https://weisswatchcompany.com/ I posted my Weiss watch the past week or so and mentioned in WRUW that I would have additional pix and information soon. I ran across this watch at Nordstrom Rack and thought it a striking, comfortable watch and, HEY! a manual wind. So, I set the time and off I went to do some research and back again the next day(a touch fast running) to buy a 1st Generation Weiss Special Edition Field Watch with "Latte" colored dial,(their terminology) with a cal 1001 manual wind movement with cool Geneva stripes at about 65% off retail. Weiss launched in 2013 and this Special Edition was introduced in 2015 with the latte dial and skeletonized hands. I was concerned about it being 42mm but have found it wears easily and sits well on my wrist, and it is very well balanced and not heavy. More than anything, I like that it is very legible with the black hands and numerals against this cream dial. It has a signed Horween Shell strap in black(soft leather backing) and a signed SS buckle. Sapphire crystals, front(slightly domed) and back(flat). Stainless mid-case finished matt/brushed and mirrored front and back bezels. 4 hex screws secure it. It can best be described as "assembled and finished" in USA. It has a Swiss made Unitas/ ETA 6497 pocket watch movement developed in the 1950's and considered very robust and very accurate, hence the sub-seconds at "9". It has a very substantial "feel" on setting and winding is smooth and easy with a nicely sized, coin-edged signed crown. Now, so far so good.....but how is their customer service? I was going to find out before the window for returns closed. Nordstrom Rack could not find the pine box and paperwork it should have been sold with. So I emailed the company with a simple request, can they provide a pine box and paperwork? Wow, quick(within an hour or so) reply saying yes, but needing a receipt picture, front and back pictures showing the issue number and I guess, proof it was in my possession. Back the email went and another quick affirmative reply, and a $80 invoice. That was Monday, I received it today. And then a bit later, an email thanking me for supporting their company. So, that's a yes! for customer service. And I found out that mine(#0667) was produced on 10-1-2016. Nifty pine box and some very important info on winding this watch IF you want it to keep the correct time daily. I'm keeping it. I have limited my size to 40mm, but I have 2-3 a bit larger and this one is by far the most comfortable and the least weighted of those. I like it a lot and the Shell strap is substantial and very well made. As of early this week, I noticed their website announced their 2nd generation "in house" manual movement and the watch is promoted as Made in USA. Plus they scrubbed the info on cal 1001 movement.
I love Weiss! Such a solid brand with genuine people running it. I have been following them for quite some time. Cameron the founder is actually doing a podcast with Matt Farrah. The podcast is called “Watch and Listen”. Really gives some insight into Weiss and Cameron’s mind/history as a watchmaker. Worth a listen!
I love the fact that folks like Cameron Weiss and Roland Murphy are trying to make a go of it here. If you listen to interviews with both, the passion and determination really come through. It’s not easy trying to bring an industry that was once the envy of the world back from the dead. These guys are doing it in a small way.