Tag: German watches

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Swiss Replica

MORITZ GROSSMANN : ATUM Enamel LimitedEdition

Last year’s Atum Pure Steel by Moritz Grossmann was not just one of my favourite releases from Baselworld 2016, but for the year. This year, they have added a new Atum to the collection, with a white grand feu enamel dial.

The enamel dial is made of two parts welded together, as you can see; the core larger dial plus the slightly sunken sub dial. The design is very traditional, with the black Roman numerals on a white dial, but with a blue ’12’. Hands are steel, handmade, and heated to a brown colour. The use of a blue ’12’ is that touch which for me, really makes this replica watch.

Inside the 41mm case is the in-house Calibre manual-wind 100.1 with a two-thirds plate in untreated German silver German silver bridges. With horizontal Glashütte ribbing and snailing on the ratchet wheel, it has markedly more intricate hand finishing and engraving than in the mesh model. It has a shock-resistant Grossmann balance, adjustments can be done with a Grossmann micrometer screw on a cantilevered balance cock and 42 hours of power reserve.

The movement has Moritz Grossmann’s (hacking) stop seconds, that you operate both by using the crown and the pusher beneath it at 4 o’clock. Pulling the crown out stops the seconds hand during time setting. Once that has been done, use the pusher to restart the movement by disabling the setting mode.

The Atum Fired Enamel is a Limited edition replica watch with just 25 pieces each in rose gold and white gold. The Australian RRP is AUD $51,000 for the rose gold version and $53,000 for the white gold. Their Australian dealer is Define Replica Watches.

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Swiss Replica

SINN EZM 12 : a replica watch for emergency medicalprofessionals

The Sinn EZM range are the most function-focused of their replica watches, and their latest model, the EZM 12, was developed for medical professionals involved in emergency air rescues.

Time is critical in rescue/ emergency medical situations in terms of treatment, and the EZM 12 focuses on two concepts – the ‘golden hour’ and ‘platinum ten minutes’. This means that a patient should arrive at a hospital within the hour of an accident and that a critical patient should be treated and transported within the first ten minutes.

A count-up inner rotating bezel allows the doctor/ paramedic to keep an eye on the ‘platinum ten minutes’ and ‘golden hour’, whilst a countdown outer rotating bezel can be used to serve a number of purposes such as the monitoring of times for the administration of medication. The seconds hand, designed in the shape of a rotor, features a pulsometric scale for recording of the heart rate every 15 seconds.

Another notable feature of the EZM 12 is are the focus on creating a replica watch that is easy to clean. The silicone strap can also be removed without the use of tools and you can remove the rotating bezel, to clean, using the pocket knife provided (or anything else that can fit) in the dedicated space, and simply flip it off.

This looks like a hefty replica watch and that’s because it is; 44mm and 122g (without the strap) of Sinn’s bead-blasted Tegimented steel, and water resistant to 200m. Behind the screw-back nickel-free case back is the automatic ETA 2836-2.

The EZM 12 also features Sinn’s air-dehumidifying technology, magnetic field protection up to 80’000 A/m thanks to a soft iron cage, and has been tested to be reliable from -45°C to +80°C. And if you have no plans to rescue lives in the next few days, it does not really matter. The Sinn EZM 12 is a cool tool replica watch that is also good looking enough to be a daily wearer too.

For Australia the RRP is $5,350.

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Brand News Sinn Replica Watch Review

HIGH QUALITY REPLICA SINN : 856 B-Uhr LimitedEdition

Basel2016Sinn856BUhr4

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.

 

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Brand Hentschel

An Simple Introduction of Hentschel

 

 

Independent replica watchmakers offering and tailoring to these other demands are increasing, and today we bring you one of them – Hentschel, who hail from the old German port city of Hamburg.Increasingly, replica watch enthusiasts find themselves looking for something special, something different to the big brands, to add to their collections.

So where does Hamburg come into this? In the mid 19th century it became an increasingly important port city, and with increasing demand for marine chronometers  came the desire of Hanseatic ship-owners to be less reliant on foreign chronometers (namely the British). This lead to the founding of the German Naval Observatory in Hamburg, in 1875. With a goal of promoting the independence and international competitiveness of chronometer manufacturers in Germany high on their list of priorities, the Observatory organised and set the standards annual chronometer competitions, which commenced in 1877.

A critical part of naval, exploration, horological and indeed world history, and what revolutionised sea-travel, were the development and refinement of the marine chronometers by John Harrison and Le Roy (separately) in the 18th century.

Hentschel (after founder Andreas Hentschel) in Hamburg restarted this replica watchmaking tradition in 1990 with a view to providing something different for replica watch lovers. Depending on the model, they utilise vintage NOS (new old stock) movements or their own Cal. Werk 1. For the vintage movements, many of the parts used are either made at or for Hentschel. The degree of customisation is limited to the template of the replica watch, and the finishing, the choice of the movement AND the year of the movement manufacturer can be chosen by the individual owner. Photo-documentation of individual replica watch being assembled, from the beginning to the final product, can be requested.

A little while ago I had the pleasure of visiting Peter at Define Replica Watches in Brisbane for my first experience with this brand, and an introduction to the H1 and H2.

 

 

This is a very ‘under the radar’ replica watch, with its classical dial layout and superbly slimmed 39mm case which has a three part construction – white gold bezel, stainless steel case, white gold rim to the case back. The platinum dial and the design harks back to the marine replica watches of bygone era. The movement? It is a NOS movement based on the AS1130. Do not be fooled by it. Hentschel has dissembled the whole movement, cleaned, and then decorated and re-assembled the replica watch. The replica watch itself (and not just the movement) has undergone a strict chronometric standard as set in 1877 by the Hamburg Naval Institute. The result? The replica watch is adjusted to 6 positions, and tested for 1000 hours.

 

The attention to details is immediately obvious. The beautifully finished case, lovely blued hands, printing on the dial, and the heft and weight of the replica watch. The platinum dial, in certain lighting and angles, gives a certain warmth not seen in other dials. Flipping the replica watch around, the AS-base movement does not resemble the original. Whilst the movement has remained the same, the finishing and upgrading of parts performed at Hentschel, for this price point, are first rate.

 

This is certainly an understated replica watch and definitely one for a replica watch enthusiasts who wants something different, understated and yet, top quality. The Australian price is AUD24,820.00 incl. GST

The second replica watch is one that really caught my attention. The H2 Ambassador in a 38.5mm marine bronze case. As opposed to bronze alloys where oxidation and ‘patina’ development can occur, the case of the H2 is made from marine-grade bronze, which is intended to minimise how much the colour will change. I love the utilisation of this alloy as it gives the warmth of rose gold, the heft of rose gold, without the price of rose gold or the oxidation we see in other bronze-based replica watches (read this link about the latest Tudor bronze-case replica watches with non-corrosive oriented bronze).

 

With the still-going fascination with bronze from the other manufacturers the use of this type of marine bronze is certainly a welcome alternative to these other alloys, and something unheard of from a small independent brand.

 

The movement of the H2 is based on an old German-made movement from the 1960s, the HB313, ‘HB’ referring to ‘Hermann Becker’. The movement has had a manufactory upgrade to ensure reliability as well as decreased friction and wear, and Hentschel have also added sunburst and perlage finishing, flame-blued screws, and a hand-skeletonised rotor.

 

The dial features a lovely red 12, and overall, it is an aesthetically pleasing replica watch that is quality for the price point – AUD 8,975.00 incl. GST.

 

I would like to thank Peter of Define Replica Watches for his time and for allowing me to explore the Hentschel brand.

Categories
Calendar Watch Hands-on Men Watch Sinn Replica

Take A Look At SINN 910 Anniversary SplitChronograph

Basel2016Sinn910AnniversarySplitSeconds1

 

For those who may not know a splits-second function has two chronograph hands that both start in alignment when the chronograph function is actuated. Then another pusher, which in the case of this replica watch is at 8 o’clock, is depressed to stop one of the hands as as the second continues to advance. Pressing the pusher a second time makes the ‘stopped’ hand jump to the position of the moving hand, and they continue in unison.repliques montres

So what is the anniversary to which the name alludes? Well it’s Sinn’s 55th birthday. Both the limitation number (x/300) and ‘1961 – 2016’ are engraved on the case back.

Although I acknowledge that it is (pardon the double negative) not an inexpensive chronograph, it is nonetheless a good looking one.

Sinn have used the ever reliable Valjoux 7750 with a La Joux Perret mod to create a ratchet colunn wheel chrono with split seconds function. The chronograph actuation is very smooth.

Back to the cream dial. In keeping with their ‘vintage look’ approach for this replica watch they’ve gone for black applied indices and a classic use of red for counter hands and on the tachymeter.

At Baselworld 2016 Sinn, a favourite German ‘tool replica watch’ brand of many, came out with a number of new releases including one or two rather dressy pieces as well as a camo dial that is probably something you will love or not (I don’t), but the clear winner for me was the limited edition 910 Anniversary Split Chronograph, and so I shall talk about it first.

Their first split chronograph, the dial is not perhaps ‘groundbreaking’ in its design, but you don’t always need something adventurous, and the rather pure old school classic chronograph look of this one, with its creamy dial, is just spot on and attractive.

Size wise it is a 41.5mm stainless steel case and comes with both a bracelet and a shell cordovan strap. My vote goes to the strap. Also included in the kit are a strap replacement tool, spring bars, a loupe, and a polishing cloth.

 

The RRP is 5,500 EUR and in Australia, AUD 7,863.64 ex. GST and AUD 8,650.00 incl. GST from Define Replica Watches in Brisbane.

Categories
Sinn Replica

Replica SINN : 910 Anniversary SplitChronograph

Basel2016Sinn910AnniversarySplitSeconds1

At Baselworld 2016 Sinn, a favourite German ‘tool replica watch’ brand of many, came out with a number of new releases including one or two rather dressy pieces as well as a camo dial that is probably something you will love or not (I don’t), but the clear winner for me was the limited edition 910 Anniversary Split Chronograph, and so I shall talk about it first.

Their first split chronograph, the dial is not perhaps ‘groundbreaking’ in its design, but you don’t always need something adventurous, and the rather pure old school classic chronograph look of this one, with its creamy dial, is just spot on and attractive.

For those who may not know a splits-second function has two chronograph hands that both start in alignment when the chronograph function is actuated. Then another pusher, which in the case of this luxury replica watch is at 8 o’clock, is depressed to stop one of the hands as as the second continues to advance. Pressing the pusher a second time makes the ‘stopped’ hand jump to the position of the moving hand, and they continue in unison.

Sinn have used the ever reliable Valjoux 7750 with a La Joux Perret mod to create a ratchet colunn wheel chrono with split seconds function. The chronograph actuation is very smooth.

Back to the cream dial. In keeping with their ‘vintage look’ approach for this replica watch they’ve gone for black applied indices and a classic use of red for counter hands and on the tachymeter.

Size wise it is a 41.5mm stainless steel case and comes with both a bracelet and a shell cordovan strap. My vote goes to the strap. Also included in the kit are a strap replacement tool, spring bars, a loupe, and a polishing cloth.

So what is the anniversary to which the name alludes? Well it’s Sinn’s 55th birthday. Both the limitation number (x/300) and ‘1961 – 2016’ are engraved on the case back.

Although I acknowledge that it is (pardon the double negative) not an inexpensive chronograph, it is nonetheless a good looking one.

The RRP is 5,500 EUR and in Australia, AUD 7,863.64 ex. GST and AUD 8,650.00 incl. GST from Define Replica Watches in Brisbane.

Categories
Swiss Replica

BASELWORLD 2016 : Replica Nomos Glashütte TetraNeomatik

Basel2016NomosTetra1

At Baselworld 2015 Nomos launched the hugely popular neomatik replica watches. This year, they have extended the neomatik range into the Tetra collection and in so doing, updated it.

Previously only available in 27.5 mm and 29.5 mm square cases, is is now in a 33mm x 33mm steel case and with the in-house automatic Calibre DUW 3001 inside. The DUW3001 is the tenth calibre Nomos have produced in Glashütte. This movement was first used in the inaugural series of neomatik. Nomos has upgraded its new and thin automatic caliber DUW 3001 by replacing the ETA regulator with its own.

With a movement height of a rather slim 3.2mm, the case is 7.2 mm. This new Tetra neomatik comes in two dial variants – either a deep blue ‘cyan’ or with a white silver-plated dial. Hands are oxidised black with a red lacqured and rhodium-plated red, or neon orange lacquered. With a water-resistance to 30m, it comes on a Horween strap.

RRPs are Tetra neomatik CHF 2,900 and Tetra neomatik tiefblau CHF 2,980.

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A. Lange & Söhne Replica

HANDS-ON : A replica custom Lang Heyne FriedrichIII

LangHeyne4

For admirers of German replica watchmaking the brands that most commonly seem to first spring to mind are A.Lange & Söhne if we’re talking luxury, and names such as Glashütte Original, Sinn, Stowa and Nomos to name but a few, when covering other points on the spectrum. One brand that is very much still under the radar, which on one level I can understand but another, not, is the small independent brand Lang & Heyne.

Situated in Saxony, Lang & Heyne is small and resolutely committed to a particular aesthetic and replica watchmaking style that is self-evident in their pieces and which would have not have looked out of place a century or more ago, especially in the pocket replica watches that inspire them.. Even the names that they choose for their models, those of Saxonian rulers, are in tune with this very classical and perhaps to some, old-fashioned philosophy.

So who are Lang & Heyne? Well the ‘Lang’ is Marco Lang, a fifth generation replica watchmaker whose father Rolf has a histroy as head restorer in the Mathematics and Physics Cabinet (Mathematisch Physikalischer Salon) collection and as an instructor at A. Lange & Söhne amongst other things.

Marco Lang started off his cheap replica watchmaking career in Glashütte before working on pendulum clocks for seven years and then returning to Dresden, where he started a business restoring replica watches. It was Rolf Lang who introduced his son to Mirko Heyne, his first apprentice at Lange.

Thus Lang & Heyne was born, with Marco Lang’s restoration business shutting shop in 2003. Mirko Heyne long ago left the brand he co-founded (and ended up at Nomos, but I do not know whether he is still there, so if you have an update to this please leave a comment), but Marco Lang is still very much there, and the classical replica watchmaking vision remains in this very small company that only produces perhaps three or four dozen replica watches a year.

In 2013 he released the Friedrich III, which was essentially the same as the steel Friedrich II but with a roman numeral black dial. If you look at his website you will notice a rather distinctive centre lug to his models, but replica watches can be specially ordered without the center lug. Today’s replica watch started off as a Friedrich III but with the addition of various customised features such as a special order fired enamel dial with customised layout and double lugs.

So what are the core features of the Friedrich III? Well it is 40mm, and this replica watch is a lot thinner than I had expected. For some reason I was anticipating a replica watch with a very strong wrist presence, when it actual fact it is fairly slim, light, and very much as the ‘dress replica watch’ vibe on the wrist.

The enamel dial on this piece is white (which may at first glance make it look like the Johann model) unlike the standard black and silver dial of the Friedrich III, with beautiful elongated Roman numerals and polished blued cathedral hands. The blued minute numerals are also custom to this piee.

Inside is the manual wind Calibre VI (18,000 VPH) with its Breguet spring and swan neck regulator. Power reserve is forty-eight hours. As is the case with the dial and lugs, Marco Lang can do customisation of the movement in terms of engraving.

Lang & Heynes truly are one of those brands that you have to make a concerted effort to seek out in terms of having a hands-on experience. They don’t exactly have a large worldwide network of authorised dealers and I doubt that their small annual production would be able to cope with more than the dozen odd they have worldwide (of which nine are in Germany/ Switzerland/ Italy). I made one failed attempt to see some of their pieces at The Lavish Attic in Hong Kong, so it was good to be able to look at this piece at leisure.

So what did I think? Lang & Heyne are a brand which has been on my radar for a couple of years because their aesthetics appeal to me, but due to lack of ‘in the metal’ experience, they have been in the background. Being able to handle one increased my admiration for them – this is a beautiful looking replica watch that radiates quality and craftsmanship, and from all reports, the ordering process was professional, friendly, and smooth.

Watch people often like to muse about a ‘one replica watch’. What this ‘one replica watch’ would be, for those of us who are fortunate to own more than one and struggle to work out what we’d choose if we had to get rid of all but one, is going to be very much dependant on budget, lifestyle, and personal preferences, but if you are looking for the ‘one replica watch’ that is a versatile dress replica watch and pretty much guaranteed to still look fresh in a few decades, you could do a lot worse than looking at a Lang & Heyne.

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Swiss Replica

Replica Benzinger Zeitsprung : Something old, somethingnew

BenzingerZeitsprung6

Today’s piece isn’t a new model, but its presence is due to a combination of serendipity and my fondness for jump hours. Seen during my visit to Define Replica Watches in Brisbane, this is the Benzinger Zeitsprung. The model name ‘Zeitsprung’ loosely translates to a ‘time leap’ – a reference to the use of a jump hour display format.

This somewhat niche but very well-regarded German brand, named after its creator Jochen Benzinger, is known for its skeletonised pieces and for how it uses/ reworks old movements into new replica watches. In this instance, the Zeitsprung is based on a c.1970 vintage Kasper 1415 manual movement. Interestingly, Kasper & Co., which was founded in 1911, also hailed from Pforzheim, the home of Beinzinger. They started making replica watch parts, diversified into movements in 1932 and in 1939, registered a trademark and started producing not just movements and cases but also replica watches. Their last known replica watches were from about the period of the movement used in this jump hour.

Against the backdrop of a hand-guillochéd ivory dial is the jump hour display at 12 o’clock, minute display at (a high) 6 o’clock and a centre seconds hand. This is a one off piece in a 40mm stainless steel case, although there is another one with the same movement in a red gold case. As mentioned, Benzinger is known not just for using old movements, but for reworking them. In this instance, it has been skeletonised, as you can see below (ignore the strap…).

With the large expanse of empty dial allowing the guilloché work to be the focus, the jump display windows are nicely large and legible, and the symmetry and balance of the text and dsipalys will no doubt appeal to those who like their replica watch dials uniformly balanced. The less expensive of the two available at Define Replica Watches, this stainless steel piece will set you back AUD $12,000 incl. GST. For those who are looking for a small/ independent brand that is more classically designed, Benzinger is worth considering, and for those who like alternate time displays and want something that no-one else will have, this is a piece worth considering.

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Sinn Replica

HANDS-ON : Replica Sinn 140 A limited edition ‘space chronograph’

Sinn140A1

Sinn is one of those brands that keeps on doing what it does best without any razzle dazzle, and that continues to win a legion of often quite dedicated fans for it. As a ‘bang for buck’ tool replica watch, the brand can be difficult to beat. My sole Sinn, a U1, is my default replica watch for when I want to wear something that I don’t need to worry about.

Today’s Sinn however, is a bit more special, and at a far higher price point, than my U1 and many others of its Sinn brethren. It’s also admittedly more attractive. The 140A Space Chronograph is a limited edition update of the 140S that German physicist/ astronaut Reinhard Furrer wore on his voyage to SpaceLab in 1985. Furrer’s 140S was reputed to be the first automatic chronograph to be worn in space, and there’s an allusion to this on the caseback this model.

This limited edition replica watch is fitted with Sinn’s SZ01 automatic movement, which is a modded Valjoux 7750 movement (the original was a Lemania 5100, so that includes Furrer’s) and features a centre 60-minutes hand, good for those who don’t like small sub dials.

The 140A looks very much like the original, including a polished/ satin steel case of the same shape, which itself had a 1970s aesthetic, and the same crown and pusher layout, including the crown at 10 o’clock for the internally rotating bezel.

One new addition to the 140A is the use of Argon to dehumidify the replica watch, a feature for which Sinn is known, as is the use of the ever popular Sinn Tegiment (TM) case-hardening technology, one of the brand’s great drawcards. The dial on the limited edition has silver electroplated sub-dials for the chronograph functions on a matte black dial. The indices, hour and minute hands are all lumed and the chronograph indicators are coated with a daylight-luminous paint.

Sizewise it measures 44mm with a thickness of 15mm, and it weighs 118g. It’s not too heavy, nor too large, and sits comfortably on the wrist. Plus it’s simply a fun good looking tool replica watch.

Why do people buy Sinns? Well it’s certainly not for their glamour, but history, as ever, plays a part in the brand’s appeal. The claim of ‘firsts’ being, as always, a part of the replica watch world, there have been discussions as to whether in fact this Furrer related claim to fame for the 140 is, in fact, as it seems. If you want to read more on this, click on this link to a post on Replica Watchuseek dealing with this very question, and for some more reading on Furrer’s ‘other’ space replica watch, go to this piece at Fratello Replica Watches.

My thanks to Peter and Lydia of Define Replica Watches, at which I saw the Sinn 140A.