1

A Day
Observed

A story presented by

Scene 1:
‘Morning’

It was a bright cold day with glassy surfaces that looked hard.
Into the square frame he stood as if in a dream.

What emerged was precisely what he expected to find: a reflection of memory images. Contemplating his face in the photo frame he waited.

1960s lucite and chrome 3 image photo frame

By the steady hands of his watch, he listened to time. Every day for the past sixteen days he saw her. Silver lingered in the crease of
an open book.

Rolex burlwood dial, Jubilee bracelet Miniature
oar English university trophy, sterling silver.

So absorbed in his thoughts
he hardly saw the platinum catch-all, the key, or the revelation locked inside those lapis lazuli cufflinks tossed unmistakably in cold blue.

Hans Hanson catch-all. Mid-century, Danish sterling silver. Stirrup money clip, by Hermès. Padlock keyring, sterling silver " Tie bar-slide " Round lapis lazuli cufflinks" Square cufflinks, two tone rose and yellow gold, diamond."

Only by whirling on his heel could he hope to comprehend
the panorama.

Shoe horn, circa 1930. American sterling silver
Scene 2:
‘Noon’

He remained.Trapped in that enormous room,
unmistakably familiar in feeling yet so peculiar.

Above the mantle was
displayed an Austrian hound
of impeccable integrity.

Hagenauer sculpture, 1930

His gaze fell on the letter opener. By accident she had learnt more about his life from the contents of that letter than anywhere.

Dunhill letter opener with lighter top, circa 1950

Cleopatra’s eye reflected
the sun. Through the hypnotism
of precious metals there
emerged a dark slender shadow.

Cleopatra’s eye magnifying glass. Mid-century, gold plated
Hermès weighted pen. Silver plated.

A lighter presented itself, smooth to the touch
it gave the impression of
intelligent company.

Table lighter St Dupont, circa 1960. Gold plate
Scene 3:
‘Evening’

All this time light was receding from the room.

“I should explain why I spend so much time here”, said the silhouette. Leaves moved like shadows across her eyes.

Hermès rope bottle opener. Plated silver.

It’s not too late to turn back. Time moved with faint sounds.

Venini hourglass. Hand-blown lurid Murano glass.

He unscrewed the telescopic cup, rolled and remained still. Black eyes on the dice prophesied a new cycle.

Telescopic cup, J. E. Cauldwell. Gold plated. Dice,
Cartier for America. Vitreous enamel glass, silver

Staring down at the varnished surface her mouth worried him while her eyes examined the gold cufflink.

Audemar Piguet evening watch. gold plated, Roman dial, alligator strap
Scene 4:
‘Night’

Everything went crashing black.

Pale graceful hands placed
the gold stud box delicately
on the table.

Men’s Edwardian jewellery box, 1910. Gold plated.
Mid-century British cigar ashtray. Sterling silver and crystal.

He lit a match to make sure the watch had really stopped. Smoke lingered from its vesta case.

Realist wrapped tobacco leaf march vesta. Silver.

As the travel clock neared
one the figure vanished into dappled shadows.

Art Deco Jaeger LeCoultre travel clock.
Gold and silver plated. Retailed by Aspray.

On the newly varnished table two bronze shot cups sat alive like in a dream.

Tooth shot cup by Foundwell. Bronze and silver plated.
Set of 4, 3 silver 1 gold. Heath & Midleton champagne decanters circa 1900.
Sterling silver and glass.
The End

‘A DAY OBSERVED’
A story by FOUNDWELL
Photography Matthieu Lavanchy, creative direction OK-RM,
notes by Kate O’Brien and objects selected by Alan Bedwell

‘A DAY OBSERVED’
A story by FOUNDWELL
Photography Matthieu Lavanchy,
creative direction OK-RM
notes by Kate O’Brien
and objects selected by Alan Bedwell

Early and Rare Sterling Silver Gorham Martini Mixing Bucket

Golf Cocktail Shaker
and Matching Golf Bag Cup

Sterling Silver Woven Bottle Coaster

Foundwell

A SELECTION OF ITEMS BY THE PRODUCER OF
CRAFTED GOODS & PURVEYOR OF ANTIQUE WATCHES,
JEWELLERY & OTHER SUCH OBJECTS

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A stainless steel Seiko chronograph "Bullhead" automatic watch.  This highly destinctive and recognizable watch was given the moniker the "Bullshead" due to its unique orientation of the crown and stop watch pushers to the top of the watch, thus going the impression of bull horns.  The reason these key parts of the watch were relocated to the top of the watch were much the same as adding a crown guard to a dive watch.  To prevent any accidental contact.   This watch was also launched in the early 1970's during which a lot of timing apparatus were being used in motorsports, and this placement makes their location on the wrist easier while having a hand on the steering wheel.

Launched in around 1973, it was not the first brand to adopt this novel set up.  Omega had launched its version in 1969 and many other brands followed suit throughout the 1970's, such as Breitling and Bulova.  The watch remained in the Seiko line up until 1979, having roughly six year run.  It came in two dial variations; a black and blue and this very striking brown and gold.  The case is an interesting study in case design.  It is designed at an angle so that it tapers up, essentially rising slightly toward the wearer as it moves up the wrist.  While this does through off some of the symmetry of weight, the original so called "fish bone" tapered bracelet does a great job of keeping the watch centered on the wrist.  It is indeed a large piece of beautifully bevelled steel, and is a reason why so many of these watches end up with large dings and dents on them, and end up being refinish and polished.  That is one of the major reasons this example is such a superb example.  It is dent, and almost even scratch free, featuring its satin and sunburst finished edges in tact.  The same can be said for the bezels, which also tend to have had chunks taken out of the edges.  However, again, this bezel and its insert are in superb condition with just a slight indent but the 80 on the bezel, but has not impacted the insert itself.

The movement that powers this watch is the caliber 6138, which followed the 6139 automatic chronograph movement introduced by Seiko in 1969, the year in which Heuer also introduced their automatic chronograph movement for the Heuer Monaco and other sport model watches.  Making this also an important piece of watch making history.  The main difference from the 39 to the 38 was the inclusion of the hand winding option for the movement, along with the addition of an additional chronograph register.  These were not present in its earlier configuration.  Although not being as well finished as some of its Swiss rivals this column wheel twenty one jewel movement with vertical coupling is a highly reliable and effective movement, also including a quick set day and date with both Spanish and English days of the week.  Options that watches like Rolex did not have.

The dial on these watches is another reason to love them.  The rare use of brown, although not conventional is superb looking, and in bright light shows how the color fades to a darker chocolate as it moves out toward the white chapter ring.  The indices and hands are white which allows them to pop off the dial, and the original tritium luminous material still glows a peppermint green under UV light.  The gold brushed sub dials and frame around the date help to brighten the dial and make it pop.  The mix of both which and gilt printing on the watch and the "Suwa" logo above the date wheel let you know you have a classic Seiko.  The yellow sweep hand is the very 1970's icing on the cake.  This is all protected by a Seiko "Hardlex" toughened crystal.

The screw back case is in superb condition throughout, and has not seen a polishing wheel.  All of the reference numbers are present on the back of the case; 6138 0049 738XXX gives this watch a production year of March 1977, making this one of the last batch to come off the production line.  If this is a watch that you have been looking for, you will be very hard pressed to find an example in better original condition. 


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Item Dimensions
Width
1.725 inches (4.3815cm)
Thickness
0.63 inches (1.6002cm)