OT O.R.I.S.

I took this photograph earlier today. Like they say, a photograph is worth a thousand words. 

O.R.I.S. is Oarsman Racing Innate Sailor.... emmmmmm....

Something old, something new...

Finally I manage to view and 'play' with the Tudor Pelagos reference 25500TN. I have to say that any initial apprehension I had about the watch, based on early life photographs on the Internet were all wiped away. I had my doubts about the overall finish of the watch. I am pleasantly surprised and impressed with the watch save one thing, but more about that later. 

The watch.

I like it. 

Something old and something new....

Opppsss lousy photograph...

A slightly better one. The Pelagos with its Granddad the reference 7016. Which would you choose?

OK, so what is the one thing I don't like about the watch? The clasp. Don't know how robust the mechanism is and how long it will last (with dirt and grime getting into it). But if I do get the watch, I will use it with the provided rubber strap. 

So, which suits me better? The Black Bay or the Pelagos? The Black Bay was starting to grow on me, but after looking at the Pelagos..... 

Both would be nice...... :)

Watch photography learning curve

Still on a learning curve.... Background (ceiling) clutter and height or distance from object is important. Also still trying to perfect taking photographs of watches with domed crystal....

Background (ceiling) clutter.... :(

Too near the watch..... :(

A tad further back... Must learn cropping.....

Domed crystal.....

Almost there but depth of field.....

Oh well, the learning continues.....

Christopher Ward C-11 Titanium

It has been sometime since I last wrote about Christopher Ward. It is no fault of theirs as they have been busy with a number of awesome projects in the C900 Harrison Single Pusher Chronograph and the C9 Harrison Jumping Hour among others. Great year ahead I guess for collectors of Christopher Ward watches. 

A first for Christopher Ward is the C-11 Titanium Elite Chronometer. It is their first titanium watch and what a watch it is. A watch featuring an internal rotating bezel, screw-down helium release valve, ETA 2824-2 chronometer grade movement in a beautiful titanium case. What more can you ask for? Limited Edition? Great water resistant rating? Beautiful case back? Check for all the above. 

The watch is rated to 500M and is a limited edition run of only 500 pieces, individually serialised. The case back will feature engraving of a Makaira marlin and the words 'Explorare ad Profubdum Altum', meaning 'Explore the Depths'. Best news of all? It is available for purchase now. 

For more information:

C-11 Makaira Elite 500 Ti Watch

And the watch....

The beautiful case back....

Closer view of the marlin...

The crowns....

Photographs: Christopher Ward

It's alive....

Just got my Aristo back from my friendly neighbourhood watch guy. Simple repair according to him. The mainspring inside the watch barrel broke. So, in goes a new one and all is OK. A simple inspection and service was also done to make sure everything is OK. 

In an earlier post, I mentioned that the movement in the watch is an ETA 2801. Well, I was wrong. The movement is an ETA 2804-2. The difference? Date complication. The ETA 2804 has a date complication. Does not make sense to me as the watch does not have a date window. Oh, well.....

Panerai SIHH 2013 updates

Well the 'final' production figures or millesimation for the SIHH 2013 novelties are as follows:

Historic

PAM00512 1,500 pieces

PAM00513 500 pieces

PAM00514 2,000 pieces

PAM00515 500 pieces

Contemporary

PAM00524 2,000 pieces

PAM00525 500 pieces

PAM00526 700 pieces

Special Editions

PAM00364 500 pieces

PAM00508 1,000 pieces

PAM00507 1,000 pieces

PAM00446 50 pieces

All the best. 

Enlisting Time Exhibition

The National Watch and Clock Museum is currently hosting a special exhibition called 'Enlisting Time'. 

Photograph: National Watch and Clock Museum

"The National Watch and Clock Museum recognizes the significant sacrifice of our soldiers who have given their time, their courage, and in some cases the ultimate gift – their lives.  To honor their service, the Museum’s newest exhibit, Enlisting Time, explores the relationship between armed service personnel and time and timekeeping through the exhibition of the personal timepieces of military men and women through history.

Timekeeping on the battlefield has changed dramatically in the last 250 years.  What hasn’t changed is the reliance that men and women in the military have on their timepieces. Enlisting Time presents the personal timepieces, mementos, and personal stories of service of those who have served their countries throughout these years. Museum visitors can see the technological development of these timepieces and the significance they had for the wearer.

While watches of well-known individuals, including the pocket watch of George Washington and the wristwatch of spy and author Ian Fleming are part of the exhibit, timepieces belonging to “everyday” veterans also are highlighted.

Among those timepieces is the watch of Mt. Joy, PA, navy veteran, Warren Greenawalt, who served in World War II after attending the Navy Mechanics School in California.   He chose to serve in the navy to follow the family tradition that his father started when he served in the navy in World War I.  Greenawalt was located on the small island of Tinian, which grew to be the largest and busiest airbase in the world.  The watch he wore, after serving for some time in the navy, was actually one that was given to him after delivering a crate of tomatoes to the island of Guam!  The carrier officers there were so appreciative of his delivery that he and his copilot each were given a watch. Greenawalt wore that watch for the remainder of his service.

“We believe this Enlisting Time is a great chance to tell two important stories,” says Museum Director Noel Poirier. “One is the development of the timekeeping device as used by military personnel and the second are the stories of those service personnel themselves.  By combining the two, and especially with the loans we’ve received from the community,  the Museum  presents a compelling exhibit on both fronts.”

Enlisting Time will be on display at the Museum through August 2013."

Louis Zitzmann - WW I soldier

Louis Zitzmann Watch

Israel Gockley - WWII Soldier

Some of the soldiers and their watches that will be exhibited.

The National Watch and Clock Museum is located at 514 Poplar Street, Columbia, PA 17512. 

For more information:

National Watch and Clock Museum