WWR 7: Seiko BFS SNKF09

Hello everyone, apologies for the unannounced hiatus i did on this blog but now I'm back and have much to catch up.

For the pas few years, the big watch industry has been a new fad and lots of rival entries coming up with bigger and badder models. From the most popular Panerai, to squaris aviator bell and ross, to the evreythng is big TW steel, and to the italian bad boy Uboat, they size up from 44mm to around 55mm. With the hug fad and market follwing such, almost everyone from the industry wants to join the wagon. Seiko, for entry level offering has their SNKF09. Dubbed by WIS in forums as BFS (Big Freakin Seiko). This actually is an old model from Seiko and I just couldn't go without recommending this watch. This one is kind of hard to find nowadays and I think Seiko has already stopped its production, thus making your own personal search more challenging.

The case of the BFS is 42.5mm without the crown and has the bigger 24mm lugs from the usual 22's from Seiko Diver's. The first time I saw this watch, I was quite confused to which it belonged to, but from my opinion, it would rather fit on the Pilot watch category with it's big lume arabic numbers, large distinct flight style hands, thick leather options, big white dial face. I believe all compliments to a person airborne.





The movement is bulletproof 7S26, 100 meter water resistance, all stainless steel case, day-date features, and a very affordable price. I'm sure you can find one not more than $150.





*pics are borrowed from Seiko Watch Forum. Thanks!

WWR #6: J. Crew X Timex Andros Watch

The Timex and J. Crew collab has been very successful with the military watch model that you can see it in most fashion magazines or websites or simply people buying it aside that it has quite a hefty price for a Timex.

And with its new piece from their partnership, the Timex Andros Watch is our 6th Weekly Watch Recom. When I first saw this watch, I didn't expect it to be a Timex, well to think that Timex really doesn't have a consistent design, they adapt to the market, and upon seeing the Timex Logo upfront, guessed it right, it was another J. Crew. And boy does it look good. It has an matching ocean blue color for the dial, rotating bezel and the neat nato strap. With matching explorer style markings and a pilot inspired hands, this is a sure winner.

Now the price of this piece is a bit high for a Timex ($175) at this level, but I do believe that brand and exclusivity add another value that is hard to find these days. Fully justified you think? If you have the funds, I think it is. Timex is known for providing dependable, robust and quality watches that will take a licking, add that with a classic uniqueness and simple class from the J. Crew group, I think that is a good back-up for your fashion getaway.

There aren't too much info on the J. Crew site except for the obvious 100meter WR rating from the 330ft indication on the dial. A quartz movement and a functional rotating bezel. I would assume it has luminous hands, but for indiglo, I doubt. But none the less, I'm pretty sure this watch will serve a proud owner for many many years and will become a collector's classic in the future on.

And from this on, we'd only hope that Timex and J. Crew to continue what they are doing.

Pictures from the J. Crew Website.

WWR #5: Steinhart Nav B-Uhr automatik F0304

It will come to a point in time when your watch wearing purpose is to tell time and to match the suit you wear or to the even you are about to go. This time will be when you are more knowledgeable about the world of horology, the industry moving it, and the addicted drug called watch collecting. And with that, one will come familiar different types of watches depending on what it was made for etc etc.. And indeed, the Pilot watch is one of them. Dig into google and you'll get tons of these models lying around. And so my 5th WWR is a pilot watch. There is one very particular style of pilot watch comes from the Beobachtungs-uhr design from the war era. Big bold and a defenite classic.

Now Steinhart is a German Watch brand that has quite a collection of watches and why I chose this one? Aside from loving the design of classic timepieces, it is because Steinhart watches are value for your money watches. It's equipped with an ETA movement, wide at 47mm, superluminova, sapphire crystal, at a price of $500 or less....and not to mention a sterile dial, truly a classic timepiece.














Here are the specs from Steinharts website

Model: Nav-B automatic
No.: F0304
Movement: Swiss ETA 2824-2 automatic
features
Jewels: 25 rubies
Hour and minute hands with white superluminova C1
Central second hand
Case: Brushed Stainless Steel
Rear: stainless steel screwed (with engraving)
Diameter: 47 mm
Height: 14.2 mm
Weight: 112 g
Dial: Black
Glass: domed sapphire crystal, interior anti-reflective coating
Bezel: Stainless Steel
Indexes: white superluminova C1
Band width 22 mm
Band: brown calf leather, with double rivets
Clasp: screwed Stainless Steel buckle

WWR# 4: Seiko Automatic Watch SARB071

Seiko is well known over the world for their cheap auto dive watches, and their kinetics too. But little do only know that Seiko was truly the first to bring to the market the quartz wristwatch way back in December 25, 1969. And aside from that, Seiko also does manufacture middle to high end mechanical timepieces which are of majority offered only to JDM (Japan Domestic Market). And so my WWR for this week is from the latter. It's a mid-range JDM Seiko, which is the SARB071 Automatic Dress Watch. Why this watch? well from browsing along Seiko's offerings, this one's look sung out to me. For me it's got that vintage japanese design similar to the world's first quartz watch and commemorative edition...

Seiko Astron 1969


Seiko Astron 40th year Commemorative Edition 2009


...powered by the mid-range 6R15 movement which can also be found in the popular Seiko Sumo diver's watch. That sleek and lean design of the hands and hour indices enclosed on the semi cushioned case is something truly Seiko design. The crown has that "S" logo and the exhibition case back marvels you with the robust and dependable automatic movement. And yes, apart from the low-end Seiko movements, this one hacks and winds.

Here are some pics of the SARB071 (courtesty of www.seiyajapan.com)









Here are the specs:

Made in Japan
Case: SS
Dial: Black
Crystal: Sapphire
See-through back: Hardlex
Diameter: 38 mm (without the crown)
Thickness: 11.2 mm
Weight: 77g
Movement: 6R15 23J Automatic (with Hand winding and Hack function)
Accuracy: +25/-15 sec/day
Power reserve: 50 Hour
10 ATM water resistance

Need I post more details? Oh yeah I almost forgot, it's tagged at $454 in SeiyaJapan.com website. A definite win from powerhouse watchbrand Seiko!

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