The Hans Wilsdorf Collection

[SPACE-DWELLER]

Instead of posting a LOT of fotos, take a look at this!!

Now you talk watches.

The collection is in possession of Rolex Watch Company Ltd.

Collected by Mr. Hans Wilsdorf, Alfred Chapuis and Louis Cottier.

Value?? PRICELESS!

Sit back and enjoy!

http://www.watchlounge.com/wbb2/wl/t...did=10518&sid=

[Welshwatchman]

Not my cuppa tea.

I bet they are worth millions to certain collectors though.

I'd bet that Rolex have a large stash of NOS wristwatches dating back to 50+ years old.

Now those babies would be a sight to see.

[JJ Irani]

WOW! Thanks for that great link, Bo. Pity the comments are all in German.

But that whole lot would be worth like a gazillion bucks!!

[C.J.]

Very nice I've always dug pocket watches.

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by C.J.

Very nice I've always dug pocket watches.

Wonder 'cause you have to "dig" deep into your pockets to fish them out!!!

[Prince]

Ahhhh! Historic BLING!!!

[Alcan]

WOW!!!

Some of those pearl watches are incredible!

[Tombstone]

I am so glad I do not have to hand turn any watch movements what a pain in the a - - ! Grandfather clocks are bad enough I could not dream of hand turning a movement on a wrist watch. Beautiful collection true works of art made by true craftsmen.

[padi56]

Some very very nice pocket watches there from the bygone days hand crafted and hand made.And those enamelled cases and paintings are superb.But all those watches I suspect were made mostly before old Hans was even born in 1881.And certainly before he founded the RWC in 1905

[Alcan]

Originally Posted by Tombstone

I am so glad I do not have to hand turn any watch movements what a pain in the a - - !

You mean like this one? Chain fusee, circa 1865, two different size keys, rear one for winding and front one for setting the time. My only concern with it is the time set key slipping and gouging that 18k dial. I don't run it very often.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Tombstone

I am so glad I do not have to hand turn any watch movements what a pain in the a - - ! Grandfather clocks are bad enough I could not dream of hand turning a movement on a wrist watch. Beautiful collection true works of art made by true craftsmen.

Well for me, the dividing line is really between hand-wound on the one side, and automatic and the heretic quartz on the other.

A hand wound movement "lives" because you actively want it to run . You sort of breathe life into it, and you have to do it on purpose. I think that's an entirely different attitude toward a watch than merely picking it up and find it working. And knowing that it will continue to do so without additional intervention by yourself.And IMHO makes you just part of the soul of the watch,and I just like having to wind it each day,to keep its heart beating.

When I pick up one of my hand-winds and wind it, the whole process, the act of winding, just seems to have a sense of history and tradition to it. This makes hand-winds special to me. I can imagine my grandfather, and his father, and his father's father performing the same daily ritual with watches and the clocks .It's a connection to the past horology speaking,and again IMO just love those first pioneers in this watch world and a hero of mine
John Harrison.

Now a automatic movement runs just because of gravity and the fact that you are not dead and still, and are moving alive and kicking to speak.Or as long as the electric winder doesn't stop or burn out. In that sense now especially on a winder, I find automatic movements sometimes as soul -less as quartz, when compared to a true hand-wound movement. One might argue that an automatic movement on a winder is not so much alive as permanently undergoing gentle resuscitation.I for one deplore the demise of the hand wound movements. I like flat thin type watches, and hand wound movements are inherently flatter thinner than automatics and easier to work on and should last longer. But most watch cases today are built to accommodate the higher thicker automatic movements,so please don't dismiss the hand winds.

[mikey]

I like the collection very much. It reminds me of the quality of the Faberge' eggs.

[SPACE-DWELLER]

Originally Posted by padi56

Some very very nice pocket watches there from the bygone days hand crafted and hand made.And those enamelled cases and paintings are superb.But all those watches I suspect were made mostly before old Hans was even born in 1881.And certainly before he founded the RWC in 1905

Certainly, Hans Wilsdorf was born a long time after those watches were made. I guess he had money enough to just buy anything that came up on auction.

[mikey]

Padi, what other watches do you have besides the Alpha Newmans?

[pcarson]

Originally Posted by Spacedweller

Certainly, Hans Wilsdorf was born a long time after those watches were made. I guess he had money enough to just buy anything that came up on auction.

That's for sure, on both counts. Hans' motto seems to have been "If it ain't baroque, then don't fix it."

[Prince]

Originally Posted by pcarson

...Hans' motto seems to have been "If it ain't baroque, then don't fix it."

LMAO - good one, Peter!!!

[pcarson]

Originally Posted by Prince

LMAO - good one, Peter!!!

Well, you know me Allan. If I haven't anything worthwhile to say, it won't ever stop me from posting a lame gag.

[Prince]

Originally Posted by pcarson

Well, you know me Allan. If I haven't anything worthwhile to say, it won't ever stop me from posting a lame gag.

I'm totally with you on that, Peter. So is JJ...