A Collected Man

Name: A Collected Man
Address: London, GB
Telephone: +442031799599
Price range: ££££

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A Collected Man

A Collected Man is a curated, consignment platform for rare watches.

31/12/2025

Wishing you a lovely end to the year and a happy new year from A Collected Man.

06/06/2024

The Story of Atelier de Chronométrie

How does a team of two transition from selling vintage watches to creating watches of their own inspired by the romance of the era? Since 2016, Atelier de Chronométrie –helmed by designer Santiago Martínez and Montse Gimeno – have become known for their adherence to classic case sizes and vintage-inspired designs, with a strong
dedication to handmade parts in traditional styles and colourful variations.

Despite being a smaller independent brand located away from Switzerland, their output over the years has been impressive, with a growing catalogue and collaborations with reputed international retailers such as Japan-based Shellman. A strong spirit of independence permeates their culture, as they have continued to keep their workshop small and refused to take on investors, relying instead on their network of clients and moving in a direction driven by their own desires.

Today, they continue to grow with the creation of a new calibre, the M284, in collaboration with Luca Soprana. Based on the Valjoux 23, an example which was used by Patek Philippe for the calibre 13-130, the M284 retains their vintage principles while
introducing new possibilities.

The Atelier de Chronométrie team not only took inspiration from vintage aesthetics, but also from the spirit of the period itself, with a stronger emphasis on close relationships between the maker and collector, which has led to their focus on limited or customisable pieces. The idea of history and artisanal craft permeates their way of thinking, as evidenced by their work with local Catalan enamel artists and traditional bracelet makers, in addition to their careful attention to detail and beautifully put-together watches.

Find out more about how they came to be, how their pieces have evolved over the years, and what’s next in store in our article – link in bio.

07/03/2023

Live. A CPCP Tortue Monopoussoir from in white gold.

Created by Louis Cartier in 1912, the Tortue was only Cartier’s third wristwatch design, after the Santos Dumont and Tonneau. With its unmistakable DNA and Cartier’s timeless style, the model's tortoise-inspired case quickly became a classic.

Beneath the curved crystal, a modern-style guilloché dial replaces the design of the original model from the 1920s, with the blued steel Breguet style hands and matching inky-blue minute track. An oversized "XII" numeral sits at 12 o'clock, with its dramatic proportions imbuing the design with a more contemporary feel. This is balanced by the "Cartier Paris" signature at 6 o'clock, which is also rendered in the same blue tone. Overall, the dial design blends the best of vintage Cartier, with bolder colours and proportions, combining the past and the present.

Available now.

06/03/2023

Live. A Ruthenium Chronomètre à Résonance in platinum from .

This Limited Edition F. P. Journe Ruthenium Résonance is one of only ninety-nine pieces, created between 2001 and 2003. Each of the series is individually numbered (XX/99-01R) and cased in platinum. The pairing of a quintessential F.P. Journe complication with a rare and attractive metal like ruthenium makes this watch both mechanically and visually impressive.

The movement in this example is comprised of two balance wheels, inspired by a natural phenomenon called resonance. The term 'resonance' was coined by Journe, likening the phenomenon to that of a stringed musical instrument, which resonates. He explains the principles behind this complication: “In a watch, never mind which, there is energy which dissipates. When you listen to a watch, the tic-tac of the balance is dissipating energy. In a resonance chronometer, there are two balance wheels which are placed sufficiently close to one another, and the dissipated energy of each is caught by the other, leading to a unique type of frequency regulation.”

Journe had previously attempted to put this complication into a pocket watch in 1983, but he didn't succeed. Journe was able to hone the phenomenon of acoustic resonance in a wristwatch some fifteen years later, with the prototypes displayed at his first Basel Fair in 1999. Ever since, the model has gained a cult status among collectors.

Available now.

04/03/2023

An attractive 33mm Royal Oak from . These subtle diamond indexes gives this watch a distinctive vintage characteristic, a welcome reminder of times gone past.

03/03/2023

Live. A Limited Edition Tank Asymétrique in Platinum.

This example marks one of the most recognisable Cartier designs into the modern world, this Cartier Privé Tank Asymétrique combines its unconventional shape with polished surfaces and updated proportions to create a Cartier piece for our time. Bearing a case number below 10, and with only 100 pieces made in platinum, this is an excellent discovery for any collector looking for a modern version of a classic piece.

Often described as one of the more adventurous models to be initially re-introduced as part of the CPCP range, the Asymétrique is a classic Cartier design, which has captured the imagination of collectors for years. Initially known as the Tank Oblique, it was envisioned for drivers in 1936. The parallelogram shaped case features a dial that is slanted diagonally, such that when their hands were up on a steering wheel, the dial was oriented upright. It was later renamed the Tank Asymétrique, taking several different shapes over its lifetime.

Available now.

02/03/2023

Live. The 222 Historiques in yellow gold.

A much-anticipated refresh to the original, this Vacheron Constantin 222 Historiques is a faithful reworking of the classic, with several key updates for a modern audience. Once considered part of the "holy trinity" of luxury sportswatches alongside Patek Philippe's Nautilus and Audemars Piguet's Royal Oak, this 222 Historiques reminds us of an exciting period in contemporary watchmaking design.

This 222 Historiques retains the tonneau shape and understated scalloped bezel of the original, yet has redefined key aspects of the piece for a modern audience. The bracelet has been redesigned to be more flexible than the original, while the case has added polished bevels and edges, creating more texture and depth. The design of the dial has the same layout as the original, although the markers and hands have been made larger for increased readability. Meanwhile, the date window has been moved ever so slightly closer to the centre of the dial. The Maltese Cross set in the lower right hand corner of the watch is polished, giving a bright contrast against the brushed sections of the watch.

Avaliable now.

02/03/2023

This "Rouge" lacquer dial is a vibrant crimson red and has a fluid glossy finish. Rather surprisingly, the dial merely features the "Reverso" signature, without any mention of the brand, a nod to the earliest Reverso pieces which carried this unobtrusive and discrete signature.

01/03/2023

Live. A very early Lange 1 Ref. 101.002 from , with a closed caseback. Originally sold in 1995.

Over the years, the Lange 1 has become one of the most instantly recognisable pieces of our modern era, with its distinctive styling and signature design cues. This reference 101.002 is a very early example from the manufacture, as shown by its early reference number. For the detail-oriented collector, features such as the closed caseback, small printing of 'Made in Germany', and the blued hands are sure to intrigue.

More generally speaking, this Lange 1 bears most of the classic styling that would later come to define the series, such as the asymmetric dial design and carefully designed date windows, which were inspired by the Five-Minute Clock at Semper Opera House in Dresden. The proportions of the watch have been carefully calculated according to the Golden Ratio, creating an instantly recognisable layout. The integration of blued hands against a silvered dial is a further unusual detail for the period that sets the watch apart.

Available now.

27/02/2023

Live. An early Chronograph “special edition” in stainless steel.

This rare Franck Muller Chronograph is one of the earlier pieces created by the watchmaker after he established his own brand in 1991, following his time working as one of the world’s leading watch restorers. Undoubtedly inspired by his time restoring pieces from the Patek Philippe Private Collection, the design of this Chronograph is refined and elegant, reminiscent of classics such as Patek Philippe's reference 130.

The design of the watch is that of a three-register chronograph, with a glossy black dial and silver printed hour markers and Breguet numeral. The brushed sub-dials and their surrounding silver rings provide depth and texture to the dial, also forming a pleasing contrast against the evenly matte centre portion of the dial. The 12 o'clock Breguet numeral is a tribute to vintage chronographs of the past, and the dial also features the word "Antimagnetic" printed in the centre. Another detail of note is the printed seconds track and tachymeter, which add further vintage touches to the piece. The silver feuille-style hands match the rest of the monochromatic design.

Available now.

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