Thursday, December 31, 2009

Rado Watch

Rado has long been recognized as a leader among watch brands. Their ground-breaking designs and their innovation in the use of hard metal and ceramics to produce scratch-resistant cases have few peers. Having accomplished so much over the past four decades or more, Rado designs and methods of construction for their own products. In some cases, a delicate balance is stuck between homage to the innovator and introduction of an original design. In other cases, the intent to copy the original and insinuate a new,, I have chosen to compare a Technos watch to a Rado watch in this review of two interesting 1970s products:


The first watch, considered a benchmark by many collectors and historians, is the Rado DiaStar. First introduced in 1962, this model featured (and still does) a case with a prominent oval bezel made of sintered tungsten-carbide. The use of this material was heavily promoted as rendering the watch scratch-proof, and the model became an icon of design—one often copied and re-interpreted, , automatic day/date movement by ETA, and a dial made of stone. In the 1970s-1980s Rado, and many other companies, marketed watches with stone components (usually dials, though Tissot and some others produced stone watch cases as well) which were not a large proportion of their production, but were made in enough varieties to be a collectible theme of their own. The DiaStar shown here features a dial of tiger-eye stone.


. The similarities are obvious and, presumably, intentional. However, this is not a mere copy of a Rado icon. This review will focus on some of the individual elements of the Technos that give it a personality of its own, even when displayed side-by-side with the DiaStar.


The method of comparison used for this review is both objective and subjective. I will describe the elements of each watch with as little emotion or opinion as possible, but then draw a conclusion of a subjective nature. . Due to the history of Rado, I consider it to be the more “established” brand, and I will conduct the comparison by describing the DiaStar first and then explaining how the Technos measures up (or fails to) against the “original.”

Dial

Though the obvious place to begin comparing a DiaStar with similar watches is the case, these watches are exceptional for one reason, and that is reason enough to look first at their dials.

First, some disclaimers:. No in-depth descriptions of the method of construction of each dial will be given, nor will they necessarily be closely photographed. All comments on quality are the opinion of the reviewer who is not an expert in mineral specimens, nor in the making of watch dials.

. This has been a regular feature of Rado automatic watches since 1962, but is often replaced with a printed logo on watches with stone dials. Communication with Rado has indicated just what one would expect—that the addition of any extra perforations in the stone (aside from the day/date window and the central hole for the hands) would endanger its integrity. As a result, on this watch we see that the Rado logo, brand name, and model name are printed in crisp, legible white paint. Most other DiaStar models feature applied logos and names. The printed elements here are appropriate, though, for any additional 3-dimensional elements would distract from the main feature of the dial: the reflective/refractive quality of the stone.


The stone used for this particular dial appears to be of good quality. There are no visible interruptions in the pattern of striations, nor are there cracks. Light is captured and reflected in a way that makes the dial appears very bright and lively, without being flashy like polished gold would be. Indeed, the stone, though very animated as the angle of light changes, actually imparts a mellowness, subduing the overall bright presentation of the watch’s gold-tone case and bracelet.

, and sufficient light, it is clearly tiger-eye. Unlike the stone of the Rado dial, the range of colors in the Technos tiger-eye is more monochromatic. The striations are much less obvious and, with the position of the grain of the stone being perpendicular to the parallel facets of the crystal, it is difficult at a glance to recognize their orientation. For the sake of this review, the dial and movement were removed from the Technos for photography:


I cannot determine which is the higher quality or rarer piece of stone, but I would give higher marks to Rado for choosing one that is more pleasing to my eye. From a quality perspective, it is clear that Rado wins this round. Their characteristic beveled window frame is far more attractive than the unadorned date aperture of the Technos—an element that seems to be almost an afterthought. The seam between the dial and the chapter ring are far cleaner on the Rado than the Technos, though this is not obvious during normal use without magnification.

Markers and Hands

Rado chose to use bold 3-D gold markers filled with white paint, which nicely matches the white painted dial elements such as those mentioned above, but also included printed white minute markers on the stone. . All of these elements are of good quality and, though the luminosity has declined in the decades since it was produced, the readability of the interface is surprisingly good for such a busy and decorative construction.


The Technos markers are also 3-dimensional and gold, but are topped

s, proves much harder to read than the Rado. Gold beveled hands with black fill continue the theme. These are not of the same elaborate design as those of the Rado—almost imperceptible angles and shorter length (and the lack of an extended minute chapter printed on the stone dial) make a weaker overall impression than on the DiaStar.


Movement


Both watches are powered by ETA 25-jewel 2824 variants. The Rado’s is gilt while the Technos’s is nickel plated. Both are running well years after having been assembled and with their service histories unknown. C. The Technos has definitely been opened, perhaps for service. It shows some wear on the back and is also missing part of a marker that would be loose inside if the watch had not been opened and this item removed. It would be unfair to grade either watch on the accuracy of the movement, since neither has recently been serviced (to my knowledge), though the Rado has been running within a second or so per day for 2-3 weeks. Similarly, it would be unfair to give the Rado higher marks for having a day display, though I find the Rado’s 6:00 placement of the day-date window symmetric and more pleasing than the 3:00 date aperture on the Technos. It may be fair simply to acknowledge that both brands chose solid, proven movements which were the standard of their day for their price range.

Case and Bracelet

The explanation for these features probably dates back to the early days of the DiaStar’s design. Mr. Marc Lederrey, chief designer for Rado in the early 1960s, was the first to explore the use of unusual alloys and space-age materials in watch case making. At that time, the fragility of the materials and the limited capabilities of the production machinery meant that only a simple bezel could be produced. A minimal number of steps was preferred, as a more complex design might increase the risk of waste during manufacturing and finishing. Thus was born the oval DiaStar and, though many variations have been produced since (eg, the DiaMaster and Balboa series), it is this original design that comes to mind when Rado’s tungsten-carbide bezels are discussed.

With this particular example of the Technos Borazon, we see that some liberties were taken with the original idea of the scratch-proof bezel. Many additional facets are included and, though the vestiges of the original oval design are present, the result is a watch that appears to be thinner and more svelte. Also, this new shape does more to identify this watch as not being a product of Rado than any other element. The origin of the idea is not completely disguised, but the finished product has more of its own personality than most DiaStar derivatives.


Both watches included folded-steel bracelets with fold-over clasps. The Rado bracelet was produced and marked by noted supplier Novavit S. A. (NSA) while the Technos bracelet is unsigned. Both are proper for this style of watch, even if their originality to each piece cannot be verified. . Signed crowns were also the norm for these brands and the Rado’s is gold-plated with the anchor logo. The Technos would have a steel crown with a raised “T” although this example appears to have an unsigned replacement.

The cases of each watch are massive and have screw-on backs with the company logo and a case number engraved. The Rado is 13 mm thick x 35 mm wide and 42 mm long. The Technos measures 12 x 35 x 38. The choice of which style of case is preferable is, obviously, a personal one. In the context of this comparison, it may be fair only to note that each timepiece’s case is quite appropriate for this style of dial and the era in which they were produced.


Conclusion

These are both uncommon watches, and are unlikely to both be the subject of a buyer’s choice at the counter of his favorite watch seller, so this review is much less one of practicality than of historical comparison. Other brands offered dials of stone, and tungsten-carbide bezels, so this is not even a comprehensive historical review of all the similar models available to an intrepid collector. However, as a comparison of an innovator’s product with a piece clearly designed in the same vein, I hope it gives the reader some perspective on what makes a Rado a quality watch that often commands a large premium over its imitators.

My brief experience with each of these watches has left me impressed with both. This DiaStar Magic is something of a collector’s item—the extent of it’s rarity has yet to be determined, but it is in fabulous condition and is remarkable as an example of a style of dial that has not been produced by Rado in two decades or more. . Technos has traditionally not marketed watches in the USA and this may be another example of a brand that has reached our shores only recently as a result of the World Wide Web. Research into their history and their current product line shows that they continue to create watches based upon influential designs of other brands, yet they also produce some designs that are clearly their own. In this regard,



In general this Technos Borazon is a difficult watch to read except in good light. As a piece of jewelry, it is lovely, though not so much as the Rado. As an example of modern design it is eye-catching and harmonious, though not so much as the Rado. Although the Borazon’s case shape is a pleasing alternative to that of the typically bulbous DiaStar, this is not enough to make up for a host of minor deficiencies elsewhere in design and quality—the latter being the decisive criterion. It is interesting to note, that the bezels of both watches are in remarkable condition roughly thirty years after they were manufactured. Tungsten-carbide cases are not entirely scratch-proof--I have examples that are heavily scuffed--bOther examples of Technos Tiger-Eye dials:



watch

IWC is bringing six founding members of its renowned watch families into the present day as vintage models. Not as copies, but as new interpretations with contemporary, IWC-manufactured automatic movements or with hand-wound pocket watch movements, where required for historical accuracy. engineering and complications. It is no wonder, then, that each of these models has become a legend in collectors' circles.

The Schaffhausen manufacturer is celebrating its anniversary with six legendary wristwatches from its past: the Portuguese, Ingenieur, celebration – and naturally also the great joy of all lovers and collectors of the brand.

It all started more than 140 years ago in Boston where the talented and enterprising watchmaker Florentine Ariosto Jones was looking for an opportunity to set up on his own and do things much differently and better than his colleagues in the flourishing American watch industry. surprising today. And so a compelling business idea came to F. A. Jones: Why not manufacture quality watches in Switzerland under more favourable conditions, but with new and better machines, for the North American market?

His idea was conceived, planned and carried out: in New York, Jones set up a sales organization with two business partners where pocket watch movements manufactured in Switzerland were to be put in cases and then sold throughout North America. watchmaker friend Louis Kidder. Along with a whole host of ideas, the two men also took with them machines for the mass production of parts and finished design drawings for the first Swissmanufactured watches.

the innovator was given the cold shoulder. The locals, who mainly produced watch parts in their homes, feared the modern machines and the concept of mass production - even if it did have the indisputable advantage of consistent quality.

This is where the story could have ended. But in western Switzerland Jones met Heinrich Moser, a versatile industrialist from Schaffhausen. He made the American an offer that was tempting even if not completely altruistic: he could start immediately in Schaffhausen, a small town in northern Switzerland, What persuaded him was that a source of energy was already available there for the machines – electricity was not even a consideration then. A hydrostation built by Moser brought the power required for the machines directly into the factory using shafts and long transmission cables. So in 1868 Jones arrived in Schaffhausen – and Schaffhausen, a long way from western Switzerland, got a watch factory. Jones was, therefore, able to realize his bold ideas. Even his principle of manufacturing high quality watches with consistent tolerances worked –

, ended in difficulties commercially for Jones when America did not lower the 25 per cent war duty imposed in 1864 – contrary to what was announced. The advantage of lower Swiss wages vanished. Jones returned to Boston and the “American watch factory” passed into Swiss hands. However, the founder did leave behind his particular aspiration for sophisticated, ever-better technical solutions. Despite the initial difficulties the manufacturer became one of the most renowned producers of sturdy and durable pocket watches.

And it was there right from the start at the turning point in watchmaking history when the wristwatch came into favour around 1900. The battle about how to wear a watch was decided for good by the 1930s and 1940s. The onset of this period of technical innovation brought some of the most exciting IWC watches, still much sought-after by collectors today. Some of them wrote watch history.

Six of these milestones have been brought back as vintage models from the company’s proud history into the modern day for the manufacturer’s 140th anniversary – even if it is not a “round” one. Not as copies, something that IWC has never done, but as new interpretations of good old friends. Some with ultra-modern, up-to-date automatic IWC movements which are also used in the current series-produced models. . And, to the extent that their predecessors had not already appeared in the IWC extra-large format, the case of some of the vintage models has increased in size on its journey through time, which on first sight makes them distinguishable from the originals. But in this way they have also taken on completely new watch personalities. They illustrate how, for example, a 1955 Ingenieur would have looked if its case had had a 42.5 mm diameter rather than 37.5 mm.

The six watches, which are available in unlimited numbers in stainless steel with a black dial and in limited numbers in platinum with a silverplated dial, are more than just a “Best of” the wristwatch era at IWC. Each one of them essentially embodies the founding legends of the manufacturer’s current watch families. The first 140 vintage watches in platinum have, though, in a way already been reserved: as a special offer they are available as a unique numbered set in an ornate leather case.

vulcain-anniversary-heart-watch

Continuing with their tradition of presenting watches to all new presidents of USA, Swiss manufacturer Vulcain will present Barack Obama with a custom Vulcain Anniversary Heart model. The watch is created not only to mark the new presidents inauguration but also for the celebration of Vulcains 150th anniversary. Inside the Anniversary heart is a 157-part Vulcain Cricket V-18, with its 15-20 second alarm complication. The alarm is set using the top crown and the special alarm hand in the center of the watch face. These watches famously known for their mechanical alarm movements often called as Vulcain Cricket are sure to be the perfect gift for the young president. The dial is designed in such a way as to reveal parts of the moving gear trains that power the hands.

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Rado Cerix watch

The Rado Cerix watch collection offers a stylish new twist for ladies wristwatches. The Rado Cerix watch is a blend of high-tech ceramics and sapphire crystal. It comes with an ultra-precise Swiss quartz movement. This watch is a delightful interplay of colors on the dial and bracelet. It is available in three sizes and various dial versions. The watch pictured shows the Cerix with a ring of diamonds - a very beautiful watch for those who can afford it. I really like the combination of circle and square that gives the Rado Cerix its distinctive shape. Notice the unusual offset position of the crown.

Watch the world go by with Zenith timepieces





ENITH GRANDE CLASSE TRAVELLER OPEN MULTICITY

Made by Swiss watchmaker Zenith, this is a real globetrotter's timepiece, displaying the hour, night or day, in every time zone on the planet at the same time. It's also a world-class a 354-part miracle of engineering that takes nine months to assemble, is made of 18 metals and has been hand-lubricated using ten different grades of oil. That would go some way to explaining the £18,500 price tag?




Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Sexy Model with Rolex

All Watchmaker9 watches come with a full 12 month warranty. The quality and craftsmanship is always top quality, and they guarantee the value of all their watches. Every watch sold undergoes a 48 hour quality control test to fulfill the Swiss watch making standard of accuracy, C.O.S.C.

(Click on any of the pictures below, to see a full sized image of the watch).

Sexy Model with Rolex

Rolex3 Wacht

I had this watch as a gift,but l’m selling it because l don’t like the blue color.
l’ve used it for like 3 weeks and it works great.”

rolex watches-Rolex Day Date features a window at 12 o’clock position that displays the full name of the day of the week in several languages and a date window at 3 o’clock position. As rolex day date watches carries two basic calendar information that must business men need, Rolex Day Date has been one of the best known Rolex Watches and most popular watch model in the world for decades and it has been updated along with time.

rolex-bondstrapThis replica Rolex Day-Date watch uses a thick mineral crystal glass as its face. At 6:00 there is an etched Rolex logo, and at 3:00 a magnifier bubble over the in-depth date window with golden outline. The dial is covered by hundreds of small diamonds, highly glaring. And it uses raised Roman numerals and Rolex logo in black (they really bring kind of peace to this too much shining watch, thank goodness). The curved day window is at 12:00. it also uses two golden clips with the writing “ROLEX” and ‘DAY-DATE” to show its identity and Rolex Daytona Chronograph . And the hands glow in the dark. Rolex replaced the original four-digit case reference number with a five digit number. Around this time, Rolex also introduced the Oyster date which is very similar to the Datejust, the only difference being 2mm smaller.

rolex3

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Power sources

Traditional mechanical watch movements use a spiral spring called a mainspring as a power source. In manual watches the spring must be rewound by the user periodically by turning the watch crown. Antique pocketwatches were wound by inserting a separate key into a hole in the back of the watch and turning it. Most modern watches are designed to run 40 hours on a winding, so must be wound daily, but some run for several days and a few have 192-hour mainsprings and are wound weekly.

Automatic watch: An eccentric weight, called a rotor, swings with the movement of the wearer's body and winds the spring

A self-winding or automatic mechanism is one that rewinds the mainspring of a mechanical movement by the natural motions of the wearer's body. The first self-winding mechanism, for pocketwatches, was invented in 1770 by Abraham-Louis Perrelet;[5] but the first "self-winding," or "automatic," wristwatch was the invention of a British watch repairer named John Harwood in 1923. This type of watch allows for a constant winding without special action from the wearer: it works by an eccentric weight, called a winding rotor, which rotates with the movement of the wearer's wrist. The back-and-forth motion of the winding rotor couples to a ratchet to automatically wind the mainspring. Self winding watches usually can also be wound manually so they can be kept running when not worn, or if the wearer's wrist motions don't keep the watch wound.

Some electronic watches are also powered by the movement of the wearer of the watch. Kinetic powered quartz watches make use of the motion of the wearer's arm turning a rotating weight, which turns a generator to supply power to charge a rechargeable battery that runs the watch. The concept is similar to that of self-winding spring movements, except that electrical power is generated instead of mechanical spring tension.

Electronic watches require electricity as a power source. Some mechanical movements and hybrid electronic-mechanical movements also require electricity. Usually the electricity is provided by a replaceable battery. The first use of electrical power in watches was as substitute for the mainspring, in order to remove the need for winding. The first electrically-powered watch, the Hamilton Electric 500, was released in 1957 by the Hamilton Watch Company of Lancaster, Pennsylvania.