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Luxury and Affordable Watches
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Manta Ray 200M Diver
100% Funded on Kickstarter!
Now Available on Indiegogo - Very Limited ( 30% Savings ) !

Link: bit.ly/3tqt1b9
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12/17/2018 1 Comment

Seiko SRPC53K1 Watch Review - Seiko Samurai Alternative?

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Click Here to Find One

Case

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The Seiko SRPC53 is housed in a really interesting curved solid 316L stainless steel case with larger dimensions of 44MM x 50mm x 13.3MM. The case almost slightly reminds me of the twisted Omega Speedmaster lugs, but not 1:1. Overall, the brushing is very neat on the sides while the lug tops contain a high polish for some nice contrast. When on wrist, it certainly pops straight out at you when reading the time due to its’ case shape. The caseback itself is screwed down whilst the crown is pull and push giving us 100 Meters of water resistance. This watch definitely is not a true dive watch but one that can be used to swim, shower, and pretty much any other water activity besides deep diving. A nice feature is the exhinition caseback which shows off the Seiko 4R36 automatic movement.

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Dial

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The matte black dial is clean, crisp, and legible at every angle. A flat hardlex crystal sitting om top of it does insure that as well. The actual layout of the hands and applied lumed markers are quite similiar to the Seiko Samurai which was released to the public over a year ago. All in all, everything is proportioned well, and seems to be in place without too much clutter. Now, the lume is not as bright as Seiko Lumibrite but I would say it is somewhat on the level of C3 SuperLuminova.

Movement

Inside this watch resides the seiko 4R36 automatic movement. We do get a nice day and date feature at the 3:00 position which is quite legible and even contains a black wheel to match the dial color. Essentially, this is an NH35 with a day functiom. Some positives include hand winding. hacking, and a 40 hour power reserve along with 24 jewels. It is also fairly accurate, losing around four seconds a day on my iteration.

Bracelet

The bracelet is a typical Seiko 5 oyster style bracelet. They are not the highest quality with rather flat links and zero curvature, but there are some positives. The actual bracelet is comfortable and easily adjustable with pins and does feature a decent ammount of micro adjustments to insure a perfect fit. Also, there is no dive extension which is a positive for me because those things always hurt my wrist for some reason and allow the bracelet to sit high and awkward clasp side. Other than that, it is definitely useable and functional.
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Conclusion

Furthermore, the SRPC53 certainly contains DNA from the Seiko Samurai and Seiko Monster models which are priced a bit higher. If you are in the market for one of those, or just cannot stand to pay such a high price to obtain one - the SRPC53 is definitely a contendor and will satisfy your needs in my opinion.
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1 Comment

12/14/2018 0 Comments

Spinnaker Cahill New England Watch Review

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You can save 20% on ANY Spinnaker watch with discount code WA20 at checkout ( Includes free International Shipping )

Spinnaker Official Webstore

Case and Dial


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The all new revamped Spinnaker Cahill looks a bit different this time around, and I think they made some much needed improvements. This 200M dive watch sits in a 43MM wide case comprised of solid 316L steel coated with black IP plating. It still remains chunky at 15MM tall including the slightly
domed sapphire crystal. The overall finishing looks very neat on my example with no blemishes or rough edges. If we take a look at the caseback there is indeed an exhibition window to exhibit the automatic movement that powers this watch, which is always fun to look at.


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The dial itself is completely different with a more no nonsense look to it. The brushed grey markers are applied neatly, and the addition of a 24 hour military time is printed below that. I like the fact that they added lumed plots above the numerals, which are filled with green Swiss SuperLuminova for visibility in the dark. The 120 Click Lumed Unidirectional dive bezel is also improved with minimal backplay and perfect alignment which is a big thing for us watch addicts. Overall, the dial feels very militaristic with the crosshair and bold numerals, which is aesthetically pleasing to my tastes.

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Movement

Beating at 3 HZ - the Seiko NH35 automatic caliber is used here which is typical in a dive watch at this price bracket. These are actually really accurate and they even have hand winding with a hack feature if you did not
know. I am getting around +6 seconds a day which is superb.

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Strap

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The 22MM genuine leather water resistant band is the same one used on most of their watches in different flavors. They are quite supple and easy to break in with hand stitched ends. I really have no issue with these and even have tested the water resistance myself with zero problems. The strap however does not taper at all assuming they did this to match the larger case diameter on this model compared to the smaller divers at 40MM they usually release.

Conclusion

Furthermore, Spinnaker models have definitely
improved since I reviewed their first model a couple years ago. The overall quality is decent for the asking price ( Especially with the discount code ). I like the fact that they don’t produce straight 1:1 homages like other brands, but incorporate characteristics of vintage divers into fresh designs.

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0 Comments

12/14/2018 2 Comments

Melbourne Watch Company Flinders Automatic Watch Review - A well built dress watch at an affordable price

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Hand Assembled in Melbourne, AU

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Melbourne Official Site

Case

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The Melbourne Flinders is no doubt a classic and elegant mens dress piece. It has all the characteristics of a true watch which can be dressed up, or even worn casually if you must. It also has rather pleasant dimensions at 40MM wide and an incredible slim profile of 9.8MM ( Yes , it will fit under a cuff ). I found the rose gold IP plating to be quite neat and smooth, with its brushed case sides while the lug sides remain polished for some pop. I believe the actual screw down caseback and lugs are one piece, whilst the circular case and smooth polished bezel are a separate piece. I found this to be quite interesting and unique as I honestly have never seen this type of construction. It is a relatively affordable piece at around $450 USD - but does contain all of the goodies including an AR coated sapphire crystal and exhibition sapphire back.
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Dial

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The dial is an off-white color which matches the Rose Gold well, and features two layers. If we head to the inner portion of the dial where there are white horizontal planks which resemble the deck of a fancy ship or yacht. Applied faceted indices are brushed on top and tipped off with a high polish which matches the polished smooth bezel nicely. It is rather a no nonsense dress watch with our bordered date window at 3:00 containing a white wheel to match the dial. I looked in a bit closer on a macro level at the print work below 12:00 and above 6:00 - to find no errors and neat script and standard writing. They have definitely done the rounds on these making sure perfection is implimented into each one of their timepieces. If you did not know Melbourne Watch Co actually hand assembles their models in Australia - making these basically an australian made timepiece...which is super cool. Lastly, the hands are blued for that traditional elegant look and definitely legibile with an “M” counter balance on the long sweeping seconds hand which reaches to the end of the dial ( Yes, I hate when companies use short hands - But No Worries here! )

Movement

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Taking a look at the caseback we can see the Swiss Made automatic Sellitta SW-200-1 movement. I do have a lot of experience with this movement and it is essentially the same as an ETA 2824-2. It also contains hand winding, hacking, and 21 jewels - while boasting a decent power reserve of 38 hours. Small details such as the custom rotor are not really expected at this pricepoint , but kudos to them for going the extra mile. If you are an accuracy freak like me, I did record the timekeeping of this model and it is gaining around 2 seconds a day, which is truly outstanding.

Supplied Leather Band

A brown genuine leather 20MM band which contains Quick-Release spring bars comes standard on the Flinders. Straight out of the box it does conform to the wrist and fits quite comfortably on my 6.5” wrist. The buckle itself is signed with the “M” for Melbourne and features the same high polished rose gold finish we see on the case itself.
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Conclusion

In conclusion, I think this is truly an undervalued watch. The watch itself is using a very good swiss automatic movement...it is actually assembled by hand in Australia...and comes in an interesting case with decent finishing. I do see a lot of microbrands of lesser quality and even lower grade movements charging upwards of $500-$600 with no real “Uniqueness”. Melbourne definitely has a winner on their hands with the flinders model and it seems it is quite successful as this is their Mark 2 version. I highly reccommend you check them out, and see what they have to offer. Let me finish this off by saying...It does not feel like a microbrand watch at all, rather from a swiss entry level luxury brand. Thanks for reading as always and stay tuned for more reviews.
2 Comments

12/11/2018 0 Comments

DWISS RS-1 Watch Review - Swiss Made at its’ Finest

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Click Here for Official Website


Case

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The RS-1 is comprised of a 7 piece construction with many layers of solid 316L stainless steel. It has a very unique design, something I have never witnessed before with its’ circular case surrounded by skeletonized lugs. The finishing is also very good, and reminds me
of higher end Swiss Independent brands which sell for 10 times the price of these watches. However, Dwiss is no newcomer to the scene of Swiss watchmaking having been around since 2011 and even selling a Concepto Tourbillon for upwards of $19,000 via their webstore. In terms of dinensions, we are looking at 45MM x 13MM x 50.5MM. These dimensions are certainly larger than your average modern traditional swiss watch but to show off such a bold and quirky watch, it seems it was needed. The screw on bezel is also a nice touch with perfectly alligned screws and a smooth brushed finish. Talking about the finishing - it is really, really well done. The chamfered edges on the bezel and lug sides show off what Dwiss is truly about. The caseback also exhibits the Swiss ETA 2824-2 movement which is covered with a sapphire crystal. Please also keep in mind the 200M water resistance rating which allows this watch to pretty much go anywhere in or around water.
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Dial

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The iteration in hand contains the Orange style time wheel which is part of this Multilayer black dial. Heading to the center of the dial there is also a slight smokey black transparency where we can see the inner workings of the movement. The actual minutes hand is rhe large arrow shaped hand whilst the hours is read by the rotating disc which fills in each hour with orange as the hour passes. I think this way of telling time is unique, different, and practical in a fun way. Small fun details include neatly printed specifications near the outer portion of the dial, as well as the rotating shape that sits on top of the minute hand.

Movement

The movement utilized here is none other than the ETA 2824-2 caliber. This is a trusted and reputable swiss automatic movement which contains 24 jewels - hand winding - hacking - and reliability. They even went ahead and inscribed some branding into the rotor which is a nice detail.

Italian Leather/Fabric Band

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There are two options when choosing a R1 timepiece ( Beacelet or Strap ) and mine contains the Italian leather/fabric 24MM strap with quick release pins. I have found it to be quite comfortable and even endure the custom buckle more. It actually feels like a suitable quality strap for a $1400 watch. While other companies skimp on materials and craftsmanship of straps in this price range, Dwiss certainly did not.

Conclusion

Furthermore, If you are sick of looking at everyones wrists and seeing the same traditional and overused designs time after time - the DWISS R1 can be a nice addition to any collection. It has a charm of its’ own with its’ design and various cuts. I think they produced a watch that certainly punches a bit over the selling price they are going for. I have owned and handled many luxury timepieces from large swiss brands in my lifetime, and the R1 certainly can hold its’ own when it comes to build quality, fit, finish, and design. Thanks for taking the time to read - and please do check out their webshop if you would like any more information regarding their timepieces.
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0 Comments

12/9/2018 0 Comments

DUFA Breuer Automatic Watch Review DF-9011-06

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Click Here Official DUFA Site


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The DUFA breuer is most definitely a Bauhaus designed timepiece with minimalistic characteristics. It is crafted in a thin 316L solid steel case with teardrop style lugs and a nicely proportioned dimension at 38MM x 10.3MM thick. A really neat feature is the cut out exhibition window which shows the custom rotor of the automatic movement inside the watch. The caseback is also held down by four screws, which is typical of German watches.
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​Dial

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A nice shade of Blue is used on this iteration of the Breuer with applied brushed slim markers. The date window is also matching the dial which shows they put a bit more effort in the production of these watches. Overall, it is very minimalist and legible including a reference 12:00 and a very visible date cutout at 6:00. I like the fact that the sweeping seconds hand does reach down towards the end of the dial, which some companies fail to achieve at this pricepoint. The crystal itself is a hardened mineral crystal with a nice dome for that vintage Bauhaus aesthetic.
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​Movement

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One of my favorite Japanese movements , the Miyota 9015 is inside the Breuer, with a beautiful DUFA shield inscribed on the rotor. This movement was made by the Citizen group to compete with movements such as the ETA 2824 and SW-200. It has a higher beat rate at 28,800 BPH - contains 21 Jewels - and has a 40 hour power reserve. I have spent my fair share of time with tons of watches utilizing this caliber and they are most definitely accurate at around +5 or better per day.

Calf Leather Band

DUFA doesn’t skimp when it comes to their Genuine Calf Leather bands. This one is actually 18MM and tapers down to 16MM. It is well made with neat stitching and quick-release bars for easy strap changing. Overall, the dull grey color matches the dial perfect and I do not see a reason to change it out.
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​Conclusion

Furthermore, DEUTSCHE UHRENFABRÍK definitely has a winner on their hands with this piece. If you are in the market for an affordable German Made Bauhaus design timepiece with a solid and trusted movement - I would definitely be taking a look at this model.
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0 Comments

12/6/2018 1 Comment

Seiko Skx007k2 Watch Review - Still the best Dive Watch Under $200?

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Best Place To Purchase at the Lowest Price Below


​Case

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The SKX007 is comprised of solid stainless steel and has a diameter of 42MM ( 45.5 including crown ) with a thickness of 13.25MM. The overall wingspan of the watch comes in at exactly 46MM from tip to tip. All of this is relatively a great proportion for the average wrist as well as the 22MM lug width which matches nicely to the overall dimensions. In terms of finishing - the sides are highly mirror like polished while the lug tops remain brushed for some nice visual contrast. I have to admit, for a $200 watch the finishing is very well done. Heading to 4:00 our crown is surrounded by integrated crown guards and features some decent threading and grip to unscrew it and function the movement. Many Seiko enthusiasts really enjoy the screwed down caseback because it does exhibit the Japanese wave which is a neat little piece of art. Now, this watch is 200M water resistant and ISO 6425 compliant - so do not hesitate to incorporate it into your daily water activities whether that be swimming, diving, snorkeling, or showering.
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​Dial

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The matte black dial on the SKX is quite a simple layout, and even slightly reminds me of the Submariner a bit. Painted Lumibrite plots cover most of the dial with a nice large reference triangle at 12:00. To be honest, the lume is outstanding as usual, and it really cannot compare to even many Swiss Luxury brand dive watches. One negative people might see is the use of the Hardlex seiko crystal. It is essentially a hardened mineral crystal created by Seiko in-house, and does smudge and scratch quite easily. This might be a problem for some potential buyers, but for $200 - I don’t really see a problem. There are always options to replace the crystal with a sapphire if needed. Our 120 Click Unidirectional rotating bezel clicks at each 1/2 minute mark and features slight backplay, but nothing too crazy.
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​Movement

The 7S26 automatic movement inside the SKX is pretty much a dumbed down version of the more modern and common 4R16 ( NH35 ) movement. This movement is not the most accurate but does have a ruggid and unbreakable reputation. It also features a 41 hour power reserve to go along with the 21 Jewels it contains. Do keep in mind that this movement is a bit outdated and does not feature hacking nor hand-winding capability.

Jubilee Bracelet

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The 22MM jubilee bracelet is definitely a love:hate relationship amongst most skx owners. You are either going to love it for its’ comfort and old datejust feeling characteristics , or hate it. I must admit, it is quite comfortable on wrist, features a decent ammount of micro adjustments, and gets the job done. However, it is not completely solid and does not contain solid end links which makes the watch a bit top heavy.
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Conclusion

Furthermore, to even be able to purchase an automatic ISO rated 200M dive watch at the $200 pricepoint - is quite astonishing. I won’t lie, I do think the SKX is a great value proposition for what you truly get. It also has some great looks and comes with a long line of History in the Seiko dive family, dating back to the 1970s. I have even seen this watch in collections of luxury watches also, seeing it as a “Must-Have” for any true watch enthusiast.
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1 Comment

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The main component of a mechanical movement is the mainspring, a spring that gradually unwinds and transmits energy. A mechanical watch will keep accurate time despite requiring winding up if it's manual. ... Inside an automatic watch sits a small weighted rotor that has to oscillate in order to wind the mainspring.

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