The Speedtimer is back, and better than ever

 

I would love to know what Seiko is feeding their design and development team because they just keep smashing it out of the park and they don’t show any signs of slowing down. Possibly the coolest release from Seiko this year, and maybe even the best Seiko chronograph in their current line up. An homage to their classic 1969 Speedtimer, amongst other things, the design feels familiar but still very Seiko.  Sitting them in a line up the first thing that stands out is the range of varying dial designs, all drawing inspiration from different generations of sport chronographs - they represent the journey of chronograph design through the ages. The first is the sandy coloured tan dial with matching bezel, drawing inspiration from the classic chronograph era from the 1930’s-1950’s, really the first generation of sports chronographs. The second is the navy blue and red dial and bezel combination reminiscent of the more bold and vibrant designs from the late 1960’s to 1980’s and draws direct inspiration from the first Speedtimer released in 1969. The third is the uniform black dial and bezel design which is timeless, but was very popular from the 1990’s until now. The fourth is the classic modern look chronograph with a black and white ‘panda’ dial which draws a rather obvious influence from a particular, unnamed, popular chronograph.  At a glance this watch might just look like a regular quartz watch ticking away, but Seiko have cleverly integrated their solar technology into the sub dials; opening up a world of dial design opportunities which Seiko have definitely made use of with 4 options from this release. The watch is fitted with a Seiko calibre V192 which includes a chronograph, date function, 24 hour hand and has a power reserve of 6 months after being fully charged up.  One of my favourite things about this watch isn’t even the watch itself but the metal strap it comes on. Usually reserved for the dressier "Presage" models, this metal strap is iconic for being one of Seiko’s best bracelet designs. With solid links and a three-fold clasp with push button release reminiscent of more expensive Swiss watches. These chronographs stay true to their modern sport watch design inspiration with a smaller case size over their other chronographs, coming in at a compact 39mm.  There has already been a massive buzz about the release of these watches online with many who were unsure about Seiko before, jumping on this model because of how attractive of a deal this is for only $1050. We have one of each of these model's in stock, buy one, buy them all - you won't be disappointed.  39mm stainless steel case, curved sapphire crystal, V192 Solar movement, Chronograph function, Date function, 24 hour hand, 6 month power reserve, 100m water resistance, 5 year warranty.

SSC813P White SSC817P Tan SSC815P Blue SSC819P Black

The watch you can't get from Seiko

At the moment, Seiko is the king of the limited release, super quirky and unique watches - pushing the boundaries of design and innovation to deliver a plethora of new and fresh ideas in the world of watch design. This one is no exception to that rule. In fact, this watch may be the greatest example of this to date. Because Seiko is celebrating their 140th anniversary this year, they wanted to create a watch which highlighted their rich heritage as a company, as well as their connection to Japanese culture. In particular, they wanted to highlight the Ginza district in central Tokyo, which is of great importance to Seiko. Ginza was where the company’s founder, Kintaro Hattori, opened a shop selling and repairing clocks and watches in 1881, when he was just 21 years old. Today, Ginza is still where the company is located. For more than 120 years, a Seiko clock in Ginza has kept Tokyo on time. The Seiko clock looks down on Ginza’s most famous crossroads from the roof of the Wako store where one of the world’s largest Seiko flagship stores is located. Nearby are other Seiko establishments, including the Seiko Museum, a boutique dedicated to Seiko Prospex, and Seiko Dream Square, where people can experience each collection’s rich heritage and the unique worldview of Seiko. Seiko's Flagship store in Ginza When first looking at this watch, the main feature is obvious. The dial is absolutely stealing the show. But what is even cooler than this dial is the inspiration behind it: "The intricate pattern of the dial incorporates two different sunray patterns which, as the viewing angle changes, create ever-changing impressions that capture the texture and feel of Ginza’s cobblestones. The seconds hand pays homage to the district’s history with Komparu, a traditional Japanese colour named after Komparu Street, where Ginza’s nightlife was once centred. This blue colour with a soft green tone which was first used in the middle Meiji era (1868 - 1912), instantly found favour among the many geishas who lived there and then gradually became a popular colour amongst the public." Whether you love this watch for just the unique visual display of the dial, or the incredible backstory tied to it's creation, it is obvious that people have noticed just how cool it is - it is already sold out from Seiko's boutique. Some people are already trying to cash in on the hype on Chrono24, with all the listings above the selling price. Crazy! Today is your lucky day because Seiko has been kind enough to send us one of the 3500 pieces from this release. If you were looking for this watch or you've now fallen in love with it, jump on it - I doubt we will ever see this one again. We will even throw in an NH leather strap and buckle to go with the watch at no extra charge! Seiko Prospex SPB259J1 Limited edition - one of 3500 pieces Brand new, 38mm case, steel, screw lock crown, 200m water resistance, made in Japan, 6R35 Automatic Movement

They are finally here!!

 

What an incredible set of pocket watch stands. If you haven't been following our pocket watch stand journey this past month, then you might be wondering what this is all about. A few weeks ago, we invited woodcrafters to join us on our quest for an Australian pocket watch stand. The idea being that with the finished work you could display both Aussie craftsmanship, and your pocket watch. Well we finally got our first sets in and we are very excited.  The stands are crafted from a selection of different and unique wood types with the first four being made by Australian woodcraftsman Manni, and the last made by Australian woodcraftsman, David.  The first two are crafted from Tasmanian timber, one being made from Blackheart Sassafras, and the other being made from Myrtle. The first thing I noticed when I picked up these ones is that they have an uncanny and distinct 'Tasmanian' scent to them. The third one is made from River Red Gum. What is cool about these particular pieces is that they feature figuring in the wood known as ‘fiddleback’, giving them that unique striping pattern that dances in the light. The fourth is made from a tree growth known as a Burl. Working with Burls is a time-consuming process. They must first be dried, then machined and rested in multiple stages, sanded, and finally polished. Which from start to finish may take place over a couple of weeks to several months depending on the size. You can check out our full write up about making the Burl pocket watch stand here: https://mailchi.mp/1275cf51cc03/and-the-winner-is-13384782?e=b47d12b684 The fifth is made from Red Cedar and has a very cool story behind it. "The back story of the Cedar is it came from the original balustrade in Brisbane Town Hall that was salvaged by the builder who replaced it. It was destined for the tip until I realised that it was old growth timber, hundreds of years old and which cannot be bought these days." These stands are the perfect companion for your desk to display your prized pocked watches and we couldn't be happier with how they turned out - each of them being completely unique and completely Australian crafted.

Tasmanian Blackheart Sassafras

Price: $275

Tasmanian Myrtle

Price: $275

Fiddleback River Red Gum

Price: $275

Burl from the root of a Yellow Mallee

Price: $275

This Red Cedar stand was made by David - 'The Box Junkie' with salvaged old growth timber from Brisbane Town Hall.

Price: $75

Gear polishing part 2

 

A little refresher in case you have forgotten part 1: The technical hurdle of polishing the teeth of the gears we make seems insurmountable. No one is around to help, our cries of anguish fall on deaf Swiss ears, the darkness approaches as we realise that our NH3 project cannot progress, alone in the void of watchmaking purgatory, we wait.... Enter James, our new toolmaker. A knight in shining... engineering overalls comes to our rescue. A micrometre in one hand, safety glasses in the other, he stands in front of the milling machine smiling - as if the impending doom of a failed project isn't looming. I explain the situation. "James, we can't polish the teeth of this gear, we can't do it manually, we can't buy a machine that will help us, and I don't know who to ask to help!" That's more or less as much as I said. A week of research: looking at photos of antique machines on the internet, scrolling through video tours of Swiss workshops frame by frame, looking through blogs and books and horological bibles. Even the great Daniels is remarkably silent about this dark art (read, he kept the secret to himself). James emerges with a concept, an idea. "Let's build this machine ourselves!" I've always wanted NHW to do this - building machines for individual, specialised tasks that would make the process of manufacturing a part easier. All the famous ateliers, from Pratt to Breguet, were littered with small desktop sized machines that helped their users execute one task and one task only, but to perfection. Some machines would only drill accurate holes, others would create a snailing pattern on a barrel lid, others would burnish the surface of a pinion to a mirror. In our case James proposed a modern take on a 1940's machine called a Prata Type 11. This machine would handle the polishing of the teeth with the ancient method of a split wooden disk that auto-indexes the gear whilst polishing the flanks with a fine abrasive paste. I felt relieved! Having a way forward meant that we could progress and make not only this specific set of parts, the ratchet and crown wheel for the NH3, but also all hardened steel gears for futures watches. But, the road would not be easy.... In fact it would only get harder. Stay tuned for Part 3. Josh

Easy $1,000. In cash!

The winner takes it all. Let's have some fun. And YOU will be the judge. Yes, we are heading back to the 1980s and the golden days of disposal film cameras. We'll keep it simple: 1.  Buy a disposable Ilford Ilfocolor camera from us ($19 plus postage) https://shop.clockmaker.com.au/home/317-ilford-ilfocolor-rapid-retro.html 2. Take your best shots - any subject, any occasion, the world is your oyster! 3. Send your camera to Do Film! Lab in Darlinghurst (see below for details) for development and scanning (special price $13), or your favourite film lab. 4. Pick your best image and email it to mail@vintagecamera.com.au no later than December 1, 2021. 5. If selected, your photos will be published in our newsletter, to be voted on by fellow subscribers.  6. The winner will be announced on December 16.   One camera, one entry. Be quick - we only have 100 cameras for this competition. You can collect your camera from our shop, or have it mailed. Feel free to share, invite your friends and relatives. Let's keep film and film developers in business; and most importantly: let's preserve some precious moments for years to come. Do Film! Lab: 257 Crown St, Darlinghurst NSW 2010 Sydney 0439 363 456 team@dofilmlab.com.au Trade promotion organized by Sydney Watches Pty Ltd, 21 October 2021. By entering the competition, sender agrees for images to be published / reproduced for promotional and advertising purposes. On offer for Australian Subscribers only.

This is just super cool

Siding Spring Observatory near Coonabarabran, New South Wales, Australia, part of the Research School of Astronomy & Astrophysics (RSAA) at the Australian National University (ANU), incorporates the Anglo-Australian Telescope along with a collection of other telescopes owned by the Australian National University, the University of New South Wales, and other institutions. The observatory is situated 1,165 metres above sea level in the Warrumbungle National Park on Mount Woorat. Astralis Instrumentation Consortium is a leading astronomical instrument designer and builder, with 100 instrument scientists and skilled engineers from Macquarie University, Australian National University and the University of Sydney. Astralis is building Hector. Hector is the next dark time instrument for the Anglo-Australian Telescope (AAT) at Siding Spring Observatory. The new workhorse instrument will carry out a survey of 15,000 galaxies, using unique fibre-based integral field units, called hexabundles. The hexabundle technology allows for a 3D view of stars and gas in galaxies, including the rotations and complex kinematics that cannot be seen by single-fibre galaxy surveys.  The new Hector spectrograph will provide the highest spectral resolution of any large multi-object integral field spectroscopic survey, and the new positioner’s unique design will minimise losses due to telescope telecentricity for the first time. The Hector Galaxy Survey will explore how galaxies in the local Universe formed by using the dynamics of stars and gas to reveal how mass and angular momentum build up and how star formation evolved to create the vast array of galaxy morphologies seen today. Sydney Watches Pty Ltd is proud to be part of Hector project. In the past 12 months we have manufactured a number of parts for Hector. It is an absolute privilege and honour to be part of this exciting 'manufactured in Australia' project, and being recognized as a reliable supplier of high precision components. Seeing our parts featured on Astral's website is one of those 'hey, we made that!' moments. https://astralis.org.au/hector-the-multi-object-integral-field-spectrograph-for-the-aat-nearing-completion/

Prism being glued to the face of the hexabundle. Photo credit: Adeline Wang/Astralis-Usyd