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Anyone else into automatic wristwatches?

#341
My "gig watch", and the one I wear if I'm gonna get banged around or full of sawdust and dirt, is a Marathon GSAR. The thing is a tank. Mine is a US Government dial, with tritium dial markers and hands.

I was always fascinated by lume as a kid, and I guess I still continue to be. Tritium can be a disappointment to some, if they expect it to light up like typical lume markers after a charge. But once your eyes adjust to the dark, there's nothing like the crisp bright display that tritium provides. Of course I can't find a tritium lume shot now. I'll update when I return home Friday.:banghead:
1000036847.jpg
 
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#342
And while I'm among watch enthusiasts, I'll post my one and only chronograph.

It's a licensed re-issue of the Seagul 1963 chronograph. This is a watch that was originally manufactured by the Tanjin watch company for the Chinese Airforce. The movement is actually made from the tooling, diagrams, and equipment sold to Tanjin by Venus (a Swiss company) in the 1950s, and is the 175. There's a whole back story there with which I won't bore everyone. Essentially this watch is a licensed copy of the 1963, containing the same authentic Swiss movement.

You can tell the difference between my version (sold by Mukemao) and the Seagul by the display case back and slightly different text on the dial. Also, this version was around $200, vs the Seagul, which is over $500.

Anyway, I love how they've done this watch and it's super fun to wear. Keeps good time, too.
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20230729_155226.jpg


Edit to add: This is a manual wind watch, not automatic, so off-topic but thought it may be of interest.
 
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#343
Goatrope said:
My "gig watch", and the one I wear if I'm gonna get banged around or full of sawdust and dirt, is a Marathon GSAR. The thing is a tank. Mine is a US Government dial, with tritium dial markers and hands.

I was always fascinated by lume as a kid, and I guess I still continue to be. Tritium can be a disappointment to some, if they expect it to light up like typical lume markers after a charge. But once your eyes adjust to the dark, there's nothing like the crisp bright display that tritium provides. Of course I can't find a tritium lume shot now. I'll update when I return home Friday.:banghead:View attachment 5188642
Click to expand...
Found an old lume shot.
Screenshot_20230913_125008_Gallery.jpg
 
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#344
Goatrope said:
My "gig watch", and the one I wear if I'm gonna get banged around or full of sawdust and dirt, is a Marathon GSAR. The thing is a tank. Mine is a US Government dial, with tritium dial markers and hands.

I was always fascinated by lume as a kid, and I guess I still continue to be. Tritium can be a disappointment to some, if they expect it to light up like typical lume markers after a charge. But once your eyes adjust to the dark, there's nothing like the crisp bright display that tritium provides. Of course I can't find a tritium lume shot now. I'll update when I return home Friday.:banghead:View attachment 5188642
Click to expand...
I had a 2004 & 2006 contract SAR. Gave the 1st to my son, he loves it. My 2006 had a custom 12 hour bezel insert, made by Jim Madrid, member of the original SAR design team.
close up.JPG
 
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#346
RedVee said:
Swatch now released a plastic ceramic “Fifty Fathoms” tribute, like they did with the Speedmaster.

But this time using the Sistem51 no service Automatic movement.

Looks nice, but personally I’m conflicted with that movement.

Bioceramic Scuba Fifty Fathoms Collection - Blancpain X Swatch
Click to expand...

Yeah. Not something that calls to me personally, but I think it's a good way to draw people into the hobby. Maybe generate more buzz like the Moonswatch.
 
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#356
I bought this Vostok Komandirskie model 350751 to wear to work (I'm wearing it as I type this). It was dirt cheap (purchased directly from the Vostok factory), and is well made so I don't mind it getting banged around.

I did put a clear piece of plastic over the crystal so it wouldn't get scratched. Any scratches or paint you see in the pic is on the plastic. When it gets bad enough I just peel it off and replace it.

Also, it came with a NATO style band. That got super stinky all the time, so I replaced it with this stainless and black band I got on ebay for about $12.

20230918_182211.jpg 20230918_183103.jpg
 
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#357
upload_2023-9-22_15-9-35.jpeg


Poor man’s Rolex.

This just arrived. It’s a modded Seiko MilSub marked Automatic 660ft/300m Submariner. 39.5mm case. 120-click bezel. Double dome acrylic crystal. Seiko SII NH35A automatic movement. I’ll check accuracy after 24 hours. I have no idea if it’s been pressure tested. The Oyster bracelet is as decent a copy as any others I’ve seen. The links have screws, not friction pins. It adjusted easily to my 7-inch wrist. Drilled lugs.

Description aside, I am gobsmacked by this watch. Lume is as bright as my real Seikos which is saying a lot. I have five from a Marinemaster and SKX007 to a rare quartz diver. Case thickness is 12.5mm from the solid case back to the 3mm high crystal.

It clearly doesn’t come from any Seiko catalog or archive and is a Rolex Submariner clone in its own right. Still, at three Bennies I’m hard pressed to say this thing doesn’t punch far above its weight. The seller lists on eBay and Etsy.
 
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#359
marchone said:
View attachment 5197930

Poor man’s Rolex.

This just arrived. It’s a modded Seiko MilSub marked Automatic 660ft/300m Submariner. 39.5mm case. 120-click bezel. Double dome acrylic crystal. Seiko SII NH35A automatic movement. I’ll check accuracy after 24 hours. I have no idea if it’s been pressure tested. The Oyster bracelet is as decent a copy as any others I’ve seen. The links have screws, not friction pins. It adjusted easily to my 7-inch wrist. Drilled lugs.

Description aside, I am gobsmacked by this watch. Lume is as bright as my real Seikos which is saying a lot. I have five from a Marinemaster and SKX007 to a rare quartz diver. Case thickness is 12.5mm from the solid case back to the 3mm high crystal.

It clearly doesn’t come from any Seiko catalog or archive and is a Rolex Submariner clone in its own right. Still, at three Bennies I’m hard pressed to say this thing doesn’t punch far above its weight. The seller lists on eBay and Etsy.
Click to expand...

Very nice! I always liked the Sub no date. I thought that Seiko SII NH35A had a date wheel. Is it there but under the dial?
 
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