October GTG at Seafood Shack - Part 1

So the 2 themes this time around was around (1) Coloured Dial (non black or white) and (2) GMT or Second Time Zone pieces... and again, the variety was definitely not disappointing. This time around, dinner was hosted at Seafood Shack in Gillman Barracks.

But the news of the day was this NWA... when I shot this Chopard LUC XP, it was all of 1 hour old!

Featuring the micro-rotor caliber L.U.C 96.53-L, the movement is refined and fiished exceptionally well.

The 2 handed timepiece has a brushed dial and lovely blued hands.

Although the Chopard did not fall into either the category, we also ask our collector friends to bring along their new acquisitions. And the Chopard definitely fit into that category. Smoking hot!

So what's in the category of coloured dials (no black, no white)?

The NHC Analogica jumping hour with a red dial (above).

The there is the Vintage Seiko Lord Matic Automatic with a purple dial. Retro looking!

Bright and sunny is the Lang 1943 Field Watch, A Lang & Sun edition. A nice play on the brand A. Lange & Sohne, this fun watch is limited to 25 pieces and done in collaboration with seconde/seconde/.

Movement is an exclusive L43.1 calibre, based on the Marvin 700 movement.

No black, no white, no problem... there is always purple. The 34mm Seiko automatic "Chariot" 2411-0050 with a purple dial and gradient cut sapphire glass. What a unique and handsome piece.

How about a "no dial"... this Atowak Tarantula Jungle Green.

Or the Vayth wandering hours.

Still on the "no dial" theme, the Orient Star Skeleton. Very striking with those blue hands, the skeleton is well made and value for money.

No, it's not a black dial but a rather colourful Bell & Ross BR03-94 Chronograph. I'd say this one qualifies as a colourful dial, no?

Back to regular channel folks... a blue dial Seiko Prospex Transocean Diver SBDC047. A really attractive blue dial diver.

Rounding off the blue theme is the Schaffen S65 Sports watch.

And for the last dial variation, we feature the Lang 1943 Field Watch Edition One with a fume dial. We were lucky enough to speak with George, Majid and Sabrina during the recently concluded Singapore Watch Fair and George told us the fume dial was created by chance. But I leave that for another day. This 39mm field watch comes with a bracelet (quick release and micro adjustment) and when you swap it out for the strap, gives a totally different look and feel.

So much for the dial variations. Next post will feature the dualt time zones and GMTs... another very interesting range of timepieces. Stay tuned!

Spring Sprang Sprung 2023 - Some Watches I Saw

This is the second year I attended Spring Sprang Sprung - a watch event featuring Micro-brands from around the region.

For me, this Konnii Koi timepiece epitomises the length to which micro brands differentiate themselves. Owner of the brand Alfred is based in Malaysia and travelled to Singapore for this event. The timepiece is made with rotating discs featuring a geisha feeding the koi in the pond while waiting for her lover.

What a way to be telling time - the lotus flower in the centre represents the seconds while one koi represents the hour and another the minutes. The entire dial is hand made - kois hand crafted and hand painted and so are the other ornaments. Impressive detailed work - perfect imperfection.

Another interesting new brand is Bauche watches. I spoke with the owner Ranndie and he tells me the dial is made with three layers. one dial, layered three times.

And here the blue dial version. Comes with a closed case back as the feature is the dial work.

One of the highlight for me was seeing the Feynman One Galaxy Nacre in flesh. Launched at the event, this timepiece is limited to 20 pieces.

And as you cani imagine, the 20 pieces have sold out. So enjoy the images here or find one of the lucky owners...

Horizon watches have been making some interesting pieces and this piece is no exception - the Pilgrim Pistachio.

Lovely coloured dial - something both man and woman can wear.

Grand Feu Enamel? Yup, this is from Selten Watch, a Hong Kong based microbrand.

And then there is the moonphase piece - One with a rotating disc and a hidden lady on the moon...

And another a regular moonphase timepiece.

Of course there is Atelier Wen with their Perception range of timepieces...

Both the ice blue and salmon dials are very attractive.

I believe this to be new too - the Arcturus Vanda Tourbillon. What I've taken are 2 variations but they do have other colour combinations.

Tomorrow (Sunday, 22nd October 2023) marks the last day of the event. They open at 11am and is being held at the XM Studio at 809 Kitchener Road (level 3). Head on down to support the microbrands.

Christiaan van der Klaauw - Astronomically Speaking

I've always heard about the brand Christiaan Van Der Klaauw and their astronomy timepieces. Recently, I was lucky enough to be able to photograph some of the timepieces and to get to know the brand better, thanks to Sincere Fine Watches.

First up, the CVDK Planetarium - featuring a revolving planetarium showing the orbits of Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn around the Sun.

This example has an aventurine dial. Located below the 12 Claws Sun logo is the month, date wheel. Recently, CVDK did a limited edition with Sincere Fine Watch. The blog featuring the special blue dial is found here.

While the planetarium might be the pièce de résistance in the CVDK stable, an equally compelling proposition is the CVDK Ariadne. A full calendar timepiece that displays the Hours, minutes, small seconds, 24-hour indication, day, date, month, super luminova moon phase, chronograph; 12-hour counter, 30-minute counter, seconds counter, all in one timepiece.

As one could imagine, the blue dial version is probably the most charming of the trio.

But the grey dial is not bad either. To cramp all that indication into one dial? Well, it is quite legible actually.

Then there is the Real Moon Joure - dubbed "most accurate 3D moon phase in the world ever incorporated in a mechanical watch" by the brand.

The 3D moon sits at the 6 o'clock position.

The one I like the most is the Mother-of-Pearl dial version.

While most might think an MOP dial is more feminine, this CVDK Joure does not give me that feeling.

A close up shot of the 3D moon.

All the timepieces by CVDK comes with an automatic movement. And the rotor features the brands logo of the sun with 12 claws (Klaauws... get it?). And to top it up, each astronomical timepiece comes with a watch winder too. Now, how is that for an incentive?

For me, the Real Moon Joure with the MOP dial is my favourite. What is yours?