New Radiomirs

Looks like Panerai have released a couple of new Radiomirs. I believed these were displayed at SIHH 2015 but nothing much else were presented at that time. The 3 new Radiomirs are the PAM00609 Radiomir Black Seal 8 Days Acciaio, PAM00610 Radiomir 8 Days Acciaio and the PAM00619 Radiomir 1940 3 Days Automatic Titanio.

The Radiomirs.

Photograph: Panerai

It looks like Panerai may be moving away from its dependence on ETA movements in its basic offering and moving towards being a full manufacture. Will these pieces replace the PAM00183 and PAM00210? This is yet to be seen, but I will not be surprised. 

To me, I think the use of the 8 Days movement is a much welcome move. It does reduce the need to wind the watch everyday thus reducing the chance of damaging or wearing out the crown and winding stem. 

The introduction of the PAM00619 will complement the PAM00572 and I have to say that I like this watch. 

Anyway, I will update this when I get more information, like the pricing. 

Photography Experiment part 2...

Same setup but with the addition of the Fuji MCEX-11 Macro Extension tube on the 60mm. Working distance is closer....

The result...

Still a tad dark.

Closer view...

Photography experiment...

I am trying out some macro photography with my Fuji X-E2 and the Fuji 60mm lens. I am trying to hand shoot with the following settings: 

ISO100 (the lowest I can get on the Fuji)

Flash (build in and finger held to bounce)

Aperture set at f2.8

Shutter speed at auto

The results...

A tad dark me thinks...

Close up. From my understanding the 60mm is not a true macro lens, but I think the results is not bad. 

Overall, I am impressed....

Lume shot..

It has been some time since my last lume shot..

Latest acquisition.

Captain Robert Maloubier

To Captain Robert Maloubier...

Thank you and God Speed...

Captain Bob Maloubier

I shall wear my Fifty Fathoms with pride...

History of the Fifty Fathoms

Undercover...

The Maranez  Undercover is Maranez first quartz model. It features a compartment box under  the dial which is big enough to carry, for example  some tablets, folded bank notes, small usb sticks, sim cards or micro SD cards. Diameter of the compartment box is 34mm and it is 8mm deep. 

The watch comes fitted with a scratch resistant sapphire crystal and 120 click bezel. C3 lume is applied on the dial and hands.

Basic specifications: 

Model: Maranez Undercover

Movement: Miyota quartz

Case diameter: 50mm including the crown - lug to lug 48mm - height 16.5mm - weight on rubber strap 137g

Case material: Blasted stainless steel

Crown: 6mm

Crystal: Sapphire with inner AR coating

Dial: Black  indices with Super Luminova C3

Water-resistance: 100m/330ft                                               

Strap: 22mm rubber strap.

Buckle:  stainless steel

Price: USD 179 for the blasted stainless steel and USD199 for the PVD version. 

For more information:

Maranez Undercover

The watch...

The PVD version...

The blasted stainless steel version..

Tudor North Flag

It looks like some news from Tudor for Basel 2015 have been leaked. It would be interesting on many facets. The watch, called the Tudor North Flag will be fitted with Tudor caliber MT5621. This is the first interesting information. Why? An in-house Tudor movement. 

Oh... the watch...

Photographs: watchawrist

I have to say that the watches looks good and features a power reserve indicator. Specs? 40mm steel case, 70 hours power reserve, non-magnetic silicon spring, display back (another first), WR 10 ATM and COSC rated movement. I like. 

So back to why it is interesting. Well, first, as noted earlier, in-house movement. Basically, Tudor first. Technically, not. The first in-house was a long time ago, during the time of the Tudor Oyster Prince, reference 7909 with the Tudor caliber 390. The caliber 390 is based on Fleurier 350. Rolex modified the movement and you have the Tudor caliber 390. 

So it would be the second right? Technically it would be the Tudor caliber 1475 that powers the Tudor Advisor reference 7926. Rolex modified the AS 1475 in terms of functions and finish. 

So its the Third? Well.... If we go the path of that German Swiss brand... Then we have the current Tudor Advisor with the in-house Tudor alarm module on an ETA2892... but I digress....

Anyway, what is important is that it is Tudor in-house movement. Great. Now comes the second interesting part. Would the movement fit in Tudor current offering like the Black Bay, Heritage Ranger and even the Pelagos? All you need is to remove the Power Reserve module. If yes, would that not put Tudor on the path to be a manufacture? 

When Tudor was 'relaunched' I remarked that it is on the same path as that Italian Swiss brand. But it seems 'Evolution' got in the way and it has sped up the process. It would be interesting to see what else Tudor have on offer for Basel 2015 and how it evolves from then on. 

What ever it does, it looks like my Tudor collection is expected to grow.... :)

Exploring... Taking a break

One of the places that I normally hang out when I am back home is BSC or Bangsar Shopping Center. It is not a big mall, but I like the place. One of the places I go to take a break is the Expresso Lab in Times Bookstore. 

Good cakes... The Crunchy Nutella Chocolate (explains why I am round).

The other place is Just Heavenly...

What else? Red Velvet...

For a friend, watch in a cup...

And for another friend... Highlighters... plenty... :)

Chrono Time off to service..

I finally got round sending my Tudor Chrono Time, reference 79280P for a service. I got this watch pre-loved and as with most watches that I get pre-loved, I will send them in for a service. This is basically because I don't know the service history of the watch and also to have the watch check for authenticity. 

The reference 79280P...

Since I was at the service center, I checked if I could get the steel bracelet for the watch. They had the reference 62490 in stock. This is the Jubilee version. The Oyster version is reference 78400. Back to the bracelet reference 62490. There are two versions, one with the fliplock and the other without the fliplock. I ordered the version without the fliplock. Price? USD 440 for the version without the fliplock and USD 525 for the version with. Cool.

Lume shot, pre and post

Pre service lume shot...

Post service lume shot...

So what happened? More soon.....

Interesting Times we live in...

It is indeed interesting times (pun not intended) that we live in, at least in the past few months....

It started with this....

Rolex fly off Singapore shelves

This was not limited to just Singapore but in Malaysia as well.

Then we have this...

Rolex to raise Japan watch prices after Swiss Franc soars

Rolex up the prices in Japan by as much as 8%.

Then came this shocker....

Patek Philippe reduces prices in Americas raises prices in Europe

All seems OK...

Fear of price jump in Swiss watches unfounded

Then we get this...

Officine Panerai drops prices Hong Kong 20percent combat Euro weakness

Indeed interesting times. 

Guess we will have to wait and see what happens in BASEL 2015.

Exploring... Journeys End..

Alas, all good things must come to an end as must my holiday (until the next one where I hope to add some Seoul to the watch). The next few posts on my blog will be to complete the Exploring Okinawa and also the food exploring I 'went' on this trip... 

As we embark on the first half of our journey 'back'...

Little joys you find in airport lounge....

Red Velvet Cake. This cake is getting popular here in Malaysia. :)

Marble Cheese Cake. I have a weakness for cheese cake, actually a weakness for cheese. :)

First half of the journey...

As the flight for our second half of the trip is delayed, it allowed me some time in the lounge in HKIA. Bar-B-Q pork noodle soup, a variation to the popular Hong Kong Cantonese Wonton Noodle soup. 

On board for the second half of the trip home. 

Indeed, I am impressed with the lume. 

Exploring.... colours....

Colours...

The pink drink is basically a mix of a local favorite and a Taiwan favorite. The drinks starts off as Bandung, which is Rose Syrup mixed with sweet condensed milk. The Taiwan part is the pearls or bubble. This is from Bubble tea, basically tapioca balls in milk tea. So, now we have Bandung Bubble.

The blue drink is new to me. It is technically the same as Bandung, but blue in color. It is called Soda Gembira (Happy Soda). It is basically, some blue coloring with cream soda and sweet condense milk. 

The green drink is basically green coloring mixed with cream soda (or Ice Cream Soda as it is known locally). The drink reminds my children of the melon drink you find in Japan. 

Watch shopping in Malaysia Part 15

Finally one of the shopping mall that we as a family use to frequent have finally reopen after a long drawn rebuild. The Jaya Supermarket in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia is an old shopping mall. It was an icon and a modern shopping mall back on the 80s and 90s. It was torn down and was to be rebuild, but the rebuild took a long time. However, the good news is, it is finally ready. 

So, decided to visit the place and to check out if the place still have many of its old tenants and old charm. Looks like there were some that came back and yet many that have left. Oh well.....

Anyway, spotted these in the mall.....

A new name but links to a very old one. De' Time watch shop. I understand it is part of Hing's Watch. Catering to a different clientele perhaps?

It is good to see them back in Jaya. Old name, and old tenant. :)

Good fortune... Exploring

Some good fortune in the shape of a Mandarin Orange (cake), gold coins (chocolate coins), carp (cake) and Ang Pow (Red Packet), which was actually filled with money, from the hotel we were staying in. Very nice touch. 

Tudor Black Bay, got history?

About a year ago, I posted this:

Interesting Vintage Tudors

In this blog posting, I wondered if the Tudor Black Bay (Red) had any history and perhaps not a mismatch of parts after all, i.e. Snowflake hands and round hour marker dial. Well, it looks like there is history after all with the Tudor reference 94010. This particular reference was issued with Snowflake hands and the round hour marker dial. And below is the link to a pretty well done research, posted on the Rolex Forum, on the reference 94010....

The Tudor Black Bay Ancestor

Pretty cool...

Nooka X

Spotted these at a local bookstore. Tempted I am...

Nooka X DC Comics watches....

Justice League of America. Cool... Evidently it is a Limited Edition collection for Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand. 

More information here:

Nooka X DC Comics

Some photographs from Nooka.

From left to right, Superman, Flash, Batman, Green Lantern and Wonder Woman. I am liking the Batman version. 

Photographs: Nooka

As for the Hello Kitty collaboration:

Nooka X Hello Kitty