As we all try to survive another Friday the 13th, I thought it would be fun to re-post this “Fratello Friday” article highlighting eight watches that have the number ‘13’ in their reference number. It is, admittedly, an unusual method for generating a list of watches, and the results were somewhat surprising; before I started searching for “13” in the strings of characters that make up watch reference numbers, I didn’t know what would pop up.
As many of you know, the reference number of a watch is there to identify a very specific model. The numbers and letters can signify a certain dial color, case material, type of movement, type of complication, et cetera. These make it easy for the jeweler and brand to identify each model. In a few rare cases, these numbers appear to be chosen randomly.
In any case, the watches in this listed in an entirely random order, and the only thing they have in common is the fact that they use ‘13’ in their reference number. Any other similarities are totally coincidental!
The list consists of eight watches. We use eight because, for the Chinese, it represents luck. (It is no coincidence that the country code on Rolex warranty cards is 888 for Hong Kong, KLM Flight from Hong Kong to Amsterdam is flight number 888, Air Canada’s route from Shanghai to Toronto is flight AC88 and that the opening of the Olympic Games in Beijing began on 8/8/2008, eight minutes and eight seconds after 8:00 pm local time. So, why eight watches? To mitigate the “unlucky” number 13, of course.
1. Rolex GMT-Master II – Reference 116713LN
The Reference 116713LN Rolex GMT-Master II is the version also known as the ‘Rolesor.’ Rolesor is Rolex’s indication that the case and bracelet are made from a combination of stainless steel and gold. Otherwise, the GMT-Master II 116713LN is identical to the stainless steel model (116710LN). The GMT-Master was introduced in 1954 and developed in close cooperation with Pan Am. It is a true pilots’ watch that can indicate multiple time zones. More information can be found here.
2. Glashütte Original Senator Diary – Reference 100-13-04-04-04
The Glashütte Original Senator Diary is not only a beautiful, classically designed timepiece; it also has a very useful complication. The “diary” complication is an alarm that can be programmed on a certain day and hour (accurate to the quarter). Up to 30 days in advance, the day and hour can be set by using the extra pushers. The crown at 10 o’clock is used to ‘wind’ the alarm. The alarm will sound for 80 seconds (and then the crown at 10 o’clock must be wound again for a new alarm).
