Shadoobey, Author at RK Watch Service

Bracelet/Strap Longevity

I stumbled across this amusing guide for how long bracelets should last and thought I’d share.

Well dang, I guess my 1967 Seamaster’s bracelet is due to crumble to pieces any day now..

Seriously though, what is the most mileage you have gotten out of a strap? My coworker has worn the same Timex Safari with a braided leather strap for about 8 years now, and it still looks pretty much brand new. I also have a few vintage straps I regularly wear, though…

Bracelet/Strap Longevity

Watch Straps and Diminishing Returns

It goes without saying that watches tend to have a fairly low threshold of dimishing returns. That is to say, a $15,000 watch is not going to be 15x as good as a $1,000 watch. You're generally paying a lot of money for small details that most peop…

News from the Watch Industry rk watch service Straps & Bracelets

Baltany “Pie Pan”- Thoughts?

I was very surprised to have stumbled across this new Baltany, a clear “homage” to the 2943/54 Omega Constellation. I was even more suprised not to see many people talking about it. It looks to be a real quality watch, and seems to hit all the design p…

Affordable watches News from the Watch Industry rk watch service

Regulation Affecting Precision

As I continue to tinker with regulating my own watches, I assumed that doing so would not necessarily affect the precision of the watch. That is to say, I have been adjusting the regulating level with the goal of improving accuracy, assuming the precis…

News from the Watch Industry rk watch service Watchmaking

Best Bang-For-Buck Design?

Nowadays, there is no doubt that watches built to a very high standard can be bought for very little money. Unfortunately, though, it seems that build quality is usually disproportionately weighted by enthusiasts. In my opinion, overall aesthetics and …

Affordable watches News from the Watch Industry rk watch service

Tavannes “clamshell” Rectangular- Crystal Replacement

Hello,

I just bought this (probably) early 40s Tavannes rectangular watch with the water resistant screw-down “clamshell design off eBay. It is rough around the edges, but the buyer accepted a pretty low offer on it, so I figured it was worth saving t…

News from the Watch Industry rk watch service Watchmaking

Prewar Waltham Premier Wristwatch- Solid Gold?

In my evening browsing, I stumbled across this listing for a badly abused Waltham Premier. It looks to me to be late 30s/early 40s- I’m guessing later rather than earlier, since there’s no small seconds subdial. What caught my eye about it is the fact that, as battered and scarred as the case is, I can see no clear evidence of base metal or corrosion that I would expect in a gold filled watch (this is surely too early to be plated.) there’s not even corrosion in the lug holes, which are…

Prewar Waltham Premier Wristwatch- Solid Gold?

Vintage & Pocket watches

Is Seiko Alpinist A Good Investment In 2025? (Price & ROI)

For those looking for their morning dose of comedy, I couldn’t help but share this article that popped up in my Google “news” feed;

Is Seiko Alpinist A Good Investment In 2025? (Price …

Public Forum

Thoughts on the Stylist Reissue?

Hello everyone,
I don’t have much experience with Tissot, bar the fact that a close friend and coworker daily wears a blue gradient dial hand-winding Tissot Stylist he bought new about 45 years ago, very much like this one;

I always admired it, and I think it’s a stunning watch.

This week, I was very pleased to see ads for a Stylist reissue, exactly like his! I showed my coworker the site listing today, and he excitedly held his original up to the…

Thoughts on the Stylist Reissue?

Tissot

Correct Box For 1950s IWC

Hello,
I am thinking about buying an original box for my 1957 IWC ‘Calatrava’ Cal. 852, but I’m not sure what the correct one should look like. Does anyone happen to have a press photo of a late 1950s IWC with the box, or own a full set that they know …

News from the Watch Industry rk watch service Vintage & Pocket watches

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