FIVE WAYS HI-FIDELITY LTD

LIMES & ARCHIMEDE
The Limes (pronounced Leem-ess) range is made by Ickler GmbH, a German company founded in 1924. This is a family business which was and is a manufacturer of high quality watch cases for prestigious and demanding watch makers. In 1990 the company started making complete watches. At first these were "private label" watches. Following this Ickler GmbH planned its own range drawing on decades of experience and setting very high standards. The result was Limes. The company has an obvious passion for mechanical watches (no quartz in the Limes range) and uses high specification movements throughout. These watches are rather different from most of the others we sell. Although the Limes range includes some pilots' watches, many of the other models are rather dressier than the watches from some of our other suppliers where the watches are predominantly of the pilots' or instrument type.The quality of Limes products is very high and does not need the qualification "for the price". The quality is simply very good and for the relatively modest prices it is amazing.

There is a good manufacturer's web site: www.limes-watches.com and as usual all models may be ordered from us. The site is worth a visit as the range is rather large and we show only part. The reviews and owners' comments are worth reading. Our selection follows. Please note that at the manufacturer's request we do not supply Limes watches outside the UK.

The Limes range has been rationalized somewhat for 2009. Some of the old favourites (e.g. Nightflight) have been deleted from the range. We still have some Nightflight series stock.

The ARCHIMEDE brand is also made by Ickler GmbH and details appear below the Limes section.

Pharo Big Date Power Reserve. Polished stainless steel case. Automatic. Domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflection coatings (front) and sapphire crystal rear. Decorated movement. Water resistant to 50m. D= 40.5mm. H= 11.4mm. Base movement ETA 2892-2/Soprod 9090. Excellent watch. U6282C-LA4.2 £1116 (strap)
Pharo Carre. Polished stainless steel case. Automatic. Sapphire crystals front and rear. Decorated movement. Size: 36.7mm. x 36.7mm. with H= 9.5mm. Base movement ETA 2824-2 U4040-LA1.1 £796 (strap)
Pharo Auto Time/Date. Polished stainless steel case. Automatic. Water resistant to 50m. Sapphire crystals front and back (front domed and with anti-reflection coatings). Decorated movement. D= 40.5mm. H= 10.5mm. Base movement ETA 2824-2 U6282C-LA1.1 £716 (strap)

Endurance 1000. Water resistant to 1000m. Automatic movement. D= 39.5mm. H= 12.2mm. Base movement: ETA 2824-2. This is a superb all round sports watch as well as being a diver's watch. A slightly re-styled version is now available with D= 41.2mm.This alternative version is available in four different dial colours: black, orange,yellow and blue.Full details are on the Limes site. U8747-LA1.1 (Illustrated right) This model is now sold out. U8787-LA2.1 (larger version) with strap £716 (bracelet version £876)
Endurance 1000 GMT3. Water resistant to 1000m. Automatic movement. D= 41.8mm. H=12.6mm. Base movement: ETA 2893-2. Unidirectional bezel marked 60mins. and 24hrs. Two time zones on the main dial with second 24hr. scale in red. Using the bezel, three time zones are available in all. Sapphire crystal. Shown with rubber diver strap. U8787-LG2.2 (strap) £796 (bracelet version £956)
Endurance 1000 Chronograph. Water resistant to 1000m. Polished/satin stainless steel case. Unidirectional 60m. bezel. Black dial. Sapphire crystal. Solid stainless steel back. Luminous. Screw down crown. Water resistant to 1000m. Automatic movement. D= 41.2mm. H= 15.5mm. Base movement: Valjoux 7750. U8797-LC2.1 £1276 (black rubberized strap) (bracelet version £1436) Please note that divers' watches make good, robust general purpose/sports watches. You do not need to be a diver to own one.
The Nightflight/Klassik Vintage 1924. The "Vintage" model is shown (right). Silvered luminous dial with luminous hands. Polished/satin stainless steel case. See through display back. Automatic movement. Sapphire crystals front and rear. Water resistant to 50m. Screw-down crown. Luminoous. Strap mounting with screws. D= 38mm. H= 9.6mm. This entry level model from Limes is a great introduction to the world of mechanical watches and a bargain for a watch with sapphire crystals. Base movement: ETA 2824-2. The Nightflight models are strongly recommended. U7624R-LA4.3 £521 (bracelet version 634) This watch is available in several other presentations (same price). All these may be seen on the Limes site.Two are shown below.Standard Nightflight is on the left and black dial Vintage is on the right. Please note that only the version shown below right is still available. The other versions are sold out and discontinued.
U7617.0-LA1.2 £521 (bracelet version £634)		U7624R-LA4.1 £521 (bracelet version £634)

COMMENT
A large range made by a respected case maker. The variety of designs is very wide and covers most tastes. Shown above is a small selection so a visit to the Limes web site is recommended.

ARCHIMEDE

"Archimede" is another brand from the Ickler group. While "Limes" is the mainstream brand "Archimede" is conceived for retro minded/classic watch enthusiasts. The pricing of this range is sympathetic. The quality and value for money are quite exceptional. The whole range may be seen at www.archimede-uhren.de Our selection appears below. We can also supply the other models in the range. Our prices reflect the prices on the manufacturer's site allowing for best achievable exchange rate and our free shipping. Please note that we are not able to supply these watches outside the UK.

Pilot XLH Handwound Traditional hand wound pilot's watch. Fine brushed stainless steel case. Sapphire crystal with anti-reflection coating. Display back (but solid available). Luminous. Water resistant to 50m. D= 45mm. H=10.5mm. Base movement:Eta/Unitas 6498. £395 with brown or black leather strap Extra for solid back £22 Deployant clasp £35 There is a deluxe version of this watch with a decorated movement (6498-TOP) at £636
Pilot H This watch is something of a gem. It is a scaled down version of the famous Beobachtungsuhr (B'uhr) as made by IWC and others during WWII. The originals were very large, like small clocks, and were worn on the outsides of flying jackets. The Pilot H (H for historic) is a homage to these classic watches. It has a plain dial devoid of maker's name and is likely to be more satisfying with the solid back option. Fine satin stainless steel case. Automatic. Sapphire crystal. Solid back recommended but display back available. Luminous. Water resistant to 50m. D= 42mm. H= 9.9mm.Base movement: ETA 2824-2 £342 with brown or black leather strap Extra for solid back (recommended) £22 Deployant clasp £35
Pilot M & L This medium sized watch is available in standard (M) or left handed (L) execution. Fine satin stainless steel case. Automatic. Date. Sapphire crystal. Mineral glass back. Pilot's crown. Luminous. Water resistant to 50m. D= 39mm. H= 9.9mm. Base movement: ETA 2824-2 £306 with brown or black strap Deployant clasp £35
Pilot 42 This watch has the same specification as Pilot M except that D= 42mm. and a solid back is available. £306 with brown of black strap Extra for solid back £22 Deployant clasp £35
Pilot S This is a new model and the smallest in the "Pilot" range. It has the flavour of the classic pilot's watch/beobachtungsuhr but without the size. Automatic. Stainless steel case with satin finish. Sapphire crystal. Mineral glass back. Luminous. Pilot's crown. Water resistant to 50m. D= 36mm. H= 9.8mm. Base movement: ETA 2824-2 £342 with brown or black leather strap Deployant clasp £35
Pilot Chronograph This model is an award winner and must be one of the best buys available for 7750 based chronographs. Fine brushed/satin stainless stee case (also black PVD). Sapphire crystal. Display back (solid back available). Luminous. Water resistant to 50m. D= 42mm. H= 13.6mm. Base movement: ETA Valjoux 7750. £814 with brown or black leather strap. PVD version £864 Extra for solid back £22 Deployant clasp £35
Deck Watch This is a new model. Hand winding. Stainless steel case polished/fine brushed. Sapphire crystal with anti reflection coatings both sides. Screw down back with mineral glass window. Water resistant to 50m. Silvered dial with black numerals. Blue hands. D= 42mm. H= 10.5mm. Base movement: ETA/Unitas 6498. £398 with either black or brown strap Extra for solid back £35 Extra for folding clasp £22
Vintage These watches are very reminiscent of the 20s and 30s and are inspired by the pilots' watches of the times. Fine satin finish stainless steel case. Automatic. Sapphire crystal. Display back (but solid available). Luminous. Water resistant to 50m. D= 42mm. H= 9.8mm. Base movement ETA 2824-2. £342 with brown or black leather strap. Green or orange markings. Extra for solid back £22 Deployant clasp £35 (Black dial models shown right)
Vintage As above but with white dials (shown right) £342 with brown or black leather strap. Green or orange markings. Extra for solid back £22 Deployant clasp £35