Dive watches have even gone mainstream, so much that the most popular Omega and Rolex models are both dive watches. For Rolex, it’s the highly popular Submariner, and for Omega, it’s the equally well-liked Seamaster. In fact, dive watches are so common nowadays that people seem to forget their real purpose – which is to function as a diving instrument.

So what are the basic characteristics that define a dive watch? First among the list is obviously water resistance. A dive watch should be resistant up to a depth of at least 200 meters, although there are some that are capable of going even deeper than that. A good example would be the CX Swiss Military dive watch which can endure depths of up to 6100 meters.

Another important characteristic of a dive watch is that it should have the ability to track the time that has elapsed. Obviously, a diver can only stay underwater for a few minutes, and he should swim back to surface gradually to avoid decompression sickness or even death. This is why a timing device is necessary to ensure a diver’s safety. Dive watches usually have a type of dive bezel that can be used together with the watch’s minute hand in order to accurately time the dive’s entire duration.

Visibility is very important when underwater, especially if it’s dark and murky. This is why dive watches have oversized, massive luminous markers and hands in order to maximize visibility. Some even have orange or yellow dials to make it easier to read underwater.

If you are on a limited budget, the best thing that you can do is to look for a good dive watch for sale in your local sporting goods store or even online. In order to make sure that the model you want to buy is great, you can check out several dive watch reviews, especially those from actual users because this can help in your decision making process. However, make sure you don’t believe absolutely everything you read since some derogatory reviews may be made by the competition.

Posted by Kafaen Clocks and Watches

The Croton watches history has been very rich indeed. It was established as a family-owned business, and was acquired in 1991 by another family-owned business, Nationwide Time, which specialized in manufacturing and selling fine watches for generations. For years, Nationwide Time had been looking for a great brand of watches to which they can put in their energy, passion and years of experience. The Mermelstein family who owned Nationwide Time loved how Croton always put the customer first, so they developed the brand in such a way that the customer is still number one.

They wanted to further enhance Croton’s image by continuing to produce timepieces of the highest quality. They have so much faith in the Croton watches quality that each watch actually comes with a lifetime warranty. This is because Croton has a stellar team of watch experts who ensure that the watches will stand the test of time.

In 2007 alone, Croton was able to sell over a million watches. In order to meet the increasing demand, production of Croton watches were increased to at least 250 new watch styles per year. Croton has over 5000 distribution points worldwide including shopping channels.

Croton watches are marketed in a rather unusual way – each watch does not have its own name. The models are only identified by their model name such as CN207047YLMP. It could possibly be a marketing ploy because it forces people to really remember the brand name and not just the model, which has happened with other well-known watch brands.

In 2008, Croton reached an important milestone when it celebrated its 130th anniversary and renamed itself as Croton Group. Croton Group now has an impressive portfolio of brands which include Manhattan, Nicolet, Andre Girroud, Nina Raye and Paul Dupree in order to target different demographics in the market.

There is a long list of celebrity fans of Croton, which includes Taylor Swift, Josh Groban, Natalie Cole, Miley Cyrus, Blair Underwood and BeBe Winans.

Posted by Kafaen Clocks and Watches

Titanium was first used in manufacturing watches in 1978 by the IWC, or the International Watch Company that was located in Schaffhausen, Switzerland. During that time, IWC was still partly owned by Ferdinand Porsche. IWC incorporated titanium in the watch bracelet to make it more lightweight and sturdy. It was an undeniable success, and IWC continued to use the technology.

Manufacturing a titanium watch was not an easy thing, but IWC was able to do this. They were even able to polish titanium, something which has never been tried before. The first titanium watch was sold for $1300, which was pretty reasonable considering the difficulties in engineering, designing and manufacturing these watches.

Titanium watches are now common today, and nearly all the major watch makers have a Titanium model in their portfolio. The Citizen Watch Company is now the world’s number one manufacturer of titanium watches. They use titanium for their divers watches too since it is 50 percent lighter than the weight of steel and yet is 30 percent stronger. Titanium is also hypoallergenic and resistant to corrosion, making it an ideal material to use for watches.

The only problem is that a titanium watch scratches and stains easily, so you will need to be careful when using it. This is the reason why other watch companies use a multi-layer coating made of glass to make titanium watches scratch-resistant.

Titanium watches are pretty expensive, so if you want to buy one, make sure you do your research first. Pick out the brand and model that you like and read titanium watches reviews online so that you can see how other people liked it. Reading unbiased reviews can give you a better idea of what to expect from your watch. The cheapest titanium watch costs about $250, but more high-end models can fetch thousands of dollars. This is the reason why you need to do your research first, so that you can be sure to buy only the best.

Posted by Kafaen Clocks and Watches

So many people don’t do their research first by checking the price of the same item in different stores, assuming that the price for the same item will always be the same. This is not the case because there is usually a cheaper source, such as stores that sell the watch you want as part of their preferred line. The reason why stores have preferred lines is because they usually get a good price break from the maker, so they can sell them for less than the market price and yet get a bigger profit on these items.

These preferred items make more money for them even if they are selling them more cheaply than their competitors. For example, an Omega watch is usually more expensive in a Rolex themed store than in a store that sells only Omega. This is the reason why you really need to look around first and compare prices before buying big ticket items such as watches.

Of course, you must be sure that the watch you buy is authentic. The problem with expensive merchandise such as gents watches is that there are so many counterfeit products or rip-offs in the market today. Rolex is probably one of the most commonly ripped off brand, so be doubly wary when buying a Rolex. Ask for a certificate of authenticity before buying the watch so that you can know for sure, although there are also fake certificates.

One good way to find the cheapest watch available is to search for gents watches online. The good thing about using the internet is that it’s easier for you to compare prices without having to leave the comfort of your own house. However, make sure that you buy only from reputable sellers to avoid getting a rip off.

Remember, gents watches are a very good investment since their value usually appreciates over time, especially if you know how to take care of them, ensuring that there are minimal scratches or signs of wear and tear.

Posted by Kafaen Clocks and Watches

The Van Cleef & Arpels Tourbillon Vendome Wristwatch
Van Cleef & Arpels launched a wristwatch with pure geometrical lines sometime in 1949, which initially came as a shock to the general public but later became a certified classic. It was round with a very thin case and a special buckle on the strap. Today’s Tourbillion follows the original design but its case is even thinner at a stunning 3.5mm. The complicated looking Tourbillion is studded with small diamonds in the entire watch face, and is now considered to be one of the best wristwatches for men.

The Van Cleef & Arpels Italian Renaissance Garden Wristwatch
Truly, Van Cleef & Arpels is one of the best brands for jewelry watches since they really know how to tastefully incorporate luxury into their watches without seeming too tacky. The Renaissance Garden Wristwatch is inspired by ancient Rome and has a lot of abstract lines in the watch face to commemorate the garden style during the Renaissance. The temple of Venus is actually half-hidden on the face beside the diamond flowers.

The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Watch for Grande Toilette
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak collection is well-known for its elegant simplicity. However, the Grande Toilette is opposite of the adjective of simple, sine the octagon-shaped watch case and even the extension part of the watch strap are all studded with onyx and diamonds. This watch is probably the last word in luxury.

The Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Traditionnelle Jewelry Watch
This diamond watch with its super-thin case and unique hand-winding movement is a surprise to the usually traditional Patrimony Traditionnelle series. It has a luxurious 18K platinum watch case encased with a total of 167 pieces of diamonds. On the dial itself, there is a total of 473 pieces of diamonds.

Posted by Kafaen Clocks and Watches

These watches are really very handy especially if you do activities that require navigation or exploration such as camping and hiking. For such activities, the use of military watches with compass is highly encouraged since they won’t need to bring an additional gadget. There are also military watches that can also double up as a light source, which is a very useful feature especially for night-time activities.

There are now some stores that are offering customized military watches according to our preference, so that you can better choose the exact features that you need in a watch. You can also pick a watch from some of the most well-known watchmakers today such as Casio, Hamilton, Kobold, Sinn and CWC.

If you are looking at several military watches for sale and cannot decide on which to buy, here are some things you must consider.

First of all, pick a watch that has a night vision feature. The watch should be able to glow for hours without light exposure by using H3 tritium technology. You should be able to read comfortably using the light it gives out even if you are in total darkness.

Second, pick a watch that is highly durable, even if it means it is more expensive. Don’t get a cheap watch that uses only flimsy materials. Pick a military watch that uses titanium for the watch strap, body and case. This will ensure that it will last through all your outdoor activities.

Third, pick a watch that is water-resistant, especially if you’re planning to use it outdoors. You never know when it might snow or rain, so make sure your watch can handle bad weather conditions. It doesn’t make sense to buy a watch that would stop working once it gets wet. As much as possible, choose a watch that can withstand depths of up to 300 feet under water.

Fourth, if you want to make sure of that the watch is of a high quality, choose a Swiss watch. Swiss watches are famous for their excellent design and brilliant engineering.

Posted by Kafaen Clocks and Watches

First of all, redialling should be your last option. If there is still a way to repair or replace the dial of your vintage watch, then by all means do so. The problem with redialling is that there are very few companies that can do this process well. Most end up giving you smudgy, dirty looking and badly reproduced script.

Some use non-authentic finishes and colors, giving your vintage watch the appearance of being fake. There are even companies that make the mistake of using substandard paint edges and coatings on the watch, inadvertently decreasing the watch’s fair market value.

Since there are only a few good rediallers, you should make an exhaustive research first before settling on a company to do the redialling for you. Make sure if the quality of their craftsmanship before you give them your valuable vintage watch. Ask them for high resolution pictures showing their previous work, and look for pictures of the authentic dials so that you can check if their work was able to reproduce the original faithfully.

Before turning over the vintage watch, remove the dial first and take many large close-up pictures of the dial, movement and case. This will give your redialler a clear guide of how the finished item should look like. Give explicit instructions as to the work you expect. Ask that the script and even the positioning of the script be replicated exactly and make sure the redialler uses a color that is nearest to the original. This will make vintage watches look more authentic.

If you want the markers or log repolished, make sure you tell your redialler since they won’t do this unless they receive prior instruction. Ask them also to check if there are any damages or dents on the dial.

Compare the finished product to the original pictures. Hopefully, you will be satisfied with the results. If not, discuss with the redialler what can be done to improve the appearance and make the vintage watch look more authentic.

After all these, you can go on eBay or any other online site and post an ad for vintage watches for sale. Mention that you had the watch redialled and include before and after pictures.

Posted by Kafaen Clocks and Watches

If you want to give a child a kids watch, here are some important tips that you should consider to make sure you get the child something that he or she will really like.

First, buy a watch design that would fit the child’s personality. Here are a couple of guide questions that could help you in determining the design that you should choose. Does the child like a particular cartoon character like Spiderman? Or does the child love a TV star like Hannah Montana? Does the child enjoy being the center of attention and thus would like a big, flashy watch, or does the child exhibit shyness and thus would like a more simple, toned-down watch?

Second, buy a watch in the child’s favorite color as much as possible. However, you must remember that a child’s particular preference may change drastically overnight, so don’t be too upset if he suddenly tells you that blue isn’t his favorite color anymore after you went all the way to look for a blue watch.

Third, buy a watch that is appropriate for the age of the child. Do not give a Finding Nemo watch to a child approaching the teenage years because he or she would probably never wear your gift since it is too childish. Do not buy a watch is too difficult to put on if the child is too young. Choose one with Velcro on the watch band instead. In addition, consider the child’s ability to tell time.

Fourth, buy a watch with extra features that you think the child will enjoy. If the child is being trained to wake up in the morning on his or her own, then you should consider getting a kids watch with alarms. This added functionality will ensure that the recipient will really use the watch.

Fifth, as with all gifts, buy a watch that you can actually afford. Some people will go to great lengths and spend more than they should on a gift for a child, only to be disappointed when the gift goes by unappreciated. You don’t have to spend a fortune to buy a good watch, just look for kids watches on sale to make sure you get a good deal.

Posted by Kafaen Clocks and Watches

Before you can start taking watches apart in order to understand the ins and outs of it, they must stock up first with several basic tools such as a good set of screwdrivers. These tiny-headed screwdrivers are needed to be able to loosen screws to open the watch face and the internal mechanism inside the watch. The screwdrivers are an integral part of a basic watch repair kit.

There are so many companies coming out with watch repair kits but if you want to take the hobby of watch repairing seriously, you should invest in a high-quality set. For example, a Bergeron screwdriver set is very expensive but is definitely worth every penny. Professional watchmakers use only this brand because it has been tried and tested for years. You can actually choose the screwdriver you want, although the average cost is around $400.

Although cheaper options are widely available, you should consider that Bergeron screwdrivers were made only to be used for watches. This is the reason why they work so well – they were specially created for just the purpose of watch repair. They are both anti-scratch and anti-skid, which is perfect for use in such delicate items as watches.

Of course, you can try to look for second hand Bergeron sets, but you may have a hard time because rarely does a watchmaker or watch aficionado sell the old set to buy a new one. This is because the quality does not deteriorate over time, although the tools may need to be sharpened every now and then.
Each set of screwdrivers is ergonomically designed so that it would fit snugly in the palm of your hand for easy manipulation. They are even color-coded to make things easier for you. The Bergeron system has a complete selection with different blades for each size inside a tube.

If you want to get serious in doing watch repair, the first thing you need to do is to get serious with your tools. Buy only the best equipment since low-quality tools could potentially damage the watch instead of repairing it.

Posted by Kafaen Clocks and Watches

There are many vintage pocket watches for men that you can choose from if you know where to look. Although somewhat expensive, you can be sure that this is a gift that will stand the test of time.

Choosing a good vintage pocket watch requires a trained eye. Since there are a lot of imitations in the market, you need to learn how to find an authentic pocket watch. Look around only in reputable and well-known antique or specialty stores. This will minimize the chances of you being swindled out of your money.

Remember that such antique pocket watches for men are usually reconditioned and may not have all of the watch’s original parts. This is to be expected since such watches have been known to have existed for hundreds of years. If you encounter a seller who claims that a 600-year-old watch being sold still has all the original parts and is still in good working condition, this should alert you that this could be a scam artist.

There are a lot of different designs for a vintage pocket watch that you can choose from. There are watches made of gold or silver-plated metal, and matches made in Italy or Switzerland. It shouldn’t matter whether the pocket watch is made of different materials or made in different countries. The point is that just owning an authentic vintage pocket watch can give you sheer pleasure. It also shows that you are capable of showing a deep appreciation for history. It is also a way of preserving this rare art form of watch making.

Unfortunately, such pocket watches are not manufactured anymore, so the supply is rather limited, making it more expensive. However, you can consider this is a good investment and even make this an heirloom in your family.

Posted by Kafaen Clocks and Watches