I kept this Seiko because it does something I always appreciate in a watch: it looks simple at first, and then gets more interesting the longer I stare at it. The large (for the era) dial is extremely clean, but not at all plain. The faceted applied markers and sharply shaped hands give it a lot of character, and the whole thing feels elegant without trying too hard. It is a very restrained design, but a striking one.

There is something incredibly satisfying about finding a vintage piece that punches far above its weight class. Benrus is a brand often remembered for its utilitarian military field watches or standard gold-plated dress pieces, but this Reference 7026 "Three Star" is an entirely different animal.

I had been looking to add a Constellation to my collection for some time before I finally scored this example in an auction. The pie pan dial is gorgeous, and the proportions are exactly what I love in a mid-century Omega: a clean 34mm case that wears bigger thanks to those crisp, faceted “dog-leg” lugs, and a dial that’s quietly dramatic once you notice what you’re looking at. The pie-pan facets catch the light in a way photos never fully capture, and the little applied star above six feels like Omega couldn’t resist a victory lap. 

I had been looking for the right vintage Cortébert to add to my collection for a while, and I was thrilled to find this early bumper automatic example. The black and charcoal dial with, crisp minute track, and restored stainless steel hands give it real presence, and the whole thing pops even more against the bright, polished stainless case. It’s one of those watches that looks like it was built to be read instantly, in bad light, in the real world—not just to be admired in a box.