A favourite designer

A few years back I found a series of watches from a German designer, Rolf Cremer and I liked the look of their range of neat colourful watches. One model really took my fancy back then as it was unusual in that it was a small watch but with a large double date window @12.

Rolf Cremer Bogen Gent – Double Date clarity.

Today looking at their current range, unfortunately I don’t see any double date windows this time, so just shows that when you see a model that really takes your fancy, you should buy it – assuming you can afford it. I should have bought this one as it was very affordable at the time. But too late now!

However as with most designers, they don’t stand still and they have plenty of new designs on their web site

I like this one. This is the Rolf Cremer Tower Automatic Date watch in red and black, which has a great modern look. The lightning yellow sweep seconds hand is quite striking. The Date window @between 4 & 5 is unusual with the triangle background, again giving it a ‘look’ which is both interesting and clear. The crown is in keeping and is also triangular, with a colour insert in co-ordinating red. The leather strap is in dark red antique finish and compliments the overall look with a stainless steel buckle as is the case which is 42mm diameter.

The movement is a quality mechanical automatic Miyota (can be seen via the clear glass back) which is a highly reliable workhorse and well suited to the Tower and Mech series of models.

Rolf Cremer Tower automatic 1 of 7 versions

There are 7 versions of this Tower model, all slightly different, but all very interesting and quite unique. I show here another version, this time with a combination of numerals and markers and whilst in the same manner, has a quite different and individual look all of it’s own.

Suffice to say the range is wide and varied, the use of colour and shapes paramount to the look of this collection, from angles dials to offset faces and so on, it’s always refreshing to see. One thing is certain, with such a range of diversity, it allows you to choose a model that matches with your own particular persona. And that’s not an easy thing to manage. Indeed a Rolf Cremer is immediately identifiable, but never boring.

Which is why they are always on my “Watch List” – Note – they also have quartz models too at a lower price-point. They can be viewed HERE.

Art Deco – enamels

There’s something about Art Deco watches and enamel that just go so well together and as I was digging around in my Wife’s collection I found these.

A trio of Elgin Parisiennes from the ’30’s – perfect!

A nice little trio of Elgin Parisienne models from the 1930’s, each of which is a neat design of watch and coloured hard enamel decoration. Brought out as a marketing idea by Elgin, these were designed by mostly Lucien LeLong and were giver specific names of Haute Couture designers of the day in Paris

Names such as Louisboulonger, Agnes, Jenny and Premet etc. and some whilst featuring wonderful designs of hard coloured enamels also were often cased in 14k Gold filled cases, sometimes with semi-precious gems added within the overall design. And they sold really well in those days and quite affordable too, even then.

These are usually powered by the Elgin 488 mechanical 7 jewel movements with Breguet hairsprings and my Wife has maybe six of the Elgins, plus a few Gruens, Bulova, Fortis, Benrus and if I recall right, Mildus? and a few others whose names escape me entirely, but all of them are decorated with coloured hard enamel.

What always fascinates me is that as watches, they all still work and work rather well and the enamel colours are as bright today, as the day they were made. After all most were made around 90 – yes 90 years ago, rarely serviced and they’re still ticking along – Wow!

In short supply these days and I should take the time collate them properly and manage a Post featuring all of them, which should look pretty good. I hasten to add that she wears each and every one of them, in rotation and although the Pandemic lockdown situation currently has curtailed her social activities somewhat, they still get wrist time.

But once we’re out of this nightmare, then perhaps the ‘Parisiennes’ and others of the day, will be on proper display again.

Anyway, just to brighten up the site, I thought I take a quick snap of this trio, as they were the nearest to hand. I think they look good and so wearable even today, as I find many of the current ladies models look rather dull and lacking any pizzazz, so nice to get them out every so often, just to remind me of past times.

What I love about these watches is that they are NOT specifically “cocktail” watches (I hate the term). They are not festooned with sparkly diamond bits surrounding often over-elaborate mini dials. The Parisiennes are everyday wear watches and very often with some superb enamel work for added colour. And yes, they look great at any so called cocktail. And recently I met a 19 year old who has one – who delights in telling everyone that it’s over 5 times her age! And she doesn’t need a wall socket to charge it either!

Wrist cuff watches

For those who are not really into watches, but are into wrist cuffs, the featured JewelryWe watches (4 colourways) should fit the brief. Known imaginatively as Watch Cuffs, it really is the price that’s truly amazing – and that’s maybe around £10 each. . . .

The leather strap/cuff of each is a different colour and from a fashion conscious guy, really quite smart – and it tells him the time without referring to his Smart Phone – now isn’t that a novelty!

The watches themselves are pretty basic, quartz and the metal is just, well – metal – but they do tell the time and I have to say, they actually look pretty good. They each weigh just 54 grams, some 1.5 inches diameter and the dials are quite clear and protected with eh – glass. What I’m saying is, these are basic timekeepers, but as with almost any quartz powered movement these days, they are quite accurate enough for day to day wear.

Anyway as wrist watch cuffs or straps, I like them and I like the fact that they are really NOT expensive and are not silly looking (some are) and they are what they are and if you have a damaged wrist – and I sprained mine the other day, they are great as a brace, so a nice coincidence that I spotted them in Amazon.

Actually there are quite a few different styles and Brands there, though these basic versions suit me fine and in fact the more I see them, the more I’m getting in to them. Reminds me of a long time ago, when a lot younger and I actually remember wearing wrist leathers. Of course way back then I also used to ride motor bikes – a fact that was brought to mind the other day, when an old pal of mine turned up on a brand new Husqvarna 400cc motorbike – I mean this guy’s no chicken, but acting like a teenager with two tails and loving it.

Now he didn’t have a wrist cuff on, but before he left, he was sporting a watch cuff – one of the set of 4 I’d just gone and bought!
And then he looked really cool!

Am I a trend setter or what?

Minimalist

In these times of Covid-19, “lock-downs” and general restrictions on our daily lives, unfortunately it can cause people to become really down and depression is too easy to set in.

For me, to cheer myself up and others in the family, I thought maybe a little gift would not go amiss. This particular watch is just that AND it’s not expensive and can easily be found via Amazon, so can be posted to you directly without any issues at all.

This is the Shengke Creative watch, described as a ladies model, though at 40 mm diameter is a decent uni-sex size. Just 8.5 mm depth, it’s also very slim. Note the 20 mm Polyurethane buckle strap may be a little short for some larger wrists, but it’s very flexible and fits mine perfectly at 6.5 inches circumference. Of course, being a standard style of watch lug, it will be easy to replace with a longer or a leather strap if required.
It is described as minimalist, which is fair comment as there are no frills on this neat timepiece. The dial uses a plain black moving disc moving with a cut out segment for the fixed times disc in white contrast. The minute hand is bright and easily seen in yellow, so dial-wise as minimalist as you’d want. The watch is said to be 30 m water resistance, though as it has a snap back, I would doubt it but it certainly fits snug with that nice “snap” sound on closing.

The model comes in a few alternative colours, Black, White and Red.

Their web site shows quite a few variants, with minimalism and simplicity being the theme running through the range. And for the price – well this one cost me £23.00 which is definitely affordable. These are what I call fashion style watches, and in this particular case, very neat and easily readable too – which to my mind are just the thing for a gift to cheer someone up.

Now OK, these are not high quality movements and pretty standard fare Quartz, but let’s face it, these days most Quartz movements are darned good and if attached to simple mechanics, the technology having advanced so well now they are good time keepers none the less – and at the prices asked are amazing.

The overall watch does have an odd issue in that if you shake it hard, the minute hand, somewhat disconcertingly can move around, though once still, it seems to settle to it’s appointed spot. Doesn’t bother me as I don’t shake my watches unnecessarily anyway. Otherwise build quality is fine, the cases are an alloy construction and the finish is neat and smooth to the touch. So, considering the very low price – and used under normal wear conditions it’s actually great value.

Anyway, the one I picked (Yellow) certainly cheered me up a bit – cost very little and definitely lifted some of the Covid gloom – so that can’t be bad – can it?

Shengke watches can be seen at Amazon UK

Latest – 27th May 2021 – Watch is still going fine after 7 months – it’s reasonably accurate, neat to wear and quite a looker – getting good comments when I wear it – and if colour is your thing and you like a change now and then, having say three of them just about covers all situations. Also the strap whilst PU material is still looking good with no issues at all. I’ll probably update this review in another 6 or 7 months but I expect it to be no different.

So, being realistic, for the price of a quick snack lunch for 2 – It would be churlish to fault it!

Nightspeed by Swatch

Each year I tend to have a look around the offerings by the Swatch Group, but concentrating not on their high end portfolio, but rather on the Swatch in-house Brand . This is the one started life back in 1989 with the introduction of 12 new models. The start of a range of watches from Switzerland, produced to counter the mass influx of cheap quartz watches from Asia. Termed Swatch to infer “second watch” at a low competitive price point, a Swiss movement and a true “Made in Switzerland” logo. It was a successful ploy and they have produced millions of successfully selling watches ever since.

Swatch introduce new models often and you can usually guarantee good quality, a good movement and an affordable price. So this year I looked to see what would take my fancy and be my model for this year (it might not be a 2018 build, but one I maybe missed in the past).

This time I’ve gone for a black plastic cased, quartz powered model, called the Nightspeed. I find it to be a very attractive dark toned blue dial within a black case with a black silicon buckle strap. I particularly like this strap as it’s very, very flexible, has a nice mat black finish and the Swatch (through) buckle fitting.

Quick change battery hatch – with battery type inscribed on back.

The dial numerals are in white with two different font sizes, the 12, 4 and 8 being larger. There are three sub-dials with running seconds at 6, and the two at 2 and 10 function as stop-watch counters. There is also a date window at 6 with white against black and most of the dial features are luminous. There is a black stop-watch seconds centre sweep hand and the semi skeleton hour and minute hands have white tipped pointers.
There is a finely marked dial bezel featuring a Km/h marker ring and there are two black pushers on the right, either side of the centre crown for timing functions and setting the watch.

Light weight plastic body – easy on the wrist. Note the date window @6.

Whilst the colour scheme is predominantly black and blue, the white features within the dial make this an easy watch to read. Overall it is both understated and yet very attractive.

The dimensions are 42 mm diameter and just over 13 mm depth including the slightly domed crystal, so a nicely sized watch and being plastic cased is very light on the wrist.
According to the data on the Seller’s website, the Water Resistance is quoted as 30m, though with the Swatch quick change battery “hatch” as opposed to a full screw back, I’d be cautious it testing how good that may be!

One neat point to note is the battery type (394) is inscribed along-side the hatch, which is very useful.

The Swatch 4 jewel Quartz movements, I’ve found and certainly the ones I own are both accurate and reliable . . . . which when put together with the general attributes of this particular model, I am certain will be a great model to own and at around £80 represents a good buy.

Just a note – if you are looking for a watch to match colours with clothing, it is a fact that generally the Swatch range give you a great choice, as they do offer an extraordinary number of models in all sorts of colour options. Just a thought for Christmas. . . .

Novelty watches

With the increasing use of smartphones, a watch doesn’t seem to be an item the young have much time for (excuse the pun) – everything they need or seem to need is on the phone. In fact when I was visiting a sports centre recently I doubt if I saw a proper watch on a wrist of any of the kids there – but they were instead virtually surgically attached to their smartphones and I wondered if they were unlucky enough to have an injured thumb – well I don’t know how they’d survive the day. I mean if they’re not texting, like, they gotta be dead right?

Now I did see a few wrist accessories of some kind, but very few were watches as such, most being simple bracelets and wrist decoration of some kind. Actually quite a few were strings, leather straps and thin ropes – quite ethnic really.

However on closer inspection I did find out that a few, a very few had watches after all. Not that timekeeping was the core function of wearing them, because they were the simplest of quartz watches, costing perhaps at most a £10 note maybe. These were basically for novelty value or perhaps promotional items and most with printed pictures on the dial.

Simple round cases and as said, a printed dial usually with hour, minute and seconds hand (I was surprised they had seconds ). Usually the printed image or sign was something catchy – in other words what I call ‘novelty

Cat watch in red (also blue and a few other colors)

wrist wear’, that co-incidentally told the time, though I did find one that was made of wood with fixed painted hands – so time was not of the essence there!

Now this is not the preserve of the young and I too have a novelty watch, I wear sometimes just for fun.

Mine is a Wallace & Gromit watch, from the short animated films fame. Why? well I just love the films and I’ve even got a bow tie to match! Silly I know but at my age, at the other end of the spectrum, I can get away with it.

So here’s a couple of these novelty watches I like the look of – purely as decorative items, but these ones do tell the time.

I particularly like the Mergic “Cat” watch, basically as it’s such a clear dial and with the high color straps really looks pretty cool – I understand that’s what the young set want – to look cool I mean.

As the norm mostly all these types of watch are produced in huge quantities in China, but what’s new – even the mainstream watches if not made completely in China tend to dominate the supply of quartz movements today, whatever the Brand of watch.

My Wallace & Gromit watch even comes in it’s own bespoke aluminium hinged box, made by WESCO of China for the BBC who license it and this model (there are several) is commemorating the animated film called “A Close Shave”. It features a leather strap with the Wallace & Gromit text embossed on it, so this is original – I particularly like the blue stitching – hey this is a class act! 😉

Hours, minutes and seconds – what more is needed?

The cost? well around £10-£12, though I’ve seen one or two at auction for silly prices upwards of £40! And no they are NOT worth that kind of money at all – not for simple novelty – but they are fun to wear if you like them.

Colour Swatch

Every so often I feel I want to brighten up my watch wardrobe, especially if I’m out for dinner and maybe even dressed for the occasion. Something that maybe we don’t do often enough these days and certainly something I don’t do enough, being retired. Years of going to the day job, dressed up, tends to make one “dress down” when in retirement and maybe even to forget the odd shave – very remiss.

What to wear? Well this will do nicely ‘cos it’ll go with anything . . . .

But with age comes a certain freedom, where that silly old soul can wear an outrageous bow tie with a blazer or have an overly elaborate walking cane (never had one before, but what the heck!). Maybe you can make some amazing, amusing or cutting comment that could well be in the category of – “You can’t say that!” – that’s awful . . . . ! And get away with it.

And so it is with the choice of watch on your wrist, which neatly brings me to this model – the Swatch “Rounds & Squares” SUON122.

Swatch “Rounds & Squares” model – for geeks.

An ultra modernist Quartz in silicon, plastic, with an abstract style with a blue case and multi-colour strap and an every colour dial. The ultra lightweight case will manage a 3bar Water Resistance, so should withstand the odd glass of bubbly thrown at it, or even if the wearer might accidentally (or was he pushed?) fall in the pool. Now OK the watch survivability might be around 50%, which oddly enough is probably about the same (or better) as the old wearer . . .
It has a centre seconds hand and a neat little screw (coin) hatch at the back to access the battery and the strap as seen here is just fab’ and amazingly flexible.
Did I just use the F word? Goodness, is that sad or what . . . . I mean I was old when they started using that!

Coin battery entry hatch – easy fit even for me!

Anyway as watches go it’s a pretty decent size at 41 mm diameter and commendably just under 10 mm thick, AND it’s plastic, but without the over size silly “ooh is that a watch then?” look, a style that frankly has lost it’s charm for me – but this is different AND it looks good!

Yes this Swiss offering actually looks great – it’s bright, it’s colourful and OK, perhaps a little OTT (did I mention the second hand is “pastel blue?) but despite all that unbelievably I can think of lots of old guy eccentric clothing to go with it. I’ll look some out later . . . .

So being in a sort of dark mood the other day, I went and bought it, sad I know, but that’s what happens when faced with a hypnotic strap such as this.

How could you do it, I hear you ask?

Well it was like this. I spotted it when having lunch with a friend – a friend who is an Ex geek. I know the ex idea seems bizarre but there he was, wearing believe it or not one of those ghastly Hawaii style Miami Vice era multi-colour, but long sleeved, shirts (the rest of his attire was no less incongruous – long shorts and hiking boots – and this is March in Scotland!).

Anyway it happened as my companion asked him the time and as a result I sort of did a double take, as my ex geek pal pulled up his shirt cuff and looked at this continuation of his – “shirt”?

But NO – he was actually looking at his nice new Swatch watch, which was virtually indistinguishable from his riotously bright outfit, in almost every way! And as I say – I was hooked . . . . . It was a lousy day, wet, dark and utterly miserable and there he was – a riot of colour, watch and all!

Well when I got home I looked it up, loved the colour, price OK and ordered one on the spot – and would you believe it – I was already starting to feel much brighter myself.

It came directly from Swatch in tick tock land, so took a couple of days.

Now perhaps it’s a cheap (relatively) and definitely cheerful watch of course, but it’s also absolutely a bit of fun to wear and it will do me nicely, oh yes, it’ll do me just fine.

Now you see it, now you don’t!

The title says it all really. One of the troubles with the digital age is that the images of these new watches on screen and on-line are in fact enhanced artistic license images and NOT often the reality.

And this phenomenon isn’t just a Gents prerogative either – it also affects those modern women and ladies who have embraced the larger masculine style of watch today. You buy the super watch you saw on-line and when you get it, you can’t make out the time. It has no contrast or the light is shining at it in the wrong direction and so on.

So it’s nice to spot a watch for the Ladies – and the men as it happens, the only difference basically is the color set up from Calvin Klein, that appears to me to maybe overcome the clarity issue. I say maybe as I too have only seen them on-line, but at least the retailer I spotted shows a video. So maybe a more accurate representation and possibly worth a look.

The Calvin Klein Future Alarm model as it’s called for ladies has a nice color way and isn’t very large by todays standards, but actually a nice size for anyone with sensible wrists. It measures 38 mm diameter and is only 9 mm depth, so neat on the wrist, ladies or gent. The Ladies version has a white rubber strap and rather stylish colored LCD with blue numerals, which appear to have really decent contrast. The watch has two pushers on the right side a Date feature and an Alarm. It also has a nice smooth case set up with a decent 30m Water Resistance.

It comes with the Calvin Klein 2 yr Warranty and costs around £160, which is reasonably affordable today. The colour combination I think works for ladies and IF the contrast and legibility is as I would hope, then this is a pretty good buy.

The Gents model is only different in the colour and is slightly thicker at 10 mm, so it is said, but the same otherwise.
The Gents version also has the usual macho dark dial job, though in this case I might prefer the Ladies one – as I have a feeling the color set up just might be better clarity wise, though would I dare wear it?

Come to think of it – I probably would! Unisex is Unisex – right?

Oops! My son has just cried out, “You can’t be serious Dad, you can’t!” “You got to be kidding me – Yikes!”

You see that’s the trouble with this new generation – they have no sense of humour! 😉

Christofle dress watch

One thing I like about Design Houses is when they turn their hand to watches. Mostly dress watches it has to be said, but these are often great looking pieces, produced not by watch trade people, but by designers of different products and what is their take on a watch to express their particular Company or philosophy.

This is a neat and rather stylish model from Christofle of Paris and a particularly handsome piece it is too – well to my mind it is, as I bought it just the other day at auction. And at a VERY reasonable two digit price. Now considering this model cost in 1999 approximately £1300 and it’s in perfect condition (box, papers etc) – I’m well pleased.

It is a decent specified model too with a 21 jewel Swiss ETA 2892-2 automatic movement, Sapphire Crystal and (possible) 18ct gold bezel on a rather elegant stainless steel case, plus articulated “fancy” lugs connecting to the Swiss original green colored Lizard leather strap with signed Christofle stainless buckle.

Readability for me is a basic buying principle and I do like the jet black polished color of the hour and minute hands, which gives excellent contrast against the textured inner dial.

The outer track is on a broad gold colored band with black Roman numerals. The Date aperture is @3 with contrasting black date numbers against white. The sweep second hand is in gold.

Dial lettering features the Christofle logo and Paris and below shows Automatic with Swiss Made at the foot of the dial.

Note the fluted stainless steel case shaping - plus articulated lugs. — Note the fluted stainless steel case shaping – plus articulated lugs.

The stainless steel case is highly polished with a triple molding feature which pairs up with the strap lug ends. The crown is @3 and part recessed. The Date is a quick set type and of standard ETA 2892-2 configuration. The watch also manages a decent Water resistance of 30 m (100 ft) with it’s neat 4 screw stainless steel back

It sits very well on the wrist and at just 37 mm diameter and quite thin at 8.5 mm, it looks neat and the dial color combination with the green Lizard strap lends itself very well to the dress occasion.

As watches go it is a good mid range model, though for me I would balk at paying the new price, which reflects the design house premium. But for the price I paid and as this watch is in perfect, as new, condition, it is a really good buy. One of the reasons why Designer watches in general can be excellent pre-owned purchases, is that the new designer inflated price disappears in the second hand market. And unlike previous times, today many of the designer outlets produce some very, very good watches indeed and well worth a look at Auction price.

Simple Date

Often with unisex watches that are not physically large, one of the problems if showing a date window is they are so small and therefore difficult to read.

Rolf Cremer Bogen Gent from Germany. Double Date clarity.

I found this model Rolf Cremer Bogen Gent 492801 Quartz watch recently that solves the problem neatly with the addition of a proper Double Date window set in it’s plain color dial.

Numerals and indices are omitted for clarity and the good contrasting red colored hour and minutes hands are complimented by the centre seconds hand with it’s black dot pointer.
The double date aperture is @12 and is designed as the main feature of the watch.
The crystal is mineral glass, the case in stainless steel and the wrist band is in complimentary red quality leather. Dimensions of the watch are neat at 34.3 mm wide, 9.5 mm depth and 45.5 mm lug to lug and overall the watch has a superb modern clean line look, perfect for day or dress wear.

Another plus is the fact the watch is not expensive at around 139 Euros.

In my opinion this is a great example of good design and function. Clear to read, elegant looks and deceptively simple in form, it’s one of those models that’s just perfect for those little occasions – not flash, not minimalistic silly – but rather elegant, modern and rather refined.