How do you let go of funky pieces like the TAG Heuer Monaco Sixty-Nine, the historically-significant Universal Geneve Polerouter, or the hyped ‘Hulk’ Submariner? How to forfeit German beauties like the Sinn with its Lemania chronograph movement, Glashütte Original Panomatic Lunar (bringing high horology to the masses) or Nomos Weltzeit?
What about ‘investment pieces’ — the Rolexes and the Patek Aquanaut? I will miss the Longines Avigation and the Rado Captain Cook — my go-to watches when I wanted a blast from the past without actually going vintage. Ultimately, my choices were informed by what really moved me as a “watch guy”, it was about keeping the watches that stole my heart, the ones that continue to make it flutter. So after much soul-searching, here are my choices:
Tudor Big Block Chrono:
This is the one that started it all three years ago; the watch that made me spend endless nights on watch forums and YouTube. I took a big risk on this one because I bought it from a complete stranger. Yes, it arrived banged up, but it was and still remains a watch that I truly love. Interestingly, this Tudor uses a Rolex case, crown, and bracelet. It gives me the exact fit and feel of a vintage Daytona without having left dents in my wallet. It continues to amaze me to this day with its beautiful sunburst silver dial, and Panda-ish look. To me this watch also serves as a reminder that Tudor does not live in Rolex’s shadow.
Czapek Quai des Berges
One of the great things about living in this Connected Age is that watch enthusiasts have the ability to talk directly to CEOs and get in on the action with a brand in its infancy stage. Czapek has such a great back story (François Czapek and Antoni Patek started a watch company called Patek, Czapek & Cie before Patek would go on to form Patek Philippe with Adrien Philippe).
I was able to order this watch from the CEO himself and have it customized with my slogan “Time will tell” on the caseback. It is a beautifully-finished movement made in collaboration with of Chronode.
— Fayssal Kaddoura is a Dubai-based marketeer and collector
