The Breitling Watch Blog

Departing from their usual style of watches, Doxa announces a new watch with a limited production of 150 peices – The Doxa Ultraspeed. The watch is designed around it’s automobile roots, so looks nothing like the current offerings from the company. It will be a Chronograph with power reserve complication, powered by a Valjoux 7750. 44mm Case with Double sapphire crystals, AR coated.

Should be a nice watch, though I would prefer a Doxa to look more like a Doxa, even if they are kind of ugly.

A little video I shot on Aftermarket Panerai Straps. I do a quick review of several of these straps, and talk about the different kinds available on the market. Aftermarket Panerai straps are a world of fun, and can be purchased second-hand or new. They are easy to sell and a great way to get some variety without breaking the bank, especially in these times.

I talked a bit about damascus steel watches a couple weeks ago, and received an email from a Swedish watchmaker named Patrik Sjögren,who wanted to share with me his line of watches made with Damascus steel from knifemaker Johan Gustafsson. Sweden is actually quite famous for their production of Damascus steel.

Sjögren takes the damascus watch a step further than the Damascus Dial. He uses Damascus for the crowns and also for the rotors of his automatic models! Quite incredible. Most of his peices sit close to the $8000 mark, and look to be one-of-a-kind creations.

These watches are truly unique and offer something that no one else out there offers. Very cool, but possibly a bit more eclectic than many of us are willing to go?

Either way, these are fantastic examples of the creativity that is coming out of the horological sector around the world!

Take a look:

You can see Mr. Sjögren work on his site GOS Watches.

I figured this deserves a post, as I’ve been watching some of those Ukraine and Argentine sellers make thousands of dollars off deliberately forged frankenwatches from unsuspecting eBay buyers.

BUYERS BEWARE! When you buy a vintage watch from the Ukraine, Russia or Argentina, you may not be getting what you are paying for!

I’d been searching for a pocket watch conversion style of watch, like many on ebay are. My concern of course was the authenticity of a peice if I were to buy something that was a bit more pricey than your usual $150-200 fare. Like one of those Hy Moser or Longines WWII watches that seem to be so abundant in the Ukraine.

Seeing watch after watch listed every week in the dozens, I started to question whether or not these watches were in fact real.. especially since most of the movements had what looked to be to be incorrect markings or in many cases missing markings for the dial that was attached. I did a bit of research and looked on several boards all over, and there definately seems to be a consensus. Most of these watches are forgeries or frankenwatches with parts procured from many different places. That is the problem with buying vintage stuff. You never know when it’s real.

Below I’ve linked one of many posts on the subject. If you google around, you will find a handful of other discussions in the matter as well:
http://forums.watchuseek.com/showthread.php?t=215080

Sure Do. Well, compared to Breitlings at least. I’ve heard some people say that Breitlings wear small for their case size because their bezels are smaller than the cases. But the Panerai Luminor with the Device Protecting the Crown definately has a bit more presence to it. I would say it wears somewhere between a Chronomat Evo or Steelfish and the big Breitling for Bentley Motors. It probably has a 45-46mm size presence for a 44mm watch.

Here are some pics of a couple of Panny’s with a couple of Breitlings so you can get an idea for yourself!