Happy New Year! Goodbye 2018, Hello 2019

Happy New Year! May all your wishes come true and may your grail watch land on your wrist.

Last year, we completely redesigned the website to be able to communicate better who we are and what we stand for. This year, we want to continue developing the site and our community. So, thank you for 2018, and I’m looking forward to being a part of your 2019 watch adventures.

This article is an overview of the watches I bought and sold in 2018 and my wishlist and plans for 2019.

Watches that I’ve bought

Squale 1521

I’ve been curious about Squale for a while, so I jumped on the opportunity to buy one. It was an impulse buy, and I didn’t think it through. This model is the 1521 without the Squale inscription on the side.

It’s a great watch, and it radiates quality, but I find it a bit too large and bulky, so I’m looking to sell it.

Zodiac Sea Wolf Reissue

The Zodiac Sea Wolf reissue was on the wishlist for 2018.

I bought it as a replacement for the Squale when I realized that wasn’t a keeper. It would’ve been better if I’d done it the other way around, but I didn’t.

It’s casual enough to wear as a daily beater, but you can also wear it to the beach, for example. The stainless case with the black dial gives it a timeless look while the markers and lume add some flavor to it.

Omega Speedmaster 145.022

I’ve never been a big fan of Speedmasters. They were overrated, too big, and boring. In hindsight, I believe I told myself these things to justify not wanting to spend $3800 on a watch.

The truth is that there are very few watches that have the same appeal and legacy as the Omega Speedmaster. Not to mention all the different exciting models that each have their own story.

Prices keep climbing, especially for vintage models. That’s why I figured that right now was the best time to buy one if I ever wanted to add one to the collection. I’m delighted I did because it’s the watch that gets the most wrist time.

Watches that I’ve sold

Undone Urban Vintage Killy

This was an impulse buy. I like their designs, but I’d rather wear something that has an interesting story behind it with a mechanical movement. Oh well…live and learn.

Dan Henry 1970 40 mm

I sold this watch a week ago. Just in time to include it in this article.

It combines a nice vintage-inspired design with modern dimensions and a modern automatic Seiko NH35 movement. The inner bezel and second hand add some interesting contrast and color.

On paper, it’s the perfect watch so why sell it? Somehow, I didn’t wear it, and that’s what matters the most.

Luckily, it goes to a perfect home.

Wishes for 2019

At the moment, I’m not looking to buy any watches except for perhaps a Rolex.

Both the Rolex Submariner Ref. 14060 and the Submariner Ref. 5513 are very interesting. However, it’s unlikely that I’ll add one to the collection because I have some other priorities.

Watchmaking tools and equipment on the wishlist:

• Macro lens and lighting system. You wouldn’t believe how many times I’m not able to take a decent picture of something that I’d like to show you. A smartphone is perfectly fine for regular photographs but it’s nearly impossible to get close with it. Also, pictures of movements underneath the bench light are awful, so I can only take photos in daylight. I’d love to get a macro lens and lighting system so that I can take crisp macro pictures at any time of the day.
• Watch cleaning machine. I use a vintage Elma with three jars and a heating chamber. It works well, but it’s tough to control the speed at which it spins. Especially if the basket isn’t submerged in the cleaning fluid, I’d love to buy a new Elma, but these are $2100 new, so I’ll keep my eyes open for a used one.
• New workbench. A new bench with arm/elbow supports would be very welcome. I’d also like to have cabinets with drawers to store parts and tools. A handpiece with compressed air would be great.
• Jewelling tool. Chipped and cracked/broken bearing jewels are quite common, especially in vintage movements. With a jewelling tool, I could friction-fit new jewels. It can also be used to adjust endshake.

Finally, I want to add a webshop to WahaWatches as soon as possible. The planning was late 2018, but apparently, that didn’t happen.

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I’d love to see your overview for 2018 and your plans for 2019 in the comments below.