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My Latest Addition (Non-Breitling)
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Author:  Mofongo [ Sat May 09, 2009 1:08 pm ]
Post subject:  My Latest Addition (Non-Breitling)
I am so excited about the latest edition to my collection I can hardly contain myself! It is a somewhat obscure brand, but they hand-make all of their movements, the hands, as well as some of their dials. The total output of the company is about 5 watches per month. Typically, it takes about 9 months for them to make the watch from when you order it. I bought this one used, however, from the original owner (it's about 3 years old). I love wearing a watch that when others remark upon how nice it looks, I can say, "You like it? It's handmade." 8)

[EDIT: 5/13/09 After having my fun, I removed the "mystery" pictures from this post and added lots of undoctored photos at further down. Check them out! --Mofongo]

Because others more awesome than me are continually posting "mystery" watches on here, :twisted:, I will do the same. Can anyone guess what it is? I deliberately greyed out the manufacturer's name on the dial and on the inner surface of the strap.

I am sure the experts on here will identify it immediately (so please don't ruin the fun too quickly). (And if you are a clever web surfer, you can also figure it out, since I am too lazy to completely cover my, um, URL tracks...but if you use this method, you are cheating ;).

I will post many un-doctored pics in a few days. Just trying to have fun here and hopefully supply some fun as well...I am by no means a watch snob or trying to indicate any superior knowledge of the subject.

Oooo...looks like there is still a hint of the origin in this picture:
[EDIT: Image removed]

And a very nice display back of the hand-crafted movement (If this were the original 10 megapixel resolution of this picture, you would still be able to see the manufacturer's name in two more places. Can you guess where?) The watch is also sitting upon its original box which is also handmade:
[EDIT: Image removed]

Mofongo
Author:  Roffensian [ Sat May 09, 2009 1:30 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: My Latest Addition (Non-Breitling)
Well I won't spoil it......

But I think that you are the first member on here to have one - certainly don't recall the name coming up on here before.

I love the clean look of their dials - even the multi sub dial versions seem to have a very uncluttered look and as you say the small, handmade approach is really nice (as is the family involvement with every piece).

Very pleased for you, I think it's a brand that is going to increase in popularity as brand awareness increases.
Author:  br549 [ Sun May 10, 2009 12:42 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: My Latest Addition (Non-Breitling)
Mofongo just to let you know I'm working on the answer here but don't wait on me. I'm kind of slow. :D
Author:  NavitimerNut [ Sun May 10, 2009 1:42 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: My Latest Addition (Non-Breitling)
I know....

And what a nice (and rare) watch!
Author:  br549 [ Sun May 10, 2009 5:19 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: My Latest Addition (Non-Breitling)
Got it! :thumbsup:
Author:  robert_76 [ Sun May 10, 2009 6:22 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: My Latest Addition (Non-Breitling)
Nice Dornblüth :wink:
Author:  Mofongo [ Mon May 11, 2009 12:05 am ]
Post subject:  Re: My Latest Addition (Non-Breitling)
Wow! 4 people got it already. (Well, we all knew Roff would know...) Good job!

It is indeed a Dornblüth & Sohn watch, calibre 99.1. Serial number is 103 (hand engraved on the movement itself). If you go towards the bottom of this link here: http://www.roleks.se/basel2009.htm you will see pictures of the workshop (These aren't my pictures, BTW, just somebody else's on the Dornblüth forum). I have to say that part of the appeal of this watch was seeing pictures of a workshop that does not look like a NASA clean room with everybody wearing lab coats but rather one that is as haphazard as it would look if I owned it. It's run by a family who does it simply because they enjoy the art of watchmaking, a goal I respect greatly.

Roff, I agree with you in the look of their dial is beauty in simplicity. Or rather, it is about details that do not spoil the simplicity: the dial surface has a grainy silvered texture, and the seconds subdial has a very subtle circular guioche pattern to it. Even their calibre 99.3, which has 3 subdials, is not too busy looking, especially when seen in person.

Tomorrow when I have more time I will post some more pictures.

Mofongo
Author:  nnikolaus [ Mon May 11, 2009 7:35 am ]
Post subject:  Re: My Latest Addition (Non-Breitling)
Beautiful watch Mofongo. I look forward to more pictures and doing a little more research of the Dornbluth & Sohn brand on my end. Thanks!
Author:  Roffensian [ Mon May 11, 2009 8:40 am ]
Post subject:  Re: My Latest Addition (Non-Breitling)
Dornbluth offer great value for what they produce, and they are getting a little more recognition now that they have a US distributor through WatchBuys. A very classy set of watches at an accessible price.
Author:  Mofongo [ Mon May 11, 2009 10:26 am ]
Post subject:  Re: My Latest Addition (Non-Breitling)
Yes, the prices are quite good especially when you consider the amount of human effort that goes into each watch. The other thing I have noticed is that the markup for gold is actually not that bad. It's actually vaguely reflective of the real cost of making the case out of gold, and not the usual factor of 2 that most manufacturers charge (ever notice that? a $5000 SS watch becomes $10,000...but a $10,000 watch becomes $20,000, etc). It's about 4500 euros to move from stainless to 18K rose gold no matter what the base price of the model is. I am contemplating a rose gold 99.3 or a Regulator.

They will also do little customizations for free, like extra engravings on the movements, and even minor changes to the dial if it is a model for which they make the dial themselves.

Mofongo
Author:  Mofongo [ Tue May 12, 2009 11:43 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: My Latest Addition (Non-Breitling)
As promised, here are some more pics of my latest addition.

I purchased it used from the original owner. It is tough to get to see one in person, as there are so few of them around. I had seen many excellent pictures of them, but with most quality watches they look so much better (and usually somewhat different) in person. Therefore, buying a used one seemed like the best way for me to investigate the Dornblüth brand.

I was not disappointed. My wife is completely in love with this watch, so it is a good thing that it's too big for her. :twisted: Having owned this watch for several weeks now, I am definitely going to order a new Dornblueth someday. I'm just not quite sure which one, yet. Decisions, decisions.....

The seller was kind enough to send two straps: a used brown one and a totally new back. I wore it for a few days with the brown, then switched to black because I already have a silver-dialed Steelfish with a brown strap.

The closeup of the dial shows off the grainy silver pattern reminiscent of Glashütte Original, as well as the very subtle guioche texture of the subdial. The hands are hand-made and then hand-blued by holding them in a flame:
Image

Here it is with the reddish-brown strap.
Image
Image

The pattern on this particular strap is gorgeous (as one would expect, both straps are handmade as well, but I don't think by Dornblüth themselves):
Image
Image

The movement is where the magic is in this watch. Almost every piece in it is made by hand. The only exception is a few of the wheels, which are purchased from ETA as they are too fine to make in-house. The handmade wheels are manufactured by making a cylindrical piece that is about 10 wheels thick, then slicing the piece into 10 wheels. Typically, they throw away all but 2 or 3 of the 10 wheels made by this process as the others end up having imperfections. The engraving you can see on the movement is also done by hand, and the "No 103" you see next to the balance (upside-down in this picture) is actually the serial number for the watch. If you order a watch from them, they will custom engrave other things at your request:
Image

On the image below, you can see a slight discoloration on the movement above the sunburst gears. This looks like oxidation from somebody's finger (hmmm...wonder where that could have happened ;) ). I bet Herr Dornblüth would probably remove it if I asked him, but it actually gives the watch that "homemade" feel.
Image

And now, the switch to black:
Image
Image

Wrist shots in both colors:
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Image

I highly recommend this brand. When you wear it, you know you are truly wearing something special. Someday I will be ordering a new one for myself.

Mofongo
Author:  Driver8 [ Wed May 13, 2009 10:19 am ]
Post subject:  Re: My Latest Addition (Non-Breitling)
Wow, I can't believe I missed this thread!

I'd heard the name before and see a couple of pieces in pictures, but never did any research into what they were like. Just read up on their website, and they are indeed superb pieces. What a great pick up Mofongo! Congrats! :thumbsup:
Author:  dpj17 [ Wed May 13, 2009 12:04 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: My Latest Addition (Non-Breitling)
Very nice pick up, I would be equally excited as well!
Author:  Mofongo [ Wed May 13, 2009 12:11 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: My Latest Addition (Non-Breitling)
Thanks!

The mention of their website reminds me of the discussions on this forum regarding remarkable variety of response times of various watch brands to requests for catalogs. So many high-end brands are very disappointing in their reluctance to send you a catalog.

I am happy to say that when I requested a catalog from the Dornblüth website, I received it via air mail a few weeks later, along with a handwritten note.

Also, for more pictures, check out the Dornblüth forum at http://dornbluth.clubdiscussion.net/.

Mofongo
Author:  In2Deep [ Wed May 13, 2009 12:14 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: My Latest Addition (Non-Breitling)
I like the back! :D
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