thus far in my humble opinion.   PATEK 5205G-010 It’s pretty much Patek from here on out folks! Starting with probably my least worn and least favourite rep, this 5205. There is a lot to love about this watch. The case is stunning, truly a work of art! It’s black dial which is rare in a dress Patek and makes for a nice change, so why don’t I ever wear it?? Two reasons, firstly the strap it’s on doesn’t fit me that great so I can’t get it to sit right, which means I need to invest in a good strap probably from Camille Fournet. But I haven’t because of the second reason, which is that it houses a rather noisy Miyota movement and it drives me nuts, so I can’t justify the expense of the CF strap until I figure out how to shut it up. As a result it may go at some point to someone who is less bothered by the rotor noise!   PATEK 5227G-001 This is a very special watch, and is easily my most worn watch to such an extent that despite only owning it for a little over three years the Camille Fournet strap that it’s on is almost completely worn out. I wear it to work virtually every day I’m there. I bought it to wear on my wedding day, which I did, and prior to that my wife took it and had the inside of the officers case-back engraved with the words “Everything you need will come to you at the perfect time”, which has pretty much come to pass ever since. Aside from that it is quite simply the best Patek rep I’ve ever owned, and let’s be honest I’ve owned a few . The case, like the 5205, is a work of art with the sculpted lugs. They got the thickness just right and the officers case-back is beautifully hinged and well put together. Other than not being lacquered like the gen the dial is also pretty spot on too, and as with my Nautilus this is a BP V1 so no silly decorated movement making it too thick or too noisy. The Miyota in this watch is virtually silent (thank god)!!!   PATEK 5711G-001 This was the first Nautilus I ever bought way back in January 2013 shortly after joining RWG from Mary (and Rochest at the time). It’s an SW200 so it was expensive even by today’s standards, you can tell I wasn’t mucking about! I then purchased a gen Patek strap for it (which was fitted by my local Timpsons at the time who had no idea what a Patek was) and not long after that I sold it (like a complete idiot) to buy a BP V1 Royal Oak 15400 when it was first released. I regretted that decision for many years, and sent quite a few messages begging the purchaser to sell it back to me. Two years later he finally did, and I can tell you I won’t be making that mistake again. This beauty is staying!!   PATEK 5980R-001 I always liked the Nautilus Chronograph, I thought, and still think, it’s one of the best integrations of a chronograph into an existing watch design. I’ve owned three in my time, two steel ones with a blue and black dial respectively, and this one. It’s got an A7750 in it which is unfortunately broken, which rather prohibits any sale. But also it wears battle scars from the night of my stag do in London, so there’s sentimental reasons for it staying, but I really don’t wear it.   PATEK 5107G-001 I’ve told the story a few times of how this watch came to be in my collection, having been bought and paid for by me, then seized at customs, then refunded, then bribed back and sold to someone else, then eventually offered back to me (for which I am eternally greatful Rob). It remains the only one of its kind I’ve ever seen, with a decent 2824 movement in the back, and I just love the angular bezel and swooping crown protectors. This is Patek at their best at the very beginning of the 21st century, and it’s the only rep of this model I’ve seen which does it justice. As you can see it’s a little naked right now. I need to get a CF strap for it, but as I wear the 5227 every day I’m not sure it would get the wrist time so for now I can’t justify the cost, but I like to pull it out and have a good look at it from time to time, I may even get something a little different for it strap wise, just to mix it up and encourage me to wear it. Perhaps a funky coloured nubuck strap or something. But either way, it ain’t ever being sold!   PATEK 530 Now we’re into the heavy hitters of my Patek collection (in terms of gen value), starting with a steel two register chronograph. I am currently on the hunt for a donor case, as I feel it’s a real shame that the case on this rep just isn’t up to scratch when the dial is so superb. The dial really deserves to be in a better case. Whether I find a suitable donor case remains to be seen, if not it may leave the collection at some point, but for now the hunt continues!   PATEK 5131j & 5131g. A PAIR OF WORLD TIMERS Some of you may have seen the threads I started on these watches. They weren’t/aren’t great reps of the gen, but I took the time to hand paint the dials to bring them a little closer to the real thing and they really are very pretty watches and a lot of fun. The fact that they are the only two of their kind also pleases me (you may have noticed I like rare pieces) and every now and again I fancy a splash of colour so they come out into the sunshine!   PATEK 5370P-001 The gen 5370P is probably one of the greatest watches of all time in my opinion (a close second to the 5970). Again the rep falls short of doing it true justice but at this end of the Patek spectrum that’s hardly surprising, we’re talking a $250,000 split second chronograph with enamel dial here!! Overall it’s a nice piece, a little larger than I usually wear at 41mm but it wears small, and a little thicker than I usually wear at 13.5mm, but the case is sculpted and interesting, very different to any other Patek I own, and the concave bezel is pure Patek!! Like a lot of my Pateks it’s on a Camille Fournet strap.   PATEK 5970G-001 Last but certainly not least, and as I’ve already stated in my opinion the greatest watch of all time, the 5970. Now given that it’s the greatest watch of all time there was never going to be an accurate rep. There have been a few attempts over the years, largely oversized with 21j movements. I bought this one, despite its many flaws, for two reasons. It’s 40mm same as gen (and therefore wearable for my small wrists) and it’s got a 2824 in the back. The bezel, like on the 5370, is perfectly concave just like gen, the lugs are some of the best I’ve seen on a rep, and despite being relatively complicated with working date, day of the week, 24hr and day/night indicators, it’s never once gone wrong (touch wood)! Shortly after purchasing it I was told it was no longer available, I’ve asked (and been asked) several times since and it’s still not available, so again it’s a rare bird.   And there you have it, 20 watches, both old and new, which chart my time in this hobby. There are a few exciting things in the pipeline and probably this collection won’t look quite the same in another year, but I think for the most part these pieces will stay with a few exceptions. Hope you’ve enjoyed it and I haven’t bored you to tears, but hey if I did you should have just stopped half way!!   Thanks for looking as always.   DC