Watches labelled as ‘NOS’ (new old stock) are oft prized. For watches, as it is for books or many other collectables, the idea of something that has been untouched, especially vintage watches, is tantalising. The words ‘new unissued in box’ were enough to draw me into the unknown world of vintage military watches. The lure of an untouched 1945 watch was too great.
Watch Profile
Hands-on with the Sothis Horus chronograph
Wolfgang Steinkrüger, the creative mind behind the watch brand Sothis, died recently, his legacy a series of highly recognisable and playful watches with an Egyptian influence. Although the brand started under another name, its founders Wolfgang and Karina Steinkrüger changed… Read More ›
The Rolex Ref. 5513 Mk IV
Having already blogged about the Ref. 5510 and the Double Red Sea-Dweller (Ref. 1655), today’s classic Rolex is the Ref. 5513 Mark IV. To read about the beginnings of the Rolex Submariners, go to the Ref. 5510 link above, but… Read More ›
A look at a rare Fifty Fathoms
Are there sounds in the sea Fifty Fathoms deep? Sea Music : W. J. Turner (1884 – 1946) In 1952, the French government created an elite team within the Navy called the ‘Nageurs de combat’ (combat swimmers). Headed by Captain… Read More ›
Hands-on with an unusual enamel & gold vein dialled Longines
As you know, we love our vintage watches, and today we have another rare horological beast for you. This one is particularly unusual. No, it’s not a Longines with a cracked dial which has had the cracks filled with gold…. Read More ›
Hands-on with the Botta MONDO dual time zone
Sometimes, you end up with a watch unexpectedly. The Black Edition Botta Mondo Dual Timer is one of those watches. The reasons why it turned out to be unsuitable for its original owner (and thus how I became its new… Read More ›
Just because … a Grande Sonnerie
What is a Grande Sonnerie? It means ‘grand strike’ in French, and is a complication in a mechanical watch or clock which combines a passing quarter striking mechanism with a repeater. That is, on the quarter-hour it strikes the number… Read More ›
A look at a 1939 Longines Lindbergh
In March, I wrote about a rare Longines Wittnauer Second Setting watch. Thanks to a distinguished collector friend of JPVFX, we now have a follow-up post of an even more well known and rare Longines aeronatical beast – the Longines… Read More ›
Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Duomètre à Quantième Lunaire LE
Sometimes, you don’t realise that there’s a beautiful watch that you’ve read about floating tantalisingly nearby. Then someone offers you the chance to take a look at it. Firstly, what are the ‘Duomètre’ watches? Introduced in 2007, the basic idea… Read More ›
A look at a Galante Spring Drive
Seiko has a plethora watch lines at all price points, many of which don’t make it to Australia, and some which do, but only in a very limited form. Launched in 2009, the Galante line/ sub-brand is, like their Spring… Read More ›