KMII
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The WS for the 17th of August - ‘The Dark Ages’ - is live
As announced on Wednesday the theme for this week’s WS will be Dark Ages, aka the 1980 to 2000 time period. Any model that was in production then, irrespective of whether your specimen is from a bit before or after, is welcome 
So whether it’s a Golden Era of Quartz piece or one of the ‘Mechanical Empire Strikes Back’ ones, let’s see it
Here’s mine:
Next the 2000 Breitling Aerospace. An ana-digi, the last pre-Superquartz generation. The model has gone from the 1980s all the way till today...
Finally, in terms of resurgence - my Seiko SCVL002 aka 6810-8000 from 1992. Part of Seiko’s return to mechanical watchmaking, with a 1.98mm thin Cal. 6810A shaped movement in a 33mm round case.
Looking forward to your entries and wishing you all a great weekend!
The WS for the 17th of August - ‘The Dark Ages’ - is live
As announced on Wednesday the theme for this week’s WS will be Dark Ages, aka the 1980 to 2000 time period. Any model that was in production then, irrespective of whether your specimen is from a bit before or after, is welcome So whether it’s a Golden Era...
a dark period indeed
here is a golden Pasha from that era Nice enough dial and hands but the case is challenging by today's standards. Is Cartier still producing the Pasha model? The one with the diver grille was fun too! ...
Not sure about today...
But the Genta generation Pasha was quite a fun piece. And a great one you have Vinnie!
Great theme...
... although the later years of the time span may also be the beginning of what I call the Golden Age, since between 1995 and possibly 2005 a huge number of exciting timepieces were (re-) created. So let me focus on some of those but keep the Dark Ages co...
These are some fantastic entries, Henrik!
And as you said, a Golden Age sprung out of it - was hoping for some Type XX and Blancpain exhibits to demonstrate this And counting on you to show them Thanks!
An excellent selection from your collection, KM! The Seiko is superb!
Here is my Lange 1, one of the very first luxury German watches manufactured after re-unification-and from a brand that promised never to make a quartz watch. ...
These are some fantastic shots, Padj!
And I guess they managed to keep the promise? Another example of the period producing the brightest of resurgence, too!
Nothing in my collection, either present or past, from the Dark Ages except . . .
. . . an '85 Rolex Air King . . . . . . exactly like this one, with Bahrain Petroleum Company (BAPCO) marking. Sold off to fund my first GO; an error of the first order. Now, if we can stretch the definition of Dark Ages watches to include designs that we...
I remember the Bapco Air King...
Art and the story around it. As for your second entry - fabulous! The period included the rebirth and renaissance of Saxonian watchmaking, which makes it a glorious time indeed
I personally love that period!!
This is my 1998 Omega Jumping Hours, made only for one year!! ...
Very nice entry, Cirotti!
Many brands tended to be a bit more open to experimentation back then I really love your Omega - I guess they haven’t produced a jumping hour one for a while now?
It used to be much more popular back in the day...
I still like it and would love to see it return more broadly
Omega has produced such a variety of case designs
This one is rare to come across: very nice Were there other dial colours? Black maybe?
Well,
that period wasn’t too bad at all! My Ultra Thin, typical specimen from that era: The undisputed Queen, the classical Lange 1, birth of an Icon: And another Jlc, here is the also iconic Reverso, the romantic Sun & Moon: The Minerva Anniversary dial, o...
What a selection, Adam!
Fully agree with you that there were plenty of spectacular pieces in the era - and you have a fantastic cross section that you’ve shown here! The new JLC, the Lange 1, the Reverso, the Minerva... fabulous!
I'll call mine "The Blue Ages"
One of the watches doesn't qualify for the 1980-2000 period, but the two others surely do. ...
The Dark Age...I think
you have stretched the time period too far, KMII. Starting latest in the mid 90s, watch designs have gone back to classic designs that still today look fresh and brands revived mechanical movements and developed in-house calibers. When I see Lange 1 being...
I was counting on some interesting entries from you, CC :)
And haven’t been disappointed That quartz chronometer is quite funky - the millimetre paper dial is really cool. And the 7000 series chrono I like more and more the more you show it
I was hoping to see your Pythagore, Livius :)
Your pictures have persuaded me to get one of my own after all Fantastic as always!
A fine example for the Dark Ages coming to an end
Cartier reentering the fine watchmaking realm back in 1999/2000 by reanimating the Tortue and by putting the THA monopusher chronograph into it. ...
One of my favourite CPCPs!
The Tortue Monopussoir is simply fantastic - thanks for sharing it!
These are really great!
Blancpain really made fantastic watches during that time. And you seem to have a fantastic collection Thanks for sharing it!
1997...the transition year...the Pre-A models
due to growing money problems, Panerai decided to "chuck it all in". As a consequence, the watch division is sold to the Vendome "swan song" is danced by some models that hadn't had a chance to be produced by...them Italians. While taking inventory and p...
Thanks a lot for adding these, Sergio!
And thank you for reposting them here Really nice to see the ‘early’ PAMs! Have a great weekend
Even if the first one was before....
What you have called the Dark Ages, it for sure helped to bring them into the business… GP were pioneers in the Quartz business! A classic that survived the Dark Ages... Reverso GT: A classic that survive, like coffee...! Best Blomman ...
Two fantastic pieces, Blomman!
Love the dial of your GP - so refreshing for the times and still cool today. As for the Reverso, a timeless classic
So looking back things weren’t really that bad!
Great theme this week. And despite my low level of participation I have much appreciation for the weekly wristscan. So now to the watches: Towards the end of the dark years VC had this baby, 36mm Platinum Jump Hours. Not my watch unfortunately, I still th...
Glad you like the theme :)
And given the watches you have from the period I can well understand Some fantastic pieces!
Yes, a great theme.
I had to think a little to see what would fall within the correct timeframe.
And what a collection you presented :)
I figured the theme might result in some different watches than we usually see
Great Theme for this week end dear friend KM!! You show some beautiful examples of that era...
... in which quartz technology brought havoc in the Swiss Industry. In 1983 I visited Geneve for business matters together with my father in law. We stayed a few days there and every afternoon after returning from the offices to reach our hotel we passed ...
Thanks for this spectacular entry, Abel!
Wasn’t aware of your Oysterquartz collection and the story behind is fantastic Just one question - the Ref 1630. I have read quite a bit on the Ref 1530, with the case later used for the Oysterquartz and a mechanical Cal. 1575 movement but never heard of ...
Thanks a lot dear KM for your kind comments! Glad you found...
... this post interesting. Model 1530 was called oyster Perpetual Date and was all steel Model 1630 called oyster Perpetual Datejust and was steel with gold bezel and a line of three links gold on center of bracelet. Shape of case and bracelet were simila...
Thanks for another interesting read, Abel :)
It is a Rolex reference I find quite interesting so any additional information is very welcome Have a great weekend!
My big pleasure dear KM! I'm no expert in this model but it is a pleasure to share my pieces and the information...
... I have gathered about them. I feel this is a very interesting aspect of Rolex colection little explored. And the watches are real beauties though they are not the usual shape we expect from Rolex, and very reliable and high quality as usual with this ...
Fully agreed - definitely an interesting aspect of their history...
And as you said, done with their usual dedication to quality. Definitely want to look into it deeper - love the Genta-esque case shape of these
Fantastic 17000!
You have done so well on this one. True icon from the 80's. Makes you want to listen to some Duran Duran.
I've seen so much about the Oysterquartz recently, is many different places.
It's amazing this is the watch you chose to highlight; and so grandly. Great post and information, Abel.
Thanks a lot my dear Padj! Glad you liked this post! The Oyster Quartz was the first watch which came to my mind when our friend KM announced ...
... This week end theme. I felt it is very representative of the answer of big Watch Companies like Rolex to the big challenge brought to the industry by the quartz technology. And a model by Rolex which doesn' t call the attention it deserves from collec...
What I am really surprised about...
Are the low production numbers for the model - would have expected many more to be made
More and more attention is being raised about it lately...
And for good reason IMHO 👍🏻
Is Heat always associated with Light?
At first, I thought that I had no watches from the Dark Age as I lost the 1970 Seiko Automatic Chronograph during a house move and the 1984 Citizen quartz watches were not "kept for the next generation". Perseverance was rewarded because searching through...
Perhaps the most illuminating illustration of the horological Dark Ages . . .
. . . K alluded to, Melvyn. It would be difficult to come up with five more disparate watches emblematic of the period, yet all have made their way to your collection! Amazed, Art
MTF is full of surprises, Art :)
If the theme is set in a certain way, you are likely to experience that
Who knew there was a trail from the Dark Ages?
Obviously, we all suffer from a form of hoarding. 🙄 That's why we're here... Regards, MTF
You’re fully right there :)
And miraculously the hoard keeps getting bigger if one doesn’t fight it But it’s a nice kind of hoarding...
You never fail to surprise, MTF!
The Chopard I expected, the rest were definite surprises! The Tissot Woody I wore myself for some time - will need to check st my parents place if it’s still there But you seem to have a different strap from the one I remember... And the Poljot I really d...
It's a Joint Collection
The two from 1988 were for the current Mrs MTF as she loves collecting wooden objet d' Arte and unique shapes. But she let me wear them at least twice! Unfortunately, her sister's former Weimaraner used its teeth on both watches. That's why I didn't take ...
Just happen to be wearing this today...
I believe the first generation Millenary came out in '96 but I really don't remember. This one's from 2000. Emil ...
A very interesting piece!
And a rare non-RO / ROO we get to see here. I really like the playfulness of the reference, even if it has perhaps not turned into the success AP was hoping for. Makes it all the more interesting now
UN from 1996, one of their 150th Anniversary models.
I’d say UN was clearly emerging from the dark ages, with Rolf firmly steering! HAGWE All, Cheers, Tim ...
A truly fantastic piece, Tim!
And must have been quite large for the time, too? Love the enamel dial and it’s definitely a testament to the brand being on a sound course
Then it somehow looks a lot larger than it is :)
Or just goes to show that 38mm is a perfectly adequate size Thanks for the detail!
The only two i have from that 'dark period'
...from the 80s small in size but still a classic--automatic version although i was then tempted by the quartz which was so much in vogue then the 90s my one of two rolexes HAGWE henry ...
Thanks for adding these two, Henry!
Both interesting specimen without a doubt. I also find it surprising that the Cartier did not decide to put Automatic on the dial - must not have been seen as the feature to be advertised as much as it became in the 1990s and beyond
A dark watch for the Dark Ages
I have already posted a picture of the 3 blue Tudor's, but reflecting upon my collection, it really has to be this one. One of the best thing to ever come out of the 90's, and significant historically as being one of the first models, together with the Da...
All I can say is wow!
A fantastic looking IWC and one I didn’t know about at all First IWC ceramic or first full stop?
I think the Da Vinci ceramic might have been produced first
But it would have been a question of months, perhaps a year, before they produced the 3705 ceramic Fliegerchronograph.
From that era, it is only Rolex for me, in my collection, at least.
Explorer II 16550: Seadweller 16660. ...
‘Only’ doesn’t do the watches justice, Nico :)
Two fantastic pieces and the shots to match! It has certainly not been all darkness during those two decades, as your watches, along with very many others here aptly demonstrate
Hmmhh.. Not that easy this time.. No Dark Ages knight, neither a Quarz at hand.. So let me see, what to chip-in..
.. Decided to at least go from around the start of these times. Summer & 16750 from start of dark ages, but already a shining knight: WG circled indices & Date quick set 16750 & Freedom from Keith Hering Speedy Moon ST 345.0809, 1984 - already a Class...
Two fantastic references, HS111!
And definitely on the shining armour side, both They weren’t lost decades after all! Have a great weekend
Unfortunately the vacation is coming to an end...
First business trip Monday. But it’s been nice while it lasted Thanks HS111! Btw. are you back home?
My watch from the dark periode is ,,my ,, (Gave him to my daughter a few years ago)
Cartier 21 . I bought this watch in ‘89 and it was my second watch from a big brand back then . At that time i was very proud to wear it . I bought a lot of different strap colors so i could change it as much as i can . ...
Now actually...
I feel it looks cool again - has that certain Cartier style and I think one could pull it off again Great entry, thanks a lot, Watchonthewrist!
Thanks - it's not doing bad for 18 years old
Though that's only the beginning, as it's a keeper!
Aahh.. A real Reverso Classic with 2 lovely dials !.. Also had this Duo Face for around 24 yrs.. :))
.. Last year it went for the recent Reverso Tribute Duo in blue.. Continue to enjoy it in the Best of your health ! Best, hs
The “it” watch of the 80's...
Was the Ebel Sport Classic Chronograph, Zenith-powered, the watch that persuaded Zenith to restart production of the El Primero. Ebel was one of the five most important watch companies in Switzerland in the 80’s. They made all the watches for Cartier, inc...
I was hoping for one of these, Rick!
They certainly are defining for the period and without Ebel many thing might have turned out differently. Thanks for the great shot and the story around it - much obliged!
Group picture
Here is a group picture of my watches from the 80’s and 90’s: Longines Conquest 1995, Rolex GMT Master 16700 from 1989 and Breguet 3820 from end of the 90’s. The Longines Conquest was the first “real” watch I bought and I still remember that it was around...
Here are pictures of the conquest
Something went wrong with the mobile upload...here are the pictures: The Longines Conquest was the first “real” watch I bought and I still remember that it was around 1500 Swiss Francs at the time, which seems quite expensive in retrospect, considering it...
I have no desire to own a quartz watch.
But it is very cool to see some of the ones posted this weekend. Your Conquest is certainly a great representative of the full-on quartz age.
You know you want to, Padj...
A quartz with a pterodactyl strap? You absolutely must On a more serious note, several of the brands you like used to make quartz watches, some even quite special ones, such as the GP Laureato 40th Anniversary... Only very few of them produced, with what ...
A quartz with a Yeti strap still wouldn't make it to my "buy" list.
But I like looking at them in WSs like this.
A fantastic and truly diverse trio, Stefan!
There was a time as you say, when quartz commanded a premium. Your profile shot I find particularly interesting - namely the thinness of the Conquest in comparison to the other two. I think the return of mechanical watches has definitely damaged the ultra...
Looking at the bi colour Longines, I can’t believe that this was my choice at the time
Why didn’t I buy a Rolex Airking instead? But then we all change....and so does the style Stefan
Things and tastes certainly change...
But if you enjoyed it at the time that’s the most important
Fantastic one, Ian...
And thanks for joining in Rolex was a stalwart throughout the period! Have a nice Sunday
Oldies
A Lord Elgin from the sixties still running and the case has never been opened and a Seiko from the 80’s that needs a battery.. ...
