1920 and 1930s Vintage Ladies Rolex or Rolexes

Hi Watch Collectors,

Just not to forget about ladies collectors. Here are some of the 20s and 30s Ladies Rolexes for your viewing.

Close-up look

Hinghed case lifted and you can see the wording "ROLEX"

The inside movements, with ROLEX signed and swiss made.

The case with ROLEX signed as well. ROLEX signitures come in various form. Here are some of the examples, ROLEX, RWC and Rolex Watch Co.

Hope the ladies learn something about ladies Rolexes.

Circa 1930s Restored Vintage Swiss Gents Watch

Hi Watch Collectors,

It is coming to the end of 2008 and 2009 is just around the corner. The year can change but not the time or the clock, it will still be 24 hours in one day. So you can always use your watch on any year.

I have just collected another piece of a restored piece of Vintage. Here are the pictures of the piece prior to restoration.



Wornout case, usual hairline crack on the porcelain dial, missing second hand at 6, missing crown and stem and not running.



The wornout case behind, in pretty bad shape

Missing stem and crown.

After Restoration................

The case is once again bright and shining. Second hand installed, a same era better condition procelain dial replaced the crack one. A unused rose crown and stem installed.

The behind case had been restored, unfortunately corrosion due to perspiration, that is the best condition we can achieve.

Once again you can see the rose crown, it is not common to see these crowns anymore. I love to buy an unworkable piece of watch and make it work again. The only problem with vintage watches is the difficulty in getting spare parts. The challenge to hunt for the spare parts makes collecting watches much more interesting. Hope you learn something today.

I love french watches......unique and rare

Hi Watch Collectors,

You get to see lots of Swiss Watches, Japanese Watches, German, Chinese and Russian watches.....how about the french. I do not have many vintage pieces myself personally. Here is one of them.

This is a 1950s era vintage. Made in France at the bottom of 6. When comes to the french watches, they really put alot of effort in presentation. This is a simple classic 1950s design and yet elegant. Next time round, I will show you a 1930s piece of French vintage and I will show you a few French table clocks as well.

Circa 1940s Traveller's Clock

Hi,

I bought the traveller's clock from an antique shop, it was not working so got a discount for it. I sent it for service and it is working now.

The case in solid stainless steel. The dial is porcelain. The leather needs to be mended. It is an interesting piece. Not many 1940s travel clocks around due to the war.

Restoration of 1930s Cushion Case Rolex Tudor

Hi Watch Collectors,

As promised, I have collected the restored piece of 1930s Cushion Rolex Tudor Vintage Watch. The below diagram shows the piece before the restoration. Front case worn, Glass need to change, missing crown and also not moving.

After restoration, Case restored, the Glass changed, a unused 1930s era crown and the watch is ticking now.

This is an circa 1930s Rolex Tudor Cushion face, it is called cushion face because the shape looks like a cushion or sometimes called a pillow case. The case in this case is a 9K Pink/Rose rolled gold. Please observe the numerals and the second hand at six. This is the typical characteristics of 1930s model watches. Hope you like this restored piece of Vintage Rolex Tudor and you have learn something as well.

1930s Vintage Art Deco Swiss Watch

Hi Watch Collectors,

Here is another piece of 1930s era Vintage Art Deco piece restored to its former glory.

Once again, typical characteristics of 1930s Art Deco, the case is decorated by hand crafted designs. The case is usually in 9K pink/rose gold. On its dial, most certain has a second hand indicator at six.

Hope you learn something again today.

Circa 1910s Moonface Pocket Watch

Hi watch collectors,

Some people might think the modern complicated wristwatches' designs are something new. Actually it is not, it is the recycle of old designs. Here is one classic design example of Moonface design, day, date and month. Found this piece from an Antique Shop.




Pocket Watches' case comes in different material for example Solid Gold, Rolled Gold, Silver, Nickel, Stainless Steel and last Gun Metal (Similar to an M16 metal). The Pink/ Rose Gold are the usual in the those era, they come in 18K. 14K, 10K and 9K grade. The 14K and 10K are common in American Market while the 18K and 9K are common to the European Market.

Once again, hope you learn something new.

International Watch Company (IWC)

Hi Watch Collectors,

From my business trip, guess what I have found among the trashes, a treasure piece.

It is a 1960s model IWC, I nearly did not get to see it among the watches as I was searching through. The watches of IWC are usually very simple in design which I like for office or formal wear.

Various Designs of 1930s Art Deco Watches

Hi Watch Collectors,

It has been a couple of weeks since I last posted any news on Vintage Watches. This time round, I will show you the various designs of Swiss Watches from the 1930s era. Please take note of the case, the numerals and the dial. Also, normally, they come in 9K pink/rose solid gold case, or 9K pink/rose rolled gold case, stainless steel, chrome or nickel case.

The below is a close up look on Unicorn (Rolex)

This another piece of Viceroy(Rolex)

There are various brands manufactured by Rolex, there are Rolex itself, Tudor, Unicorn and Viceroy. I hope you learn something today again.

Watches of Interest in November

Hi Watch Collectors,

Now I will highlight the modern watches of interest in every month, for the month of November:

1) ROLEX Cellini - Cellinium
2) OMEGA - Seamaster Professional (James Bond's Choice)
3) BVLGARI - The New Diagono Calibro 303 Watch
4) FRANCK MULLER - Secret Hours (Interesting one)
5) PATEK PHILIPPE - Twenty -4 (Ladies Watch)
6) CHOPARD - Gran Turismo XL
7) FREDERIQUE CONSTANT GENEVE - Gents Moonphase Carree
8) SEIKO - COUTURA
9) CITIZEN - PROMASTER Eco Drive
10) ORIS - Regulateur Der Meistertaucher
11) RAYMOND WEIL - Freelancer (Nice one)

Please go to repective manfacturers websites for viewing.

These watches are mainly featured for high end business people but it is good to know the models of these modern watches.

More 1930s Art Deco Designs Vintage Watches

Hi watch collectors,


Here are some of the Designs of watches during the 1930s era, watch the case, the dial and numerals.

The most obvious is the second hand at six. Hope you learn something today.

The good, the bad and the ugly of Replica Rolex

Hi Watch Collectors,

As promised, something for you to learn about replicas. In this case Rolex Replicas.

The Good - I meant characteristics of the replica is so close to the real one. In term of weight and exterior features. The technology is so good now that it is hard to tell the difference for the naked eyes. Only when inspecting the movements inside that everything is revealed. Even the good replicas has various price ranges, lower price for china movements and higher price for swiss movements.


They even come with sticker behind, Rolex crown, boxes and papers all sold separately. It is really unbelievable, that is one reason why I do not collect beyond 1965 watches.

The Bad - This is a bad copy of the late 1960s, on exterior, it looks like a genuine vintage rolex but minus the "Swiss Made" on the dial.

The behind has looks normal but the crown is worn out, so cannot determine the authencity and only on inspecting the movement inside, you can find dual movements of swiss roamer watches.

The Ugly - you can tell it is a fake on first sight. The weight is light, the finishes is unprofessional.

The crown is another tell tale sign and once again, the finishes behind is unprofessional.

I do not encourage people for buying fake, it is against any business and ethically is wrong. Why do you buy a genuine watch, you are supporting the business who will continue to research, design and deliver quality products. You feel good in wearing a genuine branded watch because ethically you know you are doing the right thing. It will be embarassing if someone spotted you wearing a fake or even suspecting you wearing a fake. You can resell a real piece and prices will even increase or pawn it if you are short of money. The best reason, you can past it to your next generation as treasure piece of heirloom. Hope you learn something today.

Swinging 1970s Colourful Dial Watches

Hi Watch Collectors,

You might come across and now the fashion is back for the 1970s big, chunky, colourful and funky......groovyyyyyyyyyyy type of watch.


Digging through my boxes of watches, I have quickly picked a few to show you. Hope you learn something about watches from the 70s, ask your parents for their watches. Ask them about the swinging 70s while you are at it.


Here they are, presenting brands like Seiko, Citizen, Orient and FC Johns (Swiss). Go get em, tigers......ahemmmmm watch collectors.

1960s Swiss Gents Watch, Common but yet Rare

Hi Watch Collectors,

Here is a rare find some years ago, on appearance, it looks like a common 1960s Swiss Gents Watch but on looking behind, you realise a serial number D122. This a a military issued watch and SAR signature stands for "Search and Rescue", meaning for the SAR team. So the lesson here is do not write off a common watch.

Before and After Restoration of Oris

Hi Watch Collectors,

Here is a piece of 1950s Oris gents swiss watch, I got back from the service of the retired watchmaker. The watch was not moving initially and external condition was shown in the diagram below.


Before Restoration

The diagram shown below is after restoration. A picture tells a thousand words and the watch is now keeping its time well. The cost is a fifth of the so called service centres or watch dealers. Some service centres wanted from $200 to $400 dollars to service the watch. Some reasons given by them, no spare part in Singapore, have to order from Switzerland or the watch had to be sent to Switzerland for service. Well, the below is the proof for a job, can be done at a fraction of the cost.

After Restoration

History of Pocket Watches

Hi Watch Collectors,

Today, I will show you some of my pocket watches. I have collected hundreds them, over the years and I hope you will learn something from these lots.

The piece shown below is a key winder which is typical of a pocket in the 1900s. This is a solid silver case with British Hallmark of the case.

The piece below is a 9K Rolled Pink Gold Pocket Watch. This watch is typical of the 1910s to 1920s.

The piece below is an Omega Open face Pocket Watch. It is a 1920s era pocket watch in Solid Nickel Case.

The final piece but not the last piece in my collections, is a Waltham Open Pocket Watch in 10K Rolled Pink Gold.

The last picture of some Pocket Watches that I put on a display case.

Pocket Watch established the era of 1900s, of cause, there are earlier versions of pocket watch with butterfly balance (beautiful and rare). I only have a couple in the bank vault. Gentlemen used pocket watch during the 1900s up to 1920s and when wristwatch was invented, that spelled the end of pocket watch. The word pocket watch meant the watch was meant to be kept in the pocket. It is held with a chain, the chain can be either solid gold, rolled gold,silver or nickel. The pocket watch case comes in various metal both precious and non-precious. They are in Solid Gold, Silver, Rolled Gold, Nickel and last gun metal. The Solid Gold and Silver are used for formal situation while the nickel and gun metal are for your day to day activities. There are also smaller version of pocket watches for Ladies and their cases are usually more elaborated with designs.