Shock Resistance is a fairly recent term in the world of watches. As more and more people are leading active lifestyles, watch brands are going to great lengths to create timepieces that are resistant to damage when dropped or when subjected to stringent and constant motion The balance wheel is one of the most critical parts of a mechanical watch. The balance and hairspring are the parts that regulate the watch and.. Read More

Last week we talked about the differences between a Hamilton 992 and 992b movement. This week we will show the different case and dial styles available for these models. Below are listed a few of the many case and dial options that were available for these fine watches. Hamilton Cases Dial Lettering Styles Dial Styles Hamilton 992 Enamel Dial on the Left, and The 992B Melamine Dial on the Right.. Read More

The Speidel company dates back more than 115 years.  The company is known for its ratchet-buckle watchbands, scissor-action expansion bands and ladies’ Mignon bands, as well as costume jewelry.  In addition to watchbands, Speidel produces watches, lighters, writing instruments, small jewelry and accessories.  Though Speidel was very famous as an identification bracelet maker, the company is still best known as the manufacturer of the Twist-O-Flex watchband. Introduced  in 1959, the Twist-O-Flex.. Read More

How does someone compare two works of art? In some debates, there are no wrong answers — especially looking at beauty. My wife’s two favorite movies are Pretty Woman, starring Richard Gere, and Dirty Dancing with Patrick Swayze. I asked her recently which actor was more handsome, and she answered, “there is no comparison.” I did not immediately understand this answer, but she explained that they are both handsome in.. Read More

With Election Day last week, we continue our look at presidents and their watches. Lyndon Baines Johnson was the 36th president and served from November 22, 1963 (immediately after John F. Kennedy’s assassination) through 1968. Patek Phillippe LBJ is the only U.S. president confirmed to have owned a Patek Philippe watch. His was a reference 2526 in 18k yellow gold and was ordered through Tiffany & Co. with a special yellow gold.. Read More

With the Election Day today, we thought we’d take a look back at the watches belonging to Abraham Lincoln – America’s 16th president. Lincoln was known to have owned a few pocket watches in his time, but there are two in particular that seem noteworthy: a gold pocket watch and a Waltham pocket watch. Before the start of the civil war, Lincoln purchased a nice gold pocket watch from George.. Read More

What’s in a name? For a Tourbillon, it is a fancy, French word for “whirlwind.”  The Tourbillon was invented by 18th-century watchmaker Abraham Louis Breguet, and his idea was to counter the effects of gravity on the escapement of a pocket watch. The escapement of a watch is basically what makes the hands of a mechanical watch move and keep time. The Tourbillon could be considered a kind of watch.. Read More

On the surface, a company that made a watch that would never need replacing would seem a little counter intuitive. After all, it is the goal of any business to keep selling their product to consumers – right? That brings us to to take a look at the Citizen Eco-Drive watch. Introduced in 1995, the Eco-Drive harnesses solar light to charge its movement. The solar cells are actually mounted underneath.. Read More

Replacing a mainspring in a watch is just about the most common repair that I make each week. I thought I would give you a bit more information as to how this is done. Here’s a Hamilton 992 with barrel cap off showing the break in the spring. The spring will normally break at the center. That is where most of the stress is placed as it is wound and.. Read More

Sometimes in life, the simplest things like adding a bit of color can go a long way to brightening your day or changing your mood. Maybe it’s wearing different colored clothes that make your outfit pop one day, or maybe it’s changing the accent colors in your preferred shoes. It could even be as simple as changing out the dome, ambient lighting in your car or home. In watches, one.. Read More