These Are the Watches We’re Obsessing Over in February 2020

As watch lovers, we spend our afternoons poring over watches both new and vintage. When a new timepiece comes across our radar, one that particularly resonates with our tastes, we can’t help but obsess over it. So, here’s a taste of that process — seven timepieces that our watch-loving staff are obsessing over right at this very moment.

Casio World Timer

I’ve been a Casio World Time wearer for far longer than I ever expected, but even with its cheesy appeal, the grey resin case is just a little too cheap-looking. That’s why I’m lusting after the A700W-1ACF. Yes, the case is still resin, but it is chrome-clad. And at under $30, well, it’s already on the way to my apartment. –Eric Limer, Editor

Universal Genève Compax Triple-Register Chronograph

Photo: Analog/Shift

There’s no contesting that Universal Genève made some of the most beautiful chronographs of the mid-20th century. This particularly Compax, dating to roughly 1943, features a stunning salmon-colored dial with radium plots and hands in beautiful condition. Oversized for the time at 38mm, it’s the perfect size for a modern watch, and so well designed that it’ll never go out of style. If only I had me some “Inquire for Price Here”-money. –Oren Hartov, Associate Editor

Rolex Day-Date 1803 Linen Dial

A few years ago when I was just getting into watches, my mother mentioned that she had a Rolex that belonged to my grandfather and wanted to know if I was interested? After my heart rate returned to a normal level, I calmly answered that yes, I would be interested in that watch. Unfortunately for me, my father later clarified that the Rolex was a fake, purchased by my grandmother sometime in the 80s on a whim. Since then I’ve always had it in my head that someday I’d own the real version of that fake Rolex. This is a beautiful example with a gorgeous linen dial that shows very clearly why vintage Rolex is in such high demand these days. It’d be the perfect piece to start with a new (non-fake) family heirloom. –Greg Tate, Campaign Manager

Oak & Oscar Olmstead 38 in White

The moment I learned of The Olmstead 38’s elegantly crossed 7’s on both the dial and date wheel, I knew I was all in. It’s a perfect size, has an ultra-clean layout and feels classic and current all at once. Best of all, it’s a total charmer. –Kyle Snarr, Head of Marketing

TAG Heuer S/el Leather

Gear Patrol colleague/buddy Brenden Clark is the one who got me on my recent vintage TAG kick with this incredibly cool, organically curved, two-toned thing I spotted him wearing at a company function — his dad’s, I believe. It’s a version of the S/el from the 1980s-’90s era, known for its distinctive bracelet with S-shaped links (later morphing into the Link collection). The S/el’s bracelet, however, was integrated into the case, so a new design was required for the strap. It’s funky, automatic, well-sized, nicely priced, and quite captivating. –Zen Love, Staff Writer

Vulcain Cricket

While commonly known as one of the very first alarm watches, the Vulcain Cricket was also the first watch to summit the legendary K2. Despite cold temperatures, high altitude and harrowing wind speeds, the climbers reported no failures in 1954 — that’s enough of an endorsement for me. –AJ Powell, Project Manager, Gear Patrol Studios

1965 Rolex Ref. 8940 in Gold

I don’t even own a watch, but I’ve long wanted to own a nice slim, minimalist vintage ticker. After sporadically scouring the internet every so often for years, I’ve never really found anything in my price range or quite what I envisioned. That is until Hodinkee stocked (and then sold out of) a 1965 Rolex Ref. 8940 in gold recently and I became utterly obsessed. It’s a straightforward, simple timepiece with a gorgeous sunburst champagne dial with monochromatic gold alpha hands and applied markers. If anyone comes across one of these in stock somewhere, please hit me up!–Ryan Brower, Commerce Editor

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  These Are the Watches We’re Obsessing Over in January 2020

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