Watch Superstar in association with Goldsmiths bring you this special limited offer.  If you order a watch on the Goldsmiths website using the order code FREEDELAW before Friday 5th June 2009, delivery will be absolutely free!

Remember, this is a limited offer so make the most of it while you can!

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Theoretical physicist, Albert Einstein would never have formulated his theory of relativity without of course being able to tell the time.  So what sort of watch do you think he had?  Something as novel as this, perhaps?

Unfortunately not - Herr Einstein managed to keep his ego under control.   It turns out that he was more of a Longines man.  We have managed to dig out a photo where he is pictured with his wrist watch, which he was apparently presented with in 1931:

You can only just make it out in this photo, however his Longines watch was recently auctioned where it managed to fetch 2000% of it’s estimated price.  Here you can see it in all it’s glory - it is inscribed with ‘prof Albert Einstein’:

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Why are they so expensive?

Any answer that we could give would be pure speculation.  At the end of the day, Rolex sells every watch that they make.  If the market will bear the price that Rolex charges for it’s watches, then there is clearly no reason for them to drop the price.  This is helped by the market perception that Rolex watches are great value in comparison to other fine watches.

How often should I service my Rolex?

There are different schools of though with this however many experts and Rolex themselves will recommend that you service your watch every 5 years for a modern model, or more frequently for a vintage version.  Proper servicing will ensure that the watch continues to run smoothly as a dry, grimy watch can wear and result in damaged parts.  Inevitably, this will make repairing the timepiece more expensive.

Why does my Rolex Rattle?

This will probably be due to the bracelet.  Try removing the bracelet and see if the watch still rattles.  None SEL (Solid End Link) bracelets are notorious for rattling so it shouldn’t be a concern if this is the case.

Where are the model and serial numbers engraved?

You will find the model number engraved between the lugs at the 12 o’clock position and the serial number engraved between the lugs at the 6 o’clock position.  It is likely that you will have to remove the bracelet to see them.  Do be aware that the numbers printed on the bracelts and end links are part numbers, not serial numbers.

How can I tell if my Rolex is fake?

The only sure fire way to tell if a Rolex is fake is to take it to a Rolex authorised dealer to have it appraised.  If the dealer removes the caseback they will be able to tell at a glance whether the movement is genuinely of Rolex as no other movements are laid out in the same way.  At the other end of the quality spectrum, even a watch novice will be able to identify a Chinatown bought fake but if you are in any doubt whatsoever, the safest bet is to take it to the authorised dealer.

What are Tudor watches?

Tudor is a brand owned by Rolex.  They use Rolex oyster cases but not Rolex movements and are priced a bit lower down the scale.

Why are the stainless steel Daytonas so expensive?

These models are extremely popular and dealers frequently have extensive waiting lists.  The SS (stainless steel) models sell for more than the TT (two tone) stainless steel and gold model so it could well be the old addage of price being dictated by the market factors of supply and demand.  As to the reason that they’re so popular - well, once again any reason that we could give would just be speculative.

Can I repair a scratched case?

You can, however we would strongly recommend that you don’t unless you know precisely what you are doing.  Many owners recommend that you wait until you have the watch serviced before you do this.  When the watch is serviced either by Rolex or a component watchmaker, they will polish the case as well as the bracelet and amazingly it will come back looking as if it had been bought new.

How should I clean my watch?

If you have an Oyster, you can wash it in warm water with a mild detergent and a soft toothbrush.  Be sure that the watch is water resistant before doing this (i.e it has been serviced in a reasonable time frame, the crown is screwed in, etc).  Make sure that you rinse it with clean water.  Of course you mustn’t do this if you have a Cellini or other non-water resistant watch.

What should I do if my Rolex is running fast/slow?

The certification for a Rolex watch dictates that it should be running within an accuracy of -4 to +6 seconds per day.  That is a very good accuracy for a mechanical watch.  If it is considerably outside of these boundaries then you should consider getting the watch serviced.

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You know celebrities - those people that are better than us, right?  Well these people who are better than you like to wear clothes that are nicer than yours.  And just to rub it in your face, Watch Superstar bring you a selection of said people (of whom you are not worthy) along with the Breitling watches that they wear.  Sure you may not have their money, looks or talent but if you pop along and browse our very own selection of Breitling watches, then you’ll at least be able to tell the time like them!  Read the rest of this entry »

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Obviously bored with using his watch solely for the purpose of keeping time, this young chap decides to study what effects if any would result from placing his watch in the microwave.  Judging from the state of said microwave, it looks like the watch isn’t the first thing he’s tried to cook.  Needless to say, this isn’t something you should try at home… Read the rest of this entry »

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Those pesky celebrities have it all, the money, the clothes, the yachts and the lifestyles and whether we like it or not we’re forever chasing rainbows and aspiring to be like them. They definitely are rainbows, since we’ll never get there, their image is a carefully constructed masterpiece and it’s this that makes them attractive. Well we’re going to be scientific about it, and deconstruct those expensive and unattainable  images into something much more realistic. Here’s our list of expensive celebrity watches, and their much cheaper alternatives. Most lists go to ten, but ours go to eleven. Read the rest of this entry »

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You will notice on the Watch Superstar site that there are both designer watches and chronographs available.  Some may never have heard of a chronograph and others may just be confused as to how one differs from a normal watch.  This handy guide should set you straight.

A chronograph is a timepiece that has both timekeeping and stopwatch functions.  The term chronograph is often confused with the term chronometer which in some cases describes a watch that has received some kind of precision certificate.  Chronographs come in the following forms:

• Analogue chronograph - these display both time and stopwatch functions using their analogue hands.  Usually the centre hand will be used for the stopwatch function with  subdials indicating seconds, tenth seconds, etc.
• Digital chronograph - predictably, this uses a digital readout for both timekeeping and stopwatch functions.  This will either use 2 separate displays, or one display whose mode can be selected.
• Analogue/Digital chronograph - this chronograph consists of a standard analogue watch with a smaller inbuild digital display being used for the stopwatch function.
• Double chronograph -this is a watch that has not one but two stopwatch mechanisms so that it can estimate separate events of different durations.
• Flyback chronograph - this is often confused with a double chronograph.  This is a watch that has a single button to stop, reset and restart the chronograph function of the watch.

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1. Your watch should be cleaned and maintained at least every 2 years.
2. When  not being worn, keep your watch stored in a cool dry place.
3. Remove your watch if you are undertaking heavy/physical work.
4. Avoid abrasions as scratches may eventually affect the case and bracelet.
5. Ensure the crown which is used to change the time and date should be properly pushed in at all times.  This will prevent penetration by water and dust.
6. Keep your watch clean with a soft dry cloth.
7. Quartz watches should be meticulously cleaned as even the smallest particle can result in damage.
8. When the watch battery runs out, change it immediately as this can affect the movement.
9. When changing the time or date, never do it within 3 hours either side of midnight.  At this time the watch’s regular date change is being carried out internally and should not be interferred with.
10. Immediately get your watch serviced if there is moisture inside the crystal.
11. Remove your watch for hot showers, baths, saunas, heavy or physical work as any moisture will damage the inner workings as well as wear down the strap.
12. Diving watches need regular servicing, despite their rigorous water resistance.
13. Don’t unnecessarily subject your watch to pressure or heat.
14. Any watch should be rinsed under fresh water after exposure to salt water.
15. Your watch should always be returned to an official authorized dealer for servicing or any other necessary repairs.

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In what is quite a coup for Watch Superstar, we are able to bring you an awesome offer of a big name brand watch.  The Nautica Yachtimer is designed as a sporty watch ideal for those that spend a lot of time on the water.  This highly sophisticated timepiece consists of a brushed stainless steel case, a polyurethene strap and a 10 minute adjustable counter with chronograph and alarm.

This cool designer watch would usually set you back £325 but for a limited time only, you luck watch superstar faithful can pick this little gem up for a credit crunch busting £162!  We have no idea how long this offer will last, but better be safe than sorry!  Click here to take a closer look.

Nautica Yachtimer Watch

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A watch auction at Christie’s International yesterday landed 15.1 million Swiss francs, beating their rivals Sotherbys who failed to hit their target. One watch, a Patek Philippe with a calendar that automatically adjusts to leap years, sold for $1.8 million! Not bad in these times of economic and financial crisis…not bad at all.

Sotherbys pulled in 3.75 million francs at an auction in the same city on May 10th, they estimated they would pull in around 3.8 million, a mere 50,000 francs short of their target. Pocket change.

If you’ve got an old watch lying about the place it’s probably about time you got it valued, you could be holding onto something truly special.

The Patek Philippe sale at the Christie’s international auction was good enough to sneak into our most expensive watches list.

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