Category Archives: original designs

introducing: Uhren Forum

Posted on November 4th, 2011

Founded by Brigitte and Olaf Vockerodt, the brand Uhren Forum aims at providing collectors with affordable watches focused on quality, design and functionality. The name is rather odd, because it is easily mistaken by Internet search engines for German-speaking “Watch Forum”. Sold at 1’780 EUR, Their flagship is a full calendar chronograph based on the Valjoux 7751. [...]

Posted in brand of origin, ETA 2892-A2, original designs, Peseux 7001, Valjoux 7750, Valjoux 7751 | Leave a comment

Deeper Technical Plunge for Blancpain

Posted on October 26th, 2011

After several weeks of mystery, Blancpain finally unveiled their new watch on October 25th 2011 at the Dubai Mall Aquarium. Christened “X Fathoms”, this 55,6 mm novelty titanium timepiece is a  sophisticate mechanical diving computer accurate to 30 centimeter down to 15 meter of depth. Only a handful of brands has achieved to produce watches with [...]

Posted in brand of origin, editorial, legacy, Limited edition, militarophilia, novelty, original designs, press, tech stuff | 2 Comments

New German Manufacture Chronograph With Central Minute Counter

Posted on October 4th, 2011

Last month saw the simultaneous release by two competing German brands of a new chronograph calibre with central minute hand. This particular display replicates a function of the legendary and sadly discontinued Lemania 5100: namingly, a central minute counter allowing a more natural reading of measured time than the ubiquitous 30 minutes subdial commonly found [...]

Posted in antimagnetic, brand of origin, editorial, ISO-certified, legacy, militarophilia, novelty, original designs, original parts, press, Valjoux 7753 | 1 Comment

MAT watches new collections

Posted on October 3rd, 2011

I already introduced the reader to French brand MAT in December 2009. The trade mark MAT is the accronym for Mer Air Terre (Sea, Air, Land), the 3 types of armed forces. TLex of Oceanictime recently published renderings, followed by pictures of the brand’s new collections AG5 and AG6. This new collection comes with a [...]

Posted in brand of origin, ETA 2824-2, militarophilia, novelty, original designs, Valjoux 7754 | Leave a comment

introducing: Orbis Morgan Timepieces

Posted on September 26th, 2011

Founded in Hong Kong in 1997 by watch enthusiasts, Orbis Morgan Timepieces specializes in Military-inspired watches. Produced locally with Chinese mechanical movements and sold under USD 300, the watches have earned a solid reputation in Japan. On the photographs, the watches look as good as any reputable brand from Germany or Switzerland. It turns out that [...]

Posted in antimagnetic, Limited edition, militarophilia, novelty, original designs | Leave a comment

introducing: Neuhaus watches

Posted on September 6th, 2011

Founder Manuel Neuhaus is quite an interesting man: Having dropped out of school to become a photographer, he trained in painting and design before earning his living by producing computer graphics in the early 1990′s. Herr Neuhaus then worked as a freelance media designer, but in 2007, he discovered the facinating world of watches. Manuel [...]

Posted in arty, assembler, brand of origin, novelty, original designs, Unitas 649X | 2 Comments

introducing: HEXA watches

Posted on August 10th, 2011

On August 24, 2011,  new Tampa-based company Hexa watches will be releasing their first model, the K500. Save for the 500 meter marking on the dial, there is no information on specifications or price yet. Hexa watches press release: “We exist to create products that are consistently fresh and exciting by offering new and unique [...]

Posted in brand of origin, militarophilia, novelty, original designs | Leave a comment

Perrelet, looking forward although the rug has been pulled from under your feet

Posted on April 7th, 2011

Before dwelving into a description of their new diving collection, I would like to walk the reader through a brief presentation of the Perrelet SA company, which inception I discussed at great length in my essay in French: “The house of cards Perrelet SA, Example of how unverified information relayed by historians can backfire at a brand’s communication strategy [...]

Posted in assembler, brand of origin, editorial, ETA 2892-A2, IP blunter, legacy, original designs, Valjoux 7750 | 5 Comments

Upcoming Archimede Outdoor model

Posted on April 6th, 2011

Icklers are a third generation of German watch case makers. They now run the family business by supplying quality watch cases to some of the nicest European watch companies. Besides the traditional case making and watch assembly, the Icklers also run several watch brands such as Limes, Autran & Viala,  Defakto and Archimedes. It seems to me that Limes, Autran [...]

Posted in assembler, brand of origin, ETA 2824-2, legacy, militarophilia, novelty, original designs, Valjoux 7750 | Leave a comment

Louis Erard’s fine watchmaking

Posted on March 30th, 2011

Hat tip to Jorge Merino of Timezone.com I will ask for the reader’s indulgence: I have yet failed to present the young Swiss brand Louis Erard, which features stylish and very competitively-priced collections. The thing is that the band’s first collections used to seem a little bit “gimmicky” to me. By that I mean that it seemed like [...]

Posted in arty, brand of origin, novelty, original designs, Peseux 7001 | Leave a comment