CLOCKS

Skeleton Clock

Five Stunning Timepieces from Stuhrling Original

Watches have been an important part of the Swiss economy for over four and a half centuries. They remain the country's third most popular export, after machines and chemicals. The Swiss style and design has been so influential that it has inspired horologists all over the world.  In this article, we will focus on a new watchmaker from America.What would possess a company to enter a mature market and compete with established businesses? Could it be youthful hubris or simple miscalculation?  Or maybe, just maybe, they have something to teach the industry.

Stuhrling Original was established in 1999. The founder of the new company, Max Sturhrling IV, had three generations of Swiss horologists in his family. But that didn't count for much. It takes more than a name to make it in the watch industry, and Sturhling Original had to start from scratch.In eleven years, the company has posted positive growth each year. They are currently one of the fastest growing watchmakers in the world. In this article, we will review five of their most popular timepieces.

Sportsman's Eagle

The Eagle is one of the most accessible watches in the Stuhrling Original catalogue.  It is durable, rugged and dependable. But like all of their timepieces, it also has a bold and distinctive look.  The oversized 44-millimeter steel case is circular, the black dial is big and easy to read, and the orange hour hands with luminous tips are even a bit ostentatious. As a practical timepiece, the Eagle has a second hand and a date or calendar window alongside the three o'clock hour marker. The strap is black leather with orange stitching and the watch cover is synthetic sapphire.  It is water resistant up to 155 feet and relies on Swiss Quart movement.

Apocalypse Skeleton

It's not a terribly attractive name, we know. But this timepiece is actually much more appealing than it sounds. For starters, it is an automatic watch, which means that it is not electronic. In the digital age, the overwhelming majority of watches are electronic.  Now, there's nothing wrong with that, per se. Fashion or nostalgia alone should not elevate an old, inferior technology over a new one.Are automatic watches inferior? We're talking about watches that work with springs, cogs and wheels, instead of Quartz movement.

On the plus side, they last a lot longer, but they also cost more and aren't quite as accurate. Why does Stuhrling Original make them? Sadly, because they're one of the few companies that can.Take the Apocalypse Skeleton, for example. It is called a Skeleton because the watch dial is open and lets the user see the guts of the watch, i.e., all the moving parts. The timepiece is handmade with scratch-resistant Krysterna crystal, luminous tipped hands, and blue steel screws. The black rubber strap brings it back down to earth a bit and tags it as a more casual model.

Classic Heritage

Even for Stuhrling Original, the Heritage is an ostentatious watch. It features a hydraulically-embossed black mother-of-pearl dial, a 16 karat gold rose-toned round case, and rose-gold hour hands in the leaf style. Rose-gold Arabic numerals mark the hour and there is even a black subdial and a date window beside the 3 o'clock hour marker. The watchband is made of alligator-embossed French leather that is also water-repellant. It's quite a lot of watch for only a few hundred dollars. Did we mention that it runs on 22-jewl movement or that it is water-resistant up to 165 feet?

Aristocrat Watch

Because they rely on technology, most Quartz watches are a bit bland. But not the Aristocrat Watch from Stuhrling Original. It takes the best of both worlds and combines them in one inimitable timepiece. The eye-catching design is there. It has the bold black dial, Arabic numerals at the 6 and 12 o'clock hour indices, and a helpful date window above the six o'clock marker. The leather strap and stainless steel case give the Aristocrat a sporty feel. It is water resistance up to 165 feet and comes in two popular colors.

Raven Diablo

Stuhrling Original has offered many sport watches in the past, but none is more impressive that the Raven Diablo. Inspired by an earlier model, the Raven XP, this model offers a new square watch dial and case. Made from surgical-grade stainless steel, the three-piece case keeps the shatterproof Krysterna crystals (watchcase) in place.  The skeletonized design lets owners admire the inner working of this automatic timepiece.

Damier style texturing on the crown makes the watch easy to set and wind. In spite of the rugged design and appearance, the Diablo Raven should not be submerged in water. Resistant levels are frequently misleading and unless a timepiece is a certified diving watch it should not be taken into the pool, lake, sea or ocean. Be sure to check out these stylish models and all that Stuhrling Original has to offer the next time you're in the market for a fantastic new wrist watch.

About the Author

Kiero Small is a freelance writer who writes about a variety of fashion topic and retailers such as ShopNBC.

Old cartoon question NOT by disney?

there was this old cartoon i remember watching in like 3rd and 4th grade in school. It was called the skeleton dance or dance f the skeletons. No it was not by disney. It was a sorta famous piece of music and the movie showd skeletons coming out on hollaween but for only one night and then when the clock strikes twleve they o back to there graves. it was made in that classic 30's or so but it was in color. please help me!

Not Disney? The only other choice may be Warner brothers

SKELETON CLOCK PASSING STRIKE

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This entry was posted on Sunday, October 25th, 2009 at 12:41 am and is filed under collectibles clocks. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.