Automatic Wrist Watches |

Since we are doing Military style watches this week I thought I would throw this one in. It has an amazing look and a historical design, but it’s quartz. Big, easy to read numbers. Unique enough that I might take a shot one one. Reviews on Amazon are a little mixed and I don’t own one so take the recommendation with a grain of salt.

Love these Seiko Men’s SNK807 Seiko 5 Automatic Military style wristwatch. Cheap as hell–under $100. Nice color selection, cool band and cool retro look. Interesting face design, smaller watch which I happen to like. Not quartz accurate, but pretty darn accurate. It’s got a transparent case back so you can see the movement. Can’t go wrong with these.

This is a cool one. You get all that historic James Bond, old school, true-prep coolness in a package of understated elegance for under $200.

Throw it on a NATO strap to get the full james bond effect. A NATO strap is a nylon strap with a simple buckle. Many of them have colorful stripes.

The Mako is a nice clean traditional diver not unlike a Rolex Sub. Its got a uni-directional bezel, a day/date complication and a decent stainless bracelet, although I would go for a NATO like I said. There are a number of different colors available on this watch as well a version with a urethane band. Orients are made in Japan.

It’s not a hacking watch so you can’t wind it–you just need to shake it up to get it going.

For a funkier look I saw some suede and leather NATO straps that would go with this watch perfectly. The ones in this pic are made from Horween Shell Cordovan. A type of horse leather that ages brilliantly.

Here is a nice, close-up video of a Panerai Luminor movement.

Yes, I am a watch geek. Yes, I get a charge out of watching close-up video of tiny mechanical movements. I can’t help it, it just makes me tick. And yes, I do intend to continue to post these video’s when I find them in the hopes that other people will be converted to the joy of these tiny mechanical marvels.

Here’s my lastest acquisition. In case you have not read any of the other pages in this blog I will reiterate that I am a fan of the Orient Company’s products. I got my wife an Orient Star with a salmon colored face for her birthday last year and it has taken the place of her funky retro Hamilton as her favorite watch. This one is not one of the high end Orient Star models, but it is an inexpensive nod to understated elegance. It has a patterned white/silver  face and a bit of a retro aesthetic. The brown leather band is as functional as it is attractive. It’s got a mineral crystal window, and a stainless case. The case is 36 mm wide making it a nice midsize watch and 11 mm thick, not ultra thin, but a nice width. I bought this to wear with a suit as my Breitling Chronometer is too chunky. The band width is 20mm which is pretty standard and opens up a lot of possibilities for after market bands. The movement is Orient’s in-house movement made in japan. Mine has been tremendously accurate so far.  Best part of this watch is I got it for $90. I got the idea that I needed a thinner case style with a brown band from this guy on the awesome sartorialist blog.

Here is the Manufacturer Blurb:

“This classic timepiece should truly be treasured. This model follows the motif of classic looks throughout the history of mechanical watches. There are, however, a few minor changes that add to its traditional theme. This may be the perfect gift for your father or for yourself if you enjoy traditional styles.
Although there are many watches that follow the same design, this watch’s feature are truly exceptional. If you look closely at the surface of the dial, you will notice the checkered patterns that gives the dial extra texture. On the 6 o’clock indicator, there is the date indicator so that you are able to view the day of the week.

There are two different levels to the crown (time-setting knob). The first level adjusts the day indicator located on the 3 o’ clock position. The second level adjusts both the time hands and the date of the week. To change the date, you have to first rotate the hour hand forward in time until you notice the change of the day i.e. from Monday to Tuesday.

You will see that the crown comes with the official Orient logo engravings. Another feature for this productproduct is its luminescent hands. This allows the owner to enjoy the face during the night. Also, the case is water-resistant up to 50 meters.

This series comes in either a solid stainless steel band or a genuine leather band. The metal band comes with a combination of matte and finished links. This adds a two-tone shine to the metal. You will notice that the leather bands have white stitching on the edge. Metal bands come with a deployment clasp, which protects the time piece from inadvertently falling off.

There are 5 variations to this product, 3 of which are in metal bands and 2 of which are in brown leather bands. The metal bands have three different dial colors: black, blue, and white. For the leather band models, the face comes in either a black or white dial.”

Disclaimer: I am not affiliated in any way with Orient –or any other company for that matter–although I wish I was so someone would give me some free watches.

Here is a good video that discusses the differences between three basic types:

Check out this beauty from the Japanese market. I grabbed this pic from Seiya Japan. One of the few online retailers you can purchase Seiko’s made for the Japanese market. This particular model features:

• Movement: 6S28 34J Automatic (with Manual winding)
• Case: Stainless steel
• Strap: Crocodile
• Crystal: Sapphire with non-reflective finish
• Lumi Brite: Available (Hands & Index)
• Accuracy: -15-~+ 25sec per day
• Waterproof: 10 ATM
• Anti-magnetic: Available
• Power reserve: 50 hours
• Diameter: 44 mm (without the crown)
• Weight: 120g
• Thickness: 15.0 mm
• Non screw-down crown
• Instructions, worldwide one year warranty and original Seiko box

This one retails for around $2500.

Here is a youtube video of another model. Check out the cool power reserve indicator on this one.

A tourbillion is an addition to the mechanics of an automatic time piece that counters the effects of gravity and renders it more precise and more beautiful. Check out this amazing example from Jaeger-LeCoultre. Maybe I’ll sell my house and get one. You can read in depth about toubillons on wikipedia.