In Which I Inadvertently Celebrate Seiko’s 100th Year as a Brand

This is a 1920s Seiko trench watch. Or more accurately, this is my newly acquired 1920s Seiko watch. From my very nominal research, the name Seiko first made an appearance on a wrist watch dial in 1924. Before then, the wrist timepieces Seikosha produced carried the name Laurel from 1913 to 1923. In 1923, the… Continue reading In Which I Inadvertently Celebrate Seiko’s 100th Year as a Brand

Three Questions: Wittnauer

1.  What vintage brand would make the best dress watch for the money? At various times I would have answered that question differently. Hamilton, Bulova, and Gruen all make perfectly serviceable “dress” watches. If you want to pay a little more, Le Coutre, Longines, and Omega were great options, but prices have jumped recently. To… Continue reading Three Questions: Wittnauer

Save One: Round Table No. 12

Sherwin: It's been a while since the last round table. Let's get to it: What's the watch you will save if you ever get to a scorched earth situation? Let's say you have to--you don't want to but you have to--what's the one timepiece in your collection that you will keep? And no cheating. You… Continue reading Save One: Round Table No. 12

Typical Christopher content…

It seems odd to review a vintage watch, I mean, what does it have to prove? Plus, it’s not exactly easy to obtain is it... OMGHAI2U where can I get that exact model!? I’ve waxed lyrical on vintage an obscene number of times on this platform, and I’ve often been the first (or second) to… Continue reading Typical Christopher content…

I swear I thought she was older…

I like the forgotten and the overlooked and today Wyler has those very qualities in excess. It was a major player once, from the 1930’s to the 1970’s. Wyler made watches that were tougher than the average Swiss brand, but were affordable, and maybe a little stylish. Wyler has had a couple of relaunches in… Continue reading I swear I thought she was older…

Fluva Genève, and the Felsa Bidynator

Sounds like a Harry Potter book doesn’t it… Despite the recent Seiko acquisition, and whatever else I’ve been moaning about, I did also start re-wearing this lovely little Fluva. This is a little sweety, powered by a Felsa 690 Bidynator. Fluva is a brand trademarked in Geneva, 1949, by J. D. Klopmann. Klopmann also registered… Continue reading Fluva Genève, and the Felsa Bidynator

The Full Story of My Camy Club-Star

I've long talked about this watch, everything from its exact date of purchase to its sentimental value. The whole story is split up in so many different posts and comments that it's probably not the easiest thing to piece together. Nobody asked for this, but here we go... December 31st was slightly overcast if I… Continue reading The Full Story of My Camy Club-Star

Antiques hunting: George and Mossel Bay

I just came back from the postcard-esque southern coast of South Africa. I would have been back earlier if the caravan's right wheel didn't decide to launch itself into some farmer's field. Eagle-eyed readers may have spotted that the wheel and hub are no longer where they should be. The whole side skirt is ruined.… Continue reading Antiques hunting: George and Mossel Bay

The Paper Trail

This ongoing investigation was born out of my procrastination. It's exam season and it's one of those seasons that comes with fists and arms. Naturally, my mind saw this as an opportunity to catch up on all sorts of things, chief among which was the origin of my Nivada Grenchen Antarctic Spider. Now one may… Continue reading The Paper Trail