The Boy and the Faded Rolex
A young boy walks into a watch shop with an old, faded Rolex. Is the browned “tropical” dial damage, or value? Featuring the Rolex GMT-Master Ref. 1675 “OCC Tropical Dial” from the 1960s.
Shop related watches →Watch Stories
Watch Stories
Vintage Watch Stories,
Told in Animation
Every watch has a story worth passing on. Why icons were born, how dials age, and the human drama around them — enjoy the depth of vintage watches through original animations by PRINCIPE PRIVÉ - Epoca d'Oro. Many of the watches featured are pieces from our own collection.
Time turns even color into art.
The Tiffany-Dial GMT-Master
Tiffany & Co. double-signed dials are among the hardest vintage Rolex dials to authenticate. This 1968 GMT-Master Ref. 1675 completed a full service at Rolex Japan, with its original Tiffany dial left untouched.
Shop related watches →Che Guevara’s GMT-Master: Pepsi or Black?
Che Guevara is said to have worn a Rolex GMT-Master. Was the bezel the red-and-blue “Pepsi”, or black? The animation follows the clues left in the photographs.
Shop related watches →Why Are Watches Round? — Heuer Monaco
In 1969, a water-resistant square chronograph was a serious engineering challenge. Working with case maker Piquerez, Heuer created the Monaco — the world’s first water-resistant square automatic chronograph.
Shop related watches →When Rivals Joined Forces — Caliber 11
In 1969, Breitling and Heuer, with Hamilton-Buren and Dubois-Dépraz, developed Caliber 11, one of the first automatic chronograph movements — with its crown on the left. Featuring an 18K gold Breitling Chrono-Matic Ref. 2116, one of only 100 made.
Shop related watches →Before the Royal Oak — The Polerouter
In 1954, a 23-year-old Gérald Genta designed the Polerouter for Universal Genève, linked to SAS’s pioneering polar flights — the beginning of a legendary design career.
Shop related watches →One Button — 1940s PIERCE Chronograph
Powered by the PIERCE Caliber 134, this one-button chronograph starts, stops and resets from a single pusher, with a vertical friction clutch, tachymeter and telemeter. Related PIERCE chronographs were supplied to the Royal Air Force.
Shop related watches →Can a Wristwatch Be Trusted? — Rolex Prince
In the 1920s, could a wristwatch match a pocket chronometer? The Prince answered with Caliber 300, designed for its rectangular case — among the first wristwatches made in numbers to carry a chronometer certificate.
Shop related watches →Why a Gold Dive Watch? — Blue Submariner
The Submariner began as a tool for divers. In 18K gold it became something else: a luxury watch with professional dive-watch DNA. That contrast is what makes the vintage Blue Submariner so interesting.
Shop related watches →Guilty or Innocent? — Non-Original Straps
In the 1950s–70s, people freely mixed original and third-party straps for style. Watches were fashion. Perhaps today’s obsession with “all original” is the unusual part.
Shop related watches →Patina Isn’t Damage. It’s History.
Dials changed by time each carry a one-of-a-kind face. Datejust 16030, Cellini 4014, Oysterdate 6694, GMT-Master 1675 — which dial takes the crown?
Shop related watches →A Moving Movement — Blancpain Rolls
In 1930, Léon Hatot invented an automatic system in which the movement itself slides on rails inside the case. Sold as the Blancpain Rolls for ladies only — featured here is the men’s prototype that was never released.
Shop related watches →A Watch That Refuses to Tell Time — SEIKO Chariot
No numerals, no markers — just a tiny dial inside an oversized, textured bezel. The 1977 SEIKO Chariot “Crosshatch” hides a hand-wound movement: a piece of Japanese design history.
Shop related watches →If a Collector Could Go Back in Time
A Paul Newman Daytona, a Nautilus Ref. 3700, an early F.P. Journe — today’s most collectible watches were valued very differently decades ago. If you could go back 10 years, which would you buy?
What If Watch Nerds Designed the Swiss Banknote?
Patek Philippe? Rolex? Or something that isn’t even Swiss? Three watch lovers, one 100-franc note, and one very questionable nomination.
A Watch Fit for the Don
A Datejust Onyx Diamond, a Cellini “Abyss”, a Piaget Polo and an Audemars Piguet Classic. Four vintage watches, each with its own story — which one suits the Don of the underworld?
Continue the Story in Person
New episodes appear first on Instagram. See the watches online or at our Omotesando store.