Think Seiko, Think Big

The story of Seiko began in 1881, when a 21 year old entrepreneur, Kintaro Hattori, opened a shop selling and repairing watches and clocks in central Tokyo. Just eleven years later, in 1892, he established the 'Seikosha' factory. In Japanese, "Seiko" means "exquisite", "minute" or "success" and "sha" means house. It was here that Kintaro Hattori produced his first clocks and these marked the beginnings of a company that was to become one of the world's most important manufacturers of timepieces. The list of "Japanese first" is endless: first wristwatch, first Railway pocket watch, first mechanical chronograph, first divers watch. In 1969 Seiko releases calibre 6139 – world’s first automatic chronograph with both column wheel and vertical clutch.  It was Seiko who would produce the world's first quartz watch: Seiko Quartz Astron was introduced in Tokyo on December 25, 1969. It delivered an unmatched performance. It was accurate to within 5 seconds per month, 100 times more accurate than any other watch, and it ran continuously for a year. The quartz revolution had begun!

(Image: seikowatches.com ) However, what impresses me the most, is the dedication and persistence of Seiko to cover the entire spectrum of watch and clock-making, producing a vast number of timepieces. From entry level battery operated watches to Grand Seiko and tourbillon; from domestic alarm clocks to impressive public clocks. An amazing range of products, all designed and manufactured ‘ in house' , in Seiko’s own  factories. There is no Swiss equivalent to Seiko, and the only Swiss brand that offered a wide range of watches was Omega, in it's golden days, half a century ago.

Next time you are to travel to Japan, which I hope will be soon, keep an eye out for Seiko public clocks which range from high tech to simply art installations.

Tekko Building Clock

Seiko Shinjuku NS building Clock

Seiko Tokyo Tower Clock

Sydney Auction scene 2020: What a joke!

Yesterday I was bidding over the phone on a 1850 regulator clock - sight unseen. The clock was in typical distressed condition: complete, but in desperate need of restoration. Starting with the mechanism itself, to the silver dial and the mahogany case. All three major components would require specialists work. Think thousands of dollars and months of hard labour. The clock was auctioned by Sydney auction house which specializes in pretty much everything- from vintage cars, wine and furniture to even diamonds. The pre-auction estimate was $5,000- $10,000 but on Sunday morning, a couple hours before the auction, the lot was listed with a new estimate of $10,000- $20,000. $10K was as far as I was prepared to go. Beyond that figure, there would be no joy of either acquiring the clock for stock or adding it to my private collection. In addition, a hefty 25% + GST buyer's premium would turn a ten thousand dollar bid into $13,000 purchase. The bidding was fierce and in no time I was bidding against at least two bidders, sitting on $12,500. It was time to pull out. I like the clock but at $16,000 I had no choice but to let someone else have the joy of the restoration. Losing at an auction is not a big deal, especially not so on a lazy Sunday morning. But I did end up a bit upset. The auctioneer acted as if he was on drugs. Auctioning a fine antique clock like calling a finish of Melbourne Cup was extremely annoying. And completely unnecessary. Not to mention the obvious: thanks to corona, the auction room was empty and bidders were competing simultaneously online and over the phone. I could not see what was going on in the room, who is placing the bids against me, at what speed and pace, or even if those bids were imaginary or real. And my goodness - the 30% buyers premium is simply criminal. Mind you - there is a sellers premium as well, which most likely is 25% too. Which means that on $10,000 sale auction house makes $5,500 profit. That is a huge amount of money taking in to consideration zero investment in stock, zero risk and zero guarantee on sold items. Not to mention that almost every item that ends at auction would either have no provenance, would require restoration, repair or even just polishing and that there is no guarantee on authenticity or any guarantee on performance - whatsoever. No names - but there is another auction house in Sydney which persistently advertises "Fine jewellery and watches  recovered by Australian Federal Police". The modus operandi is simple: generate as much hype, in hope that sensationalist media would pick it up and turn it into a 'story'. Like this one:

“From today they're auctioning off recovered fine jewellery from the proceeds of crime for 70% off. If you consider yourself a bit of a bargain hunter, true crime buff or just have a penchant for bling, it’s quite literally your lucky day. Running from today until May 17th, the Australian Federal Police are auctioning off a bunch of recovered fine jewellery and watches via [deleted] for a song. Without leaving the comfort of your lounge you’ll be able to pick up a luxury piece from the likes of Cartier, Bvlgari, Tiffany or Rolex, through an online auction for up 80% less than its retail value.” Note the loaded narrative: crime, bargains, luxury, police, 80% less, Rolex and Cartier. Who can resist? In reality, while all this could be true, most likely your chances of picking a bargain are painfully slim. Notoriously, such ‘recovery items’ are often used just to sparkle the otherwise ordinary stock, which could be a mix of private items, retail or jewellers wholesale stock-  and who knows what else. I really admire auctioneers who are experts in everything from needles to locomotives. And when one day that Rolex ‘proceed of crime bought for a song’ ends up at a Rolex service centre for an overhaul, you may be in for a surprise. “Auctions” in the time of Covid are for bored fools with deep pockets. If you can’t attend it in person and bid in person, don’t waste your time. If you do end up as a ‘winner’, most likely, you’ve paid too much. And if you got it for a song, then you are probably tone deaf. Bottom line: buy new and enjoy the pride of ownership. Preowned is fine – only when bought from a reputable expert you can trust. Everything else – at your own risk.

David E Walter

David Walter is the first person to successfully recreate the Woodward Free pendulum clock, W5 in 2006 followed by an improved edition of Breguet No.3671 Double Pendulum clock in 2010 and further development in 2012 added the complications of Daniels Perpetual calendar with retrograde date and sunrise/sunset indications. These great achievements firmly place David Walter not only as one of the greatest clockmakers ever to have lived and the greatest living clockmaker as well as the only clockmaker to have ever made both versions of double pendulum clock, The Free Pendulum (D)W5 and the Double Pendulum Resonance Clock. And what would you say if I tell you that David Walter is an Aussie? Quite frankly, I was hoping for and would be more than happy with a fifteen minute chat with David. Generously and kindly, he allocated over two hours to share with us his amazing story. For your enjoyment here is Part One of the 'Raw and Uncut' interview with David E Walter.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1b6OuIYnJb0&feature=youtu.be

Reclaiming the Horological Grounds

Let's be brutally honest: mechanical watchmaking is a dying trade. The small pockets of activity are centred around mega brands who themselves go through cycles of boost and bust. Consequently the lack of interest from youngsters to join the trade and devote a decade or two in an exclusive but fast declining industry is quite understandable. The carcass has been decaying for a while - but thanks to the new world of fast communication and social media, we are witnessing an unusual development: horology being hijacked by vocal outsiders. Enthusiastic social media amateurs, watch forums, influencers financed by brands, startups, peddling the $20 Chinese watches while waving the banner of "new horology for the young,  modern man". The real watchmakers - the nerdy introverts - who actually sit behind the workbench, who make and repair watches and clocks - and invest a substantial amount of time training and passing their knowledge, are watching silently, slowly sliding into irrelevance. Last night I spent nearly 3 hours conversing with Tommy Jobson, a thirty five years young English clockmaker. An hour and a bit of that conversation has been video recorded - for your enjoyment. Tommy is a down to earth, skilful and pedantic restorer trained in both watches and clocks. And we've discovered we have one thing in common: admiration to the best living clockmaker in the world - who nowadays, out of all places, resides in Australia! The interview with Tommy is yet another attempt to reclaim horology by two students of horology, as we proudly call ourselves. It is yet another humble attempt to reverse the tide, to excite and re-focus your attention to things that matter. Ultimately, to lift your appreciation of horology to another level. Next week we will surprise you with another guest so make sure to stay tuned in and to subscribe to our YouTube channel. Interview with Tommy Jobson, Bespoke Clockmaker:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMWU1xLbUlQ

From Apprentice Corner: Brian Loomes

Brian Loomes is a horological historian, genealogist, and a prolific author and best-known expert on British clocks. As Britain's longest-established clock dealer, his name is known by everyone connected with antique clocks.

Through his own original research in ancient records into the life and work of clockmakers he has compiled thirty reference books and hundreds of articles about antique British clocks and their makers. Several of them have become definitive texts and are used as standard reference books by museums, libraries, auction houses and collectors the world over. So much so that even many of the terms today in general use to describe certain types of clock features were first coined in these books.

Brian Loomes is not a watchmaker by trade, but our young apprentices are expected to immerse themselves into the work of Loomes, discover his style, methodology, attention to detail, and relentless pursuit of penning down horological history which would otherwise remain unpreserved.

This week we are studying ‘The Concise Guide to British Clocks’, and our apprentices are required to write down technical words and terms they have not heard before. We discuss them the following day, and we learn together.

The first four words we discussed yesterday were:

Fusee
Hood pillar
Spandrels
Foliot

(These were Chloe's picks)

Do you know what these terms refer to, without looking them up? I have to admit, I tripped up on 'spandrels' and had to ask Bobby to look it up for us. Not to make any excuses, but if the word had been in context, I am sure I would have worked it out. If you too are struggling to work it out then here is a tip- there are four on the dial of a traditional English long case clock.