The Man Cave™

[Outcast]

Oh man, that looks really good!

[sivispacem]

In this one you can just about see the reason I got it so cheap- there's some damage to the sapphire crystal (I've blown it up a bit in this image, you can see it just 1-o'clock, extending to the edge of the minute chrono dial).

What looks like damage by the 10-o'clock on the small image is just a fibre of some kind, it's not there now.

 

 

It might need a new crystal, it might not- don't know at this point. I was supposed to get our local specialist to have a look at it on Saturday, but despite advertising as being open until 1 he closed before 12.

Even if it needs a new one, it only adds about £120 onto the servicing cost. It's supposedly had a recent one, but I'm inclined to have it sent back to Omega just to be on the safe side.

 

It's a pre-Coaxial model built on a prettified Chronometer-grade Valjoux 7750, so it should be pretty much bomb-proof. Hopefully it won't give me any of the issues my early Coaxial PO gave me...

[ｘ]

bump

 

[sivispacem]

Nice Tank. 

[Outcast]

PIcked this up on a recent business trip to the Netherlands. Just my luck that I'm always in Europe on their hottest days. I was even in Cambridge on the hottest ever day the UK has recorded (38.7C)!

 

Anyway, back on topic, I decided to go with the hesalite instead of the sapphire sandwich after looking at both, wasn't really a big fan of the "step" on the sapphire compared to the smooth rounded dome of the hesalite.

 

Edited August 1, 2019 by Outcast

[sivispacem]

Lovely. I would personally drop the steel bracelet and get a Marine Nationale NATO from Erika's Originals. They look absolutely awesome on the Speedy.

 

[ｘ]

I like Epsom leather on Speedy's. Here's mine

 

 

 

 

[Outcast]

Yeah I like how versatile the Speedy is. Looks good with steel, NATO, AND leather straps. 

 

I spoke to my jeweler today about Tudor Black Bay 58 availability, I love the look and colour combo. In many ways I actually prefer it over the Submariner, but it's a 3-6 month wait. I'll probably still plop down the deposit and just wait it out since I'm not in any particular rush. I'm also thinking about picking up a Bell & Ross BR V2-92 Aeronavale off the grey market. B&R resales on their non-Instrument models are pretty sh*t anyway, and it's a relatively cheap watch so I'm not too worried about servicing costs or warranty. There's also a microbrand that caught my eye recently - the Baltic Aquascaphe in blue & gilt with a rubber strap. They're currently all sold out but I sent them a message and apparently they should be back in stock in November. Pretty sure I'm going to pick one up seeing as it's only about $650. For some reason I'm really digging blue/gold & black/bronze colour combos lately. 

 

The reason I'm allowed to go on a slight watch binge is because my wife wants a Panerai PAM1537 or the green Submariner (which is pretty much impossible to get at RRP) for her 30th next year, and for her birthday this year I plonked down a bunch of cash for a Cartier bracelet. So I'm pretty much home and dry to spend whatever I want (within reason) on the watches I want. 

Edited August 2, 2019 by Outcast
grammar

[sivispacem]

I've largely satiated my recent watch desires, with the exception of this little oddity.

 

 

Zenith El Primero Rainbow Flyback. They've released a new reimagined version but it's 45mm and I prefer the 90s original.

 

Trying to find a decent one is proving to be an absolute nightmare. People want silly money for absolute dogs but I'm in no rush.

[Outcast]

That's pretty awesome, like a less gaudy version of the Rainbow Daytona just for people in the know. 

 

45mm is too bloody massive though.

[sivispacem]

Like all El Primero Zeniths, they're 36,000vph. I don't think the Rainbow does tenths, but some of the other Zeniths do.

IMO Zenith are hugely underrated as a watchmaker. Back in the day when they used to make movements for Rolex, part of the "beautification" process was to drop the Zenith movements back down to 8vps from 10, effectively making them less accurate for Rolex use.

 

There's a skeletonised ceramic called the Defy El Primero 21 which had an independent, fully automatic hundredths chronograph. Staggering thing.

 

 

Bit gaudy though...

[Outcast]

I just picked up an Oris Divers 65 with the green dial. 

 

Took my wife watch shopping (got her a Nomos) and i decided to pick up the Oris as well since it's cheap(ish). So far I love it, even fell asleep wearing it and it's so comfortable on the wrist with the rubber strap.

[Outcast]

@sivispacem

 

Picked up a Tudor Black Bay 58, Black Bay GMT, Nomos Zurich Weltzeit, and Grand Seiko SBGA211 Snowflake since I last posted. Currently looking at a VC Overseas but next purchase most likely a couple stainless steel Rolex sports models. Obviously pretty much impossible to get at an AD without having purchased DJ, OP, D-D, etc but thankfully have an in at the AD via both my Dad and Uncle. 

[sivispacem]

On 12/19/2019 at 4:46 PM, Outcast said:

Grand Seiko SBGA211 Snowflake

Love the Seiko Snowflake. I've really started getting into the GS models recently. I just wish they didn't have the power dial for the spring drive on them...

The "Autumnal Forest" heritage collection GS is stunning:

 

 

 

My wife bought me a custom Marine Nationale strap from Erika's Originals (https://erikasoriginals.com/) as a Christmas present which I've got on my Omega Ti Chrono Diver

Mirage MN with patina stainless hardware, red contrast stitching and the original parachute issue numbers. 

 

Straps are handmade in France from vintage 1960s and 1970s nylon parachute webbing and the quality is absolutely exceptional.

Apologies for the crap photo

 

[ｘ]

I'm not really a fan of the contemporary GS design. They're a bit too busy for my liking, especially the way they designed the font on the date window, it's usually stretched out odd on the single digit dates. There's a few models that I really do like though

 

SBGW251

 

 

 

SBGJ217G

 

 

 

SBGZ003

Edited December 26, 2019 by ｘ

[sivispacem]

Yeah, that GMT is a pretty fantastic looking thing.

 

As of today all my watches but one are on NATOs or some variation of. I should probably put at least one back on a metal strap but meh.

 

 

L/R:

Birth-year Seiko Turtle with an aftermarket Pepsi bezel, on an original Seiko rubber strap.

Tag Heuer Aquaracer Calibre 5 500m on custom NATO, can't remember where from.

Omega Seamster Chrono Diver Titanium on custom Erika's Originals Marine Nationale.

Tag Heuer F1 Chronograph on £5 eBay NATO

Custom mother-of-pearl Seiko SKX007

[Outcast]

I never really got the NATO strap fad. Granted I've never had one on but what is it about NATO that everyone loves so much? Care to enlighten me, @sivispacem?

 

Regarding GS, I didn't think I would ever buy one but after the AD showed me the Snowflake I was hooked. If I were to get another GS it would definitely be the Autumn Hi-Beat or the GMT. I was just lacking something a bit more dressy hence the Snowflake. Not a big fan of the metal bracelet that came with it though, so immediately had it swapped out with a dark blue alligator leather strap. Really makes the blued seconds hand pop!

Edited December 27, 2019 by Outcast

[sivispacem]

I find NATO's super comfortable. The Marine Nationale ones are also very adjustable- not dissimilar to a diving clasp so they can be micro-adjusted on the wrist. They're also more resistant to things like pin displacement as they're fixed to the band at two separate points.

For something tool-watch-y- like a diver- I really like how they look too. I'll probably drop my Aquaracer back onto its bracelet as I tend to wear it more as an evening watch these days.

[Outcast]

How would you say they compare next to, say, a good quality tropic rubber strap? Also aren't NATO's a bit more bulky than the traditional rubber/leather straps?

[sivispacem]

They're typically similar weight. I find rubber, even good rubber, quite sweaty after a long time. Most NATOs don't have much give in them though the nylon parachord based ones do have a bit of stretch. 

[ｘ]

Oh man, I'm an absolute strap whore, probably have spent over $2k on leather straps and have like 30 nato straps from different brands. I find that most of the cheap perlons/nato's are really scratchy and uncomfortable on the wrist. Omega makes the smoothest nato straps but they cost around $200, phenomenato is a close second at around $50, seatbelt nato's from various brands like watchgecko are soft too, although they usually have a bit more shine. These days I don't really use nato straps anymore as I prefer leather straps. I've also converted the ones I do use to single pass as I didn't like the added bulk they added to the bottom of the watch, makes it look like the watch is floating over your wrist. I have yet to try rubber straps as I don't like the look, although the rubber straps on the new aqua terra's are really nice. Thought about getting them but they're about $1k for the strap and buckle combo from omega.

 

 

[sivispacem]

The main issue I have with the Omega NATOs is they don't do titanium hardware on them, so if you've got a Ti case watch then they metals look a bit wrong. Also, £150/$200 for a NATO is bonkers when you can get a completely custom one for half that...

 

I'd like to find a leather for my Aquaracer. Any recommendations on preferred brands?

[ｘ]

Mill handmade is who I use for completely custom hand made straps, based in Australia. Camille Fournet is another, they do the stock straps for a few of the higher end brands and also have an option to design your own strap. Veblenist is another good one that's not that expensive. There's a few more out there who offer similar styles and leathers, but those 3 are the best in finishing and price imo. There's a lot of companies selling straps these days, like Hodinkee/Bulang/A Collected Man/Theo & Harris etc. But they just get another company to make straps for them and mark them up for that brand tax.

[Outcast]

 

Just picked this up. Wasn't really planning on getting a new watch but I had saw some shots of the new Breitling Avenger Automatic 45 GMT Night Mission and rather fancied it. Then literally got a call out of the blue a week or so later from my local Breitling AD inviting me to the Avenger launch event. Tried it on and absolutely loved it so just bought it on the spot. To be honest I think it's a bit steep for an ETA based movement, but sometimes it's really just a case of the heart wanting what the heart wants.

 

@sivispacem forgot to mention, I got the AD to throw in a NATO with the purchase. Will be trying it out once I've broken in the stock strap!

 

EDIT: realized I haven't posted any pictures of the Black Bay GMT or the Snowflake so here they are:

 

Edited January 17, 2020 by Outcast

[sivispacem]

Those Avengers are big ol' things. 45mm with no complications...

You could probably read it from orbit.

[Outcast]

Yeah, it's going to be my "nice" G-Shock. Don't want to wear something like the GS when I go off-roading or mudding!

[Audi]

Any recommendations for a nice watch case? Preferably with a minimum of 6 sections. 

[sivispacem]

I'll have to check brand but my one I posted above is hardwood and glass and was only circa £50 for a 6 slot.

[Outcast]

Went to my local AD today to pick up my Speedy Pro which I had sent in to get some scratches polished off the Hesalite crystal. Walked out an hour later with my Speedy Pro and a brand new Grand Seiko SBGM221 and Breitling Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43mm with the winged logo. 

 

Will post some pics later

 

EDIT: 

 

Edited May 9, 2020 by Outcast

[mr quick]

Watch enthusiasts, I'm inches away from pulling the trigger on a Seiko diver. Any variant of SKX or turtle, whichever comes up first. I swim in the sea every day from may til september and need an automatic watch that can withstand that kind of use. 

I only recently started considering quartz movement, but I'm not sure what the advantages to either movements would be in a watch for this specific use. 
SKX a good way to go? Anything else I should consider? 

...apropos SKX, I've heard that they've just quietly phased out SKX in favor of the new 5 sports - is this right? Surely not? 

 

I like to wear smaller watches. This is the cheap old Fortis windup I wear daily. With its +/- 1 minute per 24 hours, it really is unacceptably inaccurate, but I love the way it wears, so it's staying on there  

Edited May 28, 2020 by mr quick
posted prematurely