Category Archives: Guy Style

tomvox1’s Watches for Sale – Vintage Cartier Santos Carrée ref. 2961 GRAY “Ghost” Dial

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Click here to contact me and make this super cool Cartier Santos Carrée yours today!

On offer is this classic Cartier Santos Carrée ref. 2961 in steel and 18k yellow gold with original stunning and quite rare Gray “Ghost” dial in beautiful original condition. This Santos Carrée looks to me to be unpolished — or possibly detailed by Cartier at some point — because the very factory-quality matching vertical brushing on the top of the steel case and the solid gold bezel is still present, which is unique to the burgundy and gray dial examples of Carrée 2961, and the sides also appear to retain their original satined finish. The vast majority of these have been polished to a high gloss through the years so, finding one with a correct factory finish is a pretty huge coup, especially since it is a key characteristic of the colored dials.

Obviously, the highlight of this Carrée it’s absolutely stunning original matte gray “Ghost” dial with beveled date window at “3” that changes color depending upon the angle and the light, with the gold Cartier signature playing hide and seek accordingly. This rare dial is in Mint condition and the SWISS-only marking below “6” indicates original 1980s issue and not a later SWISS MADE service replacement. These slate gray 296x dials are really quite beautiful in an understated way, giving the whole watch a very unified “all-metal” look and they are certainly several factors more rare than the standard Roman numeral dials of the period.

Although it is a true midsize watch, the references 2961 and 2960 are the largest version of Carrée models and they measure 29mm (more like 32mm including the crown & guards) x 41mm for a very ergonomic and well proportioned fit on just about any man or woman. It’s also powered by a high quality automatic movement rather than a quartz, with hacking seconds and quickset date.

Overall, this wonderful Cartier is in Excellent vintage condition and likely dates to circa 1980 based on the bracelet style and caseback nomenclature. The semi-integrated bracelet with its trademark gold screws is super tight, as is the Gen. 1 clasp. It is also quite long at around 7.5” diameter, what I can only imagine is the original full length. To put the cherry on top of this Cartier sundae, I’ve just had this Santos Carrée fully overhauled by an excellent independent watchmaker and so it will come with a 6-month movement warranty, as well as service records.

So, go ahead and put this eternally stylish ’80s midsize stunner on your wrist today!

Click here to contact me and make this super cool Cartier Santos Carrée yours today!

tomvox1’s Watches for Sale – Rare Vintage 1970s Breitling ref. 8806 Navitimer CHRONO-MATIC

Click here to contact me and make this super rare vintage Breitling Navitimer yours today!

Up for sale from my personal collection is this Grail-level circa 1973 Breitling ref. 8806 Navitimer Chrono-Matic with absolutely Mint Tritium dial and in fantastic Excellent+ condition overall. This highly uncommon version of Breitling’s classic pilot’s watch features an all stainless steel case with beautiful glossy “Big Eyes” Twin Jet dial, gorgeously patinaed Tritium luminous markers, red date and iconic left-hand crown. This is one of the rarest Navitimer references and hails from the days when Breitling bet the farm on their innovative automatic modular chronograph movement family pioneered in partnership with Heuer and Hamilton.

So, instead of the usual Venus 178 found in nearly all other earlier Navitimers, this scarce 8806 preserves the iconic oversized Navitimer proportions, snap back case and chunky slide rule bezel, but incorporates an automatic Caliber 12 under the hood, with minute and hour counters but no running seconds hand and a semi-quickset date at “6” in red. Coming so close as it did to the end of the Breitling company’s first incarnation as possibly the highest profile casualty of the quartz revolution, the reference 8806 Navitimer was made in extremely limited numbers and finding one in this kind of spectacular condition is a rare thing indeed.

This beautiful Navi came to me in near NOS condition and, having worn it frequently but carefully, the unpolished 41mm steel case is still easily in Excellent+ condition, with razor sharp chamfers and lovely satined sides. To put the cherry on top of the sundae, this great Breitling retains its original gloss black dial in absolutely Minty condition. Featuring two silver-white engine turned sub-registers, gorgeous puffy tan tritium luminous “12” & bar markers and intricately printed slide rule calibrations in silver “gilt”, this fantastic dial really shows off Breitling’s unmatched prowess at making highly functional, complexly printed dials back in the day.

This is a fantastically pure vintage tool watch with great wrist presence and panache, as well as a model you’re not likely to see on someone else’s wrist. It’s a real collector’s chronograph with historical rarity and importance. Don’t miss out on your chance to own a really special piece of Breitling history in stunning condition!

Click here to contact me and make this super rare vintage Breitling Navitimer yours today!

2024 F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi — Results & aftermath

Norris wins season finale at Yas Marina, as McLaren hang on to win Constructors’ crown despite opening lap Piastri-Verstappen collision; Ferrari come up just short with solid Sainz P2, Leclerc recovery to P3; Hamilton ends Mercedes career on high note with late pass on Russell for P4 after P16 start

Lando Norris capped off a breakout 2024 season with a victory under the lights of Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, the last race of the year, securing McLaren their first Constructors’ Championship since 1998, besting a game and revitalized Scuderia Ferrari for motorsports’ ultimate cash prize. Despite teammate Oscar Piatsri having his race ruined by an opening lap collision with an unnecessarily aggressive Max Verstappen, and despite Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz running a flawless race to take P2 and teammate Charles Leclerc putting in a heroic effort to surge from a P19 start on the grid to third place on the podium, Norris’s win provided team McLaren with the necessary margin to secure the crown in the season’s final round. Arguably the best driver in F1 from Round 6 on even with Verstappen clinching his fourth consecutive Drivers’ title, Norris earned 13 podiums and a career-high 4 victories, as the McLaren MCL38 drastically improved after a slow start and eventually overhauled the mighty Red Bull factory team, while simultaneously fending off the much improved Prancing Horses down the stretch. While there was no shortage of chaotic moments behind him, including an early Virtual Safety Car brought about when the second Red Bull of the star-crossed Sergio Perez couldn’t get re-fired after tangling with Sauber’s Valtteri Bottas also on Lap 1, Norris controlled the race from the front at Yas Marina with seeming ease, cruising home to take the checkered flag nearly six-seconds ahead of Sainz.

Norris’s teammate Piastri had a challenging day to say the least. Starting from P2 in a Papaya front row lockout, he was unceremoniously punted by Verstappen while simply going for the apex at Turn 1. Piastri was then subsequently penalized for running into the back of Williams’ rookie Franco Colapinto just as the brief  VSC period was ending on Lap 23. That penalty was not assessed until after Piastri had pitted to doff his flat-spotted opening set of Medium Pirellis in favor of the Hards, meaning he would definitely have to come in again and serve it later in the race with less time to recover. In the end, Piastri was forced to mount a frantic charge through the midfield as the laps wound down in this 58-lap contest, finally securing P10 and a point with only four to go. Verstappen faced a similar race trajectory for his early transgression against the Aussie, the Red Bull ace’s lack of maturity surfacing once again in sarcastic comments about the stewards’ decision to penalize him despite clearly being 100% at fault. After serving his ten-seconds on Lap 30, Verstappen likewise knifed his way through back-markers and midfield runners en route to a P6 finish. So, yes, Verstappen has now won four Driver’s titles on the trot, putting him into the rarefied air of Formula 1 history. But one can only hope he takes this offseason to reflect a bit on just what kind of champion he wants to be and how he wants the world to perceive him — as a perpetual enfant terrible or a true ambassador of the sport?

It was a day of mixed emotions for the always classy Sainz, who kept it tidy and came home runner-up in his final race for the Scuderia. Sainz will head over to Williams next year but there is no doubt his quite solid campaign, where he scored 250 points and placed fifth in Drivers’, led to Ferrari’s significant second place in the Constructors’ ahead of the once-untouchable but now third place Red Bull team. Leclerc will also have much to be proud of looking back on 2024, even if he is still searching for his first F1 crown. The Monegasque finished with aplomb, and deployed all of his considerable skills to earn that remarkable P19-to-P3 result, picking up and amazing 11 spots on the opening lap alone before the VSC was deployed. Leclerc also finished third in the Drivers’ standing and will certainly be hoping Ferrari’s significant improvement continues in 2025.

Soon to be ex-Mercedes stalwart Lewis Hamilton will be hoping the same thing for the rejuvenated fortunes of the team from Maranello, since the seven-time champ will be crossing over to take Sainz’s seat and partner Leclerc next year. Hamilton had a vintage performance in Abu Dhabi in his final drive for the Silver Arrows, utilizing an opposite Hard-to-Medium tire strategy while starting from P16 after an unlucky Saturday qualifying saw him collect an errant bollard at an inopportune time. Hamilton ran an extra long opening stint on those Hards, making it all the way to Lap 35 before coming in for fresh Mediums and thereby over-cutting all but the top contenders to rejoin in P7 after a lightning stop by his pit crew. Lewis then skillfully hunted down as many drivers as he could on his both fresher and better performing Pirellis, including teammate George Russell on the last lap, to surge to a P4 finish and a thrilling end to one of the most remarkable driver and team partnerships in the history of the sport. Russell had to settle for P5 on the day but he can also be secure in the knowledge that he will be the undisputed team leader for mighty Mercedes in 2025, as they look to bounce back from a disappointing couple of years and rookie Kimi Antonelli takes over for Hamilton.

Pierre Gasly continued his fine run of form for suddenly surging Alpine with an impressive P7 result, helping the team take an improbable P6 in the Constructors’. Rookie Jack Doohan, who will take over the second car next season, replaced Esteban Ocon one race early and completed the event in P15. Nico Hulkenberg was also solid in his final race for Haas F1 before returning to Sauber next year, the veteran German pilot scoring a quartet of points in P8. And Fernando Alonso, who thoroughly bettered Aston Martin teammate (and the boss’s son) Lance Stroll all year long, did so again, making the most of his mediocre mount to sail home in P9, while Stroll continued to scuffle and finished out of the points in P14.

Top 10 finishers of the Abu Dhabi GP:

POS

NO

DRIVER

CAR

LAPS

TIME/RETIRED

PTS

1

4

Lando Norris

McLaren Mercedes

58

1:26:33.291

25

2

55

Carlos Sainz

Ferrari

58

+5.832s

18

3

16

Charles Leclerc

Ferrari

58

+31.928s

15

4

44

Lewis Hamilton

Mercedes

58

+36.483s

12

5

63

George Russell

Mercedes

58

+37.538s

10

6

1

Max Verstappen

Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT

58

+49.847s

8

7

10

Pierre Gasly

Alpine Renault

58

+72.560s

6

8

27

Nico Hulkenberg

Haas Ferrari

58

+75.554s

4

9

14

Fernando Alonso

Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes

58

+82.373s

2

10

81

Oscar Piastri

McLaren Mercedes

58

+83.821s

1

Complete race results available via Formula1.com.

Final Constructors’ Standings are here.

Final Drivers’ Standings are here.

That wraps up an enthralling 2024 F1 season — have a great winter break and look forward to seeing you, along with all the new faces in new places, in 2025!

2024 F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi — Qualifying results

McLaren lock out front row and gain decisive advantage in Constructors’ battle as Norris grabs pole, Piastri P2 at Yas Marina; Sainz P3 but Leclerc will start from rear after engine penalty and deleted lap in Q2, dealing blow to Ferrari’s hopes.

 

Top 10 qualifiers for the Abu Dhabi GP:

POS

NO

DRIVER

CAR

Q1

Q2

Q3

LAPS

1

4

Lando Norris

McLaren Mercedes

1:23.682

1:23.098

1:22.595

16

2

81

Oscar Piastri

McLaren Mercedes

1:23.640

1:23.199

1:22.804

16

3

55

Carlos Sainz

Ferrari

1:23.487

1:22.985

1:22.824

16

4

27

Nico Hulkenberg

Haas Ferrari

1:23.722

1:23.040

1:22.886

17

5

1

Max Verstappen

Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT

1:23.516

1:22.998

1:22.945

15

6

10

Pierre Gasly

Alpine Renault

1:23.548

1:23.086

1:22.984

18

7

63

George Russell

Mercedes

1:23.678

1:23.283

1:23.132

19

8

14

Fernando Alonso

Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes

1:23.794

1:23.268

1:23.196

19

9

77

Valtteri Bottas

Kick Sauber Ferrari

1:23.481

1:23.341

1:23.204

15

10

11

Sergio Perez

Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT

1:23.559

1:23.379

1:23.264

18

Complete qualifying results available via Formula1.com.

Tomorrow’s race airs live on ESPN beginning at 8 am Eastern here in the States. Hope to see you then to find out if McLaren can lock up the Constructors’ or if fate and the Yas Marina Circuit have other plans!

tomvox1’s Watches for Sale – Vintage 1970s Omega Genève Day-Date w/Beautiful BLUE Dial

Click here to contact me and make this cool Omega Genève yours today!  Now ON SALE!

Now on offer is this wonderful circa mid-1970s, all-stainless steel Omega Genève Day-Date ref. 166.0174/366.0833 with original and beautiful blue sunburst dial. This watch features a very attractive and full-sized round, sweeping 36mm case with original, long integrated 1186/215 bracelet.

Overall, the watch is in Excellent vintage condition with a case that shows sharp definition and appears unpolished. And the very special original Near Mint+ blue sunburst dial with original tritium lume plots is what really pushes this watch over the top.

This Genève also features the highly regarded in-house Omega caliber 1022 23-jewel movement under the hood, boasting both quickset date and rapid day advancement.

This circa 1975 Omega has a more timeless design than many of its more funky brethren of the period, making it just as stylish and fashionable today as it was when it was originally released nearly 50 years ago. It’s an absolute pleasure to wear, very ergonomic, and that lovely vibrant blue dial never fails to draw the eye.

Simply a really handsome and appealing dial if you’re a fan of blue dial watches, as I am, making it an absolute pleasure to admire on the wrist!

Click here to contact me and to make this cool Omega Genève yours today! Now ON SALE!

tomvox1’s Watches for Sale – 1990s Tudor ref. 79170 “Big Block” Inverse Panda Automatic Chronograph

Click here to contact me and make this cool Tudor Big Block yours today!  SOLD

On offer is this super cool circa mid-1990s Tudor ref. 79170 Oysterdate Chrono Time chronograph with gorgeous Near Mint glossy black Inverse Panda dial, massive “Big Block” Oyster case and rotating dual-time bezel. This classic plexi-crystal Tudor chrono, one of the last before the introduction of the sapphire crystal models, is powered by a Tudor-modified Valjoux caliber 7750, and the ref. 79170 with rotating bezel is the most uncommon version of this era. The high gloss dial is very attractive and, having owned both a matte dial version previously and now this one, the wow factor is frankly far superior on these, with not only the attractiveness of the shimmering black gloss dial but also the very nicely delineated engined-turned high gloss white sub-registers. 

In my opinion, these non-exotic, acrylic crystal Tudor Big Blocks are still some of the best values in the vintage watch world. With their screw down Rolex crown & pushers and tank-like Oyster case, they have all the build quality of a Rolex Cosmograph Daytona at a fraction of the price and make a great daily driver if you’ve got the wrist for it. While this example shows previous polish and some wear, this Tudor Chrono Time is still in Excellent overall original vintage condition, featuring an absolutely Near Mint gloss black Inverse Panda dial with all the original tritium lume plots intact.

The key difference with this model and the others in the Chrono Time line of the era is the chunky, Sea-Dweller-like rotating steel bezel. It features a black anodized aluminum dual-time  insert that has aged to a lovely charcoal-blue color and, with this “1-to-12” bezel calibration, more uncommon than the usual fixed Tachymeter versions, one can tell secondary time similar to a GMT-Master, but in 12-hour increments and in relation to the hour hand. Obviously, it can also be used for elapsed time in 5-minute units.

All in all, a great looking Inverse Panda dial and a highly legible chronograph layout on this classic Tudor Big Block that makes a great everyday watch and a true vintage statement on the wrist!

Click here to contact me and make this cool Tudor Big Block yours today!  SOLD

tomvox1’s Watches for Sale – Cartier JUMBO Tank MC ref. W5330003 w/B&P

Contact me here to make this cool Cartier yours today SOLD

On offer is this modern, handsome Cartier Tank MC ref. W5330003 in stainless steel with stunning silver guilloché Roman numeral dial and high-grade in-house automatic caliber 1904-PS MC. This model is part of the now discontinued line of watches that featured Cartier’s first true manufacture-developed & produced caliber after years of relying on other suppliers. For whatever reason, Cartier abandoned this concept after about a decade and took an abrupt U-turn back to almost exclusively outsourcing Piguet and ETA movements again. But it makes for a very interesting chapter in Cartier’s history and who knows what the future will bring for these models in terms of collectibility down the road? This Tank MC also comes with red Cartier box and original papers, including International Warranty Card with correctly matching case serial number, mini instruction booklet, as well as paperwork & purchase receipt from Birks Montreal from 2019, confirming original purchase for $9,700 Canadian. 

The Tank MC is by far the most classical and, to my eyes, most handsome of these “Manufacture Cartier” models, with its oversized but still recognizable Tank proportions and design, albeit a bit of a hybrid between the classic Tank Louis and the Tank Americaine. Make no mistake, this is a large rectangular watch at 34mm wide x 44mm long lug tip to lug tip that wears big for sure. But with its ergonomic curved case and the thinness of the movement, it is still only around 9mm tall at its highest point. And with its gorgeous “wave” pattern silver guilloché dial, bold Roman numerals and sunken, engine turned sub-seconds register, not to mention the oversized blue sapphire cabochon-set octagonal crown, it is absolutely stunning on the wrist, as well as being unmistakably Cartier stylistically.

The 27-jewel caliber 1904-PS MC is nicely decorated — if also a bit noisy — and easy to admire through the display back. It comes on its original black Cartier alligator strap with the patented adjustable steel Cartier deployant buckle, which makes proper fitting a breeze for any wrist size just by sliding the strap and then locking it down it via the U-shaped tines.

This classic oversize men’s dress watch has been worn and not stuck in a safe — if you want NOS, look elsewhere — and so, is in overall Very Good+ to Excellent pre-owned condition. It has never been polished and there are some small scratches to both factory-satined sides, especially the non-crown side, and one significant ding to the bottom right lug, which is quite hard to see when on the wrist (please refer to the pictures). The high polish tubular tops of the sides of the watch have numerous superficial swirlies but no major marks. Both sapphire crystals on the face and rear are undamaged and without chips or scratches. The dial and hands are obviously Mint. 

All in all, a fine Swiss watch from the great maison of Cartier with a lot of wrist presence and style that certainly represents in a casually elegant style. Very easy to dress this Cartier up or down if you’ve got the wrist for it!

Contact me here to make this cool Cartier yours today SOLD

tomvox1’s Watches for Sale – Vintage Angelus Military Type Chronograph w/Tropical Gilt Dial

Click here to contact me and make this special Angelus Chrono yours today! NOW ON SUPER SPRING SALE!

Up for sale is this large and beautiful circa 1940s-50s Angelus chronograph in 38mm all-stainless steel case with stunning dark brown tropical gilt dial, powered by the in-house Angelus cal. 215 movement. A famed maker of movements for others, Angelus came into their own in the middle of the twentieth century, when the demand for chronographs for military and civilian use reached a fever pitch. In addition to their famed Chronodato models, Angelus also produced aviator & military-style chronographs to meet the demand of the WWII and post-War era, like this one, which is exactly the same model as the “L.E.” marked Hungarian Air Force-issued version (for Légi Erő).

This example has no issue marks but is notable not only for the large and sought after 38mm case but the stunning original gilt dial with “big eye” sub-dials and original radium luminous Arabic numerals, the surface of which has also aged to a very beautiful and even deep brown tropical tone. This oversized Angelus military-style chrono represents beautifully on the wrist and the organic, even, warm dark chocolate tone is especially appealing.

Overall, this classic Angelus aviator’s chrono is in Excellent vintage condition with a stunning Excellent+ original gilt dial with complex, finely printed minute and tachymeter outer scales and luminous Arabic numeral layout. The case has some marks from age, as one would expect from a 70/80-year-old tool watch, but it still appears to retain its original brushed & polished finish and facets. The venerable Angelus cal. 215 movement was serviced last year and is operating well, ready for years’ more faithful service for its lucky new owner.

All in all, a very special mid-century aviator’s chronograph with loads of vintage charm and impressive wrist presence. Not the most uncommon vintage chrono out there but this is definitely one of the nicest examples you will see!

Click here to contact me and make this special Angelus Chrono yours today  NOW ON SUPER SPRING SALE!

tomvox1’s Watches for Sale – Vintage 1960s Omega C-Shape Constellation w/Stunning BLUE VIGNETTE Dial

Contact me here to make this very special C-Shape Connie yours today! SOLD

On offer is this beautiful and uncommon circa 1968 all-stainless steel Omega C-Shape Constellation ref. 168.017 with original & ultra rare blue vignette/dégradé dial. For Omega, these vignette dials are primarily found in the later, small square Constellations of the early ’70s, and it is highly uncommon to find one in a C-Shape Connie.

This type of dial features a high gloss lacquer finish with a color tone beneath that grows darker the further it gets from the center, in this case a stunning blue colorway that transitions from bright cobalt to a deep navy at the edges. This example also features a very subtle, attractive but hard-to-see-without-a-loupe “spidering” or “ice crackle” effect when viewed from certain oblique angles, which is a common occurrence on these dials as the lacquer ages and contracts.

Accompanied by its long brick-link ref. 1040 bracelet, this is a very special steel Constellation for the sophisticated collector. And at a very ergonomic 34.5mm in diameter, it’s really suitable for any wrist size or gender, especially as the fashion trend in watches heads back to more modest dimensions. Overall, the watch is in Excellent vintage condition with a case that appears unpolished and the very special original Near Mint blue vignette dial being the most remarkable aspect. This Connie also features the highly regarded caliber 564 Chronometer movement with quickset date under the hood.

The star of the show on this Constellation is, of course, the quite rare vignette aka dégradé dial, with its hypnotic gradations of blue. It also features hand-riveted white gold bar markers, applied OMEGA and Omega logo, Connie star and faceted date window frame. This is a luminous dial with all the original tritium lume plots still intact and perfectly matching luminous hands, so it is correctly signed “T SWISS MADE T”. Featuring its original white printing, the only “flaw” one can ascribe to this beautiful dial is the aforementioned “crackling” of the glossy lacquer finish, which is only barely visible at certain angles with the naked eye and which a lot of collectors, including me, find quite handsome. Simply put, this is a gorgeous and endlessly appealing Constellation dial and if you are a fan of blue dial watches, as I am, this is about as good as it gets from an aesthetic perspective.

Contact me here to make this very special C-Shape Connie yours today! SOLD

tomvox1’s Watches for Sale – Vintage SS Longines ref. 6536-1 w/Breguet Numeral Dial & Bombé Lugs

 

CLICK HERE TO CONTACT ME FOR MORE INFO ON THIS GREAT VINTAGE LONGINES  SOLD

On offer is this great looking circa 1950s Longines reference 6536-1 in a very cool all-stainless steel Bombé lug case and featuring a beautiful all-original Breguet numeral dial with wonderful eggshell patina and café au lait aged radium luminous. This great vintage Longines is in overall Excellent original condition and sports the terrific in-house caliber 19AS full rotor sweep seconds movement under the hood.

At 35 mm wide, this beautifully proportioned mens watch with attractive Breguet dial wears wonderfully well on the wrist and is a really fine example of mid-century Longines design. To my eyes, this case is like a hybrid of a Rolex Bombé with its twisted, sweeping lugs and then a Patek 565, with the very distinctive flat, “non-bezel” bezel.

Makes for some very interesting and eye-catching effects on the wrist, to be sure, and just a super pleasing case shape that works in wonderful harmony with that handsome ivory Breguet dial. Fully serviced in the middle of last year, this classic Longines is running well and ready to be enjoyed by the lucky new owner. Make it yours today!

CLICK HERE TO CONTACT ME FOR MORE INFO ON THIS GREAT VINTAGE LONGINES  SOLD