Vintage watch experience 古董手錶: March 2015

Monday, March 30, 2015

Watch collection direction

I was tempted to collect the Oysterdate but has decided to do away with it and to focus my watches to Prince, Bubblebacks, sports and unique dials. During the early days, Oysterdate and rolex President series were common watches for the Ah beng but once the collectables run out, people began to start a new trend with the do called Stella dials etc.. My guess is once the fever is off, people would wonder why did they start in the first place?

Rolex 5508 😊😊😊

Rolex 5508

Rolex 5508 dating from the second quarter of 1958 is one of the last of the “thin case” James Bond Submariners, and as far as I know was the last Submariner rated to only 100 meters.

The 5508 was a transitional model, using the same case as the 6536 but the later cal 1530 movement with 25 jewels and Kif flector shock protection. As it uses the old style case and dial and the much more modern cal 1530 movement, the 5508 is by far the most usable of the early thin case Submariners.

Two generations of serviced dials. Need a Gilt 5508 😊

For details of this service dial please refer to the forum

http://www.network54.com/Forum/207673/message/1252336883/FS+5508+nos+dial%2Bhands+and+6542+hands,+also+nos

Saturday, March 28, 2015

Orient vintage SK Divér

I have not posted any watch blog for a week as a respect to our late Prime Minister.

The SK utilizes the Orient in-house movement Cal. 469---one that Orient has been using since the 1970's---and is VERY reliable (I own 3 Orients with this movement). The other Diver appears to have the same movement---either way, the Cal. 469--is a 21 Jewel, 21,600 BPH, and a 40+ reserve.

The meaning of the numbers on the inner turning bezel 20M, 30 M, 35 M and 40 M in different colors had to do something with non-decompression times

The meaning of the markings are as follows:

20 M You can stay at 20 M depth during 45 to 60 minutes without decompression
30 M You can stay at 30 M depth during 30 to 45 minutes
35 M You can stay at 35 M depth during 15 to 30 minutes
40 M You can stay at 40 M depth during 0 to 15 minutes.

Monday, March 23, 2015

A Great Man

There will be no posting on watches today in memory of A Great Man, Mr. lee Kuan Yew..

Saturday, March 21, 2015

Benrus Vietnam war military watch

HISTORY OF VIETNAM SINGLE CASE WATCHES

Just found this Vietnam (Dec 1969) Mil-W-3818B issued military timepiece in very good condition and very good price.Benrus DTU-2A/P military issue wrist watch from the Vietnam era. Looks and works excellent. During the Vietnam war the Mil-W-3818B spec watches were issued to military pilots. Higher quality than the Mil-W-46374 watches issued to the grunts on the ground. The pilots watches were equipped with a Swiss made 17 jewel manual wind movement, model DR 2F2 w.

THIS FAMOUS BENRUS U.S. GOV. ISSUED MIL-W-3818 WAS THE SECOND ISSUE OF THE BENRUS PROTOTYPE THAT ALL SUBSEQUENT MIL ISSUE WATCHES WERE CREATED BY– EXCEPT THAT THE MOVEMENTS OF OTHER COMPANIES THAT FOLLOWED WERE 15, THEN 7 JEWEL THROW AWAY.

A GIANT LEAP IN JUNGLE BUSTING SINGLE CASED WATCH SYSTEMS

A ONE YEAR TOUR OF DUTY “IN COUNTRY” – A PLACE CALLED “THE NAM”, MEANT A YEAR OF SWELTERING JUNGLE CONDITIONS AND MONSOONS. GOVERNMENT ISSUED WATCHES HAD TO BE DESIGNED BETTER THAN EVER BEFORE. OF ALL THE COMPANIES THAT SUBMITTED PROTOTYPES AND ASSISTED IN DEVELOPING CASE & MOVEMENT DESIGNS WAS THE BENRUS WATCH CO. IN FACT, BENRUS WOULD MAKE/PROPOSE THE LARGEST CONTRIBUTION: A SINGLE CASED STEM DESIGNED TO RESIST THE ELEMENTS, BE DURABLE, AND TO LAST. THUS BENRUS BEAT THE COMPETITION & WAS AWARDED THE FIRST CONTRACT.

Please visit: http://goldsmithwatchworks.com/benrus-vietnam-mil-w-3818b-hacking-history/

Vintage Divers watches

Friday, March 20, 2015

Watch sent for service

I have been very disciplined in not getting new watches. Instead, I have sent my 1675 to service and eagerly waiting for it to be completed... 😁😁👍

I am hoping to change it to a black bezel so that it can be "paired" together with my Submariner 16800...

Life is good!

Saturday, March 14, 2015

Watches swapping

As part of my continuous efforts to reduce the quantities of watches, I have decided to swap these watches for one GMT. It's was a difficult decisions as every piece is unique and has its special features. In the end, my preference is to consolidate my watches and update my GMTs (6542, 1675 gilt, 16700) and now the matt dial 1675). I have not been actively perusing the Sports models but if by chance I come across any nice pieces, I will make the move.

From these: