5 Useful Tips On Buying Vintage Or Pre-Owned Watches
Every week, Robert writes an article for my friends over at Motoring Exposure. This week, I submitted 5 tips that are useful for people who are exploring the pre-owned of vintage market for the first time. Although I think most Fratello readers are a bit more advanced collectors or aficionados, it doesn’t hurt to read them!
Click here for the article over at Motoring Exposure.
p.s. the picture above is of a caliber 501 Constellation from approx. 1955. It took me over a year to have this one restored, only to find out that it was too small for my wrist anyway and sold it again…. (everyone learns)
New Projects Watches - Rush Hour, Turbino, Yin Yang, Reveal & Lost Time at Watchismo!
RUSH HOUR MYSTERY DIAL
With Rush Hour, each second literally moves the hours (be sure to play video of animation below). The even numbered hour markers are the second hand, changing the face of time by the second.
Luminox’s Industrial Strength Diver’s Watch
Consider how alien an underwater environment really is. It’s the closest that an earth-bound individual can get to outer space. So, when you put yourself in such hostile territory, wouldn’t it make sense to bring the most sophisticated and reliable tools with you?
I’m talking, of course, about Luminox’s Deep Diver 500m/50 bar piece. Previously rated for 200 metres, this one can go places many other diver’s watches simply can’t. After all, the last thing that you want to worry about on your dive is whether or not your timepiece is able to function at your desired depth. If anything, the Luminox watch should be able to go much deeper than you can.
So let’s just talk about how tough this piece is. Pretend that you’re a diver. You have a limited supply of oxygen. That number is some number of minutes. In such a wondrous and different environment, without the same kind of natural sunlight and other environmental indicators, time will be perceived differently. Timing the descent and the ascent, avoiding the “bends”…all this relies singularly upon the Luminox Deep Diver. Hey, it’s not like you can ask someone what time it is.
But it’s important to keep in mind that this is a watch built to the toughest standards. The exams were so rigorous; Luminox itself has stated that it can only certify 24 watches every 3.5 hours. Moreover, the watches are tested at a depth 25% greater than their maximum. The additional tests (shock, antimagnetic) rounded out the analysis. In the end, you’re left with a reinforced piece that won’t ever let you down. After all, it’s what many members of the U.S. military use. Look at it this way as well: if it’s designed to take that kind of abuse, how long do you think that it will last, subject to normal, everyday use?
The "Vintage Serie"
Ref. 857 ST. Made circa 2000. Double-ellipse-shaped and curved, two-time zone, self-winding, water-resistant, stainless steel gentleman’s wristwatch with a stainless steel Daniel Roth deployant clasp. Two-body case, polished, case back with 4 screws, stepped bezel, co-axial push button in the crown to adjust the different time zones, sapphire crystal. Dial: "Guilloché" gray with luminous Arabic numerals, apertures at 12 and 6 for major cities in different time zones, apertures for am/pm indication. White "flèche" hands. Movement: Caliber DR 700/21, rhodium-plated, "fausses côtes" decoration, 26 jewels, straight line lever escapement, monometallic balance, shock-absorber, self-compensating flat balance-spring. Dim. 38 x 41 mm. Thickness 12 mm.
Jewelry of the Week – The Floating Two Spike Ring
I have found this interesting ring in the Women’s Jewelry Collection by Marley B Parker Jewelry. I adore the shape and the way it look on the hand. The spikes are made from pyramidal black enamel.
Sometimes the best designs are the simplest and unexpected ones.
Louis Erard 1931 Loving Beauty
Reference: 932 14 OR 01. MATERIAL: Case in 18k rose gold, 41 gr. GLASS: Sapphire Glass. MOVEMENT: Movement ETA automatic 2824 with complication Dubois Dépraz 9000. FUNCTIONS: Hours, minutes, seconds, day, date, month and moon phase. DIAL: Opalin Silver skeleton dial. 4N Hands. CASE: See through case back with mineral glass. Strap/Bracelet: Genuine croco strap with 18k rose gold buckle. Ø of case: Case 40mm.