BRIEF HISTORY
On 12th January 1946, Ernest Grunwold married Ilse Kalberman and joined the small family watch business J. Kalberman Co. who eventually became the distributor for Enicar and Cyma clocks and watches. Ernest was a German Jewish man who immigrated to the United States in the 1940s. In 1943, the U.S. Army Air Force drafted Grunwald and he fought in the Italian and North African campaigns during World War II.
In 1962, Ernest and Ilse opened a watch movement assembly plant in the U.S. Virgin Islands called Belair Time Corp. In 1974, his son Alan joined the business which relocated to Lakewood, NJ, in 1989 where it still remains today, employing over 60 people and has an annual turnover of over $8 million.
Belair have been long recognized by industry experts as the number one mid-range private label producer for over 75 years.
Ernest died in August 2018, he was 104.
SEAPEARL 600
The Belair Seapearl 600 has quite an understated presence, with balanced proportions. The 37mm bezel surrounds the matt black dial and the chromed knurled bezel edging allowing a positive grip and turns with ease. It has a lume dot at 12 and numbered 10 minute markers.
The dial has lume dots and numbers at 12, 3 & 9 and has a date window at 6, with a beautifully curved day window slightly above and shows excellent legibility. It has a PUW 1363 25 jewelled automatic movement with a 39 hour power reserve.
There is a tiny T at the bottom of the date window, indicating Tritium paint for the luminous markers. (Tritium is a radioactive substance, now no longer used). The lume has aged really well and shows a slight soft patina.
Dating back to the early 70’s, this model now is extremely hard to find, especially in as good condition as this. I have only seen two over the past year. It really is one of my favourite watches and It makes me smile every time I wear it.
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