Vintage, Military, and Omega Watch Blog
This is just a little bit odd, isn’t it? Same webpage, same content, same web host server, same photo, but different name/email/phone numbers!
This guy is just barely trying. He has not one but two sites with the same content stolen from Stephane’s WorldlyWatches.com:
Thomas-Watches.com
Vintages-Watches.com
Posted in Vintage Watches.
rev="post-195" 10 comments
– 21 January 2009
Even if one can forgive the spelling misstep, anyone considering selling a watch or buying a watch from Vintages-Watches.com take note: the bulk of that site’s content has been shamelessly stolen from Stephane Medam of WorldlyWatches.com. As such, it’s very doubtful that this person(s) actually has any of the watches pictured in his possession – DO NOT SEND THEM YOUR MONEY!
According to the Vintages Watches [sic] website, the proprietor is one Shaun Coulthard, but a WHOIS database search contains multiple mentions of the name “Richard A. Sarazen” and, omniously, a Registration Services Provider that lists its website at http://nameservers.ru — meaning that the domain is operating in Russia:
Details for Vintages-Watches.com
I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Stephane Medam at a get-together a few years ago, and I know him to be a likable gentleman who is very passionate about watches and vintage Rolex watches especially. It’s really a shame that someone would impersonate him like this; I hope his reputation isn’t sullied by this scammer.
Posted in Vintage Watches.
rev="post-188" 1 comment
– 20 January 2009
Restored Vintage Mickey Mouse Watch. Photo Watchspot.net
They’re certainly not haute horlogerie, but I’ve always had something of a soft spot for these vintage Ingersoll Mickey Mouse Watches. These were among the first “character watches” made and were the first watch of much of a generation, or at least those children lucky enough to get one in the Depression years. Originally made by Ingersoll (of “Dollar Watch” fame) they were later made by US Time and then Timex after a series of mergers and corporate name changes over the years. There’s just something really endearing about them, though they’re not quite endearing enough for my personal tastes at the prices they fetch.
A few years ago I had an idea to find an old junker Mickey Mouse Watch and get it restored, thinking I might be able to get my way into one cheaply. I never found a suitable one at a reasonable price and gave up on the idea in favor of other interests. Along the way I did however find a watchmaker suitably equipped with a supply of NOS parts from the old Ingersoll facility in Waterbury, CT who restores these cute little old watches.
Posted in Vintage Watches.
rev="post-166" 2 comments
– 18 January 2009
Special Air Service Badge Insignia
Here’s a new wrinkle unfolding: perhaps in a spirit of one-upmanship between the two competitive units, apparently the new UK Special Air Service (SAS) Omega watch is to be an Omega Planet Ocean, not the GMT used by the Special Boat Service. Exactly which size/model is not yet known.
This neatly answers questions raised by some collectors as to why the GMT had been chosen (again) in favor of the Planet Ocean. The PO seemed to many to be the more logical choice, with its more tactical black color scheme and its presence as Omega’s latest and top-of-the-line dive watch with a water resistance rating twice that of the GMT.
Though one one hand it might seem that the GMT function could prove useful in military and tactical employment, once again these are likely to mostly be worn off duty and in camp and not by the Special Air Service during training, so it becomes somewhat immaterial. And again these are privately purchased commemoratives and not SAS-issue equipment.
Posted in Military Watches, Omega Watches.
rev="post-163" 3 comments
– 16 January 2009
Special Air Service Insignia
Thanks to a tip from a fellow enthusiast with connections to some of the personnel concerned, I’ve learned that following in the tracks of the SBS, the British Special Air Service is now reported to be getting their own Omega Seamaster Professional Co-Axial GMTs as well.
Purportedly the watch will be almost identical to the SBS LE, but with the SAS logo printed on the inner side of the sapphire back like many recent Omega Speedmaster limited edition series. Each member will be allowed to purchase only one.
The SAS watch will include the “zap number” engraving like on the SBS edition, though the SAS “zap number” marking is reported to include the owner’s initials as well. It’s not clear if this is simply a means to help identify the owner if the watch is lost/stolen or else just to discourage resale.
Posted in Military Watches, Omega Watches.
rev="post-153" No comments
– 15 January 2009
Divestraps "Kevlar" Strap with steel cam buckle.
Watch collecting can be a weird sort of hobby. Though technical and horological accomplishments would ostensibly be among the most desirable qualities in watches, despite our most well-intentioned attempts at objectivity our emotion, sentimentality and subjectivity are almost inseparable from the opinions we form. Manufacturers and sellers are of course well aware of this and are quick to shamelessly capitalize upon it, obfuscating reality here and there with just enough deception and half-truth needed to make a quick buck off of us enthusiasts.
So it can be pleasing in a way to see one of these blatantly exploitative abusers exposed. Especially one who goes by the name “Outstretchedhands” — as in hands outstretched for your money!
Posted in Military Watches, Straps.
rev="post-128" 27 comments
– 12 January 2009
Stumbled across some of these fun shots of movie watches, some of which are props and some actual production watches. There are various sites out there showing screen grabs and descriptions of the watches worn by characters in movies and television shows, but I can’t recall ever having seen these two before. More can be found at www.yourprops.com
Microma LCD Digital as Worn by Harrison Ford as Deckard in Blade Runner, 1982. Photo www.yourprops.com
Actual watch worn by Ron Livingston as Lt./Capt. Lewis Nixon in the "Band of Brothers" series, 2001. Photo www.yourprops.com
Posted in Uncategorized.
rev="post-99" No comments
– 06 January 2009
Stephen Urquhart, President, Omega SA
Ever since the X-33 was discontinued in Summer 2006 Omega collectors and enthusiasts have been wondering if and when there was to be a replacement for the Omega Speedmaster Professional X-33.
In a recent interview for Japanese newspaper the Yomiuri Shimbun, Omega SA president Stephen Urquhart was quoted as saying,
“Omega is one of the pioneers in the field of watch technology. For example, the Omega X-33 has been certified by NASA [U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration] for space flights. We’re planning to upgrade the X-33 next year and for future space programs. I agree that today every mobile phone and every computer you buy displays time precisely. But we feel our strength is in mechanical watches. So we’ll continue to bring something extra to mechanical watches–history and lasting value.”
Posted in Omega Watches, X-33.
rev="post-67" No comments
– 06 January 2009
Recent Comments