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2/27/2019 0 Comments

ALF Norrsken Automatic Watch Review - Unique Timepiece that stands apart from others

ALF has provided me with a 20% off discount code valid for two weeks - enter code WATCHADDICT at checkout

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The Norrsken series is ALF watch companies first line of watches hailing from Sweden, and mainly influenced by the Northern Lights that occur each year. They were funded on Kickstarter in July 2018 and now offer three models of their Norrsken for the public.

Case

The Black 316L Stainless Steel case is finished off with a DLC coating ( Diamond Like Carbon ), and measures in at 40MM around by 11.6MM thick. We do get 22MM lug widths which is pretty standard for these dimensions. The interesting styling of this case is quite reminescent of watches from the 70s era such as the Monaco and a few other racing watches. A nice detail is the sculting surrounding the case giving it a real raw look, which I found captivating. The caseback is rather simple, held down by 4 screws and equipped with some specifications and logo. This case is rated too 50M, so while you cannot really swim with the watch - normal rain or washing your hands should not be an issue. I think overall the finishing came out pretty good, and the case cut is neat with nice round curves on the corners.

Dial

The Dial itself is a Multi-Layered one with a matte black finish to match the case color I assume. Small details such as the railroad track surrounding the sub seconds counter at 5:00 provide a clean and organized dial, without clutter. The inner portion features horizontal planks for some visual excitement and gives some depth to the watch as well. Working outwards, we can see the hour markers which are filled with BGW9 Lume, allowing for a nice bluish color when it lit up. The lume is pretty reactive and lasts, and I do not see an issue here. On top of all this lays a decent quality genuine Squaee sapphire crystal which features Anti-Reflective coating for increased legibility in sunny conditions. Overall, I certainly find this dial to be slight dressy/sporty and extremely legible at any given angle due to the square shape.

Movement

Powering the Norrsken is the Japanese Miyota 8245, which features 42 hours of power reserve and beats at 21.6K BPH. It is a rather robust and easy to service movement that can last some years without issues. The movement does feature hand-winding via the mid-sized textured Pull/Push black crown at 3:00. I actually found the winding to be smoother than usual, which is a good thing. These movements do not contain a hacking feature which is the only let down versus something such as a Miyota 9 series.

Leather Band

The Genuine leather alligator embossed band starts out at 22MM and tapers down to 16MM. I found it to be quite comfortable and supple once on wrist. There really is no break-in period with this one as it conformed directly out of the box to my wrist. A nice detail is the white contrast stitching which matches the hour markers on the dial.

Conclusion

Furthermore, the ALF NORRSKEN is most definitely a unique piece in my eyes for the price point. It features classic 70s styling along with modern and even slight minimalist details. I also like the fact that it is based or themed after a notable part of the Northern Lights and follows closely in tune with that. Overall, it is not a bad package for the $399.99 pricepoint they are asking. ( $320 with code WATCHADDICT ). It is always a delight to see something out of the norm , and ALF has definitely done that this time around.

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2/22/2019 0 Comments

Sternglas NAOS Automatic Watch Review

Click Here To Pre-Order

Sternglas, a smaller brand located in Germany which mainly focuses on Bauhaus and minimalist styled timepieces has announced the official release of their newest timepiece. The NAOS was previously offered in a standard Quartz iteration but with all of the success of the model they have decided to give the fans what they want, an automatic NAOS. Let’s take a look. This watch is NOW available for Pre Order pricing via INDIEGOGO
LINK ABOVE.

Prices Super Early Birds starting at 271 USD

Case

The NAOS is housed in an all polished 316L solid stainless steel case with a case diameter of 38MM. I feel this is really the sweetspot when it comes to casual/dressy bauhaus watches, and it fits my 6.5” wrist just perfectly across. In terms of the shape it is similiar to a pie pan vintage case with teardrop style lugs to finish it off. A nice feature added to this new release is the Sapphire screw down exhibition caseback window. They managed to do it so you get a full clear view of the automatic caliber powering the NAOS, and it looks great from any angle. A nice detail is the screws holding the caseback down, which is a traditional aspect is fine German watchmaking dating back a couple decades. Now this watch is not a sports watch, but 50 Meters of water resistance is suitable to protect you from accidental spills, or rain water. Overall, from what I can tell so far it is fairly well built and feels solid on wrist.

Dial

This dial mimics bauhaus mimimalism quite good in my eyes. It is slightly off white featuring fine minimalist printing at the 12:00 and 6:00 positions. Heading to 3:00 we get a nice clean cut date aperture which matches the dial just fine. The real beauty is in the blued hands and thin stick like hands, which are extremely legible against the white dial. Helping achieve the legibility also is the double domed genuine sapphire crystal with two layers of anti-reflective coating. I really think this was needed, and it definitely truly allows the end user to view the time clearly in high light or bright sunny weather.

Movement

As seen through the Sapphire caseback window, the Japanese made Miyota 821A movement sits proudly with a custom hollowed branded rotor. This movement is suitable for a watch at the $300 pricepoint and helps
keep costs down, while being completely functional, robust, and good looking. I like the small details such ad the striping on the center plate, and the jewel below the balance wheel as well. If you did not know, this movement can hold a 42 hour power reserve, beats at 21,600 BPH, and features hand winding via crown.

Leather Band

It was no surpise to me that I would like the leather handmade band supplied on this sample. I have taken a look at the standard NAOS and found the band to be a big strongpoint in quality and comfort for me. It is an off brown color and extremely supple and flexible. There will be no break-in period with this one as it conforms just fine straight out of the box. A nice brushed signed buckle and Quick-Release pins are also a nice touch..

Conclusion

In conclusion, Sternglas is definitely doing a decent job so far at creating bauhaus themed timepieces. The overall quality, movements utilized, and finishing definitely resemble a watch of the pricepoint they are asking. I mean in all honesty, there is no other brand out there offering classical german styling for affordable prices - and that is exactly the niche Sternglas has created for themselves.

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2/13/2019 0 Comments

Spinnaker Sorrento Automatic Watch Review 2019

Please use code WA20 at checkout to save 20% on ANY piece and it includes Free INTL shipping!

SPINNAKER OFFICIAL WEBSITE

Case

This iteration of the new Sorrento from Spinnaker is housed in a 316L solid stainless steel chasis with a nice black PVD coating over it. It has a diameter of 43MM and a thickness of 13.6MM. The lug width measures 22MM and has an overall length of 49MM lug to lug tip. The finishing is definitely decent for the price without any noticeable errors either. However, If you prefer a straight stainless steel case they do offer that as well. This IS a watch you can take in the water swimming as this case features 100M of water resistance along with a screw down crown and exhibition caseback.

Dial

The dial is fairly complex featuring a plank section at the center in an off brown colour which resembles the deck of a ship thst you would see cruising along the coast in Italy ( Sorrento ). Some other nice details include the rosewood chapter ring and rosegood bezel containing real screws to keep it in place. I believe this wood will fade over time for a nice vintage and worn look, which some of you geeks might enjoy. Semi-Skeletonized long lumed hands along with a small seconds subdial allow for decent legibility on this model as well. I like the 12-6-9 applied numerals, it just helps balance the dial out a bit better. In terms of crystal, Spinnaker employs a hardened mineral crysysl with Sapphire coating for durability and toughness.

Movement

Looking through the caseback, we get a decent view of the Miyota automatic 8215. This is a 21 jeweled japanese movement featuring 42 hours of power reserve and hand winding capability. It is rather steady in accuracy at around +10 seconds a day. The only downfall
versus the usual NH35 movement would be the hacking function, which this does not contain.

Strap

The typical 22-20MM Spinnaker water resistant treated leather band is supple, and requires no break in period as usual. I have no problem with these straps and have been using them for some years now.

Conclusion

Furthermore, if you are looking for a watch you can be near the water with, and has a distinct unique design - the Sorrento might be for you. At a pricepoint of around $260 with my discount code, I think your money is being spent well. It has unique wood combined with steel ans PVD coating, which is kind of hard to find on the market nowadays. Anyway, hope you enjoyed my short write-up - and please do use the code WA20 on ANY Spinnaker timepiece.

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2/11/2019 0 Comments

Outsiders Watch Review - Revolution 300M Diver

Click Here For Outsiders Shop

Case

The Revolution is housed in a solid and well constructed 316L stainless steel case with highly polished sides and brushed tops. In terms of actual diameter we are looking at 43MM, which is slightly larger than a modern dive watch enthusiast may enjoy. However, due to the integrated bracelet design this watch definitely does wear a bit smaller and slimmer, which was a pleasant surprise. Of course this is a true dive watch so we do get 300M of water resistance along with a screw down crown and caseback. I think they did a good job on the finishing and there are no blemishes, sharp areas, or discomfort when on wrist. The crown has decent grip and is mid-sized which allows for an easy operation of your time and date funcion also. This watch certainly does not feel like a microbrand watch or a watch from a smaller company, even though Outsiders is a relatively new company. It has that refined and swiss feeling which really blew my mind when I unboxed it. If we flip the watch over, a mineral crystal gives us a look into the operations of the swiss automatic movement used in this model ( ETA-2824-2 ).

Dial

The dial is fairly symmetrical and looks in place. It is definitely going to be legible at any given angle or if diving perhaps. The black lacqeured dial gleems in the sunlight and is fitted with hand applied luminous markers filled with BGW9 lume. This lume glows a bluish hue and is pretty strong, lasting the night. If we head over to 3:00 a white bordered date aperture with a white wheel is displayed here, which is legible and I do not have any issues reading it. A nice detail is the red accented outsiders logo which gives me that “Red Submariner” sort of feel which is refreshing to see on a timepiece that looks nothing like a sub. The bezel itself is brushed ceramic with 120 Clicks around. In terms of action, it is really good with zero backplay and solid firm clicks aligning perfectly to the 12:00 position. Lastly, the crystal is a genuine sapphire with inner AR coating which is definitely normal at this pricepoint.

Movement

Inside the Revolution beats the Swiss Made automatic ETA 2824-2 movement. This movement is widely used in watches ranging from $500-$3000 depending on COSC certification and customization. It is a workhorse movement which is quite accurate, mine gaining around 10 seconds a day which is pretty normal. This caliber contains 25 jewels and has a power reserve of 38 hours while beating at 4 HZ ( 28,800 BPH ).

Bracelet

A 22MM Integrated custom bracelet comes equipped standard to this model. Now, the one negative is that well you cant just take off the bracelet and swap it for a rubber strap or NATO whenever you like. However, the. bracelet is of good quality and there really is no need to change it out. It is solid, finely brushed, and contains a divers extension as well for diving. The clasp is milled and feels secure, not like one of those cheaper chinese iterations you see on some other microbrand watches. I think all around it is comfortable and conforms nicely to the wrist due to the integration.

Conclusion

Furthermore, the Revolution has definitely a been fun piece to wear and examine. It has everything I look for in a watch at this pricepoint. Some of these things include a Swiss Automatic movement ( Preferrably Selitta or ETA ), Sapphire, and good fit and finish. They did price themselves correctly in my
honest opinion and I believe this watch is certainly worth the $500 pricepoint you would pay for one.

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2/7/2019 0 Comments

Orient Mako II Watch Review - The BEST automatic watch under $200?

Case

The Orient Mako II is comprised of solid 316L stainless steel housed in a 41.5MM case. The case thickness comes in at 13MM while the wingspan is a relatively respectable 47MM. I really like these dimensions and they do fit well on my 6.5” wrist. In terms of finishing, it is okay but nothing luxurious. The flanks are highly polished while the lug tops remain matte brushed still. It definitely has a submariner feel and style, well who wouldn’t take notes from the most popular dive watch in the world? A nice feature is the 200M of water resistance along with a polished screw down caseback and crown. I feel for the $150 pricepoint - it definitely gives $200-$300 watches a run for their money when it comes to the overall feel and fit and finish.

Dial

A typical 12-6-9 orientation is used on the Mako II, minus the 3 which is replaced by a day/date window. I feel they honestly should of cut out the daydate feature and made the watch a bit more clean and symmetric. Although useful - it kind of ruins the clean orientation something like my no date submariner exemplifies beautifully. In terms of colour, the dial is matte black covered by a Mineral crystal. Now, I am not a HUGE fan of Mineral crystals and much rather prefer a nice piece of sapphire - but at this pricepoint I honestly cannot complain. If you really want a sapphire crystal on the Mako II, they do sell aftermarket crystals which you can replace yourself. The arabic numerals and the markers are all applied and filled with some type of green luminova which definitely does the job at night - but cannot compare to the Lumibrite seiko uses on most of their sport models. Getting to the hands...they are swordlike and most definitely proportionate and legible at any given angle. As for the seconds hand , a nice red arrow tip really pops and gives the Mako II a splash of color which is definitely needed on this semi bland dial. Lastly, a dive watch enthusiasts favorite aspect is the bezel action of course. I mean, what would we play around with while working a desk job if we didn’t have a 120 click unidrectional bezel? It works, but is a bit hard to grip at some angles even with the slight cutouts on this downward sloped bezel. The insert is standard aluminum with a lumed pip, and yes I would of preferred ceramic...but cannot complain for the price!

Movement

The In-House Orient automatic calibre in this model
is none other than the F6992. It holds a 40 hour power reserve and 22 jewels. The movement does beat at a slower rate than something like a 6R15 at 21,600 BPH. In terms of accuracy, they are actually quite accurate and mine has been gaining around 5 seconds a day out of the box. ( Orient states +-15/Day ). One negative aspect would be the hand slightly gritty hand winding via the crown.

Bracelet

A rather finely brushed oyster style solid steel 22MM bracelet is standard across the Mako and Ray lines of dive watches. I actually think the bracelet is quite well constructed and does not feel cheap in hand at all. The end links are
hollow and we are using the pin system here to remove links which is pretty typical of a watch below $200. I can definitely say it IS a higher quality bracelet than the stock SKX bracelets, and even most Seiko 5 bracelets on their cheaper models.

Conclusion

Furthermore, the watch isnt 100% perfect in a few ways such as the gritty crown winding and the hollow end links. However, this is most definitely not a breaking point for me at this extremely affordable price
of $150 USD. I do believe the case build
and construction does mimic some watches in the $200/$300 price range which is really outstanding. I love the fact they use their own in-house movements and they perform excellent from my past experiences with two other Orient timepieces. Thanks for taking the time to read and please check out my YouTube channel
for the full Hands-On review.

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2/6/2019 1 Comment

Baltic Manuel Chronograph Watch Review - Vintage Inspired Goodness

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Packaging

The Manuel arrived fairly quick via DHL in 2 days from France - in a nice Cork style box which flips open to a light velvet blue interior. It immediately reminded me of the old Rolex boxes from the 80s and 90s, which is quite warming :-).

Case

The Baltic Manuel Chronograph is comprised of solid 316L stainless steel which is entirely brushed besides the polished smooth bezel. I do love the vintage styled case which contains drilled lug holes and a very reasonable diameter of 38MM x 12.8MM. This watch truly wears like a dream, and many watch enthusiasts are demanding smaller case sizes - so it seems Baltic is paying attention to the market. In terms of the wingspan we get 47MM long which sits just perfectly across my 6.5” wrist with no hangover at all. There are also small piston head pushers for the chronograph stop/start/reset which work just fine and are grippy at pretty much any given angle. A nice detail is the signed Baltic crown which is pull/push - with the case being rated at 50M. This is most definitely not something to play in the water with though, so keep that in mind. Although, with daily hand washing and downpours I do not see an issue here. Lastly, the caseback has a beautiful exhibition window which really displays the column wheel chronograph in full, which is a delight.

Dial

My iteration uses the Cream/white dial which is a great aesthetic when going for a vintage inspired timepiece as it truly does look vintage. Some small details I found that I liked is the Blued chronograph hand which contrasts nicely with the black hour and minutes hands. Another thing to mention is the proportions here. Some brands simply fail when it comes to text to subdial ratio...but they honestly did a very good job here and everything looks in place. Lastly, the beauty of a vintage watch such as the old Speedmasters is the domed Hesalite crystal which Baltic proudly boasts on this model. I truthfully do not think the watch would have looked true to the age it mimics without this small detail.

Movement

Now, inside the Manuel is the Seagull ST1901. This movement originated from the older V175 column wheel chronograph movements created by France ebauche in the mid 1940s - later sold to China for the patent and use of creating an affordable, yet beautiful column wheel
chronograph movement. If you think about it, Baltic is a French company and does assemble their timepieces in France - so I do not see a better match. You can expect 45 hours of power reserve with this one while it beats away at 21,600 BPH.

Straps Included

My piece came standard with a 20MM french calf leather band ( tapers to 18MM ). I think the strap suits the timepiece and is indeed flexible, requiring no break in period. One thing I did notice is the signed brushed buckle - which is proportioned perfectly to the case and strap dimensions. I see so many brands using rather large oversized buckles lately, its refreshing to see it done right.

Conclusion

Furthermore, the Baltic Bicompax definitely surprised
me in a few ways. First of all, the Seagull ST1901 is a beautifully decorated and functional movement - which I happen to adore. Secondly, some great thought and effort really went into producing and assembling these chronographs - which definitely shows in the final product. I mean, what’s not to love about a well made vintage inspired chronograph? I admit, they are not suitable for everyone nor is any watch. However, if you are a true watch enthusiast and realize how classic and timeless those designs are - you will definitely appreciate slapping the Manuel on your wrist.

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ALF Norrsken Automatic Watch Review - Unique Timepiece that stands apart from others

ALF has provided me with a 20% off discount code valid for two weeks - enter code WATCHADDICT at checkout

The Norrsken series is ALF watch companies first line of watches hailing from Sweden, and mainly influenced by the Northern Lights that occur each year. They were funded on Kickstarter in July 2018 and now offer three models of their Norrsken for the public.

Case

​Dial

Movement

Leather Band

Conclusion

Sternglas NAOS Automatic Watch Review

Case

Dial

Movement

Leather Band

Conclusion

Spinnaker Sorrento Automatic Watch Review 2019

Please use code WA20 at checkout to save 20% on ANY piece and it includes Free INTL shipping!

Case

Dial

Movement

Strap

Conclusion

Outsiders Watch Review - Revolution 300M Diver

​Case

Dial

Movement

Bracelet

Conclusion

Orient Mako II Watch Review - The BEST automatic watch under $200?

Case

Dial

Movement

Bracelet

Conclusion

Baltic Manuel Chronograph Watch Review - Vintage Inspired Goodness

Packaging

Case

Dial

Movement

Straps Included

Conclusion

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Dial

Case