After a chat on Twitter recently with Chris, who is trying watch repair for the first time, it got your NWC Editor thinking back to the apprentice days of watch reapir, ten years ago. Yes, back then I could barely swap a battery in a Storm watch without scratching the case with a slip of the knife. But a longtime watch fettler called Ernie walked … Continue reading What’s The Best Watch Repair Kit For a Beginner?
NWC magazine is a big fan of Royal Enfield and Jawa motorcycles. Great designs that mix vintage and modern technology, affordable too. In the world of watches you see lots of PR from the big Swiss brands about Net Zero, recycled watch parts like ocean waste straps, reclaimed steel used in cases and some use of old school movements like the benchmark ETA 2428 or … Continue reading The Greenest Watches Aren’t Swiss, They’re Indian
It’s always satisfying when you bring an old watch back to respectable running order. Not every rescue effort is successful, because watches get water inside, they are poorly serviced – or not serviced at all. Then there are cheap watches like this 1973 Timex. The US company famously ran a factory in Dundee for decades, making clocks and watches using basic parts and built to … Continue reading Repair Shop: Refreshing a Ten Quid Timex From eBay
Some news from SINN watches; An important step towards the future, promoting growth and further development – this is the watchword for Sinn Spezialuhren’s new branch in Dresden, with a clear focus on service provision and assembly. From 18 May, 18th this additional site, located at “Kleine Brüdergasse 1 – 5 in Dresden”, will be managed by Nora Kumpf. Focusing on the future, she and her … Continue reading SINN Opens Dresden Watch Servicing Centre
There is one tweak that almost any watch enthusiast can do which adds value, and enjoyment, to their vintage Swiss watch; get rid of scratched or damaged crystals and fit a new one. It improves the appearance instantly and you’re learning stuff that saves a long wait at most UK jewellers or independent watch repair workshops. It is relatively easy to do this job – … Continue reading How To Fit A New Crystal to a Vintage Swiss Watch
Until today I’d never heard of anOrdain, a Scottish watchmaker that’s doing things the old way, using skilled people to actually manufacture watches. OK, spoiler alert, they are using Swiss movements, so this isn’t a totally in-house, soup-to-nuts operation like Patek Philipe, but Rome wasn’t built in a day so give me a chance to tell you more about what they are doing, and why … Continue reading anOrdain Aren’t a Watch Brand. They Are Manufacturing. Big Difference
OK, here’s a dilemma; You have £100 to invest in a classic, collectable wristwatch, or maybe two and you check ebay, Fakebook Martketplace, Up a Gumtree, SchlockIt, plus your local Cash related High St shops. First, forget about modern quartz watches like DKNY, Armani, Rotary, Michael Kors, Skagen, Storm, Cluse, Festina, Boss, Daniel Wellington, Fossil, Ted Baker and Uncle Tom Cobbleigh and all. These are … Continue reading Buyers Guide: Modern Seikos & Citizens vs Old School Automatics
