Serving As A Kampfschwimmer With An IWC Ocean Bund
In the 1980s, IWC introduced a series of highly specialized dive watches for the Kampfschwimmer, an elite German military dive unit. Made in conjunction with Porsche Design, these titanium watches had IWC technology and ingenuity behind them. As military-issued versions of the IWC Ocean 2000, they are now referred to as the “Ocean Bund” among collectors and enthusiasts.The IWC Ocean Bund (short for Bundeswehr or German Federal Armed Forces)? came as six issued references, including one that consisted of 50 entirely nonmagnetic watches for mine-clearance units within the Kampfschwimmer.Credit: Bulang and SonsAn extreme IWC watch for an elite unit?Recently, I spoke to David Seyffer...
Grand Seiko Kodo Constant-Force Tourbillon "Daybreak"
Grand Seiko's first all-mechanical complicated watch debuted in 2022. It was a timepiece with a movement featuring a tourbillon with an inner carriage rotating at eight beats per second and a constant-force mechanism rotating at one beat per second. Not only was the Grand Seiko Kodo Constant-Force Tourbillon SLGT003 a complicated and ingenious watch, but it was also quite the groovy one. The constant-force mechanism together with the beat of the escapement created a unique and steady beat that was hard to resist. I couldn't sit still when I saw the watch during Watches and Wonders 2022. This year, Grand Seiko brought out a second version of the grooviest watch it ever created, the SLGT005, w...
Hot Take: The New Longines Pilot Majetek Pioneer Edition
Back in early 2023, Longines brought back the famous Majetek pilot's watch. This tribute to the 1935 Czechoslovak-military-issued wristwatch was the second and, to us, more successful reinterpretation after an earlier version in 2014. Today, however, Longines is back with another variation on the Majetek theme, this time in titanium. Let’s take a quick first look to see what's what.This new version is limited to 1,935 pieces and priced at $5,350. This is a pretty hefty markup from the $4,150 non-limited steel version, so let's see if it lives up to its promise.Longines MajetekLet me kick things off with a condensed review of the Majetek’s history. These watches were originally de...
Hands-On: The Forstner 5-Row Beads of Rice Bracelet
The Forstner 5-Row Beads of Rice bracelet is the brand’s latest option for those who enjoy the look of a vintage accessory with modern quality. The choice to recreate this Gay Frres model from the ’40s is intriguing as it’s not the most famous. How does this bracelet blend with modern and vintage watches? Crucially, how does it feel on the wrist?Forstner does a fantastic job of offering high-quality vintage-style bracelets to the masses. The prices are reasonable, and the options are varied. I own several and enjoy using them on many of my watches. The Forstner 5-Row Beads of Rice is the latest release, and, like the rest of the brand’s catalog, it’s nicely con...
Titus Geneve
As promised (to Martijn, see the comments of the GP post below), I hereby post a few pictures of a watch that I bought a few months ago, from a fellow Dutch collector. It is a Titus Geneve chronograph from the 1940s (ca.1946-1948) with a Landeron 48 handwound movement. It is a 38mm watch, which was quite big for those days, in a 18ct red gold case. The case is very light and has a metal ‘ring’ inside, to make the thin 18kt red gold case a bit of solid. I was told that these watches were quite populair for US ex-soldiers from WWII to bring home, because these were one of the few gold watches allowed for them to import. I am not sure, but I think there were some kind of restriction...
Speedy Tuesday Full Gold and Bicolor Omega Speedmaster '57 Caliber 9301 And 9300
Speedmaster ’57 Re-editionsIt’s Speedy Tuesday! We probably don’t have to tell you that very first Speedmaster has been introduced in 1957. This highly-sought after model has become very expensive over the years (if you can find one in original condition at all). Over the years, Omega introduced several models that were heavily influenced by this very first reference CK2915 Speedmaster from 1957. The first that we know of was the Speedmaster ’57 replica that they introduced in 1997. This watch was also part of the famous Omega Speedmaster Missions suitcases. This year, Omega introduced the new Speedmaster ’57 Co-Axial Chronograph Calibre 9300 and 9301 models.Dur...
#TBT Seiko 6309 Diver
Seiko's 6309 diver is one of those watches that everyone seems to know and love. Instantly recognizable due to its bold case shape and stark dial, I'd say it's one of the more important watches created during the last 30-40 years. In today's #TBT, we'll take a closer look at the famous 6309 and try to explain why it's so beloved. I'll also highlight its dark side, which actually makes the thrill of the hunt, and the kill, that much more enjoyable when a proper piece is located.The 6309-7040/9 was introduced in 1976 and lasted an incredible 13 years through 1988. The 7040 nomenclature refers to a model sold to the Japan market and the 7049 is rest of world which was primarily the USA. In comp...
What Every Collector Needs: Lepsi Watch Scope Hands On Review
Want to know when your watch is due for a service? The Lepsi Watch Scope measures a number of vital signs, like accuracy, beat error, amplitude etc. Below, our hands-on review of the Lepsi Watch Scope that you can use to keep track of the performance of watches in your collection.We will try to focus a bit more on stuff surrounding our beloved timepieces. Gadgets, accessories, things we like, or we use on a daily basis will all be part of this. In this article, I would like to introduce a little gadget, which hopefully will come handy to most of you. I think us watch guys all know that buying a watch is only the beginning of our relationship with that object. We have to maintain it, take car...
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe Wears A Minase Divido
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe from Japan loves watches,? including the relatively unknown Minase Divido watch from his home country.He has been spotted before with nice watches. A vintage Omega Constellation C-model, a Speedmaster Reduced, a Seiko Astron and a Grand Seiko. Today, we’ve received a few ‘watch spottings’ of him wearing a Minase Divido. That might not directly ring a bell with you, but we covered Minase in this article. We’ve visited Minase during Baselworld this year, where they had a little spot in the Hyperion Hotel. We were all pretty impressed by their Divido watches. Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe was recently wearing one of the Minase Divido models...
Hot Take: ventura v-matic EGO
The ventura v-matic EGO has been resurrected.? Fans of the 90’s brand and newcomers alike will find this new release highly satisfying.I received an email from the team behind the new ventura Watches several weeks back with the announcement that the brand was officially being relaunched with the ventura v-matic EGO.? I had certainly heard of ventura Watches and as someone who started admiring timepieces during the 90’s, I had flashbacks.? ventura Watches was first founded in 1989, but it wasn’t until 1994 that the brand gained real fame.? Enter Swiss designer Hannes Wettstein and his uniquely modern form follows function designs that found their way to ventura.? I recall se...
Photo Report: The "Golden Moments" Event in Amsterdam
Even when you’re not into watches, or into Speedmasters, it is nearly impossible that you have not been confronted with a gold coloured astronaut, a picture of the gold Speedmaster Apollo 11 50th anniversary or an advertisement of the Moonwatch.What did you expect? Omega has been keen on their role as the official supplier of chronographs to the NASA astronauts since 1965. The 25th anniversary was already celebrated with a special engraved steel Moonwatch (2500? pieces), a white gold Speedmaster Professional (limited to 500 pieces), a very limited run of 50 pieces in platinum and a special run of the steel Speedmaster Professional watch with a display back for the Italian market (999 p...
#TBT Interesting Vintage Seiko Print Ads
Look at your perfectly framed , Omega, or Breitling vintage ads and tell me, have you ever thought to frame the old Seiko ads too? Our colleague Jorg did some elaborate work over the last year and compiled a shortlist of 31 remarkable print ads. His selection revealed many interesting facts and insights. You can find them here or here. Once you’ve polished-off those articles, grab some extra popcorn, and continue with this one, and this one too.The fact it took so many articles is unsurprising. There are a lot of ads. But now, it's time to turn the ship and head to Japan.Growing Seiko clanAs we see the vintage Seiko tribe growing quickly (blame Mike), we are sure a look back on some ...
TAG Heuer Carrera Sport Chronograph 44 mm Calibre Heuer 02 Automatic Watch
The word icon is thrown around way too often for comfort, in my opinion. But, like it or not, every brand has them within its history. The definition of the word - a person or thing regarded as a representative symbol - lessens its grandiosity and clearly makes it the perfect descriptive term for the TAG Heuer Carrera, a model which has, alongside other iconic pieces from the brand (such as the Monaco) defined the company’s character for decades. Now it’s time for the latest chapter of this icon’s history to be written with the release of the TAG Heuer Carrera Sport Chronograph 44 mm Calibre Heuer 02 Automatic Watch.Updating icons is a tricky task. You cannot deviate too mu...
Five Popular Dive Watches I Actually Went Diving With
Dive watches are immensely popular amongst watch aficionados. However, most of them are never used for the task for which they’re designed. I’ve been diving for quite some years now. As such, I’ve always worn a dive watch from my collection alongside my trusty dive computer. Here are five watches that I actually used while diving.Often people are afraid to use their watches in or underwater. The fact is that the meters indicated on a watch do not correspond to the actual depth you can take it underwater. I can imagine that that leaves you a bit puzzled about the actual depth the watch is suitable for. All kinds of rules circulate the Internet, but in general, a watch rated ...
SOLD OUT: Fratello Czapek Antarctique Viridian Green (2021)
Years of daydreaming, months of groundwork, weeks of refinement, days of pressure, and several hours of anticipation came to a close in 39 minutes of furious activity in the Fratello shop this morning. In the blink of an eye, all 50 pieces of the Fratello Czapek Antarctique Passage de Drake Viridian Green limited edition were spoken for. With the prototype staring back up at me from my wrist inquisitively, I had the pleasure of telling it that all of its offspring had found homes. And what a thrill watching that happen was.I know watches (except for the first-gen Tudor Black Bay heritage diver) aren’t known to smile, but I saw my own contented grin reflected back at me as I tilted the ...
$396 Dive Watch Approved By Former COMEX Diver (2021)
If a former ambassador and COMEX diver says about your watch, I find it very beautiful, sober, and classy, and the diameter is perfect too, you have reason to be proud. This happened to Vincent, a 29-year-old watchmaker from France, who started his own brand (BND) to develop watches.So, let's have a closer look at that watch that was praised by Theo Mavrostomos, who used to be an ambassador for the Sea-Dweller 16600 and holds the record for the deepest dive on November 20th, 1992 (701 meters). He worked for COMEX for 20 years and can be considered a diving legend.BND MNBLAVincent from BND Watches sent one of his watches to the Fratello offices, the MNBLA. The other models he offers on his ...
A Brief History Of Time: Breitling's Complete Brand History (2021)
Welcome back to another installment of a Brief History of Time. Today, we pick up where we left off, exploring the fascinating history of Breitling.With the Chronomat and Premier in the ’40s and the Navitimer and SuperOcean in the ’50s, Breitling had built up some major momentum. The 1960s proved to be yet another fruitful decade for the brand, starting with some notable improvements to the Navitimer. The prior Navitimer’s all-black dial was changed to feature contrasting white subdials. This improved its legibility, and the new look also made it even more attractive to the mass market. The Navitimer thus became not simply a useful tool watch, but a popular symbol of class ...
Praesidus A-11 Marston Mat D-Day Limited Edition
Praesidus is bringing back the A-11, a wristwatch manufactured during World War II in accordance with the U.S. military standard. The American microbrand reinterprets those historic specifications to build modern-day A-11 watches as a medium for untold wartime stories. Praesidus conveys its latest D-Day story through the Marston Mat Limited Edition of 100 pieces. The brand has divided the release into two drops, releasing the last remaining 30 pieces in the next few days.Just to be clear, we are not talking about the vintage A-11 watches that Elgin, Waltham, and Bulova produced for the Allied Forces in the 1940s. Praesidus is creating new collections derived from the A-11 specifications. The...
How To Have A Great Time At A Watch AD
It’s funny just how different experiences can be from one watch enthusiast to another. Not too long ago, Nacho “confessed” that until recently, he had never actually visited an authorized dealer (AD). Just like him, I also thought they looked quite unwelcoming at first. But, after having visited numerous ones and having bought a few watches from them, I can actually say that I now very much enjoy visiting them. I could even go as far as to say that some of them have become (watch) friends. If you’re just like Nacho and hesitant to go in, let me help you out with some quick tips.As I’ve already shared with you numerous times, my gateway drug into this hobby was t...
The New Awake Mission To Earth Watch is NASA Approved
I would not be lying if I said that the new Awake Mission To Earth watch is balancing on a precipice of hype. Whether it will tumble down the crevasse of one-hit wonders or become a future-proof microbrand legend remains to be seen. But the premise is a cool one, even if we are slightly colored by our own love for Moonwatches (and MoonSwatches, for that matter).Even with nearly half a century since the last time man set foot on the Moon, space travel remains hugely influential and inspiring. Take away the hype and secondary-market scalpers, and the MoonSwatch with all its mission iterations is simply cool. Add NASA to the picture and the potential is even bigger.What does blockchain have to ...