So I decided some watch customizing...

I found a fake automatic Rolux™ at my parent's storeroom, which was just sitting there probably waiting to be thrown out. It once belonged to my grandfather. So I took it, shook it, and wow, it still ticks. So I took it and thought about customizing the watch.

What made me interested to customize it is because it doesn't look like the usual Rolux™ fakes, in fact it doesn't look like any Rolux™ that I know of. And also, aside from that, it is a see-through transparent skeleton watch. It isn't all see-thru though, it's mostly just fake stuff on the dial like it is see-through, but good enough.

So I thought, why not customize it? Just paint or stick something over the logo and the words "co-axial escapemint", and I would have a decent looking watch. Decent, maybe from 25 feet away. 

Taking it apart was fairly easy, but when I figured out how to take out the stem, I was hooked. I began taking apart more and more, polishing the case and crystal, and put it back together. By then it look clean. But when I put it back together I dropped the whole thing (clumsy me) and bent the minute hand. OK, fine - just bend it back to shape, since it's crashing with the seconds hand. 

By this time I dropped it again and bent the second hand AND the crown stem. GRRRR.

So bending the hands back to shape, and putting it together, with a wonky crown stem that doesn't turn well, I pressed too hard on the crystal and cracked it.

This was all after midnight of course, when I start doing things like this.

The next day I took it to a watch repair shop, and asked if it could be repaired. The watch guy said, yes, in fact he could do it immediately, I was surprised. Well I didn't leave it with him and thought about asking other places, but I didn't have time and brought it home.

Back home, sitting at my desk, holding it in my hand, it managed to slip while I was pulling out the crown and then I dropped it. AGAIN. And this time I broke the stem.

....and here is the result:

Broken crown and crack at 3 o'clock position

So I guess that the lesson is if you're going to do something, use the proper tools, use the proper space, do it in the morning when your mind is fresh and hands are steady, and don't rush it.

But the loss isn't that bad, after all it is a bad fake, and at least I learnt how to take apart a watch. It still ticks, but can't set it obviously with a broken crown.

B.U.M. Equipment Watch

 

This B.U.M. Equipment also belongs to my friend. He didn't quite remember how he got it. 100M Water Resistance, rubber strap, and 4-screw down caseback. This watch saw some light used, there are some scratches on the case and crystal.

Hard Rock Cafe Watch

This watch belongs to a friend of mine. He got this in a trip to the Las Vegas, United States in a Hard Rock Cafe. What we both like most about the watch is its unique leather strap. The red stiching and the big strap looks Rock ! Not much information I know about the watch itself, except that it is Quartz. The watch face is a bit on the small side, but wow, that strap.

Fake Tissot PRC200

This "Tissot Prc200" is most definitely a fake. It belongs to my sister-in-law, who got it off a night market for cheap. I am hardly an expert on telling between fake and authentic watches, but this one I can really tell it's fake easily. The overall low quality of the metal (it is very light and flimsy) and the metal bracelet is the cheaper folded type. Plus it is bought at a night market, without box, warranty card, or documentation, that is real warning sign.

Here're the pictures:

Casio Ladies LTF-115

Sorry for bad photos, these were taken at night.

Another Casio in our collection, this scratched and heavily worn "Pink Butterfly" Casio belongs to my lovely wife. She has another 2 watches in her collection, which I will put on here some other time. But this is the watch that she wears the most. Indeed, she has worn out the original leather strap, and this one in the pictures is a replacement. Other than needing a new battery, this watch never gave her any problems. 

It's no wonder Casios are so popular in our family, unlike some cheaper Quartz watches which fall apart, Casios last even with very heavy use.

Here's a promo image of that watch in proper lighting:

It is weird that I could not find this watch on Casio's web site, perhaps it had been discontinued.

Eyeing the Casio Edifice EQS-700DB-1AV

Uh oh, I am getting the collectors addiction....

Lately I have set my eyes on this very nice Edifice:

• Partial ion plated
• Neobrite
• Sapphire Glass
• 100-meter water resistance
• Case / bezel material: Stainless steel
• Stainless Steel Band
• One-touch 3-fold Buckle
• Solid Band
• Solar powered
• World time
  29 time zones (29 cities + coordinated universal time), daylight saving on/off, Home city / World time city swapping
• 1/100-second stopwatch
  Measuring capacity: 23'59.99''
  Measuring modes: Elapsed time, split time
• Daily alarm
• Low battery alert
• Power Saving (Hands stop to save power when the watch is left in the dark.)
• Full auto-calendar (to year 2099)
• Regular timekeeping
  Analog: 3 hands (hour, minute (hand moves every 10 seconds), second),
  3 dials (24-hour, world time hour and minutes, day), date
• Accuracy: ±15 seconds per month
• Approx. battery operating time:
  6 months on rechargeable battery (operation period with normal use without exposure to light after full charge)
  28 months on rechargeable battery (operation period when stored in total darkness with the power save function on after full charge)
• Size of case/total weight: 50.5 X 47.3 X 12.6 mm/184 g

Sapphire crystal? And with all the gizmos? I seriously hope I don't get it, makes my wallet complain. ;)

Link

Citizen Newmaster Automatic

This is a Citizen Newmaster Automatic 21 Jewel. It's fairly beat up, since the crystal is dome shaped and goes way beyond the bezel, and I believe this watch is AT LEAST 20-25 years old. It runs immediately the moment I picked it up. If anyone can help me date when it is manufactured or what years this particular model runs through before discontinuation, would be great.

I'm not sure, but it seems like that the bracelet is not original, since it is made of pretty cheap stuff - not whole pieces of metal but folded metal, but the whole watch is VERY lightweight. The date is at the 3 o'clock position. Quite a small watch by today's standards, something like less than 40mm (I didn't check).

The watch still works, it ticks right away with the slightest movement. Awesome. I think it needs to be serviced, cleaned up & polished, given a quality leather strap and it should run just fine.

Casio Edifice EQS-500DB-1A2

 

I just bought this...

I know it's another Casio, but damn, these Edifice are like Nissan GTRs in car terms... Japanese, high tech, full of features long lasting and just freakin' awesome in that sense.

I do like the charm of mechanical watches, but basically I like all watches. I got this one mainly because I got a good deal out of it and it's solar. It's a large watch, at about 46mm across but surprisingly, it fits rather well and doesn't feel like there is a heavy watch on my wrist. It should fit well in more formal occasions.

I'll take more complete pictures later, but enjoy this one pic from me and the video below I found on Youtube.

Oh and lastly, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone!

Edifice EQS-500DB-1A2

 5-motor chronograph solar-powered module with 1/100-second stopwatch
• 1/10-second center hand that completes one revolution per second
• World time
• Stainless steel case and band
• Rotatable inner ring
• 100-meter water resistance
• Multi-dimensional face
• Dynamic wide face


    Mineral Glass
    Partial ion plated
    Neobrite
    100-meter water resistance
    Case / bezel material: Stainless steel
    Stainless Steel Band
    One-touch 3-fold Buckle
    Solid Band
    Solar powered
    World time
    29 time zones (29 cities + coordinated universal time), daylight saving on/off, Home city / World time city swapping
    1/100-second stopwatch
    Measuring capacity: 23'59.99''
    Measuring modes: Elapsed time, split time
    Daily alarm
    Low battery alert
    Power Saving (Hands stop to save power when the watch is left in the dark.)
    Full auto-calendar (to year 2099)
    Date display
    Regular timekeeping
    Analog: 3 hands (hour, minute (hand moves every 10 seconds), second),
    3 dials (24-hour, world time hour and minutes, day)
    Accuracy: ±15 seconds per month
    Approx. battery operating time:
    6 months on rechargeable battery (operation period with normal use without exposure to light after full charge)
    28 months on rechargeable battery (operation period when stored in total darkness with the power save function on after full charge)
    Size of case/total weight: 50 X 45.8 X 12.3 mm/164 g

Another "HJ Watch"

Wow, I just found out another web site known as "HJ Watch". Honestly it was pure coincidence, HJ is simply my initials. This blog is meant as a hobby for my own watches and watch related items..

For some information, this is their site.


http://www.hjwatch.com/
http://hj-watch.blogspot.com/

Well, anyway, my blog predates that blog by a year or so, but do check it out, they have tons of great wristwatches.

My Casio Edifice EF-125

The Casio Edifice EF-125D-7AV This is my 'beater' watch. Very simple design, a nice white "carbon" pattern face, very robust Quartz with a '10 year Battery'. Indeed, I had this watch for about 3 years now (as you can tell from all the scratches on this watch in the photo) and it still ticks reliably away on the original battery. I even dropped it once in the bathroom while handling it with soapy hands. Lesson learnt.


I forgot how much I got for it, but it doesn't cost very much. My main complaint is that the bracelet makes a lot of noise but otherwise it is acceptable for what this watch is meant for, at this price.

• Mineral Glass / Spherical Glass
• Screw Lock Back
• 100-meter water resistance
• Case / bezel material: Stainless steel
• Stainless Steel Band
• One-touch 3-fold Buckle
• Date display (at 4.30 position)
• Accuracy: ±20 seconds per month
• Approx. battery life: 10 years on CR2012
• Size of case/total weight: 48.6 X 40 X 9.9 mm/127.4 g

Personally, I think the white dial is the best looking of the bunch.

Casio's web site for this watch.