Watches N+1...

@futonrivervrossing 

Blazin - oil filled magnetic coupled beauty - won the lottery ?

I had a look at the last night, what a thing and is Inassumed for the image above it was a smart watch.  And wound by turning the caseback.  I’d love to see a Wris****chrevival / Fudd disassembly of that to see how it works mechanically.

Edit: https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/in-depth-the-ressence-type-3

Wow.

Thanks for searching that out Kryton,what a fantastically bonkers design.
Hard to imagine how someone starts on the journey of building something like that,very clever.

Blazin – oil filled magnetic coupled beauty – won the lottery ?

unfortunately not mine, was posting a photo for futonrivercrossing as that was their grail watch.  I did get a win on the Euromillions this week, but the £2.90 I got doesn’t go very far!

It’s a truly incredible piece of watchmaking, and modern too. To me Ressence are way ahead of brands like Omega/Rolex/Patek who are endlessly releasing remakes of their past glories.

The type 3 is a lottery win buy 🙁

I’d settle for the Type 8 which is considerably cheaper (though still Very expensive) - but still way over what I’d be comfortable paying for a watch .

Haven't you got a few Rolex Futon?

Na, Rolex isn’t my thing 🤷‍♂️

Fair enough.  I like any watch design with innovative technology so well done ressence.  However the looks are imv,...... a bit peculiar.  

That “cheap” Seiko  movement is one of the few I’d be tempted to get actually serviced, or put to one side & keep as it’s relatively rare.

That was my thinking, fit an up-to-date version with hacking, and have the 4r15 serviced and keep it safely tucked away.
I love the watch, I wear it most of the time, and it’s heft is somehow comforting - with the bracelet fitted it’s a pretty solid watch.

Together at last!

Mrs. S bought me a rather nice watch box for Christmas. Far more practical than individual boxes all over the place.

I bought my dad this. My missis thought I'd lost my mind, but he loves it. 😁

No new watch for me this Christmas, but my son got his SNE575 PADI diver (he got his Open Water this summer in Greece). Also the family reunited, all wearing watches I gave them, lol!

Christmas square G for me!   Always wanted one of these

[img] [/img]

My present to the girlfriend. On a Xmas day walk up Moel Famau.

I'm wearing my Irish Coffee Seiko Presage over Xmas. I'd forgotten how nice the face is even in poor light

square G for me!   Always wanted one of these<br /><br />

i can’t get on with mine, it always looks better with someone else wearing it despite the hype 🤷‍♂️

So for Christmas week I’m lounging with the Chris Ward: 

A late, surprise gift handed over at 21:00 Christmas Day:

Minimalist Mondaine. De-badged and a strap made from grape skins and recycled PET. The crown is signed with the SBB logo.

Mrs. S said I must have a Swiss railway watch as I work for a Swiss company that supplies specialist tech' to the rail industry. Don't mind if I do!

I like a Mondaine.  Classic design and as a train driver I suppose I should have one

CountZero
Full Member
@Fudd – I’m thinking that my SP043RK could probably do with a service; I’ve had it at least twelve years, now, and it was NOS when I bought it. Having said that, it’s a 4r15 movement, so there’s a case to be made for just replacing it with a more updated model, which is hackable. I’ve also got a new crystal which I’d like fitted, the original is quite scratched now, so what do you think?

Apols, just seen this. You need a new crown and stem to fit a different movement and as far as I'm aware no crown exists for the Spork other than the original one piece crown and stem. I did look into it a few years ago when you first suggested it but drew a blank, so unless someone has since started making aftermarket Spork crowns it can't be done.

If you want it serviced you can send me a pm or email to dave@benchdweller.uk.

Saccades
Free Member
@sven too kind, please tell me the cost of the nh36.

I could be wrong but I don't think a NH movement will fit a 7002 case. There's a plastic ring around the movement which is very different between the two and the 7002 has the crown at 4 vs the crown at 3.45 on the NH, so if you got past the movement ring issue the date wouldn't be aligned.

Mrs BS did good for Xmas.  This pre enjoyed c65 Super Compressor turned up today!  Thankfully a different colour way to Krytons this time…

Cheers Dave, I remember a discussion about the SPORK, regarding replacing the Hardex with sapphire, but it had slipped my mind about the movement. I would guess that despite increasing interest in the SPORK, it was never produced in enough numbers to have aftermarket parts produced. Shame, I’d certainly prefer a sapphire crystal, but I’ll have to stick with what’s available. 🤷🏼

You’d think that a movement based on the 4r15 would be a simple enough swap, but as you say, things like winders and crowns vary according to the case shape and dimensions, which obviously vary a lot more than might be obvious. Especially with Seiko.

I’ll drop you a line once we get all the holidays out of the way, and things are a bit more settled down. 👍🏼

CountZero
Full Member
Cheers Dave, I remember a discussion about the SPORK, regarding replacing the Hardex with sapphire, but it had slipped my mind about the movement. I would guess that despite increasing interest in the SPORK, it was never produced in enough numbers to have aftermarket parts produced. Shame, I’d certainly prefer a sapphire crystal, but I’ll have to stick with what’s available. 🤷🏼

You’d think that a movement based on the 4r15 would be a simple enough swap, but as you say, things like winders and crowns vary according to the case shape and dimensions, which obviously vary a lot more than might be obvious. Especially with Seiko.

I’ll drop you a line once we get all the holidays out of the way, and things are a bit more settled down. 👍🏼

Maybe an SKX crown has the same thread size as the Spork case and then the movement swap is a goer, but don't get your hopes up as I'd have expected it to have been done by now but yet there's no other examples out there. If it had been done then I'd expect that someone would have documented it online, but I've yet to see it.

I thought Sporks were quite a liked watch? Surprised it's not got the AM parts for them.  That would be frustrating. 

I could be wrong but I don’t think a NH movement will fit a 7002 case

You are right, @Fudd, it was just a matter of my having ordered an NH movement already, but Saccades said he would take it, he can probably make better use of it than I can.

Which means that I am still without a replacement movement for my 7002-7020, but I am sure that can be sorted, too...

@Fudd, yeah I mucked up. Several sources say a 7s will fit but the date is misaligned. 

Just landed in the UK and organising my PayPal to reimburse Sven for the nh & postage, but he can keep the 7s I sent and have a play (nothing to lose).

That'll teach me to jump in before checking all details 🤣

neilnevill
Free Member
I thought Sporks were quite a liked watch? Surprised it’s not got the AM parts for them. That would be frustrating.

They've a bit of a cult following but they were only sold for a year or two so not many out there, so there's not much incentive for someone to do a run of 100 a/m crowns if it could take years to sell them all.

Which means that I am still without a replacement movement for my 7002-7020, but I am sure that can be sorted, too…

7x series movements were produced for over 25 years so there's no shortage of parts for them. The 4R, 6R and NH movements are an evolution of the 7x and some parts are interchangeable.

Something has caught my eye.   If anyone fancies a seiko lx snr035,  or a rado captain Cook bronze with blue dial,  or a seiko sbdc059 message me for picks

I thought Sporks were quite a liked watch? Surprised it’s not got the AM parts for them.  That would be frustrating. <br /><br />

They are now, but they were a relatively short production run, and a diver styled on a Pilot watch thirteen years ago, just wasn’t a popular design.
Now it is, with makes like Laco producing a DIN 8330 range which bears a striking resemblance to the SPORK, collectors are more interested. It’s that legibility that caught my eye twelve years ago, and it’s still my favourite watch, and the one I wear most.
Doesn’t mean I’m not tempted by a Laco Hamburg DIN 8330…

@fudd, cheers for that update - I won’t hold my breath, but if by some small miracle it’s doable, then I’m all over it, but servicing the 4r15 is primarily the most important thing, seeing as it’s the age it is now, and it’s been worn most of its life.
I’ll be in touch properly sometime within the next couple of weeks or so, if that’s okay?

Count Zero if you're on Facebook join the Seiko Mods group, huge amounts of in depth Seiko knowledge as to which bits can be swapped from model to model.

The Spork actually looks like it was derived from various Sinn designs that predate it.

As for Laco, they made Fleiger type watches for the luftwaffe.

Yes laco have been making fleigher watches for a long time. I think Count is saying that the spork was the first watch that combined the fleigher inspired dial with a divers rotating bezel.

The spork dates to 2011. Sinn made fleiger/diver bezels since 2005, the Seiko strongly resembles he Sinn design.

Yes, I was aware of the Sinn connection roughly around the same time I discovered the Seiko, I say roughly, I wasn’t anywhere near as aware of the broad range of watches as I am now, I don’t think I’d actually heard of Sinn until a year or two after I got the Seiko. It’s threads like this one that have broadened my interest and knowledge by making me a lot more aware of certain design styles and features. It was the clarity of the face that prompted my purchase of the Seiko, which brought the Sinn watches to my attention, Laco I’ve only recently discovered through Heinnie listing them in their website, and making the connection between the ISO8330 pilot watches and the SPORK - I had no idea there was an ISO standard, apparently an accurate watch is a requirement for pilots as a backup in case of instrument failure, and again it’s the clarity of design that I love. I would guess it’s what Seiko were referring to with the design, but it just wasn’t popular with their customers. 🤷🏼

I wasn’t anywhere near as aware of the broad range of watches

On that note, have a look at Teddy Baldesarre’s end of year YouTube video.  He gives the camera to many online reviewers with 45 seconds to summarise thier most worn watch of the year, I’d never heard of half of them 😳

Anyway, what are you all wearing to see the new year in? I’m going with the Seamaster as it’s been a major highlight to a relatively miserable year for me and still makes me smile / look again every time I look at it.

Anyway, what are you all wearing to see the new year in? I’m going with the Seamaster as it’s been a major highlight to a relatively miserable year for me and still makes me smile / look again every time I look at it

I’m currently rocking the Fortis Flieger Chrono as it’s not seen any use for a while and was looking grumpy.  I’ve barely taken the Seamaster off since I bought it so thought I’d give some others some time off the bench.

Today I am wearing my sapphire Speedy for NYE.  A watch I always wanted and it hasn't disappointed me since getting one.   I'll never say a watch is a "keeper" but it is pretty close

I’ll be wearing my new purchase, Studio Underdog “Steffany” 👍 my first hand wound mechanical watch.

Steffany

That's a handsome piece futon.

That it is.

Me? Just wound and carefully set my COSC timepiece.
Let’s see if it dares lose a second by midnight. 😉

Thanks, I’ve been wearing metal square G Shocks for the last 3 years, so this is one hell of a change in direction 🙂 - field watches that the likes Hamilton produce have never done anything for me, but the Steffany has just enough going on to take it into the ‘interesting’ territory for me. I kinda have buyers remorse though, sort of wishing I’d gone for the more adventurous Pink Lemonade.

Pink Lemonade

I can always pick one up on the next release I suppose 😉

I do like this Laco:

Futon - you chose the right one for sure IMO.

That Laco is great 👍 - if funds were unlimited I’d add one for sure! Although I think I’d rather have a vintage Omega Flightmaster, a watch I’ve always wanted, but somehow I never got one.

Yeah, Laco have got some really nice watches when you look beyond the traditional fleigers. That GMT, the new DIN series and their Squad watches particularly.

Got to say, I’ve never seen a need for, or ever had a need for a GMT, but I do use a bezel, and the bi-directional one on the Hamburg above would likely be more useful than the one on the SPORK, which is what I’m wearing now and I’ll be wearing tonight, I can’t be arsed to change it.

Currently wearing the snr035. Need for the gmt hand? I don't travel much at all these days so no,  but it's the spring drive,  the titanium and the marine master case I like. 

I'm off for a week of winter sun. Will be taking my Seiko SPB143 with me, with a few NATO straps to mix it up a little. I've packed my Scurfa Diver One for exploring / boat trips

I think I've done something stupid and bought the new Mudmaster (GWG B1000 1AER).   Buying (yes with the 20% discount) in anticipation of my next and final x 3 watch sale, I saw it as the ultimate tech and only G I'd have in my 6 watch collection, a proper apocalypse watch.

Feel free to tell me I've done a good thing or been a total **** whilst I can return it.   The 28 day countdown has begun.  Fire away.

^^^^

r/mallninjashit

If it was die in the apocalypse or wear that then goodnight cruel world...

(You did ask!)

Lol, yes. I 'm happy to hear honest opinions!

I have a g shock, I bought it to wear as a beater when doing manual work in the garden and it’s been sitting around the house since the battery went. I never really got on with it. I found it just too big to wear under anything and the face is just a smorgasbord of useless / unnecessary data. I have a couple of other Casio plastic watches (a  twenty quid digital and a dw290) and they’re both much more useable than the g shock and better value. So it’s a no from me.

Having followed the link you posted it’s a definite no, it looks terrible. The sort of thing to go with tactical torches etc.

Every collection needs a G! My personal poison are the metal squares, I’m wearing a Titanium square with laser engraved Camo pattern today.

Help

My other 1/2 has a seiko save the ocean chrono. It's solar but we've just noticed it doesn't run unless you use the stopwatch function which seems to make it run again.

Does anyone have any ideas before we try and find a watch repairer ?

@kryton57

I can never understand how Casio manage to sell £20 bomb detonating terrorist watches of choice and also Gshocks for £700 with the same amount of plastic/resin/tech.
They are also completely illegible - the one you linked is as far removed from a flieger as you could get.

Ive had two Casio's, one was analogue with the worlds slowest hand advance button (and no rewind button) that used to accidentally get pressed meaning a 5minute hand reset.
The other was an altitude/GPS/mega function thing that got absolutely smashed to bits (I'm an engineer). Both were crap and sold on quickly.

Hmmm, even though I slept on it a couple of days pre-order, in light of the above comments it might not make it out of the box.   I do tend to wear my Arnie as a dress down daily* / holiday watch which for me at least draws the line between acceptable Dad evening wear in a Spanish family resort (with Hawaiian shirt 🥳) and daily pool use, and I have the Dw6900 which I wore for decorating and gardening…..  twice.

*I pretty much alternate the Arnie, Seamaster and Chris Ward at home.

I find it hard to deal with too many watches that fulfil the same brief, but magpie tendencies are strong….   I need to clip those wings.

I do of course wear a Fenix for sports which has all the functionality of that Mudmaster.

@kryton57 Sorry another 'less is more' vote from me. Too much going on there. Looks like something my Action Man from the '70's would wear 🙃

I've got the Burton snowboarding mudmaster from a few years ago.
It's great tbh yes it's chunky and a bit transformer looking. I believe the new one has pulse rate but that's about it.

Edit I've just had a close look at that watch face and wow that's just a mess

I've just got this I'm currently trying to fall in love with it. The little screw that holds the clasp on keeps coming loose for a random reason.

Then I twigged where I'd seen the name before.

I've got a couple of watches, a Tag Link that I bought myself as a graduation gift over 20 years ago that is saved for "best". That typically means it needs a battery replacement between uses!

I also bought a G-shock a long time ago to wear daily but actually find it a bit bulky to fit under work PPE comfortably.

Facebook has recently been showing me a lot of Timex and Hamilton watches as well as a lot of Chinese stuff that the comments say never actually turn up.

Anyway, as a daily watch, I'm looking at the titanium automatic expedition watch but wondering if I should just keep the money in the bank and start wearing the Tag as a daily. Is that too flashy or is it wasteful not to use it?

Are Timex nice enough watches? Anything else I should consider?

https://timex.co.uk/products/expedition-north-titanium-automatic-41mm-recycled-fabric-strap-watch-tw2v95300?variant=43932529328345&nbt=nb%3Aadwords%3Ax%3A18463158710%3A%3A&nb_adtype=pla&nb_kwd=&nb_ti=&nb_mi=118336374&nb_pc=online&nb_pi=TW2V95300QY&nb_ppi=&nb_placement=&nb_li_ms=&nb_lp_ms=&nb_fii=&nb_ap=&nb_mt=&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAtOmsBhCnARIsAGPa5ybJvnPS9m3u2Gaoi9Km-SDdtVbPvpwbqncRxVBie68Fg2MvuAET8F4aAmL7EALw_wcB