Q1 Jan - Mar 2026 Review

I have started the year 2026 with a nice Lemania nuclear submarine single button chronograph, which is one of my grail watch since 1988. It has taken me a log time to find one in such great conditions. For 2026, my Q1 key collecting focus shall be on Quality then quantities of watches with a clear focus on filling the "missing gaps" in my military watch collections and diver watches plus the two Alain Silberstein watch. 

I have bought 9 watches and sold 7. I am quite fortunate to be able to find a 18k solid gold Jaeger Lecoultre Futurematic as well. For 2026, I have not listed any dream watch as its time for some consolidation first.

Lemania nuclear submarine single button chronograph (2 Jan 2026). This shall be my best buy for the year.

Citizen Super Jet Auto Dater Parawater 150m SADS 51202 Y from May 1968 (2 Jan 2026)

Citizen Crystal Date, AUDS 52802-Y ( July 1966) 2 Jan 2026

Alain Silberstein krono Bauhaus 2 black laquer to replace the blue Alan Silberstein (13th Jan 2026)

Citizen 4-540115 ORO from June 1979

Citizen Watch co Day Date 51-2273 from Jan 1980

Citizen Watch co Day Date 51-2273 from Feb 1980

Titus Calypsomatic ref 7085 (6/2/2026)

Jaeger Lecoultre Futurematic (25/3/2026)

Watches found in 2026 (9 watches)

1  Jan 1 : Lemania nuclear submariner chronograph

2. Jan 2 : Citizen Crystal Date, AUDS 52802-Y H

3. Jan 2 : Citizen Super Jet Auto Dater 39J 腕時計 自動巻き 6070209 SADS5120-Y 

4. Jan 13 : Alain Silberstein krono Bauhaus 2 black laquer

5. Jan 27 : Citizen Watch co Day Date 4-822145, G-N-04-5 512273

6. Jan 27: Citizen 4-540115 ORO,

7. Jan 27 : Citizen 512273 

8. Feb 6 : Titus Calypsomatic ref 7085

9. Mar 25 : Jaeger Lecoutre Futurematic 18k gold

Wish Lists 2025-2026:

1. Rolex 18078 (2025)

2. Rolex 5030  (2025)

3. Rolex 1807  (2025)

4. Rolex Prince Zebra (2025)

5. Rolex DRSD (2025)

6. Rolex 16758, Rolex 16753 (2025),  

7. Alain Silberstein Kronos Bahaus &  2 (2025)

8. Lemania Nuclear sub chronograph (2026)

Watches sold in 2026 (7 watches)

1. Jan 3  : Rolex 樹紋

2. Jan 20 : Alain Silberstein krono 

3. Jan 21 : Omega Dynamic

4. Feb 11 : Dragon watch 

5. Mar 17 : Vostok Russian watch

6. Mar 24 : Vostok Russian watch

7. Mar 26 : Vostok Russian watch

Jaeger Lecoultre 18k gold Futurematic

The Jaeger Lecoultre Futurematic line, produced from 1951-1958, featured crownless, fully automatic designs with no manual winding, emphasizing a large balance wheel for precision and innovations like extended power reserve and hacking.  Reference E501 used Calibers 497,  while E502 used evolved versions: 817 or 837.  Both shared core traits—17 jewels, ~18,000 vph, ~40-hour reserve, dual hacking (balance and auto-stop), suspended bidirectional rotor, and anti-magnetic protection—but differed in dial execution and rarity.

Dial Display

E501 showed power reserve and constant seconds via traditional subdial hands at 9 and 3 o’clock.  E502, nicknamed “Porthole,” used innovative apertures: a rotating disc with arrow for seconds at 3, and a color-changing sliding indicator (red/blue for low/high reserve to silver when full) at 9.

Production and Evolution

E501 dominated production (~52,500 with Cal. 497; 1,000 with 827), while scarcer E502 totaled ~4,000 (~3,500 with 817; 500 with 837), introduced around 1956 as an aesthetic upgrade.  Calibers 817/837 refined 497/827 with porthole compatibility but retained mechanical similarities.

This Futurematic shall be my last watch for the year! Need to regroup my watch collections! I have managed to stop the urge in collecting non core watches and stayed focus.

還記得我曾提起的那只 E502 嗎？那是一枚直徑 37 毫米、全鋼打造的大尺寸歐洲版腕錶，出身積家（Jaeger‑LeCoultre）傳奇的 Porthole「舷窗」系列，血脈不言自明。據聞，當年僅有的 3500 枚 E502 之中，專為歐洲市場刻有「JLC」字樣者，不過五百枚；其餘遠渡重洋的版本，則統一以「LeCoultre」之名銷往美國。本以為這樣的珍稀早已絕跡，萬萬沒料到今日竟能再遇一枚全 18K 黃金打造的 Futurematic E501——須知那個年代出產的金錶多為 14K，18K 實屬罕見，一見傾心，難以自拔。

積家 Futurematic E501，採用 18K 黃金材質，是 1950 年代自動上鍊腕錶中一抹不折不扣的異色存在。它捨棄傳統側置錶冠，以大膽的未來主義語言，在 1951 至 1959 年間靜靜書寫著製錶史的革新篇章。錶盤佈局極富秩序感：左右相對的兩枚小錶盤，如夜空中遙望的雙星——左側顯示動力儲存，右側為小秒盤，理性之美與機械詩意在此對話。

這枚腕錶自有一股沉穩復古的氣韻。金質錶殼線條溫潤流暢，弧形錶耳若羽翼輕展；米色調錶盤宛如舊日時光中的一抹暖陽，12 點下方低調的「Automatic」字樣，輕聲訴說著它自動上鍊的靈魂。金色時標如星辰點綴，細長的太子妃指針劃出優雅軌跡。歲月在奶油香檳色面盤上留下的微痕，非但不減其美，反而添上一份獨有的溫度與故事感。

這款 Futurematic 之所以聞名，正因其「缺失的錶冠」。錶冠隱於錶殼背面，刻有「Slide do not lift」（滑動，請勿抬起）字樣，僅供調校時間，無需上鍊。內藏的機芯承襲積家自 1946 年 476 型以來的技術演進，是1950 年代初期自動機芯革新的代表作。約 40 小時動力儲存與停秒功能，讓它既是製錶史的里程碑，也是今日仍可安心佩戴的可靠夥伴。

實心 18K 黃金雕琢的 37 毫米錶殼稜角分明，錶耳向外舒展，勾勒出動感而精緻的線條。搭襯一條深棕色皮革錶帶，舉手投足之間，盡顯二十世紀中期積家那份戰後重建時代的創意底蘊與從容風度。

誕生於 1950 年代的它，見證了積家從傳統製錶向現代美學的轉身——以金質錶殼詮釋日常奢華，以流暢線條呼應時代審美。即便錶盤未刻參考編號，仍可透過錶殼暗記識別其真身；然而它那渾然天成的設計語言，早已無聲地宣示了自己的身份——那是積家於瑞士製錶黃金時代，對纖薄、流暢與精準的極致詮釋。

Futurematic E501，不僅是一枚腕錶，更是一個時代的縮影，專為審美獨到、慧眼如炬的收藏家而生。

https://adm-horloger.com/products/futurematic-1

https://hairspring.com/blogs/finds/e501-jaeger-lecoultre-futurematic

https://pushers.io/listings/rare-jlc-futurematic-in-steel-e501

Tudor Oyster Perpetual Ranger II (aka "Prince Oyster Perpetual Ranger II," model 9111/0

This Tudor Oyster Perpetual Ranger II (sometimes also known as the "Prince Oyster Perpetual Ranger II," model 9111/0) is a representative of the sporty style of the 1970s. As a vintage automatic watch, it left a unique mark on the watchmaking world of its time with its robust stainless steel cushion-shaped case and integrated bracelet.

The watch has a diameter of 38mm, which was quite bold by the standards of the time. It is approximately 10mm thick, with a stainless steel case and screw-down crown, and is covered with a durable acrylic crystal. This particular version is a rare black dial model, featuring a quick-adjustable date window at 3 o'clock. The hour markers are available in either baton or Arabic numeral styles. Early models were equipped with automatic movements (such as the 2784, based on ETA), featuring a central seconds hand and 25 jewels, coated with tritium-based luminescent material, exuding a subtle yet practical spirit.

The bracelet is a one-piece stainless steel Oyster design with a folding clasp, a robust yet streamlined structure. This watch, produced between approximately 1970 and 1979, is water-resistant to 200 meters, showcasing Tudor's pursuit of performance in sports watches at the time.

At first glance, the Ranger II might be mistaken for a sibling of the Rolex Oysterquartz, but its design language is actually more avant-garde. Especially noteworthy are its unique recessed dial edge and bezel treatment, almost comparable only to the Rolex Oysterquartz's predecessors—Ref. 1530 and 1630—yet appearing even earlier, making it intriguing.

I first saw this watch more than 30 years ago and I couldn't appreciate its design then. After several decades, this design actually grows on me and I have decided to get one.