There had been several thousand years of tradition when it comes to measuring time before we have reached the level we find ourselves at today.
Continue reading “Who can we thank for inventing the stopwatch?”
Following centuries of reverting to analogue watch designs that worked through the flow of water to calculate passage of time, for example. Modern human civilisation was successful in eventually achieving ways and means in which a precise clock that accurately told the time could be made.
Continue reading “The story of the Father of the Modern Clock”
While we are all surrounded by timepieces, large and small, of various designs, descents, and quality, have you ever stopped to ask yourself where it all began? More specifically, when the first wristwatch was ever made? If this is a question that’s been bugging you then we can help to scratch that itch!
Continue reading “All you need to know about the first wristwatch ever made”
There’s always been something about the way it feels when other men, successful men, men who clearly have style, notice and admire your fine timepiece. It’s as if for men who have a passion for movements have a sort of secret handshake that only those in the know would ever understand.
Continue reading “Is there still a hunger for the status watch today?”
Watches differ from piece to piece but what doesn’t change is their importance. Whether to the person purchasing a watch or the person selling a watch, all watches are significant in some way and below are three of the world’s most important watches:
Continue reading “Three of the most important watches in the world.”
After being voted in the top five global shopping destinations last year, it has been announced that Dubai will be hosting their very own watch week, the first horology event of this scale in the region.
Continue reading “The first ever Dubai Watch Week set for 2015”
It’s sometimes quite amazing how things have a way of finding their way home, completely unintentionally, take this antique pocket watch for example.
The story starts with a jeweller, at 90 Main Street, Batavia in 1834, where a jeweller named Jerome A. Clark owned a jewellery store. A man named George Austin started working for Clark after school, learning about the trade and developing an interest in the business.
Charles Prescott also comes to work at the store a few years later as a clerk. Prescott and Austin form a strong friendship whilst working together. Then in 1885 the men purchase the business from their boss Jerome A. Clark, renaming this jewellers ‘Austin and Prescott’ and putting their skills to the test.
When Austin passed away in 1914, the jewellery store was then passed onto William Hoop. Austin left $30,000 to the village, to be used towards a public park, which still today is called Austin Park in his memory.
In the next 55 years, as you might expect, several jewellers open, shut, and move from street to street. Some are forced out by new businesses offering a wider range of products, offering convinience and seemingly ‘exotic’ products from England. 90 Main Street however was still home to a jewellers, all the way up until the Urban Renewal around 1965, which was not only fatal to the jewellery businesses but to local residents that had their beloved homes torn down, destroying the vast majority of Batavia’s architectural heritage.
In 1969 an older man approaches an attendant at Moretto gas station, offering either his wristwatch or pocket watch in exchange for $10, a full day’s wages. The man, clearly desperate for money was devastated to give up the pocket watch. So, an agreement was made between the gentleman and the gas station attendant that he would keep the watch well looked after and wound, and if the gentleman came back, the pocket watch would be returned to its rightful owner.
The man never returned.
However, 46 years later, the gas station attendant was doing a little research into antique pocket watches and the pocket watch’s original owner, whose name was engraved onto the antique pocket watch alongside the name of the crafter; Paul Breton. He found the jeweller’s original jewellery store and eventually also found his home, which just so happens to be home to the gas station attendant who lives there today with his wife, where they still keep the pocket watch wound in a glass domed holder.
We must say that we aren’t surprised, but, for those who may be thinking of starting a collection, it has been announced that the market for vintage watches is continuing to produce strong price bids for collectible antique wrist watches and pocket watches among other styles.
Continue reading “Vintage watches continue to produce improved fees at auction”
We aren’t going to beat around the bush here, we are going to discuss a question that many people who do collect things, and those who don’t, often wonder; why is it that we collect things?
Continue reading “Feature: Why is it that we collect things?”
The British Horological Institute has organised a Summer Show which will open its doors to the public next weekend with a host activities for lover of UK antique pocket watches and the rest of the family too.
Continue reading “BHI Summer Show comes to Upton Hall this month”
