BuyingTime Daily - October 21, 2025
Curating the Culture, Craft, and Commerce of Time Keeping
Time Graphing today’s watch universe
Welcome to Time Graphing Today’s Watch Universe for October 21, 2025 — your breezy, stylish wrap-up of what’s ticking in horology.
First up: bold news on the auction front. A yellow-gold Rolex ref. 6062 has smashed its own reference record by selling for approximately US$6.2 million at a sale held by Monaco Legend Group. This makes it the third-most expensive Rolex ever sold. The timepiece, which features a glossy black dial and diamond indices, surpassed the previous ref. 6062 champion—the legendary “Bao Dai” that fetched around US$5.06 million in 2017. Even in uncertain markets, demand for rare, complicated vintage icons remains lively.
Next, event highlight: the tenth anniversary of WatchTime New York proved to be more than just another watch show—it drew over 2,700 visitors and featured 40 + brands across three days at Gotham Hall. Among the world-premieres was a standout from Ulysse Nardin: the Freak S Enamel, which of course sets the stage for fresh collector interest as much as industry networking and wrist-watch spotting. The vibes? Elevated, communal, celebratory — a clear sign that physical gatherings still matter in a digital-first world.
Shifting gears to education: the Fondation Haute Horlogerie (FHH) has opened its consumer-facing certification program in the U.S., allowing watch enthusiasts (not just industry insiders) to earn titles like Watch Advisor, Watch Specialist and Watch Expert through an online 10-chapter video course. With a promotional 20 % discount running through end-of-2025, it’s a timely opener for those wanting deeper engagement with the craft beyond mere acquisition.
On the enthusiast-survey front: the latest aBlogtoWatch 2025 Community Survey sheds fresh light on collector behavior—storytelling and community experiences now outrank pure technical specs in many buyers’ minds. Younger collectors are trending toward smaller case sizes, overall spending is up, and while “investment” remains a buzzword, most are buying for personal joy rather than purely profit.
And speaking of independent voices: the Alternative Horological Alliance (AHA) gathered near Lake Geneva to foster transparency, collaboration and mutual support among unconventional Swiss watchmakers. The drive is less about exclusivity, more about community and shared survival in a crowded marketplace.
In playful nostalgia mode: good news for pop-culture fans — Casio just revived its calculator watch with the CA500WEBF-1A, inspired by Back to the Future. It features time-circuit styling, a flux-capacitor engraving and retro videotape-style packaging — all for about €119. A fun reminder that watches can be sharp, serious and whimsical at once.
Rounding out today’s quick glance, a peek at the auction world: the upcoming bundle of four MB&F M.A.D. Edition 1 watches (each 42 mm skeleton dial leather strap) is heading to auction tonight with attention from the more avant-garde collector crowd. While not mainstream, it’s a tidy snapshot of how niche in-house or independent lines are building secondary-market currency of their own.
That’s the pulse of today’s watch universe — from multi-million vintage racers to indie wunderkinds, from educational initiatives to retro-fun releases. Stay tuned for more tidbits, wrists, and watch-world waves. See you back here tomorrow.
News Time
Breaking News: A Yellow Gold Rolex ref. 6062 Sets Record for the Reference, Third Most Expensive Rolex Ever Sold, At $6.2 Million
A yellow gold Rolex reference 6062 sold for about $6.2 million at Monaco Legend Group, making it the third most expensive Rolex ever. The result surpasses the previous ref. 6062 record set by the “Bao Dai” at $5.06 million in 2017. Competitive bidding pushed the final price to €5.33 million with premium and VAT, underscoring strong demand amid uncertain markets. Its glossy black dial and diamond indices, along with clear differences from the Bao Dai, cemented the watch’s distinct appeal.
WatchTime New York Event Marks Milestone 10th Anniversary
The 10th anniversary of WatchTime New York drew more than 2,700 visitors to Gotham Hall for three days of exhibitions and experiences. Over 40 brands showcased notable pieces, including the world premiere of the Ulysse Nardin Freak S Enamel. The event emphasized community-building with a VIP opening night, tastings, and bespoke strap-making. Since 2015, the show has become a key fixture of modern watch culture and the global collector calendar.
Become A Certified Watch Advisor With The FHH Certification For Consumers
The Fondation Haute Horlogerie is expanding education with a new consumer certification program in the U.S. Learners progress through three levels—Watch Advisor, Watch Specialist, and Watch Expert—starting with a 10‑chapter video series that covers history, terminology, and industry trends. The program is delivered online via the FHH Boutique to make expertise more accessible to enthusiasts. A 20% discount is available through the end of 2025 to encourage participation.
Feature Time
What We Learned From The 2025 aBlogtoWatch Watch Enthusiast Community Survey
The 2025 survey highlights how storytelling and social interaction are now central to watch collecting, often outweighing pure product specs. Many collectors arrive from other hobbies, treating watches as a more advanced pursuit. Younger enthusiasts are trending toward smaller sizes while overall spending has risen, reflecting higher expectations in a shifting economy. Despite hype around “investment” pieces, most buyers prioritize personal enjoyment and gravitate to passionate retailers who create engaging experiences.
“We are happy outsiders”
Independent brands in the Alternative Horological Alliance met near Lake Geneva to trade hard‑won lessons and mutual support. Founded in 2024, the AHA fosters collaboration among makers who have chosen unconventional paths in Swiss watchmaking. Members emphasize transparency, resource sharing, and community over exclusivity to navigate production and market challenges. They want the alliance to stay flexible and supportive while preserving each brand’s identity.
Great Scott! Casio Just Revived its ‘Back to the Future’ Watch
Casio’s limited CA500WEBF-1A celebrates the movie’s 40th anniversary with time‑circuit styling and a flux capacitor engraving. Priced at €119, it channels the iconic calculator watch worn by Marty McFly with added DeLorean‑inspired details. The special edition arrives in October 2025 with videotape‑style packaging for extra nostalgia. It’s a playful tribute that blends retro charm with pop‑culture pedigree.
The Rolex GMT-Master That Flew Around the World — Cliff Tait’s Extraordinary Journey
In 1969, New Zealand pilot Cliff Tait circumnavigated the globe solo in a small plane, guided in part by a Rolex GMT‑Master 1675. The watch, gifted by Rolex, enabled time‑zone tracking without batteries or external power. Tait’s 30,500‑mile journey overcame logistical hurdles across multiple countries and became an aviation milestone. The storied GMT‑Master is now headed to auction, embodying the link between human endurance and precision engineering.
Photo Report: Inside Mike Wood’s ‘For Exhibition Only’: A Private Rolex Collection On Limited Display
Collector Mike Wood opened a private exhibition near Liverpool featuring more than 200 vintage Rolex watches. Visitors explored rare references alongside period ads, tools, and memorabilia, seeing objects typically known only from photographs. Wood focused on educating younger enthusiasts about history, craft, and brand evolution. The event doubled as a celebration of heritage and a catalyst for new collector curiosity.
Breitling Lady Premier - Interview with Head of Product Design Pablo Widmer
Breitling’s Lady Premier introduces seven women’s models that emphasize personality and lasting design over fleeting trends. With clean lines, distinct edges, and both mechanical and quartz options, the collection nods to the 1940s Model 780. Features include lab‑grown diamonds and thoughtful ergonomics that balance function and elegance. Priced from €5,350 to €16,000, the line aims for accessible luxury with a creative spirit.
The Latest Time
Bell & Ross
Introducing: The Bell & Ross BR-X3 Night Vision — Carbon, Lume, And Tactical Cool
The BR-X3 Night Vision pushes materials and visibility with a LUM-CAMO carbon fiber and luminous resin case that glows in low light. A multilayered dial flooded with green Super‑LumiNova X2 evokes aviation HUDs and makes for a dramatic nighttime display. Despite the aggressive look, the lightweight titanium and ergonomic design keep it comfortable on the wrist. A COSC‑certified automatic movement with a 70‑hour power reserve and a 250‑piece limit round out this striking release.
Chronoswiss
Introducing: The new Chronoswiss Opus Chronograph Darkar
This Opus Chronograph pairs a 41mm Grade 5 titanium case and knurled bezels with a warm brown CVD‑coated, partially skeletonized dial. Inside is the reworked automatic caliber C.741S, based on the Valjoux 7750, with a 46‑hour power reserve. Water resistance is 100 meters, adding practicality to the dramatic “Dakar” aesthetic. A sand‑colored nubuck leather strap completes the desert‑inspired look at CHF 13,900.
Hermès
Introducing: The Hermès H08 Chronographe In Naples Yellow
Hermès brings bold sportiness with a 41 by 45mm multilayered carbon case, sunburst‑brushed titanium bezel, and vivid yellow accents. The monopusher chronograph uses a Dubois Dépraz module, delivering a 46‑hour power reserve and 100 meters of water resistance. Grainy sub‑dials, luminous hands, and a date window keep legibility high. Priced at €12,000 / US$12,800 / £10,200, it blends innovative materials with a cohesive design.
Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton Brings Back the Monterey
Limited to 188 pieces, the modern Monterey honors the brand’s late‑1980s first wristwatch by designer Gae Aulenti. Its 18K yellow gold 39mm case frames a white Grand Feu enamel dial with opaline glow and colorful accents. The in‑house automatic LFT MA01.02 offers a 45‑hour power reserve and contemporary finishing. At $59,000, it fuses LV’s horological heritage with refined modern craftsmanship.
Piaget
Piaget Andy Warhol Collage Limited Edition
Limited to 50 pieces, this 45mm 18‑carat yellow gold watch reinterprets Warhol’s 1986 Polaroid collage self‑portrait in gemstone marquetry. Black onyx, yellow Namibian serpentine, pink opal, and green chrysoprase create a vivid dial with remarkable depth. The ultra‑thin in‑house automatic 501P1 provides a 40‑hour power reserve. A green leather strap ties the artwork together and nods to Piaget’s historic connection with Warhol.
First Look: The new Piaget Andy Warhol Watch Collage Limited Edition - Read More >
Piaget honours Pop Art legend with the Andy Warhol ‘Collage’ Limited Edition Watch - Read More >
Serica
Introducing: The New Serica Parade Reference 1174 with Linen Dials
Serica’s latest leans vintage and compact, with a stadium‑shaped case at 35mm wide, 41mm long, and 8.2mm thick. Deeply textured linen dials in Slate Blue or Tobacco Green combine polished markers with a clean layout. The Soprod M100 automatic supplies 42 hours of power and 100 meters of water resistance supports daily wear. Priced at EUR 1,490 on an alligator‑embossed calf strap, deliveries begin mid‑November 2025.
Studio Underd0g
Introducing: The Studio Underd0g × Fears 02Series Mim0sa
The Mim0sa caps a cocktail‑inspired trilogy and opens for online orders on October 23, 2025. Its 38mm steel case frames a 1mm‑thick sapphire dial with a luminous gradient effect using hand‑applied Super‑LumiNova. A hand‑wound Sellita SW210‑1 delivers a 42‑hour reserve, and 100 meters of water resistance keeps it versatile. Priced at £1,000 / €1,000 / $1,300 on a gray Alcantara strap, it mixes playful design with quality execution.
Titan Watches
Introducing: India’s first Wandering Hours Timepiece, the Titan Stellar 3.0
Limited to 500 pieces at INR 179,995 (~US$2,050), the Stellar 3.0 debuts wandering hours for India with a central carousel and two time satellites. The 42mm case uses crystallized titanium and bronze for a modern industrial look, with 50 meters of water resistance. A locally produced automatic movement offers 40 hours of power and daily reliability. A black FKM rubber strap completes the technical, contemporary aesthetic.
Wearing Time - Reviews
Norqain
Hands-On With The Norqain Independence Skeleton Chrono 42mm Orange
Norqain’s Independence Skeleton Chrono 42mm Orange pairs functionality with bold design, featuring a 42mm stainless steel case and a vivid open‑worked orange dial for enhanced readability. It runs on the COSC‑certified automatic Norqain 8K caliber with a 62‑hour power reserve. Comfort and daily wear are supported by a textured orange rubber strap and 100 meters of water resistance. Priced at £5,150 on strap and £5,370 on bracelet, it stands out as a colorful, engaging option in the luxury chronograph space.
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BuyingTime at Auction
A few select current auctions that caught our eye on Grailzee and Bezel
[Monday’s auction watch, the 2025 Rolex GMT-Master II “Batman” 40MM Black Dial Oyster Bracelet (126710BLNR) - was sold for $17,100.]
MB&F MAD Edition 1 Set Bundle 42MM Skeleton Dial Leather Strap (M.A.D. 1)
Auction Report: “Avant-Garde Collector’s Bundle: Four × MB&F M.A.D. Edition 1 42 mm Skeleton Dial Leather-Strap Watches — Auction Ends 21 Oct 2025”
This auction presents a compelling package: a bundle of four of the M.A.D. Editions M.A.D. 1 watches from MB&F (via their M.A.D. Editions line), each with a 42 mm skeletonised dial, leather strap, accompanied by their original boxes and additional items. The seller states the watches are in very good condition. It is important to note that the manufacturer does not issue traditional warranty cards for these M.A.D. Editions, so provenance and completeness (boxes, accessories) become especially important in assessing value and risk.
Background and History
The M.A.D. Editions programme was introduced by MB&F in June 2021 as a more accessible off-shoot of their high-end “Machines”. The M.A.D. 1 was conceived as a creative thank-you to MB&F’s suppliers and “Tribe” members, yet with the same inventive DNA: an inverted movement, visible rotor on top of the dial, lateral hours/minutes display via caseband, and a bold 42 mm case. While MB&F’s core Machines typically cost tens of thousands of dollars, the M.A.D. 1 was launched at a much lower price point (CHF 1,900 excluding VAT originally) in order to broaden access. The 42 mm case, skeletonised dial, and spinning rotor atop the movement give it a strong visual identity that reflects MB&F’s avant-garde approach. For example: “The first thing that attracts almost everyone … the battle-axe winding rotor … just like the HM3 and HM8.” In 2024 the line was refreshed with the M.A.D. 1S variant, slimmer and using a Swiss La Joux-Perret G101 movement instead of the earlier Japanese base calibre.
Value Considerations
On the secondary market the M.A.D. 1 shows a wide price range. Listings and sales for single examples of M.A.D. 1 indicate values roughly in the USD 3,500-6,000 range for typical versions. For example, one aggregator notes auction results for the M.A.D. 1 “Blue” at around US $5,250. Another pricing site lists low USD 3,600 to high USD 14,500 for some special examples. A key publication noted that for one edition the second-hand value was between US $12,000 and 15,000 (though that may reflect a specific variant, limited edition, or full set). Chrono24 listings show for example a full set bundle of 4 (various colours) at about US $19,431. Given the auction is the entire bundle of four pieces plus boxes and extras, one must consider that the aggregate value could exceed 4× the single price (though not simply linear, as multiples often involve diminishing returns), and that completeness, condition, variant (colour, limited edition), and provenance all add premium.
Specific Auction Bundle: Considerations
Because you are bidding on a bundle of four watches, the dynamics change. A few salient points:
Condition: Seller states “very good condition” — this suggests minimal wear, but we should expect inspection for scratches on case, straps, function of rotor/time display, completeness (boxes, accessories).
Completeness: With no warranty cards issued by the manufacturer, the presence of boxes and additional items becomes more important for collector appeal and resale value.
Variant & Rarity: The description mentions “Blue” in the general text (“MAD Edition 1 Blue …”), but the bundle may include assorted colours (common in these editions are Blue, Green, Red). Variant colour can impact desirability (special editions, limited runs). For example: one listing of Blue full set commanded over US $7,500.
Market Trends: The M.A.D. 1 line has shown resale strength due to its MB&F lineage, creative design, and relative accessibility in the independent watch market. But the market is still niche, so liquidity may not be as high as mainstream luxury watches.
Auction Deadline: The auction ends at 6:28 pm tonight (October 21, 2025) — your bidding strategy will need to reflect that short timeframe.
Bundle Premium: Four watches bundled may offer a positive yield if you assume that each watch might, on average, sell for say US $5,000 individually; four would equate to US $20,000. However, bundling can reduce buyer competition (some buyers may only want one) and condition/variant mix may dilute total value.
Importantly: Because these watches do not carry traditional manufacturer warranty cards, verifying originality and condition becomes paramount prior to bidding.
Recommendation & Auction Strategy
Given the above, if I were writing a recommendation: this is an excellent opportunity provided the condition, variant, and completeness check out favourably. The value proposition is enhanced by purchasing multiple watches in one lot, which may offer better per-piece pricing than buying individually. That said, because the market for four at once is narrower, plan for either resale of one or more pieces or anticipate holding them for longer term. I would advise:
Try to inspect or obtain high-definition images of the cases, dials, straps, rotor behaviour, and boxes/extra items.
Confirm which colour variants are included (e.g., Blue, Green, Red) and whether they are “special” limited variants (e.g., “Lucky Clover” green, “Time to Love” edition).
Set a maximum bid based on conservative per‐watch value — for example if you believe each piece conservatively at US $4,000 given condition/variant, four pieces total budget US $16,000 + premium for bundle convenience = maybe up to US $18-20k (adjust by your currency/fees/import).
Keep in mind buyer’s premium, shipping, import/tax implications.
Be ready to act near the end of the auction (sniping or active bidding) since it ends at 6:28 pm tonight.
Conclusion
In sum, the four-watch bundle of the MB&F M.A.D. Edition 1 line presents a rare chance to acquire multiple examples of a cult-favorite design that marked MB&F’s accessible entry point. This model, while priced modestly at launch, has shown strong secondary demand thanks to its distinctive aesthetic, MB&F heritage, and limited distribution. With proper due diligence on condition and variant, the bundle can represent compelling value — though remember the niche nature of the market and the fact that you’re buying four at once adds complexity (and potential upside). With the auction closing this evening, you’ll want your maximum bid prepared and your inspection criteria set beforehand. Good luck.
Current bid: $3,500