“I’m just like him”

A period of time I've found myself having overwhelming nostalgia for is orientation week at university. This was the first week, where for five days you would be taken on a tour around campus and shown the ropes of the various aspects of "student life." Feeling the wrath of my current schedule, I so wish… Continue reading “I’m just like him”

One Direction?

The Swatch x Omega MoonSwatch... The Audemars Piguet Black Panther & Spiderman The JLC Batman Reverso... What do all of the watches above (and similar) have in common? They are all accused of dragging down or tainting the reputations of the respective brands. I happen agree with that statement, but not in the way you… Continue reading One Direction?

Hidden gems that we can’t wear.

As I'm sure many have noticed, I've been on a bit of a ladies' watch arc lately. Many happened to find their way to me and I am one who almost never refuses an afternoon tinkering. I love vintage ladies' watches, yet few others do. Why? Many vintage ladies watches are cocktail watches. This was… Continue reading Hidden gems that we can’t wear.

Amidst ink and blood

Friday saw the beginning of the end of my high-school career. It's funny how, for ten months now, I have been expecting and looking forward to this moment. I am still a high-schooler until November 25th; thereafter, I am changing my name, address and frankly anything else tying me to the last eighteen years of… Continue reading Amidst ink and blood

On the workbench part four: what part of “disposable” don’t you understand?

I recently purchased two lighters from an auction platform I'm quite active on. They're old Colibri things, one is a Colibri Jetric that looks quite stylish; I don't care for the other one as unfortunately it does not work. I think it's a faulty piezo. Anyway, you're here for watches, so I'll add that with… Continue reading On the workbench part four: what part of “disposable” don’t you understand?

On the workbench part three: the only time getting an Omega for free makes me feel indifferent

I am not looking a gift horse in the mouth here. This is another goodie from the box I scored from my beloved watchmaker. This is an Omega cocktail watch, the only sort of Omega (apart from donor movements) that struggle to sell for more than a hundred USD. Why? No one cares for them… Continue reading On the workbench part three: the only time getting an Omega for free makes me feel indifferent

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.

Finding joy in the little jobs

Watchmaking is broad. A watchmaker is expected to be in command of the skillsets of the engineer, the jeweller, the businessperson and even the artist. How much a watchmaker is expected to know of each of these facets is determined by his or her customer base as well as his or her willingness. Many watchmakers… Continue reading Finding joy in the little jobs

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