Saturday, December 29, 2012

Vintage Mickey mouse watch






Every boy loves the Mickey. Having collected many watches, I felt a strong desire to dedicate a page to the Mickey mouse watch fom the 1930s, 40s and 60s.




The first Mickey mouse watch was launched in 1933 Chicago Fair - very first Ingersoll Mickey Mouse. Peculiar case with wire lugs and art deco' decoration on the bezel. Rare original first dial with 'equivalent' numbers 5 and 7. Of all the Mickey mouse watch, this is the most collectable. You can often see this watch at the vintage watch shop and more often or not, the shop keeper will often put a not for sale sign and for display only.








From 1938 to '42 : Ingersoll 'five notches' case.
(Note : this is the Ingersoll worn by the character Pink - Bob Geldof - in the movie The Wall, A. Parker, 1982)




With the outbreak of WW2 and the involvement of the United States in the WW II, for three fully years, from 1943 to '45, the production of Mickey Mouse watches ceased.
It started again in 1946 with a new type of rectangular case, without small seconds display and a more modern Mickey image (following its evolution on the movies).
Even if the company was now US Time, Ingersoll name was left for the most, on the dials or box packagings of these post war watches.








The laser that I have was a 1960s Mickey made in Hong Kong.




It is important for me to once in a while wear the Mickey mouse watch, so as to remind me to keep the young at heart ...
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Location:Metropolis Dr,,Hong Kong

Saturday, December 22, 2012

Saturday, December 15, 2012

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Rolex 8171

For those who is keen to find a Rolex 8171 Moonphase.


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Location:Gilstead Rd,,Singapore

Rolex 1016s

A pair of Rolex 1016, non gilt dial versus gilt dial..










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Location:Gilstead Rd,,Singapore

Saturday, November 24, 2012

Rolex Early gilt dial 6694

I must admit, i am not a real fan for the Rolex 6694 as I find the design too similar to the current collection.
However, this is an exception. This is a steel 6694 with All Original Black and Gilt Rolex Signed Dial with Early Dagger-Style Rolex Hands, Gold Hour Markers and Rolex Signed Oyster Screw-Down Crown. What made this watch interesting is that the black dial has evolved into a black with brown print dial..Looks like the leopard skin...
In addition, the caliber 1225 is a very reliable and perhaps the last of the oyster hand wind movement.








I must really improve my photographic skills..












The hand wind movements :
1. Rolex speedking
2. Rolex Royal
3. Rolex 6694
4. Rolex 6466
5. Rolex 6494
6. Rolex 6426
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Friday, November 23, 2012

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Vintage 1960-1970s Mickey mouse watch

This is a 1960-1970s Mickey mouse watch most probably made in Hong Kong. Interesting feature of the watch are the wording "Swiss Movt", perhaps an important feature during the 60-70s..stating the quality...


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Location:Metropolis Dr,,Hong Kong

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Rolex 1016 explorer 1 gilt dial

Even though I am back in Bangkok for meeting, I am glad to receive the news that the Rolex center has completed the authenticity check on the watch serial nos and case and is quoting on the price for servicing.
I have instructed not to change parts and dials as well as no need for polishing. Can't wait for the watch to complete its servicing as this watch has the same year as my birthday....




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Location:Soi Chao Phraya,Bangkok,Thailand

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Class of 1950s

I like clustering things and grouping them in classes. the pictures below shows the class of the 1950s...see the similarity?








One important factor to consider these vintage pieces is that it must come with an original dial and not reconditioned dial and the movement must be working...




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Rolex semi bubbleback 6084

This evening, I am very fortunate to be able to find a nice condition 1953 semi bubbleback. For those who know me, I love the early bubbleback and semi bubble. Recently, I have been streamlining my watch collection by selling away many military watches, other brands watches as well as my Tudor in order to focus my collection on vintage Rolex.

Even though it's hard to let go some of my collection, but I guess from the budget point of view, it is a question of either this or that. These regular streamlining helps to define my collection in a tighter scale and perhaps add more consistency in my find.

From the bubbleback point of view, the prices of these have dropped versus the times of the 1990s, largely due to the demand for bigger watches and sports models. My personal belief is that the trend for these regular size watches will return as these are definitely more comfortable size to wear for every day use..

Cheers









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Location:Metropolis Dr,,Hong Kong

Thursday, November 01, 2012

Vintage watches update

Just bought home the 16550 cream and 1019...reunion with the Tudor Ranger, Explorer 1 ref 1016, explorer 2 ref 1655, 5513, 1680, 6202 and 5508












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Location:Gilstead Rd,,Singapore

Saturday, October 27, 2012

Friday, October 26, 2012

Rolex 1016 Gilt dial

The fun part of the hobby of vintage watch collection is that you will never know what you will find when you visit the flea market, meet the collectors or visit the antique shops. Initially, I was looking to add a 1675 into my watch collection.
This evening, in order to streamline my watch collection, I have to trade my Rolex bubbleback + Lemania WW2 military + JLC WW2 Military + cash for a vintage Rolex 1016 Gilt dial. What is the most important is that the watch was produced the year of my birth..haha, life is good!
This is my third gilt dial Rolex with the first being the Gilt dial 6202 turn-o-graph, and second, the sub Rolex 5513 gilt. Given the temptation of the gilt dial, the 1675 will have to wait..




Just some additional facts of the Explorer from the net.
According to information published in the book, "Rolex Wristwatches -- The Best of Time," by James Dowling and Jeffrey Hess, there are a flew variations in the Explorer.
The ref. #6610 Explorer was introduced in 1959 to replace the previous Explorer model, the ref. #6150, and it was subsequently replaced in 1963 by the ref. #1016 Explorer. All of these models are very similar in appearance, but use different movements.
The ref. #6150 models use a calibre A.296 movement (one of the last "bubbleback" derivatives), while ref. #6610 models use a calibre 1030 movement, and ref. #1016 models use calibres 1560 and 1570 movements.
According to Rolex, calibre A.296 movements were produced from 1950 through 1955, calibre 1030 movements were produced from 1950 through 1957, and calibres 1560 and 1570 movements were produced from 1965 through 1967 and 1979 respectively. The calibres 1560 and 1570 are essentially identical, except for the number of vibrations per hour of their balances; the 1560 calibres are 18,000 beat, while 1570 calibres are 19,800 beat.








I believe the Rolex Gilt dial 1016 Explorer 1 should be from the early 1960- to perhaps 1966-68. Given the relatively "smaller" size, it is also one of the more affordable sports series after the Thunderbird. For those of you who may want to invest in vintage watches, the 1016 is a good consideration as the Sea dweller, sub, Gmt, Daytona's prices are already on the high sides, leaving more room for these under values watches to appreciate in prices. In addition, the sizes of these watches are 36mm making them nice to wear watch, and you can even wear them as a "dress" watch for work and meeting.







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Location:Cheong Tung Rd S,,Hong Kong

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....