THE RAKE founder Wei Ko picks the top 5 new watches of 2020

Wei Co

Founder of the watch magazine Revolution and the fashion magazine THE RAKE. Born in the United States, he launched Revolution in 2005 and has grown it into a global media outlet. He is also one of the leading fashionistas and watch enthusiasts in the industry.

The return of understated elegance seen in 2020
　For me, one of the key changes brought about by 2020 is the return of understated elegance. Nothing is more alluring than this complicated Patek Philippe watch with a carillon, grande and petite sonnerie, and jumping seconds, which at first glance appears to be the most beautiful large chronometer. My favorite details are the striking enamel dial, applied Breguet numerals, and the hidden slide at 6 o'clock for selecting the sonnerie mode.

　The funny thing is, I didn't know Hajime Asaoka, nor have I ever seen one of his chronographs in person. The fact that he created a reliable and affordable watch using Seiko's vertical clutch automatic movement and the famous Magic Lever automatic winding system is like a gift to the lucky collector who was able to purchase one. Bulgari, in its sixth year with the Octo Finissimo, has created a modern icon. This is a modern watch for today's people. Omega's Speedmaster "Snoopy" is truly a "sweet" watch. Seeing it in action makes me smile. And the Tudor Black Bay is the first watch I bought in 2020, a time when I never expected to buy a new watch. It's a perfectly crafted watch and the best value proposition in watchmaking today. I honestly don't understand how Tudor can offer such a great watch at this price.

Wei Ko's Top 5 New Watches for 2020

Patek Philippe Grand Sonnerie 6301P

Thierry Stern considered omitting the mainspring and the chiming mechanism's power reserve indicator from the dial, in order to create the ultimate stealth watch, but practicality ultimately won out.

OMEGA Speedmaster "Silver Snoopy Award" 50th Anniversary

The model celebrates the safe return of the Apollo 13 crew after the catastrophic failure of their spacecraft, and it seems a symbol of human resilience, more important than ever.

Bvlgari Octo Finissimo Tourbillon Chronograph Skeleton Automatic

Its anonymous sandblasted titanium case and exceptionally thin integrated bracelet bring a new and fresh relevance to this type of complicated watch.

Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight "Navy Blue"

What's impressive is how Tudor subtly refines the details of their watches each year, and this model uses a vintage cord to create the ideal modern watch. The bracelet is also one of the best.

Chrono Tokyo Chronograph

The size, proportions, and small details like the iconography on the dial and the flat crown and strong presence of the pushers all remind me of a Patek Philippe Ref. 1463. A great watch.