Your Weekly Shop Brief
Last week, G-SHOCK debuted its thinnest men's watch ever created, complete with Bluetooth connectivity and a pedometer for staying on top of your step goals. Also in the world of G-SHOCK, this ever-popular screw-back model is back in our digital storefront.
Taking Some Of Our Favorite Small Watches For A Spin Around Atlanta
The movement towards smaller, downsized watch styles is so ubiquitous that it would be remiss of me to even call it a trend. That being said, there's something in the air at Hodinkee HQ in that we're having a collective surge of interest in watches in the 40mm and under range even more so than usual. This was the impetus for an impromptu lookbook photoshoot of sorts that transpired in Atlanta recently, and we have the photos to prove it.
Down below you'll find Hodinkee's own Brett Shields and Jonathan McWhorter taking some of their favorite small watches for a spin around downtown Atlanta. Get ready for lots of gold, brown leather, dressy dimensions, and the appearance of one arguably perfect cable knit sweater. I'll keep the waxing poetic to a minimum and let the photos do the talking.
Cartier Tank Louis WGTA0010
Sometimes, you have to begin with the most obvious choice. If we're on the subject of small and dressy watches, Cartier is obviously the most obvious. It's a no brainer.
Here we have the deliciously bite-sized Cartier Tank Louis. Its dressy 22mm diameter solidifies this Tank's rank as the tiniest watch on this small watch round-up. The 18K rose gold case looks particularly handsome paired with the brown leather strap. While we're on the subject of rose gold, I would argue that the rose gold this Tank is crafted from doesn't read as cloyingly rosy. Rather, it looks slightly warmer and slightly more contemporary than the typical yellow-gold stylings. I am saying this as a means of justification for any self-identifying rose gold skeptics out there, myself being one of them.
Vacheron Constantin Fiftysix 4600E/000A-B487
Okay, I'm already revealing myself to being a bit of a cheater here with this pick, given its 40mm diameter. But sometimes rules are meant to be broken, even if they're the ones you yourself set.
Within the Vacheron catalog, the Fiftysix series is a bit of an anomaly. Despite its unarguably timeless appearance, the collection is relatively young in years, debuting in 2018. It's overall design is more relaxed, lowkey, and laidback than we typically expect from the 260+ year old watchmaker, and its charm directly correlates with its casual style.
Crafted in stainless steel, this Fiftysix is distinguished by its sporty looks, sector dial, simple time and date layout, and rich navy blue and silvery hues. All in all, this Fiftysix strikes the perfect balance between both a dress and a sports watch, and this defiance of neatly fitting into either category makes us love it even more.
Patek Philippe Calatrava 7119J
The Calatrava is the ultimate dress watch. To say anything more on the subject feels immediately trite.
Of course, this Calatrava has the signature round case crafted in 18K yellow gold, Roman numeral indices, and asimple time-only layout. Pairs surprisingly well with a sneaky stick-and-poke wrist tattoo.
Vintage Minerva 18K Gold Chronograph
With this Minerva Chronograph reference we have here, we're paying homage to the old weekly vintage drops back in the early days of the Hodinkee Shop. Like a fine wine, this piece is aged to perfection and isn't afraid to show it.
While I would like to say this is the most complicated pick in the roundup, the chronograph function on this vintage Minerva is, sadly, not functional. But even if this piece isn't race-track ready, I would argue that when you're dealing with vintage pieces, it's often the quirks of the aging process that make them even more loveable. With its Art Deco design, two-tone champagne dial, 36mm round case, and all that 18k yellow gold, there's a lot to love here.
Hamilton Khaki Pilot Pioneer
In both form and function, this iteration of the Khaki Pilot series is a faithful tribute to one of the signature timepieces of the British Royal Air Force throughout the '70s – the W10.
From its barrel-shaped case to its true-to-vintage 36mm sizing, this contemporary take brings the key ingredients of the W10 to the 21st-century. The largest updates that set it apart from the heritage model are that the dial has been changed to a deep navy blue hue with a richly pebbled surface, the inclusion of a screw-down crown and 100 meter water resistance, navy blue nato strap and, of course, its modern movement in the form of the H-50 automatic with hacking seconds and a power reserve of 80 hours.
Bulgari Bulgari
I am willing to concede that people have strong opinions about this watch, and those dubbed "fashion watches" in general. The difference in opinion and the subjectivity of taste keeps this hobby, well, ticking.
Released earlier this year, a Genta-designed icon of the 80s returns in its full 18K yellow gold glory. The larger of the duo, this take on the Bulgari Bulgari measures 38mm in diameter, and features the Roman-coin-inspired case with double logo engraving, small date window at three o'clock, and is paired with a brown leather strap exclusively available in the Hodinkee Shop. While the smaller 26mm model has a quartz movement, this model is equipped with the BVL 191 Automatic movement with a power reserve of 42 hours. George Michael fans rejoice.
