Prince Bernhard (1911-2004), member of the Dutch Royal Family, was an avid Rolex wearer. Dutch magazine Quote published an article in their March edition about the auction of this particular Rolex Date. Christie’s in Amsterdam will auction this Rolex Date on the 3rd of April 2007. Maarten van Gijn, Public Relations & Marketing of Christie’s, mailed me the picture below and stated that I could use it for this blog. I am curious why the Royal Family is auctioning this watch, in my opinion it should be on one of the wrists of his grand childeren. Anyway, according to Quote Magazine, it will fetch around 3000 Euro.

Now that I think of it, it has been almost 8 years since I have this watch. And finally, completed! A few weeks back I noticed this reference 1039 bracelet for sale, which belongs to this type of Speedmaster. According to most sources that is, you are never sure with those vintage Omega watches. My watch left the Omega factory in 1968 (October 22nd to be exact) on a journey to Norway. The reference 1039 was used on this model in 1968 according to information by Omega. However, I have also seen them on earlier models as well. 1968 is also the year that the reference 1171 bracelet got introduced for its successor, the Speedmaster Pro with caliber 861 movement. Earlier models of the Speedmaster, like the ones without ‘Professional’ and without the crownguard, might have the reference 7912 or 1506 bracelet. However, it is also believed that the 105.012 had the reference 1506 bracelet. Confusing eh? I bet Omega didn’t care as much then as we (collectors) do now!

Anyway, I am happy with it. It is not a bracelet to use for everyday wear, because it is very flimsy and probably will break without too much effort. However, it is nice to have your vintage watch completed with the original stuff. I will keep wearing this watch on a leather strap or on the nicest Speedmaster bracelet ever, the reference 1450.

The restoration review on my Speedmaster Pro will get finalized soon I reckon. There are no more parts/accessories required.

Although John is very pleased with his restored Submariner ref.1680, he is not a vintage Rolex guy, as he claims in his Restoration article Part II. He is looking for a passionate Rolex collector to buy it from him.. I don’t think that will be a problem! Click here for the article, part II. Part I can be found a bit lower on this page.

After having worked for the Cantonales Technikum institute and at Rado Watches, Ryser Kentfield moved to the USA to start his Swiss Timepieces store in 1990. He tried his own brand at the JCK Show in Las Vegas, but as he says in an interview with Keith W. Strandberg (Europastar) “it’s very difficult because people want a known brand name”. Ryser Kentfield now tries to get retailers world wide, to sell his watches and to get a bit of attention for his brand name. He makes and sells 700 watches a year, but predicts it will be somewhere between 1000 and 2000 pieces in 2007. His watches start at 1100 USD and use an ETA 2824-2 self-winding movement. His website, http://www.ryserwatches.com, feature background information on his brand, online collection of watches and a list of retailers. His watches are available in stainless steel, 10micro rose gold plating or yellow gold with PVD coating. I have one tip for mr Kentfield there… get rid of the 10micro rose gold plating and yellow gold with PVD coating.. Those types of inferior finish of materials gives a brand a bad rep. Anyway, all the luck to Ryser Kentfield and his line of watches!

 
Source: Europastar and Ryser Watches

John Holbrook recently bought this Rolex Submariner ref.1680 (approx. 1972), with red printing on the dial. As you can see on the photo below, the watch is quite worn. The bezel is incomplete (mind the missing luminous dot) and the bracelet is stretched. The watch case is still sharp edged, which means that this watch hasn’t been polished much before. Especially on older Rolexes, the sharp edges are gone most of the time. This is mainly due to polishing of the case by a non Rolex service center. A lot of watchmakers who are asked to buff the watch to get rid of all scratches, polish a bit too fanatical. The movement in this watch is caliber 1570, seems to be in good condition and is still running fine after all these years.

John wrote the first part of the essay on his restoration project. Click here to go there..

Who is King of the Sea? The Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean which is preferred by Mr Bond or the Rolex Sea-Dweller which is part of the standard diving equipment of the famous Comex divers? John Holbrook wrote a comparative review on his website. Two professional divers, one with decades of experience and the other one by a brand with decades of waterresistant watches which resulted in the new Seamaster (Planet Ocean).

Personally, I think it is nice to see how they hold up to each other, but most readers are biased before they even start to read and the out come probably does not affect their original point of view. Anyway, this review is well written and contains great pictures of both giants. So, who is King of the Sea? Click this link to find out.

Photo by John Holbrook.

Just recently, an interesting thread at one of the Dutch watch forums regarding IWC was started. In short, the topic starter of the thread wrote that IWC was the new watch for the rich. Perhaps a bit exaggerated, but I drew that same conclusion a while ago as well. I define it as follows: IWC is the new Rolex. Rolex used to be, and perhaps still is, a watch that stood for a successful career, life and wealth. At least, that is the image that it is stuck with. For collectors and watch aficionados, this brand has another meaning, but you probably already knew that. Otherwise you wouldn’t be visiting this web site. Anyway, IWC Schaffhausen seems to be on a mission. With their new range of advertisements, published in a broad scope of light reading material, they seem to target at successful young businessman. At least people that are not per definition watch enthusiasts. There is nothing wrong with that, especially not from a seller’s perspective. However, I see this trend going on which has ruined, and still does, the image of Rolex for many watch enthusiasts. I fear that the same thing will happen to IWC. Rolex was never a brand that started out to be for the watch enthusiast, so that might prohibit this trend from progressing to a worse level for IWC. This trend is that people who are the former Rolex buyers for all the, in the eyes of collectors, wrong reasons, now start buying IWC watches. An IWC watch has a more sophisticated image and seems to be a more justified time piece to be seen with at work and social events. Personally, I am more impressed by the finish of a Rolex watch and the finish of its mechanical movement than I am with IWC watches in the same price range (<5K Euro).