HOROLOGY CRAZY

Strap Change, Montblanc

2013-06-19T17:41:00.001+08:00

Decided that a change is good. While I like the original strap that came with the Montblanc Timewalker Big Date, I wanted to update its look, perhaps with a more youthful look. So I ordered a new strap.

This is the strap. Not the best picture I admit. It is akin to a racing strap, with small holes on the surface of the strap.

The back of the strap.

The old strap, well used. Time to retire. :)

I don't think the original strap is a Croco strap, but highly likely, calf with Croco impression? Could be wrong.

Get out the right tool. Well, basically only this tool is required.

The watch head, ready for the new strap. Took this opportunity to wash the watch.

The watch with the new strap mounted. Have to say that it does look look a tad more sporty....

Closer view of the strap.

Holes everywhere....

And there you have it. A more daring look, less dressy.....

Rolex Submariner book

2013-06-18T22:59:00.002+08:00

I spotted this book at Borders Bookshop (The Gardens Mall, Mid Valley, Kuala Lumpur) today. I believe the book is from 2003 and it is in Italian. Did not ask the shop assistant to open the book to see and check.

The book.....

The actual title of the book (I believe) is Collezionare orologi da Rolex Submariner. It is publish by Mondani and the authors are Guido Mondani and Lele Ravagnani. The ISBN is 978-8890051487. If anyone is interested, the local price for the book is RM 1,111. Yes, that is correct, RM1,111.

GTG...

2013-06-17T23:46:00.000+08:00

So what do you do when you come back? Have a small gtg with friends. So, today, a small group of like minded people met up and had a good time talking about all things watches, with a slight focus on my favourite brand.

The watches present (not all) and yes, no table shot.

The MWF (Malaysia Watch Forum) bronze watch, a collaboration with VDB. The patina is interesting and the strap.... Something from Cheergiant.

The case back.

The Rolex Daytona. Truth be told that it is not one of my favourite watches. However, I have to say that this was a nice example.

The PAM00112. I like the watch. Base at its best. Added bonus of the long lume hands.

Nice strap, but for the life of me, I can't remember the maker.

A Casio G-Shock, but devoid of any markings on the dial, save Casio. How cool is that....

Overall, another great gtg. Great food, but better company.

Minuteman Watches

2013-06-17T03:26:00.000+08:00

This is a new brand coming out of the US. The aim of the company is to have their watches all made in the US and best of all, a portion of the proceeds from the sales of the watches will go to helping wounded American servicemen and women.

At the moment, the company have 4 models and they are in the pre-order stage. The watches will be delivered as early as October this year with the latest delivery date being December 2013. The models that they have are:

MM01 PVD Limited Edition of 115 pieces

MM01 Limited Edition of 65 pieces

MM04 PVD Phantom Limited Edition of 90 pieces

MM04 Limited Edition of 65 pieces

All the watches share the same basic specifications:

Stainless Steel case, 43 mm diameter (w/o crown)

Water resistant to 20 ATM

Sapphire crystal

Quartz powered with Swiss Ronda 715Li Swiss made movement

For more information:

Minuteman Watches

Scuba Libre

2013-06-16T23:23:00.000+08:00

No, it is not some Mexican underwater wrestler thing... This is the latest diver collection from Swatch. A total of 9 new design. I find some of them interesting.

All the watches share some common basic specifications. All the watches are quartz powered and are water resistant to 20 ATM. All the watches have nautical theme names. The watches retails for USD 90 each.

The watches....

Whalebone, reference SUUG400

Playero, reference SUUJ400

Chlorofish, reference SUUK100

Stomy, reference SUUK400

Blanca, reference SUUK401

Cuttlefish, reference SUUM100

Deep Turtle, reference SUUM400

Sundowner, reference SUUO400

Clownfish, reference SUUW100

I find the reference SUUM400 Deep Turtle most interesting as it looks like it is fitted with a NATO type strap. Will it allow strap change not using Swatch proprietary straps?

Watch shopping in Hong Kong part 3....

2013-06-16T04:41:00.001+08:00

Well not really. Once again we are passing thru HKIA. Noticed that Galleria has had a make over and have decided (?) to open a stand alone watch shop. Never notice the shop before. Anyway, these shops are near Gate 40....

Apologies for the poor quality of the photographs... (in a hurry)

Galleria. Mostly mid prices range brands, Rado, Longines and the likes.

The Victorinox Boutique. They were having a 'sale' today.

Lume shot....

2013-06-16T04:29:00.001+08:00

The reference 79220r by Tudor, the Black Bay. Have to say that the lume did not impress me. Perhaps the lume on the Pelagos is better....

Seiko news...

2013-06-15T23:17:00.000+08:00

On the move again....

Anyway, found out from the local Seiko boutique in Taiwan, these watches will be out in July....

Evidently Taiwan will only be getting 3 of the 4 models shown. From what I understand, the SSA147 will not be coming to Taiwan.

Photograph: shamelessly borrowed from the Internet

Great news as I will be back in July (in Taiwan). I have the SPR455J1 on order. Addition to the Seiko Monster collection....

Salon QP 2013

2013-06-10T19:59:00.001+08:00

Salon QP will be returning for it's 5th year this November 7 to 9. Once again the Saatchi Galley in London will play host to the great event. The event will kick off with a VIP Reception on Thursday November 7 and second reception on Friday. The list of exhibitors is long and I am sure more will confirm their participation as the date draws closer.

For more information:

Salon QP 2013

Straps...

2013-06-10T19:36:00.000+08:00

I was visiting one of my favourite here locally in Taiwan to collect the second bbkk strap. Thank you to the parties concern.

The bbkk stamped.

The first bbkk strap were made by Simona and the second is by George of Cheergiant. I love his straps and the added bonus of being local and overall great guy.

Anyway, since I was there, he showed me some of the material he was working on. Hope to pick up an ammo or two from him.

Raw material for ammo straps. Never seen the ammo pouches in real life You can still smell the gun powder in the pouches.

Would love to get a strap from this ammo pouch. Love the patina.

A holster and ammo pouch.

Guess battery change....

2013-06-09T09:19:00.004+08:00

It has been 3 years since I last changed the battery of this watch, the Guess watch.

Guess Battery change

Times up. Another battery change due.....

The watch.

The tools...

The case back.

Inside the case back.

Made in China?

Case back removed, exposing the battery, spacer and movement.

The movement spacer cum battery holder.

Old battery.

Made in Japan movement.

The 0 jewel S. Epson movement, close up.

The new battery. Watch guy did not have the Renata battery in stock... :)

The new battery installed.

Gasket, spa treatment.

The lubricated gasket installed.

Check the watch is working before you close up the watch.

White balance all wrong....

Some attempts at creative photography....

2013-06-08T09:42:00.003+08:00

Still lots to learn. Don't have the eye or creative genius..... :(

Breitling Aerospace

Tudor BlackBay

Tutima Military Chrono TL (and Swatch chrono Automatic in the background)

Red, White and Blue...

2013-06-08T08:37:00.000+08:00

It has been sometime since I posted anything on Casio G-Shock. Sad really. Not because of the lack of models from Casio, but me I guess... Anyway, Casio have released a set of watches under the Red, White and Blue theme. In conjunction with the upcoming 4th of July perhaps?

The watches....

Very tempting indeed.

Strap change... Magrette

2013-06-08T08:22:00.004+08:00

When I got my Magrette, it came with the standard strap and a standard stainless steel buckle. Magrette later introduce the bronze/brass buckle as standard and offered it to current owners as an option. Anyway I got mine and a strap change was due.....

The strap, brown with the bronze/ brass buckle.

The other side, the piece with the holes.

The straps are well made. It is made of genuine leather. I like the smell of leather in the morning. :) Note the brown stitching. Well executed.

The strap is signed with the Magrette logo. I love straps with big, thick strap keepers.

The buckle. I am not sure if the buckle is bronze or not. As such, I will label it as bronze/ brass. It is unsigned.

The underside of the buckle. The buckle is well made.

The screws to attach the straps to the watch. Some people like it, some don't. You need both hands and 2 screwdrivers to change the strap. Would be great if Magrette included the screwdrivers, but at the price point of the watch, that would be asking too much. The screws does remind me of the setup of that French watch company.

Anyway, the way I use the screws or attach the screws is as the photograph below, the short screw on opposing sides of the lugs, short screw on right top lug and left bottom lug (or vice versa).

The straps installed.

Finally done. Now the buckle matches the watch. Have to say, as with other straps provided by Magrette, the strap is comfortable on the wrist. I like the strap. Maybe I should get another Magrette....

IBG 2013

2013-06-07T06:10:00.002+08:00

Once again the Inside Basel.Geneva Exhibition is upon us. As with past years, the event will be held in posh hotels or private clubs and a 3 course dinner is included. The event is about 2 hours long.

The event schedule and locations are as follows:

Friday September 6, Chicago

Thursday September 12, Philadelphia

Tuesday September 17, New York

Tuesday September 24, San Francisco

Friday September 27, Los Angeles

For more information:

Inside Basel.Geneva

Photograph: watchtime

Watch shopping in Malaysia (Penang part 2)

2013-06-06T20:00:00.004+08:00

The only other mall I managed to go to while I was in Penang was the Gurney in Georgetown itself. It is a pretty upscale mall situated along the sea front. There are a number of watch shops there, some I miss. Anyway, here goes...

First up you have the Rado boutique. Selection is good.

Next, Rolex. Selection is not too bad.

BP Silva. They are the authorised distributor for AP and they have been distributing AP for the longest time (in Malaysia).

The TAG Heuer boutique. Did not go in... :(

Tissot boutique.

Toy Watch. They are at the annex section of the mall. A couple of nice pieces. Tempted? Yes. Got any? No.

Cerruti 1881. Side by side with Toy Watch.

City Chain. Here you will find the usual suspects, Seiko, Police, Casio, and other in house brands.

Time Planet and Tip Top Time. Usual mall fare. Seiko, Citizen, Casio, Tissot among others. Got my Dracula at one of the shop. :)

I was told that there is an Omega boutique and Watchshoppe. Watchshoppe carries mid level Swiss made watches. Sadly I did not see them when I was there.

Reference 14060...

2013-06-06T15:42:00.000+08:00

Sigh... thought I had this Internet connection thing beaten. Evidently not. Anyway....

Yet another Rolex Submariner reference 14060 pictorial review. :) but with a twist. This is the oxidised reference 14060 that I sent to RSC for a service for a friend. It is back. Tried to take pictures of the patina. The patina on the dial and pip is more developed as compared to the hands.

On with the pictures.

Apologies for the reflection on the crystal and the dust. :)

The watch, Rolex Submariner reference 14060. Watch from the 90s. Full links.

Closer view of the watch head.

I believe it comes with the fat font bezel insert.

The bezel still crisp. Lugs looks unpolished. RSC did not polish the watch.

2 liner, still one of my favourite. Maybe one day....

Beautiful patina on the hour markers. Also on the pip.

White gold surrounds on the hour markers. Nice.

The Submariner....

Brushed finish at the top of the lugs and polished at the side. Gives the watch a tool watch look.

The trip lock crown with the 3 dots. Water resist to 30 ATM. Nice and easy to use. Love the shoulders (crown protectors). and what else do I love about the watch? Lug holes.....

The clasp and bracelet. Little play. Flip lock on clasp for added security.

The 14060 spotting the non SEL. I think it makes the watch more wearable.

Just beautiful. Comfortable on the wrist and looks good both in casual and formal events.

White gold mercedes hands.

Can't fault the overall build quality, something Rolex is well known for.

Two 14060?

Both from the 90s, yet one has patina and the other not.

And no, both are not mine.

All photographs taken with Fujifilm XE1 with 60mm macro lens. ISO3200, various aperture setting, shutter speed on Auto, handheld.

These were taken with an iPhone...

Watch shopping in Malaysia part 13

2013-06-04T19:35:00.001+08:00

We were in the island of Penang recently (Pulau Pinang). Managed to squeeze sometime to walk around and do some shopping. Also manage to check out some of the watch shops there.

Queens Bay Mall in the center of the island. Nice place. Apologies for the poor quality of the photographs.

Basically you find brands like Seiko, Citizen, Casio, fashion brands in these shops.

A G-Factory.

This shop have some Swiss brands, mostly in the mid range in terms of pricing. You will find brands like Longines, Certina, Tissot, Oris, Ball, Seiko, among others in the shop.

Swatch.

A TagHeuer boutique. The election is not bad.

City chain, mostly in house brands.

A good selection of brands and watches.

More fashion brands and the usual culprits, Seiko, Oris....

OT Egg timer....

2013-06-04T16:41:00.001+08:00

I so want one.....

Saw this a a local mall.... to bad no stock....

Blue or Yellow...

2013-06-04T12:09:00.003+08:00

Now that the dust has settled over the just concluded SIHH and Basel exhibitions, and me being out of the loop, what watches did tickle my fancy....

The watches from my favourite brand of course, namely these...

PAM00512 Radiomir 1940 42mm

PAM00514 Radiomir 1940 3 Days 47mm

Photographs: Panerai

I was made to understand that these watches should be hitting the stores now. But knowing how Panerai work, I would not be holding my breath.

So what other watches did tickle my fancy?

This did....

The Tudor Heritage Chrono Blue, reference 70330b....

The new and the old....

Photographs: Tudor

The Heritage Chrono Blue is a reissue based on this model, the Tudor Montecarlo, reference 7169/0.

Photograph: shamelessly borrowed from the Internet

A side by side view of the watches, vintage vs reissue. Love the fact that Tudor did not make the reissue 100% as the original. And best of all, no cyclops.

Photograph: shamelessly borrowed from the Internet

The Heritage Chrono Blue will be powered by the same movement as the Heritage Chrono, i.e. the ETA 2892 with the DD chrono module ridding piggy back.

This picture had me sold..... Love the blue detailing.

Photograph: Tudor

For more information about the Heritage Chrono Blue.

Heritage Chrono Blue

Best thing about the Tudor? They have already started advertising the watch in major international newspapers....

So is that it? Were there other? Yes....

These.....

Bell & Ross continues with the play on cockpit instruments, coming out with the following models.

The BR01 Heading Indicator.

This watch is cool. It uses a disc system to tell the time.

The BR01 Airspeed.

I like this one.

The BR01 Climb.

Only one out of the three to offer any complications, date and power reserve. Cool.

Photographs: Bell & Ross

All three comes in at 46mm with the PVD case. Both the Heading Indicator and Airspeed will be powered by the ETA 2892 automatic movement. The Climb will be powered by an ETA 2897 automatic movement. All three watches are a limited edition run of 999 pieces.

Photograph: Bell & Ross

The first 99 will be offered in a set with the 2012 novelties. How cool is that. Wish I had the cash for this..... :)

Anyway, for more information.

Bell & Ross

So the question at the end of the day, which would I get? Or would I get any at all. I would get the Tudor. But based on my current experience with Tudor, I am always 2 years behind.....

At the moment, I am happy with this....

And the Tudor collection stands at this.....

Seiko

2013-06-03T16:45:00.002+08:00

Was feeling bored today, so decided to pay my friendly neighbourhood watch guy a visit. Boy, was that a big mistake. Why? Looks like lots been happening in the world of Seiko. They are having a number of celebration.

First we have the Seiko 5 50th Anniversary celebration. I understand a number of Limited Edition (?) pieces are coming out and the run is limited to 500 pieces each models. Watch guy not sure what are the models as he is hearing but not seeing.... :)

A picture I got from a friend. Not sure about the watch or details.

This from the Internet.

Photograph: shamelessly borrowed from the Internet

Not sure if all 3 models are the 50th anniversary model or just the one on the left. Need to do more research. Don't really want to.... might just end up getting one of them.....

Then there is the Seiko 100th Anniversary watches. OK, did Seiko not just celebrated its 130th Anniversary? Well, the 100th Anniversary is to celebrate Seiko 100 years of watch making since its first wrist watch, the Laurel, made in 1913.

Photograph: Seiko

Seiko release 2 watches, reference SARW005 and SARX011 (right in the picture below) to celebrate its 100 years of watch making.

Photograph: Seiko

Anyway, watch guy showed me this watch, reference SRP389J. It is a part of 3 watches Seiko issued to celebrate its 100 years in watch making (yet another set).

Crown with 'S'. Non screw-down, but rated to 10 ATM.

Sapphire crystal. Yes, sapphire crystal.

Limited edition of 1,500 pieces. Evidently Taiwan was allocated 100 pieces. Retails for NTD15,000. The watch is fitted with the 4R36 movement and measures 40mm in diameter. It is 13mm thick and the lug width is 20mm. It comes with a leather (croco?) strap with deployment buckle.

Note the black ring on the display back? The white dial will come with a red ring. Not sure about the blue.

This watch is part of a 3 watch set. Sadly Taiwan will only get 2, the white and black (100 pieces each colour). The white is reference SRP385J. I suspect the white dial will be the most popular as it is like the Laurel watch of 1913.

Photograph: Seiko

But what caught my eye were not those watches, but these....

Photograph: shamelessly borrowed from the Internet

More so the reference SRP455K1. The Limited Edition Monster Code Blue. My watch guy knows that Taiwan will get 100 pieces of the watch but he is not sure of the run numbers. He believes it is 1,500 pieces.

Had these not appeared, I would been tempted to get one of the Presage Limited Edition model. But since these divers are coming out...... and yes, I have one on order.

Some movement photographs...

2013-06-03T10:59:00.002+08:00

Spring cleaning..... a bit late I realised but better late then never. Time to clean up the computer......

So here are some movement pictures I took some time ago and may or may not have posted.

ETA 2750 fitted to CWC military watches. Basic 3 hand movement.

Miyota quartz OS11 chronograph movement.

ETA 2824 fitted to a Marathon SAR watch.

Miyota 82XX automatic movement fitted to a Citizen watch.

Lemania 5100 chronograph movement fitted to a Tutima Military watch.

Some early macro....

2013-06-02T17:41:00.002+08:00

Some early attempts are macro photography. This is the movement fitted to the Timefactors Precista PRS 5. The movement is a Chinese made movement, the Seagull ST-19 chronograph movement.

A column wheel movement.

Nice?

Some early photographs....

2013-06-02T17:22:00.002+08:00

These are some early photographs I took. The photographs below shows the movement fitted to the Montblanc Timewalker Big Date reference 36939. The movement is Montblanc caliber 4810-906. It is an ETA 2892A2 with a DD big date module based movement.

The movement is small in the 42mm case.

The ETA signed movement.

Case back is held by 6 screws. Water resistant to only 3 ATM.

The Montblanc signed rotor.

The case back. Note the unique gasket.

Closer view of the gasket.

Something you don't see everyday

2013-06-02T09:07:00.003+08:00

Just remembered that I have pictures of my friend's Rolex Submariner reference 14060 (with the oxidised hands and dial), just not in the normal state we are used to. Here is something you don't get to see everyday.....

The watch in pieces.....

The heart of the watch. Note the patina....

A view of the case, bezel and case back. Even the crystal that have been removed. Ready for a spa treatment at RSC.

Closer view of the dial and hands (and attached movement).