GTG...

I always enjoys GTG with friends. Lots to see and lots to 'play'... and this time it is no different... 

Lots of interesting watches....

Maranez Bangla and Tag Aquagraph..

To me, one of the best watches from Tag..

Fitted with the Caliber 60. One of the ultimate tool watch, with chrono buttons that can be operated underwater.

One watch I never expect to see...

The Montres Militaire, Officier De Marine 47mm Mil No. 7101. Limited Edition of 799 pieces. 

Awesome bronze watch. Well made and very butch...

Awesome case back.

With my Maranez..

Even more watches... from left, Maranez Bangla, Bell&Ross WWI Monopusher Chronograph Heritage, Montres Militaire and MWF 5th Anniversary watch. 

This is one beautiful watch. I like...

The VDB 5th Anniversary Mystery watch. Limited Edition of only 30 pieces. Very cool watch. 

The case back with the 5th Anniversary markings. 

The watch... The Omega Speedmaster. This is the most desirable 1968-1969 'Pre-Moon' Speedmaster with the traditional Omega Seahorse Case back engraving (minus the 'First Watch Worn On the Moon' and the current engravings). This watch is powered by the Omega 861 caliber. 

What more can you want in a watch? Well maybe the caliber 321? :)

The watch is fitted with the GasGasBones strap that was inspired by the original strap by NASA. 

Well made strap on a beautiful watch. I like.

The VDB, the Speedmaster and the Maranez. 

What more can you ask for... 

Its all mine....

My cat and its new pillow...

Its mine, all mine.....

Le Chef..

Spotted this on the upcoming movie Le Chef... 

On the wrist of the main actor, Jean Reno.

I believe the watch is the IWC Portuguese Automatic Reference IW500114. I like this watch. 

The IWC Portuguese Automatic.

Photograph: IWC

D-Day....

Today marks the 70th Anniversary of the largest seaborne invasion in history. Today marks the start of the end of the war in Europe and subsequently in Asia and the World. Today is the 70th. Anniversary of the Normandy Landings or Operation Neptune. 

A big Thank You to those brave men and women involved in D-Day. 

For more about the Normandy Invasion:

Normandy Landings

The People: Airborne

While there were many people involved in the operations, the focus of this article is on the people from the Airborne Squadron, basically the American Airborne Division. The 82nd. and the 101st. Airborne Division.

Both the divisions were the first American operations in Operation Overlord (the invasion of Normandy). Both the 82nd Airborne and 101st Airborne made early morning parachute drops on D-Day. Around 13,100 paratroopers made those drops and landed behind Utah Beach. 

The 82nd Airborne (All American) were tasked to destroy bridges on the Douve and to capture the town of Sainte-Mere-Eglise. 

Photograph: wikipedia

The 101st Airborne (Screaming Eagles) were tasked to seize the causeways that serve as exits from Utah (beach) and capture or destroy bridges over the Douve River. 

Photograph: wikipedia

General Eisenhower speaking to the men of Company E 502nd PIR. 

Photograph: United States Library of Congress

The TV series Band of Brothers tells of the real-life exploits of Easy Company, 2nd Battalion 506th PIR, 101st Airborne Division from Operation Overlord (the Normandy Landings) through to V-E Day. 

The Symbol: Death from Above

Death from Above is a motto normally linked to airborne infantry, more specifically the paratroopers from the 101st Airborne Division. 

The use of Skull and crossbones in the military is not uncommon. Additionally, in World War II, soldiers adopted (as talisman) the skull and crossbones as a symbol of their courage and to remind the of the danger they faced on a daily basis. 

The Airborne Patch.

Photograph: shamelessly borrowed from the Internet

The Brand: Bell&Ross

Bell&Ross is a luxury French watch company headed by Mr. Bruno Belamich and Mr. Carlos A. Rosillo. The watches they produce follows the basic and simple idea of 'function shapes form'. The Bell&Ross brand can be defined by three simple words, Efficiency, Legibility and Reliability. 

The Watch: BR Airborne

The BR01 Airborne watches were developed to pay tribute and honour the brave and courageous paratroopers of the US Airborne divisions who fought during World War II. 

You can view a video about the BR01 Airborne here: 

BR01 Airborne

The watches....

The original, the BR01 Airborne. Limited edition of 500 pieces. I like this watch. 

The Airborne II. Limited edition of 999 pieces. I got this watch instead. 

Photographs: Bell&Ross

My Airborne II.

The Airborne 415. Limited edition of 99 pieces.

The Airborne 672. Limited edition of 99 pieces. 

Both the Airborne 415 and 672 is named such due to the diamond count on the watches. :)

The Airborne Tourbillon. Limited edition of 20 pieces. 

The BR01 Airborne One-For-Only. 

Photographs: Bell&Ross

There are also some boutique only edition of the Airborne. These are unique in that they are left-handed and known as the BR01 Airborne Gaucher.

Rolex Sea Dweller

I have been most fortunate to be able to see some of the different models in the Sea Dweller history recently. It started with the Sea Dweller reference 1665 Double Red. The watch was from 1971. Sadly I did not take a picture of the watch. Actually it was pretty silly of me for not taking a family  photograph.

Then I saw this..... the Great White reference 1665... I like this watch a lot. Not as much as the Double Red, but it is more affordable (really?).... Love the patina.....

Closer view of the watch face....

Sadly there were no reference 16660 for me to 'play' with. 

Anyway the new reference 116600 was there and here is a photo of my watch coupled with the 116600. The watches, side by side. The 116600 does look bigger, courtesy of the new 'fat' case. I am pretty happy that Rolex brought back the Sea Dweller. Somehow the reference 116660 never 'sang' to me. 

So what changed? Matte dial (lovely), ceramic bezel with Cerachrom insert, Chromalight for hands and hour markers (maxi dial and hands) and the much improved bracelet. The new bracelet features the Glidelock extension system and a flip lock extension link. 

Would I get the reference 116600? No, just because I have the reference 16600. It is very tempting though... :) For those who do not have the Sea Dweller.......

Looking at the Sea Dwellers models above, sometimes I am tempted to change and refine my collection and just focus on the Rolex Sea Dweller. It is after all my favourite Rolex watch (other then the ref 1675). 

More sigh....

More watches requiring battery change. OK, I promise that the next few posts won't be about how to change batteries. I will space them out. :)

The Swatch Boys...

Chronographs...

There are two complications that I like in watches, the first being dual time and the other being chronograph. For me, the dual time complication is answered by my GMT-Master ref 1675. That is my only mechanical watch with the dual time complication. I do have lots of watches with the dual time function that are battery powered, my main two being the Breitling Aerospace and the Omega X-33 Gen 1. 

As for the chronograph complication, I have these....

Omega Seamaster Professional.

Tudor Heritage Chrono Black.

Tutima Military Chrono.

Swatch Chrono Automatic.

Basically all these chrono watches have the register in the 6,9,12 layout (other than the Heritage chrono). I do not have one with the Tri-compax Mickey Mouse layout or the 3,6,9 layout. I use to have the Breguet Type XX Transatlantic, but no longer. 

As chance would have it, a good friend decided to let go of his Zenith Rainbow Flyback. Watch is in great condition and good price. So..... the rest is history. 

The watch. 

Don't have the watch as yet, hopefully soon. What is there not to like about the watch... Column wheel, flyback, chronograph, Mickey Mouse layout and best of all, it is a Zenith. 

The flyback in action....