22 October 2008

Blancpain Leman Perpetual Calendar Men's Watch Flyback Chronograph

Blancpain Leman Perpetual Calendar Men's Watch Flyback Chronograph Stainless Steel Case Black Dial on Brown Leather Strap 2585F-1130-63
Gender/Size: Men's, Case: Stainless Steel , Bracelet/Strap: Brown leather, Dial Color: Black, Subdial Use: Hours, minutes, perpetual calendar (date, day, month, year, leap year, moon phases), chronograph with flyback function, Hour Markers: Arabic numerals, Crystal: Scratch reistant sapphire,
Movement: Automatic, Calibre: 55F8, Jewels: 35, Frequency: 21,600 VPH, Power Reserve: 40 hours,
Case Width: 38mm, 
Clasp Type: Pin buckle. 

IWC Portuguese Automatic 7 Day Power Reserve Mens' Watch Stainless Steel Silver Dial on Blue Leather Strap IW500107

IWC Portuguese Automatic 7 Day Power Reserve Mens' Watch Stainless Steel Silver Dial on Blue Leather Strap IW500107
Stainless steel case. Matte blue alligator strap. Silvered dial. Date displays at 6 o'clock position. Small seconds dial. 7-day power reserve displays in small subdial. Convex sapphire crystal. Case diameter 42.3mm. Automatic movement. Water resistant at 30 meters (100 feet). 

18 October 2008

Observation Watch History

In the 1930s and 1940s the so-called observation watches were an essential part of a pilot’s equipment. This observation watch served as a means of navigation in addition to the cockpit instruments compass and altimeter during the visual flights common at that time with previously fixed routes and turning points. Before the start of a flying squadron the crowns of the watches were pulled out and the watches were set to zero. When the captain gave the order "Start" the crowns were pulled in so that the watches of each pilots were running synchronously. After a certain fixed time an order previously determined could be performed. It was very important that the mechanical watch movements had to be of highest precision. The technical features of these watches were specified by the Reichs-Luftfahrt-Ministerium (ministry for aviation). The shape of the hands , the design of the dial, the typeface and also the dimension of the crown were defined by this ministry.

The number “12” on the dial, marked with an arrow, enabled the pilot to get a fast orientation in each situation, and by means of the disproportional big crown the watch could be handled without having to remove the gloves. In order to ensure that the dial could be read during night the hands and the numbers on the dial were equipped with radium, a radioactive material with high luminosity. These observation watches were classified with “FL23883”, a description for navigation instruments. This number was engraved on the outside of the case, on the opposite side of the crown.

Due to the high standard concerning precision and reliability the production of the observation watches was a great challenge for the watch manufacturers. In the 1930s and 1940s, only five companies were authorized to produce such observation watches: IWC in Schaffhausen, Lange + Söhne in Glashütte, Wempe in Hamburg, and Stowa and Laco (Lacher & Co.) in Pforzheim. From these five companies only two (Lange + Söhne and Laco) used movements of their own production. The other three companies used Swiss movements.

LACO Black Pilot's Watch Limited Edition only 50 pcs. in the World based on original Observation Watch design

Laco Black Pilot Watch Limited edition

10 October 2008

Panerai PAM4 PVD

I like my Panerai PVD (PAM4) a lot. But, I don't want to scratch it so I don't ware it so often. This black panerai goes very well with almose any straps (tan, brown, dark green, etc.). I normally use the watch as the model for taking photo of my strap collection.
Marino Calf Mustard (USD85)
Marino Calf Mustard

Marino Buffalo Tan (USD85)
Marino Buffalo Tan

Cordura (USD 150)
Cordura Strap

09 October 2008

Numbers LED Alarm Clock by Areaware

Numbers LED Alarm Clock by Areaware
A digital clock with a nice design. It's designed by Jonas Damon. You can place individual digit blocks separately and styled any way you like. Areaware is a New York City-based design company renowned for home decor and accessories with an emphasis on new materials and original expression. Click on the image for more information.

04 October 2008

Steinhausen Single Watch Winder

Steinhausen Single Watch Winder (Cherrywood)

A watch Winder is a must for watch colloctors. These watch winders can be very expensive stuffs. However, there are some good and not so expensive watch winders. Chick on the image for a good one.