MIDO ON MONDAY - The Commander, The Watch Of The Future

While MIDO has several watch families, one of the most deceptively innovative is the Commander.

Courtesy of Mido

Now at first blush, the Commander looks like a pretty basic watch.  There are a few design touches that are definitely "of a time".  Chief among these being the Milanese bracelet that seemingly disappears into the case itself.

Courtesy of Mido

It is quite a clever design, born years ago, but still quite effective.  

But the real genius of the Commander is, in fact, pretty basic.  The case.  The case is a monocoque construction.  Simply put?  To service the watch, you go through the front, because without the aid of a diamond tipped can opener, you are not going through the back ; )

Another quirky bit of MIDO esoterica was their use of what was known as the "Aquadura" system.

Courtesy of Mido

Essentially, a cork sealing system.  Now it's important to understand that this was not unique to the Commander, but that little extra "what's it" made the Commander perhaps one of the most impregnable, durable and dependable mechanical watches of its time.  Now granted, a lot of watch makers couldn't get their heads around the notion that you didn't go in through the back, and my father's MIDO bore the scars of such uninformed work.  But in so many ways, this was THE ULTIMATE watch.  Durable, good looking, and reliable.

I have a few feelers out to lay hands to some vintage versions, and am reaching out to MIDO to see if a review of the modern version might be possible, so stay tuned.

What Jeff Ma Could Teach the Watch Industry

In fairness, a lot of what will be referencing Jeff Ma's conversation with Dave Chang on Mr. Chang's podcast - The Dave Chang Show.

There were some very interesting notions that I thought might be worth a view through the lens of the watch world. For those of you unfamiliar, and I was certainly one of them, Jeff Ma is a graduate of MIT, with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, but is best known for his research and application of analytics in gambling (casinos, etc.) and now advises business leaders and a few professional sports teams on how to better understand analytics and think more clearly about how they run the day to day of their business.

A few ideas that they discussed:

Unconscious Bias - 
This is a notion that I have dipped into when thinking about what Bill James, Billy Beane and others have called out as foolish behavior.  What Mr. Ma went into detail about was the notion that we often think in terms of narratives rather than analytic realities.  And more often than not, the narrative is, in fact, false.  Essentially, what it boils down to is a pre-existing belief about how something should be, and how our unconscious bias will prevent us from looking at things as they really are.  Now as someone who spends the majority of his waking life working for a non-profit, social justing seeking organization, I know that unconscious bias is a very familiar term used when we try to understand societal inequities. But what Mr. Ma underscores is that unconscious bias will impact pretty much everything we do - which includes business.  

So how does that apply to the watch business?
Well, my fellow members of the Fourth and Fifth Estates can confirm that more often than not, a watch brand will hire a PR firm from the same pool of 2 firms that they always hire from.  Now the interesting thing is that they will typically work with Firm A for 2 years, not renew the contract and go with Firm B for 2 years, only to come back and work with Firm A again.  In other words?  Firm C who can actually provide solid analytical data that proves their firm could be as (if not more) effective will never be considered.  The same is true with brand leaders.  All too often, the same faces keep appearing in the same roles, merely changing jerseys like a professional footballer.  The unconscious bias prevents the hiring committees from making an informed hiring decision, because they are more comfortable hiring someone who fits the pre-conceived mold of what they are looking for, rather than the best person for the job.  Ever wonder why so many brand managers in the US are, more often than not, European expats?  

Misaligned Incentives -
Brand CEOs, and brand managers are most typically focused not on "winning" or having the most successful brand in terms of quantifiable data results.  More often than not, the greater concern is that of keeping their job, remaining employed.  While there are some true alternative thinkers and practitioners out there, that willingness to try something different is going to be stifled by the misaligned incentives they are operating under.  Is it better to make fewer watches, spend less money on red carpet PR events, sell what you have and not dump the majority of your product into the grey market?  YES.  But the misaligned incentives of the big-time watch world enforce a different mentality.  Winning is no longer having a successful respected brand, it is churning as many units out the door as possible, regardless of whether or not they are legitimate sales, or the red-headed step children of the grey market.  When a group of people in a brand are operating mostly from a position of self-preservation?  Well, I think you can see how that is going to turn out.

Omission Bias -
Essentially favoring inaction over action when we fear that the action might lead to further or worse harm.  Mr. Ma shares the story of when his mother suffered a stroke, and the doctor offered two options:
1.  Do nothing, the odds were only 22% that she would  survive beyond 60 days. 
2.  Operate, remove the blood clot and pro-actively relieve pressure on the brain, which might help the brain recover more quickly.  Now obviously brain surgery is nothing to be taken lightly, but the decision to operate had a higher probability of success, if it was successful.

And it is interesting to me to consider this, because in many ways the medical realities of suffering a stroke are not that dissimilar to the watch industry as a whole right now.  Think about how the stroke metaphor applies to the industry.  The industry, as a whole, is chasing option 1 - Inaction.  The fear of really rolling up their sleeves and understanding just how things are going to work is terrifying.  What if it's a mistake?  What if you get it wrong?  What if you don't get your bonus?  Essentially, the industry is playing not to lose, rather than playing to win.  Because the foolish hope that is being clung onto, is if they wait it out, and whistle past the graveyard, things will go back to the way they once were.  But what we are now understanding with the rupture of the grey market balloon?  Things were never that great to begin with.

Better Than An Apple For The Teacher

From Montegrappa -

Courtesy of Montegrappa

As an English Teacher and now responsible for an adult education program here on the North Shore, this one speaks to me.  This is the Teacher's Pen.

Courtesy of Montegrappa

Obviously a little under the radar as Montegrappa has a lot of dazzling pens, but for the teachers out there and the people who love them, this is something pretty cool.

Courtesy of Montegrappa

Here are the pertinents -

                       FEATURES

Material: resin

Trim: steel

Nib: steel

Filling System: converter, cartridge

Packaging: special

Length: 141 mm

Diameter: 14.7 mm

Weight: 31.00 gr

Some Watches, a Friend, and Life

This is one of the Paajanen era Vulcain Crickets.

For those just tuning in, you can read about the one-time custodians of the Vulcan Cricket and their tradition of presenting Vulcain Cricket watches to Presidents visiting Helsinki here -

http://www.tempusfugit.watch/2015/02/a-vulcan-cricket-presidents-day.html

A few months ago, I received word via Linkedin that the last connection to that era for Vulcain had passed away.  His name?  Keijo Paajanen.  He was still a young man, and was enjoying his next phase of life as a budding entrepreneur in Helsinki following the closure/sale of his family's store (if I understood that aspect correctly). 

I can't claim that Keijo and I were lifelong friends, but I can say that I was glad to have him as my friend, and always appreciated his efforts to help me in writing about the Cricket, and I admired his tireless efforts to continue his family's tradition of presenting a Vulcain Cricket to visiting US Presidents.  Keep in mind, there was NOTHING in it for him.  He was, essentially, giving away something he could just as easily have sold.  But he still did it.

He was a true ambassador of the Vulcain brand, and I would go so far as to encourage Mr. Magada to create a basic model in honor of him.  Of course, I realize that is highly unlikely.  You see, Keijo Paajanen was, as his father before him, a romantic.  And sadly, there are far too few Keijo Paajanen's in the watch business these days.

Now I've held off on writing about this for several months.  I reached out to contacts in Helsinki to see if they could find an obituary, etc., and they found nothing.  But I can also say that every effort myself and others have made to contact him via email and social media have gone unanswered.
And if it is so, then I am truly sad, as he was an important person in my watch journey, and a true steward of the Vulcain legacy.

But life is funny, and stranger things have happened.  There is a not-so-small part of me hoping that maybe he simply packed a rucksack and hopped on his motorcycle one day for a round-the-world getaway, cutting himself off from social media, etc., and that maybe his Linkedin connection got it wrong, and that maybe, one of these days, a reply to my email to him will pop into the Tempus Fugit in-box, along with photos from far-away lands, selfies of him smiling broadly, wearing his personal Vulcain Cricket.  That's the hope that I am holding onto.

Enjoy your watches

Admiral AC-ONE 38 Automatic

From Corum -

Courtesy of Corum

The case measures 38 mm in diameter and is of titanium, the bezel is set with diamonds.  The movement is Corum's CO 082, an automatic movement with hours, minutes, seconds and date.  Power reserve of 42 hours.

The Big Bang Unico SORAI

Santa Clause returns to Nyon!



When it comes to good causes, I am an unapologetic pain the ass.  And that it is why it is so fantastic to see the folks at Hublot bring Christmas a bit early, with perhaps the greatest gift of all, the gift of more time, possibly even the gift of life for some of the earth's most vulnerable, and therefore valuable animals.  And to see that instead of the cynical value of death and trophies, Hublot and SORAI see the true value of these amazing animals, that they are far too valuable to be anything BUT alive.

This is the Big Bang SORAI From Hublot -

Courtesy of Hublot

Okay, longtime readers of Tempus Fugit know that I love rhinos and elephants.  I have a particular soft spot for organizations working to save them.

So BRAVO SORAI for the work you are doing to save rhinos, and BRAVO Hublot for your willingness to step up and support this very important venture.

Now for better or worse, I am an English Teaching Social Worker (yes, there is such a thing) so the closest I get to wearing an Hublot is during press visits at BaselWorld.  But with this type of a partnership, with this type of stewardship of an important cause?  Well for once I can say that if I had the means, I would be purchasing one of these right away!  And those of you out there who know me, when it comes to rhino and elephant conservation, I am not given to false hyperbole.

Courtesy of Hub-lot

The Big Bang Unico SORAI is limited to 100 pieces.  My further understanding is a portion of each piece sold will go to help fund the efforts of SORAI.

Here are the pertinents on the watch:

REFERENCE
411.CZ.4620.NR.SOA19 Limited to 100 pieces

CASE
Microblasted beige ceramic Diameter: 45mm Thickness: 15.45mm
Water resistance: 10 ATM (100m)

CASE-BACK
Microblasted beige ceramic Engraved “LIMITED EDITION” XX/100

BEZEL
Microblasted beige ceramic

DIAL
Matte beige skeleton “LIYONGBO” applique at 9 o’clock
Beige lacquered appliques with white luminescent

MOVEMENT
HUB1242: UNICO Manufacture self-winding chronograph
Frequency: 4 Hz (28'800 A/h) Power reserve: 72 Hours No.of Components: 330 Jewels: 38

STRAPS & BUCKLE
Black rubber with camouflage décor or beige velcro strap
Black PVD titanium with black ceramic insert deployant buckle clasp

PRICE (On 23rd of September 2019)
22’900 CHF 23’800 EUR 24’100 USD 19’900 GBP

Courtesy of HUBLOT

Here is the rest of the info, straight from Hublot -

Act with Hublot to conserve rhinoceroses,         
             a biodiversity emergency

Two-thirds of rhinoceros species may disappear in our lifetime, which would be an irreversible loss for our planet; and its main cause is poaching. Hublot has committed to a partnership with Kevin Pietersen and SORAI – Save Our Rhino Africa India – to conserve rhinoceroses threatened with extinction. This commitment takes the form of the Big Bang Unico SORAI, from which a large proportion of the funds raised from sales will be directly paid to Care for Wild for the care and conservation of orphaned baby rhinoceroses, and to the South African National Parks agency to reinforce their nocturnal surveillance capabilities using airborne thermal intelligence tools. In buying the time piece, 100 people will thus become involved in this initiative undertaken by Hublot on the recommendations of SORAI.

"The illegal trade in rhino horn and poaching was one of the subjects debated in Geneva last August during the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), demonstrating the urgency with which action is now needed. Staying ahead of poachers is a race against time, every time. Using innovative technologies such as thermal intelligence, surveillance teams can stay ahead of the poachers. We are proud and delighted to support Kevin Pietersen’s SORAI organisation in this goal for our future generations and global biodiversity."
Ricardo Guadalupe CEO Hublot

"This collaboration between Hublot and SORAI has allowed us a platform to give huge amounts of visibility to an incredible cause, on a global scale. By partnering, we are doubling the voices on this cause - and I'm so pleased that Hublot is now supporting the rhinos and their conservation quest. I’m looking forward to future and sharing the amazing story of SORAI with the world."
Kevin Pietersen Founder of SORAI

Big Bang Unico SORAI
Symbolic of the alliance, this 45-mm ceramic dial has donned the sandy tones of the sumptuous African bush and houses the image of a white rhinoceros. Strapped onto a matching NATO bracelet, the Big Bang Unico SORAI can express its commitment with personality by adopting the camouflage style of the second bracelet, made of rubber. The selective vulcanisation technology produces motifs in long-lasting colours that are perfectly drawn with an accuracy of a tenth of a millimetre, a first in the watchmaking world. This timepiece will be released as a special edition of 100 models.

The largest rhinoceros sanctuary in the world
Care for Wild, founded in 2001 by Petronel Nieuwoudt, is the largest rhino orphanage and sanctuary in the world. Its mission is to ensure the continued existence of these species for our future generations. When it is left alone because its parents have been killed by poachers, an orphaned baby rhinoceros has virtually no chance of survival. Care for Wild ensures their protection, growth and well-being in secured environments that are equipped with 24/7 video surveillance and communication networks, watched over by mobile units, dogs and their masters who are trained to counter poachers, and with aerial support.

South African National Parks
This body created in 1926 manages the 19 national parks in South Africa, including the most majestic, Kruger National Park, with its 20,000 km2 of animals roaming freely. Thanks to the funds obtained, South African National Parks will be able to acquire nocturnal airborne thermal intelligence technology, additional and efficient means to fight against poaching. Its teams will thus be able to localise rhinoceroses, intervene more rapidly, and protect the greatest number of these mammals sought after for their invaluable horns.

Mido On Monday - Multifort Centro Chronograph

So for our inaugural Mido On Monday post, I'd like to unearth an old favorite.  Now old is pretty relative, but this watch came out in the earlier part of this century.  And it is kinda' special for me because my friend, Lorenz Aebischer was involved with it during his Mido days -

Shamelessly borrowed from the World-Wide Info-web

This one was a bit before it's time in many ways.  Mido was known for tough, durable watches, and this one came in at a significantly higher price point.  And if I am honest, as clever a watch as it was, and as great a watch it STILL IS, it just never really caught on.

Mido has, historically anyway, been almost a bit of a curiosity here in the US until recently.  Very strong in Mexico, (and again, until recently) only typically seen in Southern California, Texas, Arizona... well, you get the idea.  Fortunately things are starting to change, and Mido is getting more of the attention it deserves across the lower 48.

This one was special, and it is not exactly an easy one to find on the pre-owned market, and for me it unites Mido with one of my friends from the industry.  

I will be reaching out to the folks at Mido HQ to see if there are some official photos and some more info that can be shared.

Enjoy your Monday!

Something Very Special

Now on the surface, you might look at this watch and think that you've seen it, or at least something like it before -

Courtesy of Roger Zarzoso / Antoine Tavan 

Well, you maybe you think you have, but in this particular case? Not really!

This watch was designed by Roger Zarzoso. For those unfamiliar, Mr. Zarzoso has worked behind the scenes for some of the most famous Swiss brands over a career spanning more than 30 years. He is the owner of Antoine Tavan, and this is his latest creation.

Now again, there have certainly been day/night, 24 hour watches out there before. But many of these were crafted either from base Unitas movements (hand-winding), or one-off manufacture creations. In both cases, let's just say the prices were prohibitive.

Courtesy of Roger Zarzoso / Antoine Tavan 

Well, get ready to be surprised. 

It is entirely designed and manufactured in Mr. Zarzoso's workshop in Le Locle. This watch is something of a first, as it utilizes an ETA 2824-2 automatic movement that he has modified to display a 24 hour indication. As I said, there have been plenty of these complications done with a hand-wound movement, or much more expensive manufacture concoctions. And I could be wrong, but I believe this is one of, if not the first effort at such a modification in this type of dial layout. As ever, I am anxious to know if other examples exist, so please let me know!

Another distinction is the quality of enamel work. The dial is of copper, with enamel finishing using traditional techniques. The dial contains two scales in relief, each representing a unique half of the 24 hour day.

Now the other "stop the press" aspect of this watch? Well, the rumor is that this watch is going to be offered at a very, very attractive price. How attractive? Let's just say I am ready to order RIGHT now, and I am a poor English Teacher/Social Worker, so that is saying something.

That's all for now, but stay tuned!

The Poseidon GMT

From Aquadive -

Courtesy of Aquadive

This is the latest from Aquadive, a collaboration watch with Sweden's Poseidon.  For those of you desk divers (like me) who are perhaps not familiar (again, like me), Poseidon is a long-standing industry leader making various indispensable items for the sport diver.  So needless to say, this is a natural partnership.

Courtesy of Aquadive

Based on Aquadive's 100 GMT, the Poseidon GMT measures 43 mm in across and 50 mm from one lug to the other.  And for those of you ready to act now?  You can get it at a pre-order price.

The Poseidon GMT will retail for $1,890 but the pre-order price is $1,395.  So for those of you so inclined, your deposit is $395, with the balance of $1,000 due when the watch ships.  More details can be found here:

AQUADIVE POSEIDON

Here are the pertinents -

• 43mm 316L stainless steel case (50mm lug-to-lug, 12.5mm thick) with 1000m water resistance
• Flat, AR-coated sapphire crystal
• 120-click unidirectional rotating bezel, fitted with fully luminous ceramic bezel insert
• Dual Viton gasket system in crown tube and caseback
• Shock-resistant ETA 2893-2 automatic movement with 24-hour indicator (2nd time zone)
• Includes official Poseidon mission patch, and two genuine ISOfrane straps: Black, and Poseidon Yellow
• Shipping begins November 2019

Why the Watch World Needs Stefano Macaluso

Regular readers will know that Girard-Perregaux has long been a personal favorite.  But not unlike the awkward kid with a crush on the head cheer-leader, that love was not always reciprocated ; )

I visited the GP HQ on one occasion some years ago and it left a lasting impression.  And if ghosts do exist, and I mean that in the absolutely most positive way, the ghost of Luigi Macaluso most definitely frequented the halls of the buildings in La-chaux-de-fonds.  If a corporate office could be said to be a romantic place?  Well GP was the watch fan's equivalent of Paris in Spring.

Curious to relate, I only recently met (at least face to face) another key person from Girard-Perregaux, Stefano Macaluso, this past March when he participated in the Henki Time podcast.  What was striking to me in that conversation was that although he was no longer with Girard-Perregaux (at least insofar as the daily operations although I believe that his family still holds a stake in the brand), was what I can only call a romantic notion about Girard-Perregaux.  And thank God for that.

In an age where watch brands are, in effect, losing their collective shit about what to do next, throwing money at influencers, slashing their advertising budgets with traditional media and dumping their over production wholesale into the grey market, here was a quiet, contemplative man speaking thoughtfully about the family business.  Other watch executives leave (or get asked to leave) a position and they take off on booze and drugged fueled jags.  Mr. Macaluso?  He grabs his bicycle and his sketch book and travels the world, documenting his impressions, and sharing them via instagram and facebook.  Many of us locked in our jobs had the opportunity to travel vicariously through him this past summer.  I guess my point here is that he is something outside of the mold of what is typical in the watch business.  

Whether it is a G-Shock you were given as a 10 year old, or your father's watch that you inherited when he passed on, watches do more than measure the time of our days, they mark the times of our lives.  And it is hard not to be romantic about that.

Now I am 51, no longer a young man by any stretch of the imagination, but I still feel those stirrings in that place where my heart (alleged by some not to exist) resides when it comes to some things, and Girard-Perregaux is one of them.  In all honesty?  We don't need more celebrity ambassadors, more watches made from "unobtainium", more limited-edition-partner watches with "watch news" (excuse me while I die laughing) outlets.  We need more artists, more poets, more dreamers.  The watch world needs people like Stefano Macaluso to remind us of the value of beauty, of thinking, of listening and of dreaming.

For now, something simple from GP to inspire.  Not too much, not too little, but to quote that other great commentator on watches, Goldilocks:

"This one is just right."

Courtesy of Girard-Perregaux

The Quai des Bergues Sapphire Blue S

From Czapek -

Courtesy of Czapek

The asking price is CHF 16,000, so for those of you with a Platinum Card and the inclination, here are the pertinents - 

Functions
- Hours, Minutes & Seconds
- Small second at 7h30
- Power reserve indication with weekdays at 4h30

Movement
- Calibre SXH1: Haute Horlogerie proprietary
mechanical hand-wound movement
- Power-reserve > 168 hours (7 days) on 2 barrel-springs
- Frequency: 3 Hz – 21,600 VpH
- Diameter: 32 mm – 14 lines 1⁄4
- Height: 4.75 mm

Finish
- Double open ratchets, sandblasted bridges, blue screws, bevelling, final anglage 'main'

Case
- Exclusive XO stainless steel “Revolution” case
- 38.5 mm diameter
- Curved Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective
treatment on the inside surface
- Sapphire crystal case back with anti-reflective
treatment on the inside surface
- Water-resistance: 50 meters (5 atm)

Strap
- Alligator strap with stainless steel pin buckle

Dial
- Blue handmade “Flinqué” enamel dial
- Czapek exclusive Ricochet® design
- Czapek typical elongated Roman numerals

Hands
- Rhodium plated steel hands

Worth Your Time - Wind Vintage

In a world where the line between "pre-owned" and grey market have become blurred beyond recognition, it is nice to know that there is still someone out there who is doing things in an honest, straightforward manner.  Eric Wind (below) is the proprietor of Wind Vintage, a place where you can obtain some truly wonderful watches with some true history behind them.

Courtesy of Wind Vintage

Wind Vintage, at least as near as I can tell, does not rely on a lot of hyperbole. Visit their web shop and you will quickly realize that it is a fairly simple proposition. If you're after that "BNIB" (Brand New In Box) light-grey market Omega, Zenith or Breitling, then he is probably not your go-to. But thank goodness for the rest of us that he is out there doing what he is doing!

A quick perusal of the Wind Vintage offerings this morning reveals an Angelus Chronodato, an Audemars Piguet by BVLGARI 1941 Coin Watch, and a personal favorite - an RCAF Birks Chronograph.

It is clear that Mr Wind is one of the few people in the watch business who will Sherlock Holmes the shit out of a watch search and find a piece that is far beyond the ordinary. Just the antidote in a world full of sameness.

You can check out Wind Vintage here -

We'll be reaching out to Mr. Wind to see if we can get an interview, or get him on the podcast, but if you are a fellow who appreciates the real deal, lively-up yourselves and check out Wind Vintage.

The Ocean Star Tribute

This is one of the latest from Mido, and it is something special!

Courtesy of Mido

This is the Ocean Star Tribute.  Per Mido, this is apparently the 75th anniversary of the Ocean Star. Apparently, the folks actually making money off of advertising at some of the other outlets, etc. were too busy eating their Cheerios or simply overslept this Monday AM.  Well not to worry Mido, there's never a charge at Tempus Fugit ; )

Courtesy of Mido

You ever completely go off of something, then find yourself captivated by it again?  Well for me, this is indeed one of those times.  Mido is a family affliction/passion, and I have spent the past four years in a "love-hate" tug of war with my feelings about the brand as a whole.  But credit where credit is due, this is a truly beguiling watch that hits me on a truly visceral level.

Courtesy of Mido

The blue of the dial is a truly welcome departure from the usual dark navy or black, and the orange second hand really ties together the look and feel.  It would have been safe (and typical) to simply go black or navy, but Mido took a chance on this one, and it's a winner.  Having said that, if black is your jam?

Courtesy of Mido

The Ocean Star Tribute is also available in a black dial/bezel version.  

In Switzerland it the suggested retail price is CHF 990 with the VAT.  Here Stateside, bump it up a bit as the MSRP is $1,115.  The Mido website makes mention that this includes VAT which is a bit curious as, well, we don't have that in the US.  We do, however, have state sales tax.  And this means you will be paying above the $1,115 once everything is said and done, presuming you are paying full retail.

Here are the pertinents, straight from the source -

Case:

• 
  

  Material:

   

  Stainless steel
• 
  

  Diameter:

   

  40.50 mm
• 
  

  Between lugs:

   

  21.00 mm
• 
  

  Water-resistance:

   

  20 bar (200 m / 660 ft) with screwed crown
• 
  

  Crystal:

   

  Sapphire crystal
• 
  

  Case height:

   

  13.43 mm

Movement

• 
  

  Movement type:

   

  Automatic
• Automatic Mido Caliber 80 (base ETA C07.621)

  • Date

Dial

• 
  

  Dial colour:

   

  Blue
• 
  

  Hour Markers:

   

  Applied indexes

Bracelet

• Stainless steel bracelet and blue fabric strap (interchangeable)

Collaboration One "C1"

From EOT Watches -

Courtesy of EOT

This was the first of the EOT Forum collaboration watches.  And if you missed out the first time, now is your chance to pick one up.

It is available with a copper dial (above), and a silver dial (below) -

Courtesy of EOT

Here are the pertinent, straight from the source -


The EOT “C1” is a inspired by vintage wristwatches from the 1950’s.

Specifications -

Dial: Copper or Silver with superluminova markers for low light visibility.

Movement Caliber: ETA 2824-2 Swiss made automatic, 25 jewels, 28,800 vph. Rhodium finish.

Functions: Hour / Minute / Second

Case: 316L Stainless Steel, 36 mm x 12 mm. 20mm lug width, water-resistant to 5-ATM, curved crystal and a display back.

$1,395 US

The Return of EOT

Sometimes life offers you a second bit at the apple.  And for followers of Roland Murphy, RGM and the short-lived but much admired EOT (Equation of Time) collaborative watches, the orchard is open once again!

Were going to do these one at a time, and I am going to start with my personal favorite, the EOT Model 22 Deck Watch -

Courtesy of EOT

It is available in either a silver dial (above), and a black dial (below).

Courtesy of EOT

Here are the pertinents, straight from EOT -

Specifications

Dial: Silver or black with engraved numerals

Movement Caliber: ETA Peseux 7001 with Soprod module Swiss made, manual winding, 17 jewels, 21,600 vph. Rhodium  finish.

Functions: Hour / Minute / Second / Power Reserve

Case:  316L Stainless Steel, 39 mm x 12 mm.  24mm lug width, water-resistant to 5-ATM, curved sapphire crystal.

The price is a reasonable $1,800

You can find the Model 22 Deck Watch here -

EOT Model 22 Deck Watch

Looking Back on a Personal Favorite from Lonville

The Gunmetal GMT -

Courtesy of Lonville

This is not a new release, but from what I understand there might be one or two still available for the lucky collector out there.

Courtesy of Lonville

Hours, minutes, seconds, power reserve and GMT.  The case is of white gold, the series is limited to 18 pieces total.

Here are the pertinents, straight from the source -

Hours, Minutes, small Seconds
Second Time zone indicator
Power Reserve indicator
Gunmental grey soleil dial
Black alligator strap
LV1 double barrel manual movement
COSC certified
80 hours power reserve
White gold case and closure
Sapphire case back
18 pieces – named and numbered