Archive for May, 2011

So what does that conjure up for you ? Italian craftsmanship is known throughout the world and I’m not just talkin’ Sistine Chapel craftsmanship either. Italian history has a long list of all types of artisans from architects to artists. But not to dismiss history, Italy also is know for the quality of products even today and one of the specialties that is know worldwide is Italian leather goods. So what does this have to do with watches you may ask ? Can you imagine the combination of fine Italian leather craftsmanship and Swiss engineering ? THAT would make a GREAT product !!!!! Now that may sound like wishful thinking but it is really reality. Just take a look at Underwood Watch Winders and you will see the melding of these fantastic ingredients. So for that deserving Dad or Grad, consider the ultimate gift in a Underwood Watch Winder.

One feature that I really like on automatic watches is an exposed movement where you can see the real timekeeping taking place.  This may sound a little childish but it is mesmerizing to me to watch the “action” and know that all the parts are working in unison to create the proper time on the face of the watch.  Maybe I am easily humored but it seems to me that the fact that all the parts in a watch work at all is close to a miracle.  One of the aesthetic features of some watches are blued screws in the movement.  While these blued screws do not serve any technical enhancement, they can be attractive.  And NO, someone does not sit with a blue felt tip pen and dab the heads of the screws  LOL.  Actually, the process is complicated and does add to expense of your desired watch.  Now I know some of you are saying “I did get screwed by my watch with blued screws because it never works right and the manufacturer screwed me blue on the repair.”  If that’s the case, check this out.

I am not renowned for my sartorial splendor LOL but I thought this article by Jessica Michault was interesting. It seems that one of the upcoming trends for men this season is “Pajama Stripes”. The best way to describe this is a wide “flopsy mopsy” style stripe. Of course if you look at these pictures it will all make sense. Personally, I am a big fan of stripes … they are the men’s equivalent of women’s high heels. “Huh ?” you are probably thinking with your nose are screwed up. Really, men’s stripes and women’s high heels are like and instant 5 to 10 pound diet (of course only if you need one LOL) by creating a more streamlined look to your body. But I digress … so for fashion and style info of all kinds, don’t be afraid to peruse Jessica’s website. And if you are looking for style accessories for any outfit or occasion, click here.

It has been some time since an entry was made in “History of Time …” so let’s start where we left off last with the advent of “unmanned” time.  Before we move forward with the technical developments of time, it is equally interesting to understand the socio-economic forces that were at work during this gestational period of keeping track of time.  It seems like most people imagine that in the late 12^th early 13^th century that there were all these independent artisans slaving away at their benches trying to solve the riddle of keeping track of time.  Well, nothing could be farther from the truth.  The general population really had little use for tracking time other than the obvious sunrise, sunset, and meal times.  It was really “the Church” that had an interest in the precision operating day.  During the Middle Ages, monasteries were instrumental in time automation.  Monks and nuns spent countless hours praying for the salvation of the general population (that’s you and me LOL) and therefore measuring time took on an importance that led to more precise time keeping … most notably the need to have “manned” time whereby someone had to turn an hour glass or watch a candle burn became history.  You just never know where time may lead you … it is not always what it seems !!!