Owners of perpetual calendars will finally get the chance to see their watches in action today as their date displays advance to the 29th of February. So much has happened in the past month as the spread of COVID-19 has gripped the world and put people on the edge of their seats. Already, we are seeing major events and exhibitions around the world being canceled or postponed. This month, we got up close with a number of interesting watches, including a solid gold G-Shock, Seiko’s new lineup of Seiko 5 sports watches, and Undone’s Batman watches.

From around the web, we turn our attention to an unfinished George Daniels watch. This epic watch, if completed, would have featured a 60-second tourbillon, remontoir d’egalite, and a co-axial escapement. We also investigate the history of the helium escape valve. Although it’s closely associated with Rolex, some believe it was actually co-developed with Doxa. Finally, we have a discussion of Patek’s Nautilus. Is the watch all hype or is it as great as it’s made out to be?

1. NO LONGER MADE: ROLEX EXPLORER II 16570 WATCH

Some watches are slow burners. These are watches that are overlooked when they are launched and are only appreciated later — often when it’s too late. An example is the Rolex Explorer II Ref. 16570. It really lives up to its name, coming in a 40mm Oyster case and featuring a GMT complication with a fixed 24-hour bezel. Amazingly, the watch was in production for over two decades, beginning in 1989 and ending sometime in 2011. However, it was only in the past three or so years that the watch started surging in popularity after people finally started appreciating its understated elegance and beauty. Here’s a closer look at the watch.

Source: aBlogtoWatch

2. UNBOXING THE SOLID GOLD G-SHOCK G-D5000-9JR ‘DREAM PROJECT’ AT TOPPER JEWELERS

G-Shocks should be tough and inexpensive. Some might think of them as vaguely disposable watches, which is why the G-Shock G-D5000-9JR is unlike any other G-Shock watch. It’s made entirely out of 18k yellow gold and, as a result, costs a cool $70,000. It goes against the key tenets of what makes a G-Shock a G-Shock. But it is also because of those qualities that it’s such a cool watch — one that will surely live on in the annals of G-Shock history. Recently, we got the chance to unbox one. Here’s how it went.

Source: aBlogtoWatch

3. HANDS-ON: SEIKO DEBUTS REVIVED 5 SPORTS LINE WITH 27 NEW MODELS

Last year, Seiko shook up the entry-level mechanical watch scene by making two big announcements: One was the discontinuation of the popular SKX series, and the other was the introduction of an entirely new collection of Seiko 5 sports watches. This is big news, since the Seiko 5 is the starting point of a lot of people’s watch journeys. What’s more, Seiko has no fewer than 27 new models in different dial and bezel colors, case finishes, and straps. Here’s a look at some of them.

Source: aBlogtoWatch

4. RADO CAPTAIN COOK AUTOMATIC 42MM WATCH REVIEW

Vintage dive watches are all the rage, but one brand and model constantly gets overlooked and that’s Rado’s Captain Cook. To be sure, it’s a bit of a curious piece, given that Rado has, for the longest time, been about being modern and contemporary. Rado was one of the first brands to use ceramic as a watch material. Nevertheless, the Captain Cook is a charming watch with handsome vintage aesthetics and, perhaps more importantly, a relatively good price. We take a closer look here at the 42mm version in steel with a blue dial and matching blue ceramic bezel.

Source: aBlogtoWatch

5. HANDS-ON: UNDONE BATMAN 80TH ANNIVERSARY WATCHES

Few watch brands are as attuned to popular culture as Undone is. The brand has collaborated with some of the most recognizable popular culture brands like Peanuts, Moomin, and Ultraman. Its latest endeavor sees it teaming up with the one and only Batman in celebration of the Gotham Knight’s 80th anniversary. To mark the occasion, Undone has come with two watches with very apt names — Caped Crusader and Dark Knight. Fittingly, the two feature titanium cases and meca-quartz chronograph movements — a tribute to the high-tech gadgets Batman employs. For fans of the Dark Knight, I can think of few better watches than these.

Source: aBlogtoWatch