Montrek Watches

We have been so busy with BARNEYS & Bloomingdales and the rest of our outstanding group of Retailers that we have been remiss in not continuing the saga of “The History of Time”.  And while time marches on, both literally and figuratively, man’s quest to keep track of it more accurately continues to grow.  Our last entry discussed the Clepsydra and how it operated with water.  While this was a vast improvement over other methods of measuring time, it became obvious early on that water was messy to deal with in so many ways.  It freezes in the winter and evaporates in the summer.  Additionally, any surface in constant contact with the same water that is being circulated will develop algae.  If you don’t believe me, come on over and look at the small man made pond with circulating water in my back yard … I’m going to go clean it right after this blog post . But enough of my problems, as you can imagine, all of these “water” problems just create inaccuracies in time and as humans, we just won’t stand for that.  So we need something dry that can be circulated.  EUREKA !!!  Sand … and thus the invention of the hourglass.  In hindsight the hourglass seems like such a simple idea but really didn’t come into practical use until the early 1300’s … several hundred years after the development of the water fed Clepsydra.  The construction of the glass itself was a technological achievement and in combination with finding a material that was coarse enough to flow in homogenous units created, well … timing issues.  And today, while we view sand as the contents du jour of hourglasses, early version worked with not only sand but crushed eggshells or pulverized marble.  If you would like more information oh hourglasses, check out this article:Hourglasses.

If you’re like most soon-to-be-married men, your soon-to-be-married brain is likely swimming with a complicated mix of thoughts. One moment everything is, “I can’t believe the coolest woman I know is going to be my wife,” and the next, “I’m going to have to use a hamper every day for the rest of my life. Sometimes I want to leave my clothes on the floor. Am I really ready to give that up?” The fact is, you are ready. Ready to use a hamper, ready to open a refrigerator every morning that contains more than beer and condiments, ready to give up the bachelor life and be a good husband, even if that means scented candles will become a part of your every day. That doesn’t mean that you are ready for the actual wedding, however! But someone who is likely helping you on that path to ready is your Best Man.

Whether your Best Man is your brother, your closest childhood friend, or your college roommate, chances are they are a huge part of some of your best memories. Naturally, you’ll want them to be standing by your side as your bride-to-be walks slowly down the aisle with life on the married side just moments away. But there’s a lot of preparing to get you to the point where you’re nervously shuffling your feet at the altar. Everything from choosing tuxedos to choosing the alcohol you’ll have at the reception takes time and patience, and your best man is there to help make your decisions easier and your sailing smoother.

So how to thank him? In the past you may have shown gratitude by letting him have one of your chicken nuggets or letting him use the PlayStation controller that works better than the other one. And while those gestures will likely never lose their appeal, for something as important as being your Best Man in your wedding, you have to up the ante a smidge. And no, we don’t mean you should give him two of your chicken nuggets! We’re thinking something more along the lines of a Môntrèk Diver Watch. A gift that is sure to surprise him in its luxury and thoughtfulness…a gift he’s certain to appreciate every day he slips it on his wrist…a gift that lets him know that no matter what happens or where your lives take you, you’ll always make time for your best friend.

Thinking a Môntrèk Diver Watch would look just as nice on the golf course, basketball court, or hiking trail as it does in the deep blue sea? You aren’t alone. We have packed enough fashion and features into our men’s watch collection to ensure there’s an appealing style for everyone, whatever their favorite pastime. And we were pleased to find our commitment to a wide appeal did not go unnoticed when our watches hit a chord with the Cannondale Bicycling Team, of which we are an excited sponsor! Some of the strongest, most talented athletes of our time, the Cannondale team is reaching new heights with determination and dedication in their hearts and minds, and Môntrèk Watcheson their wrists!

In the photo above you’ll see Travis Livermon, who is currently traveling with the US National Team. This shot was taken while Livermon warmed up in Europe for a World Cup Event. We can’t help but notice how awesomely his Môntrèk Diver Watch complements his uniform! Surely, he takes First Place for style.

Escapement

You hear it all the time on clocks or watches.  In fact it has so become a part of keeping time, you don’t even hear it anymore.  But just because you don’t hear it does not mean it is not there and if you stop for a moment, did you consider where that ubiquitous sound comes from ?  Well, let’s have a look or a listen as the case may be.  What you are hearing is the escapement doing its job of regulating the system that would otherwise unwind out of control.  In a simplified way, Tick Tock is the action of the escapement clutching and unclutching the teeth of a gear or letting the gear “escape” for a moment.  For a more detailed description click and the following link: Escapement.  If you would like to see a simple example of how this works, click on the picture.  Don’t delay … Tick Tock Tick Tock

Today it can be easy to be blasé about technology.  Everything is evolving at such a fast rate that before we turn around to appreciate it … it’s gone.  So let’s talk about an invention from the mid-1800’s that is on your watch right now … the Crown.  You know, that little “whozie” on the side that you use to set the time, change the date (if you have that feature), and even wind your watch.  Well it wasn’t always so easy.  At one time you actually needed a key to wind your watch … remember the one that was hanging from your grandfather’s pocket watch chain ?  It wasn’t just decoration.  Or maybe you have a couple family heirloom watches and the keys have been lost, then you really understand.  Of course, not to fret … your watch will still show the correct time twice a day (sorry, I could not resist).  The basic function of the crown is unchanged over the past 200 years and when you start turning it for any function, what goes on inside could be best described as a miracle.  If you want a detailed description check out page 33 of Lucien F. Trueb’s “The World of Watches” or if you want to just discuss all the technicalities with like minded watch enthusiasts go to the forums at WatchUSeek.  Till next time … Happy Winding !!!!!

My watch keeps running how ?  Yes it is a complicated feat to say the least and while every part of watch is critical to keeping accurate time, it would be difficult at best without the thin piece of metal that is the power source in mechanical watches.  That thin strip of metal that keeps curling and unwinding for what seems to be forever is actually and engineering wonder.  Imagine trying to design a strip of metal thin enough but yet elastic enough (not the best quality of any metal) to make sure your timepiece functions accurately all the time.  While it defies imagination in both its simplicity and complexity … there it is, taken for granted right on your wrist.  If you would like more information on the history, structure, and design of mainsprings, click on the following link:Mainsprings.

As we mentioned before, the sundial was a great invention except for the problem of telling what time it is on cloudy days, at night time, or indoors.  If the word “Clepsydra” does not resonate for you, maybe you know it better as a “water clock”.  In its simplest form a “water clock” could be just a pot with a hole for a constant drip.  With a know volume of water placed in the pot, a unit of time was created that was used for activities as far flung as timing lawyers in courtrooms so they didn’t speak too long, doctors measuring a patient’s pulse, to those enterprising folks in the “oldest profession” timing customers stays (if that one gets by you, drop us note and we will give a further explanation).  But as with all instruments of time, the basic design has flaws and man’s creativity comes to the fore.  Ensuring a constant water flow for more accuracy created constant tinkering with designs.  Over the years a variety of ancient water clocks with complications to rival any of today’s timepieces have been developed by many ancient civilizations including those of Egypt, Babylon, India, China, Greco-Roman, and Islamic-Arabic. For more info on water clocks, click on this link:  Clepsydras

The major component of a mechanical movement is the mainspring, a special gradually unwinding spring responsible for transmission of energy.  The oscillator of a  mechanical movement is the balance wheel, a small wheel moving very quickly.  In most watches produced at present day the balance wheel oscillates 28, 800 times per hour.  One more important component of the mechanical movement is the balance spring, also called the hairspring, a tiny delicate spring necessary for controlling oscillations of the balance wheel.  Mechanical movements are divided into two major groups – automatic, also called self-winding, and manual-wind, also known as hand-wound or wind-up.  More on that next time or click this link: Watches Infoniac.com.

How do you drag yourself out of bed in the morning ? Please don’t tell me that you are one of those “perky” people who wakes up without an alarm at 6AM all bouncy and peppy. Well, for the rest of us it just “ain’t” that easy. Do you hit the snooze button a few times or do you do what I do … I put the alarm clock on the other side of the room so I have to get out of bed to turn it off. But believe me, there have been days when I just let it ring without moving a muscle for what seems to be eternity until it goes off by itself. So how did everyone get up before we had all these conveniences ? They used everything from bladder control to the “knocker upper” … that is really what a person was called, the “knocker upper” and please refrain from the obvious comments on that name. So if you would like to find out more, click on the following link: 7 Ways People Woke Up, Pre-Alarm Clock

Like most industries, the watch industry has a language all to itself and in some case within the industry you are judged by your knowledge as those “in the know” toss around tems to see how befuddled you may become.  We are here to help you out.  Starting next week we will begin, in addtion to our other on going catagories, a new catagory entitled ” Watch Definitions”.  As we go along we will try and touch on everything from the obvious like chronograph, crystal, and movements to the more complicated like pallets, plates & bridges and more.  Most importantly, if YOU have something that you would like to know, please feel free to ask and we will try to satiate your thirst for knowledge while geeting a leg up on our own.