Author Archives: robswatches

About robswatches

I’m a horoligical “petrol head”! I love classical mechanical watches, not because they tell me the time, I can get the time from cheap quartz watches, my computer, phone, microwave or just about anywhere. I’m interested in the movements of watches, the aesthetics of case design and their construction, the history and the simple thrill of watching tiny, beautifully finished wheels, pinions and other parts turning and oscillating and marvelling at the craftsmanship that created it.

Seiko 9ct Gold Dress Watch, 1990

Posted on 29/12/2019

Simply Beautiful This is as simple and as beautiful as it gets. It tells the time and that’s it. No date, no second hand. Just two, highly polished, pencil style hands indicating the hour and minutes. This watch is all … Continue reading →

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The “Arnie”, It’s Back!

Posted on 03/09/2019

In 1982. Seiko released the divers’ version into the cutting edge, “Duo” range. The Duo combined analogue style and practicality with the multi functionality of digital technology. This divers’, rated to 150meters was the first to feature chronograph and alarm. … Continue reading →

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TIME, SPACE and WATCHES

Posted on 16/07/2019

Four Important Watches in Space History On the 50th anniversary of one of the greatest achievements of the 20th century, the Apollo 11 moon landing, I present four watches (part of my collection) that played an important part in history. … Continue reading →

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Waltham Traveler 1918

Posted on 04/03/2019

Closing an Era For the best part of a century the USA dominated world watchmaking and the most dominant USA manufacturer was Waltham. It seems the Americans mastered mass production and during a period when watchmaking in the rest of … Continue reading →

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Seiko Prospex Diver

Posted on 12/01/2019

The “Turtle” Seiko dive watches have a huge reputation. They’re as tough-as, look the part, have a heritage as long and proud as almost any brand and are very wallet friendly. As a collector, I have never been a huge … Continue reading →

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Omega Digital 1978

Posted on 16/09/2018

  Panic in an uncertain future In the middle seventies, the traditional Swiss watchmakers saw their one hundred or so years of dominance threatened by quartz technology that came in two forms and from two directions, analogue from Japan and digital … Continue reading →

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Omega Speedmaster

Posted on 18/07/2018

First Watch on the Moon 49 years ago today, Apollo 11 was whizzing through space and, in three days time, the landing module, Eagle, touched down on the Sea of Tranquility. As Neil Armstrong took the small step for a … Continue reading →

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Omega Seamaster De Ville, 1966

Posted on 23/06/2018

A 60’s Masterpiece This is almost as good as it gets, a near perfect example of a 1966 Omega Seamaster De Ville, the gentlemen’s dress watch of the period. During the eminent years of watchmaking, the 60’s, the flagship of … Continue reading →

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Titoni Airmaster 1969

Posted on 20/05/2018

Style with Practicality The little known Titoni brand was launched in 1952, a Swiss brand aimed at the Asian market. In 1969 they released a line called the Airmaster, (Anything suggesting flying was a buzzword in the year of the … Continue reading →

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Railway Pocket Watch

Posted on 02/05/2018

This watch is a monster! When I showed it to a colleague, she broke out into a chant “I’m late! I’m late for a very important date.”  Of course, this evoked images of the rabbit in Alice in Wonderland sporting … Continue reading →

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