Saturday 10 September 2016

Watches Past and Present

The Sands of Time.. 

After 20 years, starting with the Seiko SKX007, If rumours are to be believed Seiko may well have discontinued the current SKX line. Used and new prices have increased, stock has diminished to a random trickle.
I decided in March to acquire an SKX009  "Pepsi Bezel" while I still could. Although at this point in time it was not easy to obtain an SKX at a reasonable price.


I had planned on a review yet I started to digress! thinking back to watches I had owned in the past. Starting with my first watch aged 5, a Timex diver, up to present day. This article is not a review but more of an archive from my "mind palace".





I hope some of you may find it interesting, as you think back to watches from your own past.

(All the pictures were taken by myself, of the actual watch I owned, except for the Bulova, Timex, Ibico and Zeon(007) )


2022...

Mondaine  30350/S1 Simply Elegant,  Ultra Slim Swiss Railway Clock Inspired Watch


NTTD Seamaster 




Oumashi Omega Speedmaster homage a.k.a "The Moon Watch"



2020...

Rolex 116610 No Date RegMariner



2019...

Hamilton Khaki Aviation Pioneer Pilot Automatic H76455733

The Khaki Pilot Pioneer is a nod to 70's military aviation design. With 80 hours of typical power reserve in the H-10 automatic calibre the Khaki Pilot Pioneer Auto has supreme staying power.





2018...


Seiko 5 SRPB73 'Turtle' Sports 100M Automatic Limited Edition Black PVD





2017...

Russian Vostok Amphibia 710  with custom bezel and bezel insert
Calibre: 2146B  Automatic with manual wind





Seiko SNN235P1 Neo Sport Chronograph
Calibre: 7T94 

Background Lenovo X230SE (Carbon Edition)





2016...

Seiko SKX007 Automatic "SOXA"
Custom Doxa style bezel insert and "Spectre Bond" Omega strap.





2016...

Casio G-Shock G9000MS-1 "Mudman" Limited Edition Military Concept

The Mudman range features, a one piece case and button design. Including, extra gaskets to prevent the ingress of mud and other foreign particles into the mechanical parts of the watch. The down side is the buttons are rather hard to press compared with other G-Shocks. One community solution to soften the buttons is to remove the outer shell and actually boil the rubber for a calculated amount of time.




Racing mole case back...



2016...

Casio G-Shock GD-350-1B   "Vibe Alarm"

A G-SHOCK designed and engineered for those special dark, secret missions that demand something extra. Equipped with a vibration alarm





2016...

Seiko SKX009-K2  a.k.a  "Pepsi Bezel" professional dive watch on Jubilee bracelet...

 My SKX009 serial puts it at a December 2015 manufacturing date. It could probably be one of the last few to run off the production line. Seiko's serial numbers run in decades, in theory it could be a 2005 model.  Although my SKX009 was purchased from a authorised stockist in April 2016, thus is almost certainly a 2015 model.






2015...

Citizen Aviator Eco-Drive Power Reserve (AW1360-04E)





2015...

Orient Classic 21 Jewel Automatic (FN02005W)
Japanese Orient in house movement.





2014...

Fortis B-42 "Official Cosmonauts" GMT Automatic.
Proven in countless space-missions over the last 20 years.






2014...

Citizen Eco-Drive "EcoZilla" Titanium Diver (BJ8041 09E)





2011...

Seiko SKX781 "Orange Monster" Automatic
Purchased by my wife, for my 40th birthday





1996... 

Sector "No Limits" ADV7500 Quartz




1995..

Omega Sea Master Professional... a.k.a  (Pre Bond)






1986...

My Dads old watch, a Bulova Accutron 219



1985...

My Grandad's 1950's "Weekend wearer"  Accurist 21 jewel anti-magnetic , given to me in 1985...
Never serviced and still keeps perfect time. 




A modern day Accurist, from the "London Classic's" retro range. Purchased as a Christmas 2017 present for my Dad.


1984...

The 1980's Seiko Quartz my first summer job wage, £69 well spent.




1982-83

Some of the school watches I remember owning...
Ibico Digital, Zeon 007 "For your eyes only" era




1975...

My first ever watch, a 1970's Timex Diver


My Mum took me to buy this watch aged 5, I remember on our return climbing the tree in the wood at the top of our garden and looking at it with pride!