I wish to do my part too. Any organisation who's Raising Fund for a Good Cause, please contact me. I'm more than willing to Donate A Watch or 2!
Watch tell more than Time. It shows your Character & Personality. Happy Watching! A Fascinating Hobby! more stories in www.mastercheong.blogspot.com. Sale in www.wonderbowls1188.blogspot.com.
Thursday, August 29, 2013
Charity Watch
I wish to do my part too. Any organisation who's Raising Fund for a Good Cause, please contact me. I'm more than willing to Donate A Watch or 2!
Thursday, August 22, 2013
Russian Watches
These few days seen many hundreds of Russian Watches, new & old! Their designs especially the old ones are unique, aircraft, war ship, red star etc. Well, even their 2 Top Brands, the materials used & finishings are below standard! Now I give up the idea to have one Russian Watch. Hope in the future they'll improve.
Happy Watching. 22/8/13, 6.45pm.
24/8/13, 4.45pm: I've a special liking for the following famous Russians & related:
1. Yuri Gagarin - 1st human, cosmonaut, to the outer space. 12/4/1961.
2. Politicians - Mikhail Gorbachev, & Vladimir Putin.
3. Boxer - Ivan Drago acted by Dolph Lundgren, in Sylvester Stallone's film Rocky IV. 1985.
4. Bears, Roulette, Winter Wears & Ladies.
5. Sports especially Water events & Ballad.
Note: I'm not a communist.
6/9/13, 5.30pm
With determination I trust I can find some good Russian Watches. YES! Found the following 2 of the 3 Top Russian Brands:
MOLNIJA Pocket Watch Wolves: Vintage 18 Jewels. I need a Pocket Watch because due to my job quite often I give Talk. It seems rude if I've to look at the watch often while speaking thus a pocket watch is perfect. Timing is always important in Talk. I recalled I was only given 12 mins to speak at Hilton/Conrad's
GM Convention! I put the wristwatch on the rostrum. The back of this 50mm piece has Wolves craving. So well done. Isn't it Beautiful?
Much earlier on I'd scouted for Pocket Watches. Failed. They're either too costly, ugly or simply don't suit what I wanted. I'm very pleased with this new found.
VOSTOK KOMANDIRSKIE Navy Military Marine Ship Watch: Brand New. It comes with box, instruction note & warranty certificate in few languages. 40mm, Anti-Shock & 17 Jewels.. Like Rolex it has Lock-Crown. Nice Back Picture looks like Bird maybe Eagle. The Red Star & War Ship are Unique.
Hope will enjoy both of them. On the look out for the final Top Brand of Russian Watches.
Happy Watching!
Happy Watching. 22/8/13, 6.45pm.
24/8/13, 4.45pm: I've a special liking for the following famous Russians & related:
1. Yuri Gagarin - 1st human, cosmonaut, to the outer space. 12/4/1961.
2. Politicians - Mikhail Gorbachev, & Vladimir Putin.
3. Boxer - Ivan Drago acted by Dolph Lundgren, in Sylvester Stallone's film Rocky IV. 1985.
4. Bears, Roulette, Winter Wears & Ladies.
5. Sports especially Water events & Ballad.
Note: I'm not a communist.
6/9/13, 5.30pm
With determination I trust I can find some good Russian Watches. YES! Found the following 2 of the 3 Top Russian Brands:
GM Convention! I put the wristwatch on the rostrum. The back of this 50mm piece has Wolves craving. So well done. Isn't it Beautiful?
Much earlier on I'd scouted for Pocket Watches. Failed. They're either too costly, ugly or simply don't suit what I wanted. I'm very pleased with this new found.
Hope will enjoy both of them. On the look out for the final Top Brand of Russian Watches.
Happy Watching!
Friday, August 16, 2013
Jaeger LeCoultre
This's a Pre-1950 (probably), Gold Filled (not as good as solid gold but better than gold plated), 17 Jewels Mechanical Jaeger LeCoultre, affectionately called JLC. Look at it carefully, a 60 over years old watch comes with Sub-Seconds at 6! Very Advance Technology in those days! In that era, watch must be small & thin (elegant & beauty). Tank model was believed to be transformed from such.
Let's find out what made JLC so Special & Honourable together with PP, VC, AP, they're International Recognised as the Big 4! Haha, in Chinese term, 4 Heavenly Kings.
Remarks on JLC by 3 famous local watch dealers: 1) its Master Movement/Calibre is so good that it's ordered by some other very high end brands & sold for much more monies. 2) IT should be the pick & not Rolex. 3) if your business deal is above $100k, you must wear a JLC. if it's below then a Rolex will do.
Last year at JLC Boutique, the manager showed me a simple stainless steel Reverso, costed S$9k+. She assured that Service or Repair can be done even for the Oldest Vintage piece!
Their comments & assurance, & the following research moved me to put JLC to be one of my humble collections. Actually some years ago I was already very impressed by its Reverso. A watch that can be flipped over, originally meant for protecting the case when you do sports, eg Polo!
Collaboration between 2 families of genius watchmakers, Edmond JAEGER & Antoine LECOULTRE including his son Elie saw the birth of JLC in 1937.
Well, long before the partnership, Antoine & Elie LeCoultre with French roots were already very established watchmaker. LeCoultre & Cie was founded in 1866. In 1903, Edmond Jaeger, a Paris-based watchmaker to the French Navy, challenged the LeCoultre about his Ultra Thin Movement. Of course the LeCoultre took up the challenge. Two Chinese sayings best explained their Battle that turned into Friendship. 'No Fight, No Knowing Each Other' & 'Hero Respects Hero'!
Grandes Complications (Perpetual Calendar, Chronograph & Minute Repeater) were produced in mid-1890. 1902 & for the next 3 decades, LeCoultre produced most of the movement blanks for PP. 1904 for the next 15 years, movements made exclusive to Cartier. 'Galaxy' - an upmarket mysterious dial diamond watch was a collaboration with VC for the American market.
From 1932 to 1985, LeCoultre brand was meant for the North America market. After that JLC label was used. Recent Happening: 2004 - Gyrotourbillon. 2006 - Reverso Grande Complication. 2009 - Hybris Mechanical a Grande Sonnerse with 26 Complications, world most complicated wristwatch (maybe record already broken). 2013 - A Watch to Honour Antoine LeCoultre, 180 years Anniversary! Hundreds of Inventions & Over a Thousand Calibres to its name!
Currently JLC is very active in supporting many Social & Community events worldwide. 1st picture showed Singapore Celebrity Fann Wong's participation of a Charity Auction. Next one showed JLC support of Old Chinese Films.
In addition to Mechanical Watches, JLC also make Quartz pieces. Presently, they've 8 main watch lines: Reverso, Master, Duometre, Rendezvous, Master Extreme, Amvox, Hybris Mechnica, Extraordinary; & a clock: Atmos.
I'm happy with my finding, I'm happy with my Jaeger LeCoultre.
Happy Watching, 16/8/13, 3.30pm.
Saturday, August 10, 2013
2nd Chance Watches
A large advt of Mido watch inspired me to talk about the 60s to the 80s. The golden era of Affordable watches. Quartz Culture & Strong Competition changed the Watch Scene later.
In those days, Popular & Economical Swiss Brands were Bulova, Cyma, Enicar, Eterna-Matic, Favre Leuba, Mido, Pagol, Rado, Tissot, Titoni, & Titus. Slowly their market share were taken over especially when consumers are richer. Also some new brands were born.
Rado, Tissot & Mido are Lucky. Now they belonged to the Swatch Group. Cyma is now under a Hong Kong based holdings firm. Bulova, a subsidiary of Citizen. Titus belonged to a HK based Company. Eterna-Matic now a subsidiary of China Haidian. Enicar believed to be with the Swiss. Favre Leuba is with the Titan Industries. Most Unfortunate must be Pagol, the Coconut Tree brand, reliable information about it is Totally Unavailable. Many watch dealers, new & second hand shops, told me it Closed Shop!
Old Bulova, Eterna-Matic, Favre Leuba & Enicar watches can be found in second hand watch shops. Well if you're a Vintage Watch Collector, will you be keen in them?
Happy Watching, 10/8/13, 10.30pm
In those days, Popular & Economical Swiss Brands were Bulova, Cyma, Enicar, Eterna-Matic, Favre Leuba, Mido, Pagol, Rado, Tissot, Titoni, & Titus. Slowly their market share were taken over especially when consumers are richer. Also some new brands were born.
Rado, Tissot & Mido are Lucky. Now they belonged to the Swatch Group. Cyma is now under a Hong Kong based holdings firm. Bulova, a subsidiary of Citizen. Titus belonged to a HK based Company. Eterna-Matic now a subsidiary of China Haidian. Enicar believed to be with the Swiss. Favre Leuba is with the Titan Industries. Most Unfortunate must be Pagol, the Coconut Tree brand, reliable information about it is Totally Unavailable. Many watch dealers, new & second hand shops, told me it Closed Shop!
Old Bulova, Eterna-Matic, Favre Leuba & Enicar watches can be found in second hand watch shops. Well if you're a Vintage Watch Collector, will you be keen in them?
Happy Watching, 10/8/13, 10.30pm
Friday, July 19, 2013
Old Watch & Condition
1st time visit this mall in Bugis area & found this shop that sells Used Watches. Wow! a dream watch at less than 1k! Upon close examination, Hmmm... the crown & plastic or other material outer case were not original! 1 of the markers half faded! The back & side of the case were poorly polished! Name of the owner, an angpow, was engraved onto this 30 or 40 something years old manual vintage.
The aged owner explained that watch is liked human. Once aged, many parts may need replacement! And don't expect much from old thing! If you want nice watch, get new one! If you can find its original crown, used piece, i pay you $300! And don't expect him to remember exact age of each watch! The replaced crown showed how rough the x owner was. What about the parts inside?
Well, he's soft spoken & acceptable attitude BUT I unlikely will buy it for I've to spend easily another 1k for Restoration etc! This isn't the first time I buy Vintage Watch, uncle, don't try to fool me!
Photo show a Vintage Watch at its Most Original Condition that I can accept.
Happy Watching, 19/7/2013, 7.30pm
The aged owner explained that watch is liked human. Once aged, many parts may need replacement! And don't expect much from old thing! If you want nice watch, get new one! If you can find its original crown, used piece, i pay you $300! And don't expect him to remember exact age of each watch! The replaced crown showed how rough the x owner was. What about the parts inside?
Well, he's soft spoken & acceptable attitude BUT I unlikely will buy it for I've to spend easily another 1k for Restoration etc! This isn't the first time I buy Vintage Watch, uncle, don't try to fool me!
Photo show a Vintage Watch at its Most Original Condition that I can accept.
Happy Watching, 19/7/2013, 7.30pm
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
Rolex, Tudor, Cellini
This Page is Dedicated to Rolex & her Key Founder Mr Hans Wilsdorf
Sudden idea to put in & explain their Chinese Names! 23/7/13, 6.10pm.
Rolex, 劳力士， laoli means Work that Need Strength, Hardwork, Hardworking. shi is The One. To comfort one Rolex is The Hardworking One!
Tudor,帝舵，帝铊，di is Emperor. tuo could be the part that control the ship or mean old fashion weighing scale (balance). Such could mean the King is in Control or A well-balance Ruler!
Cellini, 吃了你，chileni, Eat You Up my interpretation for humour sense. lol.
TUDOR is affectionately known as the Little Brother of Rolex. Among the Chinese, Little Brother, could also mean 2nd Class! Read in a Western Forum, they called it the Poor Man's Rolex! Well, many very good Japanese Vehicles are known as Poor Man's Benz, BMW etc! How about calling it God Son?
Even in the Rolex Family, some models are King, Son, & Grandson!
The late Founder's objective was to have an equally Reliable & Good watch as the Rolex but at lower price. ETA movement was used. Some older Tudors used Rolex cases, crowns & bracelets. His love of the Tudor dynasty or era, 1485 - 1603, inspired him to use the word Tudor. March 6, 1946, saw the birth of his 2nd Love, Tudor. When Panerai first went commercial, it 'borrowed' Rolex movements. I always feel that many Panerai models looked like Oversize Rolex.
Earlier Tudor watches could be mistaken for a Rolex Precision, Date Just or Submariner. It's long do away with such 'clone'. Its Heritage Black Bay & Pelagos are greatly in demand! Often on waiting list! This year it launched the Fast Rider Black Shield, a beautiful Chronograph.
This's a 1992 Tudor Half-Gold Mini-Submariner Prince OysterDate, Rolex Crown & Case, Automatic, Date, 34mm. A Vintage Stainless Steel model, 28mm, priced around $2,000. Doesn't it look like its Big Brother, the Rolex Submariner? In the resale market, The Big Bro of the 80s costs around $8,000, one 2010 model costs $15.000 up! A brand new would cost about $22,000!
Rolex has caused the Resale Market to be Rich! Many 2nd Hand Shops trade Rolex only!
CELLINI a lesser known series of Rolex. No information (perhaps I missed out) shown who & when Homage was paid to Italian Sculptor, Goldsmith, Draftsman, Soldier, Musician & Author Mr Benvenuto Cellini of the Renaissance period, 1500 to 1571. Rolex classified Cellini as 'Dressy' Watch. I love Cellini too although find it rather 'Feminine'. A new one costs $9,000 up, & a Vintage one costs about $2,000. Rolex dealers carry few Cellini. Its Prince model is Fabulous!
I'm not a snob or super rich guy to wear Rolex, I'm merely a Fan, who appreciate & admire her Founder's Innovation & Visionary Spirit. Also enjoy Rolex's Style, Elegance & Reliability. Well, Status Symbols, sure, just like Mercedes Benz, it's a Good Car as well.
Interestingly, a friend asked me to recommend a watch for her hubby's birthday, when i said Rolex, her reply was younger brand preferred! heard of cases that when the old dad wanted to pass on his Rolex to the son, or buy for the son, was refused for as old brand! haha, will they mind if it were the Solid Gold or Daytona models?
Some new Unbelievable Inventions: 2005 - Blue Paraehrom Hairsprin Movement, unaffected by magnetic fields & up to 10x more resistant to shocks. 2012 - DeepSea Challenge, a watch that went down to the sea depth of 12000m; Brand New Innovation, the Sky-Dweller, a technological masterpiece intended for world travellers.
Happy Watching, 9/7/13, 3.00pm.
Sudden idea to put in & explain their Chinese Names! 23/7/13, 6.10pm.
Rolex, 劳力士， laoli means Work that Need Strength, Hardwork, Hardworking. shi is The One. To comfort one Rolex is The Hardworking One!
Tudor,帝舵，帝铊，di is Emperor. tuo could be the part that control the ship or mean old fashion weighing scale (balance). Such could mean the King is in Control or A well-balance Ruler!
Cellini, 吃了你，chileni, Eat You Up my interpretation for humour sense. lol.
TUDOR is affectionately known as the Little Brother of Rolex. Among the Chinese, Little Brother, could also mean 2nd Class! Read in a Western Forum, they called it the Poor Man's Rolex! Well, many very good Japanese Vehicles are known as Poor Man's Benz, BMW etc! How about calling it God Son?
Even in the Rolex Family, some models are King, Son, & Grandson!
The late Founder's objective was to have an equally Reliable & Good watch as the Rolex but at lower price. ETA movement was used. Some older Tudors used Rolex cases, crowns & bracelets. His love of the Tudor dynasty or era, 1485 - 1603, inspired him to use the word Tudor. March 6, 1946, saw the birth of his 2nd Love, Tudor. When Panerai first went commercial, it 'borrowed' Rolex movements. I always feel that many Panerai models looked like Oversize Rolex.
Earlier Tudor watches could be mistaken for a Rolex Precision, Date Just or Submariner. It's long do away with such 'clone'. Its Heritage Black Bay & Pelagos are greatly in demand! Often on waiting list! This year it launched the Fast Rider Black Shield, a beautiful Chronograph.
Rolex has caused the Resale Market to be Rich! Many 2nd Hand Shops trade Rolex only!
CELLINI a lesser known series of Rolex. No information (perhaps I missed out) shown who & when Homage was paid to Italian Sculptor, Goldsmith, Draftsman, Soldier, Musician & Author Mr Benvenuto Cellini of the Renaissance period, 1500 to 1571. Rolex classified Cellini as 'Dressy' Watch. I love Cellini too although find it rather 'Feminine'. A new one costs $9,000 up, & a Vintage one costs about $2,000. Rolex dealers carry few Cellini. Its Prince model is Fabulous!
I'm not a snob or super rich guy to wear Rolex, I'm merely a Fan, who appreciate & admire her Founder's Innovation & Visionary Spirit. Also enjoy Rolex's Style, Elegance & Reliability. Well, Status Symbols, sure, just like Mercedes Benz, it's a Good Car as well.
Interestingly, a friend asked me to recommend a watch for her hubby's birthday, when i said Rolex, her reply was younger brand preferred! heard of cases that when the old dad wanted to pass on his Rolex to the son, or buy for the son, was refused for as old brand! haha, will they mind if it were the Solid Gold or Daytona models?
Some new Unbelievable Inventions: 2005 - Blue Paraehrom Hairsprin Movement, unaffected by magnetic fields & up to 10x more resistant to shocks. 2012 - DeepSea Challenge, a watch that went down to the sea depth of 12000m; Brand New Innovation, the Sky-Dweller, a technological masterpiece intended for world travellers.
Happy Watching, 9/7/13, 3.00pm.
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Watch Strap - Exotic Skin & Colour
Black is an universal colour that matches well with any watch material eg Gold, Steel etc for any occasion. But it'd be dull if all your watches come in black strap. Moreover Patek mentioned 'Create Your Own Tradition'. Exotic Skin is beautiful especially Croc or Alligator. Snake, Ostrich, & Lizard are nice too. You'll be a class above.
Following are my Exotic Skin, Exotic Colour Collection:
Snake Skin, Cobra, for Year of the Snake 2013! The exotic skin shop in Bangkok didn't have the right tool to handle Rolex so i went to a watch service shop in Central World Plaza whom i know might be of help. Gosh! The mall was so big that although i remembered it's in the basement, I actually went to the wrong zone & got the wrong shop! Well that guy called Tang did a great job, & FREE he said. To repay his kindness, i bought him an organic drink. He does total Watch Service & Repair. You can look him up at Time Store, Central World, Zen Zone A, B1.
Brown Monitor Lizard on a Givenchy Classic with Chinese Character Markers
Maroon Croc Skin on a Rolex Vinatge
My 1st Vintage Watch, Brown Croc Skin on a Longines Tank
The salesgirl told me the Green colour matches well with this Limited Edition Green Logo of Frederique Constant. Beautiful Grain of the Croc.
How about White, Blue, Purple or Silver Strap? Take up the Challenge! Pink is ok too.
Happy Watching, 27/6/13, 6.00pm
Following are my Exotic Skin, Exotic Colour Collection:
How about White, Blue, Purple or Silver Strap? Take up the Challenge! Pink is ok too.
Happy Watching, 27/6/13, 6.00pm
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