On the workbench part two: size matters, it matters a lot.

I got an amazing box of goodies from the watchmaker today. He was cleaning out a shelf and found some boxes. One was a former mouse colony, which he put on a street corner and ran away from. The box disappeared when he returned the next day, likely being taken by a homeless person. I… Continue reading On the workbench part two: size matters, it matters a lot.

Should you buy a pin-pallet?

This post is heavily inspired by Greg's post Inflation hits the Dollar (Watch), which you should take a few moments to read sometime for a broader perspective on the phenomenon I'm discussing. Greg spoke about dollar watches, watches meant to be sold for a dollar way back in the day. Westclox, Timex and Kienzle did… Continue reading Should you buy a pin-pallet?

On the workbench part one: Zenith Stellina service watch

This isn't my first rodeo. I've worked on other people's watches before, namely two Citizens among others from a professor at North-West University, a Tissot Navigator dive watch and a Tissot PR 516 with an ESA electronic movement from my watchmaker. I've spoken about all of those with varying degrees of detail. Some projects just… Continue reading On the workbench part one: Zenith Stellina service watch

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

Table for one: a Bulova reproach

I come not to praise Bulova, but to bury it. I have a problem with modern Bulova. Every time that I see this or that enthusiast enthuse about their newest Jet Pilot or Mil-ships I want to stick my nose in and puncture their joy. It is a reflex that I have resisted so far.… Continue reading Table for one: a Bulova reproach