Over the next few weeks I will be doing a series of Blog posts on a head to head matchup between a Rolex Datejust 3135 movement and an Omega CoAxial Seamaster Pro model. I want to compare various design aspects of each watch and give you my opinion of which I like best and why. I will explore the Automatic unit, the escapement, date functions, crown and case tube, crystal.. Read More
Watches from World War I
Until the late 19th and early 20th Centuries, men who needed to know the time and who had the money to afford a watch, kept it in their pocket on a chain. Women, for some reason, were the trailblazers – Elizabeth I had a small clock she could strap to her arm. It is not true that wristwatches were invented specifically for World War One – but it is.. Read More
Rolex vs a Ford Pickup Truck
You may be wondering what the relationship is between an expensive Rolex watch and a Ford Pickup truck. My idea is simple: People buy a very expensive Rolex (anywhere from $1,000 to $10,000) and then they proceed to wear it swimming, gardening, and just literally “beat the heck” out of it. On the other hand, people buy a very expensive truck that is made as a work vehicle and.. Read More
Is the Apple Watch the Future of Watches?
The idea of this blog is this simple question: is the Apple watch the future of the watch business or just a passing fad? Watches were originally only owned by the rich and famous, a sure sign of status and power. As watches became cheaper and more reliable, they fast became a part of just about every person’s daily wear. Everyone had a watch and the simple idea of staying.. Read More
Hamilton 4992B Watch Conversion
I recently had the good fortune to be able to work on an interesting project. The idea was to turn a standard Hamilton 4992B into a wrist watch. I was contacted by a good customer and went over the details of what he had in mind and the following is his description of the process and a few pictures of the finished project. The project started a little over a.. Read More
Charles Lindbergh- Longines Hour Angle Aviation Watch
During the time between the first and second World Wars, flying was no longer news; it was commonplace. Planes delivered the mail via Airmail, and the US Postal Service employed a bevy of pilots. 25-year old Lindbergh served as a US Mail Pilot, running the route between St. Louis and Chicago. Veterans became barnstormers, daredevil stunt pilots who toured the country, providing the first airshows and offering the public a.. Read More
Simple Watch Questions, Simple Watch Answers.
Can You Wind an Automatic Watch from the Crown? Yes, you can wind an automatic watch from the crown. That will not hurt the movement. Actually with an older or worn watch, a few manual winds from the crown can be a big help. What Does Fully Automatic Mean? Fully automatic means that the watch can’t be wound from the crown. The only watch that comes to mind is a.. Read More
What is a Chronograph?
A chronograph is a specific type of watch that is used as a stopwatch combined with a display watch. A basic chronograph has an independent sweep second hand; it can be started, stopped, and returned to zero by successive pressure on the stem. Less simple chronographs use additional complications and can have multiple independent hands to measure seconds, minutes, hours and even tenths of a second. In addition, many modern chronographs use moveable bezels as tachymeters for.. Read More
What is a Chronometer?
If you are a luxury watch enthusiast then you will no doubt be familiar with the term “Officially Certified Chronometer.” But what does it actually mean, who’s in charge of giving this certification? What is a chronometer? A chronometer is a high-precision watch capable of displaying seconds and containing a movement that has been tested over several days, in different positions and at different temperatures by an official neutral body.. Read More
Rolex Running Fast? How to Regulate a Rolex vs. Other Watches
Many people believe that watch accuracy can be achieved by simply adjusting the regulator screw towards the + or – position. Regulating a watch is a lot more complex than this. Watches that are inaccurate are inaccurate for a reason. Generally, these watches require CLEANING AND CONDITIONING (oiling and greasing of the winding mechanisms). Conditioning also includes: ensuring that all of the train wheels are free from obstruction, the hairspring.. Read More