Wednesday, 27 August 2014

Mint Felca Teleguide Automatic - AS 1896 NOS

This is an unusual Felca Teleguide. It is powered by the AS 1896 Automatic movement with a unique bayonet 3 piece case. The front bezel is secured by the rotating bayonet steel back. It was certainly required more engineering effort and costed more to produce back in the 70s.

Felca Teleguide Automatic - AS 1896 NOS
Felca Teleguide Automatic - AS 1896 NOS
Movement:
  • AS 1896 automatic movement. Swiss made.
  • Automatic wind.
  • 21600 p/h High beat movement.
  • 25.6mm D x 5.25mm H
  • 25 Jewels
  • Power reserve 46h
  • Rotor marked Felca, 25 Jewels, Swiss.
  • Incabloc shock protection.
  • Quickset date by pushing the crown
  • Quickset day by adjusting between 7:30 - 12:00

Sunday, 24 August 2014

NOS 70s retro TV Style Case Ricoh Automatic - Ricoh Automatic

Another Ricoh automatic that captures the style of the 70s. Retro TV style case with a gradient damascening grain dial with the original steel bracelet.

Retro Ricoh AUtomatic - Ricoh Automatic
Ricoh TV style Case Automatic - Ricoh Automatic

Movement:
Movement is Ricoh. Made in Japan. All the Ricoh Automatics I have bear the same automatic movement. The construction and craftmanship is top quality although they may not have the high level of decoration and finishes comparing to the Swiss automatic movements.

Features:
  • 18,000 Beat movement.
  • Full rotor ball bearing rotor
  • Bi-directional winding (rotor winds both directions).
  • Rotor marked Ricoh Auto, 21 Jewels.
  • Can also be wind by hand as well as the rotor.
  • Power reserve roughly 48 hours
  • Movement size: Diameter - 28.3mm, Height - 5.5mm.
  • Jewelled lever escapement.
  • Plain alloy balance with flat antimagnetic hairspring
  • Ricoh shock protection system
  • Sweep centre second.
  • Marked F near the balance.
  • Date display, quick set function by pulling out the crown by 1 click.

Saturday, 23 August 2014

70s NOS French Jean Herber Automatic - FE 3611

Here we have a NOS Jean Herber. FE automatic movement. Beautiful dial and faceted case design. Not a lot of information about this brand, and its believed to be a French watch brand in the 70s, although there are quite a few Jean Herber watches for sale, non of them can match the condition and the design of this unique example.
Jean Herber automatic - FE 3611
Jean Herber automatic - FE 3611
Movement:
  • French Ebauche FE 3611 automatic movement.
  • Automatic and manual wind.
  • 21,600 p/h high beat movement.
  • 26mm D x 5.25mm H.
  • 17 Jewels.
  • Power reserve 40-46h.
  • Unmarked rotor.
  • FE shock protection.

Friday, 22 August 2014

70s Retro Ricoh Automatic Made in Japan with green silver dial - Ricoh Automatic 21 Jewels

We have here a seriously retro Japanese Ricog automatic watch. I really like the colourful dials of these watches and they are so underated but starting to attract attention of many collectors.
Ricoh Automatic - Ricoh Automatic 21 Jewels
Funky Ricoh Automatic - Ricoh Automatic 21 Jewels
Movement:
Movement is Ricoh. Made in Japan. All the Ricoh Automatics I have bear the same automatic movement. The construction and craftmanship is top quality although they may not have the high level of decoration and finishes comparing to the Swiss automatic movements.

Features:
  • 18,000 Beat movement.
  • Full rotor ball bearing rotor
  • Bi-directional winding (rotor winds both directions).
  • Rotor marked Ricoh Auto, 21 Jewels.
  • Can also be wind by hand as well as the rotor.
  • Power reserve roughly 48 hours
  • Movement size: Diameter - 28.3mm, Height - 5.5mm.
  • Jewelled lever escapement.
  • Plain alloy balance with flat antimagnetic hairspring
  • Ricoh shock protection system
  • Sweep centre second.
  • Marked F near the balance.
  • Date display, quick set function by pulling out the crown by 2 clicks.

Sunday, 17 August 2014

NOS vintage 1970s German made Eza Automatic - HB 313

Here we have a German made Eza automatic. Very retro looking and smart with it's red and black contrasting dial. Although Germany made mechanical watches are not as popular as Swiss, they are actually as good as if not better in terms of quality and engineering.
Eza Automatic - HB313
Eza Automatic - HB313
Movement:
  • HB313 (Herman Becker of Pforzheim) automatic movement.
  • Automatic wind.
  • Manual wind.
  • 18000 p/h.
  • 26mm D x 5.2mm H
  • 25 Jewels
  • Power reserve 39h
  • Rotor marked 25 Jewels, Ultramatic

Saturday, 16 August 2014

Big and wonderful 70s Renis All Stainless Steel Automatic - AS 2066

Another uncommon model. We have here a Renis Automatic with a big solid stainless steel case. Very smart silver dial with dark blue chapter ring. A very elegant and yet sporty automatic watch from the 70s. Also it features a not very common 3 pieces case construction: A out case which connect the bracelet, an inner case and screw back contains the movement and a flanged acrylic crystal to seal the front.
Renis Automatic - AS 2066
Renis Automatic - AS 2066
Movement:
  • AS 2066 automatic movement. Swiss made.
  • Automatic wind.
  • 21600 p/h High beat movement.
  • 25.6mm D x 5.95mm H
  • 25 Jewels
  • Power reserve 46h
  • Rotor marked 25 Jewels, Swiss.
  • Incabloc shock protection.

Thursday, 14 August 2014

NOS Pallas Adora Automatic - ETA 2789

Another ecentric design from the 70s! We have here is not just a faceted case, but also a machined cutout of a chunky steel case. Also worth mentioning is the beautiful honeycomb dial, very subtle and needs to be seen to be appreciated the coolness of this watch!
Pallas Adora Automatic - ETA 2789
Pallas Adora Automatic - ETA 2789
Movement:
  • Movement is ETA 2789. Swiss Made.
  • 21,600 Hi-beat movement.
  • Rotor marked 25 Jewels, Venus, Swiss Made.
  • Power reserve roughly 48 hours
  • Size: Diameter - 25.6mm, Height - 5.9mm.
  • Incabloc shock protection system
  • Date/Day display, Date quick set function by pulling out the crown by 1 click.
  • Day of the week is in French.

NOS Nivada Antarctic Automatic - AS 1986

Nivada Antarctic Automatic - AS 1986
Nivada Antarctic Automatic - AS 1986
Movement:
  • AS 1986 automatic movement. Modified rotor. Swiss made.
  • Automatic wind.
  • 21600 p/h High beat movement.
  • 25.6mm D x 5.25mm H
  • 25 Jewels
  • Power reserve 46h
  • Rotor marked Nivada, 25 Jewels, Swiss.
  • Incabloc shock protection.
  • Quickset date by pushing the crown

Wednesday, 13 August 2014

NOS 70s unusual case Venus Automatic 85 TS - ETA 2789

This watch has a very interesting case, all surfaces are straight except the left and right. It even looks a bit odd from the side as it doesn't follow the contour of the wrist and with the large size, it feels really substantial on the wrist.
Venus Automatic - ETA 2789
Movement:
  • Movement is ETA 2789. Swiss Made.
  • 21,600 Hi-beat movement.
  • Rotor marked 25 Jewels, Venus, Swiss Made.
  • Power reserve roughly 48 hours
  • Size: Diameter - 25.6mm, Height - 5.9mm.
  • Incabloc shock protection system
  • Date/Day display, Date quick set function by pulling out the crown by 2 clicks.
  • Day of the week is in French.

Unusual and Rare Retro Tressa Automatic - AS 2066

I bought this watch almost 10 years ago and I consider the design of this watch is the maddest and yet beautiful in a somewhat kitsch way. Gold and black and silver colour from the steel case creates a combination not often seen. Although I must admit not everyone who have seen the watch shares the same enthusiasm... but I like it!

Tressa Automatic - AS 2066
Tressa Automatic - AS 2066
Movement:
  • AS 2066 automatic movement. Swiss made.
  • Automatic wind.
  • 21600 p/h High beat movement.
  • 25.6mm D x 5.95mm H
  • 25 Jewels
  • Power reserve 46h
  • Rotor marked 25 Jewels, Swiss.
  • Incabloc shock protection.

Funky, retro and futuristic Tressa Laser Beam Automatic - AS 2066

We have here a super funky watch by a relatively small watch company named Tressa. They were not the biggest but in my mind certainly the boldest and brave enough to put some eccentric designs into production.

Both retro and futuristic in todays eyes, the watch doesn't look out-dated and in my mind it is much more tasteful comparing to the new modern retro look-a-likes which somehow plasticky and souless. Have a look and judge it by yourself.

Tressa Laser Beam Automatic - AS 2066
Tressa Laser Beam Automatic - AS 2066
Movement:
  • AS 2066 automatic movement. Swiss Made.
  • Day/date function. Quickset by pulling out winding crown 1 click
  • High beat 21,600 p/h.
  • 21 Jewels.
  • Power reserve roughly 45 hours.
  • Size: Diameter - 29.6mm, Height - 5.9mm.
  • Kif shock protection system.

Tuesday, 12 August 2014

STB Meeting - Remember Automatic Alarm - AS 5008 very rare

This is a very rare STB automatic alarm powered by the legendary AS calibre 5008. There weren't that many automatic alarm calibre even back in the hayday of the 60s and 70s. Only Omega(Lemania), LeCoultre, Seiko and A. Schild have developed automatic alarm calibres. Only the 5008 are sold as ebauches to other smaller watch manufacturers. In fact I had encountered a relatively new modern Maurice Lacroix (in the 90s) that were fitted with they AS 5008.

I have learned that the company STB was an manufacturer of pigeon racing clock/timer as their main business. So somewhere in time (most likely to be in the 70s) someone at STB had commissioned a batch of wristwatches and designed a illustrated pigeon dial to go with it. There are a white dial version as well.

STB Meeting - Remember Automatic Alarm - AS 5008
STB Meeting - Remember Automatic Alarm - AS 5008
Movement:
  • Lengendary AS 5008 automatic movement. Swiss Made.
  • Automatic.
  • Double winder crown.
  • Day/date function. Quickset by pulling out winding crown at 2 o'clock by 1 click
  • Super High beat 28,800 p/h.
  • 25 Jewels. 
  • Twin mainspring barrels (1 for the alarm, 1 for the drive train.) 
  • Power reserve roughly 49 hours.
  • Size: Diameter - 30mm, Height - 7.6mm.
  • Incabloc shock protection system.
  • Alarm lasts approx 10s.

70s Tissot Seastar Automatic - AS 2066

The Tissot Seastar featured here isn't a commonly seen model. I acquired it about 7 years ago as a NOS. I have examined it in detail with caution because it has a non - Tissot - Omega - Lemania - movement. It has a AS ebauche movement. The dial feet are intact and fit well into the movement. The movement fits well into the case and the movement have case screws that matches the case screw indent on the edge. The conclusion is that it is an authentic Tissot with an AS ebauche movement.

70s Tissot Seastar Automatic - AS 2066
70s Tissot Seastar Automatic - AS 2066
Movement:
  • AS 2066 automatic movement. Swiss Made.
  • Day/date function. Quickset by pulling out winding crown 1 click
  • High beat 21,600 p/h.
  • 21 Jewels.
  • Power reserve roughly 45 hours.
  • Size: Diameter - 29.6mm, Height - 5.9mm.
  • Incabloc shock protection system.