But wait, there is one more ;-)

 

SEIKO Limited Edition Australia and New Zealand ONLY  “Whitsundays Sumo” Seiko Prospex Australasian Exclusive Limited Edition Dive Watch SPB429J, inspired by the iconic beaches of the Whitsundays. The SPB429J pays homage to the breathtaking beaches of the Whitsundays, including the renowned Whitehaven Beach. This timepiece captures the tranquillity of the region's calm and serene waters with a striking gradation dial. Just as the turquoise waters come alive under a cloudless sky, the dial bursts into vibrant life when present in sunlight. This is not just a big watch, perfect for a large wrist, but a collectable SEIKO that should be added to your Noosa and Eucalyptus collection. Yes, two straps included – blue and white. Individually numbered, xxx/1000.  Boutique price $1,800.

Today is the day

After almost a year of development, today, I am pleased to introduce a new Curl Curl watch. Actually, not one – but four. What is the big deal? We have four new titanium guilloche dials in four new colours.    I am not going to bore you with the details: sleepless nights, significant investments, the challenges titanium machining presents. And certainly, I am not going to talk about high precision manufacturing in a country where high precision manufacturing barely exists. You already know all of that.   Instead, allow me to point out just two important details related to this project.    The first is obvious: we make watches to prove a point - that we are serious about watchmaking. While our time is yet to come, our watches are practical proof of our manufacturing capabilities. For those who understand and appreciate precision, the Curl Curl is a powerful statement. It is our business card: when customers from medical, space and science knock on our door, looking for help turning drawings into real, physical objects, they get the message fast - those who can make a watch can make anything.    Second reason: the Curl Curl is an object of art. That is how we feel about it, and that is how we want you to feel about it. It is a combination of our desire to offer you a unique piece of mechanical art, and your appreciation for mechanical art. A partnership between a passionate watchmaker and a passionate ambassador. A relationship that will continue to flourish in years to come.    Based on these two premises, the Curl Curl will be available as a special order only. We have no intention to ‘flood the market’ nor to rush sales, nor spend a great deal of time and money chasing buyers. Those who like what we do, and what we offer will find us anyway.   The new dials are impossible to present in photographs or words, so the images below are purely reference points. We invite you to visit the shop, inspect the watch in person, strap it on the wrist and only then, to place your order.   The range consists of the deep blue Curl Curl we already have in stock, plus the four new colours: the ‘platinum’, ‘black’, ‘orange’ and ‘ice blue’. Each dial and hand set is unique, made one at a time, a process which takes a week. It takes a further two months before the watch is assembled and ready for collection. Again, we will only produce as many watches as you want us to make, there will be no ‘stock on hand’. If art could be mass-produced, it wouldn’t be art.   Price: $7,900.    Thank you for your support and your enthusiasm. To start a conversation about your Curl Curl, simply reply to this email.   Nick Hacko, Master Watchmaker   With the support of Josh and Andrew.

The Classic Platinum  Black Orange Ice Blue

One of 800 in the world

 

You say: yes, whatever. And I do agree: limited production run is cool, but not a main reason to invest in a watch.  The main reason to invest in this one: if you make and build things for living – anything from wood, metal, concrete, steel – then you should wear an Astron. This SEIKO is so well made that it will remain a constant inspiration on how things should be done: to perfection. Actually, to be perfectly honest, comparing your own work – even if you are a watchmaker – with the perfection of an Astron is simply painful and extremely humbling.  Perfection is almost impossible to obtain. Actually, even a ‘fairly close’ is painfully hard. Try to cut a brick, or a piece of steel to a millimetre. Or, try to drill 3 equally spaced holes in wood. Very quickly, you will realise that the final result is always related to the quality of machinery or tools used, as well as years of experience invested in doing the same thing over and over again. What the heck – even assembling an IKEA drawer would challenge most of us to the point of frustration. Then look at the Seiko Astron. Crafted in Titanium. Perfectly. Absolutely perfect hour markers and hands, winding crown and seemingly invisible integrated pushers. All the edges polished (yes, to perfection!). All surfaces sealed. The look at the stainless fold over buckle. What a piece of engineering! How in the world could they do it?

They can – because they’ve been doing it for 110 years. A million times over and over again, for generations, until perfection is attained. Made in Japan, only one of 800 in the world. This time, I am not even going to talk about what makes Astron the most exciting horological timepiece of modern watchmaking. I am sure you know that already. Neither to try to convince you that the most striking design is the one ‘you’ve seen before, but can’t exactly remember where and when’. Nor to remind you that the taupe strap - a blend of grey and brown -  is a colour so rarely seen in watchmaking. Discover it for yourself! Thanks to titanium, the total weight of 74 grams makes this Astron one of the lightest watches in the entire Seiko range. 41.2mm case size. You’ll LOVE it. Price: Boutique price $2,850.

Breaking news:

 

Just released: SEIKO Speedtimer Emerald Green SSC933P 39mm No sales pitch here. Straight to the point:

1.  The bracelet is of (almost) Omega quality. Actually, it is an amazingly well made bracelet for a watch in this price range. I love it. The moment it’s strapped on, clasp locked, the watch feels at home. Speedtimer feels like a Speedmaster. 2.  Stepped Tachymeter Bezel. Very unusual profile, and a clever way to ‘connect’ the crystal height with the main case body. Elegant. Tachymeter gradation from 500 down means ‘instrument to measure the speed of a racing car'. Sporty. 3.  Minute counter subdial located at 6 o'clock with dual purpose. When chrono is not activated the sub hand is actually a power reserve. F for full, E for empty. Love it. Who else does this? No one. Original. 4.  Deep emerald green dial. This is very personal – I am already used to a green dial Astron – so the green dial with Japanese Pigeon subdial (!!!) is simply irresistible. So Japanese. 5.  The chrono sweep hand ‘feels’ like a mechanical chrono. Yes, with 5 steps per second, the Speedtimer is so close to Omega Cal 321 chrono 18,000 bph movement! So natural. 6.  Six months power reserve. Chuck it in a drawer – and 6 months later, it will be still ticking, on time. Solar powered – no battery replacement or servicing – ever. Actually, there is no battery to start with; the energy is stored in a Manganese Titanium-Lithium rechargeable capacitor. 7.  Price: $1,050 for a watch that will last for 30 years or more. That is 67 cents per week – in today’s money. Negative: I only have 3 to sell, meaning not much money to be made on this little beauty. (I started writing this newsletter at 10am today – and I am still wearing the Speedtimer! So comfortable!)

Bruce Lee

 

"I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times." It's here. Hit reply to order now.  Price: $750 Extremely limited supply.

SEIKO 55th anniversary of Seiko 5:

Back to 1969! Without a doubt, the most important year for wrist watches was 1969. Omega Speedmaster was worn on the moon, as a true tool watch. What a legend. In 1969, the other side of the world, Seiko was making equally legendary stuff too: humble, mechanical, self winding sports watches simply named 'SEIKO 5'. Above all: affordable and eye-catching.  By the mid 1970s the world was sick and tired of the Vietnam war, demonstrations, conscriptions, energy crisis - and hungry for excitement, international travel, mass-produced affordable watches, Olympic games, photography, and solid, undiluted Rock and Roll. We were ready for Seiko 5. And fifty five years later, SEIKO is still here, to excite and entertain. The two latest anniversary models sum up nicely the sport of the era: the bright 'orange and black sector inner bezel' and the tricolori RGB. Special edition, as marked on the case back.  And still at the price no Swiss manufacturer could match: only $495. Both colours in stock - call 02 9232 0500 to place your order now. If you mention that you are a subscriber to this newsletter, will throw in a free delivery. Happy anniversary SEIKO, well done.

Seiko 5 Sports SRPK11K 42.5mm case size. Stainless steel case and bracelet. Orange dial with day/date window at 3 o'clock. Hardlex glass. Automatic movement - calibre 4R36. Water resistance 100M.  Price: $495

Seiko 5 Sports SRPK13K 42.5mm case size. Stainless steel case and bracelet. Black dial with day/date window at 3 o'clock. Hardlex glass. Automatic movement - calibre 4R36. Water resistance 100M. Price: $495

Update from the workshop

More than just watchmaking:

This last week we have been tackling a fairly complex problem from a local medical company. Without breaking any NDAs, the parts called for some extremely small grooves to be made in PTFE, Teflon.

Traditionally, working with plastics is actually quite easy. The tool wear is low, and the material is quite forgiving. But with Teflon, micro-milling is more analogous to trying to cut bubble-gum with a spoon.  Making a groove that's just under half the width of a human hair becomes a very large challenge when dealing with Teflon! Due to the quick turnaround needed on the job, we had to make the tool that would create this geometry ourselves. We used some micro-grain tungsten carbide, a very hard, homogenous material used for most cutting tools, and used a series of diamond wheels to grind the desired cutting geometry.

First a cone was ground, and then very precisely split down the centre of the tool. The resulting geometry is a very precise V shape, with sharp edges that are able to carve out the Teflon, in the same way that an ice-cream spoon creates a nice curled scoop.

The tool is then placed into our Kern micro-milling machine, measured, adjusted and then introduced into the Teflon - with the line "scribed" to the desired depth.  The first-principles mechanics behind the process are very simple. Using an exacto knife to cut a profile in a piece of cardboard, or dragging your foot in the sand to mark the lines of a beach volleyball court, or making the guilloche pattern on the dial of a MK2 Curl Curl, all use the same basic cutting action.  The execution... that's where the devil is in the details!

Most interestingly of all... the only reason why we were able to take this job on, and execute it in such a fast time frame, was due to our stable, in-house processes behind the guilloche of the MK2 Curl Curl. Our sister company, NH Micro, was able to leverage the watchmaking experience that birthed it, and offer it to local, Australian owned and operated, high tech businesses. After years and years of setting up, and trying to build horological capability in Australia, we are finally edging closer to the point where we can give back.  Horology has always been intermixed with parallel precision industries, whether it be time measurement enabling the exploration of the world and the universe through celestial observation, or life saving medical instruments leveraging manufacturing knowhow from the artisans that made screws and pinions for watches in the 60s and 70s, or now, in Sydney, where the "too old, too dumb, and unwilling to invest" are enabling the broader Australian advanced manufacturing industry to thrive... Josh