3-Watch Thursday #9
JLC clocks, MB&F, more custom watches and a personal note.
Hey team,
Welcome to 3-Watch Thursday #9. One away from double digits now!!
Cue celebratory music!
In this week’s edition, we’ve got JLC clocks, a book review and more custom watches?!?!
Without further or do, let’s dive straight into it.
The Curious Case of the Jaeger-LeCoultre Lamp Post Clock
Some of you may remember wayyyyy back in 3-Watch Thursday #3 I mentioned an interest in clocks. I mentioned them again in #4 and #5.
It’s been a while since I’ve mentioned clocks, but this newsletter is a place for all things horology.
Watches
Clocks
Hourglasses
You name it, I’m more than happy to cover it.
That’s why I’m excited to share this article written by Troy McHenry published by friend of the newsletter Strictly Vintage Watches.
I first came across these JLC Lamp Post clocks a couple of years ago whilst working my summer in a local watch and clock repair shop. They immediately interested me both in their value and history.
That’s why it delights me to share this article that will become the reference piece on these clocks for years to come.
Reading the article and the acknowledgements, it is apparent the sheer amount of time that has gone into crafting this deep dive.
And it wouldn’t be a Strictly Vintage Watches article without beautiful images and copies of adverts accompanying it.
Congrats to both Troy and Charlie.
You can read it for yourself here!1
Book Review: MB&F – The First Fifteen Years
Switching things up a bit now, to a book review.
On the list of things I didn’t expect to see a watch publication writing, a book review is up there.
Admittedly it’s not that rouge when the book is about MB&F, but it struck me as odd and as such, I have to share it.
In case you haven’t noticed before, I’m a firm believer that there’s only a handful of watch blogs and publications that publish actual journalism. It’s not meant as a criticism of other publications, more that there are only a few places where we can read new and interesting things regularly.
SJX is one of these places where you can read things not published elsewhere, and I’m yet to see anywhere else that has written about this new MB&F book2.
Briefly on the book. It’s half a catalogue and half about the friends in MB&F.
It’s worth giving the review by SJX a look, you’ll get to see pages and extracts along with some name-dropping of the biggest names in watches.
Here’s to the next 15 years of MB&F.
You can find it here.
The New Certina DS+ Collection Of Customizable Watches
Last week I gave some thoughts about customisation in watches.
This week I read about Certina introducing a new range of customisable watches.
Admittedly this is in the “lower end“ of the watch market in terms of cost than what was being referenced last week.
Maybe this is the Swatch Group dabbling in customisation at the lower end of their offerings before rolling it out in higher price brackets?
Maybe it’s a direct response to the likes of Undone, DIY Watch Club and the Seiko 5KX range, all of which fall into the same price bracket as Certina’s offerings?
Whichever it is. It’s interesting nonetheless.
You can read about it here.
Bonus: A Personal Note
This is personal so feel free to skip it.
I have no idea why I feel the need to ask this here, but for those of you who get this far, you’re by far my most loyal readers.
Recently I’ve been getting back into watch photography and have some exciting things to share in the not-too-distant future.
One thing that’s held me back is limited access to watches.
Every watch presents a new challenge, but with only a handful of watches to shoot regularly my photos become very similar and creative ruts are often.
To those who have lent watches in the past, I’m incredibly grateful and you’ve helped me to grow my account to what it is today.
So my question is simple.
If you’re ever in or around Oxford, UK drop me a dm and I’m keen to meet for coffee. I love chatting to other watch people, and if you’re happy to I’d love to shoot your watches.
Thanks a lot.
Owen
:))
I really recommend you give it a read when you get the chance.
Please correct me if I’m wrong here.