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Required Listening: RPWL, Roses


RPWL was a Pink Floyd tribute band who decided to compose and play their own music. The result is a phenomenal progressive rock band with a rich full sound, ethereal vocals, and amazing dynamics. Here, they play one of my favorite of their songs live. Enjoy.
-Paul

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Buckling Down: Watch Entry III

In keeping with the recent theme regarding wristwatches, I wanted to present another bracelet/band option for a more elegant and less casual look than the ribbon band I discussed last time. Leather bands always lend an aura of elegance to a watch, especially when fashioned of an exotic skin like crocodile or lizard.

Today I'm not talking about material, however, but about the clasp type of the watch band.
Metal bands are typically a little bit sportier than leather bands, but are often favored  by wearers because of  durability issues and the security of the clasps that typically accompany a metal band. There is a way to capture the elegance of a leather band and the security of a metal one; a leather band with a deployment clasp (pictures 1 & 2 - click to enlarge).

The pictures provided pretty much do the talking here and take away a need for too much explanation, but simply stated, a deployment clasp on a leather band allows one to position a pin in a bracelet hole for a good fit, and after that, the clasp can be snapped open and closed without having to pull the strap through the buckle each time. The result is a watch that fits a bit more snug on the wrist (photo 3), and often feels more comfortable on the wrist.

Having one of these groovy bands doesn't have to break the bank, either. They can be picked up on ebay for next to nothing. They are a good option for those who like a lather watch band. Give it a try!
Until next time (where we'll probably have one more watch-related discussion),
Cheers!
Paul

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Groovy New-Old Vintage Watch, Part II

PROJECT UPGRADE: It was my decision, amidst a cluster of 100 degree days, that such a hot time of the year with humidity thick enough to both cut through and choke on, that my groovy new-old vintage Zodiac Spacetronic needed a Summer facelift. In the spirit of the "trad" movement, and with a desire to wear something "lighter", I applied the ribbon band that you see here.


This simple nylon band adds a colorful aesthetic to one's overall ensemble, fits like a second skin around the wrist, and breathes, keeping the wrist cooler than a thicker, more insulating leather strap. Cool huh?

Various colors and patterns are available, but I'd say keep it simple. For a brief time last year, DayGlo colors were popular, a throwback from the 1980's... yeah... remember when Pizza Hut carried the "Back II The Future" sunglasses? That's what I'm referring to. I find the DayGlo movement to be nothing more than a passing trend, just as it was a fad when it first started. Stick to classic colors and avoid lime green, electric yellow, and neon pink.

Lifestyle brand J. Crew sells these ribbon watch bands for around $20 a piece. That's a lot for a piece of nylon. Check out this ebay seller; his bands are $4, with a $2.41 charge for shipping. That's more like it!
One can always go with the ribbon-band "old trusty"... the NATO strap as worn by James Bond with his Rolex Submariner in Dr. No (pictured at left). Be prepared to pay more than $4... I think there's an ebay seller who carries these for around $13.50... I'll let you research that one. Just remember... even though James Bond's Submariner had 20mm lugs, he wore an 18mm band... a little tip for those of us concerned with authentcity.
Until next time,
Cheers!
-Paul

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Groovy New-Old Vintage Watch, Part I

Hello all. I've spoken before regarding the immense "cool" factor of a nice vintage watch. If you can find one in good condition, without yellowing on the dial and corrosion on the hands, a vintage watch can provide the look of a one-of-a-kind piece that will catch the attention of people you meet day to day.

My newest acquisition definitely fits the proverbial bill. In the 1950's, watchmaker Hamilton started making electronic watches, the most famous of which being the "Ventura" (photo 1). After its futuristic design and initial service problems served to bankrupt the brand, Hamilton was bought out by the Swiss company SSH in 1974 and the Hamilton Ventura design became a brand mainstay that is still produced today, now under the model name "505", which was the name of the original electronic movement. The watch was featured on the wrist of Elvis Presley in "Blue Hawaii", and more recently, the wrists of Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones in the "Men In Black" films. There are now different movements available in the 505. Most are quartz, and some are automatic.

Electronic watches were the first battery-powered watches, and though the movement still functions very much like a mechanical movement, a battery powers tiny transistors in the watch which regulate the time. The battery replaced the mainspring used in mechanical watches. The electronic watches were considered to be more accurate than mechanical watches had been.

Now, on to my watch! In the 1960's, Swiss brand Zodiac began making electronic watches to compete with those being offered by Hamilton and Bulova's Accutron. The Zodiac electronics boasted more reliable movements than their forebearers, and were able to be made thinner as well. My find is one of these Zodiac models, dubbed the "Spacetronic" (photos 2 & 3). Though originally made in 1968, this one has been very recently serviced and works flawlessly. A picture of the movement (photo 4) is shown as well. Notice that on the dial of the watch, there is no yellowing around the hour markers, which is often seen on older watches as the glue breaks down, and no corrosion on the hands. These are features one should look for when selecting a vintage watch.
A cool thing about the electronic watches is that like on mechanical watches, the second hand still sweeps around the dial, rather than ticking. Very cool. Get on the look out for a cool vintage watch. Ebay is a great source, but some small jewelry stores often have diamonds hidden in the rough.

Until next time,
Cheers!
-Paul

*P.S. As always, please click on photos to enlarge!*