The Metropolis

Metropolis is the first Chronodeco watch and is a very special, hand-wound mechanical NOS chronograph. Offered in a limited edition of 30 watches, it has a big beautiful NOS 20 micron rose gold plated case ( 37.2mm excluding the crown ) with fancy lugs, classic rectangular pushers, and a stainless steel snap back. The mint NOS dials are available in gold , silver or black. The logo is in light or medium gray and the signatures are in Porsche red or teal green. The hand colors and styles are added according to individual customer preference creating unique and personal style.

Reminiscent of the Art Deco period, when many of the best classic watch styles were created, these vintage watches are truly unique. They feature a new quality leather band and a numbered Certificate of Authenticity. The movement is the classic Swiss 17 jewel Landeron and has been completely rebuilt with a new main spring plus any other parts required to make it function perfectly. A very special watch for the collector who is looking for something unique but affordable as compared to many of the high end European mechanical Chronographs costing thousands of dollars. Truly a work of art and a vintage chronograph that is really stunning.

Released in the Summer of 2001, the Metropolis sold out in the Spring 2002.

Full story of the Metropolis edition can be seen in the February 2002 issue of the International Watch Magazine starting on page 76.

The Phaeton

The Phaeton is a large 38.6mm diameter chrome plated case with a stainless back. The dial has raised pink gold markers with matching hands, a big red sweep, thin flat pushers and an oversized crown. It is customized with various leather straps and the option of blued steel hands, according to buyer preference.

The shock-resistant Landeron movement is completely rebuilt with a new main spring. The Phaeton is a limited edition of only 12. It is numbered on the inside of the back and has a Certificate of Authenticity.

Released in the Fall of 2002, the Phaeton sold out in February 2003.

The Phaeton can be seen in the November 2003 issue of the International Watch Magazine on page 66.

Contrail and Era

Chronodeco ERA and Contrail Chronographs, custom built from the finest Swiss and German parts available on the planet in a limited edition of 250.

The automatic mechanical movement is a modified Valjoux 7750 with only the upper (minutes) & lower (hours) registers being used on an original deco style dial similar to the classic chronographs of the 1930's and 1940's.

It has an all stainless polished case of approximately 38mm excluding the crown. Flat rounded pushers and a scratch proof quartz crystal. The dial is available in 4 designs and/or color combinations.

All of them have a red or white tachymeter (or tachymetre) "snail" scale* in the center and Super-LuminNova deco markers and hands to tell time in the dark.

It has a clear display back with company name, "ERA" and logo printed on the inside of the glass plus the edition number engraved on the outer edge.

Introduced in the spring of 2003, these sold out the the fall of 2008.

Full story of the Era can be seen in the November 2003 issue of the International Watch Magazine starting on page 62 and the Contrail can be seen in the November 2004 issue of the International Watch Magazine starting on page 134.

Positano NOS Wristwatch

In July of 2006, my wife and I visited the town of Positano on the Amalfi Coast in Italy. Somehow the name and the beauty of this town seemed to fit this watch. Positano has remained largely unchanged for decades and was written about by John Steinbeck after he stayed there in 1953.

Steinbeck wrote: "It is a dream place that isn't quite real when you are there and becomes beckoningly real after you have gone".

The Positano is a large 38.0mm wide X 9.0mm thick pink gold filled case with fancy deco designed lugs and a stainless snap back - all NOS (New Old Stock) parts. This means that all of the parts in this watch excluding the crystal and the strap have been in storage for at least 50 years and never used! The silver dial model has raised pink gold markers and blued (deep burgundy) steel hands while the black dial model has light gray markers and off white hands. It features a large sub second register at 6. These dials were professionally refinished at 2 separate dial refinishers who did an excellent job. The Positano script was custom calligraphy and unique to this dial. The movement is a pristine 13 ligne Unitas cal. 176 which has been
cleaned, oiled and timed. The black calf straps were custom ordered in a 17.5mm size with matching pink buckles. The Positano is a limited edition of only 20 - 12 silver dials and 8 black dials.

Issued in March of 2007 and sold out in December 2007.

Full story of the Positano edition can be seen in the April 2007 issue of the International Watch Magazine starting on page 218.

1968 Limited Edition

One of may favorite 60s chronographs is the Heuer Camaro, whose cushion case was a significant influence on my Series I 1968 chronographs, a limited edition of 30 pieces.

- New Old Stock cushion-style cases purchased from Germany. Heavy polished chrome finish with a stainless steel screw on back.

- Valjoux cal.7733 movement, one of the best ever built. All rebuilt with new mainspring installed.

- 5 different dial styles available.
- Your choice of small hand colors in red, white, black or day-Glo orange.

- Black, perforated high quality leather strap purchased from France.

- 6-month warranty.

Full story of the 1968 edition can be seen in the September 2008 issue of the International Watch Magazine starting on page 188.

Issued in May of 2008 and sold out in January of 2010.