Category: News

Cheap High Quality ZENITH – HERITAGE CRONOMETRO TIPO CP-2 Swiss made

Post author By ukwatches
Post date October 31, 2016

The fake TIPO CP-2, nicknamed “Cairelli” after Zenith’s Roman distributor, which is now highly sought-after among collectors its maker has relaunched production of this famous chronograph. The fake Heritage Cronometro TIPO CP-2’s signature style may be almost identical to the original but it’s been given modern features and a cutting-edge movement. The famous self-winding El Primero 4069 calibre in the new chronograph brings the functions and 50-hour power reserve to life.

The 43mm steel case is topped by a graduated black bezel. The black dial has large luminescent Arabic numerals tracked by two rhodium-plated phosphorescent hour and minute hands in the centre. The seconds tick by in a counter at 9, the chronograph minute counter lies at 3 and a luminescent triangle-tipped central seconds hand tracks the seconds in the middle.

Tags fake Heritage Cronometro TIPO CP-2, fake TIPO CP-2

Cartier Replica Luxury Watch News

LIST: 4 ways to wear the replica Clé de Cartier

Post author By ukwatches
Post date October 24, 2016

Chris Edwards from Oscar Hunt Tailors has something of a knack for finding the right threads to go with the right wristwear. Not only has he tailored a suit to perfectly match a watch, he’s also given us some solid advice on how to wear a gold watch with grace and style. So we decided to test Chris’s sartorial skills one more time, finding four distinct looks for four versions of a most distinctive watch – the Clé de Cartier.

Replica Clé de Cartier in pink gold

Chris Edwards: Pink gold is rich, warm and luxurious on its own, and when paired with a brown alligator strap it gains in texture and character. Natural linen also creates its own character over time, showcased with earthy warm tones in this summer look.

Replica Clé de Cartier in pink gold and steel

CE: A steel bracelet is perfect for a smarter casual outfit. The touches of rose gold bring warmth to the overall aesthetic of the watch that would work well with a textured taupe sports jacket.

Replica Clé de Cartier in steel

CE: The classic rule of accessorising is bouncing colours off each other. This coastal Amalfi look with tones of white and shades of ocean blue combine beautifully with the clean lines and ivory/blue dial of the Clé.

Replica Clé de Cartier Skeleton

CE: This skeletonised watch shows off the amazing workings of time, fundamentally unchanged for centuries. Similarly, pinstripes and windowpane checks are the underpinnings of classic gentlemanly style. For this reason, the two work perfectly together.

Tags Clé de Cartier in pink gold, Clé de Cartier in pink gold and steel, Clé de Cartier in steel, Clé de Cartier Skeleton

Luxury Watch News Watch Review Zenith Replica

Zenith El Primero Range Rover Special Edition Replica Watch

Post author By ukwatches
Post date October 20, 2016

In 1969, Zenith first produced the El Primero. At that time was very special in that it was one of the first watches to use an automatic chronograph movement. This was a revolutionary discovery in the world of watches and chronographs. Today, this is a very common feature in the world of timekeeping. In 1969, the Zenith El Primero was competing between the Heuer-Breitling-Hamilton-Buren Calibre 11 and the Seiko 6139 for the most formidable fake watch featuring the automatic chronograph movement. The main competitive difference between the Zenith El Primero and the other two is a build in escapement that vibrates and creates a high-beat movement which makes the timepiece more precise than its competition.

Today, model of the El Primero Range Rover Special Edition is modeled after the British car model the Range Rover and the fake watch is encased in a 42mm aluminum case that is matte black in color, bringing out the sharp light white colors on the face of the piece. This model fake watch is waterproof up to 100 meters and features the Zenith logo, a star above the logo, and the words “Range Rover” below it. The hands and the hour markers on the face of the piece are rhondanized crystals with luminescent filling in each, which makes them glow in the dark. At 9 o’clock is a hand for timing with seconds, at 3 o’clock is a minutes timer, and a 12-hour register is kept at 6 o’clock. Below the 12-hour register, directly at 6 o’clock, is the date.

With the replica watch, the buyer has the option of buying either a blue or a white rubber strap coated with ivory-toned perforated calfskin. Both are hand-stitched and very comfortable for the user. Both colors match the matte black finish of the fake watch very well, bringing not only style to the piece but also class to the wearer.

The caseback of the El Primero is open so the owner can catch each and every precise movement of the fake watch. The metal that makes up the caseback is engraved with “Zenith Al Primero Range Rover,” and a black Star on the back, displaying the Swiss made origins of the piece. The open caseback also shows the sapphire crystals that keep the movement of the piece on par, as well as the rotor and various gears, all of which are beautifully colored, shined, and polished.

As was the case back in 1969, the Zenith El Primero Range Rover Special Edition features the 400B movement of the motor. This feature enables the fake watch to have a beat rate of 36,000 vibrations per hour, keeping the time intervals of this piece precise within one-tenth of a second. This is one of the best chronograph movement replica watches out on the market today. Not only is the piece very accurate by function, but it is also very sleek and stylish. A fake watch modeled after a car, enough said.

Tags Limited Editions, Range Rover Special Edition, Zenith El Primero

Hands-on Luxury Watch News Swatch Replica Watch Review

Hands-On with the Swatch Replica Sistem51 Irony Arrow

Post author By ukwatches
Post date October 13, 2016

I walked into the Swatch store in the New York when the family and I went on vacation , and walked out a few bills lighter and with a new replica watch on the wrist.

Frankly, Swatches have never done it for me in the past. I grew up during the time when they were at the height of their popularity. But in the mid-1980s, I was wearing digital Casio watches that to me were way cooler than anything Swatch had on display. The plastic build and colors didn’t appeal to me as a teenager, and even less so now many years later. Even the inaugural Sistem51 collection, released in 2013, was largely a pass for me. Admittedly, a very cool replica watch with an even cooler movement, but I just couldn’t get onboard with the plastic cases.

The replica Sistem51 Irony collection changed that. Swapping plastic for steel, the watches finally started to make sense. They were a touch more elegant, a bit more mature, and seeing them in the metal brought the whole thing home.

All of the variants were present at the Swatch store. I liked the subdued styling of the Earth and Fly models, and the Tux was decent looking for a two-tone dressier replica watch, but ultimately not for me. The one that really caught my eye, however, was the Irony Arrow. Right away the Flieger Type B design spoke to me (just shouting, “buy me!”). It was simple, a little bit more serious than the rest, and it also fit nicely on the wrist. And the price was reasonable, even at full retail. Since I had not bought myself a new replica watch in quite a while, it felt right to pick up a little treat.

Running through the specs, the stainless steel case of the Arrow measures 42mm in diameter, 13.8mm in thickness and has a length of 50.6mm. The case has an interesting lug design. From the top, it looks like a shroud, but from the bottom one can see Swatch’s proprietary lug system. It features a three-tang end that unfortunately limits aftermarket options beyond a handful of sources.

Taking a closer look at the case, the next feature to draw the eye is the bezel. It’s raised like a diver’s bezel and is notched like it should be gripped and turned, so you’d be forgiven for thinking that it’s functional. But it’s not; it’s fixed to the case. Moving closer to the dial, there’s a ring of black running along the bezel, with a cutaway at every five minutes. There’s very little reason for this bit of design, other than it looking good and framing the dial.

The Sistem51 Irony case has a water resistance rating of only 3 ATM, which puts it squarely on dry land. The crystals on both ends are plastic, which is totally understandable at the price point. Fortunately, plastic crystals can be polished should the need arise.

Flipping the replica watch around, you can see the movement that spawned the line. It’s undeniably cool looking with its unique checkerboard pattern, and it’s entirely machine-made consisting of just 51 parts anchored to a central screw. Further specs include 19 jewels, a beat rate of 21,600 bph, and a whopping power reserve of approximately 90 hours. Also of note is that the Sistem51 movement can now be serviced, whereas the plastic version of the replica watch is permanently sealed and ultimately disposable if it happens to break. This upgrade extends the lifespan of the fake watch and really elevates its value.

As mentioned above, the Arrow is styled after Flieger Type B replica watches. There’s a large outer ring for the minutes, and a smaller index toward the center for the hours. The hands are simple swords for the hours and minutes, and a needle for the seconds. The hour hand is bit too long, with the tip going well past the hour ring. A weird faux-pas, but something tells me that Swatch wasn’t aiming for historically functional accuracy.

The Arrow comes on a rubber strap featuring a striped pattern. It is a thicker rubber strap but is still quite flexible and very comfortable on the wrist. The buckle feels solid and is signed with “Swatch.” I wasn’t sure initially how I felt about a rubber strap on a pilot-style fake watch, but after wearing it for a few days and finding the strap as comfortable as I did any reservations went out the window.
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All in all, the Swatch Sistem51 Irony Arrow is a great looking, moderately sized pilot’s style fake watch with a really interesting movement, now made even better since it can be serviced. For $195, the Arrow makes for a great alternative for a pilot-inspired AAA+ watch for those on a budget.

Tags pilot-style watch, Swatch Replica Sistem51 Irony Arrow

News Seiko Replica

Why Replica Seiko Is Still Underrated

Post author By ukwatches
Post date October 6, 2016

Today we will discuss a question. That question concerns Seiko, a Japanese watch company that has the unmitigated nerve to make watches every bit as good as anything made in Switzerland (the country most traditionally associated with quote-fine-unquote watchmaking) but at a much lower price than you would be charged if you bought a watch from the land of cheese, chocolate, and cuckoo clocks.

The specific question in whose context the name Seiko most frequently arises is when someone asks me what watch they would recommend in the under $500, or the under $5000, or the under $50,000 category, for that matter; the answer is frequently “Seiko” and that is for a reason. Those reasons are especially apropos today. For, my horologically inquisitive readers, these are hard times for the Swiss watchmaking industry. Beset by collapsing demand — brought on by overproduction in general, and a precipitous drop in demand in China in particular — what we are pleased to refer to as “the brands” are in a quandary, with no real idea of how to recapture the sales they have lost.

Much soul searching is going on, and much hand-wringing: whatever shall we do? All sorts of strategies are being discussed, and strategies considered: how ever shall the marketing departments get people to once again regard The Brands with sufficient uncritical adulation, that pockets may once again be emptied, as in the happy days of yore?

And there, my friends, is the problem. Certainly it is true that marketing can sell a lot of replica watches. However what I think our friends in Switzerland have forgotten is that beyond a certain point, marketing will only get you so far.

And that is where replica Seiko comes in. Seiko, unlike the Swiss luxury brands, is barely a brand at all, in the conventional sense of the word. What they do have, instead of “brand DNA” or some such folderol, is a hell of a lot of fake watches. They make excellent watches offering excellent value at every price; they are one of the very few companies continuing to make more-accurate-than-necessary high precision quartz fake watches (along with, to be fair, Citizen, Breitling, and Bulova; however none of those companies has the repertoire of offerings from the most basic to the most sophisticated that Seiko has).

Seiko makes the Kinetics (self-recharging quartz replica watches); they make the Spring Drive (quartz regulation with no battery at all); they make some of the most classic entry-level wristwatches in the world (Seiko 5 and the SKX007 diver’s watch) whilst at the same time making luxury level mechanical fake watches — the Grand Seikos — with such excellent fit and finish that there are collectors out there with Grand Seikos rubbing shoulders with Langes, Pateks, Vacherons, and APs in their collections. And at the very high end they have repeaters and other chiming fake watches made in vanishingly small numbers yearly, with peerless sound, and with finish that has been openly and publicly admired by none other than The God Of Movement Finishing, Philippe Dufour.

So why do some still shy away from, let us say, a Grand Seiko, simply because it says “Seiko” on the dial? Lots of reasons, but mostly ignorance, or at best, habituation to a conventional model of luxury (that is to say, the traditional sadomasochistic relationship between luxury brands and their clients) which prevents one from appreciating good watchmaking at a good price.

Now, it is also true — you simply cannot deny it — that there is a very small group of individuals who know perfectly well how good the Seiko fake watches are, and that they represent astonishing value, and in that full knowledge simply prefer to have a fake watch from another brand — one with a better-recognized presence as an object of prestige. But to make that choice is to miss the point: that far too many of The Brands insist on trying to sell The Brand, having forgotten that there is a reason we distinguish between style and substance, and that just maybe, one might try selling a watch not by selling a brand, but via the forgotten expedient of making a good watch.

Tags Fake Seiko, Japanese watch

Calendar Watch Luxury Watch News Piaget Replica Watch Review

High Quality Fake Piaget Polo S: Outside Its Comfort Zone

Post author By ukwatches
Post date September 22, 2016

How unlucky can you get?

Piaget invested heavily into the launch of the new replica , US made Piaget Polo S only to have its launch event fall on exactly the same day as the horrible terrorist attack in Nice, a heat wave in New York where it was introduced, and just before the attempted coup in Turkey.

Desiring a classy, steel watch

But I don’t want to go there; I want to go back a few years instead.

Like many fake watch collectors and connoisseurs I found myself at a point where I desired a classy, steel replica watch made by an haute horlogerie brand. My excuse for “needing” such a fake watch was, of course, that I wanted an upscale timepiece that wasn’t as fragile as my gold AAA+ watches.

The only problem with that was that I ended up treating my upscale steel fake watch with the same protective nature once I got it. Of course I considered the icons of the industry: the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, the Vacheron Constantin Overseas, and the two steel replica watches people have been saying that the AAA+ Polo S resembles most: the Patek Philippe Nautilus and Aquanaut.

The fake watch I ended up getting was none of these, and in fact has now already been discontinued for several years. It was the Piaget Upstream, which was introduced at the 2001 SIHH and discontinued in 2007.

What made me buy this high quality fake made watch was the incredible bracelet, whose clasp is integrated into the case thereby creating a Swiss watch with no visible clasp when on the wrist. This also meant that the clasp was not felt, resulting in one of the most comfortable steel AAA+ watches I have ever worn.

But there was more.

The design of the case and the bracelet was unlike any other fake watch. The same can be said for the numerals that Piaget used on the dial. An abstract, futuristic, yet highly legible font that seemed to have come straight from the bridge of the U.S.S. Enterprise. Even a decade and a half after its introduction, it is still a very contemporary design.

What continues to surprise me the most is that this is the replica watch I get by far the most comments on from people inside the industry as well as people who couldn’t care less about replica watches (and often do not even wear one).

Piaget and steel: not a long love story

Since 1957, Piaget had been making fake watches exclusively in precious metals. I’ve heard that they made some steel replica watches during the 1960s exclusively for the Japanese market, but I have never seen one.

As a result, Piaget has become a master in working with precious metals. But as time progressed, and the Swiss fake watch industry entered a renaissance following the Quartz Crisis of the late 1970s, steel became more and more a choice as a new “precious” metal.

For the Upstream’s production, Piaget had to rely on an outside supplier to provide the steel parts of the fake watch, although they were finished and assembled in Piaget’s manufacture in Plan-les-Ouates on the outskirts of Geneva. Priced just above $6,000, with its sophisticated bracelet the Upstream simply couldn’t be produced cost-effectively with the majority of the work done by an outside contractor.

For almost a decade Piaget went without a steel fake watch in its collection, but not without a sportier replica watch. In 2009, the Polo 45 took over from where the Upstream left off. It was crafted in titanium with steel gadroons (polished slightly domed elements on the case) and a rubber strap. A time-only timepiece sold for $12,300, it is still part of the current collection.

The Polo 45 was a refreshing and modern take on the original Polo from 1979, a design that ruled the ensuing decade as a luxurious sporty replica watch in the collection.

Is this a Polo?

This is also where my confusion came from when I AAA+ watched the reveal of the new Piaget Polo S live on my laptop. This fake watch may be called Polo, but it shares none of the characteristics that make the Polo a Polo. It’s almost like when Daniel Craig was introduced as James Bond: he was definitely not the usual gentleman in a suit with a sense of humor, but rather Jason Bourne’s better dressed cousin.

This is actually not the first time that Piaget has created a Polo model in this fashion. In the 1990s the Polo also left behind its typical gadroons for a more traditional case and dial. In my opinion, the new Polo S shares more resemblance with Piaget’s Emperador Coussin, only with a much wider bezel.

The result is a design that more closely resembles other high-end steel fake watches than you would generally expect from a manufacture with the stature of Piaget.

I understand the need for a steel replica watch in the collection, even though it falls outside the company strategy that has worked so well for Piaget for more than half a century.

Customer desires have changed; the markets have changed; and being part of the Richemont group, the requirement to make a profit for the shareholders remains important.

Introducing a steel fake watch is a logical way to expand your customer base and increase revenue. Although to accomplish the latter, Piaget has to succeed in keeping production costs down, which means not repeating what precipitated the downfall of the Upstream.

Being a highly creative manufacture, it is only natural that people might be disappointed when your latest model seems less creative than usual. I think this is also amplified by Piaget itself in calling the Polo S “the US fake watch for a new generation: a generation of game changers” and then combining it with a – for Piaget, at least – unprecedented spectacle involving celebrities like new ambassador Ryan Reynolds and Michael B Jordan as well as several others from around the world.

This is quite a contrast with the past. Although Piaget’s replica watches have been on the wrists of countless celebrities – and the Polo had a reputation as a jet-set replica watch from the beginning – Piaget always had a tendency to let its replica watches do the talking rather than engage official ambassadors.

A new generation will have different desires, but are those met with the Polo S?

Although more or less a new concept for Piaget, there are plenty of steel replica watches with manufacture movements to choose from – crafted by prestigious brands like Cartier and Chopard and often available at an even lower price point than the $9,350 at which Piaget has priced the Polo S with time and date.

What does the Polo S offer a new generation that these replica watches don’t?

When everything is said and done, the Polo S is a fine replica watch. Caliber 1110P powering the chronograph is derived from Caliber 880P that powers the Polo 45 chronograph, an integrated chronograph movement with column wheel and vertical clutch.

Some recent detractors of the Polo S have suggested that Piaget has reduced the finishing of the movement because of its price, but I seriously doubt if there is much difference in finish between an 880P and the 1110P since costs have been brought down by simplifying the movement. I hope to do a side-by-side of both movements in the near future to establish this.

The fact is that the next generation of replica watch connoisseurs will probably have a significantly different view on replica watches and luxury than current and past generations.

The world’s elite car manufacturers scramble to turn everything into an SUV when they can’t they call a product a crossover, while jewelry brands are still puzzled as to how to create captivating designs that go with casual and active lifestyles.

These brands are all forced outside their comfort zones, only some more than others.

Quick Facts replica Piaget Polo S
Case: stainless steel, 42 mm
Movement: automatic Caliber 1110P
Functions: hours, minutes; date

Quick Facts replica Piaget Polo S chronograph
Case: stainless steel, 42 mm
Movement: automatic Caliber 1160P with integrated chronograph movement with column wheel and vertical clutch
Functions: hours, minutes; date, chronograph

Tags luxury fake watches, Swiss watch, US made Piaget Polo S

Brand IWC Replica News Watch Review

High Quality IWC Pilot’s Replica Watch Chronograph Top GunMiramar

Post author By ukwatches
Post date August 25, 2016

For a quick overview/ history of the Top Gun Miramar replica watches, click on the link above.

The new chronograph looks pretty much as it did before, but as with the non-chronograph version this new chronograph is also now smaller, with its ceramic case now measuring 44mm.

Well along with this, they also released a new Top Gun Miramar Chronograph which we had on loan for a few days and had the opportunity to wear and photograph.You may recall an earlier post about one of IWC’s new pilot’s replica watches for 2016, the Mark XVIII Top Gun Miramar.

There is also a hacking seconds feature on the small seconds at 6 o’clock. The pushers are titanium.Functionally, you can see a combined hour and minute counter/ totaliser at 12 o’clock, a simplified date display which I think looks better than the previous look, and of course the chronograph is flyback.

The new Chronograph Top Gun Miramar also features a soft-iron inner case for protection against magnetic fields and a screw-down crown and the sapphire crystal is secured against displacement by a drop in air pressuer. Water resistance is 60m (6 bar).

The Top Gun logo is now discreetly engraved on the solid case back, as opposed to the more colourful print used in the past, a change I rather like. Inside is the automatic Calibre 89361 with a 68-hour power reserve.

As with the previously blogged new Miramar, this also comes with an embossed black or green calfskin strap, the latter looking remarkably like fabric.

With such a strong colour dominance to the Miramar pieces from the dial to the strap, versatility is something that I have been asked about. Rather unexpectedly, I found that I have a surprising amount of clothing and accessories that matched it, and can tell you that despite very much being a sporty replica watch yes it can be dressed up. For those like myself who seem to tend towards black/ white for sports dials, spending a few days with a Miramar for the first time (all previous Miramar experiences having been more fleeting) showed me that after a few days, it’s really easy to develop an affinity for a differently coloured dial.

For those of you who have wanted a Miramar but whose wrists haven’t been able to feel totally comfortable with the larger sizing, this latest size reduction by IWC will be good news. The replica watch wears like a 43-44mm and the smaller size makes it so much accessible. I was particularly drawn to the strap both in terms of textures and comfort. It’s a great looking strap.

Tags chronograph, Flieger, Hands-on, IWC, Military watches, On the wrist, Sydney, watches

Hands-on News

You Won’t Believe What The High Quality Replica Watch Snob Thinks Of Mickey Mouse Replica Watches

Post author By ukwatches
Post date August 24, 2016

For my next piece, I’m looking to get a watch that best captures the spirit and essence of Jaeger-LeCoultre whilst adding some interesting variety to my collection. The two watches I’ve narrowed down to are: the Geophysic True Second in stainless steel and the Reverso Tribute to 1931. Of the two, which one would be the better pick?

Of course, I’m also open to hear your suggestion on watches from JLC that I’ve overlooked, which might better represent the brand. I look forward to hearing from you and thank you in advance.

I’m currently looking to add a fourth watch to my collection and have my sights set on Jaeger LeCoultre. Right now, my collection consists of an Omega Speedmaster 105.003, a Rolex Datejust 1603 with a “Wide Boy” dial, and a Grand Seiko “Self-Dater” 57GS 5722-9990.

The three watches you have are all quite excellent choices — and I do mean excellent, but you don’t have anything in the realm of the Reverso by a long shot and, more than anything else by the company that I can think of, the Reverso really is the very essence of the French design sensibility and Swiss watchmaking expertise that makes Jaeger LeCoultre what it is.Given the watches that you already own, and given that you aspire to own a watch that “captures the spirit and essence of Jaeger LeCoultre,” I would strongly recommend the Tribute to 1931. This is not by any means a knock on the Geophysic True Second, which is an interesting watch in its own right, but the True Second is also a sports watch (or, shall we say, a pragmatically oriented semi-tool watch, if not a sports watch outright) and you’ve got sports and sort-of sports watches already.

Nomos Orion

I have scraped enough money together to buy the first piece in what will hopefully become, as time goes on, a large and diverse collection. I am deciding between the Nomos Orion (the standard version in 35mm) or the Grand Seiko SBGX059. Both are very clean, simple pieces with design languages that I love. Which one should I purchase? (Or should I save a bit more money to buy something higher on the horological food chain?)

The answer to the question, “should I save a bit more money to buy something higher on the horological food chain,” is, essentially, always yes. However, the reason that both Grand Seiko (as a matter of fact, let’s just go the distance and say Seiko, period) as well as NOMOS attract the sort of respect that they do, is because they appeal to connoisseurs irrespective of the cost involved. There are a very great many collectors who — by the grace of God, good luck, sheer industry, or good birth (or some combination thereof) — may enjoy horology without concerning themselves with questions of economy and a very great many of them (at least, the ones with actual taste) may wear one day a Patek repeater, the next day a Breguet perpetual, and the next day a Grand Seiko or NOMOS without feeling anything incongruous in the choice. As a first watch, a statement of personal taste, and a sound basis for future collecting, either watch will serve you well, and damned well at that.

The one thing I would say, however, is that if you can forego the pleasure of ownership for a bit, you might consider saving for a mechanical Grand Seiko rather than the 9F quartz — unless part of what attracts you to the quartz is what quartz means in the context of Seiko. The difference, if you are practicing economies, is not a small one, but I have to say, while I understand the intellectual appeal of the quartz Grand Seikos, it is the mechanical models that make me want to get out of bed in the morning — even at my age.

I was recently having a watch collection discussion with the husband of a friend of my wife. He’s a nice enough fellow, but I have to say I found him to be a bit of a bore from the start. Anyway, he chastised me for my Grand Seiko, so I didn’t even bother to show him my cheaper watches. And conversely, I found his collection to be so predictable that it left me unimpressed despite his many wonderful timepieces.

I mean, it’s one thing to have some expensive and iconic timepieces in your collection, but it’s another thing when it appears to me that you only own watches that wealthy “experts” tell you that you should own. For example, he had a Patek Calatrava, a Rolex Submariner, a Royal Oak, a Speedmaster, an Overseas, etc. Each a nice watch, but not one piece was something I would call unique or even slightly outside the box. If you only own a few watches, then fine, but he had 10-15 in his collection. In a way, I find that more pathetic than just completely bad taste.

I come from a lower middle class background and started wearing watches at a young age. Like many of my early station, Seikos were considered good, dependable watches that wouldn’t break the bank. So I started off collecting Seiko’s, among other watches. When I became wealthy later in life, I of course expanded my collection to include some fine and expensive Swiss, German, and Japanese watches — for instance, a Vacheron Constantin Traditionelle, a GO 1960’s, GS SBGA081, etc.

But I still love my old watches and also enjoy collecting watches of various price points, or modding Seiko’s and some of the fun microbrands made in China with good Japanese or Swiss movements, such as Helson and Halios. So on one hand I have watches that reflect my interest in, and respect for, the fine artistry of the Swiss tradition, and on the other hand I have watches that reflect my personality. I have no issue with someone who only owns expensive Swiss watches, but I like to see an occasional choice a bit outside the box or at least not completely predictable.

“In matters of taste, there can be no dispute” — an old saying and a good one. I understand quite what you mean by saying that the gentleman’s taste was fatally flawed by its predictability, and many are those who think themselves expert in horology who do the same thing: collect by rote and recipe with never an original thought in their heads. In cookery the analogy is the so called “foodie” who never deviates a jot or tittle from recommendations and recipes, and makes elaborate meals for their friends, entertaining lavishly, with all the right wines, carefully chosen, and at just the correct temperature in the correct glasses… and whose guests somehow never have any fun, because what the host is doing isn’t about enjoyment, it’s about avoiding mistakes.

In point of fact I have several guilty pleasures in collecting, some more guilt-inducing than others. One of my favorites, however, is my quite extensive collection of Mickey Mouse watches, which I started collecting long before bloody Dan Brown put one on the wrist of his protagonist in The Da Vinci Code, so there. It’s quite a large collection, and while there are some early mechanical models, it is in fact largely composed of quartz timepieces, including a gold-toned Laurus of which I’m rather fond. I wear them down to the pub rather more frequently than I would think many of my readers might imagine, and may God strike me down where I stand on the day when an old horological duffer like myself can’t get a kick out of Mickey and a pint of Guinness.

Tags Men's Watches, Watch Snob

Feature Luxury Watch News

High Quality Replica Watch Embellishments: Which Luxury Replica Watches Are Actually Worth Your Money?

Post author By ukwatches
Post date August 24, 2016

Whenever I read reviews about the finish and quality of watch movements, I see several features thrown around that more or less appear to be markers of high quality: gold chatons, diamond endstones, Guillaume balances, swan’s neck regulators, etc. Assuming watch movements are finished to an equally exacting standard, would you say the more such characteristics a movement embodies, the better, or are they just stylistic flourishes?

For example, I am perplexed because I have seen a Patek Observatory Chronometer pocketwatch movement (which I can assume is probably close to a gold standard) with only one chaton-ed jewel at its center, whereas Lange and Greubel Forsey seem to try putting gold chatons on all their jewels. Also, Glashutte Original seems to be the only brand I know that puts two swan’s neck regulators in their movements…

I have been interested in watches for a couple years now, but most of my interests have been aesthetic, and my sad lack of real scholarly knowledge has led me searching for your wisdom.

Be aware that finish is a separate issue – there are many very beautifully finished watches with no chatons, no swan’s neck regulators, no diamond endstones, and so on; they are however magnificently hand-finished from stem to stern, and to a real connoisseur far more interesting than a watch that adds on anachronistic features but cuts corners on finishing.All of the features you mention can be found in high quality watches, but they are, alas, not necessarily sure indications of a high quality watch, or a high quality movement. The question of whether any feature in and of itself represents inherently better quality is almost always, to some extent, an open one. Take those lovely gold chatons. They are in fact a terrible anachronism: difficult to do, yes, but offering additional complexity not for any gains in performance, but for its own sake. Diamond endstones are likewise a throwback to a time when natural gems had to be used for balance pivots, as synthetic rubies had not yet been developed.

All I can suggest is to keep reading as much as possible, and understand the basics of mechanical horology as much as possible, the better to be able to judge what value a feature really adds — and be aware, furthermore, that most flashy talking-point features don’t really offer much more than the chance for the maker to realize a better margin on the watch.

Watch Utility

This time, I submit to your judgement this question: what are the limits between true horological value and mere shallow virtuosism? I have in mind the newest issue by Greubel Forsey: the all-sapphire encased Double Tourbillon 30° Technique Sapphire.

I have no doubt that the making of this timepiece encompasses some truly groundbreaking achievements in terms of technology; nevertheless, given the purely esthetical goal (in my point of view) this effort addresses itself to, one is compelled to ask if such an achievement, for the sake of embellishment itself, is worthy of appreciation in terms of horological value.

This conundrum reminds me of an operatic anecdote, involving the great soprano Adelina Patti and the legendary composer Gioacchino Rossini: in one occasion, Patti sang Rossini’s aria “Una voce poco fa,” from “Il barbiere di Siviglia,” to the composer himself. She added some virtuosic “fioriture” to the music, to showcase her proficiency in the bel canto style. Rossini’s answer: “Very beautiful. Who is the composer?”

This parody summarizes, to me at least, the spirit of the question above: does a virtuoso-like execution have some artistic value on its own terms or is it merely an episode of self-indulgence from the artist, to obtain easy applause — a selfish act, so to speak? Or should we surrender to pure beauty and adhere to Oscar Wilde’s peremptory declaration about that matter: “We can forgive a man for making a useful thing as long as he does not admire it. The only excuse for making a useless thing is that one admires it intensely. All art is quite useless.”

Dr. George Daniels writes, in Watchmaking, that the fact that a remontoire d’egalite is useless merely adds to its charm. We may say the same of the tourbillon, the minute repeater, and indeed, virtually every element of mechanical horology, which from a practical standpoint has been completely and irreversibly overtaken by quartz. The question then becomes, how much of an admission of the utterly pointless (from a practical standpoint) nature of mechanical watches is one willing to tolerate? The sapphire-cased Greubel Forsey watch you mention is an interesting case in point; as you mention it is a bravura (and indeed, an operatic) piece of watch design but it has about as much to do with practical considerations in horology as a rubber ducky with a battleship.

However, if we were to discard all such pieces of bravura watchmaking simply for their ambition and histrionic nature we would throw out much that is of interest along with much that is merely striving for attention and novelty. Bear in mind always that the primary function of a mechanical watch today is not to tell the time, but to separate a client from as much money as possible, and Greubel Forsey, like every other watch company, is obliged occasionally to make rather more excessive timepieces than not in order to keep the lights on. If such a piece is also well made, and appealing from a design standpoint, so much much the better. In the case of the GF I think that that is the case but Lord knows, it ain’t necessarily so.

Rolex vs Tag Heuer

I am a watch enthusiast from India and have collected a couple of watches that I like, but now I want to buy another watch that costs under $11,000 to add to my collection and am really confused!

Right now I own a Breitling Navitimer (Blue) and an Omega Seamaster (Rose Gold and Leather).

I am thinking of adding a steel watch to my collection because I think during traveling Steel/Rubberwatches make sense.

I was thinking Rolex Submariner Date, but when I tried it I found it a tad bit small for my wrist…I know it is a great watch and many people suggest it but just because of that should I buy it? I do like the design…

I also like the leather version of Tag Heuer’s Monaco (The only Tag Heuer I like) and am also looking at IWC, Panerai, Chopard, JLC (Reverso)

I really appreciate those companies who have their own in-house movement.

Can you please give some advice?

The Rolex Submariner Date is indeed a great watch. The only disadvantage to it is that to own one is to become aware of how many other people have made the same decision. Still, I am going to advise you to buy one. It is technically a hundred times the watch that most others in its price range can claim to be and while every brand you mention also makes some very wonderful steel watches, I think you ought to experience Rolex ownership if for no other reason than to have a context for future decision making. You may perform this experiment with confidence with Rolex, by the way — if a year from now you have decided you do not care for it after all, you will find you can sell it for not much less than you paid for it; and having lost almost no money, you have gained some valuable (horological) experience into the bargain.

Tags Men's Watches, Watch Snob

Brand News Sinn Replica Watch Review

HIGH QUALITY REPLICA SINN : 856 B-Uhr LimitedEdition

Post author By ukwatches
Post date August 22, 2016

Within the case, you also have anti-magnetic shielding, protecting the movement up to 80,000 A/m.The B-Uhr is in an edition of 856 pieces (as per the name) and features some Sinn classics like the 1200 Vickers tegimented case, AR-dehumidifying technology, antimagnetic properties, and 200m of water resistance.

A matte black dial forms the background for a dial that is a little bit old and a little bit new.

This year Sinn has decided to launch a replica watch based on classic Beobachtungs-uhr (B-Uhr) fliegers. However, rather than using a traditional B-Uhr type 55mm case size, this new limited edition model is the same far more wearable 40mm sized case as the other 856s and contains the automatic Sellita Calibre SW300-1.

The outer one is a minute index with numerals at 15, 30 and 45, triangle at 0/ 60, and small markers for the individual minutes. One thing familiar to those who know their Type A and Type B flieger dials is the shortend sword-shaped hand pointing to the hour in the inner ring. One immediate difference between the Sinn B-Uhr and a standard B-Uhr design is that Sinn went with numerals purely at the quarter hours; this may be something that may appeal to some but not so much to others.

There is also another addiction which is aimed at more modern tastes rather than traditional fliegers – the date window at 4 o’clock. It is is the same location and style as per the other 856s, and is fairly discreet because of the use of white on black, but again, the presence of a date window may be considered extraneous by those who like their vintage-inspired fligers to be as close to Types A and B as possible.

A final thing to note is the use of two different lume colours. For the numerals and 5-minute marks, they went with a warm, parchment colour. For the individual minutes, they used white.

The 856 B-Uhr is available with a leather bund strap (shown) or with a tegimented bracelet for an additional amount. The bund strap is more oriented to those of a historical bent. Made of tan leather with contrast stitching it’s attractive and comfortable, but I realise that not everyone is accustomed to such a strap, so you can simply take the padding bit off and wear it with the regular strap style, bearing in mind that because of the bund, the strap is longer than usual.

Simplicity, functionality, durability. Key aspects of fliegers and key features of Sinn’s much loved tool replica watches.

Tags Baselworld 2016, Flieger, German watches, Hands-on, Limited Editions, Military watches, Sinn, Switzerland, Watch Profile, watches