About

 The Bitchley is inspired by the best in design, craftsmanship and the pleasures that nurture the soul. This often⁠—but not always⁠—means a retrospective look at products and and design that were created by people with a passion for excellence. I'm interested in the people, companies...even governments...that have taken seriously the notion that the way we build our environments influences the day-to-day state of mind of the humans that occupy it. In short: bitchin' societies are built by passionate people living in inspired environments. That's what this place is about.

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A guide to the Chronosport Sea Quartz 30

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  Skindiver Magazine, 1978 At the end of the 1970s, a small company based in Norwalk, Connecticut began flogging a new line of quartz diving watches via mail orders in popular scuba diving magazines. "So what?" you say. "There were tons of quartz diving watches made in the '70s and '80s." And you're right, of course. Vintage mechanical diving watches have stood the test of time and reign king, while their quartz contemporaries--the red-headed stepchildren--linger in the shadows. But there are a few exceptional examples. This is one of them. Part of what made the 23501 a stand-out in the watch community is the fact that it used the same Monnin case that was used on the Royal Navy issued dive watch made by Cabot Watch Company. The Ministry of Defence had replaced the Rolex Submariner with the CWC model, giving it immediate gravitas as a military-approved tool that is just as robust as the already legendary Sub. In turn, enlisted men in the US and elsewhere...
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