Phoenix G10 Watch Strap

Phoenix is the original manufacturer of  British military watch straps and are original issue to the British Ministry of Defense (MoD).  These straps are currently on the wrists of British servicemen in Afghanistan and various hot zones around the globe.  Because they have a NATO Stock Number (NSN) they are often referred to as NATO Straps.  But the MoD name of these straps are called Strap, Wrist Watch but known colloquially as G10 which refers the G1098 store. Each platoon/troop/company/squadron has a G10 store which act as like local stores, these were items of equipment that might reasonably be expected to be replaced locally, i.e. binoculars, watches,sleeping bags, etc.  Items that were lost were replaced by the serviceman completing an applicable form indicating that the cost of the lost item would be deducted from his next pay. 

Unlike the most NATO straps available online are cheap imports from China, Phoenix straps are made in the UK to military specs.  The original MoD specs can be found here.  While the color for MoD spec is grey, Phoenix also produces various other colors. Hardware is made of stainless steel and the one piece (no spring loaded bar) buckle is etched with the Phoenix name.

The strap is tightly woven nylon and less likely to fraying.  Unlike cheaper imports that stitch all joints, buckle and loops, Phoenix straps are securely heat-welded into position.  Also the end of each strap and holes are also heat-sealed.  The straps are also free from additives which may act as an irritant to the wrist under humid or extreme conditions.

I had purchased these straps in an attempt to revitalize an old watch I have left idle for too many years.  In this case the Omega Seamaster Chronograph 1948 London Olympic.   Originally I thought this Regimental Bond version would go great with it.  I thought the red stripe would complement the red Omega logo and red chrono hands well.  Sadly I don't think it does.  I'm not quite sure of this combo.

Then I tried the Bond version.  This is the strap color used in the newest Bond film.  It think its better but I'm not quite sold on it.

I purchased these straps from England from Gas Gas Bones who is currently running a buy 3 get 1 free deal and I received this black strap as my complimentary band.  Ironically, to my disappointment, I think it's the one that looks the best.  The OEM strap for this watch is a black rubber band.  I wanted the watch to have a "new" or "fresh" look in the hopes it would motivate me to return this timepiece on my wrist.  With the same color, I'm not sure it will.

Olive was never intended for this Omega, in fact I was considering it for my Sinn 856UTC but it may actually work on this watch. 

The olive on my intended watch, the Sinn 856UTC.

Watchbuys Roadshow Irvine July 29, 2016

My laptop crapped out on me a couple weeks ago, so I am catching up on posts.  Watchbuys finally hosted their first OC roadshow in Irvine last month on the 29th-31st.  I think most OC folks (and some San Diego folks) are quite relieved that they no longer need to drive to Century City or Pasadena to interact with the watches and guys at Watchbuys.  Since one of my old business partners has decided to get into watches I invited him along as my guest.  For whatever reason, maybe it was because my buddy with me, I didn't take as many pictures.  Nonetheless here are a few interesting pieces I've not seen in person before.

Sinn:

Some small independent watchmakers:

Hanhart, one of my main focuses on this visit.  Sadly I was slightly disappointed.

Nomos:

Junghans.  I've been wanting to take a look at these watches as they tend to be very thin:

Suicide Run

Long story short.  Six hour middle of the night drive.  Fish for four hours. Lost one.  Chul lost two; both in the 20 inch range.  Managed a modest 15 incher to hand.  Another six hour drive home.  Back by midnight.

Sinn 856 UTC back on the wrist.

So Many Watches, So Little Time...Watchbuys Roadshow LA 2013

One of many reasons why I hate LA.

A nice little door gift.

I really like those guys at Watchbuys and they came back to Southern California showing off their latest timepieces.  The last time they came was back in 2009 in Pasadena.  I don't know why but I missed that one perhaps because I didn't want to get sucked into buying another must-have watch. 

This year's show is in Century City and as much as I hate driving in LA I signed up.  Getting to the show was a hassle there was traffic on every freeway going into LA.  I arrive a bit late but Tim was there to show me to their room.  On display were most of their line.  We were privy to a new watch exclusive to Watchbuys.  Rob showed us a one of a kind series from Jochen Benzinger.  Known for being one of, if not the best watch engravers, Jochen scours watch auctions in search of vintage movements buys them and modifies them for his watches.  His new series is the BenzingerONE (only one watch will be made).  We were shown the first of the one of a kind series.  Made from one of the finest vintage Vacheron Constantin movements, it was (its no longer produced) Vacheron's answer to the turbillion movement.

I'm a big fan of Sinn watches.  I used to travel quite a bit so I have a soft spot for multi-time zone watches and I wanted to check out the Sinn 6090 Frankfurt but the 6100 Regulateur Technik caught my eye.

Also of note is the MeisterSinger, a company specializing in single hand watches.  Their Neo line is a vintage influenced series that is accomplished with an acrylic cover.

New to the Watchbuy lineup is another Glashutte watch maker Bruno Sohnle.  These watches made a brief appearance in the US market but failed.  Because of Watchbuy's business model these watches start at $1200 opposed to the $4000 asking price prior to Watchbuy becoming their US distributor.

One thing I learned is how much technology goes into the Sinn's U-line watches cases.  This U1000's case has more components than its movement.  There is something like 500 (I don't recall the actual number) different components to it.  Also many have claimed Sinn has copied various watches for the push down bezel, the fact is that Sinn owns the patent for that feature and get royalties for each watch that uses that bezel design.

That is just a handful of the watches at the show.  I have more pictures but I've limited this post with some of what I thought were the more interesting pieces.

 So many watches...So little time...

Watchbuys Roadshow Coming Back To Los Angeles, March 22-24

Watchbuys, the North American distributors of several German timepieces including Sinn, Dornblueth & Sohn, MeisterSinger among others, is having another roadshow.  The last roadshow I attended was back in 2007 in Beverly Hills (pictured above) which may have been their last as I don't ever recall any after that.  Although the exact location has yet to be announced, it will be held somewhere in Century City.  No watches will be available for sale, the roadshow is merely a showcase for all the watches that Watchbuys carries and allows potential buyers to view, handle and get more information on their pieces.  It is a no pressure environment where collectors can talk watches and learn more about these small German watch producers.   The roadshow requires registration as it is limited to only a few viewers at a time.  I've already signed up.

Anonimo Video

Anonimo Cronoscopio Mark II Special Edition

Like any idiot that has too many toys, I often neglect some of my material possessions whether it be a fly rod or reel, gun, or in this case a watch.  This Anonimo has been left seating on the benches for years now.  I almost forgot I even owned it.  I have since rectified that and have been wearing it almost daily and on all my fishing outing in the past month. 

This is big watch which is much the fashion these days.  It is a 44mm case and if it looks like a Panerai well it should.  There are some historical influences which I will discuss in a minute.  Anonimo is a Italian dive watch with long tradition of Florentine watchmaking.

Panerai in recent years has exploded in popularity largely from celebrities like Sly Stallone, Jason Statham seen wearing them.  This popularity lead a holding company of luxury goods (I forget which one and I'm too lazy to look it up) to buy the brand but the holding company only had interest in owning the name not skills of the Italian workforce.  The company moved Panerai out of Italy and into Switzerland leaving hundreds of Italian watchmakers out of work.  The Swiss Panerais are excellent watches but they fail to capture what made Panerai, Panerai. 

As Panerai left Florence, proud Italians refusing to see their tradition and art die created Anonimo.  Using the abandoned talent and equipment, today's Anonimo is much more in line with the old school Panerai than the modern day Panerai could ever be.  Today's Panerais are Panerais in name only.  They carry very few traits that made Panerais famous.   For what I can see the only thing they kept other than the large face is the crown seal that they use on the Luminor models.  I will say today's Panerai movements are much better than their predecessors and of that of Anonimo.  Panerais were orginally worn by the Italian Navy Divers and were also commission by other Navys across the globe.  These dive watches were made with leather straps.  Yes a diving watch with leather bands.  Waterproof leather bands.  Current Panerais with leather straps can not be swam with as they do not possess the waterproof leather straps.  A diving watch that you can not dive with, makes a lot of sense doesn't it?  Anonimos on the other hand, like the original military watch, can be dove with on as it uses the Kodiak process that waterproofs the leather and can be used in fresh or salt water.

My Anonimo is a Cronoscopio Mark II Special Edition limited to 50 pieces.  Mine is 12/50.  The watch is has a day date function and is a chronograph.  As a limited edition, it has a different face than the regular edition and that's about the only difference to my knowledge.   With a clear case back you can see the movement which is modified Valijoux 7750.  The bezel and back cover are screw locked similar to those early day Panerais.

Much is said about Anonimos cases and the Italians are proud to flaunt them.  Panerai actual started out as a company that specialized in fine mechanisms such as mechanical depth gauges, compasses and torpedo detonators for the navy.  They were tapped into making a dive watch when all other Swiss watches at the time did not meet the testing requirements.  Panerai encased a Rolex caliber in a modified depth meter and delivered it to the Admiralty.  Ten were promptly ordered and the rest is history.  The stainless steel case on my watch is satinated AISI316 Plus and is sand blasted while the bezel and back cover are polished. 

I recently started looking at Anonimos online and am shocked at what they are currently going for, I'm sure that is partially due to a weak dollar.  I believe there is small but growing fans of Anonimo, I do not believe it will ever reach the status of what Panerai currently holds but I believe these watches are worth a look.   They are less about status and more about having a connection with the past.  I personally like that fact.

There is some information regarding how Panerai came about and some pctures of early Panerai models in the book 1001 Wristwatches.

1001 Wristwatches

I just got back from Barnes and Noble looking for Georgia Pellegrini's book, which they don't stock, and found this little gem instead, 1001 Wristwatches: From 1925 to the Present by Martin Hausermann, in the bargain aisle. It was only $7.98!  That's cheaper than any of the watch magazines on the newstands.

The book is broken down into Men's watches, Chronographs, Aviator watches, Diver's watches, GMT and World Time Watches, Watches with Alarm features, Tourbillon Watches, Calendar watches, and Repeater watches.  My favorite companies, Glashutte Original and Sinn, are showcased, as well as the big name and not-so-big name Swiss, French and German makers.

It's printed on quality thick gloss paper with watch porn on every page.  The book is basically almost all watch porn with very little in the way of substance but nonetheless it's quite the find.

The Perfect Complement

Merkel 47e and 147SL with Glashutte Original Senator Chronograph and Navigator Automatic

Close up of the Glashutte Original Senator Chronograph

Glashutte Original watches and Merkel fine guns are probably my favorite watch and fine gun companies. They are a perfect complement to one another as they have very similiar stories. Both are from East Germany from storied cities. Glashutte is the watch making capital of Germany, Suhl the gun making capital of Germany. Both have been around over 100 years. Both survived the GDR era and were combined with other companies in order to survive. Glashutte was fused from various independent watchmakers, and Merkel was combined with JP Sauer, Simson, among others.  Both are precision instruments using both old world and new world techniques and machinery. Both represent some of Germany engineering and creativity.