Here's a piece not on everyone's wrists.
This one is my debut watch. It was around the time where my boss just got his B&R and it looks amazing. Although now I'm aware of its mediocre watchmanship, nonetheless the design is just attention grabbing, looking like nothing of its time (Wasn't seeing Panerai yet).
Thus as you will see that this watch has all the basic influence, it was the closest thing you can find to a B&R that is not a replica. Its more like a homage or running in that style. This watch has several good features to it from packaging to the build quality.
Firstly the packaging I don't have the sponge inserts nor the stock straps anymore. They were the most uncomfortable things ever. It made me regret my purchase. But here is a picture of the watch borrowed
My watch is not in this flashy tiger look. Instead, take a look at the box, its a ammo box of sorts, it has a locking clasp which works nicely. The box coating however deteriorates over time.
It comes with 2 straps. For mine, since it was the military themed colour, my straps were in olive green and sand colour.
Here's a look at the actual watch.
B&R + Rolex bezel + Some chronograph watch's bastard child
Its square casing and 4 corner screws is a nod in the direction of the B&R which I so crave. Albeit that it has a ceramic looking bezel + contrasting screw colours.
Lume strength wasn't a deal breaker back then but it has a faint and not-long lasting lume going on its thin strips of hour markets and quite honestly nice minute and hour hands.
light colour on the dial makes the watch look abit softer
Enough of functions, this watch is a quartz, 'nuff said about movement. Oh did I mention that Timex manufactures Nautica watches, maybe not back then but this watch out lived a timex so what the hell right?
Design of the casing as far as ergonomics goes, surprisingly, big wrists will not enjoy it. This watch is made for allowance of the stock straps given which is thick and very uncomfortable and poorly made so its lugs pushes the case upwards, so if u lay the watch on the table, the case back doesn't touch the surface.
If you can see from the poorly taken picts, the watch stands on the lugs like a 4-legged android. It actually also promotes the apparent thickness of the watch and holds the nato strap in place. For thick heavy watches on nato straps, it feels abit funny as you move around the strap between your wrist and the watch actually will make the watch move around, if you get what I mean.
This watch went through mostly original Nautica straps which now I find is getting lousier in quality, the last one I bought, though very nice, had already creased on its surface showing that the leather was not bonded properly and also because no where can I find PVD straps.
Nautica's logo on the screw down crown, but tightened, it is upside down #weirdo
The watch is now leashed on using a 3 coloured 'bond' nato strap, which I find is this watch's best match just a shame the originals were so lousy.
Also sports a tachymeter that functions I will never use, like algorithms in maths.
This watch apart from the design, is just ordinary. But in a good way. I feel that Nautica watches today have declined in QC and increased in price. This piece sets me back a mere S$180 from Ebay brand new including shipping.
This watch has dropped a few times, the edge is abit nicked but it doesn't show a shiny body underneath. Most likely its a pure PVD case not coating only.
Only issue is that its screw down crown (yes, a screw down crown) will dig hard into the back palm. But I love this watch more than the pain so I eventually got used to it because with wear, the watch rides up just enough to not look nerdy and also will not try to embed itself into your wrist joint.
Now for the section people reading above and stopped once they saw the chronometer comment.
Chronometers is not a watch that is more accurate than a regular automatic movement. In fact, like any other mechanical watch has error.
Onboard ships, only chronometers are allowed as main time keeping instrument. No one was trending wrist watches back then. The clocks and pocket watches back then were all mechanical if anyone could afford one. So even if adjusted and wound, by the end of the day, the times are most likely to mis-match.
Wrist time
The chronometers are used for navigation apart from time keeping. How it is done exactly, I don't know but it is something to do with certain time of the day, the sun/stars are suppose to be in what position to find true north.
Read: Chronometers are mechanical clocks/time pieces with a constant rate of error.
In the era where all watches are bound of have error, even the same clocks made next in production line. So to have a measurable, consistent rate of error, we are able to have a true time by correcting for the rate of error, making them very accurate in that sense.
I am not some snob, maybe I don't know any better myself, I just happen to be taught this during my poly days when the lecturers were teaching basic ship navigation. There are details where says each chronometer are also bound for random errors but that is not what this blog is about.
In conclusion, this watch is my first watch bought with my internship pay, I have never had to the intention to sell any of my watches and even more so for this piece. Will keep it and service even if it costs more than the watch itself.
nato-ed
Coin-edged bezel just speaks volumes
No comments:
Post a Comment