3-Watch Thursday #40
Pure and Utter Chaos
Good morning team,
I’m grateful you’ve all taken the time to open this email, even if it’s just a slow morning ((:
This week has felt pretty none stop in real life and in the watch world1.
Many things have been saved on my Instagram this week and a particularly interesting YouTube video, so without further ado, let’s get straight into it!
How I Made a Mechanical Apple Watch (Fully Functional!) Build Video
Yes you read that right and aren’t going blind just yet, YouTuber NanoRobotGeek transformed a stainless steel Apple Watch Series 1 that he picked up for $50 on eBay into a fully functioning mechanical watch activated from the original crown.
2 things here:
Firstly, it looks somewhat similar to that Moser from a few years back with the Vantablack® dial.
Secondly, what an excellent example of someone with tech know-how applying it to a different mechanical device problem. While crude, the system devised to allow the original crown to change the time on the watch is genius.
I urge you to give this video a watch (possibly at 2 times speed as there’s very little dialogue) to gain an appreciation for the work and effort involved in this transformation.
I’m a fan.
Like what you’re reading? Why not share with a watch friend using the button below!
Go on, you know you want to click it 👀
Man files lawsuit against jeweller for not selling him promised $109K Patek after building up $220K purchase history
It appears I missed this over the weekend, so you might’ve too.
Fear not though, Time+Tide had us covered.
Put short, a man spent $220k at an authorised dealer in the US and alleges that he was promised an allocation of the $109k Patek 5980/1R-001 in the image above. Having not received this allocation, he has now filed a lawsuit.
Rather hyperbolically, the Time+Tide Instagram caption for this story starts:
“GAME OVER: In the era of ‘unobtainium‘ watches, watch buyers have become increasingly frustrated with enigmatic waitlists for watches and having to play their AD’s games to win favour.“
This is probably true and accurate, but “GAME OVER“ is a bit excessive. We’ll wait and see the outcome of this lawsuit first.
You can read the full story here.
The (Relatively) Affordable Alt to the Cartier Crash
I’ve previously recommended GQ Box + Papers, and this week I find myself recommending it again.
As Cam Wolf goes from strength to strength and with a feature this week thanks to iamcasa detailing the Softwatch what’s not to love?
Here’s a link to this week’s newsletter and a dive into the history of this quickly growing in popularity watch.
Bonus: More Midjourney AI Stuff
Last quick tidbit from me.
Spotted this on Instagram and found the skeletonised Cartier Santos interesting.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t get access to Midjourney again, but if anyone has feel free to share results for similar prompts and I could dedicate a longer piece to it next week.
On a similar line to what I have previously written about watch brands using AI for marketing, Nikon has just dropped an incredible new campaign incorporating real-world photography and AI prompts.
Details can be found here.
That’s all from me.
Much less rushed than last week but feeling pretty chaotic.
Have a good weekend when we get there.
Owen
Do watches count as real life? Idk yet.
That Apple Watch ... moser 👀