Breitling Aerospace....

I was at my local photoshop to have a look at the slew of new and old camera. Had a look at the Nikon Df, the Nikon D610, Nikon D800 and D800E and even the new Fuji X-E2. Decided to maintain and improve my skills..... :)

This Breitling Aerospace is not mine, I am just a temporary owner. :) I do like the Aerospace. This models newer compared to mine....

Practice shots....

Closer....

The watch in almost like new condition. 

Indeed a beautiful watch...

Shot using Fuji X-E1 and Fujinon 60mm lens.

Breitling Emergency II

There are basically two watches that I like from Breitling. Both watches have links to the aviation industry. One of the watches is the Aerospace, which I have. The other is the Emergency. This watch, I don't have. 

This year, Breitling updated the Emergency with the Emergency II. This change is due to the changes in recent years to the satellite system used in the search-and-rescue efforts. The system, called Cospas-Sarsat, detects and will home in on the emergency beacon transmitted. The original analogue frequency is 121.5 MHz. In 2009, that frequency was slowly phased out and a new digital 406 MHz frequency was introduced. The Emergency II transmit at both frequency, as currently required, alternating between frequency. 

The antenna (there are two) is located in the lower part of the watch. To activate, you just have to unscrew and pull out the knob at the antenna housing. The watch will also feature a new power system to power the emergency system. This is to meet Cospas-Sarsat's standards, which requires the beacon to transmit up to 24 hours and at temperatures as low as -20 degrees C. Additionally, transmitting at 406 MHz puts a strain on the batteries. The Emergency II will come with a charger-tester to charge and test the system. 

Since the Emergency II is also a watch, it comes with the following functions: 12/24 hour analogue and LCD digital display, chronograph, timer, alarm, dual time, calendar and EOL (End Of Life) indicator. This is all possible due to the Breitling Caliber 76. The watch case is titanium and is water resistant to 5 ATM. The watch will retail for about USD 15,750.

The watch.....

Orange dial.

Yellow dial.

The case back, with instructions on how to use the emergency system.

The antenna.

In PVD black case and rubber strap. 

Photographs: Breitling.

For more information:

Emergency II

Fire at Swatch

I wonder how this is going to impact the watch industry as a whole. The good news is no one was hurt in the fire. 

A fire at ETA Manufacture Horlogere....

Swatch fire

Jumping clock...

So what else did I get for Christmas? I got this jumping clock from Smiggle. I like it. The clock lights up, sings and bounces. I am sure it will work well as an alarm clock. :) The functions: Time, date and temperature. It also has an alarm and stopwatch function. Cool....

Very colourful...

A video of the clock...

Titanium...

After getting my PAM00118F, I realised that I do have a couple of titanium cased watches. Not too sure if the titanium used in all the watches are of the same grade, but they are nice and very light. I have seven, and all but one is pre-loved. 

The watches...

Panerai PAM00118F.

Breitling Aerospace. One of my favourite. 

Tutima NATO Military Chrono TL.

Ennebi Fondale. Grade 5 titanium. 

Another Ennebi Fondale. Also Grade 5 titanium. 

Omega X-33 Gen 1. Another favourite.

Tudor Pelagos. This, I got new. 

I like titanium. Light, robust (but prone to scratches) and hypoallergenic.

12....

So what did I get for Christmas? I got the PAM00118F. My first titanium Panerai and best of all, F series from 2003. 

The beautiful tobacco dial with painted markers. 

The well made and finished titanium case. Almost like new. 

The ETA 64XX based OP XI movement with the 'PANERAI PANERAI PANERAI' engravings...

Closer view of the engravings....

Indeed a beautiful piece. 

Lume shot...

My Christmas gift from my wife....

Yes, another Panerai but which one.....

Unexpected Christmas Book....

A totally unexpected Christmas gift from my sister-in-law. A watch book. Pretty nice of her. She got me this book....

The Illustrated Directory of Watches

James Wilson

ISBN: 978-0-7858-2914-0

It may not be the latest book in the market, but makes a good reference guide as it does include some brands I have not heard off and lots of photographs of vintage and older watches. Nice. 

The front cover of the hard cover book. 

The back cover.

The table of contents. It has sections that covers complications like chronographs and military watches. 

Brands I don't even know. The basic premise is an introduction into the brand and photographs of watches in the brand. Not all but a basic representation. 

Bulova.

The section on chronographs. Brands I have never heard before. 

Shows the popularity of dual dial chronographs. 

Overall, it is a nice book. Works as a basic introduction into the watch world. Most of the important brands are covered and the photographs are nice. There are some mistakes, but not many. 

Minute markers....

It was an interesting question posed once in a forum about the lack of minute markers in Panerai watches. Since I am nursing a bad back and will not be going anywhere soon, I decided to check out just how many Panerai watches or models did Panerai make that had minute markers. 

So out with the books....

Special Edition catalogue.

Normal catalogue.

Interestingly I found 104 models have minute markers. So if we consider that Panerai have made 532 models (counting to PAM00532), that is about 20% of the watches that Panerai makes have minute markers. And we know that Panerai do not use all the numbers, so the percentage will only go up. Cool....

Some of the current models with minute markers....

PAM00088 

PAM00090.

PAM00113.

PAM00114.

PAM00523.

PAM00503.

PAM00524.

PAM00526.

Of course if you look at older models, you can find pieces like the ones below.

PAM00165.

PAM00091.

Photographs: Panerai

As for me, I only have the PAM00003 that have the minute markers. :)

Project watch...

Exciting times and good news indeed. As some you may know, one of the things I have the honour of doing is being a moderator on www.malaysiawatchforum.com. One of the projects I was involved in was to have something made for the forum's 5th. Anniversary. We were fortunate enough to have a watch maker who was willing to work with us to have a watch made for the forum to celebrate its 5th. Anniversary. 

What started out as an idea....

Suddenly we were in the thick of things... Basic spec were agreed upon and the process began. Small updates on the progress were made known to us. Case made, movement arrived (Miyota 8215), case back being made.....

Agreeing on the choice of straps. 

The dial completed....

Closer... we were getting closer....

Finally, the finished product... being inspected and tested. Can't wait to receive this.....

The MWF 5th. Anniversary watch, a limited run of 50 pieces.

Photographs: Gruppo Gamma

It was a great experience and having a great partner to work with makes it much easier.