The California dial is one of watchmaking's most recognizable designs and one of its least understood. Its origins are pragmatic, not aesthetic: a mixed-numeral layout combining Roman numerals on the upper half and Arabic on the lower, developed in the late 1930s to maximize legibility under combat conditions.
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Each week at WCL delivers editorial coverage across the spectrum of serious watch collecting—from industry analysis and new release evaluation to archival perspectives and manufacture insights. Weekend Reads curates the week's most substantial pieces: the editorials that reward deeper engagement and merit your weekend reading time. Five pieces worth your attention:
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Yesterday, Audemars Piguet announced 22 new watches at the AP Social Club in Le Brassus. When a manufacture releases this many watches in a single presentation, the question isn't celebration, it's evaluation. Which of these actually matter?
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Jaeger-LeCoultre has released the fifth capsule of The Collectibles, its in-house programme dedicated to sourcing, authenticating, and restoring museum-grade vintage timepieces. This installment focuses exclusively on eight rare Reverso watches produced between 1931 and 1937 — the model's formative first decade — and is being presented at the Maison's Madison Avenue boutique in New York City through February 23, 2026.
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