Affordable Divers

A friend of mine asked my advice on getting a Divers watch recently and whilst I’m happy to advise where I can, it’s a long time since I did any diving (like 40 years!) and even then it was fairly basic scuba diving. But he’s just taken up “holiday” snorkeling and had thought he’d already got himself a Divers watch, but after his first ducking it steamed up inside and stopped working! Now whilst it looked good, it was basically a fashion watch that was on it’s 3rd battery change (no seals left!) no screw down crown and a WR of 5Bar – purporting to be an all singing and dancing Divers model he said – which it patently was not!

I decided to have a look at what was available and within the confines of what my friend could afford. So I was restricted somewhat as he stipulated around the £200 mark, which I confess I thought might be a bit of a challenge. But absolutely not! There are literally hundreds of “Divers” models around and amongst them there are quite a few good Divers 200m models that offer pretty good value.

In the face of all this lot I made up my mind to concentrate only on the two big players, Seiko and Citizen, as their reputations, technical abilities and after sales servicing are well established and in my opinion the safest option. They also have the wherewithal to invest in new ideas and designs.

First up is Seiko and as you’d expect, being one of the largest Brands today they have a considerable number of good Divers models across various prices ranges. Kinetic seems to be the latest techno fad from Seiko and one model that didn’t seem too expensive is the Seiko SKA371P1 shown here.

Good solid Stainless Steel case model with the classic Divers look and unlike many of the resin cased digital models, this one is not too big at 42mm x 15mm, has a 200m Water Resistance. The watch fits nicely on smaller wrists as lug to lug distance is relatively small. There is a small date window @3 which is not well defined actually but has little importance when underwater. The bezel is excellent, uni-directional and has 60 definite clicks, so from a safety viewpoint does exactly what it’s supposed to do and has a luminous dot at Zero.

Regarding the luminous aspect of the hands. Whilst the lume is very good on the hour markers, the hands being skeleton show only the tips as luminous and I find this not as clear to read as solid hands. I prefer to see the length of the hand (as a pointer if you will) and not just a dot or very small arrow head as here. Others may not find this so, but that’s my observation. A really good point to note is the provision of bracelet lug screw bars, which are much stronger than spring bars. If snagged underwater, it’s an easy way to lose your watch. And one of the reasons I used to wear my old Divers with a Nato strap in the old days of spring bars only.

Overall though, despite the small and personal little concerns I’ve noted, this is one really, really good watch and especially so at the discounted price of around £200 – £230 mark in the UK.

As to Kinetic – well you either like it or you don’t. The idea is sound in that you use a movement rotor in the watch to generate via a small turbine an electric charge to the cell, which in turn powers the Quartz movement, so in theory accuracy should be really good. No battery to change and as long as you’re moving, the watch should tick away just great! This model like most Kinetics has a push button to indicate using the second hand as a pointer to the charge remaining, which is neat.

What is a Divers watch?

I should also explain, as I understand it, just what a Divers watch should feature. Practically it should be reliable and tough, it needs to have a Water Resistance of at least 20bar (200m) and it should have large easily read indexes and hands. Generally a Divers watch will be used in dim water at depth and from around a foot distance it should be easily readable and it’s important that it should have a uni-directional bezel, preferably with definite clicks. This used to simply time your dive against oxygen “time left”. This bezel also should also be figured or milled so that gloved fingers are able to turn it. So all that said –

Another Seiko model I’ve featured is the conventional Automatic 21 jewel SKX007K1 (Cal.7s26) which I rather like myself. It also features a tough construction, large index and hands configuration, the WR200m of course, uni-directional and strongly grooved bezel and is approximately 42mm x 13mm case dimensions, so again a sensible size.

Between the two I think I actually prefer the SKX007K1 and for a few reasons. First off are the hour and minute hands – these are solid infill and not skeleton, so for me much clearer. The second weep hand is white along it’s full length – again nice and clear. I also like the fact that it has a nice and clearly defined Date and Day window @3, though of course as Divers go, not essential. I also like the crown @4 position which prevents any catching on the wrist. I also prefer the slightly tidier case shape. Note that this is a classic Automatic mechanical movement, not Kinetic. It too has a movement rotor, which basically winds the mainspring. So accuracy won’t quite match the quartz or kinetic variety. But again, keep it moving and it will do the job AND the fact that it’s around £40 cheaper at around £170 in the UK it’s a pretty good buy.

There are other alternative models from Seiko such as the “Monster” series (not sure why they’ve picked up this name) but the Orange SKX781K at around £150 is certainly worth a look. It is also available in conventional black and is also a classic mechanical Automatic with Day Date. Once again very solid, dependable, hi-visibility and with similar dimensions. As can be seen there are quite a few options with Seiko and it’s down to personal preference really as to which you pick.

So looking at the other big brand – Citizen. The model that springs to mind with regard to the price is the Citizen BK3150-04EE- shown here –

Citizen EcoDrive Divers - BK3150-04EE — Citizen Quartz Divers – BK3150-04EE

Of course Citizen have quite a number of Divers classification models and most are quite similar with just a few style differences. This one is NOT eco-Drive but powered by a standard Quartz movement, so a battery change is approximately every 5 years, has quartz accuracy and is very much a Divers watch. 200M Water Resistance, solid stainless steel in a rubber strap version, big clear hour markers and hands with good luminosity. This one also has a well defined Day and Date feature. It is a really neat size at only 40mm diameter case and the strap is 20mm wide. As usual it also features hardened mineral glass and a uni-directional bezel etc. Note that not all Divers models have screw lug pins and most of the Citizen models, as this one, feature heavy duty spring bars, which I have to say are pretty good nevertheless. It sells for around £120 in the UK, so again tremendous value.

Citizen, as I say, have quite few Divers models and the last one featured briefly here is the BN0000-04H.

Amendment – addition – image – The Citizen BN0000-04H Eco-Drive Solar Divers

BN000-04H Citizen Divers Eco-Drive — BN0000-04H Citizen Divers Eco-Drive

There are of course other brands out there, so many in fact that it’s easy to get bogged down searching out every little difference, but in all honesty I’m sure you can get pretty much your ideal with either of these two great Brands. So much so that I’ve recommended my friend looks these out and takes his pick – and all without breaking the bank.

And I’m not looking at any more – Phew!

Note – Of course there are watches that whilst not officially classed as “Divers” watches, are nevertheless absolutely fine for swimming and even the occasional shallow snorkeling. Many have a WR of 100m and better, but maybe without a uni-directional bezel or with large indexes and so on, though from experience IF you are in the water/sea more than most, then it makes sense to get the proper thing. As you can see from the above – these don’t certainly don’t have to be expensive. However like my friend don’t get fooled by some that describe themselves as Divers when they are most definitely not. A great big outer bezel for example may look OK until you note the hour numerals and markers are thin and/or chromed and often in many cases with poor luminous quality.

So my advice for what it’s worth is – if scuba-diving or diving – check out the above “What is a Divers watch?” paragraph and take it from there and you’ll hopefully be safe rather than sorry!

Update – Well my personal choice (prior to writing this was actually the last one No 4. I opted for the Citizen BN0000-04H after quite a bit of indecision. Why this one you may ask? Well it’s Solar (Eco-Drive) for one thing, so no battery to worry about and no Water resistance issues either. It also unusually has a solid brushed stainless mono-case construction with a WR300 rating, and it’s very compact. I’ll feature it in a future post once I’ve had a week or two using it and post my impressions then. And coincidentally by friend bought the very same model just before me, though I didn’t know this (from another Dealer) and he loves it.

And the cost? A very reasonable £130, which can’t be bad .

I like them!

Just checking over some of the watches that have taken my fancy over the past week or two. Partly owing to the fact I had to get an old Junkers watch repaired and it went to PoinTtec in Germany for service. Which they did very successfully I have to say. However I noted at the time that they also managed a few other lines, including the Zeppelin and Maximillian brands.

Now I’ve always had time for these are they are always interesting and good looking designs and most have a classic war/retro feel to them that I find quite rather comforting – must be an age thing!

The first one that caught my eye is their new, classic Zeppelin Nordstern, which features a Big Date @12 and a Second Time Zone dub-dial @6 in a 41mm stainless steel case. Quartz movement is the well respected Swiss Ronda 6203.B and it also has a decent 10Bar Water Resistance.

All in, this is a very stylish watch and certainly on my list of “possibles”. I also like the “Big Date” feature as it is easy to see at a glance.

My second watch is also a new one and a slight departure from the usual classical lines, but a little more “ground” military inspired perhaps and geared for low light situations.
Called the Night Cruise model 7240.2 it has a black case and black dial, luminous hour and minute hands and a nice red tipped center seconds hand with big round white against black markers. This model features a rubber strap with a standard and clearly defined Date window @3. There is another similar model featuring a bracelet, I understand. The case is 41mm diameter.
Note the luminous markers shine Blue for night sighting and this model features another Swiss Ronda Quartz movement, the Ronda 515. Water Resistance 10Bar. I particularly like (my personal taste of course) the fact that this model does not sport a divers bezel idea, which for me make it look rather more elegant.

The Night Cruise form Zeppelin — The Night Cruise from Zeppelin

Both models are approximately £170 (UK priced) which is pretty decent value for a couple of neatly designed models that really look the part in my opinion.

And the third model I’ve selected here is from Maximillian, the 5332-1 “Click Date” which is a Radio Controlled model with this rather neat Click Date feature. Allows the dial to be quite uncluttered but shows the Date quite neatly, when required. Featuring this time the German produced Cal.42-24 RC movement. The dot markers are in Green Luminous material, the case is Gold Ion plated.

The Maximillian Click DateRadio Controlled 5332-1 — The Maximillian Click Date, Radio Controlled 5332-1

The watch is neat at only 39mm diameter and the Water Resistance 5ATM. Obviously this is more a dress watch, hence the missing macho features, but a very smart and unusual watch it is. The Date indication is accessed by pressing the crown, which moves the Second Hand which then acts as a pointer to the outer track date numbers on the right segment of the dial. I suppose your eyesight has to be good to read the small date numerals, but it is a dress watch and probably no more difficult than many a retro chronograph with date sub-dials. However as style is more the essence of this watch it’s hardly an issue and perhaps it’s just me, as I definitely need glasses these days! But that said this is yet another model I might very well seriously consider – maybe for my next birthday?

I might be getting on these days, but I never say no to a little elegance!

Times are moving.

Some models that have attracted me recently are the Kinetic range of watches from Seiko. I’m interested as I already have a 1988 forerunner of this technology (the Seiko AGS) and to see how they have progressed is something else. I also like them because whilst they do use a quartz oscillator, they’re unlike standard quartz systems as they use mechanical movement to generate electricity via micro rotor to charge an accumulator, which via gearing, drives the watch movement. Unlike purely mechanical movements however, these can also offer quartz accuracy. The best of both you could say.

Early Seiko AGS Automatic Generating System watch

Of course as I said, the technology has been around a while, though a far cry from my early 1988 AGS Seiko, which is the Kinetic predecessor. My old model (April 1988) has a total full charge time of only 3 days so not quite in the same league as today’s offerings, which on full charge may be many, many months in some versions. In fact my old AGS if off the wrist too long, takes ages to get the darned thing started. I usually have to waggle it around for about 30 minutes before it grudgingly, in two second hops, decides that it’s accumulator or capacitor is beginning to get some charge. I do have the updated cell version, which ostensibly gives 90 days and I have replaced the capacitor at last I’ve – so that’s all sorted now!

Today’s “Kinetics” as they are now called, are a very, very different animal – Oh yes!

Seiko Kinetic SKA465P1 Black stainless - no frills favorite — Seiko Kinetic SKA465P1 Black stainless – with date if you can see it

And one of the good features I like about the current range of Kinetic watches from Seiko is the fact they don’t have to look complicated and actually make models that have a neat simplicity, which is in contrast to the many sub-dialled, over cluttered faces I see so often when new models appear. It seems to be the thing that if you can see the time clearly, this is not good! What nonsense! The whole point of a watch is to tell the time – easily. And here are a couple of Seiko models that in my opinion are both good and practical!

The SKA465P1 has a simple dial design showing absolute clarity – the contrast is great and the layout is clear and simple. Black dial face with bright white and luminous numerals with good contrasting hour and minute hands – also luminous, with a white centre seconds hand with a decent overlap tail end. The date window between 4 and 5 is possibly a little discreet, which is a pity, but at least the date numbers are white against black. It is however a negative in an otherwise nice watch. The dark coated stainless steel case could be an issue if it rubs over time and same for the two tone bracelet, but it makes for an understated and good looking watch. (I have one other Ion coated cased watch and so far over 3 years it has not rubbed, though it’s not a Seiko).

You will note this model has button @2 which is not to adjust the date (which you would do with the centre crown) but instead this moves the second hand to indicate the amount of charge the watch has remaining. Just a note about the bracelet fixing. This watch I’m glad to say features a conventional strap lug arrangement (spring pins) which is so sensible and means you can change the bracelet for a conventional strap or alternative bracelet of your choice. And as stated on the watch face the Water Resistance is 100m – very practical therefore as an every day watch.

The Seiko SKA459P1 Titanium Kinetic – good date window

There are quite a few different versions and another one I like is the Titanium SKA495P1 – a nice example which is also simple to read and use, but a little more dressy. It also has a much better Date window in my opinion, easier to read with it’s highlighted window, at the more conventional 3 o’clock position. But on the downside for me is the fact that it is fitted to a bespoke bracelet – in other words you can’t fit a leather strap for example, unlike the previous model, which is a pity. And there are more complicated looking models such as the Sportura, but for me some of these have a dial that is just too cluttered at first glance and not easy to quickly read the time. Often a GMT hand is given too much priority and is mistaken for the hour hand.

Another model, the SKA557P1 at first glance appears to give that nice clarity, but don’t let the online images fool you – the typical images really don’t tell the full picture. Yes it has an excellent face, clear, simple and with good contrast too, but the watch may be spoiled by the very highly polished bezel on the watch case – had this been matte – it would have been just about perfect.

But like everything else it may well suit someone else as we all have different ideas of what we like or dislike. What I can say is the Kinetic technology is really something rather special. Terrific accuracy, no battery changing required, no worries about wearing under a shirt or pullover, which can really upset Solar or Eco-drive watches, especially in the UK where we are not in the habit of wearing short sleeved shirts and out in the sun? too often – all you have to do with this watch is wear it every so often.

SKA557P1 dark drown coated Stainless kinetic from Seiko. BUT – too shiny?

And the latest Auto Relay version even allows the watch to sit unworn for up to 4 years! then when you want to use it you simply waggle it around for a few minutes and it immediately starts up, the static hands suddenly whizz round the dial to the correct time, the date changes to the correct day and hey presto – you’re up and running.

Possible issues – I have noted perhaps four here – one is the Date window on the SKA465P1 model is not so clear as it should be, then the issue of Ion or dark coatings on Stainless Steel – sometimes successful, sometimes not. Though my experience is good on these so may not be an issue after all. Then there is the bracelet fitting on the SKA459P1, where it’s not possible to fit a strap, and finally the SKA557P1 model with such a great face, clear etc. BUT looks as if it has that very glossy shiny bezel case which may be distracting. I’ll have to see that one in person to make sure. But of course that’s the thing with watches – finding the ideal and the one that ticks (sorry!) all the boxes – maybe that’s the thing about watch gazing and part of the fun.

Now if I could just find an Auto Relay model (not chrono) with a nice clear to read face and preferably a strap version, I could be very tempted indeed! Watch this space!

BUT – I have heard that Kinetic may be phased out – according to those in the know. It is quite possible that the new Spring Drive system utilising Quartz and mechanical without battery (Grand Seiko) may well be their future as it promises extreme accuracy with little intervention. Which makes this Post probably irrelevant, unless buying pre-owned! Typical!”

Chalk and Cheese?

A watch nut acquaintance of mine arrived back from holiday the other day, waltzed into my place and bragged about his new watch. He only gave me a fleeting glimpse of it as he waved his arm around, saying this was the absolute best watch he’d ever owned.
Intrigued of course I asked to see it and even though I just had the slightest peek, I said it looked like he’d got himself an Aviator classic. “Oh, he said, you don’t have one too, do you?”

Well I’ve got this one here I replied and dug out my old AstroAvia Classic Aviator Alarm watch that I’ve had for a number of years. Now I wouldn’t say it’s the very best watch I’ve ever owned, but it is in practical terms, a pretty decent watch and one that I intend to keep for a long time yet.

Anyway the watch on his wrist was marked on the dial as Ernst Benz, which to me, being a bit cynical in my old age, sounds like one of those made up Swiss German classic marques, that more often than not turn out to be (in my experience) a vastly expensive product with little actual pedigree, or indeed watch specification detail (or any), but lots of dialogue about how good it is. Looking up Herr Ernst Benz I confess to being unsure as to the tie up with a watch brand, but hey why not! I do have a watch in my display cabinet with my own name on the dial too!

Now my friend oddly enough after seeing my old Astro suddenly went all coy on how much his Benz cost! Of course if I’m honest, just because the brand was and is pretty much unknown to me, doesn’t make my cynicism justified – I could be quite wrong and it could indeed be a super quality classic.
However looking closely at it – I’ve got to say it doesn’t appear anything special – it’s a fairly common mechanical automatic chrono, probably a 7750 series or 2824/36 movement or similar (I have many of these), the case and dial design is in ubiquitous “Aviator” style and hardly special, the numerals, printing, hands, dial and case quality and finish are comparable and when we put both watches together, they look pretty similar.

Of course in reality they are not the same and there are differences for sure – mechanical automatic v quartz, Sapphire v Hardened Mineral crystal and “maybe” quality differences and so on, but we’re not talking gold or platinum here, or super complications, but a stainless cased working chronograph. The cost differential may well be taken up in part by the mechanical v quartz, though other than that aspect, I don’t see much else. However that said it is fact that mechanical 7750 and 2824 movements models can be anywhere from £600 to £thousands, depending on who they are, marketing hype and fashion. Factually though it’s OK, but personally I’d be looking elsewhere money wise.

My old AstroAvia has a Japanese Quartz (OS2 or YM62 usually) has never let me down, the hands mechanics and complications work fine and is just what I need from a practical daily beater, which why I bought it in the first place. I do recall I favored Quartz over mechanical as more often than not, chronograph complications in everyday wear, considering knocks and so on usually fare better. (See my post of March 2010). It also came with a bracelet and a quality leather strap!

However as the image, they do have a certain similarity – that aviator style and whilst I am very happy with my AstroAvia purchase, I’m not too sure if my old friend is quite so happy after I mentioned it’s £180 price tag.

He never did tell me how much he paid, but checking up on a few of the Benz model prices and which after seeing them, I’d consider this more orientated towards fashion than anything else.

And as to my title “Chalk and Cheese?”, well it certainly makes this old pessimist wonder.

Blue classic

The color blue is also very popular with watch manufacturers, though as Yellow they can look highly colored for colors sake, rather than any other reason. However sometimes one model comes along that truly uses the color (blue in this instance) to best effect. And this is the wonderful IWC Portuguese Silver/Blue shown here.

The model is called the IWC Portuguese 7 Day Power Reserve Silver/Blue Dial Men’s Strap Watch IW500107. It has a stainless steel 42.3mm case and blue leather strap. This watch has a silver dial with blue hour markers and hands and a date indicator at 6 o’clock. The crystal is Sapphire glass and matched by a sapphire crystal glass back and is water resistant to 30M.

The Swiss Automatic movement has an extraordinary Power Reserve of 7 days with the reserve indicator sub-dial @3 and seconds sub-dial @9, which makes for a clean and very clearly defined face. And the touch of Red as a warning indication showing 1 day power reserve remaining is very neat.
But what I really like about this model is the subtle use of the Blue color. This is not just a blue version of a standard model, but a careful application of tone and form, which transforms this watch into a very elegant timepiece.

So in the Dress watch stakes, this is certainly one of the best I’ve seen yet, regardless of color – it’s a classic.

Touch of Green

Not quite such a common color as red in the watch world, there are still quite a number around. Green straps and colored resin cases or green dials and not surprisingly quite a number of khaki green military styles. Fewer dress style models are in evidence, though these two I found are probably in that classification.

Very traditional style with interesting touches is the Void model V03 Limited Edition. Green dial of course in an IP Gold case with date window @3 and an alarm function with pointer hand in red. Hour and minuted hands are black with glow in the dark infills, plus a center seconds hand and the watch is a neat 38mm x 10mm. The contrasting leather strap is color coordinated apparently with the gold/green combination look. The quartz movement is a Japanese Miyota so should be dependable. And I have to say I quite like the style of it and as a dress watch it should look rather smart.

Costs in the UK around £250 and about the same in Euros – this is the Void Watches site – HERE

As with my Red watch post, the second watch featured moves more up to date I suppose with this nice Rockwell, bracelet style model, Green and Silver from their Rook range.

Rockwell Stainless Green dial Swiss Quartz

With the stainless steel bracelet, which is what I call a “ladder” style, matching nicely with the case, this green dial watch features an anti-reflective Sapphire crystal and a Swiss quartz movement and appears as a rather sleek modern look. With a stainless case at 38mm wide matched by a 38mm bracelet, this certainly gives it a very modern and clean look. It is also very slim at only 9.2mm so will easily slip under a shirt cuff. I also think the color combination of silver and green works well and I’m pleased to see the contrasting white infill hour and minute hands plus a white center seconds hand.

For me this model has an elegance which I didn’t expect on first encounter, but the more I look at it the better I like it.

HOWEVER – Costs around $240 on the Rockwell web site, which is reasonable. But on the Amazon UK site it’s quoted at just under £400 which has to be after importation. This is far more than double! – today the exchange rate suggests the true cost should be £150 and I might have been tempted – but for me that Amazon price is just a nonsense! NO Sale!

I have seen it today on Ebay UK for around £147 plus £28 US/UK postage. So plus import Vat etc. it’s probably gettable at perhaps under £250, but for a £150 watch it’s still too high in my opinion. So again – NO Sale!

Available from USA Rockwell Watches HERE

Touch of Red

Recently on holiday I bumped into a guy at dinner one evening who definitely had style. The first thing I noticed was that being at dinner, he wore a dinner jacket or Tuxedo as my US pals call it. Now this being 2013 in Europe, on a river cruise, is actually unusual in itself these days, as what ever dress code there used to be on ships, is either flaunted, ignored or not demanded. That wonderful old elegance of “dressing” up for dinner on boats unfortunately has long been tossed overboard!

Oclock Watch - Mickey Mouse in red. Model OCD02. — Oclock Watch – Mickey Mouse in red. Model OCD02.

But as I say, he had style, looked awesome and quite evidently drew envious looks – and why not? However what really struck me was his choice of watch to accompany this elegant, smart and dark ensemble.
A Red Watch no less and a Mickey Mouse one at that! And furthermore it matched the red silk bow tie perfectly! This was STYLE!
So here I introduce the Oclock watch – model OCD02 Mickey Mouse in Red.

Made by Fullstop in Italy, it has interchangeable “pop out” faces, a choice of stretch colored silicon strap (of varying lengths), a 35mm white dial with glow in the dark hour and minute hands, so actually very practical. I love it!

So it got me thinking – what other color watches are around, that could be worn to enhance your personality and that independent free thinking look.

Rosendahl 43108 Red Digital Gents Watch.

Sticking with Red as the color of choice I’ve updated the look by coming bang up to date with this sleek Rosendahl 43108 Digital Red PU strapped super digital display watch.

This is a super slim 22mm wide by only 6mm depth digital model with time and date display, featuring a black display with white digits. The strap is a neat Polyurethane affair with an invisible double locking stainless steel clasp. The watch has 30m Water Resistance too. Seeing it for the first time I personally prefer it to the newer technology Phosphor watches with their digital Ink displays. This watch is smaller, slimmer and neater on the wrist and for me, having a smallish wrist, this suits me much better. As to features – well let’s say that knowing the time and the date is really all I need.

Now I’m on this “color” kick got me to thinking, what other high color watches are out there, that can give the wearer that “look at me – my tie says it all” look, but in a watch. I’ve seen quite a few and not only in Red – in fact there’s a color to suit almost any occasion . . . .

Good idea for a post or two – I’m sure. So watch this space!

A masterpiece

This started off as a note in my “Latest” page this week, but I simply had move it to this post, so it could be shared by everyone. IF you’ve not seen this and you love watches, timekeeping, mechanics and Art – AND a combination f all of those, then this is a treat. From master watchmaker Jaquet Droz comes something very special.

I know when I first saw this a year ago I was utterly blown away and as a collector of watches it was pretty obvious this was WAY out of my league – BUT hey! you can dream!

I hope to add a few more animation videos when I find ones that interest me – I’ll probably make a new page entitled “The Art of Time” featuring hopefully something a bit special each time.

Classic Seiko

There’s always room for a watch that simply does what it’s supposed to do and Seiko are one manufacturer that have managed this very well. I refer to the incredibly successful Seiko 5 series of mechanical automatic watches. Not the quartz models they make by the truck load, but the mechanical, tough as old boots, never need a battery models that those in the know buy and collect. I recently bought one for my collection, hence this brief introduction post.

The model name “5” refers to the 5 features that Seiko wanted to highlight in this particular and large range. Or rather this is one of the most accepted explanations for the title. An “unbreakable” mainspring (Diaflex) and an antishock system to rival Incabloc (Diashock). It also had to be a mechanical auto-winding movement, have a day and date function and have a have decent Water Resistance.

The movement is usually from the Singapore made 7s26 or 7s36 series and these are pretty much stalwarts in the Seiko range. Dependable, rugged and with acceptable and adjustable accuracy over the long term. Non hacking, non-hand winding, unidirectional, 21 jewel auto beating @12,600bph, it’s one of those movements that seem to go on forever, regardless of whether serviced or not, looked after well or stuck in a drawer for years. Take it out – move it a bit and it’s off and running!

The only downside with the Seiko 5 series is that there are literally hundreds of fakes out there purporting to be genuine and increasingly difficult to spot, so extreme care should be taken if looking for one today. On the good side as with fakes generally there are often, but not always, tell-tale signs that show us that all is not as it seems. One of the main tell tales on the Seiko 5 is in reference to the date window etc.
For example since 1990 Seiko have used plastic day and date wheels and very often fakes have metal ones. Since the the last metal day/date wheels on Seiko were on much older models, such as the 7006 or 9 series, you’re looking at 25 or 30 years ago for those.

There will be other signs of faking, but to go into all that would I suspect take a pretty large article and unfortunately still not cover all the possibilities.

Suffice to say if looking for a Seiko 5 – it is very much a case of “buyer beware” – which is a real shame as these are really excellent and reasonable cost watches and great for wearing and collecting.

Fake information sheets are available if you Google for them ( the reference for the above “tells” seems to have gone) I am sure there are quite a few.

New favorite One hand

Whilst I have a few One Hand watches I’m always partial to checking out what else is around. This one from MeisterSinger, model Neo NE908 is one of my favorites to date. Not least because it’s a great size at 36mm diameter, for my medium wrist and as a One Hand Reader it’s difficult to beat AND it also has a date window @6.

Meistersinger Neo — MeisterSinger Neo NE908

After a very short time you get to be very accurate with your reading of the time and the fact this one has a separate date window @6 is a bonus. The hour hand is a large white affair, very clear to read and the date and is unusually highlighted in a red background with white numerals, it looks very contrasty against the dial – a neat touch I think. The graduations as usual with most MeisterSinger One Hand models are 144 in total, divided into 5 minute intervals, with larger minute markers at 15, 30 and 45 minutes, so very easy to read.

Whilst the watch diameter is neat at 36mm diameter the dial actually covers the entire top surface, so views larger than it actually is. The full width crystal is hardened Plexi-glass and the case itself is slim at only 10mm, so this is one sleek watch, which looks really good on the wrist. The movement is a an excellent quality Automatic Swiss ETA 2824-2 and the watch itself is designed in Germany, so a pretty good combination in my opinion. Case material is Stainless Steel with a solid screw down back, Water Resistance is 3Bar and the 18mm wide quality blue leather strap with it’s snug fit at the case lugs, is complimented by a stainless signed buckle. Guarantee is for 2 years from MeisterSinger.

MeisterSinger design their range of watches in Munster, Germany though the watches, according to MeisterSinger, are produced by their own bespoke Swiss Manufacturer. The driving force of the company is one Manfred Brassler who as founder and CEO has brought the company, via many watch innovation awards, to what it is today and still expanding.

I have to say that the quality of this watch appears to be excellent and when I get my own one (Oh yes – I’m thinking of getting one of these!) I’ll post more detailed information at a future date. They do offer different color models, though I have to say I’m partial to this blue model. In fact this is a bit of a theme for me at the moment as I have quite a few watch models that I can match to my mood. Maybe this is a new trend?