A Show Of Hands: See If You Can Identify These Watches Just By Their Hands
Many iconic watches are quickly identified by their easily recognizable hands. For many brands, this element can become the cornerstone of the watch. See how many you recognize!
By Liam O'Donnell
Contributor
Put your horological thinking cap on and let's play!
Challenge 1
A. Lange & Söhne Datograph Up/Down “Lumen”
If you couldn’t immediately recognize this watch from its hands, then its generous lume would certainly do the trick. The A. Lange & Söhne Datograph Up/Down Lumen is a flyback chronograph with an outsized date window prominently featured at 12 o’clock. This particular Lumen is the iconic German brand’s fourth iteration in the Lumen series. On its semi-transparent dial, you’ll also find a power reserve gauge at 6 o’clock, and a tachymeter scale. Limited to only 200 pieces worldwide, and made of platinum, this Datograph retails for EUR €95,000.
Challenge 2
F. P. Journe Chronomètre Bleu
Journe’s unmistakable design language is evident in all of his creations. Even the hands of his watches, which can often be overlooked. The F.P.Journe Chronomètre Bleu is a manually wound time only watch with a dazzling blue chrome dial. The case is fashioned from a rare metal known as tantalum, which is hypoallergenic and coveted for its resistance to corrosion. However, this particular metal is also known for being difficult to work with because of its extremely high melting point of 9856 °F (5458 °C). Priced at €23,000, this is a non-limited production piece.
Challenge 3
Ming 27.01
Ming’s watches went from Kickstarter campaign to Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) winner in a matter of years. Retaining its signature design of flared lugs and pinball paddle-like hands, the Ming 27.01 is a two-handed, extra-flat time-only watch. It features an ETA base movement that has been heavily reworked by Schwarz-Etienne. The straps are provided by Atelier Jean Rousseau Paris and the travel pouches by Studio Koji Sato. Priced at CHF 3,950, this is not a non-limited production piece, though, due to being made in small batches, the watch is sold out for 2020.
Challenge 4
Omega Speedmaster Professional Chronograph
An irrefutable piece of history, the Speedmaster is arguably Omega’s most iconic watch. The Omega Speedmaster is a manually wound chronograph with three sub-dials. Sporting a matte black dial, with white text, hands, and markers, the heart of this watch is Omega’s caliber 1863, the movement worn on the moon. It features a tachymeter, and a transparent case back. Priced at $6,350, this is a non-limited production piece available worldwide.
Challenge 5
Oris Divers Sixty-Five
A modern revival of a vintage diver, the Oris Divers Sixty-Five is an automatic sports watch with a lollipop-shaped second hand, and geometric hour and minute hands. It also has a bubble-like crystal inspired by dive watches of old. This dive watch comes on either a riveted bracelet, or fabric strap. You can also get the Divers Sixty-Five as a dual register chronograph, or even with a bronze case. There are also a variety of dials to choose from too. With prices starting at $2,450, this is a non-limited production piece available worldwide.
Challenge 6
Patek Philippe Nautilus
Who would have ever thought a stainless steel sports watch would be more coveted and more expensive than some bejeweled and precious metal watches? Well, that about summarizes the Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711/1A. It is a renowned time-only stainless steel sports watch with hands often compared to the shape of running batons. Created by the esteemed designer Gerald Genta, the Nautilus was Patek’s answer to the newly released Royal Oak in 1976. Priced at $30,620, this is a non-limited production piece available worldwide.
Challenge 7
Rolex Cosmograph Daytona
A driver’s best friend, the Cosmograph Daytona was designed to meet the highest demands on and off the tarmac. Simply put, this watch is a high-performance self-winding chronograph driven by the in-house Rolex caliber 4130. This stainless steel sports watch features a tachymeter on a black Cerachrom bezel and features highly legible markers due to the use of the luminescent material, Chromalight. Priced at $13,150, this is a non-limited production piece available worldwide.
Challenge 8
Tudor Black Bay
Not many brands can lay claim to such a prestigious lineage as this venerable dive watch family. The Tudor Black Bay is a robust stainless steel dive watch, now featuring an in-house Tudor movement with an impressive 70-hour power reserve. This classic diving watch sports an over-sized crown, like the famous reference 7924 from 1958, and the iconic snowflake hands favored by the French National Navy during the 1970s. Priced at $3,800, this is a non-limited production piece available worldwide.
(Photography & Visual creations by Liam O'Donnell)
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