WWR# 18: Orient Classic Chronograph TT0V004W

Orient, one of the least popular watch brands globally and one of the brands that I only knew of when I started collecting is also one of the brands that surprises me more often and has somewhat read my mind on what kind of watches I like and would love to see available in the market.  And the best part of all, majority of their watches are pretty affordable.

My Weekly Watch Recom for this week is a new model from their Classic Quartz Line.  It seems that Orient is churning out lots of Quartz models recently which equals more or less the number of new mechanicals they introduce.  Well this watch truly has some classic lines.  It has hints and cues chronographs decades ago, so its not hard to like.  I also like how the sub dials are not contemporary to chronograph watches today.  For example, the continuous seconds hand is at the 9 o'clock position, the 6 o'clock area seems to have a mini clock dial which I assume tells the minute and second chronograph counter, and at the 12 o'clock is for the 1/10th of a second counter.  If I'm wrong, please do comment and correct me.

I've handle this piece in person and it's very light, very practical for an everyday beater at the office or trips to the coffee shop or having some drinks with friends later.  The case has an all polished finish.  Leather strap is mediocre but you can always change it with croc design to give it a more classier look.

Pictures below are the 3 different tones of dial, case, hands and straps that I like the most.  Looking for a classy daily beater? You can get this for less than $150 at your retail stores and get an upgrade for your wrist that's more that what you paid for.

Here are some more details from Orient's website.

Analogue Quartz Movement : caliber KFB00
Chronograph in 1/20 second
Chronograph hands (second & 1/20 second), Small second hand
Date indicator

Stainless steel case
Domed crystal glass
Screw caseback
Genuine leather strap
Water resistant to 50m
Diameter 42.60mm
Thickness 10.79mm

 

WWR# 17: Timex Gents Elegant Dress Watch T2M528

It's quite or rather a big direction right now that oversize watches, 40mm and above are the norm.  Even though it defies the satorial rules of the tastefully inclined, you can see them being brought about in formal wear, denying to be covered on the sleeves.

And so the the industry answered with a boost in dress watches that went out who could make the thinnest watch of course with a mechanical movement.  Piaget came out with the Altiplano, JLC with Master Ultra Thin, and then Vacheron Constatin Patrimony Grande Taille, and many others followed suit.  But of course, these would all cost more than your car probably, so for a wallet friendly thin watch, I recommend the Timex Gents Elegant Dress Watch T2M528. 







This quartz watch is 42mm and 8mm thick and weighs only 300 grams.  So basically from the front, it is in town with its size, but will definitely fit under those cuffs. Best of both words isn't it?  And you can have it at of course very affordable prize.  Lots of em available around.  Basically you got all of this, incredible value for money, will take on a lickin and keeps on tickin, and will look good on that tailored suit of yours.

WWR 16#: Seiko SBBN011 Darth Tuna Professional Divers Watch

In the world of dive watches, there are only a few brands who really have a real rich history with the art and science of diving.  In my best of knowledge and opinion, I'm not a diver in any level, there are three types of dive watches in the market.  There are desk divers, ISO rated divers, and professional dive watches.  Well now of course these watches are really just accessories, dive computers now do the real guide for the divers, but way back then, the reliability and functionality of dive watches under the vigorous environment under water meant life and death for the diver.   

Seiko is one of the brands who offers those three types of watches (including a dive computer). And during 1965, they came up with a complete redesign from their usual divers watches and came up with the Tuna.  Well its called that by its fans because it just resembles a tuna can.  Flashforward to 2010, they now came up with a blacked out version of this Tuna and now with an ever reliable Seiko quartz movement.  This is my WWR # 16, the Seiko SBBN011 Darth Tuna.

Specs of this awesome and massive divers watch.

Movement 7C46 Quartz from Japan
Sapphire Crystal
Unidirectional Bezel
Titanium Case, Ceramic Guard
48mm Case Diameter
15mm Case Thickness
1000m Water Resistance

What really struck me about this watch is how it wears on your wrist.  Before, looking at pictures of all Tunas, I could just not fathom wearing a hockey puck on your wrist.  But when I actually tried this on for size, it seems I could not get it off and the sales lady was expecting me to get it already.  It wasn't too big, well for the contemporary sizes of watches nowadays, I mean you could literally wear it casually and not emit some show-off presence that your wearing the monster of all watches, and my watch will eat yours kinda type.  I believe its size was meant for something.  I also like the originality in design that it helms from the classic Seiko divers watch, those arrowhead hands and hour indices, but are bigger, bolder and badder considering its size and functionality.  Its standard rubber strap is a sturdier vent type of divers strap that has a blacked out buckles and I would say more comfortable that the Seiko Z22 rubber straps that comes with mose Seiko Divers Watches.  Considering this to be 1000m, without a helium escape valve is an extraordinary feat by the case itself.  The design of the tuna is also not for fashion or in any sense like that, its not a bling out substance, as it roars for the rough oceans and the pressure of the deep.  




Here are pics borrowed from all over the net.