For my friends over at WatchUseek, I wrote an article on Tissot s Veloci-T Automatic Chronograph. A very impressive timepiece which retails for $895 at your local Tissot dealer.If you are looking for a nice mechanical timepiece below the magic $1000 USD price, this Tissot sports watch is definitely worth checking out. I really love the small peek hole to enable the owner to look at the mechanical movement. This watch jumps in the gap that exists between quartz watches and mechanical (non-chronograph) timepieces of less known brands and the mechanical watches of the mid-segment brands like Longines, Tag Heuer, Sinn and so on. Tissot is member of the Swatch Group (that has brands from Flik-Fla...

Sinn‘s EZM (Einsatz Zeit Messer) watches were always dedicated for professionals who need to depend on their watch, like firefighters… They need to know how long one can stay in a building burning with all the smoke (even with air tanks), to take someone s pulse etcetera. While Sinn used to have the EZM4 for firefighters, it ceased production a while ago. Now, Sinn introduces the EZM7.Click here to read my article on the EZM7 on MotoringExposure s Wednesday Watch....

Just a few days ago, I reported that the Seiko A829-A6019 was one of the ‘other watches that went into space. Besides the official Omega Speedmaster Pro, Omega Speedmaster Pro X-33 and a bunch of other ‘unofficial watches that made it there, it seems that Seiko was at least selected by astronauts.Former ESA astronaut – and expert on the field of durability – Wubbo Ockels personally mailed me the other day, that the Seiko A829-A6019 (and he also wrote there is a ‘A0 behind this reference number) was selected by a couple of astronauts and they arranged a nice procurement deal for this specific type of watch. Furthermore, Wubbo Ockels mentioned me the serial num...

Yesterday, I blogged about the Dutch astronaut wearing a Seiko during his STS61A mission in 1985. It seems that the Seiko handed out to the astronauts of mid-1980s missions, is the digital chrono A829-6019 model as pictured below. It was available in two versions, the SMGG11 and the SMGG13 (black bezel and LCD inlay).The picture above was found on The Digital Watch Library and it says that this watch was produced in 1982. Furthemore, the website states that these watches have not been assigned or selected by NASA, and were only personal choices made by the astronauts themselves. However, Dutch astronaut Wubbo Ockels cleary states in an interview in a recent magazine (belonging to HP De Tijd)...

An interesting video about ‘our time of one of our Dutch (former) astronauts, Wubbo Ockels. Wubbo Ockels was an astronaut on the STS-61A mission in 1985. Amongst others, Reinhard Furrer was also an astronaut on this mission. Reinhard Furrer wore a Sinn 142 timepiece during his time in space, Wubbo Ockels wore a Seiko 100M sports chrono that he received from NASA (according to his own words in a recently published magazine). He still wears this watch on a daily basis ??The video takes 22 minutes of your precious time, but already in the first few minutes it will become clear why we are ‘chronocentric . Derek Ziglar (who passed away in 2005) of Chronocentric really picked his webs...

During the SIHH 2010, Officine Panerai introduced the PAM339, a Radiomir Composite Marina Militare 8 Giorni (=days) in 47mm. A watch that reverts to historical models using state-of-the-art techniques for manufacturing watch cases. The composite material is a result of ceramization of aluminium and is harder and lighter than steel or titanium for instance. As you can see in the picture below, the matt brown of the watch case is in tune with the brown of the sandwich dial and strap in vintage leather. Panerai definitely knows how to please its following of enthusiasts.The movement of the new Radiomir Composite Marina Militare PAM00339 is caliber P2002/7, an in-house handwound movement develop...

Xetum is a relative new brand that should be followed closely by fans of modern design watches.? Xetum uses proven watch manufacturing techniques combined with a fresh design of cases and dials. I ve met Jeff Kuo – CEO and founder of Xetum – in 2009 and he showed me some prototypes of his watches. I was really impressed by his work and am very glad to see that his watches made it to production shortly after.Xetum deserves attention, not in the last place because of their eco-friendly production methods and initiatives. Italian cork lining in Xetum s watch straps, a rubber wood watch box and a protective outer carton box made of ecological fibers, to name a few. Inside their well ...

The design of the Submariner 114060, is unmistakably , despite the size and use of modern materials such as ceramics. Compare the modern 114060 to the 1953 Submariner 6204 and you will immediately notice that these watches share the same DNA.Owning and wearing a Submariner is one thing, but to dive into the history of this watch is quite a task. To make it somewhat easier for you, we hereby show you the history of the Submariner in a nutshell, including a table with most important references since 1953 till the current line-up of Submariner watches.Diving Into SubmarinerThe Submariner is a watch with an interesting story. Introduced over 60 years ago, the current Submariner model (updat...

When I borrowed the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Rubber Clad from Watch-Site, I got the AP Royal Oak 15300 as well. Just to?get some look & feel?about this watch. Not too long ago, I was a bit reluctant on this particular model, since there was only one Royal Oak, and that was the Royal Oak Jumbo, also known as the ref.15202ST. I have written many times on this Jumbo by Audemars Piguet, saying it was my dream watch or number 1 or 2 (this position changes back and forth with the PP Nautilus 5711/1A) watch that I need to have somewhere in life. ??Friends of mine have the 15202 and are quite clear on the 15300. A no-brainer, because of the second hand with the ‘wing on the shor...

The Explorer II gets a lot of attention lately on the Forum, I found out that there isn t much out there concerning its history. My attempt to do so, can be read over at MotoringExposure. My automotive counterpart, where I am the editor for the Wednesday Watch blog.Explorer II, ref.1655 dial. Photo courtesy of my friend SubGMT.Explorer II, ref.16570 with tritium dial. Photo courtesy of XoFF.Click here to read about the Explorer II history and possible future, and let me know what you think by leaving a comment....

Omega made a lot of weird and funny looking watches during the 1970s, I guess the Seamaster ref.145.023 is one of them. It has been introduced in a black ceramic version and a high polish tungsten-chrome finished version, both from the early 1970s and identical in terms of dimensions, used movement and rarity. Chronograph legend Chuck Maddox nicknamed the tungsten-chrome Seamaster ref.145.023 as being the ‘Anakin Skywalker Seamaster and the black finish model as the ‘Darth Vader Seamaster. On his website, he described the two watches in detail (click here).Today, I noticed that a German watch dealer has a Anakin Skywalker Seamaster for sale, in very nice condition and complete ...

Sometimes, you need to pave the way for something new. Therefore, my IWC Ingenieur 3227 01 is for sale. I have written several times about this watch (here and here for example), but there comes a time of letting go some of your collection pieces to get something else.This type of Ingenieur isn t in production anymore and is therefore probably the ‘shortest in production -Ingenieur model, from 2005-2009. List price was 5.900,= Euro which was a bit steep, I am asking 4.100,= Euro. Offers are welcome though, but if it doesn t fetch enough, it will remain to be in my collection of course.The watch comes complete with box, papers, booklets, IWC soft strap etcetera. As complete as it left a...

Introduced at the BaselWorld 2010 exhibition, the Tudor Heritage Chrono was the talk of the day for months to come. Authorized /Tudor dealers created waiting lists for people who desperately needed one. The vintage Tudor Monte Carlo Chronographs ref.7149, 7159/0, ref.7169/0 and the 7031/0, the original models on which the Heritage Chrono is based, skyrocketed to 10K Eur and over. I have written an in-dept and chronological story on the Tudor Monte Carlo a while ago already for MotoringExposure, click here to read it.The Heritage 70330N and the Monte Carlo ref. 7169/0, photo courtesy of Ryan5446A few months after the Heritage Chrono became available in stores in June, I see them popping up fo...

On the 1st of July (2010), a prominent member of the Panerai community (Paneristi) introduced a limited edition Panerai PAM 360 model, to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Paneristi Home Base, www.paneristi.com. A limited edition of 300 pieces only, which is far less than most Panerai production numbers, would be available for members of the Paneristi community. Moderators of the Paneristi community designed the concept of the watch pictured below. A 44mm Panerai Luminor in PVD, painted patina dial, the OP logo on the dial and an inscription engraved in the case back.Indeed, a great looking wristwatch by Panerai, although I would have preferred DLC and white hour markers instead of ...

A GTG (short for Get Together) organized by a few members of the Vintage Forum is always good for a lot of photographs of impressive watches and watch collections. Vintage Forum calls these GTGs ‘Passion , because of the passion for vintage watches. Looking at the photos, the guys also share passion for cigars, bags and watch boxes.Below you ll see a ref.6200, a very nice vintage early ‘Submariner without the printing on the dial being a Sub. The gilt dial is very nice on this ‘experimental Submariner. Probably produced around 1955.And this is not a , but being an AP fan and all, I though this might be worth posting here. An Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept on a mesh...

Finally ?? Every great brand deserves to have its own forum. Ernie Romers of WatchUseek pulled the trigger and created a special place for Linde Werdelin owners or future owners to discuss this brand.Click here to go to the forum and be one of the first to salute the other LW owners.Update: Me and my big mouth ?? Have been promoted to be the Linde Werdelin Forum moderator over at WUS. Come and see!...

Glycine introduced their new lineup of Incursore watches, reminding us how it all started with this model in 1998. The Glycine Incursore was a very large watch for that period in time, and I remember that because a watch collector acquaintance of mine had a Glycine – which I thought was just ridiculously sized at the time.The new Incursore II model is 44mm in diameter (no biggie in 2010) and comes in a hand wound mechanical version as well as an automatic movement version. The first Incursore in 1998 was a hand wound model, so I would personally go for that one. The nicely brushed 44mm case holds either the hand wound ETA/Unitas 6498 movement or the automatic ETA 2824-2 movement. The a...

Last week, I was browsing through the monthly stash of watch magazines that enters my house. I don t know about you, but unlike the advertizements in other type of magazines, I actually like looking at watch advertizements. One of the advertizements that stopped me from quickly flipping pages was this Audemars Piguet advertizement. Since I own one of their watches, I am extra vulnerable for their ads in magazines ??I was immediately catched by the great combination of the cream dial, brown sub registers and blue hands, hour markers and (internal) bezel. The brown croco strap with blue stitching completes the watch. Although I wonder if I will still like the blue accents in 5 years from now, ...

Some collectors or watch afficionados will tell you that the only good Omega watches are vintage Omega watches. In my opinion, they do have a point in terms of looks and value. Vintage Omega watches are the rising stars on watch auctions and who doesn t want to own a very early Speedmaster?As for the modern Omega watches, a lot of eyebrows are being frowned, but the fact that Omega is stepping up the ladder can t be denied. Creating their own in-house movements (again), making watches with complications and spending huge amounts of money on their marketing machine. They want to be – or perhaps are already – in the league where they wanted to be for a long time, stepped away from ...

Elizabeth Doerr, journalist for Revolution Magazine, visited the Audemars Piguet factory in Le Brassus and additionally got some tanning on the Hydroptere, the world s fastest sailing boat.Besides visiting AP s factory (see picture above), Elizabeth also had a look in the AP museum and the nearby Audemars Piguet Renaud et Papi facility. The Renaud et Papi facility is wear all the complicated magic happens for Audemars Piguet and some other brands.Take the tour that Elizabeth took by clicking this link and enjoy the great pictures....