Chuck Maddox’s Watch Blog

From my email In Box, an interesting Omega case...

2008-05-08T10:35:00.002-05:00

I received the following email yesterday:

Hi Chuck:

I am a very fan of all your information about OMEGAS, for me your site is like a Bible, and is for that reason that I am sending to you this pics of an OMEGA case that is fot me unknown, please help me to find out the model, if it is an speedmaster or a seamaster,and what movement should be inside this case,

Thanks a lot, your friend from Mexico

Hector

Hector,

Pleased to meet you. Thank you for your kind words... I have never seen a case like this from Omega in the past... In looking at the inside caseback under high magnification through the crystal,

it provides a clue to what the case may be. Since the Caseback says 145.014 and we know that the 145.014 is the Mark II Professional case, I surmise that this case is a Mark II Pro case which has been "Re-sculpted" to give it the external appearance of a moonwatch. The effort is not entirely dissimilar to the Re-sculpted cases that Gilliam in Germany crafts out of 176.012 cases:

I suspect someone has done similar work on the case you've come across...

I hope this is helpful to you...

Chuck

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Hi, Chuck,

thank you very much for the information,

this case was actually offered as a mark II case but since it was offered as a spare part and being so different to the regular mark II cases I thought that may be the case , the crystal and the case back were separate parts put together, and may be the case belong to some vintage seamaster, but looking different pics of some seamasters I did not found this profile of ccase,

so thanks a lot for the information and is for me a pleasure that you post this storyon your site,

thanks again, and Best Regards

Hector

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

A very interesting item and would make for a very interesting watch. I've often said that while the Mark II looks much more modern and seemingly is more rugged due to it's armor like case when compared to the moonwatch, this case's appearance doesn't often look good on a strap. This case style nearly cries out to be on a bracelet. With this case we see a method to have a "cross-bred" version of a Mark II that might look a little more handsome on a leather strap.

Enjoy!

-- Chuck

Sad news to report, the loss of an innovator...

2008-02-04T15:52:00.000-06:00

Sad news to report on the loss of an innovator...

I received a query in my email early this morning asking about dealers for Ventura watches. I immediately went to Ventura's watch site and found it was no longer active. So I sent an email to recent Ventura V-Matic Loga purchaser David Alstott to see if he had heard of anything.

[David's Stainless Steel Ventura V-Matic Loga proudly on his wrist,
photo used without permission, but I'm sure he won't mind...]

Sadly what he reported back to me, while not a complete surprise was saddening and very disappointing to me:

Dear Friends,
today, on the 12th of November, the receiver of the bankrupt Ventura Design on Time conducted an auction to sell the entire assets including the brand and the stock.
While I tried hard to get back the control, I stood no chance against the highest bidder, the US corporation Swiss Watch International SWI, who as of now is the new owner.
I am sure that this is good news to those seeking a bargain.
For me as the founder of Ventura, this is the moment to say goodbye to you; thank you for your loyal support over all these many years. You will understand that I will now first take some distance from the events of today.
There are yet many ideas, innovations and designs that are ready to stun the watch community and I have been encouraged to create a new and even bolder corporation; let me think about this for a while. I will publish on this site a new URL with a different name soon, on which I will keep you posted regarding my plans.
For now, I remain truly yours,
Pierre Nobs
Founder of Ventura

Note: Both the above passage and the passage below seem to be at the very least a couple of weeks to several months old. Perhaps this is not "news" in the freshest sense, but it was certainly news to me and something I had not seen in my travels.

David also sent me this link to a thread on PuristPro which I will excerpt here:

Concerns about mechanical driven capacitor watches. Seiko, Citizen, Ventura. Jan 19, 2008,16:43 PM
By: bernard cheong
[NOTE: This appears to be a quoted article, but no source is quoted -- Chuck]
Ventura, the only company that made high quality Swiss type digitals went bust last year, it was sad...here is a short report of note.
High-quality digital clocks bring Volketswiler Ventura into the bankruptcy
Ventura Watch was known for Design-oriented watches and focused since two years fully on high-quality digital watches. Now Ventura deposited the balance.
Since 1990 stood the Volketswil Ventura Design on time for wrist-watches, with which the time indicator was reduced to the substantial. Shortly after the company was founded, the digital clock "Watch" of the designer Flemming Bo Hansen became with 50'000 copies a huge success: A rectangular flat steel housing that encloses a digital display of only four large numbers. It made it quickly into the permanent collection of the museum of modern art in New York. Later Ventura made sensation with mechanical clocks, sketched by the Zurich architect and designer Hannes Wettstein.
Two years ago Ventura founder Pierre A. Nobs wanted to secure their unmistakableness with a courageous decision of the brand. Instead of continuing to compete in hard contest price segment from 1000 to 5000 CHF for mechanical clocks against countless competitors, Nobs decided to go for a niche: Ventura should become the brand for technically innovative, Swiss-made digital watches with high Design quality.
Success took time
But Nobs needed funds. In 2005 A group of investors took over of the firm founder the majority, the share capital by 500'000 to 900'000 CHF was supplemented. But success with the new positioning at the market took time: Was the turnover in 2004 still 5.5 million CHF, it sagged 2006 to approximately 2 million, and in the current year was "the course of business" even worse, as Pierre A. Nobs in a report writes the media.
On Thursday Ventura announced bankruptcy.
Nobs explained, the promised investments weren't made, and accuses the new owner to have pulled the plug too fast: The shareholders which were active in the private Equity and Hedge fund business would have "obviously their own conception concerning the long-termness". Reto Suter, director of Horizon21 private Equity in Pffaefikon SZ and board of directors president of Ventura denies this: "we did not see the perspectives ultra-short-term and also not medium-term". But expenditure and yield could not have been brought to the equilibrium.
By the bankruptcy of Ventura eight persons are concerned in Volketswil and four in the German branch in Nuremburg (babelfish: peppering castle). Pierre A. Nobs raises steep reproaches: In the surrounding field of the bankruptcy "board of directors president and shareholders have served themselves still extensively with valuable clocks from the stock", while the coworkers had to wait for their wages. Ventura executive board president Reto Suter did not want to express himself to these reproaches.
Industry foreigner at power
Company founder Pierre Nobs looked for financial sources in the consequence and found it in the surrounding field of Hedge fund managers, who showed up enthusiastically by the idea and assured an appropriate funds support. On five years the laid out Business plan for the restructuring planned that in the first two years still on red numbers had to be counted, the "BREAK Even" was intended for the third year. In accordance with Pierre Nobs his Ventura was actually fully in the context of this plan, despite compared with the previous years reduced turnover. The investors had however obviously different conceptions of "long-term commitment", displaced Nobs of all positions without further ado and used a new "Interim CEO". Shortly after, "the plug was pulled", although, according to Nobs, there were appropriate open accounts payable in a framework, which would not have required the drastic measure of the balance depositing yet.
The pipeline would be full…
Nobs gives himself optimistically and does not want give up his life's work - he is intensive on the lookuot for new partners with whose assistance he can secure himself the bankrupt's estate, in order to make a new beginning. "I will however certainly mess araound any more with ` Financiers ', but only with persons, who have a a genuine, respectable background in the clock industry, and whose horizon goes futher than the next quarter result. Our pipeline is full - many novelties would be ready, several components are already produced ?und could be supplied by the suppliers within short period. Also drafts exist of Paolo Fancelli for a long expected successor of the legendary "Watch" - a simple digital clock in a price segment of 600-700CHF, progressed very far, for which trade and final customers actually wait already longer. This potential best seller was also a component of our five year plan for the Turnaround of Ventura. I hope naturally much that this clock can be nevertheless still realized soon."
Service and repairs:
unclearly
The question is not yet clarified, how it will go on with service and repairs for existing Ventura clocks - according to Nobs statements, he is currently working on a solution. Spare parts would be present in principle, are however for the time being still blocked in the bankrupt's estate. Until one knows details will depend thus also on how rapidly the bankruptcy proceedings are completed. We will inform you naturally here, as soon as we know more.

The fellow who contacted me initially replyed to me [after I forwarded David's response] that Princton Watches, an authorized dealer of Ventura, currently has closeout deals on it's remaining stock of Ventura's. People who are interested can visit their site, although considering the fact that most of the mechanical Ventura's had a "snapback" caseback which was pressed on with a force of at least a ton, service is up in the air for these watches currenty.

I've long said that of all the watch firms in operation that Ventura and Ventura along had a product line that I at least liked every model it produced. Some models I was much more enthusiastic about than others, but until they started "Icing" some models and producing some gold cased white dialed watches, they stayed true to their coredesign roots and produced elegant Bauhaus styled watches.

While other firms routinely issued Valjoux 7750 based chronographs with 25 Jewels, Ventura's models sported 38 Jewels. All of their mechanicals were elegantly finished and on display via a sapphire back and all had a minimum W/R of 100m dispite the snap on displayback. Their watches were typically available in both Stainless Steel and Titanium, and their Titanium models were nitrogen hardened to the extent that their hardness were only rivaled in hardness by IWC's Titanium process.

If they made a mistake it was trying to compete in the savagely contested $1000-$6000 price range where the bulk of Swiss watch manufacturers compete. It's tough for a small firm of recent vintage to compete with the Omega's, TAG-Heuer's, Breitling's and similar brands with long established reputations and consumer awareness.

I had hoped that a firm operating from a fresh sheet with refined and focused product line could survive the competition. Ventura's ceasing production of mechanical watches several years ago to re-focus it's energies on the high end quartz powered niche. Unfortunately, it would seem that this effort to remain solvent wasn't successful and this move could be seen by history as the beginning of the end.

I for one am very saddened by Ventura's demise. I own a pair of V-Matics, the V-Matic Master [pictured immediately above] and a V-Matic Loga both in Titanium both on bracelet. I only hope that other firms will look to create models which capture some of the style and elegant beauty of these fine fine timepieces.

I am a big fan of Bauhaus design, these watches, which epitomize Bauhaus so well will likely age very gracefully, their modernistic lines and styling cues seeming just as fresh 50 and 100 years from now as they did the day they rolled off the production line.

-- Chuck

4th possibility for David Scotts Moonwalking Waltham...

2008-01-07T20:30:00.000-06:00

One of the things that has been of interest to watch collects, particularly those who also share an interest in Space exploration is the question of which Waltham Chronograph Astronaut David Scott wore on the Moon during EVA-3 of the Apollo 15 mission.

In the past, I've purchased a pair of Waltham chronographs, which seem to fit the general description of a watch which "I used my backup Waltham watch (which was) of a similar type [to the Omega Speedmaster Professional Chronograph]":

and D. Lee Brandt purchased and sent me pictures of another possible candidate for Mr. Scott's Chronograph:

Olaf Oldigs from Germany contacted me with news that he had purchased another Waltham chronograph which he felt might be another Candidate but asked me to refrain from posting pictures until he had the time to have the watch serviced and detailed. Over the weekend he send me the following photographs [click through for enlargements]:

Personally, I think this is the most handsome candidate I've seen so far. Looks a little more rugged than my "Carrera"Styled example [second from the top] above, but not as bulky as the top most example of mine.

Thanks to Olaf for his interest and permission to post his pictures.

Anyone else have an interesting candidate to nominate? I'd love to see them!

-- Chuck

Ocean7 to bring Ploplof Homage to market in February...

2007-11-29T13:10:00.000-06:00

Ocean7 to bring Ploplof Homageto market in February...

Did you miss out on getting a PloPlof for your collection because of the Omegamania price bump? Dispair that you'll never be able to afford such a watch? Well there may be an alternative...

I just had a long phone conversation with David Greenspan [who many old time TimeZone Omega Forum regulars will remember ] and he pointed out to me the Ocean7 watch company's website:

In addition to a number of very interesting current offerings, it appears they will be producing a Homage to the Omega Ploplof in February:

This is a good news/bad news situation... It's good news to those who'd genuinely be interested in owning a PloProf Homage watch, it's bad news to collectors as it's likely that the unscrupulous may well use this watch as the basis for a reasonably convincing fake.

Details as well as an interesting line of other watches on the Ocean7 Watches website.

-- Chuck

LeJour: The Precise World of Chronographs Manual...

2007-07-31T15:30:00.000-05:00

I recently purchased a LeJour:The Precise World of Chronographs Manual off of eBay. I just finished scanning the manual and posted it within an HTML framework for everyone's viewing convenience.

Enjoy!

-- Chuck

Watch Blog Section added to my Links page...

2007-07-11T09:58:00.000-05:00

A request for a link exchange from Jason of Swiss Watch Boutique has prompted me to add a section on my Links page for Watch Blogs that I know of:

Watch Blogs

Chuck Maddox Blog
Dream Watches Blog
Fratellowatches Blog
OmegaBlogger
Swiss Watch Boutique
Swiss Watch News
Facts Figures Statistics
Velociphile's Journey
Watch Report.Com Blog
Watch Report.Net Blog
Wrist Watch Review

If you know of a watch blog that I don't have a link for post a comment or email me and I'll add it [unless it's a fake or replica site or a mere sales site. Must include interesting content].

NOTE: I will not publish any comment referring folks to "Replica" or "Fake" watch sites selling knock-off's of trademarked watches. I have no problem with OK-ing comments to legitimate watch blogs, watch manufacturer sites, sites which offer "Homage" watches [Homage is a watch [typically a discontinued model] done in the style of another brand but branded as a Homage/Tribute piece made by the company producing/selling the watch]. But I will not publish comments where people post URL's to Rolex Replica . org or anything similar. Save your and my time or waste your time, it only takes me 5 seconds to reject comments.

Thanks!

-- Chuck

A emailer asks “Where's a good source for NATO straps?”

2007-07-06T21:02:00.000-05:00

An emailer asks: “Chuck, Where's a good place to buy NATO Straps?”

It occured to me that while I had some ideas for sources, I don't know that anyone has compiled a list of said sources. So I decided to share my response and post it in the blog with the idea that It would be a pointable place were we could list such staps, and if anyone reading this blog entry had their own suggestions, they are encouraged to post a comment with links.

Sound reasonable?

Ok, here were my suggestions:

The fellow I usually use is Ron Sabo/International Watchman:

http://www.internationalwatchman.com/home.html <--- Look under Watch Bands then Military

Here are some of Ron's more interesting Militaries:

The only rub against Ron (who's prices can't be beat) is that he has a $45-50 minimum order. So so if you're a little short on your order, buy a $15 assortment of:

Spring bars... Sooner or later you know you'll shoot one across the room, might as well be prepared!

Another source that has been highle recommended to me is West Coast Time/Howard Marx. Who in addition to NATO's also offers British Regimental Color, Rhino and Zulu straps:

Lastly, but not least, there is always Military Watch Resource or MWR, who offer a wide variety of straps as well...

Well, those were my suggestions, do you have any to share? If so, please post a comment!

Thanks!

-- Chuck

Two significant adds to c.1983 Heuer card page...

2007-06-14T08:22:00.000-05:00

Good Morning [Afternoon, Evening...]

This morning I received four scans from Greg Wade of c.1983 Heuer data cards to add to the page I have already posted on-line.

Each card is notable and significant...

The first card provides us with the first printed information on the exceedingly uncommon and rarely seen Gold 510.508 Lemania 5100 chronograph:

Not many Lemania 5100's were ever put in a gold case!

The second card provides us with perhaps the best explanation of the rationale behind Regatta watches:

It all seems much clearer and easier to understand now!

Thanks are due to Greg for his contribution to the knowledgebase existent on the Internet.

Cheers!

-- Chuck

Watch Timer highly recommended by Shane Ede...

2007-05-15T15:25:00.002-05:00

A watch timer highly recommended by one of my watchmakers...

I got a phone call out of the blue from one of my watchmakers today [Shane Ede from Toronto], and he had me navigate to this web page and was telling me that this unit (costing less than $900 USD) is better than the: Witschi Watch Expert II (which runs around $2,775 USD) and may even have more features than the Chronoscope M1 (runs around $10,000), and the Vibragraph Watchmatic II (also $2,775). He has the Witschi and bought Mumford unit when his Vibragraph died and he'd rather depend upon the Mumford unit than any other he hass seen.

There are lots of reasons, much of it far too technical for this blog. This unit has many many more features not the least of which is how little it impacts your wallet compared to the competition. "And furthermore, Mr. Bryan Mumford will work as closely as required with any customer, his customer service is second to none!" <-- Direct from Shane.

Sounds real good to me. Shane asked me to pass it along for those who sometimes tinker with their own collections.

Cheers!

-- Chuck

[Added 5 May 2008] Just got off the phone with Shane and he informs me that this unit WILL time the latest model Co-Axial movement with the unusual 25,200 BPH rate and it will measure the Co-Axial amplitude as well... He had a latest model Co-Ax in recently and the timer worked like a charm. -- C

Breitling Navitimer Instructions posted:

2007-04-30T19:30:00.000-05:00

Bill Sohne purchased a vintage Breitling AOPA Navitimer 806 recently, and fortunately for all of us, it came with an instruction manual for how to use the slide rule. Bill was kind enough to scan in the manual and email them to me for presentation and the utility of "Whiz Wheel" fans everywhere:


[click on graphic above to open instruction page in new window.]

Thanks Bill for making this possible for the Internet watch collecting community!

-- Chuck

Omega Chronograph Dimensions page updated...

2007-04-23T09:19:00.000-05:00

Section added to "Omega Chronograph Dimensions" Tables/page...

At the behest of Steve Waddington, moderator at Chronocentric's ZOWIE Omega Discussion Forum and all around good guy, I've added a new section on my “Dimensions of Selected Omega Chronographs...” page...

Steve mentioned to me that he often used that page as a quick look-up when people were asking about a 145.xxx or a 176.xxx and it'd be really handy to add a reference to the 176.001 card and discussion we had in C/ZOWIE last week.

A "scrunched" version of this table looks something like this:

Known/Documented Omega Prototypes [NOTE: These were...]
Ref.#:	Circa Year:	Calibre:	Description:	Notes:
Ref.#:	Circa Year:	Calibre:	Description:	Notes:
145.0022	c.1968-1973	c.861	Alaska Project/211	Mercury Hands @ Eric So, Lot 211
176.001	1974	c.1040	c.1040 Prototype	Thread, Archive, Data Card
176.0017	1974	c.1045	c.1045 Prototype	Unreleased model
11 103	c.1978-1986?	¿l.5012?	"FIFA Referee"	eBay Archive: 1 2 2a 3 Lot 276
Note: Alaska project is assumed to have the same dimensions as a 145.022 save for ... .

I'll be contacting the fellow who purchased a FIFA Referee Chronograph last month and asking him for dimensions of his 11 103 FIFA and updating this table as other prototypes become documented.

Cheers and Enjoy!

-- Chuck

Considering a Speedy Day-Date? Read this 1st...

2007-01-14T21:21:00.001-06:00

Considering a Speedmaster Day-Date model, Read this before you commit!

Levy03 in the TZ Omega Forum pointed out that there have been a trio of reports of Speedmaster Day-Date (Also known as Day-Date Month) models which have reportedly had the problem within warranty of failing to change the day of the week. In the first instance a purchaser of a 3523.30 had two examples fail from the same Authorized Dealer and was waiting on his third.

In the second instance a purchaser had to return his example (pictured above) to his dealer when the day wheel reportedly wasn't working properly.

It's hard to impossible to say if this is a fluke, a bad batch or a something more. However, it seems advisable to check any Day-Date-Month 7751 based chronograph for proper Day and Month changeover before you purchase it.

Here's what to do:

Advance the time on the watch to approximately 6:00 pm
Set the date to 31, the day and the month can be at any day or month.
Then advance the time past 12pm and see if the day and month advance.

If both the day and month switch over smoothly between about 10pm and 2-3am then the watch is probably ok. If it doesn't... I would pick out another.

Thanks Levy for pointing this out.

-- Chuck

Hard to pick a title for this entry...

2006-12-13T13:11:00.000-06:00

I am really at a loss for a title for this entry... When so many good titles come easily to mind...

Crow must be a delicacy in Australia...
We've known he was an idiot, now he proves he's been lying...
As Queen sang "Anyway the wind blows... [GONG]"...
Has the lying stopped or not?
It takes 6 failures to make Georges a wise man?
- [Tongue in cheek G, tongue in cheek!]
When the shocking is not a surprise, at all...
Somehow I'm not expecting an apology anytime soon...
Aren't you glad all c.33xx owners are so forthcoming, eventually...
Yet I get roasted when I share all what I've seen...
And the Band played "Nearer, My God, To Thee"

All of which would be such perfectly suited titles it's hard to pick one! Why?

Y'all remember Thomas? (Sebastian Melmouth, etc.)? He posted again on WUS:

[my comments will be interspersed and indented...]

1 Hour Ago

Thomas Member

Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 13

My NEW watch-Warning, prepare to be shocked!!!

George Zaslavsky is a wise man and the wisdom he has continued to share with us is the fact that a movement MUST FIRST BE RIGOROUSLY TESTED TO ENSURE RELIAILITY. His concerns that Omega is suspect in this area is absolutely correct.

Observation: Georges is far from the only person who is concerned about Omega and it's use of F. Piguet movements.

I can confirm to you all that there is next to nothing quality control at Omega and the most MINIMUM testing is done on their watches.

I am supposed to be shocked about this?

Now this might be o.k. on generally simple and reliable movements like the 2500, BUT, on the much more complex movements like 3303, 3313 and 3612 this policy has proven absolutely disastrous.

I guess it takes a long time from the echo to come back from OZ.

The fact is that I have concealed that my rattrapantes

This has to make all the people looking at c.33xx's and asking for owner's experiences feel real secure...

(note the plural!! but more on that later)

Ditto previous comment.

have all suffered either complete failure on my wrist or have had massive faults and countless minor faults eg warping on the dial, rotation of the seconds hand jumpy, jittery and wobbly).

This is really interesting coming from someone who was waxing grandiose last week:
“One little fetish of mine concerns the alignment of the hands. They should be PERFECT, and they certainly are here. The 12hr totalizer hand and the central chrono hands (plural!) form a straight line.”

My broadarrow would not reset properly

This is supposed to shock me?

and most my wife's first diamond deville had chipped and missing diamonds from the bezel (yes you read that right).

Kinda makes you wonder why he bought it in the first place.

You would never see this happen to a Rolex watch.

Paging Matthew J!

Since I saw myself as a champion of the new Omega,

... a brown-noser, extraordinare!

I've been too ashamed and in a state of denial to hitherto disclose these all too painful facts.

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me six times, what an maroon am I?

The simple fact regarding my rattrapantes is this; since march of this year I've owned THREE rattrapantes and TWO FAILED ON MY WRIST AND THE THIRD ONE WOULD NOT WORK WHEN THE DATE FUNCTION WAS ENGAGED.

Is this the point I'm supposed to be shocked about?

This also explains why I carried on so much in my recent posts

¿He only carried on in his recent posts?

because that was my third new watch and I was fully convinced all was finally o.k.

... Some one who really profoundly believes ‘Past performance does not mean future gains’ ...

How wrong I was!!!!

Wasn't the first time, by a long shot. Won't be the last time, either.

the third one lasted three weeks.

Makes me really eager to hand over my credit card, oh boy!

It really requires a seperate post to describe the superhuman effort I made to obtain THREE new rattrapantes and then to get full in store credit to swap the rattrapante for some other brand.

Especially when you know so much more than the people who you know more than about these things who are telling you this.

It's really an unbelievable story.

Only unbelieveable to those who are blind or aren't paying attention.

For now, I would urge you all to stay away from the utterly crap and unreliable Piguet made movements. Run as far as you can from them and I would not touch one with a barge pole.

Gee, like this is news.

Omega is producing substandard watches at too fast a rate to meet demand and only worries about any problems at the warranty level.

But all of those engineers... all that marketing... all those watch executives... who know what they are doing better than any of us!

There is the most minimum testing done.

Somehow, I don't think this is the part that's supposed to shock either.

Anyway, I finally have seen the light

Somehow I doubt that. Ironically, last week it was...
"I think I now understand Martin Luther King's great speech, 'I've been to the mountain and I've seen the promised land'. "

The truth be told is that Bienne is not on a mountain top it's in a valley and what's going on stinks to high-heaven.

and have now given away my garbage broadarrow (yes you read that right)

[shrug] Yawn...

and have managed to get a refund for my utterly forgettable rattrapante.

Ironically, last week it was...
“I never want to wear anything else.”

George Zaslavsky is completely correct when he says that the Rolex Daytona is the best chronograph on the market with the incredible bona fide in house 4130 movement that is fantastically well made, beyond anything Omega can ever manage.

I don't doubt that the current Rolex Daytona's along with the previous El-Primero and Valjoux 72 base movements are excellent chronographs.
I do however maintain that I am unconvinced of any practical advantage in-house movements impart other than lack of independent service or parts availability. I'm also unconvinced that the Daytona is the best chronograph in the market. I don't believe it is the best all around chronograph on the market.

Omega will always be a second rate watch in comparison to any Rolex

At the very least debateable and I certainly do not agree.

and I should know better than most of you.

Laughable!
However, if knowledge/experience is directly related to amount of stupidity exhibited he may have a case.

I'm just happy that I got out of this in time with my money refunded in full.

I hope all the people who've read the comments about c.33xx's and taken the plunge anyway will be so lucky.

I now own a brilliant watch, that is with good reason the most coveted watch in the world and one of the 10 best watches ever made. Enough of this and onto my new watch.

[pictures of two-tone dark dial Rolex Daytona]

Let me now present to you a genuine superlative in house watch, the Rolex Daytona Cosmograph. If you are all a little green with envy that will make me feel all the better!!

Gee, I wonder what motivates him?

My new watch is the very definition of beauty, craftmanship and reliability. Most of these qualities are not to be found in omega watches and certainly was no to be found in my 3 faulty rattrapantes.

You mean the Rattrapantes that last week:
“Its graceful lines, curves and accents really give it an air of class.” and

“Of course, both hands enjoy the benefit of column wheel mechanisms. In other words, there is no slippage in the engagment of the mechanism and the pusher action is clean, crisp and firm. It really is a delight to use!!! This is the true haute horology of the chronograph complication. I thank Omega for this gorgeous creation,”

or the Rattrapantes that two weeks ago:

“Firstly, its a stunning watch in every way, with incredibly good looks. There are no weak points about this watch whatsoever.”, ... “this is, I think, the most innovative, refreshing and novel looking watch on mother earth. There is nothing like it. This watch is a complete success with respect to design because Omega didn't shackle itself with tradition, but also, it didn't try to re-invent the wheel either. The dial is just beautiful and perfect. I'm happy to say that the craftsmanship is equal to the challenge.” ... “Omega's design is a text book example of the art of watch design. If that wasn't enough, Omega then went ahead and designed what is the most clever and charming seconds subdial ever!! It truly is inspired. I never get tired of admiring it.”

There is no pretend in house movement like the ones omega farmed out,

One Week ago: “Omega rattrapante-Nothing else matters.”
Two Weeks ago: “Getting to the heart of the matter, the greatest aspect of this beauty is its magneficent double column wheel movement. It is the stuff of horological dreams because it is complicated, beautiful and very rare. Only the very special chronographs have this.”

Very special chrongraphs that break, a lot.

with such disasterous results, to piguet.

B--b-but I thought: “Life with this watch is a pleasure. I take pride in it and when needed, I flash it in front of an obnoxious rolex wearer and cut them down to size. People stare at it alot and I'm always asked how expensive is it. When I tell them, lots say why didn't I get rolex instead. I always reply that I wanted some more special!”

This is all genuine and bona fide in house and consequently the quality speaks for itself. Oh ye baby this is the real deal.

This week anyway.

Rolex has put more careful and detailed work in the hour markers and the clasp pictured below than you'll find in any omega watch.

So the clasp was really bad on the Rattrapante too, eh?

I should know since..... my rattrapantes had distorted and warped dials,

This guy really has no sense of direction does he?

jumpy and jittery movement of the seconds hand,

Folks, this is the same fellow who last week said:
“Of course, both hands enjoy the benefit of column wheel mechanisms. In other words, there is no slippage in the engagment of the mechanism and the pusher action is clean, crisp and firm. It really is a delight to use!!! This is the true haute horology of the chronograph complication. I thank Omega for this gorgeous creation,”

I'm not making this $#¡+ up!

in fact omega coundn't even place the leather strap correctly on the watch.

Oh, but that's so hard!

The movements are complete garbage aswell and I now take back whatever I said against the valjoux 7750 movement.

Here is a reminder of what the same person said two weeks ago about the 7750:
“As the recent WatchTime article showed, most rattrapantes have a modified 7750 movement, which is truly an ugly, indeed disgusting movement, not worth mentioning on the same day as the 3612. ”

At least it works!!!

That seems to be unimportant to certain people.
Here's a quote from your final paragraph two weeks ago:

“Life with this watch is a pleasure. I take pride in it and when needed, I flash it in front of an obnoxious rolex wearer and cut them down to size.”

Two weeks ago you were flashing your Rattrapante at obnoxious Rolex wearer's... Now you are the obnoxious Rolex wearer!

I honestly don't know who's the biggest loser, the Rolex forum(s) or you!

I'm sure it may seem cruel to pick on the obviously challenged. And personally, I'd warn everyone to take anything_ said by this person with an appropriately sized grain of salt:

[Disclaimer: recommended doseage with this person may exceed safe consumption limits]

Perhaps this latest post is a lie to try to provoke a flurry of other posts, this individual claims to have bought a Rattrapante and when queried about the veracity of that claim provided pictures and hasn't been shy about posting new pictures from time to time.

Either this person has been intentionally misleading and lying to people about this watch and this movement family for many many months, OR maybe this post is the knowingly lie.

Who knows, or at this point really cares? Either way, he's lying and intentionally misleading people.

It would not be fair to lump in this sort of behaviour with those of other c.33xx owners who have either a) been forthcoming about problems they have suffered, or b) those who have earnestly and honestly have not suffered a failure with one (or more) with these chronographs. Even when a number of owners emphasize the good points of their experience (usually the accuracy of the timekeeping on their examples) and ignore or downplay the problems with this movement.

I've said it before and I'll say it again.

Do what you want to do, listen to whomever you wish to.

But is my opinion buying one of these watches is akin to buying the sister ship of the Titanic and running it at flank speed in the North Atlantic during Iceburg season. It is simply not a sensible risk, certainly not a MSRP or likely dealer discounted prices.

I seriously thought about posting a poll about what to title this entry over at the TimeZone Omega forum. But that would probably be too provocative and over the top and I don't want to create grief for Damon...

It really REALLY p¡$$es me off that the problems are going on with these F.Piguet movements, people are intentionally lying and misleading innocent people about these problems and I really think someone needs to pull Omega/Swatch/Hayek's head's out of their neither-regions about the whole situation.

It's truely shameful to drag such a venerable, respected and elder firm like Omega down into the sewer with this sort of foolishness, but it doesn't seem to faze the powers that be.

[sigh]

-- Chuck

Eberhardt & Co. also goofs on their bezel's like Tissot!

2006-11-07T13:30:00.000-06:00

One of the things that's always pleasant about having a blog is hearing from people all over the world. A couple of days ago, I heard from Armando Camacho out of Guadalajara, Mexico in response to my recent blog post on the Tissot NASCAR Chronograph:

Chuck:
Have you noticed that Eberhard's Tazio Nuvolari chronograph has suffered the same malady for years (an absurd tachymeter scale with its numbers translated into MPH)?

Indeed I hadn'tand Eberhardt & Co.'s website has to be the singularly most difficult website I have ever tried to access. So when I replied to Armando, I also CCed Pascal Stratsma as Pascal has a couple of Eberhardt chronographs. Their replies were a near dead heat with pictures of two separate Eberhardt models which have the same screwy needless tachymetre conversion as the Tissot I had posted earlier. Here's Armando's provided photo first:

and this is the clearer of the two... The nice thing about this goof, is that at least one has the correct Tachy bezel underneath the crystal on the dial.

However the exact same thing is happening on this model that Pascal submitted to me:

What can I say... stupidity isn't limited to Tissot it'd seem!

Thanks to both Armando and Pascal for their contributions to this entry. I couldn't have done it without you!

-- Chuck

Follow-up: New information on NASCAR Tissot...

2006-10-19T09:17:00.000-05:00

I received this email from Larry Loesch Wednesday...:

From: Larry Loesch

Subject: Tachymeter bezel problems

Date: October 18, 2006 2:04:08 PM CDT

A recent issue of the Horological Times featured that bezel in a "What

do you suppose this is" article. The followup article confirmed that

they used 1000 Meters as the base to calculate the speed in MPH.

If you are interested I'll get you the issue dates of the article in

question.

- Larry Loesch

Naturally, I said "Please send along anything you can dig up" in reply to Larry and he was especially effecient in sending along the following:

From: Larry Loesch

Subject: Tachymeter bezel problems

Date: October 18, 2006 10:47:29 PM CDT

The first mention of the watch was in the Aug 06 issue of the Horological Times on page 32. They called it the Mystery Bezel Contest. :) In the Sep 06 issue they gave the solution on page 20. I think they were trying to protect the company's identity as they blurred the dial in the picture and don't call them by name. I compared the picture in the article to the one on your site and it's the same watch. That, or it's another watch with the exact same case where the blurs match perfectly! Here's the relevant portion:

------

This bezel converts the vehicle speed from metric to English units and assumes the vehicle is traveling at a constant speed over a 1-kilometer distance. The bezel readout gives the vehicle's speed in miles per hour. The member or members who solved this mystery will be mentioned in next month's column. The above correct answer was verified by two sources. An e-mail was sent to our member Jerry Sussman asking his thoughts on the mystery bezel and a phone call was placed to a manager at the watch company. Within a day or so, Jerry, an MIT professor of engineering and computer science, answered the e-mail. He explained that this bezel converted vehicle speed from metric to English units as explained above. Within a few days, the manager called and verified Jerry's explanation. He also explained that the bezel was produced in Switzerland by designers who confused English and metric units when they designed this particular bezel. The bezel went into production without anyone noticing the design error until an observant salesperson in a retail shop brought it to the manufacturer's attention. Future issues of this model will be equipped with the traditional tachymeter bezel. Will this watch with it's unusual bezel become a collector's item in the future similar to a coin or stamp issued with an accidental flaw? Time will tell.

------

Typos in the above are most likely due to my typing skills.

What's funny to me is that it took more work than a normal bezel to produce it! I find it very surprising that somewhere along the line someone didn't say "Hey, guys... isn't this a lot harder than it should be?" Oh well...

You may quote my emails as needed.

- LL

So, Larry's email's answer a few things.

I wasn't the first person to spot the problem. Although I did spot it independently as I had never heard of the "Horological Times" publication prior to Larry's email. Indeed, I was aware of the model back in August but I hadn't noticed the issue with the bezel back then.
As indicated in the passage that Larry so graciously transcribed for us the bezel went into production.
Thus this bezel was not the product of Photoshop or retouching as some people have suggested.
This model (with the bezel) was shipped to dealers and was on display to customers before an observant sales person at a retail shop brought the issue to the manufacturer's attention.
It's not clear if all examples that were on dealer's shelves were recalled and substituted with a newer model with a correct Tachymeter bezel which corrects the rather apparent issue with the erronious bezel.
- Not that this should be a surprise considering Omega's intransigence with regard to the known and acknowledged flaws with the F. Piguet c.33xx based Chronographs.
Any examples with the flawed bezel will almost certainly be collectors items much along the lines of the "Speamaster" Speedmaster non-chronograph chronometers produced by Omega by mistake.
- However, just like Edsels, while they are collector's items, it doesn't necessarily mean that they will be a great value or lucritive in the collectors market.

Like Larry I find it exceedingly interesting that the engineers of this bezel took so much time and effort to make this bezel more work than was necessary. I can't understand why someone (especially an engineer) wouldn't think a) "Why are we trying to re-invent the wheel here?" or b) "Haven't we done this or something similar in the past? Let's just copy that!".
And why would anyone think that a tachymeter that reads out in KM/h be attractive/needed by NASCAR fans?!?!?
What doesn't surprise me is that something so glaring made it past a Swatch Group firm's Quality Control/Marketing/etc. departments into production, distribution and yes probably even into customer's hands. Why doesn't this surprise me? Because I've seen several previous examples of similar ineptitude from Swatch Group, this is not an isolated instance.
As it is, Tissot's official website continues to display a picture of the watch in question with the flawed bezel, as well as a video on their website with the same bezel (as Rrryan pointed out on TZOF), two months after it was published in Horological Times. Were it not for an alert Salesperson (how many of them are there out there these days! Geez!) this model would likely still be on display at dealers.
I suppose if there is any thing to feel moderately good about it is that between Jeff Stein (Owner of OnTheDash.com), Eptaz00 (Moderator of the Omega forum over at WUS) and myself, we were able to figure out what the mistake was without consulting a Professor of engineering and Computer Science at MIT. True Jeff is a lawyer, and I have a degree (Associate's though certainly not a professor level degree) in Computer Programming, not sure what Eric's (Eptaz) education is. But I mean if we can figure out what happened in about 10 minutes of conversation shouldn't the folks who's job it is to make these things be able to do the same?
But then again, this is "The New Swatch Group". Sigh... If you're a fan of any of the Swatch Group brands, put on your seatbelt tight and get ready for a bumpy ride.
-- Chuck

Further proof: Bizzare stuff going on at Swatch Group...

2006-10-13T15:33:00.001-05:00

For quite some time, I've been watching events with the Swatch Group in Switzerland with an increasing sense of bewilderment. Swatch Group is a huge conglomerate and, of course, is not an easy entity to get a grasp of. But still there have been a great deal of moves by the firm and it's subsidiaries that are questionable.

Some of the moves which I see as dubious at best are certainly debatable, and believe me... folks have debated them with me. But a number of them are just bizarre and the fact that they are bizarre is really beyond debate...

Here's a case in point... Jorge Merino Posts: N E W M o d e l - Omega Seamaster Railmaster Chronograph [May 06, 2004 - 11:12 AM]

You see what's wrong with this picture? Need a hint?

Apparently, they don't teach people to count by 5's accurately in Switzerland...

This picture was posted by Jorge Merino who get's the press releases from many many Swiss watch firms. So this photograph came from an Omega press release. [Many thanks to Steve Waddington, moderator of the Zowie/Chronocentric Omega discussion forum for helping me relocate this post]...

The other night, I was mentioning the curious case of the Tissot NASCAR chronograph while chatting on IM with Eric [Eptaz, moderator of the Omega forum over at WUS]. I had mentioned the curious inclusion of "Valjoux" on the display caseback on this watch previously, after Swatch Group takes great pains to encourage firms which use the 7750 to call the movement by it's newly bestowed "ETA 7750" name. When I noticed another major goof in this watch.

Here's the picture:

I took a look at the "Tachymeter MPH" bezel and said...

What the F**K!

Between Eric, Jeff Stein and myself, the only possible explanation that we could postulate is that perhaps someone decided to convert Kilometers into miles because 37 Miles per hour is roughly 60 KPH, and 50 MPH is roughly 80 KPH, etc..

All a Tachymetre bezel is a scale that divides the 3600 (the number of minutes (60) times the number of seconds (60) = 3,600) by the number of seconds to generate a "Units per Hour" indication. The number would be the same if measuring Kilometre's, miles, or furlongs. Why anyone would do a conversion when one is not necessary is confounding.

The absurdity of this is simply mindboggling! I mean all a person has to do is look at a picture of any watch with a Bezel (that isn't laughably incorrect <-- Warning, link not for the weak of stomach!) and copy it. I mean, how difficult is that?

But in this instance, like the Omega Railmaster, not only has the mistake been made, but professional watch photography been booked, taken and distributed to the press and the public, and in this instance, is pictured and remains on Tissot.ch's website:

[Pictured on the left] at this very moment! Now, Tissot does have a different model pictured in the subwindow on the right, but why continue to have that fouled-up model as the main picture?

Eric pointed out a post in a blog of this Tissot and a Quartz model... Guess what? The Quartz model has a mucked up bezel too!

How can these watches (or even pictures of watches) with such mistakes make it to the public eye? This watch had to be designed, approved, "gone to metal", been professionally photographed, given to Marketing/Webmasters/etc. Where's the scrutiny?

I'm reminded of the 1992 song by "Fresh Bush and the Invisible Man" called "Hard Times"...

“Politics is higher taxes,
Politics is fewer jobs,
Federal regulations...
Surely, Congress doin' drugs!”

I don't know what the explanation is, but there is some seriously bizarre stuff going on at Swatch Group. This is nothing new, just further proof.

-- Chuck

P.S. Thanks again to Steve, Jeff and Eric for their input on this one.

News (to me anyway) about Ed White's Speedmaster...

2006-09-13T21:45:00.000-05:00

Back on the 5th of September I received the following email message from Blake Bartosh... It was information new to me and I've received permission from Blake to post and host the information on my site...

From: "Blake Bartosh"
Date: September 05, 2006 8:47:02 AM CDT
To: Chuck Maddox
Subject: Ed White's Speedmaster information

My father [Roger Bartosh] is in the habit of subscribing to all kinds of interesting things, and one of them was Superior Galleries' Space Memorabilia Auction catalogs.


[click on the pictures to open a full size scan in a new window]

Of particular interest is the Spring 1999 catalog which lists as one of the auctions Ed White's Speedmaster.

The description identifies the NASA numbers engraved on the watch side and reverse.

Evidently the watch realized a value of $34,500 at auction.

I am saddened by the tragic event that took Ed White's life, and at the same time I am intrigued that the Hesalite crystal survived the intense heat and flames inside the Apollo 1 capsule.

See the attached scans of the catalog cover, the page depicting the watch with description, and the final price realized for the watch (auction item 398). Sorry about the quality of the auction page scan, the catalog is about an inch thick and hard to lay down on the scanner bed.

Were you aware of this auction occurring?

Best regards,

Blake

Indeed I was not aware of this auction and am a bit surprised that this watch was put up for auction. I'm not going to guess the White's rationale for selling the watch, but rather I'd suspect that either the GAO, NASA or the Smithsonian would likely have something of a claim on this watch as US property, unless it was a watch purchased by the late Mr. White.

Of course if anyone has further information, I'd love to hear it.

Thanks to both Roger and Blake for their efforts in sharing this information with us in the greater Omega Community. It is greatly appreciated!

-- Chuck

P.S. I'll post any follow-up email's I get relating to this story as comments in my blog.

2nd multiple Omega Chrono failure report in 3 days.

2006-09-10T13:11:00.000-05:00

Stumeister Posts: Broad Arrow movement problems [Sep 10, 2006 - 10:59 AM]

Just wanted to check with any of you experts out there what would be considered normal for problems with a auto chronograph.

Sadly I bought a Broad Arrow in 2004 and it looks like I will be packing it up once more (the 5th time now) to send to Bienne with a problem associated with the minute chronograph hand not turning over.

The watch does keep great time, but the chronograph cannot be guaranteed to work 20/20 when engaged (fails 3 to 4 times out of 20, usually in a row before if gets back on track).

I have read a few lines of discussion on this forum regarding this movement line-> is there any current news from Omega that they may change this movement due to its unreliability?

Or am I the lucky one that may have bought quite an expensive lemon?

I replied to Stumeister's post over in TZOF.

Some Thoughts...

This will make the second report of multiple failures in chronographs in the past three days. The first report was made in reply to my post in this blog about Time Flies c.3303 issue by Nick Henson on Thursday, September 07, 2006 12:20:00 PM.

I haven't heard back from Nick about my follow up post to Nick in the blog, so I do not know if his Seamaster Pro Chronograph sports a Valjoux 7750 or a c.33xx. I am not going to assume it's one model or another.

I'm not going to count Nick's example either way until I hear from him. Unfortunately, he didn't leave me an email address to contact him directly (Blogger recorded "anonymous-comment@blogger.com" as Nick's address), I will have to hope that Nick either posts another comment or contacts me directly to clearify things.

Stumeister's example was bought in 2004, fairly likely to have been produced after the remedial parts introduced in 2002 that certain people claim have elimidated or at least caused the ,,significant decline,, of problem reports.

Even discounting Nick Henson's report, the c.33xx failure's sadly continue to be reported with regularity.

-- Chuck

From NASA: Velcro Strap Blueprints...

2006-08-13T17:47:00.000-05:00

It's always nice to get email's like these:

I noticed your pdf drawing for the homemade velcro Moonwatch band in the Wikipedia article, not sure if you would be interested but I have somewhere in my files at work copies of the actual "blue prints" and specs for the real deal, I work down the street from the Johnson Space Center in Clear Lake Texas and had a buddy that works over there talk to one of the guys in procurement and he sent me the drawings, its a neat little bit of history. let me know if you are interested and I can email the scans to you sometime Monday.
Thanks,
Bob Lacy
Fellow Speedy Pro owner.

Bob remembered that he had the ability to pull down the graphics from home and he sent them to me last night...



[click on the images above to pull up the full resolution [2.5m] scans ]

Thanks to Bob for making these blueprints for NASA Velcro Straps available for those of us who wish to "roll our own"...

Chuck

A note from Time Flies on his Omega c.3303 failing...

2006-07-29T22:30:00.000-05:00

I received this email from Greg Bxxxxxxxx (Time Flies) tonight...:
[note: because this is such a long email I have bolded the key parts]_________________
From: Greg Bxxxxxxxx (Time Flies) [I've omitted Greg's email, contact me if you wish to get in touch with him
Subject: A note from Time Flies on his Omega c.3303
Date: July 29, 2006 4:48:17 PM CDT
To: cmaddox3@sbcglobal.net

Chuck,

Long time, no talk.

Well, here is another experience for your Blog or whatever. You are free to quote me anywhere -- on forums or wherever you find it useful. I don't participate in watch forums very much since I retired almost two years ago. I spend my time flying, fly fishing and working with the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. I have also been doing quite a bit of bush flying.

I took a chance -- against your advice -- but the dollars didn't mean that much to me. I don't mean it the way it sounds. Every penny is worth a penny. But, in the great scheme of things, purchasing an Omega Olympic edition Seamaster Chronograph with the c.3303 was sort of a 'cheap chance' when I look at what I spend owning and maintaining two aircraft!

I bought the watch in February of 2005. I wore it flying quite a bit and as an 'every day' watch on and off since I purchased it. I used the chronograph feature a lot, as does any pilot, even when not using it for flying. I time a lot of things. I have not had a single problem with the chronograph. Despite using it quite a bit, it has always reset properly and I noticed no other aberrations in its function. Three days ago, I noticed the watch seemed to lack power reserve and also felt the watch head wobbling on my wrist -- a more noticeable wobble than the old Valjoux 7750 characteristic wobble. So, I took the watch off my wrist and shook it a bit and you could feel and hear the rotor 'free spinning' with no ratcheting (winding) sound during or at the end of the rotor rotation. The number of rotor rotations was amazing ( maybe 20 or 30 or even more) with just a little shake of the watch head. Then I tested the power reserve and there is none with the watch starting from a dead stop (power reserve at zero after running down after winding). The rotor is not winding the watch and something has disengaged in that gear train. At least, it has a two year warranty. But, even if it is fixed, I will likely just put the watch in a drawer. I don't have time to fight Omega, which is a shame. But, I have other more interesting things to do and enough watches to wear.

As a side note --- I own a bunch of watches as you know, or assume. And, I have owned a substantial number over the years. The three most reliable mechanical watches I have owned, in terms of accuracy and being totally free of problems despite heavy use and being knocked around are my Speedmaster Professional, a Breitling Navitimer I bought about five years ago after Breitling made some pretty dramatic changes in manufacture (buying Kelek) and quality control, and the ultimate tough watch, for me at least, a Tutima NATO with the wonderful Lemania 5100 (one heck of great watch for what I use watches quite a bit -- bush whacking, flying and fly fishing).

So, I wish I had listened to you. But, I was willing and could afford to take a chance. I lost the game. But, I think Omega is genuinely 'lost'. It is a damn shame since I have owned Omegas since I966. I would not buy another currently marketed Omega. So, Omega lost me. It is a story of losing.

Hope all is well, and again, you may post for me or quote anything I have said, not that my take on the situation or my experience matters to you or anyone else. If you do quote me, I would appreciate a quick note telling me where you have quoted me just for grins. I might check it out, and who knows, I might register again for a watch forum.

Thanks for your help and conversation over the years. I send my best regards,

Greg Bxxxxxxxx [I've omitted Greg's email, contact me if you wish to get in touch with him]

(aka "Time Flies", "K2UM", "Pilot-4ES", "Old Phantom II Driver" and whatever other monikers I have used

P.S.

BTW, that list of three watches that have proven to be tough customers for me is relative to owning (I honestly lost count) maybe a hundred watches and that includes, AP, JLC, IWC, Omega, Breitling, VC, Rolex (had trouble with every one of these I've owned -- but that is only four), Blancpain, Panerai, Ventura, Glycine, Tutima, Sinn, and the list goes on and on. Heck, I can't even recall all of the manufacturers right now! You can just about name any "fairly big name" in watch marques and I've owned at least a couple their models along the way. By the way, I had no problems with my Panerai watches. I have not owned a Patek (no interest) or some of the unique, what I will call 'designer' marques.. The vast, vast majority were new purchases -- probably 90 of the 100 or so I had. I had trouble with every one of my JLCs despite them being part of their "Masters Series"; every Blancpain was a bust, the IWCs all ran very slow or were temperamental as hell if they used JLC ebauches; and every Rolex I've had developed winding or rotor problems and their service sucked to be honest.

I just wanted to put my comments in some perspective. Personally, I think the whole Swiss watch industry has a pervasive problems with quality control and their watches are vastly overpriced. In fact, I own four great quartz watches and I always, always have a quartz watch with me when I really need to depend on timing, even if I am wearing a mechanical, you can bet a quartz is in my flight bag -- either a Microtech H3, a Breitling Emergency or a Breitling B-1 or my 16 year old Breitling quartz Navitmer (later rebadged as the Aerospace).

_________________

Some brief observations [factual statements, not opinions]...

Anyone who has been on TZ from a few years back will remember Time Flies. He was one of the heavy posters when I first started visiting Time Zone. Saying Greg knows a bit about watches is a bit like saying Story Musgrave knows a bit about working in space.
I am not entirely sure the Omega Olympic edition Seamaster Chronograph were equipped with a c.3303, I was under the impression that these watches were fit with the newer c.3301 movements, but there were so many Olympic commemoratives released that it's quite possible that Greg has it right.
This will be the third problem reported with c.33xx's since 21 June (5 ¹/₂ weeks - 38 days): a Connie Double Eagle c.3313, a BA c.3303 and this Olympic Commemorative, at least that I am aware of...
It would seem that I'm not the only person who feels that the Swiss Watch industry has a significant problem in the area of Quality Control.

And some personal opinions:

With 3 failures in the past 5 ¹/₂ weeks, with a variety of models (Speedmaster Broad Arrow, Double Eagle Constellation, Seamaster Olympic Commemorative), new models (Connie)m repeat repair (BA) and 18 month old purchase, I would think that even the most strident c.33xx fans would take pause at these continuing reports of problems with this movement.
These reports do not seem to be going away.
I'm starting to think my earlier description of "problems happening in spurts and gaps" is more accurate than my more recent "it seems the failure reports are fewer and farther apart" assessment.
[this might be as much a fact as my opinion:] These failures ARE COSTING OMEGA CUSTOMERS!
Omega's reputation as a producer of quality product, built up over a century and a half of hard word, is being greviously and possibly irreparably harmed by the shortsighted ignoring/downplaying of documented, continuing and numerious problems these Fredric Piguet based movements are suffering.
Sacrificing one's reputation for short term sales is a poor business practice.

I don't know what else to say that I haven't said before, likely dozens of times. Far lesser companies than Omega would have done what was right about these problems long ago. The steps which Omega has taken thus far have not been effective in eliminating the issues existant with these movements. Expecting different or improved results by staying pat isn't a logical or reasonable expectation.

-- Chuck

P.S. If you'd like to get in touch with Greg (Time Flies) email me and I'll work to make it happen.

“Things found while looking for other things”:

2006-07-27T10:20:00.000-05:00

From my “Things I found while looking for other things” file:

The Tissot "Nascar" Chronograph:

Does anyone else find it interesting that Swatch Group the firm, wants everyone to call the Valjoux 7750 the ETA7750 and yet Tissot (a wholly owned subsidiary of Swatch Group) puts "Valjoux" on a caseback (underneath the NASCAR Logo) of a brand new watch it's offering???

I mean I'm a regular watcher of the Cup races, Root for the olé Blue Oval's to win and everything...

But I can imagine the reaction of the typical common NASCAR fan: ‘What in the he11 is a Valjoux??!?!??!?’...

-- Chuck

Another repeat BA failure, from the UK this time...

2006-07-10T15:21:00.000-05:00

Over at Watch-U-Seek's Omega forum, new member Nish reports multiple failures of his Broad Arrow Speedmaster...:

Nish Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: Broad Arrow Movement
I bought a Broad Arrow a couple of years ago and wear it almost every day. Within the first 6 weeks the second hand for the chronometer became unaligned. I was told this was not uncommon with watches made pre 2002 and the watch was sent to Omega who rectified this within 3-4 weeks.
I would have thought that would have been the last time I would have experienced this issue, but the second hand has once again become unaligned at some point over the last couple of weeks. Is this normal? Is there a reason for this problem? And what can I do to prevent this happening again?
Any help would be much appreciated.
P.S. I'm in the UK so not sure if that has any bearing!

Here are my thoughts [within context with Nish's comments in the bolder text] ...

Nish Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: Broad Arrow Movement

I bought a Broad Arrow a couple of years ago and wear it almost every day. Within the first 6 weeks the second hand for the chronometer became unaligned.

I'm sorry to hear of your BA's problem, unfortunately I'm not surprised...
This is #3 of the four common problems admitted to by Omega as documented by Shaun Thorton back in March of 2004:
“3. The chronograph hand does not return properly to zero.
If the return to zero pusher is pressed strongly while the chronograph is running, the hammer operating lever may bend slightly. As a result, the return to zero function no longer works properly.
Solution...
On movements with the above-mentioned problem, the column wheel operating lever must be replaced with the new modified version. The new column wheel operating lever is available from Omega”
I replied to Shaun in this reply:
“I find it hard to believe that someone in testing this movement (or an example of this movement) prior to announcement of models using these movements didn't "Torture Test" them... I run across people who seem to believe that all chronographs are flybacks and press the reset button when they shouldn't. It seems to me that someone, be it Omega or Piguet dropped the chalupa when they apparently didn't put the movement through the ringer before shipping product.
In addition to being a Operator issue and a pre-annoucement product testing issue, this is either a design, engineering or materials issue which probably should have been caught prior to announcement. The lever in question is not strong or resilent enough for real-world use or abuse.”

I was told this was not uncommon with watches made pre 2002

The BA only reached dealer's shelves towards the end of 2001, however, this problem has been reported with newer models, as I will post links to below...

and the watch was sent to Omega who rectified this within 3-4 weeks.

You're luckier than some. Most people have a longer wait and more than once people have had to sent a supposedly repaired watch back for additional work because the repair wasn't effective..

I would have thought that would have been the last time I would have experienced this issue,

This would not appear to be a reasonable expectation for this movement... As I documented in this post in my blog:
SUNDAY, JUNE 19, 2005 nickmtl Asks: 3303 or 3301 are they okay when fixed ???
My Comment:
“That's from a quick 20 minutes or so of looking, the rest of the time has been formatting this response. I have not posted every note I ran across from the posters above, and there are likely more people who have had problems with repairs of c.33xx's. I'm not going to gather and post all of them because I feel the above is enough to illustrate that people have had issues with their c.33xx repairs. Hopefully it isn't necessary to detail them all...”

but the second hand has once again become unaligned at some point over the last couple of weeks.

I would be lying if I said I was surprised.

Is this normal?

Normal? I don't know, but repeat problems seem to happen a lot with this movement family.

Is there a reason for this problem?

Well, if Omega is true to form, they will claim that the watch was subjected to "shock damage" or "owner misuse" or anything other than a known issue with the watch itself. Reset alignment is on of the five [the four Shaun T mentions and rotor separation] separate discrete issue that frequently occur with the F. Piguet based c.33xx movement family.
It is a known issue that Omega has supposedly identified and supposedly corrected with retrofit parts. I suppose it is possible that your initial problem didn't get the "Retrofit/Rev.B" parts from Omega, but if you were told at the time of your repair that “this was not uncommon with watches made pre 2002” I would think they'd know enough to replace the parts with the newer versions.

And what can I do to prevent this happening again?

Short of having the watch fixed and leaving it unused on the shelf or selling it, I am not sure.

Any help would be much appreciated.

I feel that Eric has given you good advise thus far in the thread on Watch-U-Seek you started.
I would recommend that you send a pointy but polite letter/message to Omega frankly expressing your disappointment in the reliability and durability of their product. I would also recommend including quotes from Omega Marketing materials from around the time of your purchase of the watch as well as current brochures. You know the type, with copy extolling the virtues and strengths of their products and relate to them that you are expecting Omega and it's products to live up to their marketing copy.

P.S. I'm in the UK so not sure if that has any bearing!

It is interesting to hear that you've had problems in the UK. One of the claims of the "propaganda/apologist squad of the c.33xx" [as I affectionately call them] is that the c.33xx problems are largely limited to the US market or Northern North American markets. However, I can name a number of problem reports occuring outside that region:

Another Cal 33xx woes.... - Initial J - Mar 12, 2006 - 06:27 PM c.3301 Schumacher Legend 5800/6000 with reset misalignment error (just like yours) reported in a shop at the Hong Kong International Airport. [I had reported in a reply within that thread that Initial J's report was the third incident reported to that point in the 2006 calendar year]
another one - andrew milligan - Mar 13, 2006 - 12:23 PM Bought a used Americas Cup Chrono in January, but from a UK high street AD, who offered 12 months warranty. Reset failed a week later ... [Of course the used watch could have been bought in the US/NA and brought into the UK]
Anonymous Australian poster “P.Lilovac” reported that his BA [purchased two weeks prior to this post P.Lilovac Thoughts on my BA Mar 10, 2004 - 07:30 AM] on developed the reset problem in this post [P.Lilovac Posts: The truth hurts: Faulty BA [May 26, 2004 - 10:24 AM]. Although P.Lilovac did not register with TZ nor did not disclose his location, it was determined that he was posting via an Aussie ISP/assigned IP address]
Another anonymous Australian poster “sebastian.melmoth” aka “Thomas” also reported a failure of his Broad Arrow Speedmaster in this post: sebastian.melmoth Posts: Again verbose; mine was a minor reset problem, but ...... [Mar 16, 2006 - 07:35 AM] I still love my column wheel speedmaster Sebastian (or Thomas or whatever his or her real name is) also posted pictures at one point of (supposedly) his Omega Rattrapante DeVille with an Aussie address on it, he also posted via an Aussie ISP and IP address (but a different ISP/IP than P.Lilovac).
It has been theorized that P.Lilovac and Sebastian/Thomas is one and the same person. We'll never really know because all three of those names have been banished from TZ and Chronocentric for failure to obey the rules of participation.
In either case, there are three (and possibly four) documented instances of problems outside of the US/Canada linked to above. Your issues would add two more outside of US/North America. And I know I've seen at least one or two reports in other parts of Europe.
So this is not a problem limited to the US or Northern North America as some people theorize.
Again, I would document everything you can, and send a direct and frank letter with as much information as you can gather to Omega immediately. I doubt that Omega will give you a refund nor will they offer to exchange your product for a new one. But you also might be able to exact some sort of action if the UK has any sort of "Lemon law". If there is similar laws on the books in the UK you may be able to use them to seek a satisfactory outcome.
You may find the following post within my blog of a selected list of c.33xx links I've saved over the years to be useful/helpful in your quest for information on this topic. You might find it useful to read every post within each thread for information. Also as that listing is somewhat dated, you might wish to do a search on c.33x3 and c.33xx on both my blog and the various Omega Discussion forums on the web for additional threads. You also are welcome to email me if you'd like...
I suppose things could be worse for Omega... They could have the problems that Dell is facing with their laptops:

A Dell notebook computer that burst into flames last month in Osaka, Japan, has damaged more than just the conference table where it sat smoldering. The incident, publicized in photos on the Internet, has also hurt Dell's recent attempts to improve its image. [New York Times 10 July 2006]

At least there have been no reports of c.33xx's exploding into flames, yet.
I wish you the best of luck and please keep us informed...
-- Chuck

c.3313 DE Connie Failure Reported @ Chronocentric

2006-06-21T06:52:00.000-05:00

Khalid M. Nabulsi reports multiple failures of his brand new Constellation double eagle chronograph in the Chronocentric/ZOWIE Omega discussion forum...

Co-axial technology, a bad coice after all!
Posted By: Khalid M. Nabulsi <alnabulsikm@yahoo.com>
Date: 6/21/06 15:10 GMT
I bought a brand new Constellation double eagle chronograph. The watch stopped after a couple of days and was serviced by the agent. A couple of days later the watch stopped again. The watch was then sent back to switzerland for repair. The watch is with them for almost three months with no resolution as to this point. I am frustrated because I spent a hefty amount on what supposed to be the best of OMEGA watches and yet have to go through this bad experience. so next time if you are planninmg to go for that dont think twice, but trice since you might go through the same experience. For the records, I bought the watch 6 months ago, stayed with me for three weeks only and the rest it was with the agent and the service center in switzerland. Does any one have an idea how to pressure the Company to reimbuse me for the price of the watch.
Regards

A quick google search reveals that the DE Connie Co-Ax Chronograph Chronometre was a 2004 Basel announcment and is a c.3313 based watch.

To my knowledge this is the first report of problems with a Connie Double Eagle Model. I remember that Keith Downing had issues with his Co-Axial Deville Chronograph, so it's not the first of the cx.331x's to exhibit problems.

Sadly, this is raises the question of if the remedial parts intended to address the shortcommings of the Fredric Piguet co-designed and manufactured chronograph movements in the c.33xx product line are a perfected solution to the issues these watches suffer or not. I understand and realize that it's difficult to determine based on the poster's report if the problem is related to the Co-Axial Escapement, the base Fredric Piguet movement into which it's installed, both, or something else.

I am resigned to the fact that Omega is so committed to press these products into the market, that they won't take a step back and scrutinize their actions and take whatever steps necessary to make the c.33xx's reliable, durable and dependable however drastic that may be up to and including pulling them until their reliability issues have been resolved. Instead they seem very content to put their customers through the ordeal of having brand new watches and their money tied up in a movement that seems to have a significantly higher probability of becoming a hangar queen that sits in a pile of it's own parts in Switzerland for months and months and months. It truely is a deplorable situation for a firm with a reputation such as Omega enjoyed before the introduction of these movements.

-- Chuck

Interesting comments in TZ Public Re: FP 1185 reliability...

2006-05-09T00:12:00.000-05:00

Some interesting comments in TZ Public forum about Fredric Piguet 1185 reliability...

Isaac. Posts:Well, the FP 1185 is the one I've had the most problems with>>> [May 06, 2006 - 09:34 PM]

I'll contribute by answering in an indirect way--

The only watches I have ever had problems with were 1185-equipped Blancpain Flybacks. I have had two of them--a Monaco YS, and a Ti model. They were both purchsed new. The Monaco's minute register never advanced past the five minute mark. Thinking that I had a fluke bad experience, two years later I purchased a Ti flyback that had an even more ridiculous problem--the center seconds hand was not mounted on the center arbor with enough friction such that with every reset to zero the seconds hand rotated more and more to the left of 12 o'clock. At the end of the first day, to my dismay, the center seconds hand would reset to the 10 o'clock postion!

The FP 1185, while interesting in concept, is IMHO the least reliable chrono movement out there. One could argue that the problems I had were secondary to poor QC at BP (which I would not disagree with, BTW) but I think there are intrinsic problems to the movement as far as reliability and ruggedness. As evidence, the derivative Omega 33XX movements have had significant problems also. I had to chuckle when the first owner's reports emerged because not only did BP screw more customers indirectly, but this time it had caused shame to its older Swatch group sister.

One might think that this was too small a sampling size for me to draw such a conclusion. I argue that it was two separate watches produced at different times (I bought my second Flyback two years later) yet both had problems. That's not unlike the random sampling that a company must use to ensure good QC. I will never be a Flyback purchaser again and I may never purchase a BP again. Search the archives and you will see a disproportionate number of posts questioning BP's overall reliablility. No other brand forum exhibits this amount of uncertainty; I'm sure that I am not the only previous owner that can give you insight as to why that might be the case.

Regards, Isaac in Philly.

Personal commentary follows...

It seems that I'm not the only person who has a low opinion of the FP 1185, it's decendants and the work of F. Piguet in general. I wish Swatch Group would come to their senses and drop their FORCED shotgun marriage between Piguet and Omaga. What the heck was bad with the concept of Omega's sporting Lemania movments that worked, worked reliabily and were durable watches? Expensive Hanger Queen chronographs will likely prove to be as disasterous to Omega as the Quartz and Japanese onslaught of the late 1970's and early 1980's.

Again, as Bas Van Dorp first advanced, the people behind the demise of the Lemania 5100 deserve to be the first peoples lined up agains the wall when the revolution comes.

-- Chuck

Off-Topic: The Dutch... Class acts...

2006-05-06T12:15:00.000-05:00

This post, as noted above, is a bit off topic...

Most Speedmaster collectors know that when it comes to prowess in both collecting and knowledge about Speedmasters (and watches in general) few countries/nationalities can match, and fewer still can surpass the Dutch. Among all the countries/nationalities in the world in my opinion only the Italians and Japanese could claim to surpass the fervor and dedication of Dutch Speedmaster collectors while British, German, Aussie, Canadian and American collectors struggle to keep up.

Over the past 16 months I have been weaned off of one of my other lifelong hobbies (radio) by a new form of communication, Podcasts. Podcasts are a medium where anyone with a computer with audio-in capability and a connection to the internet can literally host their own program, be it audio only (like radio), Audio-Visual (like a music video, movie or TV program) or simply files of interest (photo's, documents, etc.) and people who are interested can subscribe to them easily... Podcasting has been likened to "Audio blogs" the difference is that with podcasts and a suitable player, Apple made/marketed iPods are the most popular but other brands and even CD-ROM's can be burned so that people can decide what they want to listen or watch when they want, where they want, and how they want.

One of my favorite podcasts has been an Ambient music podcast by a gentleman out of Rotterdam who goes by the name of "TC" called SpaceMusic... The Podcasting portion of TC's site is located here. Since he started podcasting in 2005 every year on 5 May he has posted a special "Liberation Day" podcast to commemorate the liberation of the Netherlands from Axis/Nazi subjugation during World War II. Unlike most countries, the Nethe1rlands sets aside two days to mark this event. The first day is a commemoration of those who fell during the occupation and those who sacrificed to liberate those in occupied lands. The second day is a celebration of their freedom and hopes for the future. It is TC's Liberation Day 2006 podcast that prompted me to post this note...

The Dutch are a class act. In a world where many peoples / organizations / countries routinely co-opt May 1st (May Day) to ferment and popularize pet-causes, revolution, parade tanks, missles and machine gun toting soldiers, the Dutch chose to remember the fallen, those who fought to liberate them and to celebreate their freedom and hopes for the future. They are a class act for many other reasons too, but this one came to mind today!

Just my opinion, but everyone is entitled to share it!

-- Chuck

P.S. I know that many other countries celebrate liberation days. However, the manner which the Dutch do has impressed me greatly...

The topic is rugged chronographs made by Omega...

2006-05-06T09:55:00.000-05:00

Back in May of last year (2005) a query was posting on TZOF asking what was the most rugged Omega. I posted a pair of replies that I have found myself seeking to use in replies/posts the past two days. Unfortunately, because of the problematic nature of the Search function at TZ I have had a great deal of difficulty pulling up that post. I just now found it again, and so I don't have to search for it in the future, I'm recycling it here in my blog...

navratna Posts: most rugged omega [May 31, 2005 - 04:08 PM]:

What is the most rugged Omega? Something you sleep in, wear 24/7 do anything in wearing it constant.

Chicagoland Chuck Maddox Posts: If you're not going to be in the water, I'd recommend the... [May 31, 2005 - 07:15 PM]
If you're not going to be in the water, I'd recommend the Omega Speedmaster Professional Mark II. Same components as the NASA tested Moonwatch, with a stronger case (in my opinion) and a tougher Mineral Crystal.
If you're going to be in the water, I'd recommend the Seamaster Professional Chronograph-Chronometer Diver 300m (the orignal Valjoux 7750 model, not the c.33xx's) in your choice of SS or Ti.
If you aren't going near the water but need Date and automatic capability: I'd recommend the ST 176.0012 (Mark IV case c.1045) Speedmaster Automatic Day-Date c.1045)... This model is the most commonly seen Speedmaster variation (along with the Mark II Pro) with a very similar tough as nails case and mineral crystal and the tough as a sledgehammer Lemania 5100 ebauche...
Hard to go wrong with any of these.
But those would just be my choices... I'm sure there will be plenty of varying opinions...
-- Chuck

and I elaborated on my thoughts in a follow-up to myself:

Chicagoland Chuck Maddox Posts: Having said all that, I'll share a few more insights... [Jun 01, 2005 - 09:02 AM]

[I included a copy of my first post at this point -- deleted here to keep things short and tight...]

Having said all that, I'll share a few more insights...
The topic is rugged chronographs made by Omega...
We all know that just about the toughest testing any chronograph has ever been subjected to was the NASA testing for Astronaut watches. The only watch we know of that has consistantly passed these tests have been the Omega Speedmaster (both Pre-Pro and Professional) Moonwatch in both c.321 and c.861 versions.
The Mark II Professional is the closest watch to the Moonwatch but with a better (60meter) W/R rating (not that I'd trust that with a vintage watch), a much tougher mineral crystal, and a case that I feel is stronger than the moonwatch's. Put a Mark II on after having a moonwatch on your wrist ... if you're going mountaineering, you're not going to ask to switch back to the moonwatch, in my opinion. That said, since the Mark II and the modern moonwatch are built around the c.x861 (Lemania x873) nearly any c.861 that Omega has made is a viable candidate for a rugged watch. A "Darth Vader" style Seamaster might be a good choice for some people, a Flightmaster (which uses a more complex version of the c.861) might be a better choice for others. I can say that in my experience the Mark II Professional is the toughest mechanical chronograph I've ever used bar none and it also has the added benefits of being the most common Speedmaster variant, so there are plenty examples out there, at reasonable prices and spare (dials, hands, crystals, etc.) are plentiful, available and won't break the bank account. The Mark II gets the nod because there is no tougher watch and the fact it's easily available, economical and easily maintainable are bonuses.
The 176.0012 Mark IV cased c.1045 is very similar to the Mark II in many ways, looks, shape, toughness. Same style of rugged case, same mineral crystal, same W/R rating, etc. Biggest difference is the c.1045 (Lemania 5100) movement. If there is an automatic movement that is as tough and rugged as a manual wind it's the Lemania 5100, and save perhaps Alain Silberstein, no one does a better job of preparing the 5100 movement for use than Omega. The 176.0012 is the most commonly seen c.1045 Speedmaster variant and is more often seen than any of the Teutonics or the Mark III or Mark IV (c.1040's) or their c.1040 Seamaster breathern. The c.1040 (and c.1041) is another fairly rugged movement, but I don't think anyone will seriously make a case that the c.1040 is as tough or tougher than the c.1045. While spares for the 176.0012 aren't as easy to come by as the Mark II they are available and obtainable. Again the commonality of this model compared to the alternatives work in the favor of someone looking to get into one of these models because in an equation of supply and demand, these models are easier to get into without a huge investment. In fact the Mark II was my first Omega, and the 176.0012 was my second.
The SeMPC original Valjoux 7750 version) probably needs the least elaboration of these three. Simply put, it is in my (and many other peoples's) opinion the best all around Sports chronograph ever made. It's a chronometre rated Chronograph, has a 300m W/R, one can operate it's pushers under water, it's tough rugged reliable. It's this last point where the newer ACC and post-ACC models fail... You don't want to be a football pitch or more under the ocean's surface when your chronograph fails on you. The only watch I'd consider a possible contender at this time for the "all around sports" title is the TAG-Heuer Aquagraph 2000. And the TH-AG2k is a very capable chronograph... It sports a better W/R rating: 500m, an automatic He escape Valve, some potentially nice added features (the visual crown screwed-down indication, and locking uni-rotatable bezel), but it's not a chronometre (unless I missed something), features a piggy-back module chronograph movement, and isn't a very "business formal friendly" watch... One can wear the SeMPC at a board meeting and it'll look fine peeking out from behind a dress shirt's cuff, the AG2k will make people ask "You just come from Scuba practice or something, and forget to take off the regulator"? The SeMPC is still in the active production list at Omega for the Stainless Steel version. Earlier versions in Titanium and various Two-Tone flavors still show up on the Sales Corner and on eBay at reasonable prices should second-hand be your prefered acquisition method. As this watch is still in production, spares are not an issue.
Again, these are just my recommendations, Omega makes a multitude of rugged capable chronographs. Now you have a better idea as to my rationale for recommending what I have.
-- Chuck

[Note: I have added some links to my text posted here (to related pages) and formateted them for easier reading here, but the words I typed are the same (save for one typo correction) as what I posted on TZ Omega Forum...]

Anyway... Now I just have to remember that I posted a copy of this post here!

-- Chuck

Sorry I haven't been as active lately...

2006-05-06T09:44:00.000-05:00

Sorry, I haven't been posting as actively as much lately as I would like to... I've had three sizeable projects I've been working on... Getting one of the '57 T-Bird's operational again, getting my 2005 Income Taxes taken care of, and thirdly ordering a new car for myself (my first new vehicle since before I started collecting watches)... I still have to dispose of my current ride, a car I've driven for 3 years longer than any previous car I've owned. But hopefully, with the first three projects completed, hopefully I'll have more things to post and talk about in the days ahead.

-- Chuck

How I deal with fraudulent use of my site...

2006-03-07T12:00:00.000-06:00

For the second time in four days I've had to take action to protect pictures on my site to prevent them being used on eBay auctions...

In the first incident the seller of a Heuer Carrera literally copied the contents of my page of a Heuer Carrera catalog and pasted it into his auction listing. In the second incident the seller of a Omega Speedmaster Mark III literally copied the pertentent contents of my Mark Series page, in particular the instructions for how to use the Mark III in his auction listing. In addition, he looted my photo's of my watch, and the Mark III's movement and presented those pictures as being of the watch he was selling...

Before:
Heuer Carrera Auction	Omega Speedy Mark III Auction

Sometimes I can only report the copyright violations to eBay and hope that they will pull the auction before it closes. However in both of these instances I was able to take more direct and immediate action on my own...

After:
Heuer Carrera Auction	Omega Speedy Mark III Auction

I will not stand still when people use and abuse my site for their own profit and for fraudulent purposes. Even though it's a major additional burden on my time, If someone takes fraudulent liberties with my work on eBay or elsewhere, I will make it my mission in life to make sure the abuse stops and I am not particularly concerned if an auction is spoiled or not.

I am a firm believer in the adage that Sy Syms used as his slogan "an Informed consumer is the best customer"... I encourage people, even those who are listing items on eBay and/or sales corners, to link to my pages. I encourage those links as it shows to me that the seller is confident enough of his wares that he wants his customer to know what they are. I also have no problem with people quoting short passages (a paragraph or smaller) of my work in their listing as long as credit (and preferrably a link to the passage) is given...

But misrepresenting my photo's as the watch that's being offered for sale/auction, and or using my site to support such sales is not only wrong and improper, it's mighty impolite to me and the people you are wishing to do business with.

I'd really rather not waste my time on such matters, but I feel no alternative but to defend myself from people who would make me an accessory to their fraud.

I've archived before and after .pdf documents of the Carrera [before / after] and Speedmaster Mark III [before / after] incidents for those of you who are interested in the details.

I'd like to thank Paul for bringing the Carrera Auction to my attention, and Eric for bringing the Speedmaster Mark III Auction to my attention. I greatly appreciate your efforts!

-- Chuck

P.S. I should also point out, that people linking to my site in their sales or auction listings does not imply a sanction by me of their items in any way... Any more than an automaker or computer maker including a quote from a newspaper article or review is an endorsement.

P.P.S. It really cheeses me off I have to spend so much time typing up such stuff as this. If I wanted to do this I would have become a lawyer or a para-legal...

Watch Carefully (18k Speedy go-to guy)'s articles:

2006-03-07T07:36:00.000-06:00

One of the of the many people I've had the pleasure to cross paths with in my few years is "Watch Carefully" the handle (or nickname) for C. Bradley Jacobs. While a lot of people contact me about Speedmasters, most don't realize that I'm not a big fan of Gold or Two-Tone watches. I have a few "exceptions that break the rule, but for the most part my collection consists of mono-toned watches of the black/silvery variety such as Titanium, Stainless Steel and various flavors of PVD coated Stainless Steel. Brad has been my "Go-To" guy for Gold Speedmasters.

Yesterday, I received a query on the current value of the late 1960's 18k Speedmasters, so I dutifully forwarded the query to Brad, and he replied pointing the questioner to his website which has a listing of the article's he's written:

Because Brad's article's are listed in reverse chronological order, and his article on the 18k Speedmasters was the first article he had published, The 1969 Omega Speedmaster Professional Apollo XI Commemorative Wristwatch in 18k Gold appears at the bottom of his page. While most of Brad's articles are not Chronograph related, Brad's top-notch writing and photos make the site well worth visiting. Oh, and while I'm thinking about it, Brad put an update last year on 18k Speedmaster values in his article...

Thank's Brad for being there to lend an assist!

-- Chuck

Omega Dimensions Table updated/revised...

2006-02-02T00:12:00.000-06:00

Just did a minor, but hopefully useful update/revision to the Dimensions of Seclected Omega Chronographs page... I added a link to the entry for the 176.0017 (prototype c.1045) [line 6] model that points back to my post on that topic from late last year.

Secondly, I added line numbers for each section. The purpose of these is for when someone asks for a specific dimension, one can link to that particular table, say Seamaster, and note which specific line is the pertenent line, say 11 for the 120m/440ft Diver's model, etc... . It should make for an easier, quicker and accurate way to direct people to a specific entry.

At some point, Jeff Stein plan on adding similar numbers to the tables that consist of the MOAT (or Mother Of All Tables) over at OnTheDash. This exercise was to add that functionality to the Omega tables (since they aren't as extensive) and to give me some experience/idea as to how difficult and time consuming of a task this is. I did the revision of the Omega Tables in about an hour. Not too bad and I figured a few shortcuts to consistancy along the way...

The MOAT revision should be most helpful... Especially on the Autavia table which was at last count, over 45 enties long!

Enjoy!

-- Chuck

Speedmaster Torino BA Rattrapante number 02 of 26…

2006-01-26T22:00:00.000-06:00

One of the nice things about having a certain "high visability" in the Omega Watch community is that from time to time I get emails like this. [Note: I've sought permission from the sender of this email to share the information as long as I anonymize his name. So I'll call him "D from Central Europe"...

Omega Speedmaster Broad Arrow Rattrapante no 02/26

Hi Chuck

Today I was able to pick up a Speedmaster Broad Arrow Rattrapante from the current Torino 2006 Collection in Zurich/Switzerland. It is number 2 of only 26 pieces. I was told by Omega that no 01 goes to the museum and about half of the total number goes directly to the IOC in Torino. According Omega all pieces except no 01 and 02 went to Italy. I saw one in the Omega Boutique in Milano (Via Montenapoleone) two weeks ago. The official dealer price here in Switzerland is 17'200 Swiss Francs.

I have two pictures of my watch attached. Comparing the watch with the pictures in the press kit one sees, that the minute hand is longer (same size as the Speedmaster Broad Arrow Rattrapante). For me it is about 2 mm too long and does not really suit the dial layout. Otherwise the watch is executed excellently. The action of all three pushers is very smoothly but well defined. The watch looks smaller on the wrist compared e.g an IWC Portugieser although the diameter is about 2 mm larger.

You can use this info, if you like in your excellent Omega web page; but please do not disclose my name.

With best regards

While my thoughts on the Olympic Timer's are posted elsewhere, I have to admit a surge of excitement when I see pictures of one of these.

I don't know about the rest of you, but I CAN NOT wait until 10 February and the opening ceremonies at Torino!

-- Chuck

Martin adds to our Valjoux 72 knowledge

2006-01-19T08:51:00.000-06:00

From: Martin Vogt <m-b.vogt@xxxxxxx.de>
Date: January 17, 2006 5:52:02 AM CST
To: <Chuck Maddox>
Subject: Info on the Valjoux 72 5

Hi Chuck,

it's always a pleasure to read your watch blog.

I wish I could find the time/material to post more frequently. Hopefully I will and things will pick up.

You asked for further information on the Val. 72 theme and I checked my good old Chronograph 'bible' , the Lang-Meis, Chronographen, Armbanduhren: Die Zeit zum Anhalten (transl. : Chronographs, Wristwatches: The Time to Stop) published by Callwey, 1992, (not continued!) unfortunately only available in german. (One of the authors is Mr. Gerd R. Lang, owner of Chronoswiss, a master-watchmaker, watch-maniac and a chrono specialist .

Searching the model-tableaus I found a remark on the Valjoux 725 : 12-hour counter and flyback device..... But no photo or further description....

Wow, well that makes sense! Thanks for the info/insight!

This is the only information on this movement I ever noticed since collecting chronographs. Neither other books nor the internet brought additional information. Maybe this was a Valjoux project only which was not continued???

That's a possibility... Or it could be some firm incorporated the movement into a product without making a splash about it.

Best regards from Germany

Martin

PS: According to the named book, the Val. 71 has 14''' only. Anyone told me that the Val.71 should have been the predecessor of the Val.72. The corresponding two-subdial version to the Val. 71 is the Val. 22 (also 14''') with its successor Val.23

Good information to know! Thanks Martin! Here is an updated table:

Valjoux 72 Family of Chronograph Movements:
Movement #:	Description:
71	Large 15 Ligne version of Valjoux 72 (13 Ligne or just under)
72	Basic ‘Plain Jane’ Valjoux 72.
721	"Seafarer" Tides complication in 9 o'clock sub-dial...
722	Rolex variant with Breguet Overcoil & MicroStella Balance
72c/723	Tri-Date non-moonphase v.72
724	GMT complication
725	Fly-back complication, not certain it was ever produced in quantity
726	Improved v.72 movement.
727	Rolex version of 726 with Bruget Overcoil & MicroStella*
728	1 Register/Center Pinion Chrono Minute hand varitant.
729	GMT, probably v.726 with GMT complicaton added.
730	Another Triple-Date model, perhaps DDM v.726?
88	Triple-Date Moonphase model (v.723/72c with Moonphase)
* Note: The posting of Kohei's scan of the GP is something that throws a monkey wrench into my theory of the v.727 being a Rolex Exclusive movement, I think there is more to this movement than I know at this time.

Thank you Martin for increasing our knowledge!

-- Chuck

Swiss Watch Industry "The War of Independence"

2006-01-19T07:59:00.000-06:00

A post over on Chronocentric's ZOwie Omega Discussion forum by forum newcommer Geo leads me to a very interesting, informative and educational article located on TimeZone titled "The War of Independence" on the Swiss Watch Industry. I learned a lot of the history of the current terrain in the Swiss watch industry and I'm including a link to it here so you may do the same!

-- Chuck

Happy New Years and sorry for the absence...

2006-01-19T07:47:00.000-06:00

Sorry I haven't been posting anything here lately. With the crush of the holidays, the bowl games immediately after New Years, CES and MacWorld (the real Christmas for Apple and Macintosh fans every year) I've been very busy with things behind the scenes.

I'll be posting a couple of short notes today and hopefully more frequently in the days and weeks to come than I have been the past month or two.

-- Chuck

Why Professionals Use Mac...

2005-12-13T06:10:00.000-06:00

Jeff Stein emailed me a link to this article on "Why Professionals Use Mac" written by Ken Rockwell who is a leading photo equipment reviewer...

_________________

Apple's MacMini

Which Apple computer is best for digital photography?

INTRODUCTION

Why do we use Mac? Simple: It just works. We get more done in less time without the aggravation.

That's it all in a nutshell. Just try a Mac and you'll feel this all for yourself exactly as I did when I upgraded in 2000.

_________________

This is a well researched and annotated article which lays out the reasons why everyone should spend a little money (as little as $500 for a MacMini and perhaps $100 for a Keyboard, Mouse, Display switch) to add a Macintosh to their computing arsenal...

For the record... I converted to the Mac (from an Apple ][) back in February of 1984... What took me so long? My name didn't get to the top of the waiting list until Leap Day of 1984. I only bought a "PC" back in 2002, a used Pentium Laptop purchased for the purpose of manipulating my Garmin GPS system. I've never abandonded the Macintosh platform, and probably never will. At least not until something that is superior and compelling is created...

Biased? Rightly so!

-- Chuck

Lemania 5100 movement family...

2005-12-13T00:16:00.000-06:00

Yesterday I was contacted by Jorge Robles asking about 5100's, specifically asking if there was a family of chronograph movements based upon the Lemania 5100 movement such as 5012, 5195 and so on. He had seen a number of eBay auctions that mentioned these movements but had never seen anything written up describing them.

Of course there is a family of movements based upon the 5100's. It's not as extensive of a family as the Valjoux 72 family I detailed previously, nor the Valjoux 7750 family of movements, but it has some unique members that deserve mention and catagorizing.

I composed a reply to Jorge with a basic rundown of the 5100 movements I could off the top of my head, and CCed Pascal Straatsma... If there is anyone on this world who's a bigger fan of the 5100 than I am, it's Pascal. Pascal responded with a number of additional links and photo's...

This post is a listing of 5100 movements.

Ok, let's start out with the most commonally seen of the 5100's the Lemania 5100 itself...

Base Lemania 5100

This is the standard conventional layout of the Lemania 5100. Manufacturers can elect to include Day or omit it as they see fit, and sometimes they do to allow room for their logo or other printing on the dial.

-- Photo by Chuck Maddox

Lemania 5012

The 5012 is a 5100 without the 24-hour subdial and also runs at 21,600bph as opposed to the 5100's 28,800bph...

-- Photo by Chuck Maddox

-- Photo by Pascal Straatsma

However, a lack of a 24-Hour subdial does not automatically equate to a 5012 movement. Pascal owns another Lemania chronograph without the 24-hour Subdial but it has a 5100 under the dial:

-- Photo by Pascal Straatsma

Lemania 5195:

The 5195 is a quasi-"Compax" subdial arrangement no-date version of the 5100:

-- Photo ruthlessly stolen from an eBay auction for educational purposes...

The 5195 variation might have significantly different "guts" than a 5100, don't know, I've never examined one personally, neither has Pascal. To our knowledge the only watch that has ever offered this movement has been the Eberhardt & Co. Frecce Tricolori model.

Eberhardt also offered a Frecce Tricolori model utilizing the 5100 movement. Pascal owns an example and it's pictured below:

-- Photo by Pascal Straatsma

Incidentally, Frecce Tricolori is the name of Italy's acrobatic flight team...

Lemania 5190:

The 5190 is a model I know little about, however Pascal owns one, so I'll turn the narration over to him...: Just like the 5195, it does away with the day-date indication to have a classic tri-compax layout. But while the 5195 simply puts the usual 24 hour subdial at 3, the 5190 replaces it with a moonphase dial and a tide indicator. As far as I know, this movement was used by only one particular watch, the Eberhard Champion Maréoscope:

-- Photo by Pascal Straatsma

Lemania 5200:

The 5200, simply put is a "sans-rotor" manual wind version of the 5100. To both Pascal's and my knowledge only Pryngps offered a Lemania in this configuration...:

-- Photo unapologetically stolen from an eBay auction for educational purposes...

The old 5100 movement looks a little naked there without the rotor... It appears to keep the 2 banana-shaped nylon parts designed as a rotor rest.

-- Photo unabashedly stolen from an eBay auction for educational purposes...

I guess since they aren't any taller than other parts of the watch, there is no advantage in thiness by removing them, so I guess they leave them in. Weird!

Lemania 5250:

Apparently there also is a Lemania 5250 movement... The only way we know about this is from two webpages supplied by Pascal: here in the "Handaufzugswerke" section, and here. Simply put is a "sans-rotor" manual wind version of the 5012 complete down to running at the slower 21,600 bph rate. Neither Pascal or I have seen an example either in person or on the web. If you see one, or own one, please contact me!

To the best of both Pascal's and my knowledge this is a complete listing of the variations of the 5100 movement family. Of course and as always, if anyone has additions, corrections, refinements to my knowledge, please feel free to contact me with them.

Special thanks to Pascal Straatma for his interest and efforts in the creation of this post!.

-- Chuck

Valjoux 72 Chrono Family Discussion...

2005-12-11T17:55:00.000-06:00

Thoughts/Thread on the Valjoux 72 Family of Chronographs

On Oct 23, 2005 2ndhandman asked in the TZ Public forum about the "Valjoux 72/726 movement...does anyone know when last used in regular production?"...

What resulted was a fun, informative and delightful conversation between Kohei Saito (Moderator of TimeZone's Japanese and Seiko Forums) and myself on the topic of the Valjoux 72 family of chronograph movements.

This post is an archive of that discussion.

(For more on this topic, please visit Jeff Stein's page on movements at OnTheDash.com)

Kohei@Tz replied to 2ndhandman first: "I don't know when was the last stock exhausted, but..>>" [Oct 23, 2005 - 11:06 PM]

I believe they stop production in 1974. Here's one from 70s with final version, 727.

I replyed: Sorry Kohei, but the final variant of the Valjoux 72 was the 728, not 727... [Oct 24, 2005 - 08:17 AM]

Yes, for those keeping track that's a 1-Register full (12-Hour) Chronograph...

Goes to show that Valjoux did experiment with center chrono minute indication as popularized by the Lemania 134x and 5012/5100/5200 movements...

But I got to thinking about it and I remembered there was a v.729 variant:

In fact, now that I think about it... there was a 729 variant... - Chicagoland Chuck Maddox - Oct 24, 2005 - 08:37 AM

Ironically, I have one of these Wittnauer's... But I could have sworn it was powered by a v.724 movement... I guess I'll have to check...

So we have a Valjoux 729, and I'm pretty sure I've heard of a v.730 (but I can't remember if it was part of the Valjoux 72 line or not...

Hmmm, sounds like some research is in order!

Kohei replied: Cool, and thanks for correction, Chuck [Oct 24, 2005 - 09:03 AM]

I only know and thought 727 were the last batch with 3 register designed 72 valiant, because never seen 728 or 729, (especially 728) i must of passed many occasions to owning this rare? caliber by thought Lemania are ticking inside, and same reason i would consider 724 instead of 729 with GMT hand.

Looking forward to read your research report, though.

Best regards,

Kohei

I did a little more digging and found: "The seller of this watch on eBay says this is a Valjoux 730..." [Oct 24, 2005 - 09:16 AM]

The seller of this watch on eBay says this is a Valjoux 730... Frankly, I personally trust this seller about as far as he could throw me (I'm John Candy sized, so trust me, he couldn't throw me far).

But it seems that there may also have been a v.730 related to the Valjoux 72...

So, anyone ever hear of a Valjoux 731? [Sheesh!]

Kohei@Tz Pointed out:Again, 730 would be easily fooled by 72C, and overlooked [Oct 24, 2005 - 07:32 PM]

and i guess 727 was the last of the tri-compax variant then. (unless you found more)

Here's my 72C

730 has no balance screws on the wheel, but balance wheel itself is bigger in diameter, also has shock protection system on the shaft, other than that it almost identical with 72C.

Best regards,

Kohei

And I posted this: Actually, the Valjoux 723 has the same layout... I have a Zodiac c.723:

Also, the DDMM (Day-Date-Month-Moonphase) version is sometimes called the Valjoux 88:

and that's pretty much where that thread ended...

So, here's a table or score Card for those who are interested and or keeping track...

Valjoux 72 Family of Chronograph Movements:
Movement #:	Description:
71	Large 15 Ligne version of Valjoux 72 (13 Ligne or just under)
72	Basic ‘Plain Jane’ Valjoux 72.
721	"Seafarer" Tides complication in 9 o'clock sub-dial...
722	Rolex variant with Breguet Overcoil & MicroStella Balance
72c/723	Tri-Date non-moonphase v.72
724	GMT complication
725	I've never seen a movement marked 725, probably skipped.
726	Improved v.72 movement.
727	Rolex version of 726 with Bruget Overcoil & MicroStella*
728	1 Register/Center Pinion Chrono Minute hand varitant.
729	GMT, probably v.726 with GMT complicaton added.
730	Another Triple-Date model, perhaps DDM v.726?
88	Triple-Date Moonphase model (v.723/72c with Moonphase)
* Note: The posting of Kohei's scan of the GP is something that throws a monkey wrench into my theory of the v.727 being a Rolex Exclusive movement, I think there is more to this movement than I know at this time.

The above are to the best of my knowledge and experience and subject to change/additions/refinement as new information is developed...

For more on this topic, please visit Jeff Stein's page on movements at OnTheDash.com...

Of course and as always, if anyone has additions, corrections, refinements to my knowledge, please feel free to contact me with them.

-- Chuck

The mystery of the 176.0017, ¿resolved?

2005-11-23T06:05:00.000-06:00

Back in December of 2004 I reported on the mysterious tale of the unused Speedmaster reference number: 176.0017. Prior to an email message from Fabio Iannella of Italy. You can read the details of our conversation by clicking on this sentence.

Fabio, like most of the Italian collector's I've had the privilege of interacting with has an insatiable appetite for learning more about these little machines that fascinate us.... He has been continually searching for information on the 176.0017. Today, I received an e-mail message and a scan from him... He's tracked down what is most likely the story of the 176.0017...

Here is Fabio's email note to me and the scan he forwarded...

From: FABIO
Subject: 176.0017

Hi Chuck this is Fabio
I discovered what a 176.0017 is. It took all this time to discover it but I finally turned up some information. This source is pretty reliable.
According to my source:
"The ST 176.0017 has never been produced and the photo is therefore to be considered as the one from a prototype!"
This is the only scan I could get!

I hope this helps to solve the mystery about the eighth Omega 1045 model... It appears that was never born!
Actually there are other Omega 1045 models, but that is another story...
I hope you all enjoy
Have a Great Time!
Fabio from Italy

OK... Here is a blowup of the photo portion:

This has to be one of the most interesting c.1045 "coulda been's"... This watch appears to have elements of the Speedsonic [case and day-date window treatment], Seamaster [chrono minute hand and hour sub-dial treatment], the crystal seems to be a Mark II/Mark IV part, and the rest of the dial [minute/second track, and 24-hour sub-dial treatment] is, well... Unique!

Looking at the card again...

... we have the case reference (176.0017), Calibre (1045), a couple of unexplained symbols... 6 Atmosphere's (60m W/R rating), Mineral Glass Crystal (the norm for all c.1045's), 1976... Don't know what that means... MD and ST which would indicate to me that there were plans to offer this model in both Stainless Steel and Gold. and the cryptic 1.6.74 which might be a printing date (either January 6th, 1974, or more likely the European style of dating 1st of June 1974).

By looking at the size of the strap on this watch in the scan, I'd guess the lug width would have been 22mm.

All in all an interesting watch. I personally have no reason to doubt this document's authenticity, nor the word of Fabio's source that it was never offered by Omega. I certainly have never seen a watch that looks like the one pictured offered for sale anywhere.

I plan on sending a link to this posting to Marco Richon and Omega Vintage Information for confirmation. I've had an email conversation with Marco recently, the details of which I will report soon (I hope) and I'm sure he will find this of interest.

My thanks and gratitude to Fabio for his determination to solve the mystery of this unused case reference number! Fabio, like nearly every Italian Speedmaster collector I've crossed paths with, the Italian's are a genuine pleasure to converse with. Their knowledge, enthusiasm and joy about the topic may be paralleled, but is rarely equaled much less exceeded.

Enjoy everyone!

Chuck

Distinguishing 7750/LWO 283 and LWO 283 insights...

2005-10-11T08:52:00.000-05:00

Discussion about distinguising between on 7750/LWO 283 movements and some insight on the LWO 283...

Yesterday in the OnTheDash - Heuer Discussion Forum, I discussed a way to distinguish a Valjoux (ETA) 7750 from a LWO 283 movement without cracking the case...

This morning as a follow-up I posted pictures/information on an additional way to distinguish between a 7750 and a piggy-back movement (like the LWO 283) by the arrangement of it's pushers...

as the pushers don't align along the same plane as the crown.

Also had an additional insight about the LWO this morning that I thought I'd share...

The "piggy-back" nature of the ETA/LWO chronograph movement with the pushers on a plane closer to the dial than the back of the watch is probably why the date window on most LWO 283's have a "in-dial" cyclops magnifier... Since the main time keeping part of the movement is separated from the dial by the chrono module, it's probably necessary to have optical aid in order for the date to be easily legible.

Just a little additional insight for your Tuesday morning!

Cheers!

Chuck

CanadianDriver Feature: Car Themed Watches...

2005-09-23T11:28:00.000-05:00

CanadianDriver Feature: Car Themed Watches...

While casting about for something else today I came across this article on Car-Themed watches from the CanadianDriver site. As I haven't seen this mentioned by anyone else, I thought I would...

Click on the picture to go to the article...

Enjoy!

-- Chuck

"Autoweek" Heuer Carrera fetches over $2k on eBay…

2005-09-20T16:32:00.000-05:00

Exceedingly uncommon "Autoweek" Heuer Carrera fetches over $2k on eBay… Occasional OTD forum participant Jeff Meyer apparently decided to part with this very uncommon Carrera.

To be honest I'm a bit surprised it went for so little, considering that a plain jane mid-1960's white dial Carrera should fetch well over $1,600 these day but I believe that may be to some confusion about the logo...

Back in the "Heuer Glory Days" in the 1960's and 1970's Heuer's were frequently advertized in many automotive magazines. Competition Press/Autoweek was a clientle that was tailor-made for the stopwatches, daskboard and wrist chronometres that Heuer sold. While I do not have an extensive collection of AutoWeeks from that time, my father was a subscriber for many many years and I remember the ad's and Autoweek's logo very well...


Modern "Autoweek.com" logo...

What I suspect happened at some time was Autoweek had a special run of Carrera's made, either for staff or for subscription premiums or offered them in the magazine. In any of those instances, there were likely not very many made and their history is a particularly interesing one.

Congratulations to Nic on his new purchase!

-- Chuck

C.O.S.C. Chronometre Numbers for 2004...

2005-09-20T13:04:00.000-05:00

I recently ran across the COSC numbers for the year 2004...

It's interesting that Omega's numbers are up nearly 75,000 pieces over the COSC numbers for 2000 while both Rolex and Breitling's numbers are down.

Perhaps the Planet Ocean's sales will cause a furthing of this trend...

-- Chuck

Mike Kobald interview on WatchTime site...

2005-09-20T12:37:00.000-05:00

I see that WatchTime has an interesting interview with Michael Kobald of Kobald Watches on their website. I found the part where he describes how he came to meet James Gandolfini to be especially humorious...

ONE ON ONE WITH MIKE KOBOLD, FOUNDER OF KOBOLD WATCHES

Enjoy!

-- Chuck

Interesting account of 24-hour Breitlings & Mercury...

2005-09-20T10:38:00.000-05:00

You ever wonder why a Breitling Cosmonaut was worn by Scott Carpentier on the fourth Mercury mission and never mentioned again? I received an email late last week which was very interesting:

Greetings, Chuck:
I've very much enjoyed reading your informative articles on Omega SpeedMasters, and thought you might like to know about something I came across regarding the Mercury Astronauts and watches. It is clear that they predated much of the NASA activity with regard to the Omega Speedy and the gruesome testing performed to find the best possible time piece for the space program. However, I just obtained a recent book written by Walter Schirra and Ed Buckbee in which Schirra says during an interview with the surviving Mercury 7 members...
"Do you remember a fellow by the name of Harold Johnson who came into our M7 office and gave us each a 24-hour analog hour wrist watch to wear? We were to wear them to become accustomed to the 24-hour clock because the worldwide tracking network would be using that time during our flights. About three weeks later, Harold came back and one of us asked, "Harold, what time is it?" He looked at the analog watch on one arm, shook his head, pulled up his sleeve on his other arm and looked at his regular watch and said "It's about ten minutes until 12". That was the end of that watch."
No mention of the make of the "24-hour" watch is made, but I thought this was quite interesting, and had not read of this before. Thought you might want to know about it for future reference. The book by Schirra and Buckbee is entitled "The REAL Space Cowboys", published by Apogee Books. My copy came signed by both authors, and I'm so pleased to have an autograph of one of the original Mercury 7. Buckbee was involved with NASA from the Mercury days and worked with Dr. Wernher von Braun in developing the rockets for the US space program. So far, an excellent read!
Keep up the great work, Chuck!
Sincerely,
Dxxxxx Lxxxxxxxxx

I received permission from the person who contacted me to share this information publically. I added the link to Amazon for the book by Schirra and Buckbee...

Enjoy!

-- Chuck

Ming Thein's flighty snaps added to flightmaster article...

2005-09-18T10:15:00.000-05:00

"Photohorologer" Ming Thein contacted me yesterday with a slew of outstanding and dramatic flightmaster photo's he had taken of a new flightmaster c.911 acquisition of one of his cousin's... Ming's cousin was gracious enough to let Ming photograph his flighty, and Ming was kind enough to permit me to share them with you all. Click on the photo below to see Ming's photo's...

-- Chuck

TAG-Heuer Chrono Pilot Instructions Posted:

2005-09-13T16:11:00.000-05:00

A couple of weeks back fellow watch collector Brian Cantor recently picked up a vintage Heuer Pilot's model chronograph (automatic) which came with it's original manual. Over the years, I had lost my original manual, and Brian was kind enough to mail me his for scanning and presentation via my site...

TAG-Heuer Chrono Pilot Instructions:

These instructions should prove to be valuable to any one who owns a watch equipped with a "Whiz-Wheel" or Circular Slide Rule...

Thanks again to Brian for graciously providing the manual for me to scan and host!

Enjoy!

-- Chuck

Part 2 of Collecting 110 on Newsstands and on OTD...

2005-09-02T13:00:00.000-05:00

Just received an email from Jeff Stein who has posted the second part of the "Collecting 110" article that Jeff, Ralf and I colaborated on for International Watch Magazine.

While you can read and enjoy the article on line, to get the full impact of Ralf's outstanding photography you owe it to yourself to pick up a copy at your favorite newsstand!

-- Chuck

McQueen Monaco? How about a Siegfried Rauch Bucherer?

2005-09-01T10:00:00.000-05:00

Ever since Steve McQueen's film about professional endurance auto racing "LeMans" became available on DVD I (among others) have scoured the DVD looking for watches that the actors in the film wore.

In the movie, Steve McQueen's Michael Dualaney's character's main rival is the character Erich Stahler, who was played by the superb German actor Siegfried Rauch. In the movie Stahler/Rauch wears an unusual two register red dialed chronograph:

This was a watch that neither I or anyone else whom I have shown this screen snap taken directly from the DVD has been able to identify... At least until about a week and a half ago.

About two weeks back in the course of my routine scouring of eBay I noticed a curious Bucherer chronograph with a familiar profile...


Additional Seller's photos: 2 3 4 5

I placed my typical last moments bid and happily won the auction, paid the seller and began waiting for the watch to appear. Yesterday I received the watch... And took these snaps...

I should mention, that this movement is one that I have not previously seen before. It's operation is unusual as well... The pusher at 2 o'clock starts the chronograph, while the pusher at 4 o'clock both stops and reset's the chronograph. One can restart the chronograph by pushing the 2 o'clock pusher again, but this arrangement is not as convenient or as natural of a movement as the traditional 2 o'clock start/stop, 4 o'clock reset arrangement.

Does anyone have any ideas as to the source of this movement?

I'm pretty sure that this model watch (with a Red dial instead of the Green Dial I purchased) is likely the watch that Mr. Rauch wore while playing the Erich Stahler character in LeMans...

What do you think?

-- Chuck

P.S. Now to find a black rubber 18mm Long or Extra Long Tropic strap to complete the package!

Tudor Watch/Chronograph Catalog (Pre-Tiger) posted...

2005-08-16T16:28:00.001-05:00

A couple of weeks back I won an eBay auction for a Tudor Watch/Chronograph catalog from the "Pre-Tiger" era. I had intended to post this catalog last week but my scaning efforts were interrupted by events and I didn't get a chance to complete the scans until this afternoon.

A link has been added to my Article Index page, but for your convenience click here or on the screen snap above to view the catalog...

Enjoy!

-- Chuck

New Link to old pictoral in Competitor's section...

2005-08-16T16:27:00.000-05:00

When I added the Competitors section to my article index last week, I missed one of the pictorals that I had already done...

I've since added a link to it in the Competitors section...

Enjoy!

-- Chuck

Ordering Omega's through O & W, Back in the Day...

2005-08-11T12:25:00.001-05:00

I've added a new page Ordering Omega's through O & W: Back in the day... which has digitized images of a flyer for ordering Omega watches through Ollech & Wajs. I'll point out that since the back of the flyer has a Speedmaster Mark II Professional, this flyer probably dates from 1969 or later...

I'll also note that while there is a Speedmaster Pre-Pro (probably a 105.003) pictured, the descriptive text clearly states: Speedmaster Professional. Interestingly enough, the price quoted is the same for a Moonwatch as a Mark II...

I should warn you, the prices are enough to make one Cry!

Enjoy!

-- Chuck

New "Competitors" section added to my article index!

2005-08-11T12:25:00.000-05:00

Back in the spring, I suggested over at OTD one day we ought to do a Scan Day of "Competitors"... In other words, side-by-side pictures of watches that when in production were in direct (or indirect) competition with one another.

Since then I've added to the five initial competitors comparisions I did back in March. But I had not really archived the posts until recently, and I didn't have any listing pointing to those archives...

Yesterday I added a new section in Purple at the bottom of my article index:

The archived presentation is very minimalist and no-frills, but I thought I'd point out this new addition to my site!

Here is a listing of the current list of "Competitors" posts:

Heuer Autavia v.72 vs. Omega Speedmaster c.321
Heuer Carrera v.72 vs. Omega Seamaster c.321
Heuer Autavia v.7736 vs. Omega Seamaster c.861
Heuer Carrera l.5100 vs. Omega Speedmaster c.1045
Heuer Audi Sport l.5012 vs. Certina Audi Design Quattro v.7750
Omega Speedmaster c.861 vs. UG Space-Compax v.72
Omega Speedmaster c.861 vs. UG Compax v.72
UG Space-Compax v.72 vs. UG Compax v.72

I'm confident it will grow as time goes by...

Enjoy!

-- Chuck

Important Matter: Ordering materials from O & W

2005-08-11T12:15:00.000-05:00

I've added a new page Important Matter: A packet of ordering materials from O&W which has digitized images of a packet of information for ordering watches through Ollech & Wajs dating to 31 March 1970... There are a number of Ollech & Wajs chronographs as well as at least one Enicar Sherpa-Graph (a pair of GMT watches, one a Chronograph) in the catalog listing. Also included is a price list and a letter from the Export Manager of O&W...

I should warn you, the prices are enough to make one Cry!

Enjoy!

-- Chuck

Ruckdee first to get hands on a 1965-2005 NASA 40th Anniversary Speedy!

2005-07-21T15:55:00.000-05:00

Ruckdee first to get hands on a 1965-2005 NASA 40th Anniversary Speedy!

Click on the picture or link above for the details!

-- Chuck

MWR Thread: Was the 861 ever worn on a mission?

2005-07-11T09:17:00.000-05:00

Bill Sohne tipped me off to this discussion occuring on the Military Watch Resource Forum... Here is a copy of my response within that thread.

No moon mission? How can you know? Posted By:Chris R Date: July 11, 2005, 3:10 a.m. PST

The c.861 has certainly been worn on Shuttle missions, so the answer to the original question "Was the 861 ever worn on a space mission? Thanks. (nt)" is yes. However, the answer to the logical follow-up question: "Did a c.861 fly on a Moon mission and/or was worn on the moon?"... is really difficult to state either way authoritatively...

In Response To: space yes, moon no. kind regards from down under. achim (nt) (watchyouwant)

Neither the NASA guys nor Omega do know which Speedy was used when.

Well, that's not entirely true... Actually we have a fairly good idea when certain watches were used:
NASA speedies_by_astronaut, NASA speedies_by_mission, NASA speedies_by_number.
And I do have a table from a trusted source, that I am unfortunately not at liberty to share publically, that further links NASA numbers to case references.
So we do have some idea as to when certain Speedy's were used by specific Astronauts on specific missions.

Chuck Maddox wrote a very comprehensive article on that subject: http://home.xnet.com/~cmaddox/moonmovement.html

And in fact I debated the topic at great length with the Late Michael Stein...

Omegas's John Diethelm wrote: It is obvious that the first moon landing was made with a Speedmaster fitted with a caliber 321 movement.

Correct.

The toward the seventies, the NASA has probably also used the replacement movement caliber 861.

That quote however is from Marco Richon in his book "Omega Saga"...

We have no official confirmation of what has been used and when, except for the first Moon landing.

Hmmm... Since the time of my article and my discussion with Herr Stein there has been new information developed on several fronts. I feel we can state with reasonable certainty when certain watches flew.

Chuck Maddox's bottom line:

1) Omega has stated as fact that the first watch worn on the moon (as referenced previously) that the first moon mission was equipped with c.321 Speedmasters, ST145.012-'s.

Yes...

2) We have two documented cases where a moonwalker (Sheppard) and one orbiter (Evens) wore c.321's

We even have pictures of these two watches from the KCSC...

3)We have no documentary evidence to prove that c.861's were used on or near the moon, although we have reasons to suspect that some were used among other brands of watches. This is the rub for c.861's... We can not document their use on or near the moon at all.

This here is the real rub... We have no documentation as to which other watches astronauts may or may not have been brought aboard Moon bound Apollo capsules. We know that Swigert wore a Rolex GMT on the abortive Apollo 13 mission in addition to his issue Speedmaster, and we know Scott wore a Waltham chronograph on EVA-3 of Apollo 15 (I think it was 15)... One can read the article for the details.
We do not have any similar evidence of a c.861 making the trip, but it remains possible one did. I don't personally believe it made the trip, but it's possible one (or more) did, most likely as a watch an astronaut may have purchased out of his own pocket as a backup watch.

4) The Speedmaster was not the only watch worn on the moon (David Scott as referenced previously wore a Waltham on his last EVA.), nor the only watch worn in the vicinity of lunar orbit (Jack Swigert's Rolex GMT-Master).

Ah... That's what I was referring to above.

Those are the facts of the matter as I have been able to determine them, and for the most part have typed up in the forum at least twice previously. The only difference is that previously I believe I may have stated that the c.861 was used on the Apollo-Soyuz mission. I no longer believe that I can conclude that the c.861 was definitely used or not, and it appears to me in reviewing the photo's in the Time Capsule Book, that Deke Slayton wore a c.321.

That sounds like an excerpt of my article.

I honestly believe the best and perhaps the only way to nail down for sure what watches were worn when, aside from what I and others have documented, is to ask the astronauts personally. I believe that may be the only way to satisfy people, and maybe even that wouldn't be enough.

I still pretty much stand by that one. I have continued to develop information as time goes on, and I believe we are slowly establishing a clearer picture as we move forward. However, I can't currently conclude that a c.861 has or has not flown on a lunar mission. Perhaps in time we can refine our knowledge, perhaps not. But the journey is enjoyable too!
-- Chuck

P.S. Thanks to Bill Sohne for tipping me off on this discussion!

nickmtl Asks: 3303 or 3301 are they okay when fixed ???

2005-06-19T23:04:00.000-05:00

I am cross-posting the following post from TZOF for future reference as this question comes up from time to time and TZ's Search feature is hopelessly broken...:

nickmtl Posts: 3303 or 3301 are they okay when fixed ??? [Jun 19, 2005 - 09:54 PM]

I'm looking at the s.steel, titanium and titanium/gold America's Cup Chrono which have the 3303 movement, and I figure that since these are some of the first 33xx movements, the design flaw may arise.

It is a fair assumption that it might.

I would like to know that if I buy from an AD, and it ends up broken to be fixed by Omega, are they reliable afterwards ???

Keep reading...

What's been your experience. Thanks.

Nick

I don't have any personal experience, because I have chosen not to purchase one. However in the 20 or so minutes since you posted I found the following posts in the forum without the facility of a search feature or links:
steve burns Posts:Unacceptable.... [Jun 03, 2004 - 03:53 PM]
I had the watch one month, when it stopped. Since there were no quality service centers in the USA, I had to send to Bienne. ($50.00). After 6 weeks, I received the watch back. As soon as I opened it, I could see something was wrong. The minute hand was not centered. I started and stopped the Chrono again..still not centering. How could someone send a watch back like that. Omega asked me to send it back. What they SHOULD have done, was to Fedex me a new one. I asked my dealer to speak to the Omega rep about a replacement. The rep said Omega would not replace. I then wrote Omega Bienne, and they finally did replace the watch. The whole process took about 3 months. So, I was let down by 1)Original quality 2)after sales service (no reliable service centers) 3)customer service (rep). Whats left? I had told them I had several Omega's, and was contemplating at least one more.
and:
steve burns Posts: Masa==you have said it in a nutshell... [Jun 20, 2004 - 07:19 PM]

First they tried to hide the problem and denied it existed..
Then they sold product they knew might be faulty...
Then they did not recall the faulty product...
Then...their customer service was terrible...
Then... their repair facilities were inept....

For all those having problems...they should have fedexed replacements by next day air...not have them send units for 5 and six week trips to Spa Bienne. NOt only that, there should have been some compensation to those who have had problems. Something as simple as a hat, or t-shirt..to show the company cares. I used to get chocolates every Christmas from Breitling! When you buy a product from a respected company like Omega..you expect exeptional service, as well as honesty. They may think they are ahead, but in the short term they will lose customers..they already have.
I hope this message will be relayed.
JDWHITFIELD Posts: My Omega nightmare!! please read and comment [May 14, 2004 - 10:52 AM]
Dear all,
I thought I should share my experiences with you all as I see that many people on this forum are having quality problems similar to mine. It all started when I was referred (by a member of this forum) to a certain popular D.C. based dealer. I ordered my Americas Cup Chronograph, which, upon arrival I see there are numerous bits/flecks of dust or something on the dial. I send it back to the dealer and tell him it is unacceptable. He tries to 'convince' me that this is normal and acceptable and within Omega's quality control threshold. I mention that I have $50 watches that have cleaner dials that this one. Reluctantly, he sends me another ACC as a replacement. Needless to say, the replacement also has little bits on the dial, the hands & bezel do not line up 'perfectly' and the bezel sits high(about .5 to 1 mm above the crystal...looks ridiculous) I share this info with the dealer and he makes me feel like a fool for concerning myself with these trivialities, so I keep the watch when in retrospect I should have just got a refund.
Anyway, a couple of weeks later the minute totalizer breaks. I am told that this is a common problem with this movement and so I send it in to be fixed.
A couple of weeks after I get the watch back, I am cleaning the watch and I accidently, very gently, bump the watch which precipitates the breaking of the watch. A loud rattling ensues and the watch stops completely and so off it goes AGAIN to be fixed (MI. service center)....after some time I get the watch back, they wouldn't fix the bezel by the way as they said it wasn't that bad. Well, as soon as I look at the watch I see all this little marks on the subdials and the base of the subdial hands. My watchmaker explains that probably they used unprotected tweezers to remove the hands and therefor scratched up the dial and ruined it!!. I send the watch back to Omega Lancaster and demand a replacement....WELL, they send me a replacement, but of course, there is this piece of what looks like a grain of metal slap bang in the middle of the dial, so, I send it right back and tell them...EITHER SEND ME A PERFECT WATCH, or give me my money back. They tell me that maybe my expectations as to their level of quality control are maybe too elevated!...I explain that I have numerous watches from a $50 Poljot to $3000 Rolexes and I have never had problems like this especially the inabilty to produce a dial without crap on it!..
Anyway, they tell me they will have one "specially" made in Switzerland for me, a couple more months of waiting and it finally arrives. I now have in my posession a ACC that funtions/looks perfect, but I am so tired and Jaded by my whole experience that I am going to sell it, so it's off to sales corner for this one. What a complete nightmare this has been, and it seems like many other people are going through hell like me, I hope my words can prevent someone else going through this ordeal. Best of luck to you all and any feedback would be interesting.....Cheers....
azsmiley Posts: Another Update....... [Jun 10, 2004 - 10:25 AM]
Ok, I am sure you guys are getting tired of hearing from me, and my BA service issues but wanted to give an update anyway.
Well, I get the "brush off" email from Maria at Omega/Bienee saying the folks in Lancaster are "on the job", and that I am sure to hear from them shortly. She even gives me the name of Debbie Roberts at Omega/Lancaster. So, I call Ms. Roberts first thing this morning, and I actually get to speak with her. She immediately recognizes my name (likely in vain at Omega by now), and tells me the are locating the parts needed to complete the repair of my BA, and will have an answer on when they can get my parts to Swiss Service and have the repair completed. She also mentioned that there would be no cost to me for the repair, and for the recommended 3-5 year service (since my watch is barely 2 years old). She promised a call to Gail at Swiss Service and myself by the end of the day with a status, so I'll keep you guys posted.
I am still very disappointed in Ms. M, and the misleading emails and communication from her. I have nothing yet to judge Ms. Roberts on, other than her committment to contact us by the end of the day. I hope, pray and trust we are now seeing the light at the end of the tunnel (truly hoping it's not a train coming from the other direction).
and
azsmiley Posts: Last of the updates on my 33XX BA [Jun 17, 2004 - 10:11 AM]
Ok, as many of you I am sure share the sentiment of thanks and joy that this is my last post about my BA at Swiss Service, it does actually end in some good news.
As I type, it is leaving Swiss Service in LaGrange, Illinois and is headed home to Phoenix. It is leaving 2 days later than expected, but that's not the fault of Gail, or the other wonderful folks at Swiss Service. It is the fault of Omega USA, and all the way up the ladder to Klauss Lehmann himself.
Originally, Omega USA had commited to pay for all repairs related to the "chrono-hand reset" issue. Sadly, it took Klauss over a week to pick up the phone and call Swiss Service to authorize this (by the way - he is the only one with authority to do so). Now, I give him credit for "finding" the required parts 1 day after I got Omega/Bienne and Omega USA involved. I also give him credit in the end for paying 100% of the repair bill at Swiss Service, which I never expected, but greatly appreciate. To that end, I will write a letter to Omega/Bienne thanking them for ultimately supporting the repair of my BA.
However, the fact that this took months to coordinate and achieve, should scream to Omega the need for a process to handle the 33XX repair issues. I think that we all gravitate to Omega and create a loyalty to the brand for a very small group of reasons:history, quality, and customer service are a few of the reasons we proudly display our commitment to the Omega brand on our wrists daily. I trult believe in return that Omega owes it's customers the absolute best efforts in those areas. Now, if I get her back, and have additional issues (which some others have), I will not complain, or even post the issue at this point, knowing I will immediately pack her up, and send her once again for repair. But, to this end I appreciate what Omega has done in the end, but saddened by the fact that true customer service took so much pushing.
I wish all those who own the 33XX based models all the best, and truly hope they are worn for many years to come, and in the best of health.
Jim Burdges Posts: Couple of things would be very helpful..... [Jun 20, 2004 - 07:17 PM]
A clear sign of a lack of professionalism is silence. When I send a watch for service to Bienne, I never hear anything back from them unless I follow up with a query such as did they even get the watch? Omega could greatly improve their service image if they would routinely send an email upon receipt of a watch and then automatically (like once a week) send an email on the status of the repair.
I recently sent a BA to Bienne for repair. The watch was returned 6 weeks later after a major service. However, they did not regulate the watch, so I had to send it right back to Bienne. A world class repair center in the USA would greatly improve Omega's image and bottom line.
Thanks,
Jim
That's from a quick 20 minutes or so of looking, the rest of the time has been formatting this response. I have not posted every note I ran across from the posters above, and there are likely more people who have had problems with repairs of c.33xx's. I'm not going to gather and post all of them because I feel the above is enough to illustrate that people have had issues with their c.33xx repairs. Hopefully it isn't necessary to detail them all... even though I'm sure I'll be called to task for posting what I have soon enough.
I hope you find this information useful in your research.
-- Chuck

Some c.33xx bookmarks I've saved over the years...

2005-06-14T10:18:00.000-05:00

At some point in the past year or so, while the TZ Forum Search figure still occasionally worked I managed to bookmark some pertenent c.33xx links. With people contiuing to seek information on these movements I thought I would post these so others have access them to them.

c.33xx Related links...

and there are numerious related posts in my Watch Blog... Starting with this posting to the blog (which points to this post).

I post these in the hopes that they will prove useful for people doing research on the c.33xx's.

-- Chuck

RXW Plasmir Milgraph Chronographs

2005-06-14T10:15:00.000-05:00

I received a call from a reclusive watch friend of mine and on a lark during our conversation I pulled up the R*X*W website... Check this out:

The name "ROCKX SOLID" means that the model is "solider than rock", and it is an original watch brand which Ken Sato, a well-known collector and buyer of sporty models such as Rolex, develops worldly and wide.

Because Sato loves the golden ages of good-old mechanical sporty models so much, he has been reviving former good models with the latest technologies. There have been many inquiries on the ROCKX SOLID series, which made its simultaneous debut in Europe and America on 2002, even after last year's sold out. Now the ROCKX SOLID has become a premium model, as it was knocked down with about $2000. While many Japanese people tend to select things only by its brand name, enthusiastic fans understand high-spec quality.

This new work has installed an original mechanical movement; modifying two legendary models designed in Swiss during 1960s ~ 1970s, the golden ages. Additionally, world's first (manufactured in 2002) dual structure (N-luminous) Plasmir dial, and mil-spec 3H gas light capsule (keeps on emitting over 20 years even after the sun disappears), which American military and their special forces formally adopts, are also installed in this model. The former lever type model had evolved into Quatro-lock screw down type crown & pusher, along with 1000 gauss super antimagnetic structure. The belt is dressed with luxurious Connolly Leather (hand stitched), the purveyor to the Royal Household, which is also known for the leather for Rolls Royce and Ferrari.

This newest military chronograph fascinates us even more than the former model. It is destined to attract great deal of attention not only from collectors in overseas, but also from the whole world over.

ROCKX SOLID Plasmir Mil-graph

Specifications

Movement: Swiss designed mechanical original chronograph movement (2 counter hand winding, 20 stone, 216,000 vph/3 counter self-winding, 34 stone, 28,800 vph
Case: SUS316 (1000 gauss antimagnetic performance for soft iron made inner case equipment)
Crown & pusher: Quatro-lock system screw down type
Windscreen: dome-shaped mineral crystal
Dials & hands: Composite equipment of Plasmir (N-luminous)?3H tritium gas light (within safety standard value)
Size: ?39.9mm, 15.5mm thick (2 counter), 16.5mm thick (3 counter)
Waterproof performance: 100m
Belt: the purveyor to the Royal Household; hand stitched Connolly leather belt
BOX: African zebra wood
1-year warranty
Price: under $1,000 before shipping from Japan.

The 3-Register version uses a Valjoux 7750 variant that's in the well known and regarded Tri-Compax layout...

When I see this watch and look at a vintage Camaro, I ask my self... Why didn't/doesn't TAG-Heuer make a model similar to these as 'the Classic' model line version of the Camero?


Photo ruthlessly glommed from OnTheDash for informative purposes!

In the R*X*W we have a watch that is not terrible divergent from the Camaro in terms of size, shape and looks. Yes, lots of detail differences (like how the new/current Carrera 7750 is different from the Vintage Pasadena), but consider this... We know that a quality built cushion/rounded Square case can be manufactured, a Valjoux 7750 Tri-Compax layout movement placed within, and be sold for under $1000 before shipping and be profitable.

Just as my traditional RX for TAG-Heuer has been to revive the Pasadena SS/Black Dial, put it on a Oyster-styled fliplock bracelet in the "Out the door" price range of "$999-1299", I could see TAG-Heuer producing a "Classic Camaro" with a case/dial/bezel similar to the vintage Camaro, using a Tri-Compax 7750 and selling it in the $1000~1799 "Out the door" price range.

Could you?

What the offering of the R*X*W illustrates to me that this scenario is feasible. Not only that, it's also likely that it's feasable to offer a Carrera based on the Tri-Compax 7750 (perhaps in rotor automatic and non-rotor manual wind versions) instead of the ETA/DD movement for the same amount of money. Personally, I'd rather have a 7750 movement than a piggy-back chronograph movement. But that's just my tastes.

In any instance, a Valjoux 7750 chronograph being offered new at the Sub-$1,000 price range is a great deal these days. Being the owner of the previously sold MM20 R*X*W model:

I will attest that the build quality is excellent. Is it the par of a $3k+ Panerai? I couldn't say, but it's an amazing piece at under $1,000.

The R*X*W Plasmir Milgraph Chronographs are available on the R*X*W site. I hope they will be very successful with their new models! If you've ever had the hankering for a Panerai, but haven't wanted to lay out the cash, this is your chance to immunize yourself from a far more substancial financial layout in the future!

-- Chuck

Valjoux c.7740/7741 Parts Manual Posted...

2005-06-14T09:39:00.000-05:00

Last week I posted to my site a Valjoux c.7740/7741 Parts Manual courtesy of scans graciously provided by Ralf Beinenz:

Valjoux Calibre 7740/7741 Series Chronograph Parts Manual.

Thanks again to Ralf for graciously providing the scans that make this possible!

-- Chuck

A quickie: How to post more than one picture in a post...

2005-06-14T09:28:00.000-05:00

Sam asks in the Chronocentric/OnTheDash Heuer Discussion a common question:

By the way, could someone show me how to put more pictures on this message? Thanks!

Type the following:

<img src="url_to_location_where_picture_is_hosted_first_picture">
<img src="url_to_location_where_picture_is_hosted_second_picture">
<img src="url_to_location_where_picture_is_hosted_third_picture">
..
<img src="url_to_location_where_picture_is_hosted_n-th_picture">

Replace the text within the quotes with the pictures's URL and you should be set. You can place your comments as you see fit between the text which point to the pictures.

Hope this is helpful for people... This post is something that people can point if this query is asked in future...

-- Chuck

Sorry it's been so quiet 'round here lately.

2005-06-14T09:15:00.000-05:00

Sorry it's been so quiet 'round here lately. The lack of posts are due to a lack of really interesting content, general busyness with other aspects of my life and a lack of time to seek out new content/present it. I have a couple of things to post today, and hopefully I'll find the time to post more soon.

-- Chuck

Profound sadness at passing of Derek Ziglar...

2005-06-07T23:58:00.000-05:00

It is with profound sadness, shock and disbelief that I bring news of the passing away of Derek Ziglar...

I only found out about this Tuesday evening myself via the post on both the Chronocentric/OTD Heuer Discussion Forum and the Chronocentric/zOwie Omega Discussion Forum there are details at either of those two links.

It's probably most appropriate for everyone to post their thoughts/condolences in one of those threads as I'm sure that someone will gather up all of the posted thoughts and pass them along to the family. I've already posted my initial thoughts with the announcement threads on both the Omega and Heuer forums.

I'll leave you all with the same thought I left in my post within the threads:

Take care of yourselves, Take care of each other and take care of this place...

-- Chuck

It's always nice to get email like this...

2005-05-11T15:56:00.000-05:00

It's always nice to get emails like these:

Hi Chuck, thanks for your website, it cleared up a few mysteries for me as I had no idea there was that many automatic speedmasters.

Ever since I was a kid reading Time magazine re the moon missions and the Omega ads, I've wanted an Omega Speedmaster.

A couple of years ago my father rescued a badly beaten up Speedmaster automatic from a friend with more money than brains and who bought it new, abused the watch until it stopped working and then threw it in the glove compartment of his car where it stayed for 10 years or so.

I immediately confiscated it from my dad, telling him that he couldn't afford to have it repaired.

I sent details of the watch to the Omega historian, as I had never seen an auto one before and was concerned about the seamaster symbol on the back. He confirmed it's history and the authenticity of the back and told me that it had been sold new by the Melbourne distributor in 1974.

Luckily, one of my workmate's father was a retired watchmaker who had done his apprenticeship with and worked for the Omega distributor for some 40 years.

He offered to pull the watch down for me ( told me it was one of the most complex Omegas made) and overhaul it.

The watch was very tragic as externally it had a shattered crystal, missing crown, broken band and badly dented and scratched case.

Internally he replaced one of the composite chassis parts, a couple of gears and springs, cleaned and lubricated everything and resealed the case.

While he was working on the movement, he returned the case to me and I hand finished it, removing the marks and dents. I know that my and his time and the cost of the parts make this an iffy restoration logically but I don't care.

I am very proud of this watch and the fact that I have rescued a fine piece of engineering from certain oblivion. I never intend to sell it and only wear it on special occasions. It keeps very good time and runs perfectly.

My watchmaking friend helped me to acquire on original Omega box and carton. I enclose a photo for your interest thanks for your time.

Robert McDonald,

Sydney

It's always nice to get emails like these, ones where people find a watch that lives rough life getting the well deserved Spa treatment and looking as good as new...

-- Chuck

Asking Buzz about his Speedy...

2005-05-02T22:10:00.000-05:00

From: Chuck Maddox <cmaddox@xnet.com>

Date: May 2, 2005 3:31:04 PM CDT

To: David Xxxxxxxxx

Subject: Re: Resolving the question of Aldrin's Speedy

On May 2, 2005, at 3:19 PM, David Xxxxxxxxx wrote:

Dear Mr. Maddox:

I have read with interest your very knowledgeable posts on TZ and on your own web page regarding the history of the Omega Speedmaster, and I have used your comments to aid my own Speedy purchases (currently a '65 Pre-Pro, a newer '57 Re-issue and a modern Moon watch). One question that has fascinated me was whether Buzz Aldrin wore a c.321 or c.861 Speedy on the Moon. I know Buzz very well, and I just spent several days with him last week, so I asked him to resolve the issue.

David,
Thank you for your kind words and please feel free to call me Chuck. Mr. Maddox was my grandfather and I have a long way to go before I've earned the honor.

Buzz told me that, as far as he knows, he wore the same Speedmaster on Gemini 12 and Apollo 11. The only way the watches could be different was if he turned in his watch for cleaning after the Gemini mission in November 1966 and NASA gave him back a different watch. However, he is almost certain this did not happen because, by that time, NASA was more concerned with solving the issues surrounding the fire on Apollo 1 than with cleaning watches. He was pretty clear about this. Consequently, I believe it is safe to say that the watch Buzz Aldrin wore on the Moon in July 1969 was purchased by NASA before November 1966, and therefore it certainly carried a c.321 movement.

I have to say this is not a big surprise. Several of us have developed information with Omega that has led us to the same conclusion. But it is excellent to have first hand testimony from the gentleman himself.
I appreciate your taking the opportunity to ask Mr. Aldrin yourself and sharing with me the results of your efforts.
I would like to ask your permission to present this information on TZ, my webpages and web blog. I will of course credit your effort and shield your email so you won't be pestered by the world.

I would be happy to answer any follow-up questions that you may have.

Please let me know and Thanks again for your efforts.
Oh! and congratulations on your budding Speedmaster collection, I just happened to switch over to my c.1996 Display Back c.863 about 20 minutes before receiving your communication!

Sincerely,
David Xxxxxxxxx
Cheers and Good Hunting!

Chuck

Pär Wallström Shares pictures of his CK2998-5…

2005-04-05T08:11:00.000-05:00

Earlier this week Pär Wallström from Sweden (and the OTD Forum) contacted me with a slew of pictures of his CK2998-5 Omega Speedmaster. Which is about as nice of an example as I've seen. I sought and received permission from Pär to share his pictures with everyone via my blog.

You may click on any picture that strikes your fancy and an enlargement will open in a new browser window...

Thanks again Pär for sharing!

-- Chuck

Basel News: oversize Speedmaster Broad Arrow co-axial GMT with sapphire display back

2005-04-02T13:33:00.000-06:00

Just received this from Frank N.:

To: Chuck Maddox <cmaddox3@sbcglobal.net>

From: Frank Nikolajsen <frank@warpspace.com>

Subject: In case you have warmed to the 33xx...

...then Omega has unveiled an oversize Speedmaster Broad Arrow co-axial GMT with sapphire display back at Basel earlier today. They also unveiled it, even if you haven't warmed to the 33xx. :-) Photos are coming Monday if you haven't seen them already by then. Price about 20% above the current creme dial BA-on-steel (like mine).

Sorry 'bout the Schumacher not being a Pro and having a red dial instead of a blue. I will have the proper source thoroughly flocked at the earliest convenient opportunity.

Take care (and yeah, you can spead this around if you like. :-)

LeFrank

TAG Heuer "Calibre 360" Concept Chronograph

2005-03-31T12:05:00.000-06:00

From: "TAG Heuer Web" <TAG_Heuer@synodiance.com>
To: <cmaddox3@sbcglobal.net>
Subject: TAG Heuer "Calibre 360" Concept Chronograph Press
Release Date: Thu, 31 Mar 2005 18:24:22+0200

Avant-Garde Daringness in motion:

The TAG Heuer „Calibre 360,, Concept Chronograph

The first ever 1/100th of a second mechanical wrist chronograph

TAG Heuer, the world leader in prestigious chronographs since 1860, which has set several major milestones in Swiss chronograph history, is presenting at Baselworld 2005 the most accurate mechanical timepiece ever crafted, the „Calibre 360,, Concept Chronograph. The „Calibre 360,, Concept Chronograph is the first mechanical wrist chronograph to measure and display time to 1/100th of a second, thanks to the exceptionally high frequency of its balance wheel, which oscillates at 360,000 beats per hour, 10 times faster than any other chronograph˜a rate that until now was considered impossible. More than ever, with this quantum leap in mechanical watchmaking accuracy, TAG Heuer asserts its unique know-how and reaffirms its motto: „Swiss avant-garde since 1860.‰

This ultra resistant and light titanium Ti5 "Calibre 360" Concept Chronograph is the flagship of a rich new offering in prestigious TAG Heuer Chronographs presented this year in Basel, such as the Aquaracer Automatic, the Link Tachymeter automatic, the Link Lady Diamonds and the Microtimer Lady Diamonds Chronograph.

It confirms TAG Heuer's superior innovation potential and its commanding lead over the rest of the Swiss watchmaking industry, as underlined in 2004 by the consulting firm A.T. Kearney and the business magazine Bilanz, which identified TAG Heuer as one of the three most innovative companies in Switzerland and one of the leading innovators in Europe. The prestigious distinction bears testimony to TAG Heuer's determination to always exceed the boundaries of imagination in a sector not usually given to radical developments.

Formula 1 driver and watch collector Juan Pablo Montoya has tested this new revolutionary timepiece and has given his input in the design of this car racing-inspired Concept Chronograph.

360,000 Beats per Hour: A Major Breakthrough for the Swiss Watch Industry

Every year at the Basel Watchmaking Fair, TAG Heuer puts it reputation as one of the world's most audacious and innovative watch brands on the line.

Last year marked the launch of the Monaco V4 Concept Watch. A revolutionary timepiece with a belt-driven mechanical movement inspired by high-performance racecar engines, it has so far been named "Watch of the Year" by Wallpaper* magazine, the "Best of What's New" by Popular Science and „The Best of the Best‰ in the category Fashion Product Design (including watches, eyewear, clothes, bags, footwear, jewelry and travel accessories) at the Red Dot Design Awards, joining previous award winners such as Lamborghini, Apple, Bang & Olufsen, BMW, Maserati and Nokia. This watch is currently being industrialized.

Another 2003 Basel launch, the Monaco 69 Concept Watch, a double-sided, digital-analog wonder, went on to win the coveted Best Design Award at the „Grand Prix d‚Horlogerie de Genève‰.

In 2002, TAG Heuer unveiled the Microtimer F1 Concept Watch, the first Swiss wrist chronograph accurate to 1/1,000th of a second. It too won the Best Design Award at the „Grand Prix d‚Horlogerie de Genève‰ and was successfully brought to market in 2003.

And these are only TAG Heuer achievements in the 21st century

1860 to the Present: The TAG Heuer Revolution Continues

A history marked by truly ground-breaking technology and leadership in Chronographs

TAG Heuer's history has been more than just radical. Starting with its first stopwatch patent in 1869, followed by the revolutionary oscillating pinion of 1887 ˜ still an essential component in today's mechanical chronographs like the TAG Heuer Calibre 16 ˜ the Company has relentlessly pushed Swiss watchmaking tradition forward by challenging and innovating on its most time-honored conventions. Not content to rest on its laurels, it seeks perfection, the mastery of time beyond every definition of what is possible.

In 1916, with the invention of the Micrograph ˜ the first pocket timepiece accurate to 1/100th of a second ˜ TAG Heuer took the first step towards this year's revolutionary „Calibre 360,, Concept Chronograph. It quickly became the timepiece of choice at top-level sports events, solidifying TAG Heuer's reputation as the world's best timekeeper. Having earned renown for the mechanical perfection of its products, the company continued its quest for accuracy and innovation in the service of both sports and science. In 1969, TAG Heuer revolutionized chronographs at Basel by being the first to market an automatic chronograph movement, the famous Calibre 11 (Chronomatic) with a microrotor to rewind the barrels.

Three revolutions in Swiss Watchmaking, all driven by TAG Heuer

First the Micrograph, then the 1969 Chronomatic Calibre 11, and now the TAG Heuer „Calibre 360,, Concept Chronograph. The world's most accurate wrist chronograph, the revolutionary new „Calibre 360,, Concept Chronograph directly incorporates technology and techniques drawn from both of these prior innovations.

The „Calibre 360,, Concept Chronograph represents the culmination of TAG Heuer‚s know-how and expertise in the field of precision mechanical watchmaking and sports timekeeping. Finally, after years of painstaking research and experimentation, every mechanical obstacle has been eliminated through a groundbreaking manufacturing concept and a world first in horology: The first 1/100th of a second wrist mechanical chronograph

To achieve this exceptional level of precision, TAG Heuer has developed a unique and complex movement, the principle of which was set by the Chronomatic Calibre 11 in1969. Made of more than 234 components and modules which 131 are directly from the chronograph movement, it actually fuses two distinctive mechanical movements, each connected to the other but operating independently.

A world first: two distinct movements controlled by a single crown

To ensure precision adjustment and independent operation, the basis of the „Calibre 360,, Concept Chronograph is an automatic movement, the TAG Heuer Calibre7, with a power-reserve of 42 hours and a heart beating at28, 800 vibrations per hour. Highly resistant to wrist shock and wear effects, embellished with Côtes de Genève decoration on the oscillating mass, this movement has been certified as a chronometer by the COSC (the Swiss Official Chronometer Control institute).

What is most extraordinary about the „Calibre360,, movement is that the chronograph function is not just a "module" added on to the automatic watch movement.

With its barrel, separate manual winding system, gearwheel and the independent balance wheel and spiral mechanism, it is a genuine and wholly separate movement, a chronograph with a power-reserve counter and a quick-rotating barrel that offers 100 minutes of power reserve, plus its most remarkable component: a single-pallet escapement wheel and special balance wheel. The high-precision mechanism, specially created and hand-assembled, provides an unbelievable oscillating frequency of 360,000 vibrations per hour. With such a high-powered system, the „Calibre 360,, creates a new milestone in Swiss watchmaking history. The quantum leap to360, 000 vibrations per hour from usually 28,800 or 36,000 could be compared to a Formula 1 engine jumping from 18,000 rpm to 180,000 rpm !

As the „Calibre 360,, is a worldwide first in the history of watchmaking, TAG Heuer has filed for two exclusive worldwide patents :

The first patent protects the 1/100th of a second counter on a mechanical wrist chronograph.

The second patent protects the unique crown control system. The single crown winds both movements and controls the watch‚s hour and date settings. A clockwise rotation loads the barrel on the manual chronograph movement; a counter-clockwise rotation rewinds the automatic movement that gives the time.

From Dream to Reality : Avant-garde design inspired by high-tech car engines

As usual, TAG Heuer's designers, stimulated by the input of watch collector and star Formula 1 driver, Juan Pablo Montoya, have created an exceptionally daring timepiece to house the „Calibre 360,, movement. This masterpiece is easily recognizable thanks to its unique and exceptional architecture: like a pure high-tech engine, the chronograph functions are displayed through the wrought Côtes-de-Genève „chronograph engine‰, which contrasts with the flat-black dial. At 6 o'clock, an oversized circular fine-brushed counter keeps track of the 1/100ths-of-a-second red hand, while at 9 o'clock, a red minute needle directly integrated into the „chronograph engine‰ displays the elapsed time on a 9 minutes scale disk, particularly adapted for the car-race timekeeping. At 12 o'clock, the wearer can see the power-reserve indicator of 100 minutes, displayed in the same way as the fuel indicator of car‚s dashboards, through the „chronograph engine's‰ angled polished opening. The result is a look as radically inspired by car racing as the high-tech technology housed inside it.

Designed to accentuate the Calibre 360‚s exceptional movement, the case has been crafted from titanium Grade 5, an exclusive TAG Heuer material developed with McLaren in 1997 for the Kirium series, and combining utmost resistance with utmost lightness as well as sparkling polish effect. It‚s a pure TAG Heuer case with oversized crown and asymmetrical pushbuttons, the larger of which, at two o‚clock and capped bright red, controls the stopwatch. Once pressed, the chronograph mechanism springs into action, simultaneously activating the chronograph second hand in the centre of the dial and the 100ths-of-a-second hand located in a counter at six o‚clock. Thanks to the high oscillating frequency, the centre hand advances at a perfectly regular pace, and the 100ths counter makes a complete rotation in one second. This invention is not only an aesthetic success; it also lets the user explore just how long a second can last and discover how pleasant it is to watch time pass in a „smooth-as-silk‰ fashion.

On the caseback, two semicircle windows in sapphire give another perspective on this extraordinary movement, a new classic masterpiece, uniquely designed and manufactured by TAG Heuer.

Developed with Juan Pablo Montoya, the bracelet is, naturally, in stylish black rubber with folding buckle, further enhancing comfort and ergonomy, even when driving at 300 km/h and crossing the finish line with a few 100ths-of-a-second lead.

The TAG Heuer „Calibre 360,, Concept Chronograph: A new world first and a brand-new concept in watchmaking.

With the boldly innovative „Calibre 360,, Concept Chronograph, the world's most iconoclastic watchmaker has once more revolutionized Swiss watchmaking by creating a startling new icon of high-tech design. The „Calibre360,, Concept Chronograph does not break with tradition; it learns from it, borrows from it, and in so doing pushes it further, into the next millennium. Once again, TAG Heuer lives up to its reputation by surpassing all expectations. And once again, the brand to beat lays claim to the cutting-edge of watchmaking and honors its motto: „Swiss Avant-Garde since 1860,,

TAG Heuer, the benchmark in prestigious sports watches and chronographs since 1860, currently ranks as the fourth luxury brand in the world watch market. The Swiss watchmaking legend draws from its active engagement in the world of sports to create the most accurate measuring instruments and sports-inspired timepieces ever made. From the Olympic Games in the 1920s to its new role as official timekeeper and chronograph for the legendary Indy 500 and IRL championship, TAG Heuer has maintained a constant quest for innovation and excellence, pursuing the summit of performance and prestige. This is reflected in its partnerships with Team McLaren Mercedes in Formula 1 racing; with number one worldwide golfer Tiger Woods and with Juan Pablo Montoya and Kimi Raïkkönen at the top of Formula 1. With the tennis sparkling star Maria Sharapova, Hollywood greats Brad Pitt and Uma Thurman, TAG Heuer more than ever stands for „Sport and Glamour‰.

TAG Heuer International Press Contact:

<mailto:charlotte.walhain@tagheuer.com>charlotte.walhain@tagheuer.com

Charlotte Walhain ˆ Tel: + 1 33 1 55 80 09 22 ˆ Fax: + 1 33 1 55 80 09 21

Mobile: + 1 33 6 12 22 78 87

OK, a little searching around yields the following for images scaned in from a Japanese watch magazine/book published late last year:

If we scrutinize the enlargements of these scans we learn that the watch is based on the ETA 2892 with some sort of module to add the chronograph and other complications. This is probably the most extensive module ever grafted to the 2892.

It'll be interesting to see if this ever makes it to an actual model.

-- Chuck

NEW — Omega Speedmaster Legend Collection — Schumacher

2005-03-31T10:10:00.000-06:00

NEW — Omega Speedmaster Legend Collection — Schumacher [Mar 31, 2005 - 07:51 AM]

Since first becoming an Omega ambassador in 1995, Michael Schumacher has added five consecutive Formula 1 world championship drivers' titles to the two that he already had. Omega's designers produced special limited-edition Speedmaster chronographs in celebration of each of these titles, with their own distinctive sporty design. Now, with no records left to break and an inconceivable eighth world championship title on the horizon, Schumi's watch brand of choice also seeks to surpass its own previous levels of achievement with the launch of not just one special watch, but a whole collection.

The Legend Collection consists of three Speedmaster chronographs that combine Omega's high-end column-wheel chronograph movement with sporty Formula 1-inspired dials. Each model has a 42mm diameter stainless-steel case with the familiar curved Speedmaster stainless-steel bracelet and safety clasp. Sealed between the scratch-resistant anti-reflective sapphire crystal and the screw-in case back is the exclusive Omega caliber 3301 self-winding chronograph movement. It is an officially certified COSC chronometer and has a power reserve of 55 hours.

The three models are distinguished by their highly individual dials, all of which have an applied Omega symbol at 12 o'clock and 12 applied rhodium-plated applied hour markers with luminous dots : the first model has a black dial with silver subdials and a silver exterior hour circle with black minute scale and red Speedmaster name; the second a silver dial with two-tone silver subdials with black outer zones and a black exterior hour circle with white minute scale and red Speedmaster name;

the last model has a red dial with black subdials, black hour circle and white minute scale and black Speedmaster name. The former model has a tachymeter scale engraved on a black aluminium ring on the stainless-steel bezel, whereas the latter two have it engraved in black directly on the brushed stainless-steel bezel. All three models have a white-on-black date window at 6 o'clock and baton hour and minute hands with an arrowhead central chronograph seconds hand - all with luminous SuperLuminova inserts.

Thanks.

Jorge.

Thanks Jorge as always for your reports...
My take?
I like them (not thrilled about the movement - big surprise!) and boy are the Rolex guys going to scream about them emulating certain vintage Daytona's!
Everyone knows my concerns about the c.33xx movements, so I don't need to re-trace that. I like the looks, the subdial's are very nice, and Omega's left themselves a variation they can use next year if MS wins another F1 World Championship: Red dial w/White Sub's...
Thanks again Jorge for your continued postings of news from Basel!
-- Chuck

Omega Speedmaster Gemini 4 Special (Limited) Edition:

2005-03-30T13:45:00.000-06:00

Jorge Merino Posts: N E W M o d e l &endash; Omega Speedmaster Gemini 4 Special Edition [Mar 30, 2005 - 07:54 AM]

This special Speedmaster model, created for Baselworld 2005, commemorates not only the 40th anniversary of the first space walk, but also the 40th anniversary of the Speedmaster's flight qualification for manned spaceflight missions.

These important milestones are celebrated with a distinctive model with a blue dial and matching blue aluminium ring on the steel bezel. Only 2,005 pieces will be made.

The Gemini 4 limited-edition Speedmaster is characterised by its blue dial and silver counters for the 30-minute and 12-hour chronograph counters and continuous seconds. The blue theme is also continued on the bezel, with the familiar tachymeter scale reproduced on a blue aluminium ring. The commemorative nature of the timepiece is indicated by a subtle red engraving 1965-2005 below the Speedmaster name at 12 o'clock on the dial.

The applied Omega symbol above the name, as well as 12 rhodium-plated hour markers, also add a hint of luxury and indicate that this Speedmaster is special. In all other respects, the watch remains a classic Speedmaster, with the same case, bracelet and hesalite crystal found on the "Moon Watch" - the standard Speedmaster Professional model. Movement is the hand-wind Omega caliber 1861.

However, one of its most striking features is destined to remain hidden most of the time, since it is the distinctive Gemini 4 mission patch, bearing the names of the crew, McDivitt and White, and an illustration of the first space walk, that is etched in colour on the sapphire crystal case back with the engraving "First Space Walk 40th Anniversary" and the limited-edition number (0001/2005).

For the most part the watch looks much better than I had expected based on the rumors I couldn't comment upon. The only thing I don't care for are the rhodium subdial hands, which will be hard to read on the silver subdials. A mistake Omega made on the Mitsukoshi and 35th Anniversary edition Speedmasters as well.
On the other hand this leaves the door open for Omega if they wish to produce any of these models in the standard product line, they can change the hands and proceed full speed ahead.

Thanks.

Jorge.

THANK YOU Jorge for your postings!
For my part, I believe (unless something else pops up betwix now and then) this one will be #10 and I'll have to do a new Moonwatch Spread before the end of the year.
For those of you who are not familiar with the significance of the Gemini 4 mission I post a portal and link to my article "35 years ago today…" which was literally the only mention of the Ed White Spacewalk anniversary anywhere in the media with the possible exception of NASA's website nearly 5 years ago...

It was 35 years ago today - (4 June 1965 - 4 June 2000)

Enjoy!
-- Chuck

Pictures/Details of Omega's new De Ville Rattrapante Co-Axial

2005-03-30T13:12:00.000-06:00

Jorge Merino Posts: N E W M o d e l &endash; Omega De Ville Rattrapante Co-Axial [Mar 29, 2005 - 09:25 AM]

Omega will present at Baselworld 2005 the new De Ville Co-Axial Rattrapante, with a revolutionary design inside and out.

The 41mm case comes in polished or brushed stainless steel with a matching polished or brushed stainless-steel bezel. The silver or ruthenium dial has applied Omega symbol and name, facetted hour markers, silver totalisers with applied Roman numerals for the chronograph function and a truncated sector date window at 11 o'clock, as well as an unusual small-seconds counter with two sectors.

The time is read off by luminous, facetted and diamond-polished Alpha hour and minute hands and a double-tipped small seconds hand. The split-seconds pusher has a varnished red circle that recalls the red zone at the tip of the split-seconds hand.

Movement is the Omega caliber 3612 with split-seconds chronograph complication.

This COSC-certified automatic movement is fitted with the unique Omega Co-Axial Escapement, has a power reserve of 52 hours and a double column-wheel mechanism.

Its luxury finish includes blued-steel screws and two blued-steel column wheels, as well as a domed scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment on both sides.

It is water resistant to 100 metres and it is available with a black alligator leather strap.

Thanks.

Jorge.

Well, it certainly is revolutionary, that's for sure. This is a watch that would be much more at home in another brand's product portfolio.

Two main thoughts... 1) Lately whenever Omega does something revolutionary, it typically means customers spending a lot of time with After-Sales repairs and Customer Service. I certainly hope that Omega has done due dilligence this time around and will hopefully avoid some of the teething problems that owners of the Seamaster GMT and c.33xx based chronographs have (and in the case of the c.33xx continue to) suffer(ed). 2) I don't think NATO or NASA will seriously be considering this model for their pilots anytime soon!

-- Chuck

New c.33xx found defective @ TwinCities AD…

2005-03-29T16:22:00.000-06:00

eilander Posts: Broad Arrow Shopping [Mar 28, 2005 - 05:14 PM]

I was having some trouble finding a BA in the flesh around detroit (or a decent omega collection for that matter). That all changed last weekend when I was touring law schools in Minneapolis. I absolutely love the cream/blue dial as well as the idea of an exclusive Piguet movement. I loved it so much, that I've definitely decided to make it my first nice watch. Unfortuanetly, the piece that I handled didn't have a working chonograph. It wouldn't zero... stuck somewhere around 10 seconds. I was told it was "brand new" from omega that week.

Yup... I would be lying if I said I was surprised... While it appears that the frequency of problem reports with c.33xx chronographs is down a little bit from this time last year. It seems that problems are still occuring with a frequency for serious concern well over a year since Omega revised this movement.
Dispite the unsupprted claims of certain people that the problems with the c.33xx are in the past, this is the third c.33xx problem reported this month, and the sixth since early December.

It was marked down 30%, so I inquired as to why, and was told that the store could only stock a specific number of SKU's. The "brand new" broad arrow was one SKU too many, so it was discounted. The salesman also told me the movement was being used by "Breitlinger," so I walked away immediately.

It's really hard to determine if a salesperson(s) who says such things are ignorant of the facts of the matter or are outright lying. In either case the salesperson(s) in question were not acting in your best interest but rather theirs. You did the right thing by doing an about-face and walking.

Is the 33xx worth the risk?

That is an answer best determined by each person on their own.
Having said that, I know what the answer is for me...
I personally have no interest in being an unpaid Beta-Tester for Swatch Group on a item with such a dubious track record, at my expense/risk and bearing the burden of dealing with the Omega Customer Support Channel to get the thing to perform as promised. Hence in my opinion the answer to this question is no.

Are the new BA's problem free?

No, it appears to be far from problem free. As they continue to fail at a frightening rate.

Anyone know a good discounting AD that I could trust to get me a new/problem free piece?

Your best strategy, if you are committed to roll the dice with a c.33xx, is to get in contact with Keith Downing's Authorized Dealer. Keith's Dealer has a policy (especially with the c.33xx's) of winding them, setting them to an Atomic clock and scrutinizing them for several days before turning them over to the buyer. Keith's dealer hasn't had any returns since he started doing this, and while past performance is no guarentee of future results this might increase your chances of sucess.
Oh, now that I think of it, Keith announced that he is in the process of relocating his family this week and next. Send Keith an email and if he doesn't reply in a day or two email me and I'll set you up. I am certain that requests go through him, but he's appreciated my helping out when he's been off-line in the past.

Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks...

I hope I have. I wish the news was better on the c.33xx front. The fixes that Omega has instituted thus far have been long on promise and short on results, and barring additional measures, I suspect that we haven't seen the last of these sorts of posts.
Good Hunting.
-- Chuck

New Report: One person buys 2 c.33xx's both fail within 3 months...

2005-03-15T08:55:00.000-06:00

New Report: One person buys 2 c.33xx's both fail within 3 months...

Saw this in the TimeZone Omega forum this morning:

mechanicalfreak Posts: speedmaster professional or moonphase? [Mar 15, 2005 - 01:46 AM]

Hi im planning to get a new omega speedmaster. My aquaterra chrono with 3301*bought a month ago new) had a problem same as my BA 3303(3months ago). couldnt reset the chrono seconds. have no choice but to consider a manual winding one since i dun have any faith in the 330x calibres anymore. Can someone pls show some pics and maybe elaborate on the pros n cons of the speedy pro and also the moonphase. there's a white speedy with BA hands with the moonphase too. pls share your experience :) thks in advance

Ordinarily, I'd note the problem report and not count it as part of the running tally of c.33xx failures, but this poster only had posted 7 messages on TimeZone so this post brings us two new c.33xx reports. One of which is an AquaTerra c.3301 which supposedly (at least according to Levy03) is documented (he won't/can't say where) to be the ,,fixed,, flavor of c.33xx.

This report of two previous unknown c.33xx failures are the first since 13 January 2005, and the fourth and fifth reports of failures (05 December 2004 and 27 December 2004 being the first two reports) since I started this blog. Just over four months... five problems reported with this movement family.

I continue to have my concerns/doubts about the c.33xx's situation. Have the parts fixes had any effect on the reliability of the c.33xx's? Probably, and probably a positive effect. But it seems that these fixes (or the new c.3301 movement) are far from a complete cure.

-- Chuck

Glycine Airman 9 1st to use ETA 7754 movement…

2005-03-07T20:45:00.000-06:00

Glycine Airman 9 first to use ETA 7754 movement.

George Shmagranoff pointed out to me via email today that the Glycine Airman 9 is using the ETA(Valjoux) 7754. Glycine supposed to be the first to get this movement.

The 7754 is a variant of the ETA (Valjoux) 7750 which has a 24hr indicator running off of the center pinion. The difference between this movement and earlier 7750's with a 24-hour center pinion hand, like my Lucien Richot pictured below this paragraph, is the center pinion can be advanced to indicate a second time-zone and isn't slaved to the main timekeeping hour hand.

The Airman 9 is a 44mm watch without crown, 15mm thick, 200m Water Resistance, 22mm lugs and doesn't appear to be available on bracelet. It dies have a nicely finished movement sitting behind a sapphire display back:

The Airman 9 is available in White, Blue and two different styles of Black Dial (Black with Silver sub-dial at 6, and Black with Red sub-dial at 6 o'clock). Interestingly enough, the hour sub-dial has markings for reading up to 24-hours elapsed time, the only other chronograph I'm familar with that has this feature is the LeJour FlyGraf. MSRP is purported to be $3,600 US Dollars. I especially like the White Dial. Has a bit of Explorer II about it...

Details on the Airman 9 can be found on Glycine's website.

Thanks George for pointing this one out!

OT: Happy 50th Birthday Steve!

2005-02-24T12:15:00.000-06:00

Howdy,

I just sent a card to Steve Jobs.

Those of you with .Mac accounts (or means of sending electronic cards) might want to consider doing the same. A lot of the good press Apple's been riding lately has been due to his efforts... Steve's Resume can be found here and has an email address attributed to him on it.

We could still have an Apple run by Spindler (shudder)!

Chuck

It's better to be lucky than to be good!

2005-02-08T07:37:00.000-06:00

I learned about a new screencapture technique for Mac's today, so I looked about for a DVD to try it out on, and my eyes spied an unopened copy of “Thunderbirds”... So I opened it up and low and behold...

About 13 minutes in...

I spy Bill Paxton (right) wearing a watch with a familiar profile...

Bill Paxton appears to be wearing a TAG-Heuer Monaco "Steve McQueen" Edition Monaco...

Not sure if this has been discussed elsewhere/previously, but I needed to refine this new technique anyway.

BTW for Mac OSX users, the technique involves using the 'screencapture -c' Unix command within the Terminal application to capture the screen while running the Apple supplied DVD Player application.

The Apple supplied DVD Player application usually blocks screen captures (likely for copyright reasons) via the normal Command-Shift-3 or Command-Shift-4 keystoke combinations. Executing the 'screencapture -c' command sidesteps this while allowing to use the DVD Player's superior slow speed play and frame by frame advance allowing a much easier capture of the content one is interested in.

This method was first reported on the MacFixIt website today, 8 February 2005.

As for my choice of DVD's to test this feature... I've always said it's better to be lucky than to be good!

-- Chuck

“Dad's watch, reborn...”

2005-02-02T22:19:00.000-06:00

Right around Thanksgiving, I (and Matthias, my co-laborator on the Heuer Carrera article) received an email from Brian Mott of California... Here is Brian's email:

From: "Brian Mott"

To: cmaddox3, matthias.lk
Subject: Carrera Chronographs article...

Dear Matthias, Chuck,

I recently became interested in Carrera watches when my dad gave me his old one from when he was in Vietnam. Looking at your article it seems that it is a Calibre 12, but it looks like it's a little different, mainly the color of the second hand.

Hiya Brian,
I'd suspect that the original color of the Second hand (probably Orange) has faded to white, but it looks otherwise original.

Unfortunately my dads watch isn't in the best condition. I was curious if you two had any suggestions on restoring it and the costs associated with it.

Pro-Time (LVMH's facility for watch repair in the US) can probably repair your watch:
Here is the address and phone number, I am not aware of any website...

Pro Time Service
966 South Springfield Avenue
Springfield, New Jersey 07081-3556
U.S.A.

Tel: ++1.973.467.1890
Give them a call and see what they say. I know that they sometimes "farm out" older Heuer's to a semi-retired watchmaker who founded Pro-Time (for the old Heuer) back in the 1960's. But it's best to go through Pro-Time first.
Best of fortune on your repair/restoration!

It seems to keep time fine, and the casing is immaculate, only the crystal is at all scratched, and the head fell off the tach on the right.

I believe those items can be remedied.

Attached is a pic of the watch.

[posted above]

I believe it would either need to have the face buffed or replaced, the insides cleaned out???, and tach head replaced.

Chronograph Minute hand, yes, that'd likely need replacement, crystal replaced and a cleaning and lube.

It would also need a new band. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, I want to keep it as authentic as possible.

Pro-Time would be the best place to start, after that, if they can't help you, you'll probably have to do what the rest of us do... Search eBay and watch trading forums on the web for parts. Give Pro-Time a call and see what they suggest.

Thanks -Brian Mott

I hope this helps, let us know what you find out.
Chuck

Well, I'm happy to report that I just received an email from Brian:

From: "Brian Mott"
To: cmaddox3, matthias.lk
Subject: Carrera Chronographs article...

Thank you for your suggestion of using LVMH. I just got my watch back today, It looks beautiful. Feel free to use the pic on your site if you wish.

-Brian

Brian,
The Carrera looks GREAT! Somewhere I'm sure your dad would love to see it in the condition it's in currently. I'd be careful! He might want it back!
It looks wonderful, I'm happy that I could be of some small service in helping breathe new life into such a stalwart performer.
Congratulations!
-- Chuck

Finally... A reason to start smoking... A free Rolex...

2005-02-02T09:49:00.000-06:00

Finally... A reason to start smoking... A free Rolex...

Zoomata.com reports: “It seems hard to believe, but Italians are taking the new no-smoking law seriously -- so seriously that a jeweler is out a watch (A Rolex) valued at 29,000 euro ($37,000).”

Read the rest of the story: Thief in Italy snags Rolex thanks to smoking ban.

Of course, I don't recommend or advocate smoking or starting to smoke, or trying this yourself. But what an amazing unexpected result of a new restrictive law...

-- Chuck

Spanish/Portuguese c.1045's: What's your theory?

2005-01-31T14:06:00.000-06:00

Hello, I have written to you before about this and I am going to be stubborn here,

Hello again Xxxxxx
Why should you be any different... =)

you mention that the reason the Speedmaster Day Date with a 24 Hour hand with Spanish day was sold in more quantities in Spanish speaking countries is because the Spanish expatriates checked the time at home in those watches,

No, that is NOT what I said. Here is exactly what I said:
"From what I have been able to puzzle out Omega sold a lot of these models in Latin American market as this is where the bracelets seem to be coming from... I've talked to dealers who have said that Omega sold a lot of these models to european ex-patriot's living in Latin America. Among the big selling points are that the 24-Hour dial would allow them to figure out what time it was at "home" by adding the time difference with their home country, and that Omega is a widely known and respected watchmaker around the world."

well, the Spanish expatriates flew Spain in 1936, at the time Franco reached power, those watches were made between 1970 and 1975 approximately, lets figure this persons had at the time at least 20 years old, maybe 30, this 30 years old person at Franco's death was 69 years old AND after 39 years of exile still had to have a watch to tell him what time it was in Spain?

If you look at the text I cut and pasted from my article, or look at the article itself, I do not mention ,,Spanish expatriates,, but rather "european ex-patriot's living in Latin America". There is a difference. I did not mention Spain or Franco by name. Nor did I say “Spanish speaking countries” in my article, I said ‘Latin American market’ which means all Latin American countries (South of the Rio Grandé) including Portuguese speaking countries/regions, among them Brazil.
It would seem logical that Omega wouldn't send German, French, Italian or English day wheel equipped models to Mexico or Brazil (for example) because a) most expatriates would have a working knowledge of the days of the week where they were living, and b) at the very least the market wouldn't be limited for the watches by having a foreign (to that country) day wheel installed on it. For example: a German living in Argentina is likely to have a working knowledge of the Spanish days of the week, but a Argentine is probably not very likely to buy a chronograph with a German day wheel. Dealers aren't stupid and they wouldn't specify foreign day wheels on products they ordered (except as a special order) because foreign day wheels would limit their marketability.

You mention watch dealers told you that, do you mean Spanish speaking and Latin American watch dealers? Watch dealers from Mexico and other so called Latin American countries?

No I mean dealers whom I talked to and I related the information I presented. The people I talked to, one was of Hebrew background (named Xxxxxxx), another had a Iberian sounding surname (Xxxxxxxx) and frankly since it's been five and a half years since I wrote this and I can't remember the names of the other people I talked to back back in the 1999 timeframe when I wrote that piece. This piece was written as a reply in a forum and predates any of my efforts to documenting what I've learned for the sake of documenting it.

Sorry but this is worth studying a little more,

Please feel free to!

I have asked in Guadalajara Home to 4 million Mexicans and Mexico's second largest city) to some at the time Omega Dealers about your explanation and they (2 of them, different stores) do remember the watches and also remember this watches being sold the great majority to Mexican Nationals not Spanish expatriates as you mention, please check again because I think your account is inaccurate,

I don't see any inaccuracies in my account at all.
I did speak to these people and they did relate the information I reported. There is nothing inaccurate about that, which is what I typed. Now those people's (whom I talked to) information may not be prove-able, or only a theory, or word of mouth legend, or be inaccurate or even incorrect... but in absence of any other theory as to why Omega would so lobsidedly concentrate their sales effort for the c.1045's to Spanish and Portuguese speaking countries those thoughts are as good of a theory as any.
Remember that at the time, these were the most sophicated chronographs Omega made at the time. The Valjoux 7750 movement was not used by Omega until the mid/late 1980's, and even then only in Date form (Omega Titane). In the 1970's only the Speedsonic chronographs had day-date complications, the c.1040's: Mark III's, Mark IV's, 125's and related Seamasters, didn't have day, and none of those models (except for the c.1040's) had a 24-hour indication. Of course there is no easy way to determine which markets the c.1040's were intended for because they are not equipped with Day wheels.

thanks for the attention to this letter.

Personally, I have no idea why so many c.1045 examples I've witnessed (easily over 85%) have Spanish and Portuguese Day wheels installed and so few have French, German, English and Italian ones. There seems to be no logic in this distribution other than there was either an actual perceived market for these watches in Spanish/Portuguese speaking countries more so than other European (the aforementioned French, German, English, Italian) and North American markets.
The information I related in my article is one possible explanation for this phenomenon and the only theory I have heard advanced.

Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx

So what is your theory as to why Omega flooded the Central American markets with these watches and apparently sold so few in Europe?
I look forward to reading your theory.
Chuck

RV Trip to Kansas Cosmosphere:

2005-01-25T22:14:00.000-06:00

In the grand scheme of NASA artifact centers, The Smithsonian rates near the top of the list, as does The Kenedy Space Center at the Cape, The Johnson Space Center in Houston, perhaps NASA-Huntsville, and right up there with them, seemingly out of the way is the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center in Hutchinson Kansas. I first became aware of this unique museum a couple of years back when contacted by a volunteer at the Center.

Just now I was searching my name on Google (to help direct relatives how to find my current email address) and I stumbled upon this page entitled "Astronauts and Wheat Fields" by Doug Reeves, who does a wonderful job describing a day trip to the KCSC complete with photos of the trip there and back as well as many of the exhibits (and even a link to my site).

So follow the link and enjoy the page!

-- Chuck

BBC's Top Gear Interviews Jack Heuer [06 January 2005]:

2005-01-20T19:39:00.000-06:00

BBC's Top Gear Interviews Jack Heuer [06 January 2005]

	The interview is for three o'clock and, as you'd expect, Jack Heuer is keeping perfect time. The elder statesman of Tag Heuer is at the Getty Gallery in London to help celebrate 40 years of the close relationship between the Carrera watch and motor racing with an exhibition of classic photographs from the sport, as well as 21 examples of the watch's long history.

Click here to read the rest of the story...

Bittersweet Lemania 5100 news, last 500 pieces procured by...

2005-01-18T14:38:00.000-06:00

Jorge Merino Reports:

N E W M o d e l — Sinn 142 Titanium D1 Jan 18, 2005 - 07:45 AM

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the 1985 space flight that saw the Sinn 142 become the first automatic chronograph in space, at the hands of German Astronaut-Professor Reinhard Furrer, Sinn has re-issued a new Limited Edition 142 chronograph.

Sinn has procured the last 500 calibers of the famously robust Lemania 5100 movements that are still available. A first batch of 50 pieces is available with a COSC chronometer certification.

The case is in titanium, with sapphire crystal and offers 100 meters of water resistance.

Thanks.

Jorge

It's a sad day for fans of the less than beautiful but incredibly versatile, strong, reliable and durable movement. It's a bloody shame that Swatch group is killing off this movement dispite pleas from manufactures who use it and fans of the movement who would continue to buy them.

It appears that with Swatch group pablum trumps performance. Such is the pity. It's a shame this movement is being killed while less deserving movements are pushed. It's a shame that Swatch group won't spin off or sell the movement, probably fearing they'd get their proverbaial chronometre's cleaned.

We keep the flame from here on out boys and girls... Those of us who are fortunate enough to own them need to care to preserve them for posterity. The rest of you don't know what you're missing.

-- Chuck

Deke Slayton's Speedmaster Discussed @ MWR…

2005-01-16T11:57:00.000-06:00

Both Chris M. and Brian Cantor alerted me to a discussion taking place on the Military Watch Resource talking about the late Deke Slayton's Omega Speedmaster Professional which was recently auctioned...

I make a couple of appearances within the thread (I'm not a MWR regular), I discuss some things that occur to me while replying that may be insightful for some...

-- Chuck

Updated "Summertime/Daylight Savings" article...

2005-01-16T11:30:00.000-06:00

I've updated my "Summertime/Daylight Savings" article to include more correct description of the status of Saskatchewan, Canada. Which didn't elect to not observe DST, but rather switched timezone (which had the effect of switching to DST all of the time)!

Special Thanks to W.M. Hanover for pointing out the true story

-- Chuck

Jean-Michael frets about Speedmaster Addiction...

2005-01-16T10:23:00.000-06:00

JM sent me this email message and pictures:

My dear "speedfan" friends

I think I am turning "addicted" to the speedy ;-)

After receiving back my good old speedy 145.022 from Bienne , it was looking so nice that I think it was a pitty to keep it in it's "beater" task : this watch follows me in my sports activity since the 90's and I confess that I have swim, motorbike, ski, parachute dive ... with it , it endure perfectly the task but its look was a little bit messy after so much action ... but now when I am looking to the beauty with its display back fitted I could not continue to have it as a "beater" ....

hum how to replace it ? I also have 2 other beaters: my Sinn 142 Ti and Sinn 156 B .... perfect "action" watches but not a slim as the speedy which for certain activity is not perfect (for motorbiking I do not like think watches which are not nice to wear under the riding gloves and for parachute diving instructors refuse students wearing too thick watches)

I think about the replacement of my speedy and the only conclusion was .... finding another speedy !!! I just find a 145.0022 of 1997 in very good condition on e-bay , I have choosen the "basic" version because it will be assigned to "action" : I prefer hesalite crystal over any other because scratches can be polished off and there is less risk to brake the crystal under a high shock ....

here are two shots of my little speedy familly (still not on the pic the flightmaster and the X33) ... I am now with 7 speedies hum , I think I turn addicted !!!!

cheers

Well, I don't see any Speedmaster Quartz, no Speedsonics, no Bullheads, no Mark Series, Tutonics or c.1045's no 125's... I'm up to at least oh gosh... 28 Speedmasters I believe.
It's not a bad start...
Thanks for the pictures, JM!
C
P.S. Be sure to pay JM's websites a visit. Always worth the time!

Some specialized timers for some specialized purposes:

2005-01-16T09:41:00.001-06:00

Some specialized timers for some specialized purposes:

Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2005 18:49:45 -0600

To: Chuck Maddox <cmaddox3@sbcglobal.net>

Subject: Seeking an accurate watch

Chuck, I work with high speed video. We use IRIG timecode generators to figure out when things happen.

Xxxxxxx,
Ok, your ahead of me, but I suspect I don't know that I need to know the details.

On almost every location (in the desert) there are at least 5 and as many as 15 of these time code generators. I need a watch that will allow me to see if these things are all reading from the same sheet of music, so to speak. All the watches and Palm programs I have seen are only accurate to the closest second, or at least only display to the closest second. Do you know of any affordable watches or programs that will give me 10th to 100th of a second?

Well, the answer Xxxxxxx, is it depends... It really depends on what you are looking for, how much you are willing to pay what activation methods are optimal, does it need to be a watch and how accurate do you need.

I have a Palm/Cellular phone that seems to be synchronized to my GPS time. I was hoping to use that, but have not had any luck finding a time program that displays to 10th of a second.

For the Palm, there was a program, 5 or 6 years back (circa 1998) called "Chronos" that had a 1/100th of a second stopwatch that was activated by a tap on the screen. Let me see if I can find a link for you...
It was probably one of these (which have probably since had a name change). Why don't you download them all and see which one's look promising?

The other option was a WWV receiver watch but still have the same problem, no decasecond or centasecond hand. Of all the people I have met on the web you seemed like the most likely to know where I can turn for a solution.

Well, if you're willing to live with a wristwatch solution, I'd recommend you look at either a Citizen Skyhawk: 1, 2.
Casio has a watch called the "Wave Ceptor" that combines an Atomic Clock synchronizing watch with a 1/100th of a second chronograph that might be right down your alley, and more economical than the Citizen's...
I'm sure there might be some Casio G-Shock's that might be good candidates as well... These would have the advantage of being ruggedized for field use:
I see they have an "Atomic Solar" line of watches that might be possibilities.
Now, one thing you may not realize is that one of the most significant drawbacks to accurate timing is the human Central Nervous System... The CNS only has connections that run at about 200mph (as opposed to the speed of light with electronic means of tripping a timer), there is also reaction times and the fact that the thumb is actually slower and less accurate than the index finger for triping a stopwatch.
Hence you probably want to avoid a timing mechanism tripped by the human thumb for critical timings. You might wish to consider a quartz stopwatch...
The brand I use when I visit the track is Robic (and the specific model is the SC-808).
The SC-808 allows you to program in the length of the track so that when you time a lap, it will return the average speed of the car. Very handy:
They also make one model, the SC-507, that has a 1/1000th of a second stopwatch:
Check this out... That might be handy to have... I don't know...
Anyway, I'm not sure I've answered your question, but hopefully I have provided some possibilities worth further investigation...
Let me know what you end up with...

Thanks

Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx

Chuck

Pointer to a 5100 discussion at Purist...

2005-01-16T08:21:00.000-06:00

This is a pointer to a discussion I joined after Chris Meisenzhal pointed it out over at Purist's... This is where I learned about the new Sinn 7750 variant with the center pinion Chrono Minute hand...

http://www.network54.com/Forum/message?forumid=169624&messageid=1104954225

I'm in a "Circle back and get caught up" mindset today. This was at the top of the list...

-- Chuck

Swatch Group US Secaucus contact information...

2005-01-14T08:56:00.000-06:00

From my “things I find while dredging for other information” file:

Swatch Group US Secaucus contact information...

SGUS
55 Metro Way
Suite #1
Secaucus, New Jersey 07094
Tel. Omega ++ 1 (800) 766-6342
Tel. Customer Service ++ 1 (877) 839-5224
Fax. Customer Service ++1 (201) 558-5099

-- Chuck

3303 failure after 6 weeks on ACC Ti - epilogue

2005-01-13T10:56:00.000-06:00

MarkEg Posts: 3303 failure after 6 weeks on ACC Ti - epilogue [Jan 13, 2005 - 05:07 AM]

Hi all

Just got back from the shop where I bought my ill-fated Seamaster ACC TI 3303 - the problems I had have been listed in this thread link below

http://forums.timezone.com/index.php?t=tree&goto=1084747&rid=0

(3303 failure after 6 weeks on ACC Ti - MarkEg [Dec 05, 2004 - 07:50 AM],

After several letters and phone calls I have now received a full refund.

The watch was returned to the shop, they sent it to Omega who then told them a month later that it had received a full service and was now fine and could be collected next week…….

I replied with this (abridged…)

"It is clear that Omega have not blamed me for damaging the watch because they have mended it and extended the warranty to cover the lost time. This confirms that there was a manufacturing fault - and as such I have rights under the sale of goods act.
I do not want a repaired watch; I bought new because I wanted a new watch. It failed in a very short period of time and was not fit for the purpose that it was designed for when sold.
As before I require a full refund…."

I would like to thank everyone who offered advice in the earlier thread especially Chuck for the lengthy replies [1, 2] and Neil (UK) for suggesting the sale of goods act.

I am sad that the watch failed but also grateful that it did so in a short period of time, as any longer would have made the refund less likely. I still love my Omegas and will probably buy more, but will be sticking to older watches that have a better track record.

Thanks again for all the help

Best regards

Mark

I'm relieved to hear that Mark was able to obtain a satisfactory solution. This goes to show that there are alternatives to the oft-mistated ONLY option of having Omega repair their faulty and defect riddled c.33xx products which Omega continues to sell dispite all of the issues that continue to be reported.

There are likely always alternatives to meekly accepting what a company offers. Investigate all of your other options, seek out the thoughts of others, look in your phone book under Consumer Protection, learn what "Lemon Laws" exist where you live, don't be afraid to ask... You have little to lose and potentially satisfaction to gain.

Just something to keep in mind when people tell you that you don't have any options other than what Omega offers...

If enough people who have failed c.33xx's followed Mark's example, perhaps Omega would have fixed ALL of the c.33xx's by now.

-- Chuck

c.3303 (Broad Arrow) Failure in Brussels...

2005-01-13T06:36:00.000-06:00

TheGlos who posts from Brussels reports that his 1 year old Broad Arrow broke without any known reason in the TZOF...

Sigh...

-- Chuck

Paulo's looking for a 376.0822 dial...

2005-01-11T09:50:00.000-06:00

On 10 December 2004 I posted a query from Paulo in Italy who was intending to purchase a 376.0822 with a 176.0012 dial... I'm still looking for a 376.0822 dial for him, but Paulo sent me an email with pictures of the watch he purchased:

As you can see the minute track of Paulo's example doesn't extend to the outer ring of the dial like the proper 376.0822 dial does.

If you have a spare 376.0822 dial or know where to source one, please contact me so I can get you and Paulo together...

-- Chuck

Sorry it's been so quiet...

2005-01-11T09:05:00.000-06:00

Sorry it's been so quiet around here lately. Some of this is due to standard post-Holiday doledrums. And today is the high holy day of the MacWorld San Francisco Keynote address for the Mac faithful.

In addition I have been hard at work with a joint project that I really can't talk about yet that has taken a significant amount of my time. I can tell you that this project will be well worth the wait and the effort I and the people I'm partnering with are putting into it. But I really can't say more just yet. Just keep on watching, hopefully in the weeks ahead you'll have reason to agree!

-- Chuck

Sinn developing v.7750 variant with l.5195 layout

2005-01-05T14:58:00.000-06:00

Sinn developing a Valjoux 7750 variant with a decidedly Lemania 5195 look.

From Sinn's website: “we redesigned the proven and operator-safe Valjoux 7750 under the designation sp 01 in such a way that this movement has now a jumping minute stop counting from the dial center.”

This has a striking resemblence to the layout of the Lemania 5195 as seen in the Eberhardt & Co. Frecce Tricolori:

Thus, it appears that Sinn will have a model of watch with a 24-Hour sub-dial, a center pinion minute counter to sell to military buyers in the near future (if not already) as long as they can get the Valjoux/ETA 7750 movement.

It still seems to me to be a shame that Lemania is discontinuing production of the 5100 (presumedly at Swatch Group's order). Especially when: Sinn, Fortis, Tutima (and likely Bell & Ross) among others would likely buy out every 5100 Lemania made if they continued production.

The world needs more choices when it comes to base watch (especially chronograph) movements, not fewer. It's ashame the 5100 is being put out to pasture long before it's time.

There is an interesting thread on this topic over at Purist's watch discussion forum (Thanks Chris M. for bringing that discussion to my attention...)...

-- Chuck

New Airport Security concern, Casio watches...

2005-01-05T13:11:00.000-06:00

MS-NBC is reporting about an advisory issued Monday by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to have airport screeners keep an eye out for wristwatches containing cigarette lighters or altimeters made by Casio...

I personally haven't flown since the late 1990's, as I haven't had a compelling need to but as time goes on, driving myself or taking the train or bus seems like a better and better idea all the time.

-- Chuck