that looks ace! what is a hydromod?
You fill the internal space with clear silicon oil. The SKXMOD kit has a small filler port to make it easier, but I found it left air gaps between the glass and the display. Ended up with an oily mess filling with the back off. It made a huge difference to the clarity and made the coloured filter pop.
You fill the internal space with clear silicon oil.
Similar to what Sinn do with some of their deep dive watches, to make the face visible from all angles under water, otherwise the face goes mirror-like if there’s air inside when viewing from an angle.
Never thought you could do it with a regular dive watch.
Never thought you could do it with a regular dive watch.
You can't. The drag on the balance wheel is too much.
I thought the oil in deep dive watches was to equalise the pressures so the watch didn’t implode. Hence being able to take a Casio F91W to 4,900 metres under sea.
You can't. The drag on the balance wheel is too much.
Cheers, I did wonder about something like that being a problem.
I thought the oil in deep dive watches was to equalise the pressures so the watch didn’t implode. Hence being able to take a Casio F91W to 4,900 metres under sea.
I understood Sinn do it a), because they can, and b), because it allows the face to be seen clearly from any angle, without the oil the air under the crystal turning it into a mirror. Omega’s real deep diver has been tested down to the bottom of Challenger Deep, that’s 10,935m, 35,876ft, without oil. One prototype got left on the bottom for nearly a week after the ROV it was attached to went on the fritz!
Not that anyone is going anywhere near that without a suitable container! 🤣
Anyway, I decided to dig my Heimdallr out of the box I keep my watches in for a change, and while at it I also went for a change of strap. The one it’s had on for ages is a rather thick NATO strap, which is a bit bulky, so I got a soft, quick release soft nylon braided strap off Amazon - I’ve got a couple on my Casio CasiOaks and they’re very comfortable and easy to fit, and cheap as well, the one I bought was £6.99
It glows nicely with a dose of UV light as well, the watch, not the strap.
I thought the oil in deep dive watches was to equalise the pressures so the watch didn’t implode. Hence being able to take a Casio F91W to 4,900 metres under sea.
I suppose it does effectively equalise the pressure, but because oil is largely incompressible it means that the case doesn't collapse or crystal get stoved in.
Count, its the rolex deep-sea challenge you are thinking of i think. Although there is that really absurd version of the PO, they likely did something silly with that so perhaps you are right.
Saturation divers find the cases get pressurised with helium. I wonder what that does in an oil filled sinn?
Count, its the rolex deep-sea challenge you are thinking of i think. Although there is that really absurd version of the PO, they likely did something silly with that so perhaps you are right.
I know I’m right, the Rolex prototype went down on a submersible, but stopped short of the actual bottom by something like 80m, the Omega was one of three, two on the submersible, the third on an ROV, which suffered a malfunction and ended up marooned on the very bottom of Challenger Deep until they could go back down and retrieve it, and the watch.
Obviously it had stopped, but because it was an automatic, as soon as it was moved it started up again.
With a pressure down there of 15,750 psi, sustained for the best part of a week, Omega’s engineers should feel pretty chuffed with themselves for building something that tough.
They also made the Moon Watch…
https://www.ablogtowatch.com/omega-seamaster-planet-ocean-ultra-deep-professional-watch-record-deep/
I managed to find a review of the Sinn Hydro U50’s from 2024, it doesn’t mention the lack of reflection from air in the case, but it does say that yes, it has to have a quartz movement and the oil is to make the case resistant to compression at depths up to 5000m, but it does point out that the oil makes the case appear to have no depth to it.
Cool watches, Sinn, I’d love one if I had a lot more disposable income available…
…I’d love the Omega Ultra Deep as well, but that’s just because I admire the technology, I can’t even swim…🤷🏼♂️🫠
Got myself a new Garmin.
Fancied the Fenix 8 Pro Sapphire 51mm in raw titanium, but after ordering one and it coming scratched on the bezel, arranging a return and ordering another direct from Garmin - which came scratched on the bezel I'd about had enough.
They weren't bad scratches and I'm sure it wouldn't be long before I added my own, but I'm not prepared to accept a brand new £1200 watch with scratches.
Anyway it seems the titanium is Grade 2 and very soft, so I decided to go for the DLC finish - and knocked the model version back a couple of releases to an Epix 2 Pro Sapphire for £450 (a £900 watch not that long ago)
This may be of interest to many posting on here, especially if they’re close to London or possibly in the city when it’s on.
I hadn’t realised that there were so many British watch makers, including one in Bristol that’s celebrating its 180th anniversary!
https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/every-special-edition-watch-at-british-watchmakers-day-2026?utm_source=flipboard&utm_content=topic/watches
Been eyeing up a Doxa 300T for sometime. Yesterday I went into a store to try on. Wasn't too impressed be honest. A stark reminder that not every watch will live up to the perception one may cultivate through online window shopping and 'research'' . Back to the drawing board pertaining to a white dial swiss diver under 2k.
Wasn't too impressed be honest.
how so? I've liked them a while, but thoguht the prices were bonkers
I understand the 300t design language and the historical cues etc but the dial with it's printed indices look very average to me. Secondly, and this more pertains to my own preference, is that the dial/bezel really did seem tiny to me. Then again I have a 8.5 inch wrist. I get watch trends are moving towards the smaller sizes but the 300t doesn't look like a 42mm . Thirdly my Wife said it looked disgusting.. A bit gutted as Im a sucker for a Horological narrative and I have a collection of old Jacques Cousteau photo books from when I was a kid. Looking at a Squale Master Titanium and a Mido Oceanstar 600 now despite both not white dialled ..
What about a Seiko reinterpretation of an old white faced dive watch
This might be of interest to anyone looking to buy a new watch in the future, COSC are significantly up the standards for high end watches.
Cool watches, Sinn, I’d love one if I had a lot more disposable income available…
There's a few homages sub $200 if you wanna scratch that itch.
Militado ml16 and ml20 are 39mm in size and very Sinn-looking.
As is the Steelflier sf752 is a 45mm option looking like a U1
I've been very tempted with the Militado ML20
Actually the Steelflier is $169 AUD so about 90 quid. Be silly not to. 🙂
Think I'll be making a purchase in the next day or so.
Sternglas Marus 2.0 S02-MA43-ME12 - Ditur
Has anyone used Ditur ? Were they OK to deal with ?
Their offer code makes it considerably cheaper than elsewhere.
Will go for the steel strap and get a rubber one separately, so that I can swap it out if the mood takes me.
Leather strap for sale.
Bought the wrong size. The one for sale is 18mm (I should have ordered 19mm....doh...)
Fitted to watch, worn for 2 hours, so unmarked and as new.
https://fluco-online.de/en/products/watch-strap-leather-men-bastille?variant=54567087604047
£25.00 posted UK.
Treated myself after a work bonus. Well, technically I've treated myself before the work bonus and will pay myself back when I actually receive the bonus but that's just back-office admin...
Circula Protrail - straight outta Pforzheim.
It's a (very) hardened steel, (very) anti-magnetic field-watch but with a bit more going on with the case design in terms of angles and facets etc than a regular field-watch. I've got it on the hardened steel bracelet and it also came with a black sailcloth & leather option.
Circula are a mid-20th century Black Forest based watch maker who have had a bit of a relaunch over the last few years with the current owner (founder's grandson) taking the brand international whereas previously they concentrated their efforts more locally.
I'd never heard of them but was looking at an Archimede Outdoor and came across this as a direct competitor, even being from the same town, and one thing led to another... I had a bit of back and forth with the owner, Cornelius, and then bought it via the UK distributor (Stewart's Watch Co) both of whom were great to deal with.
Wearing it, it's extremely legible, lume's great, it feels solid as a rock and it's nice and comfy so all told I'm very pleased with it so far!
Definitely worth a look if you're thinking of Sinn-ish field style watches but want something just a bit "more" in terms of design and value.
Edit - also the packaging is really good! The display case is a sort of 3d crystal shape rather than just a cube and even the instructions etc are different to what you normally get.
Bit of a stealth ad - anyone interested in a Tudor Black Bay 58 in lovely condition?
if we’re doing ads… I’ve got a Tissot PRX powermatic 80 in blue 40mm I’ve never really gelled with. £375 with box and all papers, anyone?
Anyone got experience of either Luminox or Nite watches. Moving away from smart watch and just want something bombproof that tells the time with a nice basic dial. Looking at either the Luminox Atacama Field or Nite Blackout.
Anyone got experience of either Luminox or Nite watches. Moving away from smart watch and just want something bombproof that tells the time with a nice basic dial. Looking at either the Luminox Atacama Field or Nite Blackout.
I've got one of these: https://uk.luminox.com/products/atacama-adventurer-field-42-mm-urban-adventure-1763 with the metal bracelet and a matching blue-with-white-stitching silicone strap I bought for it... It's a nice thing but I've stopped wearing it in favour of newer, dressier watches so I could be persuaded to part with it for a very reasonable sum (I think it's in VG/near new condition, but haven't examined it closely with a eye to sale). The tritium is very effective - maybe not as bright as freshly-charged lume, but it's always there.
My other half has a Nite watch and the lume is fantastic. It's a very stealth looking watch with a nice weight to it. The original strap died so it is on a replacement silicon. I'd recommend it
That’s what I’m looking at sprootlet is a nice plain simple black stealth look
New strap for my Junghans mega solar. Leather strap died ,years of suntan lotion destroyed it. Quite cheap as I had the strap replaced in Fes medina for 25 dh.
Ok - I realise this may be blasphemy to this community but here goes…
I have my late Father’s Omega dress watch. It’s gold. I really don’t like gold and hence don’t wear it. I’m thinking of getting it silver/white gold plated. Does anyone know a watch repairer who may do this?
A shout out for watchguy, who have just restored my 1958 Omega. Pics at https://watchguy.co.uk/cgi-bin/library?action=show_photos&wat_id=8373&tk_id=EA3B5
What kind of strap or bracelet do you have on the omega?
I am also not a fan of gold but I once put a gold dress watch on a chunky brown leather strap and it really transformed it into something I liked
Anyone got experience of either Luminox or Nite watches
Had a Luminox
Got rid of Luminox
Marketed as "worn by Navy SEALS"
Quartz version. Great night visibility. No screw down crown. Leaked. Crystal flush with bezel. Mineral crystal. Scratched and chipped very early on.
Doubts Navy SEALs actually used one in real-world. Managed to knacker mine just pottering about.
(Perhaps other Luminox's / Luminoxi are better but...)
My wife bought me a Luminox as a birthday present years ago - didn’t last a year, and Luminox were disinterested in their own warranty. As a result, I wouldn’t consider buying another.
Latest purchase for my Seiko collection for the small of wrist. In fact I think a digital is the thing that completes it really... unless I spot a bargain cocktail time.
Watch is nice, bracelet is absolutely gash. I'm going to try it on a black silicone with yellow back which I already have.
