Jacob & Co. ASTRONOMIA CASINO BLACK Watch Replica AT160.41.AA.AA.ABALA

A car enthusiast talks about his Chopard Alpine Eagle XL Chrono It all comes from a passion for precision mechanics, both on the road and on the wrist.

It's 2023 and we're back with a new installment of our Collector Series, a column where we let watch lovers talk about their passion for a particular watch. Today we're interviewing Tom, also known as Wtt1975 on Instagram. He is a 47-year-old Dutch business owner with a wide range of interests, including a passion for fine watches, but not only that. The extraordinary story about his company probably only needed a single interview - we probably only needed one for some of the hot topics at Petrolhead Corner - however, today, we're going to be talking about watches. Wtt1975 bought himself an Alpine Eagle Chrono XL with a gorgeous blue dial. He'll explain what's so special about it.

Chopard is a well-known brand; how did you know about it?

I know that Chopard is the main sponsor of the classic car rally Mille Miglia and its special editions. Of course, I know it's a jewelry store.

As a watch brand, what is your impression of Chopard?

Its association with (classic) cars matches mine. Their quality is high, and they make exclusive watches. In that high-end segment, it might not be a household name like Rolex or Omega. Chopard's owner is also a car enthusiast and has competed in the Mille Miglia, which is a fantastic event. I think the most attractive thing is that Chopard also develops its own movement.

You're a car enthusiast; how does this show? What do you like about cars?

A passion for (racing) cars, especially Ferraris (classic and modern) and watches, often go hand in hand. Over the course of the years, I learned more about classic Ferraris, I got to know people, I got in touch with passion, and that's it. Fine mechanics work together in perfect harmony to make a racing machine like this work similar to the way a mechanical watch works.

Why did you choose Alpine Eagle since it has nothing to do with Mille Miglia?

I'm in love with this look; it's a modern take on dreamy St. Moritz. Even though it has a slightly retro vibe, it's still very modern. 44mm is the right size for me, and the sapphire case back allows me to peek into the great inner "engine" of this very modern watch. The beautiful blue swirl pattern on the dial resembles the iris of an eagle's eye. I like it. Then, there's a nice half-moon with little screws that looks a bit like a ship's porthole. It is stylishly designed, just like the pusher that operates the flyback chronograph.

The steel used is also very special, right?

The case, bracelet and bezel are all made of Lucent steel A223, an alloy specially developed for the Chopard and Alpine Eagle collections. A metal as precious as gold. This unique material with exceptional features is comparable to surgical steel; it has a very high hardness, is very bright in color and has a particularly high luminosity. All of these fascinate me.

Since when has it been the watch you've longed to own?

I wanted it when I heard about it at the end of 2019 (without the chronograph), and this chronograph will come out in 2020. I watch a lot of videos on YouTube and read reviews/posts on watch forums/sites like MONOCHROME (we reviewed the Alpine Eagle XL Chrono here). I then bought the watch at Wempe in Düsseldorf, Germany in early January.

So this is a recent acquisition. do you wear it often

I wear the watch a lot; it alternates with my other watches. I wear my watch more on weekends than on weekdays.

Do you respond to it?

Yes, a lot! This is a very special watch that you don't see very often. Beautiful stainless steel (bracelet) strap, partially brushed and polished for a brilliance that catches the eye. They often think it is very beautiful, unlike the standard famous Geneva brand, which produces nearly a million watches a year. With her Alpine Eagle series, Chopard earns less than tens of thousands a year!

How would you describe your watch collection to date?

I started collecting some time ago. After the Ulysse Nardin Maxi Marine Diver in 2006, it's been a long time since I bought a new watch. Times have changed! The collection now consists of five eyes in different styles.

Do you have any other watches you want to buy?

I ordered a few: Tudor Black Bay Chronograph (inverted panda version), Grand Seiko Evolution 9 ref. SBGE285 Mist Flake and Nomos Club Sport Neomatik Date Blue. On my wishlist is A. Lange & Söhne, but this model is still under consideration as there are so many beautiful watches to be found out there.

Which brands do you think are doing interesting work?

Quite a list! A. Lange & Söhne, IWC, Ulysse Nardin, Cyrus, Girard-Perregaux and many Swiss and German micro brands such as D. Dornblüth & Sohn, Laco, Lehmann, Nomos, DeBethune, Moser & Cie and of course the Dutch brand from Oldenzaal Grönefeld!

Do you have general advice for someone looking to start collecting watches?

buy what you like. For example, I buy cheap watches from Steinhart and buy watches from more expensive parts. You should feel good. Remember: there is no debate about taste! There's a watch that's right - and if you want more than one - to suit every personality. I love that there are different types of watches. Sometimes it's a sports watch, sometimes it's a pilot's watch or a diving watch.