Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Tornek-Rayville Reissue and Homage


2 well reputed watch companies have issued watches that is are reissue and homage to the Tornek-Rayville TR900. The 2 companies, Corvus Watch Company and MKII Corporation have issued their version of the Tornek-Rayville TR900. For a very interesting read of the history of the TR900, refer here:


Here is a photograph of the original TR900. The TR900 was made under the U.S. Military Specifications MIL-W-22176 (SHIPS). It was made by Mr. Tornek who worked with Blancpain to produce this watch. The design was based on the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms.


Photograph: MKII

The watch issued by the Corvus Watch Company is called the Bradley Dive Watch, after General Omar Bradley. General Bradley was the then CEO of the Bulova Watch Company Research and Development Department when the TR900 was designed. The Bradley Dive Watch meets the requirements of MIL-SHIPS-W-22176A.

Basic specifications:
Movement: ETA 2824-2 automatic movement
Case: Kolsterised 316L stainless steel scratch-resistant case and bezel
Bezel: Unidirectional 60 click dive timer with luminous acrylic insert
Crystal: Double dome sapphire, AR coated, 3.5 mm thick
Size: diameter 41.33 mm, height 11.3 mm, lug width 20 mm
Water resistant: 30 ATM


The Corvus Watch Company Bradley Dive Watch with the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms.


Photographs: Corvus Watch Company

For more information:


MKII Corporation has also reissued (as they now own, I believe, the TR brand) the TR900 in the guise of the TR1000.

Basic specifications:
Movement: ETA 2824-2 with MKII signed rotor
Case: Bead blasted 316L stainless steel case
Bezel: Unidirectional 120 click dive timer with luminous acrylic insert
Crystal: Double dome sapphire, AR coated
Size: diameter 42 mm, height 13.7 mm, lug width 22 mm
Water resistant: 30 ATM


Photograph: MKII

For more information:


Both watches are great watches and a great tribute to a one of the best dive watch ever created. Wish I have the funds to get both.

5 comments:

  1. You missed the Timefactors Precista PRS-50, which I believe was out late 2007-early 2008, so by the time this article was written also. I like that it includes the "No Radiation" symbol on the dial.

    Now I wish someone would do a full photo comparison of the three.

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  2. Hi Mike_stanford,

    Welcome to the blog. True that I missed out on the Timefactors Precista PRS-50. I have to say that it does make a value for money option for the new Blancpain Tribute to Fifty Fifty Fathoms released in Basel 2010.

    I guess the comparision may be not be out so early as the TR-1000 has not been delivered as yet. I too hope to see a comparision done.

    Best regards,

    Ivan

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  3. see the IWI hommage, anyone have a review?

    http://www.internationalwatchman.com/home.html

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi corndog,

    Welcome to the blog. With regards to the IWI hommage, have you tried google or watchuseek?

    Best regards,

    Ivan

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  5. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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