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9/29/2018 0 Comments

Nezumi Studios Loews Chronograph Watch Review

Nezumi Studios was founded in 2011 in Stockholm, Sweden. In my eyes, they are one of the more established smaller watch brands, with steady releases of interesting new timepieces. Today, we will take a look at their Loews chronograph.

www.nezumistudios.com

Packaging

Case

The 316L solid stainless steel case has twisted 20MM lugs which make this piece stand out at first glance. The actual case is very finely brushed on the sides and polished on the top, for a nice contrast. When considering size, the 40MM diameter and 11.75MM thickness certainly play along nicely and fit well on my 6.5” wrist. I get this kind of racing, yet vintage feel from their timepieces, which I believe was their mission from the start. Some things that stood out to me are the curved end portion of the lugs which really help this watch sit nice and conform to the wrist, rather than leaning at an odd angle. The smooth bezel is polished to match the lugs, while the caseback contains a moulded emblem/logo with an outer ring of polishing. The watch itself is 5 ATM water resistant, which is typical for a chronograph.

Dial

Nezumi went with an off white colour dial on this variation, which looks superb with the black subdials. Working our way in, a Tachymetre reading is displayed above the applied polished markers which contain SuperLuminova dots just above them. This chronograph movement allows us to have a 24 hour subdial at 3:00, and our 60 minute counter at 9:00. They kept it clean, without clutter, which most watch enthusiasts can appreciate at the end of the day. Getting to the cyringe style hands, they are also good in length and filled with Superluminova as well.

Movement

The Seiko VK64 Meca Quartz movement is a go to movement nowadays when looking to create a reliable, yet mechanical feel at the same time. This movement runs on a battery but also has a module with a couple jewels which allows the chronograph hand to sweep, instead of tick. I, myself appreciate this as mechanical watches are my favorite. This also helps keep the cost down a bit as a mechanical Valjoux 7750 chronograph would cost upwards
of $1000. Also, we are getting that quartz reliability and accuracy which an automatic chronograph simply cannot
compete with.

Vegetable Tanned Leather Straps

The Rindt Italian Vegetable tanned leather rally style strap can be had in two different color variatoons. The straps themselves are very high quality and fit the wrist nicely, with a minimal break-in period required. I especially enjoy the curved signed buckle which sits flush with the strap when on wrist. All in all, I have never experienced a low quality band in all 3 of my enounters with the brand.

Conclusion

Furthermore, my fellow watch addicts - If you are in the market for a well built unique chronograph and want to stay under $500 USD, this is certainly a watch to consider. The quality is their in the case finishing, double domed sapphire crystal, and nicely paired band. Nezumi is also a company that will be around in the long run, and one can always go back to.

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9/22/2018 0 Comments

Peren Nera Automatic Swiss Dive Watch Review

Peren, short for “Perennial”, is a brand hailing from Switzerland producing Trannsylvanian inspired timepieces. Their latest creation, the NERA 200M diver is what we have on the table for review today. This watch was designed in a Neo
Vintage design code, heavily inspired by the Devil’s Lake which is located in the Nera Gorges region of Transylvania.

Inspiration

Case and Dial

The case is designed with a slight minimalist aesthetic coming in at 39MM with a width of 13.5MM. In terms of lug to lug distance, we are looking at roughly 49MM. The entire case is comprised of solid stainless steel and topped off with a nice sandblasted finish. You may not have noticed, but this watch does contain a Uni-Directional 120 click bezel with a black PVD finish, which matches the black metal dial excellent. On a side note, I love the fact that the 20MM drilled lug holes are on this model as I love swapping out straps regularly. Now the dial is quite simple, minimalist, and legible. There is a matching date window at 3:00 which looks in place and I do not see an issue there. The hands themselves are lumed with blue BGW9 lume and comprised of brass, painted in white. Some nice details are the applied indexes which sit inside cut out sections of the dial. The Peren logo is printed in white below 12:00 very neatly and legibile, as the “Swiss Made” sits low below the 6:00 position. Lastly, this watch is certainly capable of diving - with a tested depth rating of 200 Meters.

Movement

The ETA-2824-2 Swiss Made automatic movement can be seen through the sapphire exhibition caseback if we flip the case over. This movement is certainly a reliable, easy to service, work horse, high beat movement. I have had tons of experience with this movement in the past, and not once has it failed me. You can expect around 38 hours of power reserve, and around +5 seconds a day ( my model ). Also, this movement contains 26 jewels, hacking, hand wind, and an Incabloc Novodiac shock protection system.

Strap

As I was browsing the Peren website, I realized there are two strap options for the Nera...I received myne on a decent quality 20MM Genuine leather brown band which is comfortable and supple. The buckle is brushed and quite large in size as well, which some might like or dislike. The Nylon strap option looks a bit better in my opinion and really flows together nicely with the black metal dial, and slight tooly look this watch has.

Conclusion and Where to Buy

Furthermore, the Nera is certainly a well-priced and well built watch. It ticks all the boxes I look for when looking for an affordable ( Under $500 ) dive tool watch. The watch also has a distinct look of its’ own which is a huge bonus for me. Another nice detail is the simplistic and neat design. It is certainly a watch meant for everyday wear and has a no nonsense tool like look to it which is very appealing in todays market. These are available for immediate shipment and their website has been linked below. Thanks for taking the time to read!

www.perenwatches.com

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9/21/2018 0 Comments

Crafter Blue Mechanic Ocean Dive Watch Review

The all new and first Crafter Blue branded watches are now available for Pre-Order , dubbed the “Mechanic Ocean One”. These watches are certainly capable divers, and well built.

www.crafterbluewatches.com

Case and Dial

The first thing you will notice when taking a peep at these models is the crown resides on the 9:00 side of the watch rather than the standard 3:00 position. You also might have seen some limited edition pieces brands such as Tudor put out this year in the same configuration as well. As a left handed watch wearer, it certainly is appealing to me and the crown stays far away from digging into my wrist, which is a big plus. The actual case is quite overbuilt, comprised of solid 316L stainless steel. The pieces comes in at 45MM and is 15.5MM thick. The lug width is 22MM and the overall feel is tough, robust, and meant for the water. A nice feature is the drilled lug holes, which we typically see on vintage watches - this makes swapping out your crafter blue bracelet or rubber strap super easy and effortless. The deep blue dial itself, reminds me a bit of Seiko Prospex divers with applied lumed BGW9 markers, hands, and bezel pip. The bezel itself features a UniDirectional 120 click “Pepsi” style and is really some of the best microbrand bezel action you can find. The clicks are precise with minimal play nor alignment issues, just as Steve Chans UNDIVE watch was. A nice polished lip sits a bit over the domed AR coated Sapphire crystal stating “Professional Divers 300M - Helium Escape Valve”. Yes, there is a helium escape valve located at the 3:00 position of the watch, but I doubt you will be diving to depths where you will actually utilize it. The date wheel does match the theme of the watch as well, which is nice to see.

Movement

The movement inside this watch is a regulated, and decorated Seiko NH35 automatic Japanese movement. The movement contains 24 Jewels, Hacking, Hand-Winding, and roughly 40 or so hours of power reserve. I like what they did with the brushed bridges and striped rotor, and overall it came out looking pretty sleek for an NH35.

Bracelet or Crafter Blue Rubber ?

Now, there are two options when it comes to straps. You can either opt for a slightly cheaper version which includes the Genuine Rubber end fitted Crafter Blue strap - or a beautiful solid steep bracelet with a well machines clasp. Personally, even though the bracelet is one of the better bracelets I have seen in my time for a microbrand - the CB rubber straps are just a delight to wear. I have been using a Crafter Blue end fitted strap on my Seiko SKX for some time, and these things hold up very well.

Conclusion and Pre-Order information

Furthermore, Crafter Blue products have always exemplified quality, craftmanship, and well thought out products from my past and present experiences with the company. These watches are definitely worth the asking price and certainly overbuilt, adding them to one of the elite microbrand brackets. I do understand that the lefty crown is not for everyone, but it is different and not something you see so often. The Pre-Order pricing gets you a 15% discount from retail price at $510 USD down too $499.( BRACELET VERSIONS ) If you love the vulcanized scented rubber straps - you are looking at $425 Pre-Order. I think if you are down for a look, and a serious well constructed no nonsense diving watch, this watch could be for you. Thanks for reading.

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9/20/2018 3 Comments

PONTVS Hydra Brass Dive Watch Review - Under $300?!

Case

PONTVS is a brand created by two men from Arizona with a focus on brass and bronze dive watches. Their most recent release named the Hydra is the one we will be taking a look at today. This model is themed after a Greek Mythological creature with nine heads and the watch seems to play the part! It is relatively wearable in size coming in at 43MM in diameter with a lug to lug distance of just about 50MM. The most remarklable feature is the Naval Grade blasted brass they used to create the case, hands, and applied markers. This brass doesn’t seem quite as heavy as bronze and feels real nice on the wrist. Also, a beautiful patina will slowly develop over time, leaving you with a truly special timepiece. Our crown is actually in stainless steel and quite large at first glance. I do like the look of it though and just adds a bit more “Diveyness” to the watch, considering this is a 200M capable dive watch with a screw down crown and steel caseback. Lastly, a nice addition to this model is the lumed logo on the crown in C1 SuperLuminova, which certainly adds to the great value this watch has to offer at $250 USD.

Dial

The Hydra I have features quite a simple, legibile matte black textured dial. We do get brass applied lumed markers, a pointed seconds hand, and sword shaped lumed time hands. The sapphire crystal which features a layer of anti reflective coating is also slightly domed and plays along with lights nicely. I admire the fact they used brass dial components, and this is the first time I have seen that. The submersible style bezel features 120 Clicks and is very tool like with minimal backplay. There are zero alignment issues, and that is always something I look out for in terms of quality control. The lume itself is C1 SuperLuminova which glows green, and for a decent ammount of time. If you did not notice - the 12:00 pip as well as the 0-15 markings are lumed...

Movement

This watch utilizes the common and reliable Seiko NH35 automatic movement. This movement contains 24 jewels and features hand winding, hacking, and a 40 hour power reserve. In terms of accuracy, I am getting around +5 seconds a day, which is quite outstanding.

Strap Options

Now when speaking with the owner of PONTVS, he stated the leather strap was basically an add on / extra accessory. The main strap which really looks the part and matches the aesthetic of the case is the Nylon Zulu 24MM strap. It is certainly tough, robust, and also contains brass loops. The leather strap isn’t bad either in terms of quality, but If you want to get this watch wet I would reccommend using the Black Zulu.

Conclusion

Furthermore, after spending some time with the Hydra- I must say I really think it is a decent watch for the $250 pricepoint. Typically, I see other brands with the same specifications selling brass and bronze watches for around $300-$400. It contains reliable components, feels sturdy and will certainly hold up in rough conditions if needed. My favorite aspect has to be the lumed large crown, and the style of bezel they chose. I cannot really think of any negatives, which is quite rare - If you are looking for more information on this model I have dropped a link below to the PONTVS webstore. Thanks for reading!

www.pontvswatch.com

3 Comments

9/18/2018 1 Comment

Seiko SARB017 Alpinist Watch Review

The Infamous Seiko Alpinist with its’ dashing green dial and field aesthetic has been a prize winner for Seiko, until the recent discontinuation of this model shortly after Baselworld 2018. Well, shall we see what it has to offer..

Case and Dial

The 39.5MM brushed and polished stainless steel case is certainly proportionate when looking at its’ wingspan of 47MM and lug width at 20MM. In terms of thickness, we are looking at 12MM, which really is quite slim for the movement utilized in this model. The dial is green, and very green. It plays with the light giving off hues and different shades of green which look marvelous in a natural light setting. The Sapphire crystal is also a nice addition here, considering many Seiko equivalents do not come with one. Getting to the lumed Marquelle style hands...They are certainly bold and noticeable making legibility no issue here, along with the gold colored applied numerals and markers. Now this isn’t a dive watch, but we do get 200M of water resistance allowing the user to go diving, swimming, without worry. There are actually two crowns on the Alpinist - The 3:00 screwed down crown is for setting your time/date , while the 4:00 crown can be used to rotate the inner compass bezel for an accurate NESW reading. I, myself have no problem with the feature - but do we really need it? I do not think many watch enthusiasts will be getting much use from this, and it would look much cleaner without the added function.

Movement

A step up from the 4R16(NH35) , is the 6R15. The 6R15 is a seiko manufactured caliber, and a decent one. It beats at 28,800 VPH, contains 23 jewels, 50 hours of power, and features hand winding and hacking of course. It is not the most captivating movement in terms of looks, but it does get the job done. You can expect around +10 -10 seconds a day with this one.

Conclusion and Where to Buy

The Seiko Alpinist certainly has its’ ups and downs. The leather strap supplied with the watch is of very low quality, and I would advise you to order a strap along with it. At roughly $356 on todays market, it is not a bad buy. We are getting a decent high beat movement, Sapphire crystal, 200M water resistance, and a unique design with a beatiful green dial. I think all around it is worth the current market price, but I would act quick because once these are sold out...say goodbye to the Alpinist. I have left a link below where they are currently avaialble

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9/18/2018 0 Comments

Omega Seamaster 300 Co-Axial Watch Review

The Omega Seamaster is probably the highest quality in and out swiss automatic watch you can get for your money when diving into the depths of entry level luxury watches. It has all you will need for everyday use, diving, and much more packed inside this $3,000 watch.

Case And Dial

The Ceramic Seamaster is available in both black and blue color schemes. The case diameter is relatively close to its’ older brother, the submariner-coming in at 41MM. In terms of thickness we are looking at 13MM while the lugs are 20Mm. The case is finely brushed with hints of polishing comprised of solid 316L steel. The finishing is very good, but not Rolex good. This diver is capable of diving to depths of 300M and even has the typical Omega Helium Escape valve at the 10:00 position, if you would ever need it. The shiniest detail has to be the Ceramic polished bezel insert which sits on top of the 120 Click Uni-Directional dive bezel. The tints of blue shining off of the Anti Reflective coated Sapphire crystal really play nicely with the bezel.

Movement

Omega is known for packing a lot of punch into their movements at relatively affordable prices in the luxury sector. This model utilizes the Omega 2500 Co-Axial movement which is a really great movement, and two steps ahead of something like an ETA or Selitta. It contains 27 Jewels, Accuracy within +2 seconds a day usually on examples I have handled, and beats at 28,800 VPH. It also features beautiful geneva striping on the rotor and bridges.

Bracelet

The bracelet is your typical solid steel bracelet with screwed links and a combination of brushed and polished surfaces. The clasp is signed with the Omega insignia and features a nice milled clasp as well. A dual button deployment is utilized for extra security.

Where to Buy?

JomaShop \ Click Here

So, Yearning for the best price on an Omega SM300? I certainly would never pay full retail on a watch like this and neither should you. I do purchase luxury watches on the grey market, and have been doing so for a few years now after getting ripped off by Authorized Dealers. The thing is, if you pay full retail (20% Higher)
when you go to sell your watch, you will lose a lot of money. I do reccomend JomaShop located here
in Brooklyn as they have a wide selection of luxury and entry level timepieces in stock daily. They are the largest grey market watch dealer online, and for good reason.
I have left a link below where you can check them out and browse their inventory. Thanks for reading!

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YOUR CART

Nezumi Studios was founded in 2011 in Stockholm, Sweden. In my eyes, they are one of the more established smaller watch brands, with steady releases of interesting new timepieces. Today, we will take a look at their Loews chronograph.

Packaging

Case

Dial

Movement

Vegetable Tanned Leather Straps

Conclusion

Inspiration

Case and Dial

Movement

Strap

Conclusion and Where to Buy

The all new and first Crafter Blue branded watches are now available for Pre-Order , dubbed the “Mechanic Ocean One”. These watches are certainly capable divers, and well built.

Case and Dial

Movement

Bracelet or Crafter Blue Rubber ?

Conclusion and Pre-Order information

Case

Dial

Movement

Strap Options

Conclusion

The Infamous Seiko Alpinist with its’ dashing green dial and field aesthetic has been a prize winner for Seiko, until the recent discontinuation of this model shortly after Baselworld 2018. Well, shall we see what it has to offer..

Case and Dial

Movement

Conclusion and Where to Buy

The Omega Seamaster is probably the highest quality in and out swiss automatic watch you can get for your money when diving into the depths of entry level luxury watches. It has all you will need for everyday use, diving, and much more packed inside this $3,000 watch.

Case And Dial

Movement

Bracelet

Where to Buy?

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