Saturday, November 1, 2014

Citizen Diver NY2300; a daily wear!

Citizen Diver Viva Forever....

"Hasta Manana,
Always be mine

[Chorus:]
Viva forever, I'll be waiting
Everlasting, like the sun
Live forever,
For the moment
Ever searching for the one " 
                                               Spice Girls

All of the sudden, in the right mood... took this Citizen NY2300 off my wrist and start taking mugshots of it. This is one of my daily wear; a workhorse that accompany me seeing my high and low.... Bought this in early 2000's while trying to build up my own business.....


It suits my daily purpose as a casual wear as it is not over bulky or luxury or delicate or complicated.... All I need is a reliable watch that tell me the accurate time with ease. Nothing fancy, nothing extravagance but a good piece of old technology......


I first wrote about Citizen NY2300 HERE..... The only different between this one and that, is the colour of the bezel and the dial. In this case, both are in tuxedo black. 


NY2300 is a 40mm solid stainless steel watch. A budget entry level automatic watch full of features. It has a bilateral rotating bezel with mineral crystal. 


The crown is screw locked with the protect crown guard. It has a scuba ability to impressive 200 meters. This watch is factory fitted with rubber diver band. 



The back case is a screw in solid stainless steel... I love the fact that it is flat and without any decoration. For a casual wear, it is all about comfortable and practicality.  



NY2300 is powered by Citizen Miyolta cal 8200. It is the same movement that powered the Citizen Autozilla, but this one is in the raw form. Apart from time, maybe the essential function of a watch is the day-date.... this watch gives you all; so what-else are you demanding? 




Revised December 2015

Decided to replace the rubber strap with a silicone one. More comfortable to wear and with a double push released clasp. 







Tuesday, October 28, 2014

ORIENT X STI collaboration 2010 Limited Eition II

A feel of Subaru STI on my wrist: Orient SFD0H001B


"For fans of motorsport worldwide, it takes just three letters to spell thrilling performances: STI --- An athlete's soul. A champion's heart. A high-performance legend..." Always love how well the Subaru STI attacking the tight corner.... It is a car with attitudes, maybe that is the very reason why I am so fond of every Orient watches associated with STI edition.

Found this insignificant black cupboard box  of Orient x STI tugging underneath some other watch boxes. Bought this back in 2011 maybe or earlier.... 


The inner box is designed with striking black and chili red racing theme. Nothing too fancy, the achievement of the Orient sponsored Subaru STI team is stated on the inner box using silver print. 
The 38th ADAC Zurich 24-Hour Race (The Nürburgring 24-Hour Race) was held from May 13 to 16.  Subaru Tecnica International Inc. (STI) team skillfully completed the severe race, finishing 24th overall and 4th in the SP3T class.


This collaborative wristwatch is referred to as “Orient X STI 2010 Limited Edition II” or “Orient X STI Stage II”. It was launched in September 2010 to celebrate the excellent achievement of STI team with a limited 1000 pieces Worldwide. 



From the first glance, you would notice its crown is positioned at 9 o'clock. Holding it for the first time, you would feel this is a pretty heavy and bulky wristwatch with a diameter of 42mm and a thickness of 11.65mm. Caressing it, you would feel the flat sapphire crystal glass and a grey coloured stationary bezel..... The bezel is decorated with 6 pentagon shaped screws. 


This watch is replete with details that connected to the Subaru Impreza WRX STI. Its dial is made of carbon fibre material employed for the racing car and it has the 3D hologram effect. For easy reading and higher contrast with the carbon dials, this watch has a white colour illuminated hands and hour markers. 


The power reserve indicator is located at the 6 o’clock position and is designed to resemble a gas gauge. Orient even put a gas gauge symbol on the dial. The power reserve indicator or should I say gas meter is in red in colour.


On the side of the round bezel, it is structured with cross mesh pattern. This gives the watch a rugged touch. There is crown guard that protect the screw in and locked knurling style crown. The crown has a pretty good firm grip and is relatively easy to operate. 



The lug width of this watch is 24mm. It is equipped with a pretty thick and sturdy stainless steel bracelet. Despite that being said, the bracelet is relatively smooth, and with solid band for a comfortable fit. 


Bracelet is fitted with the standard clasp with double push release button and is further secured with a catch lock mechanism. This is to secure the watch safely on the wearer's wrist as it has quite a weight. 


The clasp has the logo of Orient engraved. 




At the rear, you would see a clear and see-through case back. Apart from the watch information, each watch has a specific serial number engraved. In my case is 0948/1000. From the case back window, you can see the results of the race engraved on the rotor. I think Orient can do slightly better, maybe colouring the rotor or add a bit of decorative patterns or some coloured screws.... That way, you won't feel the mechanical movement so dull. 


The watch is powered by the Japan made in-house 46N47 movement. This is a self-winding 21 jewels with power reserve indicator and a date function. One short fall of 46N47 is that it is a non-hacking and non handwinding movement. The power reserve is more than 40 hours with a vibrations of 21,600bph and a daily accuracy of +25 to -15 seconds per day.


This watch is water resist to 100m. If have it my way, I would love to see the second hand in bright red flaming colour.... which portrait a more fearsome racing spirit.......



Monday, September 29, 2014

Seiko Monaco 7016-5011 (Part 1)

Monaco, here I come....

The magnificent view at the harbor of Monte Carlo, Monaco, where the rich and famous parked their luxury yachts. A nice place for vacation, honeymoon or simply trying your luck.


Every year the Formula One ultima racing machines blazing through the street of Monte Carlo for few days....


I have here a Seiko 7016 chronograph, nicknamed the Monaco from the 1970's. This is due to its rectangular shape and slight resemblance to the Heuer chronograph with the same name.


Nope, the vintage Heuer Monaco is not my watch. I borrow that image from onthedash.com. Just for you to compare..... Ohhhh. for your information, the one shown below is called Steve McQueen edition. Yeah the same Steve McQueen of the Rolex Explorer II. 


I have had this watch for years. But accidentally misplaced it. Only recently I managed to find it, so the story of another restoration begins.


The only two visible problem is the dial and the glass. The movement is running smoothly with all the chronograph function healthily intact. 



Maybe the case need some polishing and some cosmetic makeup. 




I managed to source an original dial from Sophon_I ebay seller from Thailand. This set me back USD59.99.... OUCH......


The watch is now with my watchmaker..... Nothing much else for me to do, apart from waiting for him to fix and bill me... So stay tuned for the Part II of Seiko Monaco. 


Monday, August 18, 2014

When brand isn't everything...... Quality rules

Seastar Datejust, homage to Rolex Lady Datejust

The other day, I was looking for a watch for my eldest sister. The 25th Hours watch that I gave her 14th years ago has had it toll. She is not the type that romances with her watch. For her, watch is a tool to tell correct and accurate time. It is something that wear and tear with time. However, she would remain loyal with a single timepiece....; a timepiece at a time.....

So it was a Saturday afternoon, where like usual, I was rushing for time and air. I dropped by a friend's watch boutique and window shopping for a descent daily working watch.... A Tissot, a Seiko, and an Orient caught my eyes... the Tissot is a little too prestige for rough use; the Seiko is simple and nice but with a leather strap; the Orient is elegance but is an automatic...... called me stereotyping, I noticed majority of ladies prefer their watch working non stop even if they are not wearing it. Also they find it astronomically tedious to adjust time..... 

At the last cabinet underneath the Suunto and Sandoz, I saw this classical Rolex look alike Seastar. Seastar is the in-house brand of my friend's shop. It is a registered trade mark! I don't know why he chose Seastar as a brand name.... maybe because of Tissot Seastar series.... But I would prefer he opted for a more sophisticated name, something that can one day becomes an International Branding.....  


This watch comes in a very elegant wooden box despite it being retailing for RM249 only. This watch is paying homage to Rolex lady Datejust, which would cost more than a hundred fold of its price.


The milky chocolate inner lining of the box making the watch presentation classy. 


This is a full stainless steel watch with jubilee style stainless steel band. It has a fluted bezel with a sapphire glass.


The dial is mother of pearl finishing with 10 artificial diamonds setting as hour markers. This watch has a date function at 3 o'clock position. 


Unlike original Rolex, this crown is not a screw in type. It is just merely a pull and adjust. I would prefer the crown to be signed. Without signing, it is just like an ordinary generic aftermarket crown. 




The bracelet has a signed folding clasp. 


The case back is also stainless steel and is properly marked and signed. 


This watch employed the Japanese made Miyota 2015 movement. This movement is highly reliable and like any other Citizen Miyota movements is meant to last....




Buying a watch is not about the brand, is not about the price either.... is about what you used it for; whether you can afford it... the look of the watch may also portraits your personality and your professionalism. 


For that price that I paid and with the quality and finishing of this watch, I have no complaint.