Last week saw the world’s biggest exhibition in watchmaking and jewelry, Baselworld. Every year, the best watchmakers from around the world showcase their newest designs and trends, with over 1,500 brands in attendance. This year, we saw the introduction of “new” materials in fine watchmaking, like titanium and silicon. Blue was all the rage, with many of the biggest brands featuring shades of blue in one way or another. And retro is still in, as we saw many upgrades of vintage designs. Check out our list of ten favorites from this year’s convention.

Patek Philippe Calatrava Pilot Travel Time

This design of this new model is unlike anything we’ve ever seen from Patek Philippe. The sporty design features a white gold case, a blue dial and a leather bracelet. The blue dial was inspired by US Navy fighter planes and utilized this year’s blue trend well. It also tracks two time zones with easy adjustment with patented locking push-pieces.

Rolex Day-Date 40

This revival completely revamped the bracelet, dial, case and movement of this Rolex classic. The bracelet links have ceramic inserts to make the watch more comfortable and durable. And the watch is available in gold or platinum.

Breguet Tradition Chronograph Independent 7077

While many watchmakers sought to embrace the new technology in smartwatches, Breguet decided to showcase its mechanical movement in a modern-looking, titanium skeleton design. What’s unusual about this watch is that it features two different gear trains — one for its timekeeper and one for its chronograph.

Omega Seamaster Ploprof 1200M Co-Axial Chronometer

This model first appeared in the ’70s, then reappeared in 2007, and again this year. This dive watch is now lighter and made of titanium with mesh-metal bracelet and ceramic bezel. The dial has also been simplified with the removal of the date.

Longines Pulsometer Chronograph

This 1920s-inspired design from Longines features a steel case, vintage dial and red pulsometer scale. The pulsometer is a scale for doctors to use when taking a pulse. The watch also features a 54-hour power reserve.

Ulysse Nardin Anchor Tourbillon

The classic look of this Ulysse Nardin design comes coupled with new technology. The watch, available in white or rose gold, features shock absorption with a new, in-house movement. The escapement, made entirely of silicium, was in development for eight years. The design features a large and clear dial, exposed tourbillon, a leather bracelet and it is available 18k white or rose gold.

Omega Globemaster

This design originated in the 1950s and is among another vintage-inspired design from the convention. However, this modern replica passes a total of eight additional quality tests in addition to the Swiss quality agency’s qualifications. True to its name, the Globemaster will be sure to stand up to any conditions.

TAG Heuer Carrera Heuer 01

This Carrera has introduced a new case, design and construction. The most apparent new feature is the skeleton case that gives you a look at the mechanics. The automatic chronograph has a modern appeal and it’s made from steel and titanium. No matter what this design is called, it would never be called traditional.

Tudor Pelagos Blue

With its blue bezel, blue dial and blue bracelet, Tudor incorporated the color trend beautifully in its Pelagos Blue design. The watch also includes a new in-house movement with a 70-hour power reserve. It’s water resistant to 500 meters.

Sarpaneva Korona K0 Northern Lights

The Northern Lights design was perhaps the most original at Baselworld. The designs feature lume dials in purple, blue or green. What’s more interesting, however, is that Sarpaneva didn’t just use “new” materials like titanium. That’s that’s not luminate paint. Sarpaneva collaborated with James Thompson who created actual new luminate composite materials. It also features an in-house, moonphase complication.

Though both rubies and garnets are beautiful red stones, you really don’t want to confuse the two. Specifically, you don’t want to pay for a ruby and wear a garnet. At a brief glance, they look very similar. However, rubies are considered one of the most valuable gemstones whereas garnets are, well, not. Rubies are harder, a much more brilliant red, and much more expensive.

Consider these tips when examining your red gemstones:

1. Color

Examine the color closely. If the stone has hints of orange or other earthy tones — other than red — it’s likely a garnet. Rubies are considered best with a vivid redness, but sometimes they have purplish or bluish secondary hues.

2. Light

Another way to determine if your stone is a ruby or a garnet is to examine the spectrum. To do this, hold your stone up to a bright light source and move it around until the stone creates a rainbow. Now, look at the rainbow, or spectrum, and if there are yellow and green bands, then your stone is likely not a ruby. Due to nature of rubies, they absorb greens and yellow in the color spectrum, so they would not appear in this test. Garnets, however, reflect small bands of yellow and green.

3. The Jeweler

Finally, if you are still unsure if your stone is a ruby or garnet, take it to your jeweler to be expertly examined.

Check out our authenticated rubies and garnets at TrueFacet.

When we think of precious stones, diamonds, emeralds and rubies jump to mind as the most valuable gemstones in the world. However (or perhaps surprisingly), there are so many gemstones that are even more rare and, in turn, even more valuable.

Check out these ten incredibly rare and insanely expensive gems below.

10. Tanzanite
This striking blueish-purple stone is found exclusively in the Merelani foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. Because of the remote and singular location, there is serious concern the world’s supply of tanzanite may be depleted in the next 20 years.

And with great rarity, comes a greater price at $600- $1,000 per carat.

9. Taaffeite

Austrian geologist Count Edward Charles Richard Taaffe is credited with discovering taaffeite, after happening across it while sifting through a box of similarly colored Sri Lankan spinel gemstones. Since this initial finding in 1945, only a handful of taaffeite stones have ever been found, mostly in Sri Lanka and Tanzania.

Should you be so lucky to find it, taaffeite costs between $1,500 – $2,500 per carat.

8. Black Opal
Opal is a fairly common gemstone but black opals are a beautiful rarity. These stones are streaked with bright colors in cosmic swirls which stand in sharp contrast to the stone’s unusual darkness. Nearly all black opals are mined from the Lightning Ridge in New South Wales, Australia but some have also been found in the opal mining town of Mintabie, South Australia.

These dark and mysterious gems fetch about $2,300 per carat.

7. Benitoite
Although small deposits in Japan and Arkansas have uncovered benitoite, the only commercial benitoite mine is in San Benito, California. The deposit, however, no longer actively produces this magnificent blue gemstone, which only further increases its scarcity. Benitoite stones—should they be found at all—are usually a carat or less and cap out at two carats.

This sapphire-blue stone runs $3,000-4,000 per carat.

6. Red Beryl
Red beryl is mined in the Wah Wah Mountains of Utah, which is the only location where gem-quality crystals can be found. Other locations in Utah, New Mexico and Mexico have turned up red beryl but most stones are too small and deemed unworthy of faceting. For perspective on its awesome rarity, the Utah Geological Survey estimates there is one gem-quality red beryl crystal for every 150,000 gem-quality diamonds.

When cut, Red beryl stones can reach up to $10,000 per carat.

5. Alexandrite
Although it was named in honor of the Russian Tsar Alexander II, Alexandrite gleaned its moniker, “emerald by day, ruby by night” from the beautiful shade of blue-green or magenta it shines in different light sources. Since its discovery in the 1830s in the Ural Mountains of Russia, new deposits have been found in East Africa, Sri Lanka and Brazil. However these new mines do not make alexandrite any less rare—or less expensive.

Alexandrite can cost up to an astounding $12,000 per carat.

4. Jadeite
Although it appears in varying shades of green, from pale to apple, jadeite in an intense, translucent green is considered the top of class. Jadeite is particularly prized for its long history, having been traced back to ancient Mesoamerica where the hard and dense mineral was used in tools and weaponry.

Today jadeite is mainly sourced in Myanmar and costs upwards of $30,000 per carat.

3. Musgravite
Granted all the gemstones on this list are rare but musgravite is exceptionally rare. For many years after its 1967 discovery in South Australia’s Musgrave Range, there were only eight known musgravite stones in the world. Since then small quantities of musgravite have popped up in Greenland, Antarctica, Sri Lanka, Madagascar and Tanzania but that hasn’t increased its availability. Musgravite remains exceedingly scarce and incredibly expensive, running roughly $35,000 per carat.

2. Painite
Even decades after mineralogist Arthur C.D. Paine first found this orange-brown stone in Myanmar in the 1950s, only two painite specimens were known to exist, making it the world’s rarest gemstone. Because the stone is effectively priceless, the likelihood of finding painite on the market is slim.

And should you find it, painite runs $50,000 – $60,000 per carat.

1. Pink Star Diamond
The honor of “Most Rare and Expensive Gem” goes to the Pink Star Diamond. This stunning beauty weighs in at a hefty 59.6 carats. When it was put up on Sotheby’s auction block in 2013, the Pink Star went for a jaw-dropping $83.2 million. However the auction winner defaulted on the payment and this vivid pink diamond now sits in Sotheby’s inventory, valued at $72 million. This valuation puts the Pink Star in at $1,208,053.69 per carat.

Shop the look with authenticated items from TrueFacet!

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Gemstone is a blanket term we give to mineral crystals that are cut and polished to be used in jewelry making. But more specifically gemstones are categorized into two groups: precious and semi-precious stones.

Precious stones (namely diamonds, rubies, emeralds and sapphires) are translucent and rank high on the Mohs Hardness scale. Semi-precious stones meanwhile include the gemstones that are more abundant in nature but, despite their somewhat misleading name, can be as coveted and costly as precious stones.

We take a closer look at the primary precious and semi-precious gemstones, their distinctive features and what makes them so valuable.

PRECIOUS STONES

Diamond

Diamonds are the colorless, crystalline form of pure, concentrated carbon. Diamonds form roughly 100 miles below the Earth’s surface where the intense pressure (at least 435,113 pounds per square inch) and sweltering temperatures of at least 752 degrees Fahrenheit create the ideal conditions to turn carbon into diamonds. This extreme process makes diamonds the hardest naturally-occurring material on earth, ranking as a 10 on the Mohs Hardness Scale.

The quality of a diamond is measured against “The 4Cs” which include color, cut, clarity, and carat weight.

Color refers to the shade in a range from colorless to a light yellow, with colorless diamonds being the rarest and therefore most valuable. There is a separate sub-group of rare and colorful diamonds dubbed fancy color diamonds whose vivid pink, red, blue, green, brown or yellow hues are the result of naturally occurring impurities in the diamond’s formation process.

Cut are the angles a craftsman cuts into a raw diamond to make it a polished diamond. These crucial cuts are rooted in scientific formulas and proportions designed to optimize the reflection and refraction of light within a stone. Of the “Four Cs,” cut is considered the most significant factor in determining a diamond’s value as it greatly influences on the diamond’s fire, brilliance and scintillation.

Clarity refers to a ranked scale of perfection or how few blemishes and inclusions there are within the diamond. This rating is determined by the number, size and location of the imperfections relative to the size of the diamond and their overall impact on the appearance of the stone. There are 11 potential grades from flawless to included. A flawless stone with no visible blemishes or inclusions under 10x magnification is extremely rare (and therefore incredibly valuable). Meanwhile an included diamond has flaws visible to the naked eye.

Carat weight is the unit of measurement for describing the weight of diamonds. One carat weight is the equivalent of .2 grams. The value of a diamond increases dramatically with the size due to rarity. It is important to note that the value of a diamond is based on the “4 Cs” combined; carat weight alone tells you nothing about the overall quality of the diamond.

When buying a diamond, it is important to keep in mind that the value of a diamond is based on all four of these factors combined. One element does not ensure high value. For example, a diamond with higher carat weight, but low clarity might be worth less than a diamond with higher clarity and a lower carat weight.

Emerald

Emeralds are a rare variation of the mineral beryl and their rich green color is due to the chemical element chromium present in the stone.

Like diamonds, an emerald’s value is determined by color, cut, clarity, and carat weight. The optimum color for an emerald is a vivid green or a blueish-green.

Emerald is a comparatively softer stone (usually a 7.5-8 on the Mohs Scale) so nearly all emeralds have inclusions—and most are highly included. Ones without imperfections are exceedingly rare and more valuable than diamonds. Therefore, the emerald should ideally be very transparent, neither too dark nor too light.

The most common cut for an emerald stone is (no surprise here) the emerald cut. However other popular cuts include round, oval, pear, teardrop and cabochon, which is when a gemstone is shaped and polished into a rounded, bubble-like shape instead of faceted.

Synthetic emeralds are comparatively less expensive with fewer inclusions and occlusions. However they are less valuable than natural emeralds. When shopping for emerald jewelry, make sure you weigh the price and examine the clarity and vividness of the stone together. If the price seems unusually low for a bright and vivid emerald stone, the jewel may be synthetic.

Ruby

Rubies are specifically the red variation of the mineral corundum. The other color varieties of corundum are referred to as sapphires. Large rubies are incredibly rare, even more so than sapphires of equal size. When shopping for ruby jewelry, consider the price per carat which scales based upon the size of the ruby: the larger the ruby, the higher the per carat cost.

The primary determining factor of a ruby’s value is the intensity of its rich blood-red color with the most coveted being a vivid, medium dark red. The clarity of a ruby also influences its value: the higher the clarity, the higher the price. The most expensive and desired rubies hail from the Mogok Valley in Myanmar (Burma) which historically was the premier source for rubies. Although rubies have been mined around the world including in Thailand, Cambodia, and Afghanistan, Burmese rubies still garner the highest price tag.

Sapphire

All non-red, gem-quality corundum gemstones are classified as sapphires. Sapphires are typically found in (and thought of as) blue but other fancy colors include yellow, purple, orange, green, even grey and black.

Like the aforementioned gemstones, the value of a sapphire is dependent upon the size, cut, color, and clarity. Color is based upon the vividness of the primary hue. The highest quality sapphires’ color consists of 85% of the primary hue and 15% of the secondary hue. In the case of pink sapphires, deeper pinks are higher in value but when the minimum color saturation level is reached, the pink sapphire is then re-classified as a ruby.

The origin of the sapphire also influences the gemstone’s value. Sapphires have been mined in a number of countries including Afghanistan, Colombia, Tanzania and Vietnam, but stones hailing from Kashmir, Burma, or Sri Lanka are considered the most valuable.

One special characteristic of sapphires is a six-pointed star-shaped inclusion known as an asterism. Although inclusions are often otherwise undesirable, this unique feature is highly coveted and are specially categorized as star sapphires.

SEMI-PRECIOUS STONES

Topaz

Topaz is a mineral of aluminum and fluorine. This semi-precious gemstone is naturally colorless but impurities can tint the transparent stone, creating an array of colors including yellow, pale gray, red-orange, blue-brown, blue, gold, and yellow-orange and, in rare instances, red or pink. Blue topaz is a popular jewelry-making material but naturally-occurring blue topaz is rare. In turn, topaz is frequently treated to create the desired blue hue.

Compared to other semi-precious gemstones, topaz is fairly abundant in the marketplace which makes it an affordable stone to include in jewelry design. Because of its crystal-shape, topaz is commonly cut into an oval, pear, or even emerald shape.

Turquoise

Turquoise is a hydrated phosphate of copper and aluminum and, when it is found in rare, finer-grades, it is classified as a gemstone. Unlike most gemstones, turquoise is opaque and usually ranges in color from white to sky blue but has also been found in powder- and greenish-blue. The vividness of the color is key when shopping for turquoise. If the stone is translucent, it is considered a lower quality stone. It is also worth noting that turquoise is oftentimes dyed to achieve that recognizable, bright blue color and this requires special care to maintain its rich color.

The name turquoise traces its origins to the 17th century and the French word turques in reference to the mineral’s introduction to Europe from Turkey. Since then, turquoise has remained in high demand which has gradually depleted the world’s supply. Therefore, while turquoise is moderately priced now, it could grow into an investment in the coming years.

Amethyst

Amethyst is the violet grade of quartz which is caused by irradiation, iron impurities and the presence of trace elements. While quartz can appear in a variety of colors, amethyst is the most valued variety. Premier amethyst stones hail from Siberia, Sri Lanka, Brazil and eastern parts of Asia.

Amethyst’s color ranges from a light pink to a deep purple. The Deep Siberian is the ideal color grade for amethyst which consists of a 75-80% purple hue and 15-20% blue and red hues for an intensely purple color.

In jewelry-making, amethyst appears in most cuts and shapes. Unlike other gemstones, the price per carat of amethyst does not significantly increase relative to the carat weight, so sizable stones can appear in jewelry without costing drastically more than smaller amethyst stones.

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Hermès is the apex of luxury goods, so it’s not a stretch to assume they have some outrageously pricey items, especially through custom order. Here are five of the most expensive Hermès items.

1. The Birkin Bag

While this item can be bought for as low as $10,000, one design reached $1.9 million with a design featuring over 2,000 diamonds set in platinum. The Rose Gold Crocodile or Diamond Birkin Bag shares the same price, however this bag is really the size of a bracelet and could be considered a jewelry item instead. There are several more variations of the Birkin that top this list, including crocodile bags for $120,000.

2. The Geranium Porosus Bag

This bag is made of matte crocodile and Togo leather. It’s one-of-a-kind design features feet and it is the highest-selling bag at auction ever. It fetched $125,000 from an unknown buyer.

3. Croc T-Shirt

The next item, that’s not a hangbag, is this Croc T-shirt from the Hermès Spring 2013 collection. This shirt is made of crocodile skins and bears a price tag of a hefty $91,500.

4.Chaine d’ Ancre

This gold necklace is made of 18-karat gold 17 and 3/4ths of an inch. This gold chain costs $27,400.

5. Hermes Talaris Saddle Equestrian Equipment

Founded for equestrian equipment, it only makes sense that these Hermes products top the list of most expensive items. This saddle costs $10,000.

Established in 1837 by Thierry Hermès, Hermès initially manufactured horse bridles and harnesses for French nobility. The high-quality products allowed Hermès to win several awards in its early and grant the brand a prestigious reputation.

After the death of Thierry, his son, Charles-Émile, took over management and moved the shop to 24 rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, where it remains today. At this point, saddlery was added to the Hermès catalog and they began to sell in retail to the elite of Europe, North Africa, Russia, Asia and America.

Around 1900, Hermès introduced its first bag, Haut à Courroies, which was intended to carry saddles. The design was so popular, it inspired the smaller, more practical designs of the Kelly bag and the iconic Birkin bag. By 1914, there were 80 saddle craftsman employed with Hermès. At this point, Hermès was granted exclusive rights to use the zipper. Because of its exclusivity, the zipper became known as the Hermès fastener in France.

After Émile-Maurice’s wife complained that she couldn’t find a suitable handbag, he designed the first Hermès collection in 1922. Following the introduction of the handbag lines, Hermès branched into ready-to-wear, jewelry, watches and interior design items.

In the 1930s, iconic Hermès products were introduced. In 1935, the Sac à dépêches was introduced and after Grace Kelly was seen wearing in 1956, it was later renamed the Kelly bag. Silk scarves were introduced into the Hermès collection in 1937.

The current logo of a duc carriage was introduced in the ‘50s along with the iconic orange boxes and packaging. Although the company’s success seemed apparent, the Hermès workshops faced a two week lull in business during the ‘70s. However, a smart business strategy from Jean-Louis Dumas, son of Robert Dumas-Hermès, increased annual sales of $50 million in 1978 to $460 million in 1990.

After the president of Hermès was sat next to Jane Birkin, an English actress, on a place from Paris to London, the two came to design the now-iconic Birkin bag. The bag is the most expensive designer bag to this day with a price range from $10,000 to $120,000 for one bag. Due to the exclusivity and high demand, it was said that at one point the waitlist for the bag was six years long — the highest waitlist for a bag ever.

From 1837 to present, Hermès has produced handmade goods made of natural materials, following in the footsteps of Thierry Hermès. Even though some speculated that this was the cause for its diminish in sales in the ‘70s, the quality is what has set the brand apart since its start.

Hermès boasts beautifully simplistic designs with an incredible attention to detail. However their minimalist style makes them comparatively easy to forge. Be on the lookout for these seven telltale signs that your Hermès bracelet is a counterfeit.

Here are some examples of fake Hermès jewelry:

1. The Packaging

If the listing includes the original packaging, it’s worth taking a careful look.

The ubiquitous Hermès orange may seem like such a distinct color but it’s remarkably hard to distinguish it from similar shades that may be only a hue away from the real thing. (For comparison, the closest approximation to Hermès Orange that we can find is Pantone 165C.) But an immediate tip-off is a box looks too brown (like a dull orange) or overly vivid.

Also the logo should of course be straight and centered on the packaging and should be printed in a chocolate brown, not black.

And if you’re lucky enough to personally handle the packaging, run your fingers over the top to feel for a softly pebbled texture. A smooth or paper-like texture is indicated of a fraudulent box.

A word of caution here: just because the box is real, that doesn’t necessarily mean what’s inside is authentic. So factor the packaging into your judgement but do not rely on it solely to deliver the final real versus fake verdict.

2. Made in Austria versus Made in France

Historically Hermès enamels were manufactured only in Austria and stamped accordingly. Contemporary Hermès enamel bracelets (from roughly 2010 on) are produced in France and marked as “Made in France.” Although accounts of the exact dates for when this transition from Austria to France production vary, it’s most helpful in determining the authenticity of vintage pieces.  So if an item is listed as vintage but is stamped with “Made in France” it’s most likely a fake.

3. Dimensions and Weight

Fake Hermès bracelets tend to run smaller than authentic pieces. Cross-reference the dimensions with those listed on Hermès’ website. Also double-check the weight of the bracelet. Because bogus bangles are made of far less expensive materials (like plastic or resin), forgeries are noticeably lighter.

4. Leather Stitching

All Hermès leather goods are hand sewn. But there is a fine line though between the natural imperfections that come from sewing by hand and the rigorous standards set by Hermès. Closely examine the leather stitch; the stitching may not be flawless but it should be pretty close to perfect, evenly spaced and no sloppy or loose ends.

5. Date Code

Hermès employs a date code on all its leather goods. If you know what year your bracelet is from, you can verify its date code against these three key eras.

For any pieces produced between 1945 and 1970, they are stamped with a letter that represents its production year. Pieces made between 1971 and 1996 are marked with a letter (again corresponding to the year) inside of a circle. And any items made after 1997 are similarly marked with a letter denoting the year but is inside of a square.

And like the Made in Austria versus Made in France marks, these codes are a way to know if your bracelet is indeed vintage—or misleadingly labeled as such.

6. Enamel Work

Hermès is not a brand to cut corners, so when they produce their enamel bracelets like the Clic Clac, they set a single, solid piece of enamel into the metal framework. It’s a costlier and labor intensive process than the counterfeit approach which simply involves pouring resin into the framework. The biggest clue in deciphering a real Hermès bangle are in the softly rounded edges of the enamel. Counterfeit bangles’ resin meanwhile will be flat.

Similarly forged Hermès bracelets are oftentimes circular. Real Hermès bracelets however are usually an oval or elliptical shape so they rest more comfortably on your wrist.

7. Secure Closures

If you’re able to handle the bracelet in question, try opening and closing the piece. If it has a hinge like on the Hermès Clic Clac bracelet, it should open smoothly and cleanly. If you’re putting extra tension on it to pry it open or undo the clasp, it may not be an authentic Hermès Bracelet. For the Hermès Collier de Chien bracelets, the center O ring should be free to spin and move but without a visible seam. Stationary O rings or large gaps between the O and its securing hardware are strong indicators it is not real.

If you have further questions regarding TrueFacet’s authentication process, contact our concierge representative here.

We love all things vintage, especially watches. However, not all vintage watches are the same — not even close. With timekeeping essential in nearly every task, from sports to science, some watches are better innovators behind the scenes than others. From outer space to underwater, someone had to develop a watch to fit the occasion, and some of the first are some of the best. We’ve compiled a list of our favorite vintage watches that are much more important than the year they were made.

1. Omega Speedmaster

The first watch in space — that should convince you that this watch is one of the best. If that’s not enough, maybe you will be impressed by this: it was also the first watch on the moon, worn by Buzz Aldrin. The Omega Speedmaster, sometimes called the “Moonwatch” is also the only watch certified for use outside of a spacecraft that’s outside of Earth’s atmosphere. The watch underwent a series of rigorous tests before being qualified for outer space. Though we doubt you will find yourself in space anytime soon, the novelty and impressive craftsmanship make this watch a valuable item for watch collectors around the world. Check out our collection of authenticated Speedmasters here.

2. Cartier Santos

This watch may not have been in space, but before man could go to the moon, he had to first master flight. This watch may not have originally had the durability and quality of the Speedmaster, however it had the creativity. Albert Santos-Dumont, one of the first men in flight, had a request for his old friend Louis Cartier. Santos-Dumont requested a watch that was easier to read during flight than a pocket watch. Though Patek Philippe created the first wristwatch, the Santos was the first modern wristwatch commercially available. You can check out our authenticated Santos watches here.

3. Rolex Submariner

This watch takes us the opposite direction, from the sky to the sea. The Submariner, if you can guess, was designed for deep-sea diving. The Submariner took the plunge in 1960 down 35,798 feet to the deepest part of the Mariana Trench. The watch didn’t stop ticking for a second. Earlier, in 1953, the Submariner was also worn by the first people ever recorded to reach the top of Mt. Everest. It’s not outer space, but the Submariner operates from the bottom of the ocean to the top of the world without missing a second. Sheer versatility and classic appeal make this watch a collector favorite. Check out out these authenticated Rolex Submariners here.

4. IWC Portuguese

The tale of the IWC Portuguese is similar to the Santos. A group of Portuguese sailors approached IWC in the 1930s asking for a wristwatch capable of withstanding a long journey aboard a ship. They wanted a practical and easy-to-read dial and a precise timekeeper — and that’s just what they got. What’s most notable among collectors today is the design of the watch. Based on maritime clocks of the period, the round face is clear to read and recognizable as the most classic IWC design. The only way IWC could meet the requirements for the watch precision was to house a pocket watch in a wristwatch case, hence the design. Check out our IWC Portuguese watches here.