Norexa triple calendar Moonphase using Valjoux 90 movement

Norexa triple calendar Moonphase using Valjoux 90 movement. Traded my Benrus diver for this.

Rolex 5508 early gilt dial

Rolex 5508 early gilt dial

I love the early Rolex submariner without crown guard 5508. Both my 5508 are the serviced dials from different generation. I have always wanted to have a gilt dial 5508 and I have been looking for a gilt dial for a while and the closest I can find is the early gilt service dial as below.

According to an expert, this is one of the earliest gross finished service dial. Please see below..

http://www.watchtalkforums.info/forums/thread90354.html

http://www.watchmywatch.fr/rolex-submariner-5508-super-nice-early-service-gilt-dial/

I now have a spare NOS 5508 service dial... Anyone who is in need of an original Rolex 5508 dial can contact me..

Vintage wAtch direction

I have been moving away from vintage watches that are being speculated by the auction houses or dealers for a while. In particular, the Rolex sports watches have been so speculated that prices have started to fall especially for the auction led. Together with the economic uncertainties, many buyers who have paid premium prices will have to hang on with the watches until prices recover. With the increasing number of mixed parts have made verification of authenticity tough. Unlike Patek who will issue archives for their watches, Rolex do not offer such services. One way is to get a Rolex service paper. However, Rolex do not care about whether the dial is type 1 or type 5 as these classifications were done by collectors and not Rolex. We have to remember that during the 1960-70s, Rolex like any Swiss watch companies, faced the challenge from the Japanese watches. Moreover, dials manufacturing were often outsourced to different companies and variations will therefore happened.

I was lucky as many of my vinatge sports watches were bought before the hype and prices were very reasonable. Whenever possible, I have sent most of my vintage sports models to Rolex center for service and change of parts, as give it another few more years, the spare parts for the 1960-70 watches will be depleted. Many collectors do not have to send their Rolex centers as they prefer to keep them in original conditions. However, mechanical watches like cars needs servicing. As such those ghost bezels, damaged spider dial, faded dials if continues to deteriorate, will definitely undermined the values..

Since vintage watch collecting is one of our hobbies, we should expand our horizon beyond the Rolex Sports watches...right??

West end military

West End Watch Co. was originally formed by Arnold Charpié. The marque was purchased in 1886 by Constant Droz and Arnold Amstutz who developed the brand via their sales centres in Bombay and Calcutta, India. In 1917, Arnold Amstutz established a company in Geneva, Switzerland, which took control of the brand. West End Watches were very popular with British troops in India and the Middle East during the First World War and one was reputedly purchased by Lawrence of Arabia. The Sowar (which means "warlike" in Hindustani) model spearheaded the range since its introduction in 1934.

It comes with a protective shield

Even though these are relatively cheap watches, but to look for nice condition with original dial and early handwind version is a good challenge. The watch dial has a shining effect making it looking like the much desire gilt dial. For those who wants to play with watch with a gilt dial, military watch with dust cover, at an affordable prices, these may be a good option. The later West End versions come with date and automatic.

Slimmest mechanical watch possible

There was once every watch companies tried to produce the slimmest possible mechanical watch..