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Luxury and Affordable Watches
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Oceanica Manta Ray 200M Diver
- LIVE ON KICKSTARTER -
GREAT VALUE

kck.st/3qrgXnu
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6/29/2018 1 Comment

Castle Corbel Watch Review - Super affordable casual watch under $100

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www.Castlewatchco.com

Today we are going to take a look at an extemely affordable mens watch that comes with some components that punch above its weight. When comparing this watch to others in the same category on the market it is definitely the obvious option, and it only costs $59..

But before I start id like to mention they are planning to release an automatic “CAVETTO” castle watch which looks pretty interesting and different..I believe you can sign up for their newsletter once Pre-Orders have opened.

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Packaging

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Case

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The 42MM case on the Corbel is created from 316L stainless steel, the industry standard when it comes to a decent watch. It is entirely brushed with a curved lug profile for easy comfort on the wrist. The case itself has a pull/push signed crown with 5ATM or 50M of water resistance, which is perfectly suitable for this genre of timepiece. In terms of thickness it is rather thin at 8MM and has a 22MM lug width. The proportions are definitely in sync with eachother allowing the corbel to wear well on the wrist and not look out of place. The caseback is screwed down with a nice bold castle logo directly in the center. The best thing about this $59 watch is that it comes with a genuine sapphire crystal which truly beats its competitors such as Daniel Wellington, MVMT, and numerous other brands. Those watches cost 4 times the price and come with a mineral crystal, which is quite low-end. I did not find any blemishes or rough/sharp surfaces and the case seems to be cut nicely.
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Dial

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The dial is a creamish white color and has a sunburst effect when the sunlight hits it which looks pretty cool to the naked eye. It is a rather simple no nonsense 9-5 watch with sharp polished dauphine hands which allow for easy legibility on top of this white dial. The watch also features triangular shaped polished applied indices while the Castle logo is printed at 12:00 and “CASTLE” directly at 6:00. Some might prefer the blue sunburst dial as it does stand out a bit more but id rather be low key with a dressy/casual watch of this nature.
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Movement

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This is a simple 2 handed watch powered by the trusty Miyota 2035 Quartz movement by the Citizen group. This movement runs on a battery and is known for accuracy and reliability. You will find yourself only gaining a few seconds a month while an automatic watch will gain a few minutes a month.

Caseback

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At this price range it was nice to see a etched logo on the caseback, as well as it being screwed down. Most cases at this pricepoint would simply cut corners and throw on a pop on caseback so i do praise them for standing out from the rest. Standard specifications are also circularly etched around the outer portion.

Genuine Italian Leather Strap

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A 22MM Sand Colored Genuine Italian leather band equipped with quick-release pins for easy removal. The band is definitely a decent quality band and is very comfortable straght out of the box. The buckle is signed and brushed to match the case finish.
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Conclusion

Castle watch co is not trying to lie to you and sell you a “Luxury watch at a affordable price”. They are simply trying to offer you the most for your coin as they possibly can. This is good to see as other brands in this segment are money hungry and charging a rediculous markup. I think if your on the hunt for something you can rock everyday to the office, cafe, or around town this can fill that need. The nice italian band and sapphire crystal add to the value Castle has to offer here.

Hands-on Video Review Below

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1 Comment

6/29/2018 0 Comments

Maratac X1 SR-35 Automatic Dive Watch Review - CountyComm (Limited Production 250PCS )

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CountyComm sells Maratac products and watches through their webshop at a very reasonable price of $299 so I figured I’d take a look at one. The watch seems of very good quality and is actually assembled by the owner himself before being shipped out. This is brilliant because you will not have to worry about any quality control problems other smaller brands see as their assembly is done in Asia for the most part, or shipped directly from the factory in Asia to the direct consumer.

Packaging

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The watch comes in a Taco shaped zip open case with the watch enclosed and some slots for extras on the outside for straps, or tools. I am not a huge presentation box fan and am fine with this.

Case

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The nice standard 40MM diameter case size really sits on my wrist nicely and also feels secure at the same time. At a time when watch brands are generally producing smaller watches Maratac goes with the flow. This case is completely brushed in 316L stainless steel and features drilled lugholes which makes it a pleasure to swap out straps. Looking at the thickness through my calipers we get 14.3MM measurement which is doable but not super thin. This is a tough and durable watch once you feel it in hand and it was certainly designed that way. The water resistance rating provided is 10 Atmospheres or 100M so although falling more into the category of a dress diver or tool watch, it is still capable of going in the water with you. The X1 features a screw down crown which pops out and screws in very securely and there is no wobble. The caseback is also screwed down and marked with their famous Triton logo for some visual excitement.
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Dial

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The rather typical tool dive-like dial is proportioned with perfection with the absence of a date window. There are double markers located at 12-3-6-9 for legibility snd smaller markers in between with lumed dots towards the center portion of the dial. The nice Orange tipped seconds hand matches the Maratac logo printed on beneath the 12:00 position as well as “WR 10ATM” above the 6:00. The very fine minute markings certainly give this watch somewhat of a militaristic look which is a nice blend when combined with a typical diver. Now, the 120 Click unidirectional Ceramic bezel certainly plays a role on the X1, allowing for more of a formal dive watch with the very high sheen polished black ceramic. Getting to the actual bezel action it is really super tool like and precise with zero backplay, allowing for a perfect alignment to the 12:00. Lume is applied on the bezel as well as all of the markers/hands/Pips. The lume is triple applied X1 High grade C3 superluminova which glows green and is certainly strong and will last the night next to you in your bed.
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Movement

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At this pricepoint of below $300 USD , we get a tough, trusted and reliable Seiko 3 hertz NH35 24 jewel automatic movement. The great thing about the NH35 is that we get hand winding and a hacking feature for precise timeset. These movemenys generally keep great time with this model gaining around 4 seconds a day, so no complaints there.

One Piece Maratac Zulu Strap

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The 20MM strap supplied is definitely one of a high quality Nylon. What I do like is that this is a one piece strap instead of the standard Nato strap which would make the watch wear too bulky on the wrist. I also do like the nice black buckle with their branding. There is one stationary keeper which is tough and allows you to fold the excess of the strap under it. I wasn’t so sure about this strap as I have seen a lot of low quality ones from other companies but once in hand I realized it is one of the higher quality ones. Then again, it has to be tough to hold a 84 gram case to the wrist.
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Conclusion

The X1 by Maratac CountyComm has certainly been a positive purchase. The watch is tough, classy, robust, and tool like at the same time. For $299 I believe they are offering a lot for the money when we look at components such as a ceramic bezel, beautiful Zulu strap, fine brushed case, immaculate bezel action, and so on. I can and will reccomend this watch to my viewers if your on the hunt for a diver in this price range. I have also left a link below to their page where they dont just sell watches, but hundreds of other interesting items as well.

www.countycomm.com

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0 Comments

6/21/2018 0 Comments

Trintec Co-Pilot Chronograph Watch Review

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Trintec, the brand who Bell and Ross essentially designed their watches after which has existed since 1984. They produce all types of Aviation and Pilot watches including clocks, pilot bags, and other products as well. I have had experience with Trintec twice in the past with two of their automatic models which I was quite content with for the price. Today we will take a closer look at their new Co Pilot Quartz Chronograph which has all of those same great components as their automatic lines.

Viewers can enter code WATCHADDICT on Trintecs shop for 50$ off ( I do not make commission )

Packaging

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Case

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Now the model I have shown is the all blacked out DLC model of the CoPilot, which looks pretty stealth and sleek. It is entirely comprised of 316L stainless steel underneath the coating. The case diameter measures 42MM with a thickness of 15MM. The lug width is typical at 22MM and the Lug to Lug distance with these aviation styled case comes in at 54MM. The great thing about this watch is that is does have 100M of water resistance making this a true land, air, and sea watch ( besides diving ). The mid size crown at 3:00 is left blank and is screwed down as well as the steel caseback for water resistance. This is a fully functional chronograph so our typical short pushers are located at 2:00 for start/stop, and 4:00 for a smooth reset. Another nice feature is the addition of their standard 120 Click unidirectional rotating bezel which is very tool like and has solid clicks with minimal play on my example. For you OCD freaks, the bezel does align with the 12:00 position as well.
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Dial

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The black dial on the CoPilot is covered by a Sapphire crystal with Anti-Reflective coating and has a typical Pilot chronograph layout. The movement being used allows us to have Three Subdials - 1. Running 60 seconds 2. 24 Hour Subdial 3. 60 minute chronograph countdown. The large numerals in white matching the fine minute markings are certainly large for a reason, easy legibility. When piloting an aircraft you want to be able to read your watch at a glance and the CoPilot is definitely suitable for that. A nice play of orange and yellow allows the watch to have somewhat of a sportier look and just looks good in my opinion. Luminova covers all of the numerals as well as the large plungeur hands and fine minute markings. Between 4/5 there is a date cutout which I am not so sure about considering the dial is a bit busy already, but a date can’t hurt.
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Movement

The movement they decided to go with is the Japanese Miyota OS20 quartz chronograph movement. This movement has a really long battery life of 2-3 years and is generally reliable and very accurate within a couple seconds a month gained. If your one who does not like Quartz movements id definitely suggest taking a look at some of their automatic watches with movements such as the Seiko NH35. Although, if a Valjoux was placed inside this watch it would certainly be way thicker, and cost a lot more money. It would also be hard to mod a stock 7750 for the complications this movement allows.

Silicone Strap

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The 22MM silicone strap is a very soft and flexible band and allows for no break-in period out of the box. It is also fairly long incase you were wondering if it would fit your larger wrist. The buckle is sterile and all black to match the case. It does attract a little lint , like most Silicone straps but that is not a big deal to me nor a dealbreaker. Its comfortable, flexible, and personally I am not going to swap out bands because I am one who enjoys comfort.
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Conclusion

Trintec has been around for sometime now and are always creating new timepieces , which shows us the consumer that they are going to here for the longrun. This is good
in my eyes especially when microbrands pop up with a model and dissapear into the clouds the next month. Their watches are always well constructed and function without issues in all three Trintec pieces I have owned. This model, while being quartz, it is quartz for a purposeful reason. I can say I do reccomend this watch if you are looking for a tough, well built, water resistant, pilot themed chronograph that will last years to come with neccesary battery changes. You can read more about this watch on their website listed below.

WWW.TRINTEC.COM

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0 Comments

6/18/2018 0 Comments

DUFA Bayer ( Deutsche UhrenfabrĂ­k ) Automatic Watch Review 9016

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DUFA , short for Deutsche Unrenfabrik is a brand producing mainly Bauhaus inspired timepieces in many different styles and varieties. They pay tribute to the great bauhaus era where it originated in Germany with some unique deisgns and original style cues. Today, I have the Dufa Bayer automatic in a gold tone to take a closer look at and give you my thoughts on the watch.

Case

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The case on the 9016-03 is comprised of stainless steel and IP plated in a yellow gold tone. It measures 40MM in diameter and is rather thin at 10MM thick. The kettle shaped case is highly polished all around and has short lugs which really makes the Bayer present itself as a true 40MM timepiece. The 20MM lug width is definitely suffice for the rest of the dimensions and looks in tune with the case. The watch is water resistant to 5 atm or 50M which is typical
for this style of dress watch, and one should certainly not swim while wearing it.

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Dial

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The dial is clean, legibile, and as bauhaus as it gets. The white dial certainly stands out in contrast to the yellow gold case and pops a bit at first glance. Thin applied gold
numerals surround the dial and almost appear to be hovering over the circular cutout we get on this dial. The large DUFA applied shield allows symmetry with the addition of the circular date window at 6:00 which contains black numerals and a white background to match the dial color. Moving outwards, the slightly sloped chapter ring displays 0-60 fine minute markings where easy time reading. The blue hands and sweeping seconds hand are also a nice touch. One thing I noticed is that there is no counter balance on the seconds hand allowing for a cleaner, bauhaus look. “Made in Germany”’is also printed below the 6:00 position to show this watch was assembled/produced in Germany. Lastly, the dial is covered by a domed Sapphire crystal as well as the exhibition caseback, which is expected at this pricepoint.

Movement

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DUFA has watches at all different pricepoints using different movements. This watch , the Bayer retails at $800 USD converted
​from Euros and contains a very nice Swiss Made Selitta SW200-1 automatic self winding movement. You can expect around 38 hours of power reserve and a beat rate of 4 hertz. The movement itself contains 26 jewels and is a big competitor to the ETA 2824. I did notice through the exhibition caseback DUFA added a custom rotor and it looks quite good in my opinion. I have seen the Selitta SW200 offered in watches from brands such as ORIS, down to microbrands. The SW200 gets the job done and keeps fairly accurate time.

Strap

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The quick release genuine calf leather strap is quite luxurious and supple. It also comes equipped with quick release pins and custom curved ends so the watch sits straight on the wrist. I have experienced a few DUFA watches in my time at Watch Addict and the straps are always of very good quality, so no complaints there. The buckle contains the DUFA shield signature and is plated to match the case.
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Conclusion

Furthermore, the Bayer certainly is a well constructed timepiece and does fill a niche sector in the watch industry. While other brands producing bauhaus styled german watches with equivalent movements and components are priced a bit steeper than the $800 USD pricetag of the Bayer, it is still reasonably priced for todays market. I do love the classic, clean, elegant, and versatile styling of the 9016 and can definitely
reccommend it to my readers. I have left a link below where you can check DUFA out.

Click here to be directed to their official webpage

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0 Comments

6/11/2018 0 Comments

ZORETTO Jota 1000M Dive Watch Review - The Elite Microbrand?

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Today gents we are going to examine a new pickup of mine , that being the Zoretto Jota dive watch. I was certainly amazed by the quality and the components Zoretto has to offer for a relatively affordable price. Initially, I had no idea what to expect from a small boutique brand producing mainly dive watches, but I can say for sure, they produced one hell of a watch.

www.zorettowatches.com

Packaging

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The watch came fairly quick shipped by FedEx international and was at my doorstep in New York within 3 days from Hong Kong. The watch comes inside a black tube with a o-ring around the top for water resistance I assume. Inside the tube was the watch, warranty card, one extra black leather strap with a stingray type texture, and the Jota.

Case

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The 43MM solid stainless steel case is certainly larger than your average 40MM dive watch but it is in proportion with the rest of the case components. The watch has rather short triangular lugs which helps it wear a bit smaller on the wrist than specifications suggest. It certainly reminds me of a vintage themed diver in many ways aesthetically and is pleasing to the eye with its fully polished 316L steel case. A nice thing to see from Zoretto is the drilled lug holes, making it effortless for me to swap between the bracelet and the leather band provided. Between the lugs, measuring in at 22MM while the width measures in at 15.5 ( including the domed sapphire crystal ). Stated on the Zoretto website, this watch is suitable for saturation diving and has a water resistance of an insane 1000 Meters. Also equipped on the side of the case is a helium escape valve. The lug to lug distance is 50.5MM and the side profile slightly reminds me of the Longines Heritage diver, which it should because this watch is themed after dive watches from the 70s Era. Jumping to the caseback, it is fairly simple with logo, specs, and a MM or so thicker due to the high water resistance rating we can expect from the Jota. Once on wrist the watch does conform nicely due to the downward departure of the lugs towards the ends of the case.
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Dial

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The black dial on my model is certainly pleasing to the eye, and it does have a vintage aesthetic within the style of markers, and hands used here. There is a date aperture between 4:00 and 5:00 with a black background to match the dial, and white numerals to match the markers. It is certainly legible and framed neatly. Zoretto logo is printed beneath the 12:00 in white as well as "1000M" - "Automatic" above 6:00. I do like the font used here for the print work and it matches up with the rest of the dial and bezel design. Now getting to the bezel , it is a 120 Click UniDirectional dive bezel which is very tooly and precise. I have yet to find any backplay or alignment issues which speaks of good quality control. Three framed applied markers at the North-East-West section of the dial are bold and help your eyes get a quicker sense of the time.
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Movement

I always love when smaller boutique brands use swiss automatic movements, it gives an overall better sense of value and quality in my eyes. The ETA 2824-2 automatic movement equipped in this watch is a well known reliable 25 jewel movement. This same movement is used across the board from luxury brands and mid range brands with different levels of customization and modding. Typical power reserve is 38 hours and this one is running at +3 seconds a day which I was surprised to see.

Strap Options

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The Jota comes equipped with a solid end link BOR style bracelet ( Beads of Rice ). These bracelets are also seen on some other divers including DOXA. The bracelet is 316L solid steel and utilizes screw in links on both sides so you will need two flathead small screwdrivers to add/remove links. Another nice feature on this true diving watch is the ratchet extension located on the clasp which allows for on the go micro adjustment or if you plan on throwing it over a wetsuit in a quick minute.
The second strap supplied with the watch is a black genuine leather band with a signed/polished buckle. This strap remonds me of a Stingray strap and is most definitely comfortable and broken in already out of the box.

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Conclusion

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Now Zoretto is no newcomer to the boutique watch industry and they have surely proved themselves since 2014 as a brand that can produce some really high quality watches for affordable prices. The watch ticks all my boxes for the price and I adore the quality of the polished case and its lovely shape. The movement is robust, accurate, and swiss. The overall vintage aesthetic is not easy to find in other brands with these specifcations for this price. I call this a win from Zoretto and really look forward to what they have planned for the future. I hope you enjoyed and please do watch the full hands on video below. Watch Addict - Out.
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0 Comments

6/8/2018 4 Comments

Sea King SK-1 300M Dive Watch Review

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Sea King is a new microbrand which released quite recently on the marketplace via their webshop. The watch is around the $500 pricepoint and has a lot to offer for the money with quality movement and components alike. Here on the Watch Addict channel I try to find watches from Smaller brands offering something out of the ordinary or just watches that punch above their pricepoint, which I believe the Sea King does.

Official Webpage - www.SeaKingWatches.com
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Case

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The SK01 is cut from 316L stainless steel and has a 44MM case diameter. Too big? No , considering it only has a lug to lug width of 49.5MM it wears much smaller than a true 44MM watch. In comparison this watch wears really like a 42MM watch. The thickness comes in at 12MM and 13MM if you include the domed sapphire crystal which rests above this black dial. The sides are finely brushed while the slight Omega style 22MM lugs spiral with a polished finish which looks great. The crown is over at the typical 3:00 position with no crown guards, but is quite easy to function. This case design would of looked odd with crown guards so Im glad they left that design aspect out. This is a true dive tool watch so we get a very useable 300M of water resistance with that screw down crown/caseback for diving, snorkeling, swimming, or whatever water activity you may be doing. A nice little touch is the crown Sea King logo in a crisp matte finish on the crown. Bezel action is fairly decent with no play whatsoever nor alignment issues, each click is solid and precise as a true diver should be.
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Easy To Grasp at any angle Coin Edge Bezel
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Caseback is fairly simple and screwed down with some specifications and a matted/brushed logo. You can also see here the solid end links from the bracelet, which Is a must!

Dial

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There is no hiding the fact this watch certainly takes hints from the older Omega Seamaster 300 ( The one Ray Donovan wore ) but that is not a bad thing. The dial is straight black with a hint of red on the long sweeping seconds hand and “Automatic” printed in red above 6:00. Its the small details like these red accents that really make a watch likeable. Large C3 SuperLuminova filled markers framed in a polished silver outline allow for easy legibility of time and use of the rotating 120 Click ceramic dive bezel. If theres one thing that this watch doesn’t need any more of , it’s lume. Even the polished ceramic bezel is lumed which shines a greenish hue along with the white markers. At night it really looks spectacular and lasts quite a while. Since this is using a SW200 Swiss Made automatic movement, our date window is at the 3:00 with a white background to match the indices and fine minute markers.
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Movement

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Its quite funny that the last watch I reviewed and really liked as well sported the Swiss Made Selitta SW200 movement. This movement is said to function better and more efficiently than its friend, the ETA-2824. It beats at 28,800 BPH, contains 26 jewels, and has hacking and hand wind capability of course. You can expect around 38 hours of true power reserve from the SK-01.

Bracelet

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One of the nice features of the SK01 is that they certainly did not take any shortcuts when designing the bracelet. It is a solid screw link bracelet made of 316L steel and ALSO contains a beautiful ratchet divers extension which operates with ease. The clasp is also signed for small detailing. Now whether you dive or not, the extension is useful as you can adjust it in increments for on the go sizing if your wrist happens to swell up in the heat or shrink in the cold. This is somewhat similiar to the glidelock function on my Submariner, only they are designed quite different. For my 6.5 inch wrist I removed 5 links with ease thanks to the screws which I had no problem removing and putting back.
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Conclusion

The Sea King is certainly a well constructed timepiece all around from the smooth brushed finish to the bracelet and polished tops. It was very hard for me to find something actually wrong with the SK-01 because it was executed quite well. I was a bit scared when I saw “44MM” at first before receiving the watch, but once on the wrist I was wowed at how perfectly it conformed and actually fit me. At a $519 pricepoint, only $125 or so above most microbrands using NH35 movements, I think it certainly will be desireable and offers a lot for the money. Then again there are microbrands using lesser quality movements such as 9015 Miyotas and charging more than this watch. If you like the overall aesthetic and small details this watch has to offer, I say go for it - I doubt you will be dissapointed.
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4 Comments
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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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