Now, this to me looks like it is designed to replace the Sinn UX Hydro. Similar pricing. Similar functionality.

The UX uses a thermocompensated quartz movement which is chronometer certified, the ETA 955.652. The new U50 uses a bog-standard Ronda quartz movement.

Thoughts on this?

Is it a bellwether of the market appetite for high-accuracy quartz?

Is it because ETA are tightening supplies, and/or have discontinued the…

Sinn U50 Hydro quartz

I own a Hamilton Flight Timer ana-digi watch.

Mainly for the looks and fantastic time functions, alongside ease of use.

It has a "flight log" function and displays ISA temperature at various altitudes. I never use either.

It got me thinking – do pilots actually use functions such as these on a wrist-watch, in the real-world? My guess is that they don't but I'm unqualified to say for sure.

Other examples with such functions are the Omega Z-33 and Omega X-33.

I also came…

Pilot watches – esoteric functions – useful?

The movement was originally the B68 (ETA E20.331) which was then replaced by B78 (ETA E20.341).

B78 / ETA E20.341 is a known TC movement, and so eligible for and meets the COSC spec, and is a potential HAQ candidate.

However, what I can't square off is B68 and the fact that it was bestowed COSC status post-2001, despite not (apparently) being TC.

I've checked the…

Breitling B-1 – movement B68 (ETA E20.331)

Japanese firm Shimadzu Corp. has put the "Aether clock OC 020" on sale for $3.3m. Apparently accurate to one second every 10 billions years. It's 100 times more accurate than caesium atomic clocks.

They're aiming for 10 sales over the next 3 years.

But any experiences that you'd care to share about costs or quotations related to your watch collection, that were a lot higher than you'd expect or hope, and how you proceeded.

Reason I ask: I'm looking to purchase the metal bracelet (I know, I know – should have bought it with metal in the first place) for one of my watches which is fairly high-end.

OEM – they're asking >£1,200.

Now, it's for a watch…

Most hair-raising or surprising expense

The Chronolink Worldtimer UTC. I believe released in the mid-2000's.

I've seen this referred to as the "mullet of the watch world – party at the back, business in the front", which mildly amused me.

It has two movements. One for the analogue watch, and one for the digital watch that's hidden in normal use.

That's interesting enough, like a retro-futuristic JLC Reverso. But the pertinent part is, alongside the manual wind ETA 7001…

Sjoo Sandstrom Chronolink Worldtimer UTC