Wes Lang x Bamford Watch Department Rolex Watches

Having shown his work at such historic institutions as the Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles as well as collaborated with brands like FUCT, artist Wes Lang has recently collaborated with Bamford Watch Department for a series of Rolex Watches. Featuring a bi-color Rolex GMT-Master II, a Rolex Submariner, and a Rolex Milgauss, the highly-stylized timepieces feature Native American and skull imagery we’ve seen from the artist in the past engraved into the bands, dials and backs of the watches. The Wes Lang x Bamford Watch Department Custom Rolexes will release exclusively today at Dover Street Market in London.

Stampd Oyster Perpetual Datejust Rolex

Inspired by its monochromatic American flag designs, SoCal label Stampd introduces its clean take on the classic Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust. Coupling a 36mm stainless steel case with an 18k white gold fluted bezel and Oyster bracelet, the timeless piece is enhanced by a stars and stripes motif across the dial while the inner bezel features Stampd’s theme of “MADE TO MAKE IT” alongside a proto-existentialist quote from 17th century Catholic priest Balasar Gracian, reading “TIME AND I AGAINST ANY TWO.” Finished with the Stampd Los Angeles signature seal engraved on the back of the case, the special edition timepiece is limited to just 10 pieces and will be available at 12 p.m. PST come November 9.

Blaken x Rolex - Submariner Date Single Red

Today we present the next Rolex custom from German high end watch customizer Blaken. Sometimes less is really more and that is 100% true with their new Blaken Submariner Date Single Red. The watch gets the usual full Diamond Like Coating in black and subtle red accents on the ‘Submariner’ logo on the dial and on the seconds hand. Limited to only 25 pieces worldwide, the Blaken Submariner Date Single Red can now be ordered from info@blaken.com, priced at 12750 Euros.

Jamison Aweau's EDC

Bleu de Chanel Cologne

Art of Shaving Badger Brush and Straight Razor

Herme's Tee

Konica FC-1

Leather Duffel

Rolex Submariner and Gold Bracelet

Wallet

iPhone 4 and iPhone 5

Apolis Keychain

Bally Loafers

Tiger Stripe Camo Pants

Matte Black Ray-Ban Wayfarers

101st Airborne Patch

An Interview with George Bamford of Bamford Watch Department - HB

Renowned for personalizing classical high-end watches, founder George Bamford of Bamford Watch Department sat down with HBTV for an exclusive interview. A true innovator sparking a new found appreciation for vintage wristwear, Bamford touches an array of topics including the brand’s inception, the concept of luxury, likening his brand to luxury car makers and the future of the watch industry.

Project x British Military Stealth Rolex

Although this release was more than a year ago, i decided to re-post this because it happens to be one of my favorite Rolex lines of all time. London’s Project  X Designs delivers some “sub” takes on the Rolex Submariner models. Three Submariners mods are part of the series: the Mk III, Mk IV, and Mk V. “The Mk III pays homage to the Submariner worn by Sean Connery in the 1950s Bond movies; the Bond character was originally a former SBS commando.” The Mk IV comes in on the darker end of the scale with a black carbon casing and a blacked out face, while the Mk V was created for a “subtle and sophisticated contrast to the Submariner models.. the case is satin finished before being treated with a hard-wearing black DLC.”

The Million-Dollar Rolex - Gilt MANual

A not very attractive Rolex just set a new world record at auction in Geneva; an incredibly beautiful one is about to break it. The Rolex reference 4113, an ultra-rare, stainless steel chronograph dating to 1942, is expected to fetch up to a million Swiss francs—or about $1.2 million—at Christie’s upcoming Important Watches sale, making it it the most expensive Rolex ever sold by far. Why’s it so special? Only 12 examples were ever produced, for one thing, and only eight are known to have survived. Adding to the exclusivity, the watches were never available on the open market, and were produced as gifts to top British and Italian race car drivers of the era, who actually needed the Rolex’s chrono functions to keep track of their lap times. The auction is scheduled for May 16th, which ought to give you plenty to time to get your funds together. And while we’re quite certain the watch is authentic, before you lay down a cool million you may want to spend a minute or two perusing our guide to spotting a Faux-Lex. - via Gilt Manual

A Guide to Pre-Owned Rolex Watches - Selectism

Purchasing a finely crafted watch, for many, is considered a high involvement decision and in some cases, can be regarded as a lifelong investment in both monetary and symbolic ways. That being said, we take a look at an everyday favorite in Rolex — a brand with an unwavering presence and relevance in the watchmaking industry — to highlight a few models worth examining based on different budgets. Aiding us with his expertise is Paul Alteri from Bob’s Watches, a highly reputable online exchange for pre-owned Rolex watches. For starters, we begin at the bottom of the scale as we look at getting the most out of our dollar through the pre-owned market; significant value can be found if you know where to look.

It often goes without saying — but, be cautious when it comes to online auction sites or classifieds. Alteri reminds us that sometimes you are not only buying a watch, but also the assurance and peace of mind that comes with a trusted dealer. Know who you are dealing with and find a dealer that has good reviews across the board while a stamp from the Better Business Bureau is often a worthwhile consideration. If you are cautious, find the model you want that has the original box and papers even if it cost five to ten percent more. Records of past maintenance should also be provided as a watch should be serviced roughly every seven years.

Recognizing that owning a gold, diamond or mother of pearl Rolex may not be on everyone’s list of priorities, below is a recommended list of Rolex models and their price range.

Around $2,000 USD — Rolex Vintage Oyster 6694 with Stainless Steel Rivet Bracelet Introduced in the early ’60s, this manual winding watch is the perfect entry level Rolex. It features a fixed cyclops magnified date window on acrylic crystal, a signed screw down crown and a classic silver dial. Although categorized as a men’s watch, the Rolex Vintage Oyster 6694 has become a popular model in Europe amongst men and women alike.

USD $2,000 to $4,000 — Rolex Air-King Stainless Steel 14000 Made popular in the ’30s by British RAF pilots, the Air King features a simple and elegant design making it a truly understated Rolex. This Air-King 14000 features a automatic winding movement, scratch resistant sapphire crystal, 27 jewels and silver stick markers. Its historical significance makes this watch highly sought after.

USD $4,000 to $6,000 — Rolex Submariner 14060 No Date Featuring a large 40mm case, the no-date version boasts a simple face and is water resistant up to 300 meters. As you’d assume, the Submariner is intended to be a divers watch thanks to its extreme resilience against the elements. The Submariner watch face is arguably the most recognized and replicated watch designs in the world.

USD $6,000 and Above — Rolex GMT Master II Stainless Steel and Gold 116713 One of Rolex’s original collaborations with Pan Am Airways, the GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) Master II features a unique 24-hour hand that is used to keep track of two different times simultaneously. Worn by numerous jet setters, this is the watch for long-haul travelers who have business in multiple time zones.