WWR #3: Orient Diver Watch UN9P009D

My Weekly Watch Recom for the week is the an affordable quartz diver watch from Orient. Yes it's quartz, and with the price, it's an obvious choice for a good beater.



Men / Women:Men
Crystal:Mineral
Movement:Orient Quartz Movement
Crown:Screwed-down
Water Resistance:200m
Case Material:Stainless Steel
Dial Color:Blue
Calendar:Date
Band Material:Vent Rubber Strap











3 things I like about the watch. First is it's vintage cushion case popular on Japanese watches way back in the 60's and 70's. The blue dial and bezel with the yellow accent, not you see everyday on Japanese watches. And lastly, that magnified crystal on the date window. They just fit everything. But I do advise to replace the vent strap with that dolphin logo on the sides, replace it with clean rubber straps or better some nato or zulus that have that blue/yellow colors. If only this had an automatic movement in it, it will be a true classic. With the quartz movement, it allows for the thinner case so it won't go in the way with normal wrist movemenbts. Having a quartz one isn't that bad at all. A beater whose price won't run deep in your pockets, set it and forget it, and a unique design with the usual simple hues of Orient Watches, it's a sure recommendation from me.

Images found on Orient Watch USA website:
http://orientwatchusa.com/un9p009d

WWR #2: Citizen Automatic Dress Watch NP3000-54A

Citizen has been popular these days with offering numerous models of their very successful Eco-Drive watches, which are quartz watches powered by solar technology. But for my Weekly Watch Recom for this week, it's from their mechanical products which is simply stunning as a dress watch with a very reasonable price tag. It's the model number NP3000-54A. This watch has that clean white face dial with small 24 hour time dial on the 9 o'clock position and 3-day view date at the 3 o'clock. Now prior to giving my reason why to get this, here are its features:

Metal : Stainless Steel
Movement : Automatic
Citizen Gents Automatic.
Caliber: 4166 - 21 Jewels
Sapphire crystal.
Made in Japan.
Stainless steel case & crystal caseback.
With matching bracelet with DB buckle.
Water resistant 100m
Lugs width 21mm
Case width including crown: 46mm
Case thickness: 12.5mm







You should get one of these since first, it comes from Citizen, a very reputable watch manufacturer and a true in-house movement. Aside from the lots of quartz watches they have, Citizen long before has been making mechanical watches which are at par with Seiko. And with this dress watch, you get a clean looking white dial, elegant and uncluttered, a reliable made in Japan movement that is decorated to allow a more craftmanship rendition of the view from the caseback. This watch also looks better with a black leather strap, to match your ties and suits. The case width of 46mm may be a bit bigger than the usual dress watches but it doesn't look that big in actual fitting. The movement is also handwindable and hackable, a very usual feature for watch rotation geeks. And one of the best bargains is the price, at around $400-$500, it's a sure winner. A definite win from Citizen.



Pics grabbed from this forum thread:
http://forums.watchuseek.com/f21/citizen-np3000-54a-some-photos-445289.html

WWR #1: Hamilton Khaki Field Officer H70615733

For the first weekly watch recom its model number H70615733 Khaki Field Officer Auto from Hamilton. The american watch brand who now belongs under the Swatch Group umbrella continues to provide us with offerings that are still true to the American style it was created and being under the powerful Swatch group, means you can't go wrong with quality, durability and class. Specs of the watch are as follows.

Dial window material type: Scratch-Resistant Sapphire Crystal
Case: Stainless-Steel; 44mm;
Case back: Exhibition Caseback
Lug width: 22mm
Band material: Black Leather Band w/ Rivets
Dial color: Black; 24hr Subdial
Calendar: Date
Movement: Automatic ETA 2824, Handwind and Hackable
Water resistant depth: 330 Feet

Why buy this watch? If you don't have a military inspired watch yet, this is a good starter. Aside from lots of offerings from Japanes watch brands, if you want something with a 'Swiss Made' badge and has an ETA movement that hacks and winds, this one will definitely do. This won't break the bank. I've seen some shops offering this at around $600. The design is simple, modern and will hold on for a long time. So surely it will be a keeper.

What I love about it, the big hour markers with inner military hour markers and outer minute markers, a sure military look. The hands, simple and effective. Brushed case finish for that rugged look. Decent leather strap, thick and sturdy (thanks to the double buckle hole system) to compliment the whole watch. Will definitely look good on natos or zulus! And it's fathers day today, buy your dad one, or if your one, treat yourself!

                     Here is a screenshot of Ryan Reynolds sporting the watch in the movie "Buried"

View the watch at the Hamilton site:
http://www.hamiltonwatch.com/en/gents/khaki/field/officer-auto/H70615733

TV Series: Outsourced

Usually, we have lots of TV shows capturing the usual story lines that either blows up your tubes with gun fires and explosives, fogs up the screen with steamy and cheesy stories, saddens us with drama, or the popular tickles from comedy. In the new comedy TV series Outsourced, it's plot begins when an American is sent to India to manage a call center. That statement alone brings lots of interest.

And so as the story progresses with comedy as major in lines of love, indian/american culture, jokes, jobs, singin/dancing, sex...and everything that goes with life. It's quite nice to see a new show that grasps the reality of life right now. Recession, global outsourcing, the difference in cultures and its possibilities all bottled up in one comedy show.

Be sure to watch out for Gupta!

Weekly Watch Recom

Starting this week, I will try to publish a new watch every week that I would recommend for any watch lovers or watch seekers to buy. I got the idea since mostly, the only WIS in my circle of friends, they frequently ask me about what watch to buy, where, and most importantly WHY. And it gives me one of the highest fulfillment that they eventually buy the one I recommend or by just the fact that I was able to impart to them any new knowledge in the world of horology. And one of unique things the way that I recommend watches to them, is that I look into the person and somewhat fill their shoes, and analyze what watch is right for them. I don't recommend to them my favorites, I give them the watch that would match their personality, style, taste and if possible their pockets. So now, I'm sharing it to the rest of the world.

And if you ever find my future posts helpful, drop me a note, I'd be glad of the news.

Cheers!

Timex Ironman 100-Lap T5E231 Review

It takes a lickin and keep on ticking...That famous line from the watch brand that started way back 1854 with their 1 dollar watches. Well, you can't have those watches on that price scale in these ages but Timex still offers the affordable watches around the world. Timex, is one of the few brands that really have diverse styles in their watches. It's like there is always a timex for every kind of person in this earth. Sports, Dress, Quartz, Mechanical, Casual, Outdoor, you name it, they have one for everyone. And one of the most popular line is the Ironman. Ironman watches are designed for athletes in triathlon and marathon.

The unit that I will be bringing some thoughts to day is the Timex Ironman T5E231. It is one of the current models today in the 100 Lap category and currently has like 200+ user comments on the amazon website (yes believe me, check it out).

The case:
Case is made of resin plastic with stainless steel caseback. Diameter is at 40mm. It has a black plastic painted bezel up front and about 18mm lugs. This watch doesn't have the shock resist features unlike other ironmans. It's really a standard case design with 4 buttons on the sides and one top button for the convenience of start/split. I had quite bad experiences with their buttons on previous ironmans, they just fell off for no apparent reason, so I hope it doesn't happen to you.



Dial:
The lcd dial is protected by mineral crystal. LCD display is big and easy. Like you can read the time even if the watch is on the other side of the room or even other side of the road. Which is one of the biggest points considering you are targetting runners and marathon athletes who would never want to waste an extra amount of effort for just reading the time. ANd yes, the bright and effective Indiglo is on.



Band:
The rubber band is quite normal with other timex watches, but still on the doubt if the quality and durability of the bands have improved. I have other rubber bands from timex before, all of em breaking within a year or two, and I'm no ironman athlete, just a normal watch freak who has a daily job and jogs like 2 or 3 times in a week. So don't expect to much on the band. I advice you check em regularly like every month for some signs of wear and tear, you don't want your watch to just fall out of your wrist suddenly without any warning. When you check, don't just look at it, try to bend the band opposite from its usual form, and if you see some cracks or so, stop wearing em and replace em immediately.



Features
Well you have the stopwatch. Which has the Lap time, memory recall up to 100 Laps. Yes 100, and that's more you would need for a serious sportsman. Timex beats everybody out on this junction.

Then there is the interval timer. 9 of which from the product descriptions. I can't say much bout it since I was only able to handle the watch for a couple of days, but I think it is capable of having a timer with intervals like cycles for possibly doing some reps on the gym or so. Pretty neat really. Another plus.

Of course you have the alarm modes.

Water resistance is 100M. Swim with it, just don't push the buttons underwater.

The flix system, where just by flicking your wrist, the indiglo night light activates. I still don't see any use to this feature as I find the button pressing a lot more easier and more normal. Good thing about the indiglo feature is that when you activate the indiglo button, and start operating the modes and the functions, the indiglo night light continues to light up, up to the point when there are no more button operations going within 3 secs interval. Very neat and useful.



In summary, its a good watch for the price. If you just want a dependable watch to accompany you in whatever sporting hobbies or professions you have, this Timex will definitely do the trick. Well the design maybe to much of a triathlon look for me, so I would only wear one when in the gym or pool or jogging. When I take-off my running shoes, I take this off too. I mean, you don't wear running shoes or shorts or spandex casually right? I hope not. As any gym bag or locker should have an ironman in it. On durability, some swore theirs lasted for many many many years, others just died for a couple, I can't really say since I haven't owned digital Timex watches that long, but truth I can say that it is an understanding that when the battery of your timex goes out, people just buy another one. Like its consumable, not the right term but you get the point. It's not a collectible watch but it just gets the job done.