Greenwich Mean Time has put the Greenwich observatory on the South bank of the river Thames in London at the centre of timekeeping for over 150 years.   What began as a means for British sailors to determine their location escalated until it defined local time all across the world.   The quest to determine longitude was the key factor that gave Greenwich its position.  The importance of being able to navigate using an accurate time and location gave rise to diverse competitions and government schemes designed to fast track the discovery of a reliable means of determining longitude at sea.

It was possible to determine longitude when on land, using a fixed reference point and a clock that could keep accurate time.  On the sea the challenge was much greater, fluctuating position and inaccurate clocks were charged with many shipwrecks and unreliable shipping services.   Over time chronometers were developed that could withstand the rolling and tilting of a ship and provide an accurate time.  The time that the chronometers kept as their fixed reference point was that of Greenwich, hence it became the place from which all time was measured.  When the time zones were calculated times in other countries began to refer to their time in the form of GMT plus 1 or GMT minus 3.

The end of GMT?

Now this enduring record of the Victorian British Empire is likely to end, in favour of more accurate means of recording time.  The GMT system bases time on the slightly irregular rotation of the earth, this leads to the necessity for leap seconds.  Leap seconds cause problems for the wealth of technology that we now possess including mobile phones, GPS and digital networks.  Computers process data in a strictly linear form and the erroneous seconds cause problems for the technology every time that they are necessary.

The suggestion is to change to the current most accurate form of timekeeping, atomic clocks.  The continuous time provided by atomic clocks would mean that there would only be leap minutes once or twice a century.

At the moment the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) is in conference in Geneva discussing the prospect of the move to Atomic time, it is looking probable that atomic time will win the day, and that Greenwich will lose its position as the place that time starts every day.

Radio controlled watches are already regulated by atomic clocks.  Giving them the position of the most accurate timepieces that are available for wear.

Lighter Later

The result of the debate will have minimal impact on most peoples’ lives.   The largest effect that we may see is that the Lighter Later campaign could achieve its’ aims with lighter evening hours during the winter in the UK.

Guarantees will not be valid if the company perceive that the watch has been damaged because of misuse or abuse. It is your responsibility to follow the care instructions set out in the instructions that are received in the watch and to use common sense to ensure that you do not put undue pressure on the watch, for example by diving into a swimming pool with a non water resistant watch.

The law dictates that it is your responsibility, as a consumer, to look after any documentation that your receive with your watch and to keep proof of purchase, normally in the form of an invoice or a receipt. If you buy on line from Find Watches then this information is stored on the site and will also be emailed to you when the purchase is initially made but when you buy on a high street you need to keep hold of your receipt particularly if you buy with cash. A customer came in to our high street premises recently and she had bought a watch from a well known chain store by cash. She could not locate the receipt and they had not filled in the guarantee. When the watch stopped and she returned to the store they refused to help her saying that she could not prove that she had bought the watch from them. This is not uncommon.

If you pay by card then you have an additional protection because a relevant entry on a debit or credit card statement counts as a proof of purchase. Most credit card companies also have additional consumer protection in place.

The moral to this tale is that it is very important to make sure that you retain all of your paperwork. In the vast majority of cases nothing goes wrong but when it does you will have everything you need to request a guarantee repair.

Vintage Seiko watch

Recently bought in by one of our customers who dated it at around 30 years old.  It has a 17 jewels mechanical movement that had been running smoothly since its purchase in the 1970’s.  As the watch had started to loose time we arranged to have the watch fully serviced by Seiko’s in house repair and service team who returned it to full working condition.

If you would like to see our range of future vintage watches, please follow this Seiko watches link.

The All New Seiko Sportura Watch

Seiko provided the timing at the recent IAAF athletics world championships in Korea. Fierce competition saw world records broken and dreams realised for some of the best athletes in the world. The difference between winning and losing is frequently less than a second, the gaps between competitors can be almost imperceptible and that is why timing experts Seiko were called in to provide the timing for this prestigious event.

Accuracy is the only acceptable standard at this level. Seiko had a team of 50 highly trained timing engineers on site throughout the whole of the championship to ensure that every time, distance and height were measured flawlessly. Over the nine days of the championship the team measured over 15,000 individual times, heights and distances. Demanding work! But the special team from Seiko were well prepared and utilised the best technology available to ensure that there were no problems.

One of the highlights of the 2011 championship was the Jamaican 4 x 100m relay team smashing their own world record, set at the Beijing Olympics. The new record now stands at 37.04 seconds. As the well known Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt said afterwards, “it is all about running fast”.

Seiko are a company with a long history of innovation, formed in the Victorian times they have consistently managed to stay ahead of the game and wow the competition with technical excellence and impressive designs. A Seiko watch earns its place in the affordable luxury category of watches, with a mixture of different kinds of watches from simple watches suitable for everyday wear to significantly more complex watches such as chronographs and automatics that use the latest technology to full effect.

To see our current collection of Seiko watches please follow the link.

Will Young will be taking questions from his fans giving a unique viewpoint on his career and life so far. He also will be providing a few unexpected surprises for the studio audience and the viewers at home.

Will has sold over 8 million records so far since he won the UK talent show Pop Idol ten years ago. His new album is sure to add to the total when it is released on August 22nd. It is the follow up to his platinum selling ‘Hits’ album and his 5th studio album so far.

Sekonda Party Time watches are a collection of brightly coloured rubber strapped watches, with sizes to fit both men and women. There are a range of different styles, from dazzling crystal set watches to one colour plastic watches.

If you would like to view our Sekonda Party Time watches please follow the link.

Limited Edition 2011 Tissot T-Race

At the Catalunya Moto GP race, Sunday 5^th June 2011 5.255 seconds separated 1^st and 4^th place. The gap between third, the last podium place, and fourth was less than a second. With divisions this small the human eye cannot be relied upon to produce consistently accurate results, blink and you miss it. This is why the responsibility for timing many major sports events is given to highly skilled companies such as Tissot, a Swiss watch manufacturer.

Tissot begun making watches in 1853 in Le Locle, a town now famed for its horological heritage, in the foothills of the Jura mountains. Tissot established themselves as a dynamic force in the Swiss watch market early on. They quickly became well known for their range of gentleman’s chronographs which were available for purchase from 1883. Each chronograph was equipped with a stopwatch designed to be used for timing sports. The location of their workshops combined with their expertise in making accurate chronograph movements was key to their early involvement in timing sporting events.

The first event that they officially timed was a series of ski races in 1938 in Villars, Switzerland, also in the Jura mountains. At that time Villars was voted to be one of the top Ski Resorts in Europe, despite it’s relatively low height at 1,300 meters. Tissot have come a long way since Villars. From these local roots they are now responsible for the timing of many prestigious international sporting events.

Sport has changed significantly since 1938, the speed, intensity and precision of competition has increased significantly and the demand on timing technology has too. Constant innovation has been required in order for Tissot to continue to provide an accurate service. This takes a lot more than placing a brand name next to a clock! Even experienced participants in this field fall short on occasion as Omega demonstrated when their countdown clock to the 2012 London Olympics embarrassingly stopped less than a day after it started.

To stop any faults from occurring Tissot have developed a wide range of products to meet the demands of each individual event, they have worked with international sporting organisations in a varied range of disciplines from basketball to motorbike racing and fencing to ice hockey.

Tissot have been involved in competitive cycling competitions for more than 25 years. In the beginning hand-held stopwatches were the only method of recording times. Now advanced sensors are placed into the track, transmitters are attached to bikes and a comprehensive computer system monitors all of the results, providing not only track times but an array of performance data that is used by competitors, commentators and fans. There are many different kinds of cycling racing and they often require separate timing systems, in the heat of an event Tissot must ensure that everything is set up flawlessly from the start as there is no going back once the event is under-way.

Tissot are also the Official Timer of the Moto GP, where Nicky Hayden, one of their brand ambassadors is a key player. Tissot are heavily committed to growing the reputation of the sports that they are aligned with and to providing fans with special merchandise celebrating the connection. Every year Tissot create a limited edition range of watches as part of their Official Timer role. One of the most popular ranges is the Tissot T-Race collection designed to celebrate their connection with the MotoGp.

Timing sporting events is now part of Tissot’s heritage. They use these events to push their technology further and to advertise the brand across the world. It is a huge commitment but the positive representation of Tissot watches that are generated adds a valuable dimension to their brand heritage.

Two members of the original Abba line up, Bjorn Ulvaeus and Anni-Frid Lyngstad talk about their experiences in one of the most enduringly popular bands of the twentieth century.  A host of celebrities, including Terry Wogan, Chris Tarrant, Nicole Scherzinger, Pixie Lott, Robin Gibb and Jake Shears give their opinions on the band and talk about just why they like Abba music so much.

There will also be contributions from Neil Sadaka who wrote the lyrics to Ring Ring, an early hit by Abba. Plus Owe Sandstrom and Lasse Hallstrom, the men who created Abba’s images with flamboyant costumes and memorable videos will talk about their memories of the band and their inspiration.

Abba sold over 275 million records during 1972-1982, their heyday.  They still sell between 2 and 3 million albums every year, a tribute to their amazing legacy.   The pop group that are now globally famous formed in Stockholm, Sweden.  They were one of the first bands to originate in a non-English speaking country that managed to achieve consistent success in the charts.

Sekonda Party Time watches are a collection of bold coloured watches designed to be fun fashion. Party Time watches are right on trend for the block colour look this season for both men and women.  If you would like to see our range of Sekonda Party Times then please follow the link. The men’s Party Time watches are coming very soon.

Click the picture to see all Party Time watches

Duran Duran are one of the UK’s most iconic pop bands, they have been part of the musical scenery in the UK for 3 decades. This special television show celebrates their contribution to music and provides an exclusive look into the lives of the band members.

Duran Duran: For One Night Only is set to be filmed in front of a live audience. They will be performing some of their most loved hits from across their 30 year career. Duran Duran have sold more the 80 million records worldwide, their latest album is also set for success. ‘All You Need Is Now”, produced by Grammy award winner Mark Ronson has won critical acclaim across the board.

This show is going to be hosted to Christine Bleakley. It will be a mix of new never seen archive footage, comprehensive interviews with each of the members of the band and performances. The programme aims to provide viewers with an intriguing look at the bands history from the early 1980’s when their images were on thousands of teenagers walls and their musical progression to an established band who have influenced a huge variety of artists along the way.

Duran Duran revolutionised the MTV music video culture. Their image conscious appearance and popular songs gave them the ability to push music videos to their limit. They stepped away from the classic ‘band performing on a stage’ videos and choose exotic locations, the newest visual techniques and risque and storyline based narratives. Their approach helped to push the popularity in other countries, particularly in the United States. As MTV rolled out it’s services Duran Duran’s popularity grew. They were also the first band to use videos at their gigs.

Sekonda Party Time ladies watches are sponsoring this unique event. Their bright colours and effortless style make them perfect accessories for the summer. Each one is a different colour with a row of crystals set around the bezel for a glam and fun look.

If you would like to have a look at our collection of Party Time watches please follow the link.

Click pic to see Seksy watches

Mothers’ Day is not too far away, this year it falls on Sunday the 3^rd of April. We always receive lots of enquiries from people looking for advice about what would be a great mothers’ day present. Here at Find Watches we have a number of different brands that we think are perfect for mother’s day gifts. If you are stuck for ideas browse through the collections there is something in there to suit all styles and budgets.

Sekonda Seksy Watches

Seksy ladies watches are a big thing in the fashion press. They are a constantly picked out as the affordable equivalent to the expensive watches worn by celebrities. The watches are designed with fashionable women in mind. The collection has a range of quirky contemporary designs that appeal to ladies of all ages. Every Seksy watch comes in a branded presentation box perfect for giving as a gift.

The range was featured next to hit TV shows at Christmas time like X Factor and One Night Stand.  The Seksy watch collections sell out regularly thanks to their star qualities.

Sekonda Party Time Watches

Party Time watches are another of the ranges made by Sekonda. These watches have brightly coloured straps with a matching dial that is ringed with sparkling crystals. There are loads of different colours, making them perfect accessories. Plus with a retail price of only £29.99 and discounts of up to 24% across the range, you are sure to find one that is the perfect colour.

The range, that was only launched last year, has been rapidly gaining in popularity and we are looking forward to another summer of bright colourful fashion perfectly accessorised by Sekonda Party Time watches.

Karen Millen Watches

Another perpetual fashion favourite of ours is Karen Millen ladies watches. This dynamic English brand are loved by classy women all across the world. Karen Millen is known for her sophisticated style and affordable but beautiful designs. Karen Millen watches are no different. The collection offers both chic models that could be worn anywhere alongside glamorous designs perfect for evening wear.

Citizen Eco Drive Ladies Watches

If you are looking for something really special for a gift this Mothers’ Day then you should browse our collection of ladies Citizen Eco Drive watches. The collection is solar powered so the watches never need a battery change. This technology has been made small enough to fit into delicate ladies dress watches perfect for an evening out. The collection also has a number of every day watches utilising the same great technology. Citizen Eco Drive watches also come with a five year guarantee, underlining the faith that they have in their technology.

All of these brands come in lovely presentation boxes that make them a really special gift. If you would like any help or advise please give us a call on 0800 7340734.

If you are still stuck for ideas then have a look at our sister site Find Jewellery. We have lots of carefully picked and high quality jewellery to suit all price ranges including gold jewellery, costume jewellery and silver jewellery.

]]> http://www.findwatches.co.uk/blog/2011-mothers-day-gifts_830.php/feed 3 http://www.findwatches.co.uk/blog/casio-edifice-team-partner-of-red-bull-racing_824.php http://www.findwatches.co.uk/blog/casio-edifice-team-partner-of-red-bull-racing_824.php#comments Wed, 02 Feb 2011 10:16:10 +0000 Amy http://www.findwatches.co.uk/blog/?p=824

Click the picture to see the Casio Edifice collection.

2010 was a big year for the F1 Red Bull racing team partnered with Casio Edifice. Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull protégée since age 12, won the World Championship for the team, giving Red Bull it’s first win in only their 6^th year of competition. The Red Bull team is one of the youngest to take to the pits, the team principal Christian Horner is, at 36 years old, the youngest boss in the pit lanes.  From their factory in Milton Keynes to their superstar drivers Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel every part of the Red Bull team is young, dynamic and filled with determination to win. As Vettel says, “No one ever remembers the guy who finishes second.”

At the European Grand Prix only 1 second separated the top 12 cars on the grid. That is an average gap of 0.08 seconds between each car. Most people have no chance of comprehending such tiny amounts of time and that is why most people are not Formula One drivers. A lot of distance is covered in 0.08 seconds when you are travelling at 200mph. The best drivers have the ability to break down seconds in their mind and try to optimise each fraction. For drivers and their teams time is everything which is why many of them choose to wear a high specification watch. The Red Bull racing team is partnered with Casio Edifice watches.

Adrian Newey is the F1 car designer for Red Bull. He has already won world championships with Williams and Mclaran. Since age 13 he has been collecting watches, although the end product is very different he sees a strong link between the dedication of Casio Edifice and Red Bull to creating innovative high performance products. “Aesthetics, reliability, accuracy and functionality” are key to both which is why Casio Edifice and Red Bull make such great team partners. Newey, Horner, Vettel and Webber all wear their Casio Edifice watches to ensure that they never miss a beat.

Special edition Casio Edifice watches are available that display the Red Bull racing logo on the dial. The racing influence is evident throughout the collection from the styling to the precision engineering.  One look at the collection and you will know that you are gazing at a serious bit of kit. The one of the defining watches in the collection is solar powered and radio controlled by Wave Ceptor technology ensuring exceptional accuracy wherever you are in the world. Plus it has a stopwatch accurate to 1/1000 second, a world timer, alarm and full auto calendar.

The Casio Edifice range is ground breaking technology in it’s own right deserving of it’s place on the Red Bull car.