HOROLOGY CRAZY

Casio Divers

2012-05-25T09:51:00.000+08:00

Seems to have forgotten about these boys, what with the shift and recent culling exercise. Time to take them out and let them breath the fresh air. But first, got to have them checked by my friendly neighbourhood watch guy for water resistance. Don't want to damage these boys as they are getting more and more difficult to get.

The Casio shrouded diver from 1988 (after a quick wash).

Why we collect?

2012-05-16T09:08:00.003+08:00

I am sure many of us have seen this video but here is a reminder.....

Time Machines

Been away....

2012-05-16T09:06:00.001+08:00

I have been away for some time for a break but am now back in action. Hope to make some changes to the blog as I have been reflecting on the collection and where I am heading. Basically I am done with the culling and have basically stop collecting. However the blog will continue.

My Tudor collection

2012-04-26T19:48:00.002+08:00

I am actually blogging from my new house. The shift has been a long drawn process, with issues with both houses. The new landlord is very particular and wants the house to be perfect and the weather is not helping the shift as well. Anyway, it progresses.

Back to watches. I do like the watches from Tudor (and Rolex) and have accumulated a small collection, if you consider 4 pieces a collection. Each watch in the collection has a story behind it. So here is my small Tudor watch collection, starting from the smallest to the largest.

The Prince Date, reference 74000. The watch comes in at 34mm. I got this watch pre-loved. The reason I got the watch is because it looks like the Tudor Ranger. I would love to get the Tudor Ranger but it is not an easy watch to find (and not forgetting it is minefield when it comes to the Ranger). I got it at a price and the best part about it is that it is complete with box and papers.

The Tudor Prince Date Day, reference 76200. This one comes in at 36mm. I got this watch pre-loved as well. I had one before but traded it in for a Panerai. The watch is almost brand new and I got this very cheap (almost half price). The watch is dated this year (it is that new). I love the California dial and this is the other option since the Italian version is very very expensive.

The Tudor Submariner, reference 7016/0. This watch is 40mm. I had another Tudor Submariner in the 9411/0. I prefer my watches without the cyclops so I sold it. It has gone to a good home. It took a long time for me to get this watch. The owner was reluctant to sell the watch and it took me almost 2 months to persuade him. Add 1 month it spent in RSC for serial number verification, it took me 3 months to get the watch. It was worth it. It is currently on a leather strap which I think matches the patina on the hands and dial.

Finally the Tudor Heritage Chronograph, reference M70330N. This watch is 43mm in diameter, the largest in the collection. There was no intention to get this watch. We were on holiday when I was offered this watch. The selling point was the price. It was very low (for a new piece and from the AD). I suspect it is because of the black dial. Most people prefer the gray dial version as it is the one in the advertisement. Additionally, it is not common knowledge that the black dial was also issued at the same time as the gray version but in smaller number. I think that it is happening again.

I am very happy with the collection and it will stay this way for a long, long time. The only addition I would consider is if a M.N. Tudor Submariner was offered to me. That also is depending on the price.

Some new photography attempts

2012-04-26T09:23:00.001+08:00

I don't think they are as good as the last batch but there goes....

This is my favourite.

Solvil ET Titus

2012-04-24T17:35:00.003+08:00

I have a watch from Solvil ET Titus. I don't know much about the watch and a search in the Internet did not reveal much, in fact nothing at all. Anyway I like the watch and will be sending the watch to my friendly neighbourhood watch guy for a service and cleanup. Perhaps I will use it as my daily beater. It is a basic 3 hand watch with day and date complication.

The watch.

I had a look inside the watch and this is what I found out. The watch is powered by an ETA 2066 automatic 3 Hz (21,600 Ah) 17 jewel movement. The The rotor is signed Solvis ET Titus.

The movement.

The movement holder is metal. That is a nice touch.

The gasket, long overdue. :)

The watch needs a good cleaning as well. Lots of grime and DNA.

Even the crown (and winding stem) needs a good cleaning and service.

The case and dial. I like the 2 level dial. Looks like a TV screen.

We will see what my watch guy can do.

Keyrings

2012-04-23T20:10:00.001+08:00

I have always wanted to get the key rings from Panerai but somehow I never got them. I have gotten other things from them but never the key rings. Perhaps it is because I buy my watches from all over the place (and in recent times I have gotten pre-loved pieces).

This changed however, courtesy of another Paneristi. Now I have 2 of the 3 key rings that I know Panerai has issued. Thank you.

The key rings.

The older leather Panerai key ring.

The newer (not newest) blue rope key ring.

As with anything Panerai, the is always a model number. :)

Now one more to go, the latest leather key ring with the Panerai buckle. Who knows, maybe I might lucky.

BEGIN Japanology

2012-04-23T19:55:00.004+08:00

An interesting video on Watches and Clocks by NHK.

Begin Japanology Watches and Clocks

Thank you 'm102486' for the video.

busy busy

2012-04-18T20:54:00.002+08:00

Having a difficult time restarting the blog due to us moving house in the next few days. Lots to pack and sort out. Clothes to donate and trying to time the shift between the two houses to minimise cost as one lease is expiring and the other is starting. There is a few days overlap and we are trying to minimise that.

Anyway I just got this and will write more about it soon. It was a fun project. A clock from the Japan Edo (?) period. This is the Double Foliot Japanese Clock.

More watch photography...

2012-04-17T19:51:00.002+08:00

I like these, what you think?

PAM00390.

PAM00367.

PAM00000.

PAM00111.

PAM00003.

Maybe the background is bit distracting?

Photography

2012-04-13T18:52:00.002+08:00

I finally got around to getting some spring bars for my Invicta watch. The Invicta Corduba watch is one of my favourite watch and I got it during the days when that French brand was the rage (and still is) and I could not afford one, not that this watch is a poor substitute. It is a great watch and offers great value for money.

Anyway I use the watch to test out straps, more so in recent time as I have started a 'collection' of B&R straps. So you can say that this is my Strap Test dummy watch. :)

The Invicta reference 3965, currently fitted with a vintage WWII strap from Combat straps.

The strap being tested on the Invicta after spending some time on the B&R.

When normal transmission starts next week, there will be a couple of strap reviews.

Straps....

2012-04-13T13:32:00.001+08:00

Well just one actually. Got another museum piece from my favourite Italian strap maker. I am loving it....

I like the washed look.

My current favourite (one off) strap maker.

BTW, normal transmission resumes on Monday.

Tudor Submariner

2012-04-10T23:32:00.001+08:00

Finally got the watch after a one month wait. Why? For TSC (Tudor Service Center) to confirm the serial number of the watch with it's database (that is what they told me). They need to confirm the serial number is correct for the Snowflake dial and hand setup. They threw in a free service as well (no parts change) and tested the watch to it's rated depth. All pass.

I had the watch on a leather strap earlier on but now decided to test fit the bracelet. I know the end links are not correct to the watch but I will try and resolve that later. I might not even have the bracelet fitted. Will see what happens in the next few days.

The watch.

Final two

2012-04-10T15:31:00.001+08:00

The final two pieces of the jigsaw puzzle is finally in my hands. Thus it completes the jigsaw and it is time I stop. Anyway, the watches, the LACO WUS LE watch and the Tudor reference 7016/0 Snowflake. Both watches are like me going full circle......

Not bad for a 41 year old watch.

Happy Easter

2012-04-08T02:10:00.001+08:00

Wishing everyone Happy Easter. Normal transmission will resume soon.

RM005 FM LE

2012-03-29T22:11:00.001+08:00

The title looks like a bunch of number. :)

Actually a couple of days ago I was fortunate to have the opportunity to 'play' with this watch, the Richard Mille RM005 Felipe Massa Limited Edition Titanium watch. That was a mouthful. The watch is not mine but belongs to a friend.

Anyway, this is not a review but more of a photographic learning process (for me). I have to say that the watch is a very beautiful watch, well made and feels very very light on the wrist. It is a limited edition of 300 pieces and comes in at 45 x 37.8 mm.

On with the photographs:

The watch.

I just love the dial and the date display at the 7 o'clock position. The dial is rendered in the Brazilian Flag colours.

I also like the 'skeleton' like dial.

Not a safe queen, look at the scratches at the 6 o'clock position. I like the use of the 'Trox' like screw head around the bezel. Very utilitarian.

Comes with a rubber strap.

The screw down crown. If I am not wrong, the RM0005 FM was the first RM to achieve the water resistant rating of 10 ATM. Look at the beautiful titanium 3 case design (bezel, mid case and case back).

The automatic movement, reference RM005-1, with hours, minutes, seconds and date complication. It also features an adjustable rotor geometry. Basically it adjust to the owners movement.

The case back with a display window. Well made and just beautiful.

Another view of the movement.

Apologies for the many repeat photographs, but like I said, this is training shots. :)

Again the dial.

And the case back.

A very well made and beautiful watch.

Casio New Mook

2012-03-29T08:27:00.001+08:00

I have not been following Casio for sometime now. In fact my collection is slowly moving to the home of another Casio collector. Anyway, there is a new Mook (Magazine bOOK) out on the popular Casio G-Shock. It is not really a new Mook as it has been out about a month. The Mook is published by KK Bestsellers and it is printed in Japan. The ISBN is 978-4-584-22208-9.

The Mook, unlike earlier Mook on Casio G-Shock, seems to focus on the current G-shock collection. There is not much in terms of historical references, i.e. no list of past G-Shocks. There are however lots of cut-away and blow-up (?) photographs of the current models. It is 100 pages thick.

The magazine.

Front cover.

Back cover.

Some of the content.

Collaboration model. I had the Stussy model.

Current G-Shock models.

Full circle

2012-03-28T19:15:00.001+08:00

Got this today. Condition? Just awesome, like new. Truly full circle......

California dial, what else could you ask for.....

Nice to get it back.

Tudor Prince Date Day

2012-03-27T16:20:00.000+08:00

I was at my neighbourhood watch shop when I stumbled on the owner's stash of old catalogues. I was looking through a couple when I saw this old Tudor catalogue (well not that old, it was from 2006). Inside I saw these. Never knew there were 4 different models. It is the Tudor with the California dial.

The Tudor Prince Date Day reference 76200-62480. This is the largest at 36 mm.

The Prince Date reference 74000-62470 and this one comes in at 34 mm. The next model is the Prince Date (boys model?) reference 72000-62450 and this one is 32mm. The last model in the collection is the Princess Date reference 92400-62430 at 25mm.

Tudor 7016 update

2012-03-27T09:16:00.002+08:00

The Tudor is still with RC/ TSC. Sigh.... Well at least they are doing their job by really checking the watch serial number.

In the meantime I have been scouring the Internet for a bracelet. I have manage to establish from popular Rolex forums and even from RSC/ TSC that the original strap or bracelet issued with the watch is the reference 7836 and subsequent model, the bracelet reference 9315. Note that there is no 'T' in the reference as these watches were originally issued with a Rolex bracelet and without the flip lock.

I realised that I have an extra bracelet that I got from the GMT Master reference 1675 (I have 3 bracelets with the watch, the original rivet bracelet, a replacement bracelet and the current bracelet fitted to the watch). Got it out and had a look. It was a reference 78360 which is the 'updated' strap to the reference 7836 (folded bracelet). End links reference 558. Not sure if it will fit the Tudor but will try it out once I get the watch in a couple of weeks time. Anyway I want to use the watch with a fabric strap and I have one from Bambi (Japan).

I got down to 'servicing' the bracelet. More like cleaning....

Stripping down the bracelet.

The clasp.

The bracelet.

The pins and clasp spring bar. Note the wear on the pins.

The build up. Complete bracelet with 13 links.

The bracelet ready for the watch.

There is some stretch, common with Rolex bracelet.

I will continue to search for a reference 7836 bracelet.

Congrats James Cameron

2012-03-27T09:00:00.001+08:00

James Cameron is only the third man to have gone to the bottom of the Mariana Trench to a depth of 11 KM. However he is the first to attempt a solo decent. You can read more about it here:

Deepsea Challenge

A big congratulations to National Geographic, James Cameron and Rolex.

A couple of photographs that may be of interest.....

The watch Rolex made for the trip.

Not to sure what or which Rolex he has on his wrist....

Photograph: AP

Notice the watch strapped on the robotic arm of the submariner....

Photograph: National Geographic

Another view of James Cameron and the watch.

Photograph: National Geographic

Something new from Rolex?

2012-03-21T11:38:00.000+08:00

An interesting video from Rolex. A new watch perhaps?

Deepsea Challenge watch

Lume shot

2012-03-19T16:59:00.003+08:00

This a lume shot of my British military mechanical CWC and Hamilton Geneve G10 watch. The luminous material, Tritium is long gone (well it is very very dim as the watches are form the 70s). However I notice if you were to expose the watches to strong white light, the watches do illuminate for about 1 second. So photographing the watches were a tad difficult. Timing was everything? :)

Here are the watches immediately after the lights were switch off.

Second attempt.

I have to say it was pretty cool to find out that it will illuminate brightly for about 1 second before it fades (rapidly) away. I will find out why and update this thread.

Straps...

2012-03-19T14:03:00.001+08:00

Been very busy the past few days. Trying to find a new house and other things. Now that it is all over (I hope) things will be back to normal. Anyway, I got these today, much to my surprise. I thought it would have taken much longer but am glad to receive them (bravo FEDEX).

The strap from Peter Gunny is in the house. I have heard much about them but have never gotten one. Now I have two, one for the Bell & Ross and the other for the Panerai. I have to say that first impression is great. I like my straps raw and tough and the Gunny straps does not disappoint.

The straps.

For the Bell & Ross.

Signed.

For the Panerai, from the 74 series.

The Gunny signature.

Look out for the review soon.

Watch photography

2012-03-15T21:41:00.004+08:00

Change of background but still the same angle. Next to experiment with angles and perhaps moving to outdoor shots with natural lights.

The Hamilton Geneve 6bb watch.

Reflection due to the tropic crystal.

Something from 74.