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 Lord Marvel, 1967

Posted on 07/04/2022 by robswatches

A pure Experiment The accuracy of a watch depends on many factors; one of those is beat rate, which is the frequency at which the balance wheel oscillates. Or, put more simply, the faster it ticks, the more accurate it … Continue reading →

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Seiko 5 Sportsmatic 1966

Posted on 10/03/2022 by robswatches

The Springboard to success In the early 60s Japanese products were a rarity in the western world. It was less than two decades since the end of the war, there was a prejudice that went with the war memories and … Continue reading →

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Girard Perregaux Mid 40s

Posted on 21/02/2022 by robswatches

A Watch With a Secret? This is a mid 1940s example of one of the big names in Swiss watchmaking; Girard Perregaux. A very pleasant simple style, 37mm in diameter case, a nice size when the fashion was smaller (presumably … Continue reading →

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Seiko 9ct Gold Dress Watch, 1990

Posted on 29/12/2019 by robswatches

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 by robswatches

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 by robswatches

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 by robswatches

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 by robswatches

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 by robswatches

  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 by robswatches

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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