Amanico's exploration of 'Community Watches' offers a fascinating look into timepieces created by and for the WatchProSite community. This article highlights the unique collaborative spirit within luxury watch collecting, showcasing how members have directly influenced and produced limited-edition watches. Amanico's personal reflections on these pieces provide valuable context for understanding their significance and evolution over time.
... Community Watches, I mean those which were made by AND for us.
Bill gave me the idea to write something about them, when he posted the PuristSPro All Black Rescue ( ABR ), issued in 2008 in a limited edition of 178 pieces.
The ABR was made by two dear members, Anthony Tsai and Mitch Katz. This was our first Community Watch.
A 42 mm PVD Steel case, housing a good old ETA 2824-2 movement, a carbon fiber dial and a super soft rubber strap.
I would have preferred without date, and with a simpler, more common buckle ( which is quite fastidious to adjust, truth to be told ) but once on the wrist, it is a very pleasant, comfortable watch, with a lot of presence and originality.
Then, in 2011, we had several watches to celebrate our 10th Anniversary, such as an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak in Tantalum, a special Paul Gerber watch, a Bulgari, A Kari Vouitlainen piece unique ( from memory ) and a Montblanc Minerva Chronograph ( which is my favorite from this series of watches ).
The Montblanc:
The Royal Oak P10 Tantalum:
Then, in 2014, we had our LUC 1963 Chronograph, PuristS Edition, in steel, manual winding, 50 pieces. which involved a group of PuristS moderators, under Melvyn's direction, and the Chopard CEO in person. A piece I sadly missed, mostly because it was not the right time for me. Regrets, regrets...
In 2016 the Zenith CP2 PuristS 15th anniversary Cronometro was born from the work of Andrewluff, Magnus and a few moderators. Another great work, I must say. Another limited edition of 50 pieces, another beloved child.
In 2021, we took a different path, with Hentschel, for our 20th anniversary watch, the Hentschel H1 Chronometer Watchprosite Edition, in steel. Only 20 pieces, which were sold in a few hours!
A manual winding chronometer, and a nice one, this is not common!
Of course there were other projects and watches which were made by some of us, such as the Jaeger Lecoultre Tribute to Deep Sea Alarm, Tribute to Polaris and Tribute to Geophysic, and which received a warm welcome from our Community, but these were not made for our beloved Website.
Now, we will celebrate our 25th anniversary in 2026. We are after something. One or two watch projects. One will be circa 5 K Euros, without compromise about quality, horologically and aesthetically. The other we still don't know. But one thing is sure, we want to allow most of our members to be part of this adventure.
To be followed.
Best,
Nicolas
