1. Hunting for Vintage Watches in Tokyo

Having been to Japan a couple of times to check out the watch scene, I can attest that it is indeed a wonderful place to go hunting for vintage watches. The Japanese have such a deep respect for objects that many of the used pieces you see are in pretty good shape. Additionally, many shops take great pains to ensure that what they sell is well documented and authentic. Prices are a little high, but what do you expect? Quality comes with a price. For those lucky enough to be heading to Japan soon, this story about vintage watch shopping in Japan is worth checking out.

Source: Worn & Wound

2. Understanding Resonance, Featuring The F.P. Journe Chronomètre à Résonance, Armin Strom Mirrored Force Resonance, And Haldimann H2 Flying Resonance

Watches that rely on the theory of resonance to improve chronometric performance are really rare. In fact, there are probably only three: the F.P. Chronomètre à Résonance, the Beat Haldimann H2 Flying Resonance, and finally the Armin Strom Mirrored Force Resonance. The idea behind such a watch is actually quite simple. Very briefly, it refers to the use of two oscillators beating in close proximity to strengthen their beat rate. Executing this idea, however, is actually much more difficult. This article further expounds on the theory of resonance and these three watches, and makes for fantastic reading especially if you are curious about how these special watches work.

Source: Quill & Pad

3. Hands-On with The Rarest Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar Wristwatch Ever

The Patek Philippe reference 3449 perpetual calendar is one of the rarest Patek references ever. Only three were made and it was created by Henri Stern to gauge the demand for a large perpetual calendar watch. What made them even more special was that each of the three watches had slightly different cases. This particular example is identifiable by its triple-stepped bezel and elongated straight lugs. Additionally, the caseback has been engraved with the name of its first owner and includes a thoughtful abbreviated French phrase that translates to “Today more than yesterday and less than tomorrow.”

Source: Watches by SJX

4. A Watch With Snob Appeal for Under $1,000? Six Watch Insiders Offer Picks

I’m not going to sugarcoat things. Most nice watches are not cheap, especially the really outstanding and worthy ones. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that a good watch needs to be expensive. There are many interesting, thoughtful, and stylish watches that can be found for under $1,000 if you bother to look around and keep an open mind. No, you won’t find any Rolex or Omega on this list selected by six veteran watch journalists (including our very own Ariel Adams), but you might find some hidden gems that, hopefully, will appeal to even the snobbiest watch enthusiast.

Source: The New York Times