Category Archives: Watch Review

Watch Review, Swatch YGS4000 PROMENADE

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Watch Review, Swatch YGS4000 PROMENADE

Look at what I picked up at my favorite antique store.  I usually don’t go for quartz watches, but this one just spoke to me.  It is a Swatch YGS4000 PROMENADE, originally released for the Fall/Winter collection in 1995.

As you can see, it is a very unique looking watch.  The hour markers are all different fonts, colors, and randomly alternate between Arabic and Roman numerals.  The dial is a brushed silver motif, and I am sucker for silver dialed watches.  The hour and and minute hands are simple, black, sticks.  The second hand is a bold red. The bezel is a polished with Swatch repeating 4 times, with dots at 12, 3, 6, and 9 o’clock.  The crown is tipped with a red, plastic cap, which matches the second hand and markers on the dial. The only complication is the date function.  I like the humorous day of the week indicator, Today.

The case is aluminum and very light weight.  I really like how easy it is to change the battery.  All you need is a coin to pop open the battery hatch.  The case is also a single piece construction, with the movement loading from the front of the dial.  A lot less leak paths and gaskets.  I believe all Swatch watches are 50m or better water resistance.  The case is bead blasted, except for the bezel, which is polished.

The band is a genuine Swatch leather, original, with lizard grain.  The buckle is also aluminum and signed with Swatch.  It is very pliable and comfortable to wear.

Overall, it is a very practical, stylish, and comfortable watch.  You barely notice it on your wrist, especially after some of the heavy automatics that I usually wear.  It is my first and only Swatch, but now I understand why they were and still are fairly popular.  The design is very unique and the build quality is very good, with an ETA quartz movement inside.  My only complaint is that the second hand is pretty far off the second markers.  It is a minor quibble, but I would of expected better.  My Seiko from 1990 hits the marks every time, but not this Swiss made quartz from 1995.  I am very happy with my purchase, and I am sure it will be worn just about every time I exercise, due to the super light weight.

Features:
Case: 36mm diameter, 10mm thick(with crystal), aluminum, 50m water resistance.
Back: monocoque case, solid, with quick battery change.
Crystal: Acrylic, lightly domed.
Movement: Quartz, ETA
Complications: Date
Other:  None.

 

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Watch Review, Valgine Pocket Watch

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Valgine Pocket Watch


Overview:

I am not usually tempted by pocket watches, but recently I picked up a modern watch for my younger brother, so my interest was piqued.  So, on my last visit to my local antique store, I looked through the vintage bin.  When I opened up this little beauty of a watch, I was amazed at the condition.  I am not sure of the exact age, but, it is Swiss Made, Valgine, 17 jewels, Incabloc, and the dial is just flawless.


The front of the watch has a charming fisherman engraving  and is in very good condition.  The is no wear through visible on the plating and the embossing is deep and high quality.  The front cover pops open perfectly when the pendant is pressed.  If this watch was used, I don’t think was a daily wear watch. The inside of the front dial cover has a well executed tool pattern, a real one, not the stamped versions seen in modern, cheap pocket watches.  The dial is pure white with black roman numeral markers for 1 through 12 and small, red, Arabic markers for 13 through 24 hours.  The hands are very elegant and expertly cut.  The seconds hand is at the 6 o’clock position.  The crystal appears to be acrylic and has no scratches at all.


The rear of the watch has a floral pattern, and is expertly engraved as well.  Again, there is no wear through on the plating that is visible without a jeweler’s loupe.


The watch also came on a nice quality chain and traditional fob, not a belt clip.  A little dandy, but I am sure in a suit, you can pull it off.  The watch is about 44mm in diameter, so not too large, and smaller than what a lot of people wear on their wrists now!

The movement is a 17 jewel, Swiss made movement, shock protected, 18,000 bph,  and keeps excellent time.  The power reserve seems good as well, well over 32 hours.  I would guess that the watch was made in the 60, by how little wear there is.  I don’t think I will wear it much, but I am still glad I acquired this watch.  I have not been able to find out much about this brand, I assume they were one of the thousands of companies wiped out in the quartz revolution.

 

Case: 44mm diameter, gold plated.
Back: gold plated, snap back style.
Crystal: Acrylic, domed.
Movement: 17 jewel Swiss, Incabloc shock protection, 18,000 BPH.
Complications: Small seconds.
Other:   On 12″ watch chain, with fob.

 

 

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Watch Review, Seiko Bell-Matic, 1970.

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Seiko 4006-6010T Bell-Matic.

Overview:  While looking through a coffee can full of watches at a local antique store, I pulled out this little gem.   First I saw the back, so I knew it was a Seiko, then I flipped it over and saw some magic words, Bell-Matic.  What is a Bell-Matic?  In the late sixties to mid seventies, Seiko created the first automatic alarm watch.  It was in really rough shape.  The crystal was badly scratched, and even worse, th dial was no longer attached to the main plate!  However, with a few gentle shakes, the second hand started instantly, so the movement itself was just fine.  I asked, he said $5.  I knew it was worth more than that, so I was sold.

Features:
Case: 37mm diameter, stainless steel, ‘waterproof’, 19mm lugs.
Back: Stainless, screw down, marked SEIKO Stainless Steel 4006 – 6010 Waterproof, Japan.
Crystal: Acrylic, lightly domed.
Movement: Automatic, 4006A, Seiko in-house design, 17 Jewels. Base movement is automatic only, alarm is hand wound.
Complications: Day of week, Date, mechanical alarm.
Other: Luminous hands and markers, Lumibrite, rotating chapter ring.

The watch is a fairly modern sized watch 37mm, and fairly thick at 13mm.  The case has a slight cushion effect, making it look larger than it is.  The hands are sword style, and very handsome, and a first for my collection.  The dial is a silver cloth weave pattern.  The markers are applied bright silver with luminous material, possibly rhodium plated.  The crown is unsigned, but over-sized and easy to use.   The reason behind this is obvious, it is how you adjust the alarm.  How you set the alarm is simple.  Pull the crown out to the first position and rotate counter clockwise until the red marker is pointing towards the time you want it to go off.  Press the crown in, wind, then pull the button at 2 O’clock.  When the hour hand points to the time, a little bell rings, much like an old fashioned alarm clock.

To repair this watch, I had to go much beyond just polishing the crystal and removing the DNA of ages.  I had to completely remove the movement, remove the hands, reattach the dial, and put everything back in place.  On top of that, I had to use the big guns and use a polishing wheel to fix the crystal as well.  Hand polishing just didn’t cut it.  In doing all this work, I am really impressed with the quality of Seiko movements of the early 70’s.  Everything was very well put together (other than the dial feet) and had the feel of a fine timepiece.  I did a little research, and this watch retailed for $105 in 1970!  Not a cheap watch in any way.

Overall, I am very happy with this watch.  It has a few small issues, like a worn chapter ring and ding in the edge of the crystal, but the wear gives it some character.  I know if I wanted to flip it, I would make my money back 10 to 20 fold.  The alarm works very well, and I find I am using this watch more than my Omega Speedmaster.  An alarm is handier than a chronograph.

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Watch Review: Vintage Timex Square Faced

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Vintage Timex Square Faced

Last, but not least, is a watch I picked up a few weeks ago, and I have finally gotten a chance to review.  This is a squarish faced Timex, of unknown vintage.  I am sure if I opened up the case, I would see a manufacture date, but if a watch is running well, I don’t mess with them.

The dial is a rounded square with simple, chrome plated stick markers.  The case is base metal with a stainless steel back.  The hands are also simple sticks, and there is no luminous material.   The look is retro, yet modern.

The watch came on a truly horrible plastic strap, which I replaced with a metal band.  The movement is a new one for me.  It has a semi-quick set date, which I have not seen on a Timex yet.  The automatic movement also can be hand wound, but does not hack.  It looks like it has a Timex 32 movement, which puts it at the top end of the Timex pin lever movements.

Overall, I really like this watch.  It is simple, elegant, and even has a quick set date.  At $5, you really can’t go wrong.

Features:
Case: 34mm,  chrome plated base metal, square, water reistant.
Back: Stainless Steel, snap on, claims water resistant.
Crystal: Acrylic, flat.
Movement: Timex 32 18,000 BPH movement, pin lever.
Complications: Date, with quick set.
Other: Stainless after market bracelet.

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Waltham Vintage Hi-beat

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Watch review Waltham Vintage, High Beat.

I picked this one up on impulse, along with a quartz Seiko.  It is a surprisingly clean watch, with a 8 bps movement (28,800 BPH) that keeps great time.  I have not even polished the crystal.  Just removed some dirt and put it on a metal bracelet.

The dial is a silver, radial sunburst with Arabic markers at 12 and 6.  At the 3 o’clock position is the date.  The applied  hour markers are stick and appear to be rhodium plated, like the Arabic markers, with a luminous dot.  The minute markers are simple, printed black markers.  The hands are simple sticks, with Tritium paint luminous material.  Overall, the dial design is understated simplicity.  The Waltham name is accented with a stylized W, which pops against the dial. The crown is signed with a large W and has all of the original plating.  The crown is also pleasantly over-sized and easy to wind.

The case is base metal, with a high polished, chrome plated finish.  It is a smaller, 34mn diameter case, with 17mm lugs.  The case back is stainless.  The chrome plate has no wear through.  The crystal is a lightly domed acrylic, with no cracks and very little scratching.

The movement is a 7 jewel, high beat movement at 28,800 BPH.   I opened up the back of the watch and the movement is spotless with no signs of water or dust.  It is keeping very accurate time, as to be expected with a high beat.  The power reserve looks to be about 40 hours as well, so no need for servicing soon.

This is my second Waltham watch, and I am very pleased with it.  It is a shame they went out of business, the styles and quality are excellent, from all the pieces I have handled so far.  I put it on a Jubilee style metal bracelet, which works well with the watch.  I don’t think it was worn all that much by the original owner, since the plating is in excellent shape and the movement is performing flawlessly.

Features:
Case: 34mm,  chrome plated base metal, water reistant.
Back: Stainless Steel, snap on, claims water, shock, and dust resistant.
Crystal: Acrylic, domes.
Movement: Waltham Hi-beat 28,800 BPH movement, 7 jewels.
Complications: Date.
Other: Stainless after market jubilee style .  17 mm lugs.

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