Clik here to view.
1935. Durban Rolex
A couple of years ago a watch came in as part of a modest estate sale. It was rectangular shaped, with a steel case, and signed "Rolex" on the dial. Not a model I've seen before - so I decided to...
View ArticleClik here to view.
"Watch fishing" at Lake Geneva
Many of divers watch manufacturers make bold claims about the depths you can dive to with their product strapped to your wrist, but few ever empirically test their product in the field. Back in the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The Sulphur Crested Cockatoo
"Nick, Gordon here. I am your colleague, a watch valuer. You've kindly helped me couple of times last year and I wonder if I can pick your brain one more time?""I am listening, Gordon"."Nick, I got two...
View ArticleClik here to view.
1958. Omega advertisement
*** 1958 Omega advertisement Hi Nick, I recently found a pile of news papers under my house and spotted this. I hope it is of interest. Dean Sure is Dean - and thanks for taking time to email us. What...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Finer Things in Life: the bicycle clock
Ten years ago (or thereabouts) a seller walked in our shop. In a shoe box he brought in a small pile of parts and a frame which resembles a 'bicycle' clock. The dial looked American, of Ansonia clock...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Tudor Submariner matte dial Ref. 79190
Could this be the best Tudor Submariner matte dial we've ever seen? As most of you know, when it comes to vintage watches there is nothing more important than one property: the overall condition,...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The California dial
"California dial" is a watch dial featuring Roman hour markers on the top half and Arabic markers on the bottom half of the dial. While the origin of the name is unknown, the style of the dial has been...
View ArticleClik here to view.
A 'different' Swiss Chronograph: Ebel 1911 Cal. 137
So you know your 'chronographs', right? Here is a quiz question:Out of over 300 Swiss watch manufacturers which sell mechanical chronographs (wrist stop watches) how many of them are actually capable...
View Article"Too easy"
*** Believe it or not... A fellow subscriber forwarded us a link to a New Zealand paper with the following comment: "Thought u might like this. It really goes to show there r still silly people out...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The watch "Boutique" experience
I'm not worthy either... when it comes to buying big brands we are all perceived as sinners! What never ceases to amaze me is the effort the big brand names put into the 'buying experience'. They love...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Grandpa's silver pocket watch
I would like to know the age of pocket watch which I inherited form my grandfather. K.R. Dear K R, For the exact dating of a pocket watch it is required that the timepiece is submitted for a physical...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Why does a mechanical watch need servicing?
*** To service or not? Why does a mechanical watch need servicing? How often should a watch mechanism be overhauled? What exactly needs to be performed? How long does it takes and what is the service...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Patek Philippe Ref. 3590 Cal. 28-255
Under the bonnet of Patek Calatrava Ref 3590. This post is for lovers of Jaeger Le-Coultre as much as it is for admirers of Patek Philppe . When in 1970. Patek needed an ultra thin automatic mechanism...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Timor from Dubbo: Protect it as best you can!
Today a watch arrived in the post carefully packed in a hand-made wooden box. I was impressed by the lengths the owner went to, in order to ensure its safe delivery. In the coffin, I found a 1960s...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Integrated vs. modular? ETA 2894-2 movement, the Purists and a TAG Monza
Earlier this week we talked about watch servicing. We concluded that an overhaul is a labour intensive and time consuming process which requires skills gained by years of practicing. We also concluded...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Jeff Sexton, Watchmaker: "the Elgin guy"
*** Google this!"Never mind, I'll find it on Google!" This is a typical answer you'll get from a teenager nowadays. Which is true in most of the cases - except when you are looking for things which are...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Lange and Sohne 1815 Automatik Sax-o-Mat Ref 303.025
Lange and Sohne 1815 Automatik Sax-o-Mat Ref 303.025 For those of you who missed last week's Lange Perpetual calendar in platinum - here is a good news: we have just received our Sax-o-Mat Ref 303.025....
View ArticleClik here to view.
IWC Pilot's Ref. 3254-01 The Jubilee Fliegeruhr
IWC Schaffhausen Fliegeruhr Ref.3254The Fliegeruhr vintage Pilot's Reference IW3254-01 is one of the 6 models produced to celebrate 140 years of the IWC Company, formed in 1886. The very first IW3524...
View ArticleClik here to view.
No horsing around: Seconds hand misalignment. A broken wheel. Who makes Omega...
*** The Kickstarter To kick start myself on a rainy and miserable day I need an easy victory by 11am. This usually comes in the form of a battery replacement and water pressure testing, or anything...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Yesterday, a postman left a 10 kg parcel in front of our office
*** Blessed Just when I thought I'd seen it all: Bruce arrived the other day to buy a Rolex Explorer I. He was very adamant that the Explorer I was the only watch to suit his requirements. "I am...
View Article