Fantastic post pvn, very cool info. What got you so into Seiko when you started your collection?

great post pvn!

i'm personally really liking:


apparently is had frequently under 500 and sometimes under 400!

the picture you've posted is probably the sexiest of the shots i can find of this watch, but the others aren't un-sexy, just less sexy.

only worries i guess i could have are:

Diameter: 40 mm
Case Thickness : 10.9 mm

while 40 i understand isn't super huge, and is smaller, in fact, than many modern watches, >1cm is pretty thick, right? (fwiw, my semi-daily watch is some random fossil, idk the diameter, but it's gotta be roughly 7mm or so?)

anything else interesting you can tell me about this watch?

I don't own the SBQJ015, but I have the SLT077 which is the steel version. It's a little bit thicker than the dress watches I have, but thinner than most of my divers. It wears closer to a dress watch than a diver, and this would probably be more true of the SBQJ since it's Titanium and hence significantly lighter. FWIW, I don't have any trouble wearing the SLT with long-sleeve dress shirts. I'll try to grab some profile pictures both on the wrist and next to a couple of other pieces later tonight.

Also, I highly recommend Seiya, but there are a few other very reputable sellers you can pick from.

http://www.seiyajapan.com/product/S-...z_SBQJ015.html

For those of you who live in NYC do you have reccomendations for good watch stores, places that do deals, people who you've had good experiences with et cetera? I haven't bought anything since I've been here and have mostly just been browsing at Tourneau since they have a gazillion watches.

This is my first watch ever, bought it about a month ago for €265 and I'm really pleased with it.



Seiko SNAA45P1

I like that SNAA45. I saw the white dialed version (SNAA41 IIRC) and didn't care for it much, mostly because I'm not a big fan of subdials that are different color than the main dial, though it did have a certain Paul Newman Daytona feel to it.

top to bottom: SKX781 (Orange Monster), SLT077, SGF719.

Some wrist shots (same order, top to bottom):

Bravo pvn. Seriously awesome post.



I really like this look. How hard is this to find? Know of anything similar that's more likely to turn up?

It's really, really hard. I haven't seen one in a long time. I can't even really give you an estimate of what they go for since it's been so long since I've seen an open trade but it's definitely over $1k. These originally retailed for around $300 IIRC.

It's such a sick piece. It's just right. The people who have them just are not going to let go of them. The 4S15 is a very, very nice movement which was hard to find in pieces below $1k at the time, which makes this piece even more collectable.

Lots of pictures:
http://www.csce.uark.edu/~jgauch/pho...001/index.html

As for similiar pieces, the closest thing I can think of is the SCFW009, which is a kinetic piece I've only seen mentioned a few times. I have no idea where you might find it and I don't really have a good idea of what they go for, though I suspect it's well under $500.



That picture makes it look bigger than it actually is.



In the automatic world, there's a lot of very reasonable pieces that are sort of like this, but not quite.

SNZG15 (this is the black-faced model, there are variants in green, blue, khaki)

http://www.roachman.com/seiko/military/SNZG15.html

There's also the SNX427, which is discontinued but still relatively easy to find under $200.



some others:

http://www.skywatches.com.sg/seiko_m...o_Military.htm

There's also the new SRP027, which uses the new 4R15 movement. I don't know much about this piece or the movement yet.



I think there are a few other new 4R mil-style pieces. They're all under $300.

I figured as much. But I like some of the suggestions you made too. Thanks.

Awesome post pvn. I think I'm gonna pick up an Orange Monster, have been debating between that and some yellow faced Seiko divers but thought the OM would be way too big, but it seems to wear smaller than I would have thought.

The orange monster is a total must-have imo. If I had to keep one watch, it would be my OM, without a doubt. It's only 42mm, which nowadays isn't obscenely huge by any means (the "monster" name was bestowed upon it years ago when it was originally produced, and at that time 42mm was pretty big), and what you get for $150 is unbelievable when you compare it to other watches costing 10x as much.

I've shown mine to hardcore Omega and Rolex fanbois who don't have any experience with Japanese watches and they were totally shocked at the quality, and they nearly passed out when I told them how much it cost.

Personally, my favorite aspect of the Monster is the hands. They're unique, even to Seikos, and they're absolutely beautiful, even though they're an acquired taste for some. At the same time, they are so utterly functional - the amount of lume on these hands is incredible, and they glow like crazy. At high noon, when all the hands line up, the effect of them stacked is incredible; they look like a moon rocket from a 1950's scifi comic book. It's almost like an easter egg the designer discreetly planted.

My Orange Monster after dark:

Lots of sites have it listed as 45mm which I always thought was just too big, nice, just shipped one

Very cool thread gentlemen.

I bought a Raymond Weil Freelancer about a year ago:



Model 2710-ST-20001

I like the uncomplicated design, and the face is 42mm producing an overall affect that doesn't leap out off your wrist. It's nice and tidy I think.

To be honest, it was the first time I spent any sort of money on a watch (£1250 before extra warranty and insurance) and bought it on whim while shopping in London. As such, it was a case of picking out a watch I liked the look of in a highstreet store rather than properly researching for quality, value for money, reputable dealer, etc.

Pretty stupid when I could have gone somewhere like here or the sites you guys listed to make sure I wasn't getting ripped off. Anyway, we live and learn. I have no intention to change it anytime soon and have grown very comfortable with it.

I guess my question is whether any of you guys have purchased a Raymond Weil before / know anything about their supposed quality?

My first "real" watch was a Raymond Weil chronograph. I also liked the clean yet modern look. I still wear mine all the time when I am going someplace where a $5k+ watch is not appropriate.

To answer your question, they make excellent watches for that price range and are great 'starter' watches. You will enjoy it for a very long time.

i also had a couple raymond weils in my early college days (right after the high school calvin klein/guess watches when i thought i was so cool!). those quartz RWs were very durable, but i think they were only like 36mm or 38mm. last year i sold the rw chrono i've had for 7 years and haven't worn for 4+...replaced the battery and it kept on ticking.

I really want the Seiko Marine Master 600m, but at almost $4k its serious cash...

http://www.seiyajapan.com/product/S-...ing_Drive.html

http://worleyphoto.com/watch/seiko_sbdb001_review.html

The MM600 is a sick watch. If there's something in particular you really like about it, though, you can probably find a cheaper model.

The MM300 isn't as nice, but it's about half the price. It looks old and bulky and clunky compared to the 600, though.

The SDBC007 is about $1k and has the same DLC-treated titanium. 6R15 movement isn't particularly spectactular (it's solid, but just a workhorse movement).

Hopefully, barring bustoments and/or tilt, I should have finally ground out (of small stakes NL) the vintage Universal Geneve Tri Compax moonphase I've been lusting after for a while.

Can't decide what metal. Since there seems to be a general trend away from gold and towards sportier, base metal watches, I think gold is what I'll choose.

ninja watch update plz

just ordered one of these:



I considered getting this: and extremely briefly considered this: It'd help the addition skills for sure.

Cheers lads, seems I ran good then in terms of quality. Thanks for the comments.

Just ordered these 2 from Amazon out of impulsiveness. Quite excited about getting them, I've been wearing my Breitling Colt daily since I bought it last summer and wouldn't mind having a cheaper beater on some days.


Jacques Lemans Men's Classic Bristol Collection Watch #1367A - $149.99 (from $695 according to Amazon, wtf?)


Seiko Men's Seiko 5 "Orange Monster" Automatic Dive Watch #SKX781 - $143.9