The must-have Macro Loupe for all watch lovers

Iconic watch art prints. Made in Switzerland, lifetime guarantee

One day, I will have it as a famous ad says! 
While browsing the aisles of the Besançon watch fair during the 24 Heures du Temps, I came across it, or rather, it got its hands on it ;-) For a few years, I had been looking for the strap for this model - in quartz version and white dial - and I hit the jackpot with this one... Self-winding caliber derived from the ETA 2824, tritium index that is starting to turn gold... all that with the original case and additional links... 

What more could you ask for? 

We can always quibble about the fact that 3 indexes (3, 4, 5) are broken and that the bezel is in its original condition... But that is exactly what I am looking for, a watch in its original condition - but not too much - and which has been eating away at my brain for years! The budget is certainly modest and Chrono24 presents them around €1,000. This is where, if you take the trouble, you can find cheaper and above all have a completely unexpected shopping experience... It's quite a story to buy a vintage watch.

What I like above all is its look, its line of purity, even simplicity, very 80s. The dial perfectly matches this clean aesthetic, almost brutal but whose curves make it feminine...

So, Porsche Design, it's not a Porsche, but is it a "real" watch? Let's look at the lineage of Porsche Design since its beginnings in the 70s, Porsche Design by Orfina, by IWC, by Eterna... so many monuments of the watchmaking industry at the service of a car manufacturer at the top of its art today but which was just as moribund as these Swiss brands at the same time!

The historical dimension undoubtedly weighs in my interest for this watch which combines interest in watches and cars... I could see myself driving a 928S MK1 with this Porsche Design... A waking dream for a completely different budget ;-)

Porsche Design by Eterna in the look of Porsche Front Engine

I bought this watch - reference 15300 - in 2016 to celebrate an important moment in my personal life. It was an eternity ago now as the watch market has evolved towards speculation. At that time the choice for this model was not so obvious given its high price (very relative compared to current prices) and the few watches manufactured.

Was it already a legendary model? I am not so sure. This watch symbolizes risk-taking in terms of design, whether it is watchmaking or not. It sparkles with a thousand facets and presents with its open case back a view of an Audemars Piguet manufacture movement reference 3120 with very neat finishes... in any case more neat than most - if not all - of the other watches in my collection.

Is this the most important watch in my collection? If we look at the range, we are clearly in the Haute Horlogerie segment... even though everyone can put what they want into it. From an emotional point of view, it is undoubtedly a very important watch but ultimately no more than the one I had when I was 30 or 40, for example. From a heritage point of view, it is by far the most important because it is valued at stratospheric prices. The moral is that it is a watch that I rarely wear and that spends most of its time in the safe, hidden from view. It is sad but it is only a matter of time before reason takes over so that I can enjoy it more often.

A symbolic model in many ways

This Glashütte Original holds a special place in my collection. It is the only model that holds its own against the Royal Oak in terms of caliber finish. The plate, bridges, and decorations of the oscillating weight are exceptional and probably superior - in my opinion - to that of the open case back of my Royal Oak 15300.

I bought it at auction without having tried it on at exceptional price conditions! I took care to have it serviced at the brand's boutique in Paris where my contacts had identified that it was going to be auctioned. A great start to my relationship with the brand that allowed me - a priori - to obtain a certificate of authenticity in good and due form.

Paradoxically, this is a watch that I rarely wear because it is a tad too big and does not sit well on my wrist! Am I deformed ;-) Surely not, but that's how it is... but as I don't sell watches, it has remained in my collection, to my great delight as an irrational enthusiast.

A caliber with exceptional finishes

It was with this TAG Heuer 6000 Series that I entered the wonderful world of mechanical watchmaking, on the occasion of my 30th birthday... It is one of the watches - if not the watch - the most important in my collection. In more than 20 years, I have loved it, adored it, hated it, abandoned it, to always find it again with immense happiness. Perfect size in 38mm, not ostentatious, no longer manufactured, symbol of an era when TAG Heuer had not yet been bought by LVMH. Even if I am not that much of a fan of new watches, TAG Heuer is one of the rare brands that I follow regularly on the occasion of the annual novelties. It is surely this one that gave me the taste for steel watches with very worked bracelets and different from the great classics of the market. Regarding its caliber, it is surely an ETA 2892 already very present at the time. Note that this version is COSC certified and interestingly, the same model exists without this certification!

The watch that started it all

I was lucky enough to be given this Zenith Elite HW for my 40th birthday… With Zenith, it’s a long story that began 10 years earlier when I was looking for a watch for my 30th birthday – ultimately the TAG Heuer Séries 6000 Chronometer which will surely be presented on this platform instead of a Zenith El Primero Rainbow –

I came across an ad for 800 euros for this ultra-classic Calatrava-type watch… I was hooked by the brand and then little by little by the model… We met up with the seller at the bottom of his office on the Avenue de la Grande Armée in Paris and we did a deal… I had just been bitten by vintage… But it was another passion that fell on me. And yes, my brother was going to give me a custom-made crocodile strap that would make me fall into leather goods!

Long story short, this Zenith has become over time my watch for major events. Ultra-flat and discreet, it’s a perfect combo for this kind of event… but I almost always wear it with its homemade red crocodile strap!

The beginning of another passion

What I like about Omega is diversity and the improbable! What is the connection between this Genève, a PLOPROF or a Seamaster Diver 300M? None! And yes, that's the beauty of Omegas from the 70s that go in all directions.

This watch is reference 198.0030 (198 meaning in particular that it is an electronic caliber in any case not mechanical). Omega has done everything in terms of movement and in this case it is the caliber 1310 working with a battery. The originality is the presence on the side of two small buttons allowing to advance the date or the day of the week and to move the minute hand. It is interesting to understand and use these buttons for the historical dimension but in terms of use it is quite fragile and not very practical!

Its look is great even if the case is a little damaged. I put a firecracker red strap on it to give it some pep and match the Omega logo presented in an original way at noon. The buckle is not original either but aftermarket probably made in Asia.

Morality, what is the point of having such a watch? I like Omega in its diversity and I am attached to understanding and identifying all the types of electronic calibers that accompanied the watch industry during its transition from exclusively mechanical movements to electronic precision. The 15 years from 1965 to 1980 were fantastic in creativity to try to resist the quartz ogre that will have swept almost everything away.

But let's not be mistaken, the watchmaking that we love today is also the fruit of the creative destruction of Quartz 👍

Another Omega Geneva, much more confidential

The French watch brand LIP is an emblematic figure of the watch industry, recognized for his innovation, his avant-garde design and his history rich in twists and turns. Founded in 1867 in Besan&ccedil;on, LIP has gone through periods of glory, economic challenges and social struggles, while leaving an indelible mark in the history of French watchmaking.
<h2 dir="ltr">The Beginnings: Foundation and Expansion (1867-1930)</h2>
The history of LIP begins in 1867 when Emmanuel Lipmann founded a small watchmaking workshop in Besan&ccedil;on, the French capital of watchmaking. Initially named "Comptoir Lipmann", the workshop specializes in the manufacture of high quality pocket watches. In 1893, the company became the "Soci&eacute;t&eacute; Anonyme d'Horlogerie Lipmann Fr&egrave;res" and adopted the brand LIP, acronym of the founder's initials.
At the beginning of the 20th century, LIP stood out for its technical and aesthetic innovations. In 1904, the brand introduced the "Lip" pocket chronometer, which met with notable success. LIP is quickly positioning itself as a major player in French watchmaking, combining precision and elegance in its creations.
<h2 dir="ltr">The Age of Innovation: The 1930s-1950s</h2>
Under the direction of Fred Lip, son of Ernest Lipmann, LIP enters a period of intense innovation. In 1933, the brand launched the model <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/lip/t18">Lip T18</a>, a rectangular wristwatch equipped with a high-precision movement. This model became emblematic and was offered in 1948 to Winston Churchill in recognition of his role during the Second World War.
In the 1950s, LIP continued to innovate by introducing&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/lip/electronic">Lip Electronic</a> in 1952, the first French electronic watch. This model uses a quartz crystal to keep time, constituting a significant advancement in watchmaking technology. Lip offered at this time the first models&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/lip/himalaya">Lip Himalaya</a> which still remain in the catalog today.
<h2 dir="ltr">The 1960s: Expansion and Avant-Garde Design</h2>
The 1960s marked a period of expansion for LIP like the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/lip/nautic-ski">Lip Nautic-Ski</a> presented during the Grenoble Olympic Games in 1968. It was also the beginning of collaborations with renowned designers to create watches with innovative designs. In 1967, the brand called on Roger Tallon, famous industrial designer, to design the collection&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/lip/mach_2000">Lip Mach 2000</a>. These watches are distinguished by their futuristic aesthetic and their bold shapes, breaking with traditional watchmaking codes.
At the same time, LIP develops watches intended for specific uses, notably for pilots and divers, thus strengthening its reputation as a manufacturer of technical and reliable watches.
<h2 dir="ltr">The 1970s: Crisis and Social Struggles</h2>
Despite its successes, LIP faced financial difficulties at the end of the 1960s, exacerbated by international competition and changes in the watch market. In 1973, the company was placed in liquidation, triggering a series of strikes and factory occupations by workers. This social movement, known as "LIP Conflict", became emblematic of workers' struggles in France and attracted national media attention.
The employees, led by the trade unionist Charles Piaget, took control of production and continued to manufacture and sell watches under the slogan "It's possible: we make, we sell, we get paid!". This experiment in self-management aroused broad popular support and symbolized workers' resistance to factory closures.
<h2 dir="ltr">The 1980s-1990s: Relaunch Attempts and Changes in Ownership</h2>
After the liquidation of LIP in 1977, several attempts at revival were undertaken. In 1984, the brand was bought by the "Kipl&eacute;" company, but this initiative failed, leading to another liquidation in 1986. In 1990, the businessman Jean-Claude Sensemat acquired the brand and successfully relaunched production, relying on modern marketing methods and reissuing iconic models. Under his leadership, LIP experienced a renaissance and achieved significant sales.
<h2 dir="ltr">The 2000s: Renewal and Modernization</h2>
In 2002, Jean-Claude Sensemat signed a worldwide licensing contract with Jean-Luc Bernerd, who created the Manufacture G&eacute;n&eacute;rale Horlog&egrave;re in Lectoure, in the Gers region, to produce LIP watches. This collaboration makes it possible to modernize the collections while respecting the brand's heritage. LIP continues to offer reissues of historic models, while introducing new creations adapted to contemporary tastes.
<h2 dir="ltr">The 2010s: Back to Basics and Sustainable Development</h2>
In 2015, the brand was bought by the "Soci&eacute;t&eacute; des Montres Bisontines" (SMB), based in Ch&acirc;tillon-le-Duc, near Besan&ccedil;on, France. This return to geographical sources marks a new stage in the history of LIP, which strengthens its local roots and its commitment to sustainable development. Production is relocated to France, and the brand strives to promote French watchmaking know-how. LIP continues to offer its emblematic collections which have marked its history, seeking to meet the expectations of modern consumers.
Check out the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/top/the_best_french_watch_brands">Ranking of the most popular French watch brands</a>, including LIP.
(Updated November 2024)

This watch should never have existed. Like all LIP Super Nautic-Ski, it is equipped with the Super Compressor case manufactured by Piquerez SA, one of the most efficient manufacturers of waterproof cases at the time. Things get complicated with the dial labeled "Les Industries de Palente" and not LIP. This watch, or at least the dial, dates from the period before the workers of the Besançon factory occupied the factories to protest against repeated social plans and the closure of the Palente factory. More than 3 years of social unrest from 1973 to 1977 led to the creation by LIP workers (the LIP) of several SCOPs aimed at producing watches - without the LIP brand - but with the brand's industrial assets. One of these SCOPs being "Les Industries de Palente". Even more surprising, this Super Nautic-Ski is called Nautic-Ski unlike the others bearing the LIP brand! Is it a service dial, a transition dial, a dial from another LIP Electronic model… I don’t know and that makes this watch even more attractive. It is equipped with the R184 caliber, a hybrid movement whose energy comes from a battery while integrating an almost traditional balance, balance spring, and anchor triptych… This is what I call a collector’s watch whose value is in line with the current trajectory of my very personal collection…

A piece of French watchmaking history

I am a big fan of vintage dive watches at a great price, and the LIP Super Nautic Ski is one of my favorites. I recently purchased mine and it already has a special place in my growing collection.

What I like most about this watch is its bold design for the time. The case is 42mm stainless steel, with a bi-directional rotating inner bezel and a black dial with luminescent hands and indices. It is a bit larger than most modern dive watches, but I find that this gives it a more imposing presence. The LIP Super Nautic Ski is also very robust and durable. It is water resistant to 200 meters, making it perfect for freediving and scuba diving.

This is all on paper because the indices have lost a lot of intensity and I obviously haven't done any water sports or diving because the water resistance must be average now! For now I haven't had to change the battery, it will come one day and I'm not worried about it.

I find it very elegant according to my personal criteria. It can be worn on all occasions in my engineering school or during the holidays. Jeans, a t-shirt, and my Super Nautic Ski. What else?

The rotating bezel: a detail that makes the difference

La marque&nbsp;Serica a &eacute;t&eacute; cr&eacute;&eacute;e en 2019 par J&eacute;r&ocirc;me Burget et 3 amis &agrave; Paris, en France. Le nom Serica vient d'une r&eacute;gion perdue au bout de l'Extr&ecirc;me-Orient que les Grecs et les Romains avaient baptis&eacute;e ainsi. Ce lieu fait &eacute;cho &agrave; la gen&egrave;se de la marque, qui vise &agrave; concevoir des montres m&eacute;caniques de qualit&eacute; au style n&eacute;or&eacute;tro, pr&ecirc;tes &agrave; vous suivre aux confins du monde.
La gamme comprend des montres telles que la <a title="Page Serica 4512" href="https://www.dialicious.com/serica/4512">Serica 4512</a>, la <a title="Page Serica 5303" href="https://www.dialicious.com/serica/5303">Serica 5303</a> et la <a title="Page Serica 8315 GMT Chronom&egrave;tre" href="https://www.dialicious.com/serica/8315">Serica 8315</a>. L'une des particularit&eacute;s de cette marque est que son nom n'appara&icirc;t nulle part sur le cadran, afin de pousser le passionn&eacute; &agrave; acheter un design, des finitions et des proportions, et pas seulement un nom. En juillet 2023, Serica a lanc&eacute; la Serica 5303 COSC une version chronom&egrave;tre certifi&eacute;e par le Contr&ocirc;le Officiel Suisse des Chronom&egrave;tres.
Leur avant-dernier mod&egrave;le est la <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/serica/6190">Serica 6190</a> surfant sur les bases de la 1&egrave;re r&eacute;f&eacute;rence de la marque, la Serica 4512. Cette 6190 &eacute;pouse les codes stylistiques de la marque, des anses lyres, un choix de cadrans diff&eacute;rents et la possibilit&eacute; de choisir la position de la couronne &agrave; 3 heures ou en mode "Destro" &agrave; 9 heures. Cette Serica 6190 est &eacute;quip&eacute; du calibre Soprod M100 certifi&eacute; COSC (Contr&ocirc;le Officiel Suisse des Chronom&egrave;tres) &agrave; l'intar des productions actuelles des autres mod&egrave;les 5303 et 8315.&nbsp;
Depuis le 21 novembre 2024, Serica propose une nouvelle collection tr&egrave;s audacieuse...&nbsp;Une montre habill&eacute;e sortant des sentiers battus nomm&eacute;e "Parade" sous la r&eacute;f&eacute;rence 1174. Ces 4 chiffres, comme toutes les autres r&eacute;f&eacute;rences Serica, propose une symbolique issue du nombre d'or ou divines proportions dont le ratio entre la longeur et la largeur sont de 1,174... Une nouveaut&eacute; propos&eacute;e en pr&eacute;-commande &agrave; 1,490 &euro; pour une livraison pr&eacute;vue en Mars 2025...
<h2>Quel est le prix d'une montre Serica ?</h2>
Les prix des montres Serica &eacute;voluent et diff&eacute;rent selon les mod&egrave;les. La plupart co&ucirc;tent entre 990 &euro; et 1,890 &euro; selon les mod&egrave;les et finitions. Le mod&egrave;le GMT de la marque, Serica 8315 GMT Chronom&egrave;tre co&ucirc;te 1,890 &euro; tandis que le dernier mod&egrave;le lanc&eacute; par Serica, la r&eacute;f&eacute;rence <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/serica/6190">6190</a> est propos&eacute;e &agrave; 990 &euro;.
Serica est ind&eacute;pendante et produit environ 5,000 montres par an, tous mod&egrave;les confondus. Serica fait partie du <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/top/les_meilleures_marques_de_montres_francaises">Top 10 des marques de montres fran&ccedil;aises les plus populaires</a>, ainsi que du <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/top/les_meilleures_micro_marques_de_montres">Classement des meilleures micro-marques de montres</a>. Pour choisir le mod&egrave;le Serica qui vous correspond le mieux,&nbsp;les avis clients Dialicious sont une ressource essentielle pour &eacute;valuer les diff&eacute;rents mod&egrave;les &agrave; travers l'exp&eacute;rience r&eacute;elle des clients
(Mise &agrave; jour Novembre 2024)

The brand Serica was created in 2019 by J&eacute;r&ocirc;me Burget and 3 friends in Paris, France. The name Serica comes from a lost region at the end of the Far East that the Greeks and Romans named it like this. This place echoes the genesis of the brand, which aims to design quality mechanical watches in a neo-retro style, ready to follow you to the ends of the world.
The range includes watches such as the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/serica/4512">Serica 4512</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/serica/5303">Serica 5303</a> and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/serica/8315">Serica 8315</a>. One of the particularities of this brand is that its name does not appear anywhere on the dial, in order to encourage the enthusiast to buy a design, finishes and proportions, and not just a name. In July 2023, Serica launched the Serica 5303 COSC, a chronometer version certified by the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute.
The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/serica/6190">Serica 6190</a> surfing on the bases of the brand's first reference, the Serica 4512. This 6190 follows the stylistic codes of the brand, lyre lugs, a choice of different dials and the possibility of choosing the position of the crown at 3 o'clock or at &ldquo;Destro&rdquo; mode at 9 o&rsquo;clock. This Serica 6190 is powered with the Soprod M100 caliber COSC (Official Swiss Chronometer Certification) certified, like the current productions of the other 5303 and 8315 models.&nbsp;
Since November 21, 2024, Serica has been offering a very daring new collection... A dress watch off the beaten track called &ldquo;Parade&rdquo; under the reference 1174. These 4 figures, like all other Serica references, offer a symbolism derived from the golden number or divine proportions whose ratio between length and width is 1.174... A novelty offered for pre-order at &euro; 1,490 for one delivery planned for March 2025...
<h2 dir="ltr">How much does a Serica watch cost?</h2>
The prices of Serica watches change and differ depending on the model. Most cost between &euro; 990 and &euro; 1,890 depending on the models and finishes. The brand's GMT model, Serica 8315 GMT Chronometer costs &euro; 1,890 while the latest model launched by Serica, the reference&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/serica/6190">6190</a> is offered to &euro; 990.
Serica is independent and produces around 5,000 watches per year, all models combined. Serica is part of the&nbsp;<a href="https://preprod.dialicious.com/en/top/the_best_french_watch_brands">Top 10 most popular French watch brands</a>, as well as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/top/the_best_micro_watch_brands">ranking the best micro watch brands</a>. To choose the Serica model that best suits you, <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/serica/5303">Serica 5303 reviews</a>, <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/serica/4512">Serica 4512 reviews</a>, <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/serica/6190">Serica 6190 reviews</a> or <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/serica/8315">Serica 8315 reviews</a> are an #1 resource for evaluating different models through real customer experience.
(Updated December 2025)

Lip Super Nautic-Ski Owner Review : Legit, unique and athletic

A piece of French watchmaking history

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