Automatic Archives - The Watch-Collector Leeds

Vintage Omega Deville 166 053 Day Date

Posted on October 21, 2017 The W-C

Hands on with the Vintage Omega Deville 166 053 Day Date automatic, this piece dates to around 1970,s it looks very similar to a Seamaster. The movement is Omega 24 jewel Cal 752 with fast date advancement via the second date setting on the crown. Case size is 36mm Omega sold plenty of these pieces back in 70,s and is a good testament to Omega as plenty still around in very good condition as this one is!

The glass is plexi as most of vintage watches from that era, sapphire crystal started around early 80’s as was so much tougher and durable than plexi glass. I do love the old Omega bracelets they was a work of art, some of the prestige models bracelets from 70’s are fetching silly money.

The Seamaster was the real deal back then a true divers watch to compete with Rolex especially the Seamaster 300, so Deville’s was not as popular and in today’s market the Deville has changed to more dress design. But overall a great vintage piece and not too expensive today if your looking for a cheap piece with vintage Seamaster look, the Deville is the one to buy with plenty still kicking around.

Breitling Superocean Heritage A17321

Posted on May 22, 2017 The W-C

Here the Breitling Superocean Heritage A17321 is a recently acquired piece as I liked the blue dial. This superocean has long standing history with diving with Rolex & Omega dating back to 1950,s but has grown in size also in style. The superocean Cosc rated with a case size of 42mm also a depth rating of 200 metres and comes on the Breitling mesh bracelet which is another reason I like this model, although straps can be optional from leather to rubber to steel bracelet.

The superocean sits well on the wrist with the stunning blue dial and blue steel bezel. The watch has a “AR coating” anti reflection coating on the glass as most Breitling watches do and can be a bugger when you scratch or mark it. The watch has a automatic movement with a date window at 3 o clock the finish is highly polished steel which is the not unusual for Breitling. I think the watch makes a great every day wearing piece which I feel is the target market fro Breitling. The watch looks great when wearing a white shirt also suitable for the office as well as pleasure.

Overall Breitling’s are under rated all round it might have something the do with re sale value rather quality of the watch. My first watch was a Breitling Aerospace super quartz which I loved then moved on the Rolex.

The Superocean has a new make over at Basel 2017 with a ceramic bezel which most watch brands have moved to much harder wearing and does not fade over time. Here is video by Hodinkee with the version Superocean.

Panerai Fest a Small collection !!

Posted on October 10, 2016August 6, 2017 The W-C

Panerai Fest!

A small collection of Panerai watches I have always liked Panerai’s they are a great versatile piece, which are a nice chunky watch do not tend be small by any means. The striking feature of the Panerai luminor range is the Luminosity on the dial of the hour markers and numbers. The group picture of them all together!

Top left Panerai 00212, Panerai 00090, far right Panerai 00114 bottom Panerai 00171

The first one in the collection is Panerai Luminor 00212 1950 Flyback Chronograph is great watch 44mm case but wears a lot bigger, it has the 1950 style Panerai case with the in-famous crown guard that is Panerai’s trademark and very distinctive.
The glass is domed and is just looks stunning and has a tachymeter on outer inner dial for measuring time to speed on the chronograph when doing lap times.
The flyback function allows you to start the chronograph stopwatch going and with the lower button which normal resets the chronograph back to 12 it allows split second multiple timing. This model is water resistant to 100m all the other ones in the pictures are 300m as most Panerai’s are.

The see through case back with Panerai’s beautiful in house Automatic Cal OP XIX an absolutely stunning piece overall with Panerai’s easy strap changing system on deployment. Some more pictures of the beast!

Next up is the Panerai Luminor 00090 this one is in a 40mm case in stainless steel and housed in the standard Luminor case. This has the date function at 3 o’clock with magnifier to blow up the date this is Panerai’s version of the Rolex Cyclops feature, Automatic movement with seconds hand at 9 o’clock.
The strap is stainless steel polished centre links with brushed sides on a steel deployment, This style strap is like marmite you love or hate them I am rather fond of the bracelet to be honest. A great unisex watch as my partner actual wears the 00090!
The Pictures.

Next the Panerai Luminor 00114 White dial base model 44m manual wind movement is the a simple clean look standard panerai case and crown guard with stunning movement you can see through caseback on a leather strap. NO fuss or complicated mechanisms just wind and go.

Lastly one of my favorites Panerai Luminor 00171 Automatic Steel and Titanium Power reserve 44mm on deployment bracelet very similar to the 00090 but with titanium mixed with stainless steel and a power reserve indicator on the dial. The date function is also an addition to this model but due the materials it is very light on the wrist with great super wrist presence.

Panerai’s have been around a long time and years ago had links with Rolex another watch everyone should have in there collection for variety and versatility.