OT Paneristi Bangle

I was going through my box of stuff when I found this. Almost forgot I had one of these. Got it off the Paneristi forum a long time ago. Still cool I think. I remember there were 4 designs. The one I have is the one with the Panerai numbers. 

Apologies for the dust. 

Panerai Lume shot

My collection as it stands today. 

Top row, from left to right:

PAM00367M, PAM00243I, PAM00337M

Bottom row, from left to right:

PAM00003B, PAM00111H, PAM00183J

Alex by Christopher Ward Update

Good news as the ladies watches under the brand name Alex has been launched. It is interesting to note that included in the collection are three ladies chronograph watches and four bracelets (bangles).

The standard Alex ladies model will be powered by a Ronda 1042 quartz movement. The ladies chronograph watches will be powered by a Ronda 5020B quartz movement. 

I have to say that I find the Alex Sport Chronograph rather interesting. It is a large watch at 37.6 mm. It features a Big Date complication at the 6 o'clock position. There are three watches in the collection: White, Old Gold and Anthracite.

The watch.

Old Gold.

White.

Anthracite.

Photographs: Alex by Christopher Ward

For more information:

Alex

TIMEasitis Gallery

This is an on-line store based in Malaysia. It is called TIMEasitis Gallery (Time as it is). They do carry some very interesting items like straps, watch boxes, tools and other stuff. I believe their inventory will increase with time and success. Do check them out at:

TIMEasitis Gallery

Hillary Tenzing Edition Watches

The Rolex Hillary Tenzing Edition Watches are a set of 3 watches commissioned by Peter Hillary and Jamling Tenzing Norgay, two Everest veterans and sons of Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, the first humans to scale Mount Everest.

The three watches are the 36 mm Explorer, the new 39 mm Explorer and the Explorer II at 42 mm.

These watches come in a handmade expedition crate that is also filled with custom-made vintage items commemorating the original 1953 ascent. It is a limited edition set with only 88 sets made costing USD 39,000 per set.

Photographs: HTE

For more information:

HTE Watches

Tudor Snowflake hands replacement

I thought I had posted this but evidently I have not. So here it goes.

This is my Tudor Submariner reference 94110, aka Snowflake. I like the watch but one of the things that gets to me is the service hands and bezel insert. Why? Well, it is Luminova and it does not match the rest of the watch (not to say that it has lots of Patina in the first place). 

The watch.

The reason the hands were replaced. The tritium has broken off from the hands. 

So one of things I was looking for is a set of replacement hands and bezel insert for the watch (with Tritium). As chance would have it, I managed to track down a set. 

The replacement hands (original). Off to my friendly neighbourhood watch guy. 

The case back removed.

Inside the case back. You can see that the model is 9411, last service date and the serial number matches the serial number on the case.

The case.

The new type crown tube with the rubber gasket on the tube. 

The back of the watch case. The watch is in good condition, not much corrosion or erosion. 

The dial with the hands removed. The condition of the dial is not so great. You can see pitting, uneven patina and some paint loss at the edges. 

The watch disassembled. You can see the service hands (removed). 

The watch ready for assembly. The new (old) hands. You can see the uneven patina on the dial.

The service hands being stored.

The watch assembled. My watch guy lubricated all the gaskets and checked that everything is ok.

You can see that my Snowflake is powered by an ETA 2783 instead of the ETA 2784. RSC/ TSC confirmed that for my serial number, the movement is correct for the watch.

The watch all done. Water resistant checked done (well to 6 ATM anyway). I have to say that it looks better now that it has the tritium hands. At least it matches the dial. Now the hunt begins for the bezel insert. 

Watch Shopping in Hong Kong Part 2

It is not the intention of this post to talk about watch shopping in Hong Kong. But since we were there and did pass by some watch shops, I thought I post about some of the shops we did see and visit.

The first shop is called (I could be wrong) LS Collection. It is in the shopping atrium of The Park Lane Hotel. The shop basically carries German and Russian made watches. Among the brands that you can find there are Tutima, Sinn, Ventura, Poljot, Aerowatch and Meister Singer.

One of the brands they carry is Thomas Ninchritz and the watch they had was the Vice Versa Watch, the watch shown below. I have to say that it was an interesting watch. I do like the vice versa movement.

Photograph: Thomas Ninchritz

Across the road from the hotel is the shopping mall called Windsor House. There are a number of watch shops here. On the ground floor is the Rolex and Tudor boutique. And no, the new Explorer II is not available as yet. 

On the same floor, you will find the IWC and Cartier Boutique. It is interesting that they share the same shop. Well, they are both under the same parent. 

You can also find the Technomarine boutique in the mall.

The other watch shop is the King Fook Jewellery Group watch shop. It is a big shop and some of the brands they carry are Tag Heuer, Rado, Breitling, Grand Seiko, Ball and Baume et Mercier.

Another view of the IWC and Cartier Boutique (sorry for the poor quality of the photograph).

Just down the road from the Windsor House mall is the Omega Boutique. You can find the latest models here. 

also along the same road, you will find the 'smallest' watch shop this side of Hong Kong. 

No watch shopping is complete if you do not visit Heritage 1881. I did write about it here:

Heritage 1881

I have to say that the Richemont Group brands are very present here in Heritage 1881.

The Lange Boutique.

The Cartier Boutique.

The IWC Boutique.

The VC Boutique. 

The JLC Boutique.

Walking from Heritage 1881 up towards Canton Road, you will pass by a number of watch shops like Breguet, Rolex, Tudor and others. 

The culmination of this post is the Panerai Boutique at Canton Road where the unexpected happen. Yes, we did get a Panerai in the PAM00337. And on a personal note, one of the best and friendliest experience I have had in a Panerai Boutique.

Today, Tomorrow & Forever Time Pieces Exhibition

Some Malaysia specific news. Swiss Watch Gallery in Pavillion KL will be holding an Exhibition called Today, Tomorrow and Forever Time Pieces Exhibition from the 29th of September to the 9th of October. The exhibition will start at 1030 hours to 2100 hours, unless it is a private closed door event. Pre-registration is required. Brands you can expect to see there include Cartier, Graham, IWC, JLC, UN and MontBlanc. 

For more information:

Today, Tomorrow and Forever Time Piece Exhibition

Photograph: Swiss Watch Gallery

Panerai PAM00337

It was an interesting day out. Fate had a hand in what was to happen. We were suppose to go to Stanley Market but it rained. So we decided to wait it out. The kids then decided we go on the Big Bus Tour when the rain stopped. The rain stopped and we took the Big Bus Tour. We planned to stop and take the tram to the top of the Peak but the 'Q' at the ticket station was so long that we decided to take the Star Ferry across to Kowloon. 

We made it to Heritage 1881 and decide to explore the area. Walking around the area led us to this shop. This is the second Panerai Boutique in Hong Kong, the other being on Hong Kong island.

We decided to go in and see what was available. Who knows what is available, what being a boutique and all. Looking around I spotted the Panerai PAM00337. I showed it to my wife (her friend has the Oro Rosa). Surprisingly she took an interest in the watch. She liked the watch as it was a Radiomir (which she likes) and the size was just right at 42 mm.

We were also told that the watch has been discontinued (after just one year). We had a good look at the watch. She tried it on and I knew she really liked the watch. So what happen next? 

Well this is the answer.

The Panerai PAM00337, Radiomir 42 mm with Panerai manufacture movement P.999/1. 

The case back with the display back. You can see the hand wound Panerai calibre P.999/1. It has a power reserve of 60 hours.

I have to say that it is indeed a very different watch from the PAM00183 Radiomir 45 mm. 

Black-Out Concept Limited Edition Rolex

For those who wants a little 'bang' from their Rolex can check out the Limited Edition Black-Out Concept Rolex Deepsea Seadweller. The DSSD stands out not because it is PVD black but the bezel, rehaut and hands have been given a make over.

Just have a look at the photographs below and you will see what I mean. 

White.

Blue.

Orange.

Red.

If you like what you see, you can find them at:

Black-Out Concept

Some Chinese love

Decided to take some pictures of my Precista PRS-5 which is powered by the Seagull ST-19. This is my only column wheel chronograph.

It has a nice finish and blue screws. Not sure if it is heat blue or chemical blue....

It is suppose to be based on the Venus 175 of the past. It is a 19 jewel movement.

The column wheel.