Back to work
I started back to work on Sunday. I spent most of yesterday scheduling the backlogged orders and the orders received while I was traveling. The order e-mails will begin going out tomorrow and the order status portal should be up to date by this coming Sunday.
I should be back on the forum and returning e-mails by tomorrow. The haze in my brain caused by the jet lag is slowly clearing up.
Baselworld was very productive for me and I was able to accomplish my goals. I will post a report of the highlights later this week.
Baselworld: Day 1
I got into Basel late yesterday afternoon. The jet lag is taking it’s toll right now. The theme of the show so far is vintage in a back to basics context.
It has probably been posted already but the most exciting piece I have seen so far is the “new” Eterna Super Kontiki re-issue. The bracelet is in the style of the heavy duty mesh bracelets that Omega also used to use. The only down side is that the watch is a limited edition.
I will get to e-mails tomorrow. Please note that the web site will be processing credit cards automatically again. For the last 8 weeks or so we have been processing credit cards manually.
Almost there….
I will be leaving on the morning of the 16th. The watch orders due are nearly done. I have probably about 3-4 hours of work left. Tomorrow will be spent almost exclusively returning e-mails, administrative duties, and packing and shipping the last few days’ work.
I just wanted to post this short note to let everyone know that I am still around and working.
The next 9 days
Just wanted to give you guys a heads up about communication over the next week or so. We have a quite a number of watches and parts orders to ship before I have to fly out on the 16th. I haven’t even started on the watches that I need to take with me to the show. I expect to be working on orders every day until I leave. So while you will see me on the forum and I will do my best with e-mails it may be hard to get a hold of me or my presence may be inconsistent. If you have anything urgent please leave me a voicemail. My office phone and cell phone are linked together so you just need to dial the office phone.
I am heading out to the airport first thing in the morning on the 16th of March. If last year is any indication (and hopefully it won’t be) I was up for about 30 hours before my flight. Then got 2 hours sleep and pounded coffee and 5 hour energy shots to keep the car straight while I drove up to JFK. Hopefully this time will be more civil but it gives one an idea of how things get more and more hectic as the departure time gets closer.
I should have Internet access while in Basel but I will have to see what it is like. Last year I had good access but I had no where to sit while I was at the computer. If there is a similar situation this year I probably won’t be online or be able to reply to e-mails very well. But I will have a computer with me so I hope that I will be able to set up place to do some work where I am staying.
Hopefully I can keep everything on an even keel but I did not want to assume that it will go smoothly over the next 9 days.
What I have been up to lately….
I wanted to start doing more reports from the workbench about the watches I am working on and have completed.
If this is of interest I will keep posting these so let me know.
Tonight, among other things, I prepped the cases for 2 QUAD10s, and a DLC Sea Fighter that is destined for some time in the Middle East. I had to push the SF order up to make sure it was ready for the customer’s deployment….
Work done….
* Set the AR coated crystals in the QUAD10s and pressure tested the cases empty to 20 ATMs and -0.5 ATM
* DLC Sea Fighter got a new case tube, AR coated crystal and pressure tested to 20 ATMs and -0.5 ATM
* Thankfully all three passed the WR testing.
Here is a custom LRRP with a DLC coated RN bezel that I finished in January when I “in the weeds”.
It turned out a lot better than I thought. I wasn’t sure about the 2-tone combination but both my wife and I were surprised how much we liked it.
Project Kingston Update
Here are some pics of what the final watch will look like and a production update:
* The cases and bracelets are expected to be ready by the end of this month
* Movements are in stock
* Crowns and case tubes are going out to the case manufacturer before I leave for Basel
* We are currently working on the ordering page. I hope to have it up before we leave.
* The matte black date dial you see here is going into production this month
* The glossy gold dial is in stock and I am currently reviewing them
* Hands are in stock
* All inserts are in stock
At the moment my rough estimate is that the watches will begin shipping by the end of June. Please note that I will actually be traveling to Switzerland to visit suppliers during the first full week of June so that may effect the actual date stuff begins to ship.
