Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Rolex Explorer 1~~ Ref 1016

After months of waiting, my newly serviced and overhaul vintage Rolex Explorer 1 Ref 1016 has finally returned from the service center. I could have changed a new dial and hands but i have decided to keep the original dial in order to keep its original look!

Today, watches like the Submariner, GMT Master, Explorer and Turnograph are known as sports models. However, when they were introduced over some 50 years ago, they were created for specific professions and famously known as the TOOLWATCH.

The origin of the Explorer dates back to the early 1950s, when Rolex began to test the durability of its bubbleback models as a utility watch. Starting from Ref: 6098 and 6150 which were given to mountaineers and expedition members including members of the British Himalayas expedition who conquered Mount Everest in 1953 and subsequently the name EXLORER was adopted. The watch saw numerous changes over the years, and many models namely 6610, 5500, 5504 and 1016 were introduced. The vintage Rolex Explorer 1 is a simple watch with the famous 369 markers but it has its unique appeal for its simple look without date.

Friday, November 26, 2010

Favre Leuba watch

Favre Leuba is the oldest watch brand in the world but went into passive mode for almost 30 years. It is a Swiss watch manufacturer with almost 300 years to its name.



Abraham Favre first learned the ins and outs of watchmaking back in 1718. It took a while but he officially established his own watchmaking company in 1737. One of the benchmarks of the company was its affliation with Jacques-Frédéric Hourriet, the father of Swiss chronometry. This collaboration led to watches of impeccable design and notable innovations. The company enjoyed an even bigger success when Favre welcomed the Leubas, a renowned family of watchmakers. The partnership resulted to international recognition having opened shops in United States, Bahrain, Chile, India, Lebanon, and Singapore.
By the 1960s, Favre-Leuba was releasing about 650,000 watches per year. The brand, at that time, was at its pinnacle. Bivouac was introduced in 1962 as a watch perfect for mountaineers with its altimeter and aneroid barometer. Only four years after, Favre-Leuba created Bathy, the first watch for divers with mechanical depth gauge and a mechanism indicating the dive-time.
After its golden years, Favre-Leuba experienced a dark age for almost 30 years. For some time, ownership of the company changed hand and not all of the owners were interested in returning the brand to its previous glory. It was not until 2006, when Clément Brunet-Moret relaunched the brand, that watch collectors can expect the same greatness from Favre-Leuba. The CEO was determined to relive the brand's distinguished past by releasing previous watches with timely innovations and by limiting the production to less than 2,000 per year. Through this, the brand becomes exclusive making it more appealing to collectors. However, owing to the financial crisis, the co went into closure again and the watch was never launched into the market. Only some small samples were made for the local distributor which were never distributed or sold..

http://www.favre-leuba.ch/#/en/collections/
http://www.swisstime.ch/pgs/rwi-pgs-actu-lgs-en-ida-1107.html


This watch has a special meaning as it was a gift from my company for the project Haiku.

Saturday, October 30, 2010

Jaeger Lecoutlre Military watch

Recently, I am into collecting military watches.This is a 1940s miliary watch with subsidiary seconds made by JLC using JLC Military WWW, Cal. 479..

Friday, October 22, 2010

14K solid gold case cloisonne enamel dial Swiss watch

I have always love cloisonne enamel dial watches. This is a 14K solid gold case cloisonne enamel dial Swiss watch featuring a knight in a horse. I love the blue background as well as the details in the dial..

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Rolex Army

Just bought another 1940s, Rolex Army from USA. The orginal owner was a captain in the US Army Air Corps Engineers. He served in India and flew aircraft over the hump to bomb Burma. Just a little history for you.

Saturday, August 07, 2010

Rolex Explorer 1~~

Just bought the Rolex Explorer 1 as birthday present..

I have sent the watch to Rolex center for servicing..can't wait for it to return..

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Election mystery dial watch



Election watch is one my earliest collected brand of watch. The company is no longer in existence.This is a mystery dial made in the 30s-40s.

The concept of mystery dial is very modern even up till today..

Tuesday, June 01, 2010

My modern Tourbillon watch: Graham Tourbillograph Trackmaster Chromium silver dial


After much consideration, I finally bought a modern Graham Tourbillograph Trackmaster Chromium silver dial. 

As you know, I am a lover of vintage watches. However, this modern watch is a must as it has 3 unique features:

1. Most Tourbillion watch  is winding but this is an automatic
2. It is an automatic tourbillon + Chronograph functions
3. It is a tough tourbillion watch that one can use for sports!

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GEORGE GRAHAM

Perhaps best known as the “father of the chronograph”, George Graham (1673-1751) was also the brains behind inventions such as the dead-beat cylinder escapement, the first wall chronograph and the mercury pendulum.
Commissioned by the Greenwich Royal Observatory to create the Master Clock used by astronomers, he became the first great 18th century clock-maker to be admitted to the Royal Society.


Based on inventive concepts determining design, functions and finish, the “British brand made by Swiss” creates imposing “wrist machines”. Graham watches evoke a powerful fascination among connoisseurs and collectors with technically and esthetically playful objects that combine originality, exclusivity and avant-garde with the excellence of traditional know-how.



Perpetuating this spirit of remarkable innovations and technical expertise,Graham is now a contemporary watch brand dedicated to enthusiasts of the mechanical arts. Open-minded and passionately interested in exchanges with his peers, including in other countries, Graham would have doubtlessly approved of this modern Swiss initiative to revive the finest British horological traditions and build on his rich heritage. 


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A new concept of the Tourbillon, a new technology, two patents, a new manufacturing process are the results of four years of in-depth research  and unremitting endeavours to create such a masterpiece. 

Powered by a PVD coated column-wheel chronograph movement featuring a visible R.A.C or “roue à colonne” - greatly enhancing precise operation, this particular time instrument features a unique see-through case construction which allows a fascinating look at the refined mechanism of the “one minute” Tourbillon.

The off-centre construction of the Tourbillon has the advantage of being lighter and therefore more reliable with a better resistance to shocks. The cage weighs in at only 0.485 grams and consists of 48 pieces. The Tourbillon’s high precision and durability is reinforced by the unique “Coq” and upper bridge construction which are shaped in the tradition of English high precision timepieces of the 18th century.
The high frequency of the balance wheel of 28’800 alternations per hour allows better adjustment and guarantees more precise timekeeping than Tourbillons operating at a lower frequency.


In addition, the construction employing a black PVD-coated bridge on each side, one on the front and one on the back, follows Breguet’s classical principles of craftsmanship and is much more reliable than a “Tourbillon Volant” with only one bearing. The reinforced Incabloc shock absorbing system which protects the spriral, the balance, the escapement wheel and the anchor, guarantees excellent shock resistance which is vital for a "sports" Tourbillon with Chronograph function.

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Tourbillograph Trackmaster Chromium silver dial
 
Reference:  2TWTS.S03A.K47F
Limited edition: 100 pieces
Functions: Tourbillon 1 minute. Chronograph
Movement: 
Automatic bi-compax chronograph calibre G1781
Case:
  Stainless steel with “clous de Paris” bezel
Diameter: 47 mmThickness: 17 mm. 
Water resistance: 320 feet or 100 metres
Dial: Silver dial.12 hour counter at 6 o’clock.
Snailed decoration on 30 minute counter at 3 o’clock.
 
White superluminescent numerals
Hands: White superluminescent and galvanic black hour andminute handsRed chrono second hand.12 hour and 30 minutecounter hands in red
Glass: Domed sapphire glass with anti-reflective coating on both sidesSee-through case-back with flat sapphire crystal secured by 6 screws
Strap: Integrated black alligator strap or integrated “tyres look” black rubber strap
Buckle: Stainless steel folding buckle   

Guess what's my serial nos for the watch? 




I am Chinese so the natural nos that I have is 68!

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Vintage Rolex Explorer 2

My PC was recently down and not able to get access to my blog.

Just came back from Taiwan and  took back my vintage Explorer 2 that has just been serviced by Rolex Center Taiwan. The watch was first serviced by Taiwan Rolex center in 2001 when I was posted there and working there.

Great memories!

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Sun phase watch (Not Moon Phase watch)


















I have bought this 1950s New old stock watch in Switzerland after my Basel trip. Instead of the usual watch that shows the moon phase, this is a unique watch showing the sun as the day indicators..

Saturday, March 06, 2010

The Mondani Collection of 309 Rolex Wristwatches (Antiquorum)




















The Mondani Collection of 309 Rolex Wristwatches attains
CHF 11,037,278 at Antiquorum Geneva sale and achieves world record price of CHF 738,500 for a Rolex watch at auction.
The total, astounding, result after today’s second session, for the auction of the Mondani Collection is CHF 11,037,278 (€7,124,783.69) with 100 % of the lots sold for 200% of the value. Several more world records were set. Most significantly by lot number 293, Ref. 4113 “Chronographe Rattrapante” that sold for CHF 738,500; the highest price ever paid for Rolex watch at auction!

Other world records for watches in their categories were the CHF 469,700 paid for lot 249, Ref. 6062 in yellow gold with diamond indexes and moonphases, and the CHF 118,000 achieved by lot 276 Ref. 6541 “Milgauss” with black dial. The Rolex Panerai, lot 246, sold for a world record of CHF 112,000 as well as lot 247 a Bubbleback and lot 193; an Airking model.
Strong, international bidding from every corner of the world via means of the telephone and on-line as well as from the many enthusiastic bidders gathered in the auction room at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Geneva.
Osvaldo Patrizzi, Chairman and CEO of Antiquorum said after the sale that the this has been one of the most remarkable experiences in his entire career as an auctioneer and watch expert. This sale has proven that the collectors have no limit in price when it comes to acquiring watches of superb quality and with a solid history such as those included in the Mondani collection.
Fresh market levels have been established for Rolex collectors watches and especially for the important pieces’ a new price basis has been set. Altogether the watch collecting market looks very promising at present and the future is prosperous.
Guido Mondani was indeed very happy with the outcome of the sale. He commented that “It has been a magnificent experience all along and I am very happy to see that my choices are appreciated to such an extent by collectors”. Mr. Mondani further said he has already a started another collection, however, did not want to specify its nature.
http://www.antiquorum.com/eng/press/2006/05_14_06/press_release_result.htm

http://www.christies.com/LotFinder/lot_details.aspx?intObjectID=5257496

http://www26.discuss.com.hk/viewthread.php?tid=8118327&page=1#pid172059298

Thursday, March 04, 2010

Problem with signing in

I am facing issues with saving my blog with photos and I cannot seemed to log on using  my ipad. Perhaps, the days have pme to end the blog....