The 47° North River Blue

From Cimier -

Courtesy of Cimier

This is part of a new release from the folks next door to Tissot arena in Biel/Bienne.

The The 47° comes in several colorways which we'll spool out for you. This one is the The 47° North River Blue.

Courtesy of Cimier

The case is of stainless steel and measures 38 mm in diameter with a display case back.

The movement is ETA's 2824-2.

And the price - well it's well within reach at CHF 850.

You should want this watch!

Here are the pertinents, straight from the source -

Functions

Hours, Minutes, Central Second, Date

Case Material

Stainless steel 316L

Case Diameter

38 mm (46mm lug to lug)

Case Thickness

11.25mm including crystal

Crown

Large screw-down crown

Lug width

20mm

Crystal

Box sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on the inside

Case Back

Screwed exhibition case back with flat sapphire crystal

Movement

ETA 2824-2

Dial

Grained, river blue, slightly gradient

Indices

Printed numerals with thick Swiss Super-Luminova GL old radium (LE) lume

Hands

Brushed baton hour and minute hands with polished chamfers. Orange-painted seconds hand. All hands filled with Swiss Super-Luminova GL old radium (LE) lume.

Strap

Blue suede calf leather with matching stiches

Buckle

Pin buckle with Cimier logo

Power reserve

38 hours

Water-resistance

10 ATM / 100m with screw-down crown

The 17.06 - COPPER

From MING -

Courtesy of MING

Per MING -

The MING 17.06 will be available to order on 19 September, 1PM GMT exclusively from www.ming.watch. The 17.06 Copper is priced at CHF 1,250 and production restricted to 300 pieces per annum.

And here are the pertinents, as received from MING this morning -

MING 17.06 Copper specifications:

• Functions: hours, minutes
• Case, dial & hands:

o 38mm diameter, 10mm thickness, stainless steel 316L with solid caseback, mixed brushed and polished finish
o 43.9mm lug to lug measuremento Sapphire crystal with antireflective coating on both sideso Rigid case without spacer ringso 100m water resistance with triple crown gasketso Composite, multi-layer, three-part sapphire dial in metallic copper
o Hands coated with Super-LumiNova C1o Dial ring printed with Super-LumiNova C1

• Strapso Smooth calf tan with white stitching, handmade by Jean Rousseau Paris
o 20x18mm, quick release with curved fittingo Will fit 160-210mm (6.1”-8.3”) wrist circumferenceo Signed pin buckle

• Movement:o Automatic mechanical movement ETA 2824-2 Top grade modified for MING
o 38-hour power reserveo 28,800 bph (4Hz)o 25 jewelso Hacking functiono Movement adjusted to five positions with a 250-hour test program

• Leather travel pouch handmade by Studio Koji Sato
• Limited to 300 pieces per calendar year
• 2-year warranty against defects
• Made in Switzerland
• Retail price CHF1,250 inclusive of worldwide shipping

Ollech & Wajs...

Is back!!!

Courtesy of Ollech & Wajs

Anyone who got into watches back in the late 90s and just after the turn of the century would be familiar with Ollech & Wajs.  A watch that looked good and offered extraordinarily good value.  Started in the 1950s by Albert J. Wajs, and partnered by Joseph Ollech the company that began life as a bracelet manufacturer expanded to the production and sale of wrist watches.  Many American service members were early adopters and Ollech & Wajs was available for purchase at PXs (Base Exchanges).  

The brand has gone through a few different iterations, but currently is owned by "a passionate collector of the Ollech & Wajs brand".  Per Wikipedia and the Ollech & Wajs website, this "passionate collector" became the French distributor and took over the brand in 2017.  Which brings us to today.

Courtesy of Ollech & Wajs

This is the OW P-104.  It is currently available for pre-order, direct from Ollech & Wajs.  The price is CHF 1,056.

Here are the pertinents -

REFERENCE
OW P-104

  

DIMENSIONS 

39.56 mm X 15 mm

CASE 

brushed 316L stainless steel, screwed back, screw-down crown, bezel with circular slide rule

GLASS 

curved sapphire with anti-glare treatment

DIAL 

hands and indexes in Super-LumiNova®

WATER RESISTANCE 

300M/ 30ATM

MOVEMENT 

automatic ETA 2824-2 OW3P, hours minutes seconds date

SWISSNESS 

over 90% of components of Swiss origin, assembly in Jura Switzerland

BRACELET 

NATO extra strong nylon and leather, origin Great Britain

PACKAGING 

leather origin Great Britain, and Kraft paper origin Italy

WARRANTY 

3 years against any manufacturing defect

The 164 Fathoms

From Octopus Watches -

Courtesy of Octopus Watches

Octopus Watches are a new venture, based in France with manufacturing taking place in Switzerland.  The first series to be released is the 164 Fathoms.  These are set to be available in January, stay tuned for further updates.

Courtesy of Octopus Watches

The case measures 43 mm in diameter and is of 316L stainless steel.  The bezel is unidirectional, 120 clicks.

Courtesy of Octopus Watches

The movement is ETA's 2824-2.  Hours, minutes, seconds and date at 3 o'clock.

Courtesy of Octopus Watches

 Water resistant to 300 meters.

Courtesy of Octopus Watches

Here are the pertinents, straight from the source -

References: 
KR.OCT164.Y (index / bezel yellow)

KR.OCT164.G (index / bezel color green
KR.OCT164.P (white index, black and red bezel)
KR.OCT164.O (index / bezel color orange)
KR.OCT164.B (index / bezel color blue)

Movement:
Swiss automatic ETA 2824-2, state of the art finishing, customized rotor

Case:

Diameter 43mm x 12mm - Case in polished and brushed steel. Unidirectional rotating bezel 120 clicks, inside lugs distance 22mm in polished and brushed steel. Double sapphire crystal with double anti-glare treatment, transparent sapphire crystal back screwed steel

Dial:
Sunray black, black highlight with 60 second scale
Exclusively faceted and polished hands of hours, minutes and seconds, rhodium plated, index Superluminova® white or color (yellow, green, blue, orange and white) silver matte printed OCTOPUS® logo at 12H and date window ringed at 3H OCTOPUS®, 164 Fathoms, 984ft - 300m automatic, SWISS MADE printed at 6H

Crown:
Screwed and engraved with the OCTOPUS® logo

Water resistance:
300 meters (164 Fathoms)

 

A US Based Watch Brand You May Not Know

Allow me to introduce you to Berkbinder & Brown -

Courtesy of Berkbinder & Brown

Berkbinder & Brown is the creation of Ted Brown.  When a major personal and professional milestone stirred the interest in a new watch, Mr Brown was left somewhat underwhelmed by the options.  While some were certainly nice, they seemed somewhat over priced.  As is often the case with new products, Mr. Brown rolled up his sleeves and decided to make his own.

Courtesy of Berkbinder & Brown

So with his new one of a kind watch on his wrist, he found himself asked more and more if he could, (and more importantly) would make one for them.  

Courtesy of Berkbinder & Brown

This had not really been the plan, but after enough people expressed their desire for one of his watches, Ted relented and the rest is history. 

What I found interesting in speaking with Ted was his openness and willingness to talk not only about the inspiration for his growing company, but the origins of some key components.  This has been a topic that a few self-promoting "down-home" brands will refuse to give any background on, relying instead upon earnest, bushy-bearded hipsters to keep buying their "American Crafted Timepieces".  
 
If I'm honest, what I like about the Berkbinder & Brown watches is that you would probably not be inclined to refer to them as a "Timepiece". 

Courtesy of Berkbinder & Brown

These are watches!

I will be going deeper on Berkbinder & Brown and break down the various models in the near future.  But some food for thought -
the cases are made in the US, as are the straps and significant other parts of the watch.  The movements are ETA. We will be bringing you the full rundown shortly, so stay tuned!

The Hopewell

From Farer -

Courtesy of Farer

I got to see the Farer collection up close and personal, but have not worn one so I cannot go into a pro or con conversation.  I can say that they are smart, good looking and Swiss made.

What I can say is this, Farer has one very good thing going for it - transparency

We meticulously draw every detail of our watches in London, before working with our Swiss manufacturing partners, Roventa-Henex, who use the very best materials to handcraft each and every watch. The expertise of our production is reflected in the accuracy of the measurements, the rigour of testing and the flawless attention to detail at every stage. 

There are a lot of "heritage" brands out there, offering to sell you a nickel for a dime.  But Farer is putting it out there for you to know who their assembler is.  And that is a nice turn in the right direction.  

So here are the pertinents -

Case

39.5mm diameter, 10mm depth

Material

316L stainless steel

Finish

Polished case and rim

Dial

Blue sunray, vintage curved, Super-LumiNova numerals and indexes, date window

Hands

Metallic postbox red, matt silver second hand with primrose yellow tip, vintage curved, rhodium-plated

Crown

Solid bronze crown

Glass

Domed sapphire crystal glass

Strap

Barenia bridle leather, 316L stainless steel buckle fastening

Lug

20mm

Movement

Swiss ETA 2824-2 movement

Twenty-five jewels

Water Resistant

5ATM

Two New Looks for the Manometro

Giuliano Mazzuoli held forth on Facebook earlier today to announce the two newest versions of his now iconic Manometro.

Courtesy of Giuliano Mazzouli

Available in both a very nice blue (above), and a beguiling green (below).

Courtesy of Giuliano Mazzouli

here are the pertinents, straight from the source -

Technical characteristics:

Movement: 

mechanical automatic movement; caliber ETA 2824/2

Functions:
hours, minutes and seconds

Case:
cylindrical polished INOX AISI 316/L stainless steel case diameter 45.2 mm; 
height 14.8 mm 

Crown:

screw-in crown

Dials:

blue or green

Crystal:

Convex sapphire crystal; anti-reflective

Strap:

in natural Florentine leather with stainless steel buckle

Water Resistance:
5 ATM (50 meters) 

The Kinetik

From Defakto -

And available in 4 different versions - Kinetik 1 (below)

Courtesy of Defakto

Kinetik 2 -

Courtesy of Defakto

Kinetik 3 -

Courtesy of Defakto

And last but not least the Kinetik 4 -

Courtesy of Defakto

ETA's 2824-2 is under the hood providing the "drive" for the Kinetic.  I have to say that I am somewhat obsessed by the hands and how they line up on the minimalist dial.  

The case measures 39 mm - a welcome reprieve from the oversize pucks currently gracing the wrists of the watch cognoscenti.  Simple, elegant and already a classic.

And the price is extremely reasonable - starting at 565 Euro inclusive of VAT.  That is a lot of watch for not too much money.

• Three-hand watch
• 3-piece 39 mm stainless steel case
• PVD coated or stainless
• Automatic Swiss made ETA 2824-2
• Stainless Steel clasp with logo
• Sapphire Crystal
• Soft calfskin band
• 5 ATM water resistant
• Made in Pforzheim, Germany

JENNY Caribbean - Stainless Steel

The people asked for it, JENNY delivered!

Courtesy of JENNY

The JENNY Caribbean 300 is now available with a stainless steel bracelet.  For a limited time, the JENNY 300 Caribbean will be offered with the bracelet as pictured WITH a bonus rubber dive strap.

Available direct from JENNY and if you order before December 31st, the price is $990.

Here are the details, straight from the source:

Details

Limited Edition
500 pieces of each color numbered 1/500 (in each color variation)

Case
Constructed of satin-brushed solid stainless steel (316L). The case is 42 mm in diameter (excluding crown), 12.3 mm in height. A stainless steel screw-down crown ensures water resistance to a depth of 300 meters (1000 feet). The case back is solid-stainless steel, screw- back, and engraved with its unique limited edition number xxx/500

Crystal
Anti-reflective, scratch resistant flat sapphire crystal

Bezel
Unidirectional rotating bezel, constructed of solid stainless steel with a sapphire decompression limit times bezel insert (imperial). 

Movement
High-grade Swiss Made 2824-2 ETA movement, 25 jewels self-winding Swiss made with hacking second function, 42 hours of power reserve, engraved rotor.

Functions
Hours, minutes, seconds, quick-set date at 3 o'clock

Bracelet
Constructed of stainless steel with s double locking deployment buckle.

Strap
JENNY rubber strap with signed stainless steel buckle (fits wrists from 6" to 10")

Warranty
1 year limited warranty