Vintage rolex

These are vintage watches from 1930s till 1950s








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Mickey mouse watch

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Chinese Soviet joint cooperation watch

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Rolex big bubble back ref 6031

There are a few versions of the big bubblback using the full bubble movements. I have always love the bubble back for it's fat round back. Here is a very rare watch. This is a 1950s Rolex datejust know as the "Ovettone" Model number 6031. It is crafted entirely out of 18K pink gold. Diameter is 36mm and 44mm long with 20mm between lugs.

there is another model 4467
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Location:Lorong Chuan,,Singapore

Longines comet

I have always wanted to look for The Longines Comet, a short-lived mystery dial from the seventies. It is an unusual watch, featuring a broad arrow for hours and an orbiting dot for minutes. Both are on revolving discs, making them appear to move without being connected to the dial, hence the term 'mystery dial'.

The indication 'T Swiss Made T' on the bottom of the dial means that the watch contains a certain quantity of tritium that emits less than 227 MBq (7,5 mCi). The watch is considered to be uncommon, as the design was deemed too avant-garde for tastes at the time, so comparatively few were sold. Red is the most rare colour, followed by yellow, the most common colour being blue. It was also produced in black and white, and in brown and green variations. I have managed to find the yellow one..cheers

Rolex Royal vintage 1950s

I went down to an antique shop which has a few vintage watches this afternoon and I have managed to find this 1950s vintage Rolex Royal. The dial is unusual as it has the "tear drop" markers instead of the usual straight markers. The dial has aged gracefully and despite having a few marks, I love it's natural aging process and the slight yellowish colour. The vintage Royal used to be so common (during the late 80s, but it seems to be getting rarer.

This watch will always remind me of my rely days when I first started to collect vintage watches! Happy new year

Marine Chronometer

I was offered the Overseas scholarship by the Navy. However, my parents were not very keen for me to join the navy. As such, I have always wanted to look for a Marine chronometer and to have a small Navy item that can accompany me in my workplace.

Marine Chronometers are highly accurate clocks kept aboard ships to aid in navigation. The chronometer is set to Greenwich time. When the time of this clock is compared with the local time at sea a ship's navigator can determine the longitude at that position. As a result, it is important that such clocks keep accurate time amid variations in temperature, humidity and the motions of the sea.) and during my business trip to Taipei, I have finally managed to find one vintage Hamilton World War II Marine clock used by the US Navy.

Background:
At the outbreak of W.W. II the United States Navy required high quality chronometers in large quantities at a time when very few chronometers were being manufactured in the country. The Hamilton Watch Company was the only firm able to meet the challenge by designing and producing an innovative marine chronometer in a period of about 18 months. Hamilton was able to produce the unit in sufficient numbers to meet U.S. wartime demand. Further, the model 21 and later type 22 is technically probably one of the greatest achievements in the history of horology. The balance and hairspring assembly represented a radical departure from traditional chronometer design and resulted in phenomenal time keeping rates. Hamilton made 11,239 of these chronometers during the War.

The Hamilton Model 22 is a legendary watch, hurridly designed when the USA was entering WWII, along with the far more complicated Model 21 marine chronometer; both are considered amongst the finest of their type. The 22 was even produced in the boxed-and-gymbaled format, so it was thought reliable enough to serve as a ship's primary timekeeper! The case is 70mm across, of plated and matted brass, and features a wonderful guarded crown and button to prevent inadvertent setting. Although the mainspring's power reserve is some 60 hours, and the dial indicates up to 48, it was intended that the watch would be wound each day at the same time for nearly perfect isochronism

This is a lucky clock as it has survuved the omslaught of the WWII battle..

http://www.nawcc.org/museum/nwcm/galleries/marine/marine.htm

Some other facts:

In 1939, the US Navy entreated the eight best American manufacturers to make it marine chronometers. In 1941, Hamilton was contracted to produce 337 of them, taking over from Ulysse Nardin who was the main supplier.


On receipt of the first two chronometers, their commissioners leapt with joy: they were excellent. Suddenly, Hamilton was asked to make not 337 but 1,000 pieces. The warships, heavy cruisers and submarines were swiftly supplied with several Hamilton gimbal chronometers stored in their chests.
So pleased were the Americans that demand grew and grew. President Roosevelt, the recipient of a Hamilton marine chronometer, promised in writing that he would take care of it and keep it at the White House until the end of the war, afterwards finding a place for it in his library in Hyde Park. Hamilton met with universal approval, especially since the US Navy had approached Elgin and Roth Brothers and found that their chronometers were not up to the task.
On the other hand, Elgin was developing a diver's watch at the same time as Hamilton. It was a waterproof version of the General Purpose Wrist Watch, featuring a waterproof cabochon winding crown, held by a chain. Hamilton would produce no fewer than 8,902 watches for Uncle Sam's Marines, plus 898 for the Maritime Commission and others. The Hamilton watches of the marine riflemen were engraved with the letters US MC and were, of course, part of their kit. The Germans of the Kriegsmarine had Berg, Alpina, Siegerin and a few Panerai watches, which had a white dial marked KM. The Royal Navy used Jaeger-LeCoultre, Hamilton, Omega, Longines while the Japanese Imperial Navy was supplied by Seiko.

http://www.worldtempus.com/en/encyclopedia/index-encyclopedia/watches-and-clocks/military-watches/

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.

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.

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..

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..

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.

Rolex Cushion Precision "Army"

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..

Rolex Explorer 1

I have been looking for  Rolex 1016 for a while and I amclosd to getting one...

Vintage Rolex 勞力士古董錶棺材仔

 

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..

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 mm. Thickness: 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 hands. Red chrono second hand.12 hour and 30 minutecounter hands in red
Glass: Domed sapphire glass with anti-reflective coating on both sides. See-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!

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!

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..