GenTLe Posted June 3, 2014 Report Share Posted June 3, 2014 Hi Gents, around one month ago I purchased this sweety one (this time not a rep): It's based on original Miyota 9132 (28.8kbph) and has Hesalite front glass. Can you confirm that Hesalite is NOT the soft plastic used by things like Swatch Irony watches that get scratched just looking at it? I wore it just a couple of evenings (perfect for elegant suits that I don't wear so often) so I can't really say... PS: in case you don't know about this brand, give a look at their site (http://www.pointtec.de/): they have some very interesting objects there, like these original ETA 7753 based pilots (and also Zeppelin branded ones): Tnx, GenTLe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gran Posted June 3, 2014 Report Share Posted June 3, 2014 TYPICALLY GERMAN... Kitsch or cult? There are arguments for both points of view. Only one thing is for sure: These little guys do no longer live in Snow White’s shadow. According to estimates, about 25 million garden gnomes populate German gardens. But there’s another mystery: Why – for gnome’s sake – is the international association for the Protection of Garden Gnomes based in Basel, Switzerland? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icoopernicus Posted June 4, 2014 Report Share Posted June 4, 2014 Hesalite is a plexi glass (plastic) it does scratch easily but these scratches can be buffed out with a polishing compound called Poly Watch (it's like 5 bucks). This is a great material for a watch crystal, very clear and should not crack or shatter. If I'm not mistaken, the Hesalite version of the Omega Speedmaster Professional is still the most popular version and the crystal looks very good, 'warmer' than a sapphire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike on a bike Posted June 4, 2014 Report Share Posted June 4, 2014 LOVE IT! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpz5142 Posted June 4, 2014 Report Share Posted June 4, 2014 TYPICALLY GERMAN... Kitsch or cult? There are arguments for both points of view. Only one thing is for sure: These little guys do no longer live in Snow White’s shadow. According to estimates, about 25 million garden gnomes populate German gardens. But there’s another mystery: Why – for gnome’s sake – is the international association for the Protection of Garden Gnomes based in Basel, Switzerland? Think perhaps you lost me on that one..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike on a bike Posted June 4, 2014 Report Share Posted June 4, 2014 Was wonder also............... although the Gnome education was appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GenTLe Posted June 4, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 4, 2014 Mike, if you like the Bauhaus style, and you've a bunch of dollars to spend, then go for the Junghans - Max Bill collection. They're great, unfortunately no reps here and prices that go from 750 to 2500US$ The Chronoscope is great: ;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gran Posted June 4, 2014 Report Share Posted June 4, 2014 (edited) Think perhaps you lost me on that one..... Yes its rather convoluted, and gnome could be a symbolic representative for a "watch movement" in this case, and that most "German" watches are actually mostly "foreign" at one level or another. Interesting that this say MADE IN GERMANY when the movement is obviously from JAPAN. The Junkers is a beautiful looking watch but why is the company misrepresenting it. Edited June 4, 2014 by gran Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gran Posted June 4, 2014 Report Share Posted June 4, 2014 Was wonder also............... although the Gnome education was appreciated. You are very welcome Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GenTLe Posted June 4, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 4, 2014 European laws :-( Here too we have "Made in Italy" clothes made with material coming from China, sawed in Turkmenistan, and then with few modifications done here -> made in Italy! :-/// You can imagine how this problem is strongly felt for a brand like "Made in Italy" :-/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martijnp Posted June 4, 2014 Report Share Posted June 4, 2014 Mike, if you like the Bauhaus style, and you've a bunch of dollars to spend, then go for the Junghans - Max Bill collection. They're great, unfortunately no reps here and prices that go from 750 to 2500US$ The Chronoscope is great: ;-) Saw these before, very lovely watches Reminds me of the IWC 3714 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpz5142 Posted June 4, 2014 Report Share Posted June 4, 2014 Yes its rather convoluted, and gnome could be a symbolic representative for a "watch movement" in this case, and that most "German" watches are actually mostly "foreign" at one level or another. Interesting that this say MADE IN GERMANY when the movement is obviously from JAPAN. The Junkers is a beautiful looking watch but why is the company misrepresenting it. Not much different than our friends in Switzerland then... Just assemble the parts (ensuring that at least 50% in cost of the movement come from Switzerland) and bing bang bimbo you have a nice Swiss Made watch! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike on a bike Posted June 4, 2014 Report Share Posted June 4, 2014 Marti I have a link from asciwhite gotta look for it , they are dead ringers for Max Bill but cheaper. AH here it is: http://panzera-style.com/bruer44/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike on a bike Posted June 4, 2014 Report Share Posted June 4, 2014 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
436NR Posted June 4, 2014 Report Share Posted June 4, 2014 Hesalite is a plexi glass (plastic) it does scratch easily but these scratches can be buffed out with a polishing compound called Poly Watch (it's like 5 bucks). This is a great material for a watch crystal, very clear and should not crack or shatter. If I'm not mistaken, the Hesalite version of the Omega Speedmaster Professional is still the most popular version and the crystal looks very good, 'warmer' than a sapphire. Hesalite is still currently used on all NASA commissioned watches. In addition, the current US Military issued Pilot's watches are made with Hesalite crystals. The reason for this is that Hesalite expands and contracts with pressure changes without shattering. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gran Posted June 4, 2014 Report Share Posted June 4, 2014 Not much different than our friends in Switzerland then... Just assemble the parts (ensuring that at least 50% in cost of the movement come from Switzerland) and bing bang bimbo you have a nice Swiss Made watch! But I already siadt that "Why – for gnome’s sake – is the international association for the Protection of Garden Gnomes based in Basel, Switzerland?" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpz5142 Posted June 4, 2014 Report Share Posted June 4, 2014 But I already siadt that "Why – for gnome’s sake – is the international association for the Protection of Garden Gnomes based in Basel, Switzerland?" I wasn't following your hyperbole, no offense meant.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GenTLe Posted June 4, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 4, 2014 (edited) Hesalite is still currently used on all NASA commissioned watches. In addition, the current US Military issued Pilot's watches are made with Hesalite crystals. The reason for this is that Hesalite expands and contracts with pressure changes without shattering.Well, so definitively it can't the same plastic used for the Swatches... That one is more similar to PET, it's such soft that it gets scratched just by the contacts with the shirt sleeve! For what I've seen hesalite doesn't get bad after just 1 day of normal use Cheers, GenTLe Edited June 4, 2014 by GenTLe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martijnp Posted June 4, 2014 Report Share Posted June 4, 2014 Marti I have a link from asciwhite gotta look for it , they are dead ringers for Max Bill but cheaper. AH here it is: http://panzera-style.com/bruer44/ Ah yes I knew that website! Thanks Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abat Posted June 4, 2014 Report Share Posted June 4, 2014 Hesalite is famously used on the Omega Speedmasters, once every few months I use polywatch to remove scratches from mine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
automatico Posted June 5, 2014 Report Share Posted June 5, 2014 'Hesalite' = another name for a plain old Plexiglas crystal...same stuff as used in three for $1 generic acrylic crystals, $8 GS, AF, Stella etc acrylic crystals, $35 omega acrylic crystals, $75 rolex acrylic crystals, and $250 patek phileeeeppe! acrylic crystals. $$$...it's all in the name. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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