Author Topic: Long term review: Bell&Ross WW1 Argentium  (Read 21636 times)

Offline takashi78

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4745
Re: Long term review: Bell&Ross WW1 Argentium
« Reply #25 on: August 27, 2013, 03:50:29 PM »
Preparing some macro shoots.
For now this is the watch with an Argentium ring that belongs to my friend.



Offline takashi78

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4745
Re: Long term review: Bell&Ross WW1 Argentium
« Reply #26 on: August 28, 2013, 10:15:59 PM »
Thanks to Jacky i can take some closeup pics of thr Argentium and on to this weeks short thoughts of wearing the watch.

As it is now, it has develop into a very light "pink gold" kinda hue to the case  :)




Close up of the dial






Notice how there is a hinge where the watchmaker can open the case back.




The case back, with some emphasis on the hallmark stamps on the case.






Notice the dome crystal and on its edges the patina which is already developed.




The crown and the patina.




The case, all i do each night is just wipe the case with cloth and that's it  ;D


OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA by Peter PS Leong, on Flickr


Strap has soften a bit now and more comfortable to wear.
One thing i noticed with the accuracy, i have tested it with dial up and crown up position now for 1 week each time, it seems to gain bout 20sec each day.




Offline takashi78

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4745
Re: Long term review: Bell&Ross WW1 Argentium
« Reply #27 on: September 24, 2013, 05:09:20 PM »
Been busy and also lazy to transfer the pics to post.

Been traveling and so this set of updates are pics while i was in Tokyo.

Enjoy.  ;D

At LCCT waiting to board.




After coming out of immigration was greeted with this  :Dancing_banana:





My first meal, didnt had anything to eat on the flight.
Obviously focusing on the wrong thing LOL.




Famous station exit in Shibuya.




Most wanted list outside the police station  :P




Oh so fresh and reasonably priced.




Clouds covering Mt Fuji  :'(






Water resistance tested  :thumbsup:









Otaku town outside the Gundam Cafe!












Offline chrisyen

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5959
Re: Long term review: Bell&Ross WW1 Argentium
« Reply #28 on: September 24, 2013, 07:00:39 PM »
Shibuya shd hv a photo wear thousand of ppl crossing the road at one time...

No Mount Fuji is a big miss.... Seems luck not on ur side

U bring Mwf gangso along, I'm sure u will hv diff luck

Offline takashi78

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4745
Re: Long term review: Bell&Ross WW1 Argentium
« Reply #29 on: September 24, 2013, 07:58:50 PM »
On the ride to Mt Fuji was clear but when near started to rain.

Shibuya crossing i reserving for the travel post thread.

Trying to see if i can group to different themes.

Offline FongV

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 52
Re: Long term review: Bell&Ross WW1 Argentium
« Reply #30 on: September 24, 2013, 09:11:09 PM »
Haha. I recognise the cable car ride over Hakone. I ate a few of those black eggs so my life should be considerably longer.

 :thumbsup:

Regards,
Fong

Offline takashi78

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4745
Re: Long term review: Bell&Ross WW1 Argentium
« Reply #31 on: September 24, 2013, 09:16:37 PM »
Wind was strong so the cable car ride was bit shaky.

Offline myric

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 99
Re: Long term review: Bell&Ross WW1 Argentium
« Reply #32 on: September 30, 2013, 09:07:01 AM »
Thanks for your sharing, takashi78.

I went to the boutique @ Pravilion to look at the real one last weekend, I love the case with vintage dial design.

Offline takashi78

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4745
Re: Long term review: Bell&Ross WW1 Argentium
« Reply #33 on: September 30, 2013, 11:13:03 AM »
So did you get it?

Offline chrisyen

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5959
Re: Long term review: Bell&Ross WW1 Argentium
« Reply #34 on: October 03, 2013, 02:53:54 PM »
On the ride to Mt Fuji was clear but when near started to rain.

Shibuya crossing i reserving for the travel post thread.

Trying to see if i can group to different themes.

did u manage to take photo with ur BR watch?

Offline takashi78

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4745
Re: Long term review: Bell&Ross WW1 Argentium
« Reply #35 on: October 03, 2013, 03:21:53 PM »
Photo is posted up top.
Like i said covered with clouds cant see mountain.

Offline takashi78

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4745
Re: Long term review: Bell&Ross WW1 Argentium
« Reply #36 on: October 07, 2013, 07:17:11 AM »
Had a little GTG yesterday.
Article will be up on the forum soon.



Offline takashi78

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4745
Re: Long term review: Bell&Ross WW1 Argentium
« Reply #37 on: October 07, 2013, 07:18:17 AM »
One more for good measure... ;D



Offline takashi78

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4745
Re: Long term review: Bell&Ross WW1 Argentium
« Reply #38 on: October 09, 2013, 03:05:43 PM »
Well the review has come to an end and its time to show you the final patina the watch had developed during the course of 2 months.

- On average i had the watch on my wrist for at least 3-4 days per week during this period.
- Went on a trip to Tokyo and Hong Kong.
- Rain, heat, sweat, fog and it didn't miss a beat.

As the watch was supplied with a special cleaning cloth it is fitting to show the watch condition after it has been "cleaned".

The cloth it self is dry with some powdery compound in it. You can definitely feel it. Oh and it has sorta a funky smell to it as well.
So my advise when cleaning with this is to be in an area where there is good ventilation.

On with the pics.
This is how the watch was after 2 months of wear.
Only wiped daily with a normal watch cloth.












You can see how some areas are have more pronounced patina than others because of the contact to the skin and fingers while winding it.

Now lets look at the rear of the watch.








Now comes the special cloth.

Took about 15mins working most areas of the watch.
It cleaned up very nicely.
The case is back to a light golden color now.
90% of the patina i would say can be cleaned off.












Offline bezelnut

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 807
Re: Long term review: Bell&Ross WW1 Argentium
« Reply #39 on: October 09, 2013, 03:26:25 PM »
Can't believe it's two months already. Time flies.

Nice review, thanks for all the effort, beautiful macros & detail descriptions.

btw, is the special cloth washable?

Offline takashi78

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4745
Re: Long term review: Bell&Ross WW1 Argentium
« Reply #40 on: October 09, 2013, 07:30:55 PM »
Some final thoughts on this piece.
I am not someone who chooses different watch for different occasions or outfits, well dont have that luxury of that many time pieces  :Laughing_on_floor:, so to me i wear this watch to work, t-shirt and shorts and i wont feel out of place.
Lack of date sometimes catches up but for this vintage inspired design its ok.

Only once have i forgot to wind the watch when i was in Japan  :P

The watch is bling under bright sunlight, dial and hands combo makes it bit harder to read.

The strap really needs some time to break in as to me its still a bit stiff.
From the pics you can see the strap is still in great condition and of high quality, stitch on it no complaints as well.

Accuracy of bout +20s per day could need improvement and nothing a competent watchmaker or a trip to the service center cant solve.

I dont see this as another "round watch" because of the design of the lugs which took inspiration from pocket watches and thus i feel its something different.
Argentium case which is the selling point of this watch is something not seen before.
Gives it a nice light golden hue.

Compared to bronze case, you can choose to let the watch patina further or clean it as you wish.

To answer bezelnut question:
Nope the cloth cant be washed since it has chemical quality within it, washing it will make it into a normal cloth which will defeat the purpose.

Watch will have to return to Bell&Ross now  :'(
I thank them for giving me this opportunity to review this watch officially other than the ones i have in my collection.

Hope you all enjoyed the journey thus far.

Some last pics, lovely champagne color  ;D









Offline shahkl2u

  • Freshie
  • *
  • Posts: 27
Re: Long term review: Bell&Ross WW1 Argentium
« Reply #41 on: November 05, 2013, 06:53:53 AM »
Just bump to this reviews and read all of it...beautiful watch. I happen did try same look but different model of this BR at PV AD. The AD guy did offer me this model but personally it to much blink on my eyes so pass to try it. Anyway it a good reviews and just wondering what happened to the watch after you returned it back to them... ;D Do they refurbished it back and put back for sale? Emmm