WWR #32: Orient Star WZ0201EL collaboration with SOMES

The leather strap craze is on full speed.  And about 70% of the new watches purchased by any random buyer are replaced with a thick leather strap.  I think the Nato strap craze has just ended.  And it's very fitting that Orient Star from Japan, a higher end brand from Orient Watch Co. has an offering that will make every leather lover drool and every in-house purist scramble for his/her credit card.

My 32nd weekly watch recommendation is the Orient Star WZ0201EL with collaboration from SOMES.

What initially attaracted me to this watch is the cushioned case that is similar to vintage japan watches of the 60s and 70s but with Orient Star giving it an elegant twist.  Below is a picture of a French Market Seiko, the 7006-7020 that rather looks similar to this Orient Star.

The 43mm case seems to have a longitudinal base then resedes to a cobra like cushion which will definitely give you mysterious 2nd look of how the design actually is.  The placement of the power reserve is perfectly balanced with the Orient Star logo on the bottom.

                       

The movement in this watch is the 40M50 21 Jewel in house movement made in Japan.  It has a power reserve of 40 hours and accuracy of about +25/-15 sec/day.



The other great thing about this watch is the thick sporty bridle type leather from Somes.  The stitches aren't what you normally see on stock ones.  And is quite relatively unique for Orient Star and with a price of around US$ 500, a definitely good deal.

A wrist shot I found over the net.

And some links where there are for sale.

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Link 2
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It's clear that this is another all occasion watch.  From casual to formal, without hitting the pool of course as this is good at 50m WR only, this watch will fit purely well for a man with great taste and appreciation of value.

WWR #31: Hamilton Khaki Field Automatic 44mm

30 Weekly Watch Recom posts ago, Hamilton made it to my first recommendation because it had to be.  A mid level watch brand that brings you the Swiss satisfaction covered with an American utilitarian look.  The watch that I am going to recommend for this week is the upsized version of the most iconic Hamilton watches out there. 

Now if you remember the time when Rolex upsized there iconic Submariner with the Deep Sea - Sea Dweller, the big boys celebrated but the purists shunned the bigger brother.  But on my side, we don't have all the same wrist sizes, and don't have all the same tastes, that would be weird to think if it did.  And now that the modern day standards of men's watch sizes is from 40 - 44mm, and anything below or outside that is somewhat unacceptabley puny or too wall clocky designed just for the cocky.  So Hamilton, did exactly that and co-released an upsized 40mm Khaki Field to a 44mm model.

Here are pictures of the iconic 40mm Khaki and the 44m one.  Any differences? Just minimal.

 

The obvious difference aside from the size is the background color and finish of the dial and the red handed second hand on the 40mm.  The hour and minute hands still incorporate the same style but with a bolder and edgier look. The bracelets seem to have a difference on the middle links but I'm sure most would replace them with thick military/aviation style leather straps.So with these minimal differences, it basically boils down to size.  What size fits you most.  Its like jeans of the same model and cut but on a different waistline.  I have a puny wrist of just about 6.25 inches but seems 44mm watches fit right in with no problem.  So basically its what you prefer.  And of course, the greates advice prior buying is to actually wear one.  Try it on for size, and actual hands on is the biggest deciding factor in getting which and what model.

The 44mm still has the same movement, the ever reliable 2824 ETA automatic movement with handwinding capability and date complication.  The 40mm retails around $500 and the 44mm about $700.  Minimal price differences too right?  Either way, no once can get wrong.  The 44m model has some modern style looking color combination on pvd on its range but I'm more of a classic iconic styled taste person, and want my watches that never goes out of style. 



Here's a nice video from watchtanaka that displays the beauty of this classic.