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Luxury and Affordable Watches
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Arriving June 30
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11/25/2018 0 Comments

Sternglas Topograph Automatic Bauhaus Watch Review

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Grab One Here

Sternglas has provided a special discount code for Watch Addict readers - Save 25 Euro with code WATCHADDICT25


Case

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The Topograph is comprised of solid 316L stainless steel, the industry standard. It is quite a circular case design with short thin 22MM lugs protruding from each side of the case. Our diameter comes in at 42MM whilst the thickness comes in at 13.5MM. The case design certainly allows for a “full dial” experience and that is how they are able to fit so much information neatly packed into it. A nice touch is the real screws which hold on the exhibition caseback, which is typically seen on German timepieces from my experience.
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​Dial

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The matte black dial is certainly legible at any angle when on wrist, which is a big win for me. There is a lot of neatly printed white text on this dial - but it does not seem cluttered at all. Our date window is placed at the 3:00 position with a white wheel to match the hands and small print. They definitely do some of the best “Bauhaus” design when it comes to affordable watches in this category. The print work is top notch and no quality control issues are visible on my example. I also do like the white tipped baton style hands and feel they really stand out on top of the matte dial. The addition of a domed genuine Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating is also another plus in the value for money book.
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Movement

Sternglas decided to use the automatic japanese Miyota 821A movement - which is a step above the 8215 with nice decorated bridges and a hollowed out rotor for s glimpse into the inner workings of the movement. This movement contains 21 Jewels, hand-winding, and my example even hacks? Usually this movement is non hackable but for some reason mine hacks and I assume they have modded the movement. Anyhow, in the accuracy corner I am receiving around +10 seconds a day which is good in my book for a watch of this caliber.
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Mesh Adjustable Band

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The 22MM mesh Millanaise style steel bracelet is certainly comfortable on my 6.5” wrist out of the box. It has a signed lock clasp with an easy self adjustable sliding lock. I think this is the way to go in terms of comfort over a standard leather band, but that’s just me.
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Conclusion

Furthermore, well made Bauhaus style timepieces can be hard to come by and very expensive from other brands such as Junghans, Nomos, and more. I feel Sternglas has filled a sector of this market for an affordable true Bauhaus stype timepiece. I honestly cannot think of any other companies in this price range of under $400 that provide all the goodies Sternglas does. They definitely knocked it out of the park with this one, and I look forward what this company has to offer us in the coming years.
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0 Comments

11/23/2018 0 Comments

Aquatico SeaStar Bronze Dive Watch Review - Bronze Watch UNDER $300?!

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Click Here For Aquatico

Case

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This solid bronze CUSN8 brushed case is definitely durable and well proportioned. Some standard measurements include a nice 42MM diameter accompanied by a 12.5MM thickness. The actual lug to lug is rather comfortable at just under 50MM. A nice feature is the drilled lug holes for easy strap changing which can be a nuissance sometimes when using a spring bar tool or scratching the backside of your lugs. The actual case is water resistant to 300 Meters and is suitable for any water activity you can think of besides deep diving. In terms of build quality it certainly is quite impressive at this $300 pricepoint...
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Dial

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The dial itself obviously takes design from the ever so popular Tudor Black Bay, which is not a cheap watch. We get nice snowflake lumed hands accompanied by large and legible applied markers. I believe the lume is BGW9 and is not too bad, although not Seiko bright. Our bezel is 120 clicks and has some nice action, which is not too tight, but not so loose. I really do like the domed Sapphire crystal which sits a bit above the bezel and gives me some vintage vibes. Aquatico is using a steel caseback on this model with their standard logo which features a Mermaid.
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Movement

At this pricepoint of $300, we can expect the well known Seiko NH35 automatic movement. It contains 24 jewels and features hand winding, hacking, and a 40 hour power reserve. These movements are also fairly accurate from my many encounters with them - averaging around +5-8 seconds a day.

Band Options

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Now - there are two straps which come with the new SeaStar. The black Millanese mesh band contains a self adjustment glide lock, as well as a signed buckle. The band is black IP plated because well, you cant just throw a steel band on a bronze watch...it would look out of place. The second strap is certainly
comfortable and quite supple on the wrist, requiring no break in period what so ever. It is leather of course and does feature a bronze signed buckle to match the case material.

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Conclusion

Furthermore, at this price the new Seastar definitely offers a good value for your money. It is super hard to find a decent quality bronze watch at this pricepoint nowadays, and I am glad Aquatico is offering one for a relatively fair price. I think the fit, finish, material, and specifications match the pricepoint perfectly. Please do watch the hands on video review on Watch Addiction Watch Reviews on YouTube as well!
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0 Comments

11/23/2018 0 Comments

Advisor Ascent Automatic Watch Review - Live on Kickstarter

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Advisor has gone ahead and launched a new Kickstarter for their Ascent series, which features some nice specifications and design cues for a very affordable price. They are a microbrand based out of Singapore and are making some pretty decent looking automatic timepieces with a variety to choose from.

Available from $245 USD for Super Early Bird backers
Click here to Reserve one today



​Case

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The Ascent features a solid well built 316L steel case with a mostly brushed surface and some polished edges around the shaped bezel. It definitely is a super compressor style watch, which I really enjoy and feel these are harder to find on todays market for an affordable price. In terms of dimensions, we are looking at 42MM across and 13.5MM thick. The lug width is pretty standard and matches the case size at 22MM. This model does feature 200M of water resistance which is suitable for diving, swimming, and pretty much any water activity you will be doing. A nice dive theme is also shown on the screwdown caseback, which looks quite neat and bold.
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Dial

Now, there are two dial variations which are being offered by Ascent. One, being the standard dive style layout and the other being the popular trending skull style skeleton layout. The dials featured on the model pictured is the Sunburst Black ( White - Blue - Green are also Available ). Bold applied luminous markers filled with BGW9 and C3 SuperLuminova definitely make this watch a contendor in the lume battle amongst your favorite dive watches. A nice feature is the internal rotating bezel which is operated by the 2:00 screw down crown. The standard crown at 4:00 is used to set the time and date, quite simple.
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Movement

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The Seiko NH35 automatic movement is a popular one and a great choice when trying to provide value, reliability, and accuracy to the end user. These workhorse movements feature hand-winding, hacking, and great accuracy within 10 seconds or so through my experiences with literally hundreds of them. I think it was a good choice by Advisor.

Bands

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Genuine Calf Leather 22MM bands have been chosen by Advisor on this model. Now, Calf leather is a step above your typical “Genuine Leather” - which means better quality and a higher cost. The straps themselves feature white contrast stitching and a solid steel matching buckle.

Conclusion and Options

At this pricepoint of $245 - It is certainly an offer to take a look at. We do get all the goodies including sapphire crystal, capable water resistance, Seiko automatic movement, and decent straps. I like the overall design and feel he has made the dial work nicely to match the case aesthetic. If you are in the market for an everyday tough diver, the Ascent could be the watch for you..
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0 Comments

11/20/2018 0 Comments

Modern Made Man Belfort Automatic Watch Review

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Click Here for ModernMadeMan Shop



​Case

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The Belfort is comprised of solid 316L Stainless Steel and feels tough in the flesh. It has a relatively modern and wearable size of 42MM across by 12MM thick. Some nice features include the scalloped bezel, and chamfered polished edges near the 22MM lugs and on the sides of each cut on the bezel. You can expect to get this watch wet with its’ 200M water resistance rating accompanied by a screw down crown and caseback. This is a 3 piece case which is quite obvious and is also hand assembled in the USA, which is quite rare in todays times for such an affordable timepiece ( Currently $295 for Black Friday ).
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The dial they used on this version is black, and even has a slight sunburst effect if it catches light at certain angles. It most certainly is not copying anything and features unique design language. For example, the perforated holes and marker chapter ring for some extra legibility. The date window sits at 3:00 and stands out next to this black dial making it easy to read at a glance. The hands themselves are fully lumed as well as the tip of the sweeping seconds hand. I found it quite easy to read the time once on wrist and do not see any issues here. Above the dial lays a nice domed sapphire crystal with AR coating, giving a nice blue hue when in contact with direct light.

Movement

The Miyota 9015 is a great japanese automatic movement built by Citizen to compete with mainstream Swiss movements such as the ETA 2824-2. I have a lot of experience with this movement and have even seen it in microbrand watches that cost upwards of $700. Standard functions include hand winding, hacking, and relatively decent accuracy within 5-10 seconds a day. One can expect around 42 hours of true power reserve if fully wound..I did notice the stripes on this caliber which give off a more luxurious vibe visible through the exhibition caseback.

Leather Band

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The Carbon Fiber style Genuine Leather band that came equipped on this unit is certainly flexible, yet sturdy at the same time. I feel it matches the case and dial just fine and adds a bit of adventurous/Sporty look to the piece. The buckle itself is quite sterile and completely brushed to match the case finish.
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Conclusion

Furthermore, the Belfort is definitely a style that many will be attracted to. It also checks all of the boxes that I look for when purchasing a decent timepiece for everyday use. We get a very good and reliable movement, decent casework, sapphire, and a 10 year warranty from a watch that is actually assembled right here in the states! That certainly means something to me as I am a USA citizen. It also shows the extra work that MMM has put into this timepiece.
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0 Comments

11/17/2018 0 Comments

Victorinox Alliance Sport Chronograph Watch Review

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Victorinox Official Website Link


​Case

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The Alliance sports chronograph comes in at 44MM in diameter and features a slim profile of just 11MM in thickness, allowing for a comfortable fit. Construction wise we are looking at a solid 316L stainless steel case with black IP coating. The watch certainly wears smaller than the suggested diameter considering the lugs curve a bit and are not too long. This is a good thing, as the downsizing trend of watches has definitely been going on for some years now. The typical 21MM lug width most Victorinox watches embed in their DNA is implicated here, which is suitable for the overall dimensions. However, no need to worry as any 22MM straps you wish to swap out will fit just fine. Overall, the dimensions are pleasing and certainly suit my 6.5 inch wrist just fine for this modern sports chronograph. In addition to the functionality of this sporty chronograph we do get 100 Meters of water resistance to put your mind at ease whilst jumping in the pool or taking a swim.
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Dial

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The grey tone color dial flows nice with the black case and strap, allowing for a clean stealthy appearance whilst maintaining legibility. The layout is rather standard for a 12 hour chronograph with our three subdials for seconds, minutes, and hours. If you did not notice, small hints of Victorinox red are used on the subdial hands as well as the tip of the chronograph hand. Some key and notable features include the large lumed applied markers, 0-60 markings on the chapter ring, and a lumed logo at 12:00! I always love when companies lume things out of the ordinary such as logos and they did it just right here. The date window is tucked away between 4:00-5:00 - but I have no problem reading it, and who doesn’t need a date! If you happen to be a tool geek and want to time speed, the polished Tachymeter bezel is also helpful with that.
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Movement

The Swiss Quartz caliber used in this reference is the reliable 5030.D, which is powered by a battery and features 4 1/2 years of power before it runs out. This is especially useful if your one who likes to throw on a watch and not have to worry about it for some time. In terms of accuracy you can expect immaculate precision consdiering quartz movements are the most accurate out there. A nice feature is the elapsed time function which can be used by clicking the reset button once the chronograph is in motion.

Genuine Rubber Band

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The 21MM rubber band is comprised of genuine rubber and feels good on the wrist out of the box. It is always a pleasure when you don’t have to break in a strap and can just rock it instantly. A nice touch is the matching black buckle and perforated rectangles for extra breathability. I think it suits the watch just fine and do not see a reason to swap it out.
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Conclusion

Furthermore, the Victorinox Alliance sports chronograph is definitely a great everyday wear for the average watch collector. It has a decent quality fit and finish along with a reliable and accurate swiss quartz movement. Victorinox always produces quality
timepieces and does not seem
to cut corners as other brands do when it comes to certain components such as straps, crystals, and casework. I can definitely reccommend this watch to my fellow readers. Please do check out the hands
on video review via YouTube on Watch Addiction Watch Reviews.

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0 Comments

11/12/2018 0 Comments

Victorinox INOX Automatic Watch Review - New For 2018

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Today, fellow watch addicts we will take a look at the all new 2018 Baselworld Victorinox INOX Automatic release, which is available on the Victorinox website for around $795 in this configuration. Previously, I have reviewed a couple standard INOX Quartz pieces, which were quite impressive and many viewers really liked them! Let us see what this new upgraded automatic version has to offer for the money...

Click Here For Victorinox Shop

Case

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When thinking INOX, we think tough, robust, and a great daily wear watch that can withstand tough conditions. The Quartz versions certainly have a slight advantage over the automatic versions due to the mechanical components being in this model - But it is still built like a tank and is essentially the same watch. The case diameter on this solid chunky 316L stainless steel case comes in at exactly 43MM. The actual wear on the wrist is great though, considering the rounded shape case. In terms of thickness, we are looking at 13.4 with a lug to lug distance of 53MM. The screwed down signed crown tucks in nicely to the crown guards and almost sits flush to the case, allowing for no discomfort what so ever when on wrist. Another nice feature is the scalloped bezel with polished edges - allowing for a bit of class and pop on this completely brushed watch. This is an INOX, so we do get that 200 Meters of water resistance which will get you through almost any water related activity you can think of, besides extremely deep diving ( which nobody really does anyway ). Our crystal
is a genuine Sapphire Crystal ( Front and Back ) with 3 layers of Anti-Reflective coating for extreme crisp legibility during high light conditions.
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*Extra Feature includes a plastic bumper to protect your watch even more...*
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Dial

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This variant contains the guilloche blue dial which sits nicely inside the case without any alignment issues or nothing of that nature, and a nice compliment nodding to the handles of their Swiss Army knives. The broad applied luminous markers are certainly legibile, as well as the sweeping seconds hand which contains a nice red tip for some legibility.The date window is tucked away in between the 4:00-5:00 position and stays out of the way of things, but can still easily be seen.
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Movement

The Swiss Made automatic movement inside this model is one I am very familiar with. That being the ETA 2824-2 self-winding automatic caliber. It is pretty much the industry standard for a decent Swiss Made timepiece and performs excellent with no major issues for some years. This movement contains 21 jewels, 38 hours of power reserve, and features hand winding and a hacking capability for precise timeset. My current model is running at around +3 seconds a day! This is essentially the same as a COSC certified timepiece...I may have got lucky!

Genuine Leather “Wood” Strap

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The 21MM genuine leather Wood strap
is something new for victorinox and I must say it does match the adventurous tough theme of this model. This is actual a wood strap on top of a genuine leather piece, showing their environmental awareness. It comes equipped to a milled fold over clasp which allows for on the go adjustment within seconds. It most certainly is flexible, and no real break-in period is needed for this one.
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Conclusion

Furthermore, for the $795 pricepoint Victorinox is asking for this model is definitely fair in my eyes. The watch passes all the standard checkpoints for me when it comes to components, build quality, and fit and finish. This is a Swiss Made watch and Victorinox is a swiss made brand, but the price for this model and quality is definitely a decent deal. I like the overall case design and even slightly reminds me of a Genta-ish case in some ways, which is pleasing. I hope you guys enjoyed , and please do check out the full hands-on video review on watch addiction watch reviews.
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0 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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