Yet another unboxing...

We have another unboxing. It will be the last for the time being.

Yes, it is another Seiko. :)

It is the Seiko SBDC073.

The contents....

The warranty card and user guide.

The inner gray box.

And the watch. The Seiko SBDC073 aka Ice Monster.

Closer view of the dial. I have to say it is one of the nicer dial fitted to the Seiko Monster series. I hope to do a review of the watch soon. Also look out for an upcoming post on Seiko Monsters. 

FTS Fine Time Solutions

It is indeed interesting to find out about this company, FTS USA or Fine Time Solutions. They are a movement manufacturer out of the United States of America. From their website...

FTS USA is the only commercial source for quartz watch movements made in the United States. FTS dedicates space for assembly, testing, and manufacturing within the 69,000 square foot East Valley Institute of Technology’s Fountain Hills Business Accelerator campus.

Our team of certified technicians create and test our Ameriquartz movements under the watchful eye of one of the most respected certified master watchmakers in North America, Mr. Manuel J. Yazijian. He is a CMW21 watchmaker and the former president of the American Watchmakers-Clockmakers Institute (AWCI).



FTS works in partnership with Titan Company Ltd (a TATA Group Company), the 5th largest watch company in the world. They deliver perfection and cutting-edge technology to FTS USA.

The trademark Ameriquartz speaks volumes. Each quartz movement is accurately made of metal components and jeweled to the highest industry standards at our facility by local American technicians. Most importantly, the movements are fully serviceable and spare parts are always available.

Ameriquartz offers a wide range of sizes. The collection is comprised of movements small enough to fit a petite ladies watch and movements large enough for the most robust sports designs. The Ameriquartz line offers a variety of displays that will fit any designer’s vision including a multitude of calendars, moon phases, world time, and more.

FTS USA operates at the highest standards of quality control to integrate, assemble, and test both domestic and foreign components into finished movements. Our logistics and inventory management ensure that FTS USA will be your solution for every aspect of the watchmaking experience.

So far I see that they have 16 quartz movement and they range from a simple 3 hands movement to those offering the following complications: date, day, moon phase and even world time.

A sample of their movements:

Caliber 7129 with moon phase complication.

Caliber 7299 with world time complication.

Caliber 70200 with sweep seconds at 6 o'clock.

Photographs: FTS

For more information:

FTS USA

Minuteman A11 watch

Minuteman Watch Company has released its take on the iconic WWII A11 military watch. 

The A11 watches were originally produced by Elgin, Waltham and Bulova. The A11 saw service not only with the American military but also with the RAF (Royal Air Force), RCAF (Royal Canadian Air Force) and even the Soviet Air Force. How cool is that.

Photograph: shamelessly borrowed from the Internet 

The original A11 watch.

Minuteman A11 has been updated and these are the specifications:

• Stainless Steel case.
• Heavy duty 2pc nylon strap.
• Sapphire crystal.
• 38mm width without crown.
• 100 meter water resistant.
• Ameriquartz 7122 quartz movement.
• Luminous hands and dial.

Interesting to note that Minuteman have updated the watch in terms of size, with the original coming in at 32mm and case material. The original watch case were either nickel or silver. Minuteman have also added the day and date complication to the watch. 

Photographs: Minuteman Watches

The other interesting aspect of the watch is the movement used. The watches will be powered by the Ameriquartz movement. These movement is new to the market and is produced in Arizona by FTS USA. I will indeed talk more about FTS USA in a future post. 

The watches currently retail for USD189 and as with all Minuteman watches, part of the proceeds with go to the Homes For Our Troops charity. 

For more information about the watch:

Minuteman Watches

Bovet Récital 21 Perpetual Calendar with Retrograde Date

In 2016, Bovet 1822 unveiled the Shooting Star tourbillon, the first timepiece in an exclusive collection dedicated to astronomy. The Astérium and Grand Récital tourbillons then followed in 2017 and 2018 respectively. Beyond the technical specificities of each of the three timepieces, this trilogy explores new ways of expressing time measurement. Its characteristic writing-slope shaped case is both its inspiration and support. Designed by Bovet 1822 owner, Mr. Raffy, the “writing slope” case features a bezel inclined at 6 o’clock. This ingenious idea makes diversifying the types of displays possible by using domes, rollers, discs, and three-dimensional hands to enhance intuitiveness, ergonomics, and elegance. The three-dimensional design prioritizes information for better readability and brings the collector’s eye to the heart of the movement to discover the excellence found in each detail.

As seen by the numerous awards bestowed on the trilogy’s timepieces and the recent awarding of the Aiguille d’Or Grand Prix to the Grand Récital by the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève, collectors and experts commend the stylistic revolution led by the “writing slope” case. Mr. Raffy thus logically meets collectors’ expectations by simultaneously introducing four complications developed specifically to be housed within the “writing slope” case. Among them, the Retrograde Perpetual Calendar Récital 21.

Aside from the perpetual calendar in the remarkable Grand Récital tourbillon, this function had yet to be introduced in the Dimier Collection. The Récital 21 thus carves out a place of honor in the collection.

Just like the hand-decorated movement, which has been executed to the most exacting standards, the dial showcases the range of the BOVET 1822 artisanal virtuosity. For the central dial and the seconds dial, they have chosen the iconic blue circular brushed finish, which has been widely embrace since its introduction in 2015. After the surface brush treatment has been carefully applied, the dial is colored and artisans then apply eight layers of lacquer. These are then polished to provide the dial’s luster and characteristic depth. Making great use of the unique volume of the “writing slope” case, the dial artisans and watchmakers have combined their efforts to make the seconds hand sweep under the hours and minutes dial, a cleverly choreographed and truly noble expression of time.

Photographs: Bovet

The peripheral surface of the calendar indicator is rhodium plated and the collector can choose between a circular “Côtes de Genève” motif or the “Fleurisanne” motif hand-engraved by the Maison’s artist-engravers.

The Retrograde Perpetual Calendar Récital 21 is available in Titanium and red gold. Even the most demanding collectors will be awestruck by this elegant timepiece’s ease of use, as well as  its complex technical components, all made according to the strictest demands of artisanal haute horlogerie, as Maison BOVET watchmakers done since 1822.

For more information:

Bovet

moz Classic Watch book?

I spotted these in my local Japanese bookshop. I have no idea if there is actual book inside the box or if the book or mook is separate from the box. Ok I have checked, there is a mini book inside the box.

moz Classic Wacth book. 36mm diameter and its to celebrate the 20th anniversary of moz. moz is Swedish fashion brand.

NTD902 or USD30.

The book shop seems to have lots of them.

Watch spotting...

Yet another watch spotting post. This time its James May on the latest episode of The Grand Tour. I don't think I have seen him wearing this watch but then I could be mistaken.

Photographs: Amazon

These are screen shots from the show. It looks like this watch...

Photograph: Longines

I believe it is the Longines Spirit reference L2.700.4.23.4.

It looks like he has added a Longines to his collection of watches. Nice.

Photographs and photography

Recently I was asked about the photographs I use in my blog. I was asked if the photographs I use were taken by me. 

The simple answer is yes. Most of the photographs you see in my blog was taken by me. If the photographs is not attributed to anyone, chances are the photographs were taken by me. Sometimes I do forget to attribute the photographs. I do apologize for that. 

Basically, I try my best to attribute photographs I use which are not taken by me. Sometimes I am unable to find who to attribute the photographs to, so I will use "shamelessly borrowed from the Internet". 

I would like to express my thanks to the people who have allowed me to use their photographs. However if you are the original owner of any photographs I use, and would either like me to attribute the photographs to you or have it removed, please inform me and I will gladly do it. 

At the same time, I hope that if anyone who use photographs taken by me, to also do the same and accorded the photographs to me. 

Yet another unboxing..

I actually shot this much earlier but never got around to posting it. This can be considered my first attempt at unboxing although I did post another unboxing earlier. 

Yes it is a Seiko. The white outer box.

And yes it is a monster. It is the Seiko SBDC067 aka the Blue Coral Reef. 

Again, what the boxes are made off. 

The warranty card and instruction manual. 

The gray Seiko inner box. 

The watch, Seiko SBDC067. This Seiko Monster was issued in 2018. 

I like the yellow highlights on the tip of the sweep seconds hand and at the 12, 3, 6 and 9 o'clock markers. 

Lume shot...

Yet another rule shot...

The Rolex 116710LN. A very nice watch indeed. 

Fortis Colour battery change

I was on holiday when the battery on both the watches I brought with me died. Luckly I was on holiday in Malaysia and headed to my favorite watch shop to have the batteries changed. It is Hings in Bangsar Shopping Center.

The Fortis Colour.

Actually after a close look at the watch, had the battery died at home, I would most likely send it to a watch maker to have the battery changed. Why?

I don't have the proper tools to do at home. You need to remove the module from the interchangeable black body. And from the pictures, I can't really find the gap to put the blade to remove the case back. 

The other reason is that I also do not have the proper tool to close the case back. With the module removed, the crystal does stick out a tad. Not having the right tool could damage the crystal.

So what is inside?

The module or movement. Yes it is a quartz watch. it uses an SR626 (377) type battery. 

The movement is a Miyota 2115 basic 3 hand movement offering the date complication. 

Decisions decisions...

This is the Breitling Aerospace that I had. 

As you can see, the date display is flashing. It is indicating that the battery needs to be replaced. The question is, do I do it myself or advise the owner to send it to Breitling to get a full service. He wants me to just change the battery, but I think it should be sent to Breitling. 

I think I will tell the owner to send the watch to Breitling. 

Cellini Watch Fair NYC 2019

Cellini Jewelers will be hosting its first Watch Fair NYC  starting from 26th. February for 5 days. It will be held at its flagship store at 430 Park Avenue. 

For more information on the event:

Cellini Watch Fair NYC 2019

A number of exhibitors will be exhibiting at the fair and this includes A. Lange and Sohne, Bovet 1822, BVLGARI, Cartier, DE BETHUNE, Girard-Perregaux, Greubel Forsey, H. Moser and Cie, Jaeger-LeCoulter, Parmigiani, Ressence, Ulyssee Nardin Urwerk and Zenith among many others. 

Expect to see more then 120 new watches from the 21 exhibitors.

Seiko Monster unboxing

I think this is the first time I am doing this, an unboxing. Well, I guess there is always the first time....

This is the unboxing of the Seiko SBDC075 monster. This is not mine. 

The white outer box. Standard Seiko box.

What is in the box. The Seiko SBDC075 and what the boxes and insides are made off. :)

The warranty card and user guide. The watch is from Japan. 

The dark gray inner box. 

The contents, wrapped in plastic.

This is first for me. I have never seen this outer plastic wrap with the watch model number and serial number on the plastic. Normally you just see the watch.

This is also new, the watch head wrapped in bubble wrap. You can see the tags that comes with the watch and the price.

And finally the watch itself, the Seiko SBDC075. This is the first (of two) Seiko Monster for 2019. 

The orange sunburst dial is just awesome. 

A closer view of the watch and the lovely sunburst dial. I hope to review the watch soon. 

Included with the watch is this bag/ pouch from Seiko. I think the pouch is for the Seiko Tuna and not for the Monster.