The Seven Best replica Watches Of 2015 That You Probably Forgot About
For the past few years, it seems like we’ve seen a new watch announced every day of the week – doesn’t it? It does to us, and we do our best to only show you the finest watches out there – the watches worth knowing about. But we’ve still seen so many new introductions this year – and some of them have been huge, like Tudor’s Black Bay Black, Patek’s enamel dialed, split-seconds 5370, AP’s new perpetual calendar Royal Oak, JLC’s ticking Geophysic, and, of course, Vacheron’s 57260, the most complicated watch, ever. But, there have been some absolute gems that came out this year that we’ve absolutely loved – but that didn’t receive much fanfare from the masses, and in some cases, went totally under the radar. Here we’ll show you seven watches introduced in 2015 that are absolutely awesome, though you likely forgot about them.
1. The Rotonde De fake Cartier Chronograph
What Is It?
I say this every time I begin a story about Cartier – they deserve your respect not only as a designer, but also as a serious watchmaker. Their 1904 calibers – both the self-winding replica watches with date and the 1904-CH found in the awesome Calibre de Chronograph (detailed review here) are absolutely top tier in every way and until January of this year, we’d only seen them used in bulky, 42 mm Calibre cases. This, however, is a far more elegant use of their in-house chronograph, and in just 40 mm.
Why Do We Love It?
Because Cartier should be the ultimate in elegant watchmaking, and yet the cases and designs of late have been a little too much for the traditionalist in us. The 40 mm Calibre de Chronograph couples a great movement with nice dials, a reasonable case size, and a killer price – $9,050 in steel.
2. The Montblanc Heritage Chronometrie Ultra Slim
What Is It?
This is an ultra-slim, manually wound movement, void of any distractions (looking at you, seconds hands!) that is expertly assembled by a major brand at a price point of $2,045. Montblanc does some amazing high-end things with its Minerva manufacture, and even its more more affordable complications like the world-timer and annual calendar receive a lot of attention, but this watch is a downright killer – coming in thinner than even some very high end dedicated ultra thin watches, with a great Peseux movement and amazing price.
Why Do We Love It?
Because the idea of a true ultra thin watch, lacking seconds, with a manually wound movement was previously left to the very high end – Lange, Piaget, Vacheron, etc. This watch gives you that look and feel for way less, but still offering good name brand recognition.
Read more here.
3. The New A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1
What Is It?
2014 marked the 20th anniversary of the rebirth of Lange, and with it, two decades of the Lange 1. In January of this year, the 21st of Lange 1, we were shown a brand new, totally revamped caliber for this benchmark in modern watchmaking. The Lange 1’s original caliber, built during what many would deem a dark period for fine watchmaking, was indeed beautiful and more than adequate. But, in 2015, we saw a completely revamped caliber with some major technical upgrades (read here for a head-to-head comparison), and some supremely subtle but wonderful aesthetic changes – a slightly thinner bezel, more slight script on the font, and a movement diameter that is slightly slimmer and wider, filling the case even better.
Why Do We Love It?
Because I don’t think anyone was complaining about the original Lange 1 Caliber in the least, and Lange absolutely did NOT need to redesign this legendary watch’s movement from the ground up with the L1 continuing to be a strong seller. But they did, and an amazing watch just got even better. And that is why Lange is Lange, and why we love them. PS – Lange currently has both old and new L1’s in stores now, but not for long, so if you want to see them side-by-side, make your way to a dealer ASAP.
Read more here.
4. fake Vacheron Constantin Harmony Grand Complication Split-Seconds Chronograph
What Is It?
Vacheron had an insanely strong year – one that in my opinion, easily trumps those of other top-tier watchmakers. We saw this beautiful platinum piece featuring the historic Lemania caliber, we saw the new in-house mono-pusher chronograph, and of course, we saw the incredible 57260. All were awesome introductions, but none of them were as perfect to me as the downright insane Harmony Grand Complication Split-Seconds Chronograph. It’s a freaking SELF-WINDING, ultra-slim, mono-pusher split seconds chronograph using a peripheral rotor. It’s thinner than Patek’s, and that one is manual! Only 10 pieces were made, and they cost a fortune, but this is the absolute best thing Vacheron has done in ages.
Why Do We Love It?
Because putting 459 beautifully finished chronograph parts into just 5.2 mm deserves your respect. Oh, and that rectangular Harmony case looks just wonderful in platinum. Further, this watch is proof that VC can still make an indisputably world-class wristwatch caliber – one that, frankly, I believe to be unrivaled in the field of chronographs at this moment in time. And that peripheral rotor that blocks exactly zero of the amazing caliber? Brilliant. Finally, Philippe Dufour said he liked it a lot too, so there.
Read more here.
6. The fake Rolex Oyster Perpetual 39 MM
What Is It?
Whether you know it or not, you want a modern Rolex. Trust me, you do. What has prevented many from buying a modern Rolex historically is that older, vintage pieces could be had for less than the retail on a modern watch, at least for the cool ones. That changed this year when Rolex upsized its entry-level but still awesome Oyster Perpetual to 39 mm and priced it at just under $6,000.
Why Do We Love It?
39 mm. Smooth bezel. Oyster bracelet. Brand new, with your name on the cert, for under $6,000? There is simply nothing to argue with here, and this very well could be the best watch money can buy for the price. Now, I’m as die-hard a vintage guy as anyone, but this watch makes almost too much sense.
Read more here.
5. The Zenith El Primero Chronograph Classic
What Is It?
Zenith is a known chronograph maker, but they’ve also trended towards the sport chronos. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but if you consider the finest watches in the world – the pieces we all aspire to own – many of them are actually very elegant chronographs – the Datograph, the 5170, etc. It has always made me curious why we never see elegant chronographs under $10,000? This year we saw the Rotonde de Cartier Chronograph mentioned above, and this beautiful Zenith El Primero Chornograph Classic. It’s beautiful, uses a historically interesting caliber, and is priced right. Again, not much not to like here.
Why Do We Love It?
Because there needs to be, nay, deserves to be more options for in-house chronographs under $10,000 that look good with a jacket and tie, not a racing or flight suit! Great looks, good movement, fair price from a brand that we’ve always had a lot of respect for. This could be a great step in a new direction for Zenith.
Read more here.
7. The Glashutte Original Senator Observer
What Is It?
Okay, so GO is not Lange, and that’s okay, because if they were, this watch would cost about four times as much as it does. The Baselworld 2015 release of the Senator Observer revived our fascination with “deck watches” with this beautiful chronometer featuring a big date, killer matte-black dial, and heck of a lot of charm. Needless to say, the chronometer-grade movement is completely in-house and super nicely finished – in fact I would venture to say it is a far nicer movement that most comparable calibers at the same price point.
Why Do We Love It?
Because Glashütte Original deserves your respect, and this is absolutely the best looking, most charming watch they’ve made in years. And because the Senator Observer doesn’t look at all like a single A. Lange & Söhne in production but still features a very German, high quality feel that you would expect from a high-end Saxon manufacture.
Read more about it here.
Honorable Mention: The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 15400 Two-Tone
What Is It?
This is the modern day, 41 mm self-winding Royal Oak that we all know and love with AP’s killer in-house caliber 3121 movement, now in a two-tone case! It’s got retro sensibilities with completely modern production values and it offers its owner a great conversation starter among any fashion forward friends. It just looks great, too.
Why Do We Love It?
Because who in their right mind would want a two-tone Royal Oak today. Actually, it turns out, a lot of people – it has proven to be in amazingly high demand by clients of 2015 who agree that the 1970s case shape fits the two-tone nature perfectly well. If there was ever a watch to rock in two-tone, it’s a Royal Oak, and now you can do it by just walking into an authorized dealer.
Read more here.