Art of buying vintage watches and preserving memories

The exquisiteness of craftsmanship is in direct proportion to visual delight. Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder is just not a clichéd expression. In fact, it is truly breathtaking and nothing exemplifies this statement in the revival of the mechanical watch. Vintage wristwatches are viewed as exceptional craftsmanship that is not only beautiful to look but also functional. It is akin to owning the vintage automobile classics such as the Morgan or the early McLarens. Post 1980 watch enthusiasts took to collecting vintage wristwatches that now graces collections kept in private safes all over the world. Post 1986 the auction houses in UK comprising Christies, Sotheby and Bonham’s featured wristwatches in their catalogues.

To this day, the best vintage watches can be seen in shops such as Shoot’s in London, followed by Austin-Kay also in London. Somlo Antiques is another reputed English antique establishment and it is possible that the late Mr. Somlo posthumously credited as the pioneer dealer of classic wristwatches. The internet has demystified the knowledge of vintage timepieces and also given rise to dubious dealers. Transacting via the internet for vintages comes with a caveat of provenance. Without access to meticulous record keeping, the only way to prove the veracity of the watch is to consult professional watchmakers in the United Kingdom.

Employing the services of a trusted watchmaker of repute will solve the provenance of the classic watch. A company like Perpetual Time has the proper experience to be entrusted with this delicate issue before committing to the purchase of a vintage classic. The credentials of this watch restorer can be checked by browsing Perpetual Time reviews and an inquiry with The Guild of Master Craftsmen in England (of which Perpetual Time is a certified badge holder) will provide the right answers. Another advantage of interacting with Perpetual Time is they will be able to restore the vintage classic to its original pristine condition (well almost) along with a total overhaul that will keep the watch ticking for another twenty years.

Several Perpetual Time reviews have alluded to the fine restoration of their family heirloom watches to pristine condition. In many homes, watches are handed down to generations as a form of preserving memories. There is no better way of showing respect than by restoring the watch so that it keeps perfect time.

Watchmaker ticking the rhythms of Time

The business of watch maintenance is classified under three headings

Watch servicing
Watch repair
Watch restoration

Watches have entered the realm of automobiles;both being mechanical devices they need proper maintenance. The first tenet of maintenance is service. As a watch ages it impossible that some sort of repair may be required. Time keeping devices are finely crafted; sometimes these watches suffer hard knocks or falls. Older watches have become collector items. As investment objects, they may not be in the league of classic paintings; however, classic watches command expensive price tags and some rare watches are known to fetch millions of pounds in auction.

Watchmakers are one of the oldest professions in the world. Due to social media it is difficult to fathom who is genuine and deserve the reputation that everyone claims to be the best. There is another method of bench marking quality. Great Britain‘s most established trade association known as The Guild of Master Craftsmen certifies craftsmen who strive for excellence in their work. The certification is hard to get considering the process is arduous which consists of rigorous assessment protocols. The right is earned due to skill attained by training and years of experience. The other bench marking tool is professional certification by world-class organizations that certify the training.

In this regard, Perpetual Time is true craftsmen having been certified by WOSTEP the eminent watchmaking body known as Watchmakers of Switzerland Training Education Program. BHI – ‘British Horological Institute’ has also certified Perpetual Time and along with The Guild of Master Craftsmen badge there is no doubting the credentials of this bespoke watch repairer, restorer and service of watches.

Apart from Perpetual Time reviews in watch forums from noted personalities, the awe of other professionals of their skills also adds to their stellar reputation. A key takeaway in Perpetual Time reviews is the attention to detail. The minutest of scratches on watch bezels are attended to with surgical precision.

Time does not stand still under these able hands

Defining luxury watches is a task best left to the passionate watchmakers who may beg to differ based purely on technical merits. To the connoisseur it is the elegance and appearance followed by the movement. However, for a watch to attain the tag of ‘luxury’ the brand needs to at least qualify for the following caveats

Manufacture in-house movement
develop its own escapement
has a creative design team for designing elegance in watch cases

On the face of it, the three elements appear easy, within reach of most industrial houses. What remains unsaid is the passion of watch making. Each luxury brand has a person at the helm that has or had the passion of the ticking movement in their DNA. Without this main ingredient no watch brand can ascend and adorn the luxury tag.

Similar to luxury branded watches are the watch restorers and repairers that keep the luxury tag alive for centuries. To give an example, the Meier clock in Detroit Historical Museum was vandalized and it has taken expert clock repairers and restorers more than 18 months to bring it to its former glory. The Meier clock was finished in 1904 after Louis Meier started work on it in 1892. The story of Lili von Baeyer the lady horologist who is in charge of over two hundred antique clocks for the Pennsylvania State government is worth noting. She is so passionate about Time that she graduated in 2009 from NAWCC – the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors School of Horology.

Another noted enterprise is Perpetual Time in England .They are Guild certified master craftsmen in watch making and trained by WOSTEP – Watchmakers of Switzerland Training Education Program. They are the bespoke watch repairers and watch servicing enterprise in Britain. There is no caliber (movement) or watch brand that they cannot service. Their professionalism is of the highest standard with some Perpetual Time reviews calling them the watch making gods. Time as the adage goes does not stand still. To the aficionado the watch on the wrist should keep perfect time. To many, the watch worn during their lifetime is priceless. Many a Perpetual Time review has attested to this fact and is thankful for this expert watchmaker’s services.

Keeping the watch ticking through expert servicing

In the 19th century, people would buy a watch in the following manner. A customer would know exactly the type of movement and the person who designed the movement. After selecting the movement, he would consult the watchmaker in the shop and order a case with engraving to suit the occasion. Pocket watches in that era were a serious purchase unlike the mass production of movements in cases today.

The movements of a mechanical watch has the following components

A mainspring acts as the power source. The mechanism of the mainspring allows the winding up and a ratchet prevents it from unwinding. The wheel train consists of gear trains that have many levels such as center wheel, third wheel and fourth wheel. Another set of wheels determines the motion of the minute hand by 12 to move the hour hand. The gear train transmits the force from the power source to the escapement.

The escapement allows the wheel train to advance or engage a finite distance with each swing of the balance wheel. The force moves a gear termed escape wheel by one tooth at a time via an oscillating lever. The repetitive movement of the escape wheel gives the balance wheel a push that keeps it in motion.

Movement types called calibers have evolved from full plate, three quarter plate to bridge movement, which ended with the nomenclature Geneva movement. Movements are classified as manual or automatic. The basics of watch movements is termed caliber as different watch makers opt their own design that allows watchmakers to repair and service watches. The expertise of professional watch restoration experts and service craftsmen is important when rare and expensive watches are given to them.

A manual watch needs to be serviced at least once in 4 years. A reputed craftsman in the watch servicing business is Perpetual Time in England. Several watch aficionados testify to their professionalism through Perpetual Time reviews. Their peers in the business are also in awe of the watch making skills of this reputed establishment. Customers posting in Perpetual Time reviews have this to say repeatedly – a genuine ‘thank you”.

Glasshuttesets the time for luxury watches

In the 80s and 90s the status of having arrived or made it without shouting from the rooftop was sporting a quiet elegance by wearing a luxury watch made in Switzerland. The world famous brands on the wrist turned heads and it cost a pretty penny (make that thousands of pounds). The Swiss watchmakers were on the top of the horological world as they began to be associated and synonymous with excellence and precision.

The fall of the Berlin wall heralded a new challenge to the Swiss watch fraternity. The village of Glasshutte with its ten watch making enterprises produced just a shade over 30,000 watches in 2015. The big differentiation was the collective revenue for this small number of production watches totaled half a billion euros. The average price of a Glasshutte produced watch was nothing less than 50,000 euros with the priciest watches topping the 2 million euro mark. The people who buy these watches appreciate this kind of excellence and the status symbol is even much higher. The small select clientele do not shout from the rooftop and neither do they have a chartered jet at Dresden (the nearest airport to Glasshutte) waiting for the watch to be serviced.

These customers keep a secret that is well-kept. They get the watches serviced by expert watchmakers in England such as Perpetual Time who know everything about timepieces (as it was called in the earlier times). Perpetual Time follows in the traditions of classic watchmakers and they are as bespoke as Seville Row is for clothing. They’re spoken with awe and the many who post their appreciation through Perpetual Time reviews in professional watch magazines are a legacy to their fine workmanship. Apart from watch servicing they excel in watch restoration. Several Perpetual Time reviews testify to the professionalism of their service as evidenced by many customers who have got family heirloom watches restored to pristine condition.

Watch restorers are the true keepers of time

The latest watch exports news from Switzerland is showing a massive drop in figures. The watch industry is facing a slump as shipments fell by almost 9% in the first quarter of 2016. Exports are declining at an alarming rate as the demand for Rolex, Cartier and Omega the key brands driving Swiss made watches in Asia and other parts of the world is becoming sluggish.

The trend is across the board and there are many factors for Hong Kong {which was rated as the watch capital of the world for registering high sales of luxury branded watches year upon year} has slipped due to downturn in China’s economy. Closer, in Europe with Brexit and terror uncertainty in France and Germany business in the EU is facing serious issues. The result is watchmakers in Switzerland are re-negotiating job cuts with major brands and massive management shake ups. The one redeeming feature of the watch industry is Glassehutte in East Germany, which continues to hire quality people and produce top of the line luxury watches with exports touching the half billion euro mark..

In all these downturns, the watchmakers and horologists who repair, service and restore are not as troubled as the business is witnessing steady growth. After all manual watches need servicing at least once in 3 to 4 years and people have a fortune on their wrists turn to reputed watch service people like Perpetual Time in England to handle the elegant timepieces. Whether it is a Piaget or a Vacheron or even the fabled A. Lange Sohne, Perpetual Time have the skill and reputation. Countless are the Perpetual Time reviews who have thanked them for the professionalism and care they bestow on the magnificent beauties that adorn the wrists of men and women.

Quality horology services in Britain

The business of watch maintenance is classified under three headings

Watch servicing
Watch repair
Watch restoration

Watches have entered the realm of automobiles;both being mechanical devices they need proper maintenance. The first tenet of maintenance is service. As a watch ages it ispossible thatsome sort of repair may be required. Horological devices are finely crafted; sometimes these watches suffer hard knocks or falls. Older watches have become collector items. As investment objects, they are not as noteworthy as paintings; however, classic watches command expensive price tags and some rare watches are known to fetch millions of pounds in auction.

Watchmakers are one of the oldest professions in the world. In this day and age of social media it is difficult to fathom who is a genuine and deserve the reputation that everyone claims to be the best. There is another method of bench marking quality. Great Britain’s most established trade association known as The Guild of Master Craftsmen certifies craftsmen who strive for excellence in their work. The certification is hard to get considering the process is arduous which consists of rigorous assessment protocols. The right is earned due to skill attained by training and years of experience. The other bench marking tool is professional certification by world-class organizations that certify the training.

In this regard Perpetual Time is true craftsmen having been certified by WOSTEP the eminent watchmaking body known as Watchmakers of Switzerland Training Education Program. BHI ‘British Horological Institute’ has also certified Perpetual Time and along with The Guild of Master Craftsmen badge there is no doubting the credentials of this bespoke watch repairer, restorer and service of watches. Apart from Perpetual Time reviews in watch forums from noted personalities, the veracity of their stellar reputation among other watchmakers also add to their expertise.

Points to Ponder When Sending Your Antique Classic Watches for Service/Repair

It might not be apparent to many people, but antique classic watches, coins, classic cars, and jewellery are some of the few items to really appreciate in value, especially over a period of 10 years or more. This is why there is such a demand for classic watches by connoisseurs, collectors, and investors alike, but keeping an antique timepiece in good condition can only be done by a select few.

Perpetual Time is a workshop run from Manchester by Alex Photi, a Swiss and British trained specialist with an impeccable background in watchmaking, repairing, and restoring classic watches. Since he has set up shop, Perpetual Time Reviews have noted that the number of people who have been using his services to service and repair their watches have risen tremendously. He is now thinking of finding bigger premises to cater to the demand. The other alternative to get a classic Swiss watch serviced is to send it to its representatives in the United Kingdom; they are definitely more expensive and may take many weeks before the watch is returned.

Perpetual Time Reviews have many clients who have raved about the quick turnaround of their watches that have come in for service and/or repair. Even antique classic watches have been given the right amount of love during repair and restoration, ensuring that it still retains some of its antique feel and look. Collectors sometimes are very choosy about too much polishing of the bezel, case, glass, and other parts during restoring; they feel that this makes it loose some of its character. At Perpetual Time, the experts working under Alex Photi know exactly how much attention to detail is needed to keep the watch working perfectly without affecting its aesthetic looks.

Sending in a classic antique Swiss watch to Perpetual Time for repairs, regular service or restoration gives the owner an estimate of how much it might cost them and the time it may take for the watch to be returned. This gives the client the opportunity to either go in or cancel the work order. This is one of the points that many customers have made in Perpetual Time Reviews over the years that they have been in business. They have the capability to repair and service most of the classic Swiss and other makes of watches, but are experts in repairs of Rolex, Patek Phillipe, Breitling, Omega, Tag Heuer, etc.

Perpetual Time’s Horology Expertise Maintains, Repairs, and Restores Classic Watches

Horology experts and employees in the United Kingdom is typically a small circle and many of the people working in this field are mostly members of the British Horologic Institute or BHI. The founder and managing director of Perpetual Time, Alex Photi, has trained at the BHI and is a member; he is also a fully trained and certified member of WOSTEP or the Watchmakers of Switzerland Training Education Program.

According to Perpetual Time Reviews, Alex Photi’s training at WOSTEP was very comprehensive and ran for ten years; he has received excellent training in watch servicing, repairing, and restoring classic and iconic Swiss watches. He is a member of the British Watch & Clock Makers Guild consisting of professional clock and watch manufacturers, restorers, conservators, repairers, watch wholesalers and employees. This institution is perfect to advertise his much sought-after skills, and his name is now known to most watch connoisseurs, collectors, etc., who have classic Swiss watches at home.

Maintaining the science of making watches which measure time is what horology is all about, and it is relevant today as it was when clocks were first invented. Perpetual Time Reviews have praised the commitment of Alex Photi for watches, and how he ensures that each and every piece that comes through Perpetual Time’s workshop goes back close to its original condition. During its time in their hands, the watch is lovingly and carefully stripped of all mechanical parts, cleaned and greased to ensure smooth running, worn out parts replaced, polishing done of worn out bracelets, dials, and bezels. The detailing work done on some of the older and not well-cared for watch models is so good that the finished product looks like a new model.

Classic Swiss watches like Audemars Piguet, Rolex, Cartier, Patek Philippe, Baume & Mercier, and Tag Heuer, to name a few, have been constantly restored, serviced, and cleaner as per Perpetual Time Reviews. The difference in crowns and bezels that have been hand-polished and cleaned from what was brought in is sometimes unbelievable. The quality of work is excellent and is reinforced by the fact that more new clients are lining up every day to send in their classic watches for restoration and refurbishment to Perpetual Time. Using high quality tools and staff with similar passion for antique classic Swiss watches, Alex Photi’s has been hailed as a pioneer in the watch repair and restoration business.

Perpetual Time Reviews

Their professionalism is of the highest standard with some Perpetual Time reviews calling them the watch making gods.

Month: September 2016