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Prometheus Ocean Diver Watch Review

admin — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 08:49:30 +0000

It is the watch that almost was not. It is proof that a concept and a dream, as a well as a strict adherence to promise and detail are what reign supreme in the world of fine watches. The watch industry presents a special opportunity for enthusiasts of this horological creed - the ability for the small guy to take a stab at having his or her's own watch or watch brand. Unlike most other technical industries, the barrier for entrance here is simple determination, time, desire, and of course initial investment.Â See how far that gets you if you want to start your own car company for example. Bottom line is that any of you have the option of making your own watch, but it ain't easy.

Prometheus Watches is such a company. Seeded in a watch lover's desire to take his own route in following his passions. I personally can relate - choosing to follow my passion as my profession. While getting a watch brand off the ground is theoretically clear, the devil is in the details, and the details are 'a plenty. Independent watch makers often rely on suppliers whom they contract to make individual parts, and other contractors to put the watches together. The mire of the watch world makes is so that getting what you want is not as simple as merely asking for it. Like a brutal and meticulous task master, you must oversee the efforts of many separate groups who could care less about the end result. The idea is that only you care that your final product be perfect.

So it was that the first version of the Ocean Diver was not in compliance with the simple need for a high quality product. Sure it was salable, but it was not what Prometheus desired. The difficult decision was made to rewind the clock so to say and start almost fresh. A new series of suppliers and contractors was obtained so that Prometheus could fulfill its promise to those eagerly anticipating the final result. That being an affordable "Swiss Made" watch with a design that fans competed for. Delays plentiful, the limited edition Ocean Diver received its wink from grace, and is now available.

Prometheus offers a true niche borne wrist watch product. An item of interest developed by and for the active wrist watch enthusiast community. This isn't something you'd ever find lurking in a lonely watch shop in a mall. Watches like this are sold direct from those who made them a reality. A passionate product rich with a hobbyists charm and a design for those who distinctly "know watches." Their latest watch is the Ocean Diver. The first is the Day-Date model you see before you, and coming up are at least two more models, the GMT and Chronograph versions.

The Ocean Diver is a distinctly retro style, looking back to the days when ocean diving was a frontier for exploration as romantic as space, and equally mysterious. Diving watches of this era have more in common style wise with other underwater gear and machinery than they did with their prissy cousins back in clean displays in luxury watch shops. The Ocean Diver is thematically similar to vintage offerings from notables such as Jaeger-LeCoultre, Longines, Blancpain, and other luxury brands that supplied professional divers as much as they did corporate board rooms. Ocean Diver style on the dial, numerals, and even the case hearken back to the 50s and 60s.

The watch itself is done in high grade steel with a beautiful bead-blasted finish. The CNC precision cut case has a lot of nice details. The bezel is notched like an underwater vessel porthole window. The curved lugs jut out with purpose and wrap around your wrist a bit. The bottom of the case is beautiful. I know that is a weird thing to say about a watch caseback, but it is true. The smoothness of the machine work is clearly evident and really enjoy the engraving on the screw down caseback . Toothing blends to mirror polish and then wave pattern engraving with details about the watch. The work is impressive even if it came from a mainstream watch maker with access to fancier machinery. There on the back you'll also see the number of the watch in the limited edition of 500 pieces as well as the name of the man who designed the watch - Brian F. Green.

The Ocean Diver watch case is water resistant to 300 meters, and includes two crowns. One for the adjusting the time, and other for the inner rotating bezel. The crown are very well made with a grated pattern that feels tool-like to the touch and looks pretty neat. All of that is good, but what about wearing comfort? Interestingly enough the 42mm wide case feels smaller than it is on your wrist. It sits neatly on your wrist and does not appear too large. The case is 44mm wide counting the crowns. I give the watch high marks for wearing comfort as well as looking handsome and proper on one's wrist. The design really comes alive when it is worn.

Inside the watch is a Swiss made automatic ETA 2836 mechanical movement with a Day-Date complication. I applaud Prometheus for using black colored date and day discs to match the dial. Winding the watch is smooth with the crown. I did notice a small amount of wobble from the crown when it is unscrewed. However it is totally secure once screwed in. The movement seems well adjusted and I got pretty good accuracy from the mechanical movement.

The dial clear and easy to read. Prometheus used a lot of C3 colored SuperLumiNova on the hands and markers for good darkness viewing - a must for divers, and desk divers alike. With an emphasis on utility the dial still have style. From the font of the numerals to the style of the hour markers. There is the black on black "Ocean Diver" text along with the cursive logo of the Prometheus brand. I appreciate the matte black color of the dial as well. AÂ splash of red color is present on the hour hand as well as for part of the inner rotating bezel that is also the chapter ring. You use the upper crown (does not need to be screwed down) to rotate the inner ring that moves pretty easily with 120 clicks around the dial. Over the dial is a flat sapphire crystal with AR coating for reduced glare.

Arriving with the watch are two silicone straps. There is a black and bright red strap available for you. Changing the straps isn't particularly easy - so you'll probably prefer to stick with one or the other. The watch uses screw bars than need special tools to adjust (along with loosening the Loctite glue). If you know what you are doing. feel free to change the straps. I like the look and feel of the straps, but they are a bit of a double edged sword. The design is great, and the minor texturing on the strap is a welcome addition to the silicone. The tropical style straps were designed specially for the Ocean Diver watch. They are also very comfortable. The elastic material bend and moves easily, while creating a fair amount of traction on your wrist so the watch doesn't slip around. There is also a nice brushed steel "PWC" (Prometheus Watch Company) signedÂ buckle (sort of a joke and homage to how IWC signs their strap buckles I think).Â However, the silicone material attracts a lot of dust, making, at least the black strap, look like a dark gray. The red strap suffers from this issue less. Actually the straps look better when they are wet! Another issue (at least for me) with the straps is that they are very long. The watch fits nicely on my ankle actually. On the plus side is that the Ocean Diver watch will easily accommodate most any 22mm wide watch strap. So go wild with what you think looks great on the watch.

I really love the case that Prometheus provides with the Ocean Diver watch (they give you a T-Shirt as well). It is brown leather, andÂ folds open while it is secured by an elastic loop. The housing for the watch is really firm - protecting it from shocks or being smooshed in luggage. The soft inside will also protect the watch's finish. In all, the Ocean Diver delivers on its promise, a nicely made, highly functional, true diver's watch with a Swiss movement for a reasonable price. At $495 (339 euros) it is hard to beat what you get here. Plus, the watch is a limited edition of 500 pieces giving it an addition level of exclusivity. For all that I give the watch an aBlogtoRead.com good value award. You can get an Ocean Diver watch directly from Prometheus's website here.

Written by Mr. Ariel Adams - aBlogtoRead.com, trusted independent watch media.

Formex 4 Speed DS 2000 GMT Watch Perfect For Diving Or Racing

admin — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 07:49:50 +0000

Formex is one of those brands I love to notice, but doesn't seem to get the public attention it deserves. Which is a shame given how nice some of their watches are. The mantra of Formex seems to be a melding of watch and race car technology. As such, the signature tech feature that is unique to Formex and found in each of their watches is a patented shock absorption system (they call it a suspension system). It is really simple actually, and nifty. The watch case itself is attached via a vertically gliding fastener to a plate.The plate contains the lugs to which the bracelet is attached. In the event of shock, the watch case is able to independently move a little bit up and down. It's just a cool little system to have.

The design of the watch is a combination of tool shed tech and traditional diver watch. From a distance the appearance of the DS 2000 GMT is of a strong looking diving watch. Upon closer inspection you realize all the little features that make the Formex unique. The full titanium case and bracelet have steel accents, such as the screws and bolts that give it a more precision look; as though it experienced a deeper level of engineering. And of course, the titanium makes the watch very light, even for its relatively hefty side of 45mm wide size. Formex is really dedicated to the user. As you can see the watch packaging. You get a wealth of tools, and straps in a case that can be taken with you on adventures. The Allen bolt fastener on the lugs makes it easy to change straps quickly and without any frustration; of course a tool is included for this. Also, there is a unique multi-locking clasp on the bracelet that is very secure. Look at the rotating diver's and its grippy looking surfaces. The contrasting colors make it easy to read, and the thickness makes it easy to operate even with gloves on. Overall, it is just a very ergonomic watch, which adds to it's tool like demeanor.

You'll be spending most of your time looking at the dial of the Formex 4 Speed DS 2000 GMT if you are one of its proud owners. The dial and rear window are each covered with sapphire glass, which is to be expected, and I'd be pissed if it was anything less. In either the white, blue, or black faced models, the square patterned background on the dial is pleasant and surprisingly satisfying. I've always been fond of the hand design on Formex watches, and these model's don't disappoint. The GMT hand is tipped in bright red and very easy to read. There is a distinct difference between the minute and hour hand, which drastically aids in legibility. This is totally aided by the clear data layout of the dial. Lume covers the important areas of the face, allowing for a fair amount of night viewing. In the end, there is little to disagree with on the dial, or the watch overall. The Formex DS 2000 is simply a very satisfying and successful design.

Powering the watch is an automatic Swiss ETA 2893-2 viewable through the case back. The movement is not particularly decorated in this case, but it is not necessary in this application. The 2893-2 movement is the preferred movement when a GMT complication is needed. The GMT (24 hour) hand can be independently adjusted to act as a second timezone. In this watch, the crown is placed at the top of the watch to prevent damage to the watch crown, and from uncomfortably jabbing into the wearer's wrist; a nice touch.

The price of the Formex DS 2000 GMT is often under $2,000 which makes it an excellent value for what you get; a great, functional design, solid high-quality case, and lots of extras make this watch a recipient of aBlogtoRead.com's Good Value Award. You'll find few watches that offer this much, for around the same price - in my opinion. It is not just the watch and movement inside, but the enhanced level of engineering and unique approach to watch making that you get with a Formex that makes this watch a choice pick.

See Formex watches on eBay here.

See Formex watches on Amazon here.

FORMEX 4 SPEED GMT 300 METER DIVER BLACK DIAL

US $450.00

Formex GMT DS2000 Mens Watch

US $1,365.00

FORMEX 4 SPEED 200016030 GMT MENS WATCH NOBODY BEATS US

US $1,159.00

FORMEX 4 SPEED 200016030 GMT MENS WATCH TELL US HOW 2 WIN UR BIZ

US $1,950.00

Written by Mr. Ariel Adams - aBlogtoRead.com, trusted independent watch media.

Casio Wave Ceptor WVA430J-1A Watch Review: Solar, Atomic, Simple

admin — Mon, 18 May 2009 07:33:10 +0000

There is a special place in my heart for simple unpretentious watches - which are typically relatively inexpensive. The bread and butter of the watch world are timepieces like this, and they get the least attention. Countless hours and pages are spent on discussing ultra luxurious watches that will only ever be worn on the wrists of a handful of people - who probably like the looks and the idea of the watch more than the watch itself. For the countless watches out there worn by the everyday person, there is little to guide a potential purchase decisions. That is unfortunate because it is the "mainstream watch" whose sales really provide support for the industry that builds the best watches that we all aspire to own. So here is my review of worker watch, a rank and file Casio watch - and I think that you'll be surprised as to how aptly it can serve you, and how it does some things much better than its aristocratic cousins.

Unlike most Casio watches, the Wave Ceptor is a analog watch, but has a tough time shedding the LCD screen that makes Casio such a hit. Thus, you have an easy to read analog face with an included digital window for extra information. You can even have the digital time and analog time in front of your face competing for your attention. I find it interesting which method of telling the time people will go to given the easy option. The analog face is about as straight forward as you could hope for. Arabic numerals in bright, easy to read white with applied lume, that are actually applied to the face versus just being painted on. The font is strong but simple. The hands are a good size with applied lume as well, and are perfect for telling you the time. Additional hour and number index marks all over the face make for fool-proof time reading. The look is instrumental, but not too boring - exactly what some people want. The face of the watch is actually semi-transparent. This is necessary to allow in light for the solar cells that charge the watch as it is light powered. Also visible in the slightly textured face of the watch are some vertical wires or rods, I believe these to be part of the antenna array set up to receive radio signals from atomic clocks all over the world, Fort Collins, CO here in the states.

Before talking more about the case of the watch I'd like to continue talking about the functionality, so such a simple looking watch, the Wave Ceptor WVA430J-1A does a lot. Four buttons on the case help with the operation which includes a calendar, stopwatch, world time, and 3 alarms (there is also a function to check the battery life, adjust the hands if they are knocked out of place, and for the radio signal receiver). The functions are easy to use but not visually branded all over the case. Some of the Casio G-Shock watches as designed to imply a degree of multi-functionality. This Wave Ceptor is sort of the opposite. Looking simple, but doing a lot. Each of these functions is operated using the LCD screen, via cycling function screens that any Casio owner will be familiar with. As is common in all atomic clock radio controlled watches, there is a lot of functionality and options there. You can set the watch to manually receive signals, set your area, and other important functions related to a watch that gives you the pleasure of knowing it is always correct. Casio has this aspect of the watch well integrated, but it will still require consulting with the guide at first for some education.

The default display on the screen can be changed at will to show the digital time, or the date. Sorting through the menus gives you an audible reassuring "beep." Overal the watch is a breeze to use and live with. In addition to luminant used on the hands and markers, there is a backlight that can be activated for the LCD screen. This type of watch is the purest form of function I could imagine from a basic watch without too many other functions to dilute accomplishing a task with easy and competency. The level of polish in the watch is beguiling, but after seeing countless watches that haven't "figured it out" or have superfluous elements there just for show, a utilitarian watch boils right down to this Casio Wave Ceptor.

The roughly 43mm wide case of the watch itself is done in a brushed metal. It is not the hardiest of cases, but be mindful of the value price. The case and strap together are also incredibly light. I mean almost impossibly so. This is a very light weight watch! Plus, the watch wears smaller than it actually is. You can tell that the resin strap is secured to the case. It is a plastic type material that is quite flexible, but not flimsy. This is another aspect of the watch that Casio has been able to perfect over the years. The strap fits comfortable and thankfully comes with a metal (rather than plastic) buckle. The buttons are large and easy to feel for even in the dark - which is nice.

Casio is really an impressive company. Watches are just one of the many things they do, and the incredible level of refinement in the operation and function of this watch is due to the fact that they pride themselves of supplying the planet with time telling instruments, meaning they have ample opportunity to fix every little problem they learn about. Here is another good thing; at $99, this watch does something that high-end $1500 plus quartz watches often cannot do. Now this might seem basic, but is important: the seconds hand lines up perfect with the markers as it ticks its away around the watch face. People who pay attention to their watch get really irritated when their watch has a seconds hand that does not light up properly. No worries here. A little touch that Casio does not neglect, and is telling of their overall attention to detail and pride in their product. The Wave Ceptor WVA430J-1A is not going to be the last watch you ever own, but it won't let you down, and does its job without complaints - and not apologizing for not being a beauty pageant contestant. For these reason, this Casio gets aBlogtoRead.com's Good Value Award for being and having all of the above and being under $100.

Get this Casio Wave Ceptor watch directly from Casio here.

See all Casio Wave Ceptor watches at Casio here.

Written by Mr. Ariel Adams - aBlogtoRead.com, trusted independent watch media.

Seiko SNZF17K1 “Sea Urchin” Is Your Ultimate Submariner Styled Value Watch

admin — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 10:30:55 +0000

For years people have enjoyed the quality of Seiko diving watches as high value "beater" watches. Meaning that many of the watches offer solid construction and looks, but with a price that doesn't warn against using them in high impact activities. As such, you'll find legions of Seiko watches that have been put through it all; yard work, construction, moving, auto repair, cooking?, sports, and anything else where you can be sure your watch will be subject to abuse and dirt.

Well here is a new and stunning beater watch from Seiko, the 5 Sports model SNZF17K1 (there are also other ones in different colors that have other model names), also known at the "Sea Urchin". While there are a few in the Seiko line that look like similar to this watch, my opinion is that this watch is an idea fit between price and style, compared to what else Seiko currently offers. You get a completely automatic Seiko mechanical movement with the time, day, and date. The movement is all viewable through a caseback window (and front crystal) that is made of Seiko's own formidable Hardlex material that is stronger than mineral glass. The case construction is all steel, and even the links are solid steel. Why do I mention this? Because a lot of watches in this price range have folded metal bracelet links. Meaning that the links are not solid steel, but rather are made up of pieces of folded metal. Further, the bracelet is secured with a triple locking clasp, that Seiko is know to construct well. I would imagine that this is a very durable and comfortable bracelet.

The size of the watch is perfect at about 41mm wide. This won't make them appear giant on your wrist, but won't them dainty either. A perfect size for such a watch. Style is completely Seiko, with reference to the classic Rolex Submariner look. Notice the "5 Sports" emblem on the dial, which indicates that this model fits into Seiko's value - activity line. This SNZF17K1 watch is probably the highest quality model I've seen come out of the 5 Sports line of watches. With 100 meters of watch resistance this watch is a true diver.Â You should have no qualms about basic diving with this watch, as well as swimming, snorkeling and anything like that should be totally fine. If you want aÂ more serious diving tool, you'll need to pony up a bit more.

The design of the dial allows for a perfect amount of legibility. The markers are raised a bit, and closely resemble the markers on a Rolex Submariner. The hands are large and lume covered for easy viewing.Â Also, notice the application of the slanted chapter ring with indicators on it as well. There is of course the traditional black rotating bezel that adds extra functionality and style that I appreciate. It is also nice that Seiko colored the date and day discs to match the dial of the watch (rather than leave them white). And all this is available for under $200, often close to $100 depending on where you get it. At prices like that you have no worries about subjecting these stylish and functional, fully mechanical watches to anything, and you can tell why I present this Seiko SNZF17K1 Submariner styled watch with my aBlogtoRead.com's Good Value Award. Note that you'll most likely need to get one of these watches online as US distribution is limited with this new 2009 watch model.

See Seiko automatic diver watches on eBay here.

See Seiko Diver watches on Amazon here.

2012 SEIKO SEAURCHIN SUBMARINER AUTOMATIC 23 JEWELS 330FT WATER RESISTANT WATCH

US $76.00

2012 SEIKO SEAURCHIN SUBMARINER AUTOMATIC 23 JEWELS 330FT WATER RESISTANT WATCH

US $96.00

2012 SEIKO SEAURCHIN SUBMARINER AUTOMATIC 23 JEWELS 330FT WATER RESISTANT WATCH

US $82.51

2012 SEIKO SEAURCHIN SUBMARINER AUTOMATIC 23 JEWELS 330FT WATER RESISTANT WATCH

US $75.01

2012 SEIKO SEAURCHIN SUBMARINER AUTOMATIC 23 JEWELS 330FT WATER RESISTANT WATCH

US $76.00

2012 SEIKO SEAURCHIN SUBMARINER AUTOMATIC 23 JEWELS 330FT WATER RESISTANT WATCH

US $71.00

Written by Mr. Ariel Adams - aBlogtoRead.com, trusted independent watch media.

ChronoShark.com One Watch Deal A Day: The Woot.com Of Timepieces

admin — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 16:42:03 +0000

You know Woot.com right? Its the popular deal-a-day website which offers just one very good deal a day. If you miss it, there is no going back. Well, countless Woot.com competitors have popped up, often focusing on some market niche. Here though, is the watch version, and it is very well done. ChronoShark.com (just launched in December 2008) is the place to go for a super daily watch deal. It was started by the people who do DiamondShark.com (I am sure you can guess the idea is there too).

Chronoshark.com is executed really well, and is a testament to simple online purchasing and good watch marketing. It is really simple, first you visit ChronoShark.com everyday to see the deal de jour. If you want, you can get e-mails from them, or get their deals via RSS. If you like what you see, you can view some technical information, a clear image of the watch, some relevant details about the watch, and most importantly you get some some comparison prices as to what the same watch model would cost on major retails elsewhere. The process is so smooth, and they really stress the "time is running out" feeling with the countdown clock ticking in real time.

The prices currently are really quite good. A draw back at this time is that the selection is limited to mainstream brands with high distribution. Chronoshark says the main brands offered right now are:Â Accutron, Bulova, Citizen, ESQ, Invicta, Movado, Seiko and Technomarine. Nothing wrong at all with these brands, but don't expect to see anything exotic or too extravagant here - this is your good deal site for your basic mainstream watches. Still, the potential range of models even from these few brands is really large, there are men's and women's watches that are available, and the deals can be just great (I've been watching what they offer over the last few days and can approve). For good design and good prices I feel comfortable giving ChronoShark.com my aBlogtoRead.com Good Value Award. Certainly a site to visit from time to time.
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Written by Mr. Ariel Adams - aBlogtoRead.com, trusted independent watch media.

Useful YES Zulu 4.0 Watch Available: All The Calender Functions You’ll Need

admin — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 16:50:18 +0000

Yes watches are totally quirky, but very cool. The functionality outweighs any potential issue you might have with their looks. In fact, I can attest to the fact that you grow on the looks. When I first learned about Yes watches some years ago, I had no idea what to make of them, and had no idea how to read them. As I spent more time understanding what the watch was all about, I eventually came to appreciate, then really value them. Now, I own a Yes Inca and can say that it is among the most useful watches that I own.

Yes is an American watch company based near San Diego California. The idea behind the watch was to present celestial calendar information on your wrist in a useful and meaningful manner. The watch combines a single 24 hour analog hand, and an LCD screen which is most of the dial. The single 24 hour hand also functions like a gauge. Basically parts of the LCD screen are shaded in (this changes based on the time of the year and the location you are in), those are the (no sunlight areas), which the non shaded areas are those which represent daylight hours. Thus, you can see how much light and dark there will be in any given 24 hour period, and the 24 hour hand functions like a gauge showing you how much light or dark you have left. On the main dial is also a moonphase indicator.

Aside from all this functionality are a bunch of calendar functions that do have a bit of a learning curve, but the operation is pretty logical once you get the hang of it. Every time of calendar information you'd want, is in this watch, from sun down and sun up times, days till a new moon, 15 year countdown times, how long until a solstice or equinox, and the day and week of the year. Just lots of good stuff. You also have the basic alarms (with snooze), a stopwatch, and multiple timezones and other basic functions you'd expect from any computerized watch.

This particular Yes Zulu watch is available on eBay starting at only $299, an excellent deal for something this new! The retail price is about $800. This is the Yes version 4.0 movement which improves upon the 3.0 movement in a few areas including the most recent daylight saving time dates, an lume pointed 24 hour hands, and some other features. While this is an impressively sized watch, it is in full titanium, which makes it deceptively light. Further, it comes with comfortable yet wide (24mm) titanium metal bracelet, a leather strap, rubber strap, and wooden display box.

I can easily recommend this Yes Zulu and other Yes watches as being excellent editions to any collection or for daily wear. Certainly a good value here starting at $299. Check it out.

See Yes watches on eBay here.

See Yes watches on Amazon here.

NIXON YES ITS REAL THE PLAYER MENS WATCH NR

US $30.01

NIXON YES THE POWERSLAVE MENS WATCH NR

US $9.99

RENATO BEAUTY LIMITED EDITION YES 1 75 GORGEOUS DIAMOND DIAL W BOX PAPERS

US $1,189.00

Casio Unisex Digital Chronograph Watch A168WA 1YES

US $37.41

SEIKO mens CHRONOGRAPH wristwatch Yes it works VERY NICE estate

US $49.99

Nixon Yes The Powerslave Mens Watch

US $74.99

Written by Mr. Ariel Adams - aBlogtoRead.com, trusted independent watch media.

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Explaining The aBlogtoRead.com Good Value, Bad Idea, And Seal Of Approval Award System

admin — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 10:15:03 +0000

New feature starting today on aBlogtoRead.com. You'll begin to see some award icons on select posts. The system is meant to place emphasis on various products, brands, services, events, innovations, etc... that represent one of three ideals. I am going to be selective when it comes to awarding these icons, so just because an article doesn't have an icon, does not mean it wouldn't necessarily deserve such an award.

Now lets become acquainted with the three new icons that you'll begin to see on aBlogtoRead.com. Note that I am also going to slowly revisit existing articles and award the icons where appropriate.

The first icon award is the most straight forward. The "Good Value" Award will be merited when something offers a lot for what it costs. It is not necessarily about something being inexpensive, but rather representing a good value in comparison with the competition and items within the price range. Thus, a $50 watch might not be a good value, because you can get the same for $25. Along the same lines a $50,000 watch could be a good value because you can't find the same features or level of craftsmanship in watches at that price level and would have to spend much more for something similar.

It is also worth noting that a good value can also be achieved based on an item's market price. Say for example that a watch retails at $1,000 and would be appropriate for that price given the quality, etc... If an available price for the watch on the market is significantly less, that price instance could merit a Good Value Award. This will come in a variety of circumstances and may include a one time deal where a watch can be purchased on eBay for a good value, or an ongoing market price that can be enjoyed through any number of retailers. Overall, if you see something with a Good Value Award, you can be sure that if you spend the money, you will feel as though you received a great deal.

The next icon is the Seal of Approval Award. The origin of this award stems from my picky nature and the trust that the people in my life have in my taste, as well as my position as someone who 'knows enough about watches' to make a value judgment. My seal of approval designates that something is so impressive, I cannot help but elaborate my sentiments through the gifting of an symbolic award.

A lot of things can merit such a seal; and like the Good Value Award, it is not necessarily an item, but it could be an event, action, brand, occurrence or otherwise. If you see a Seal of Approval award, it means that I fully endorse the subject of the article without any major reservations. While you are free to disagree with my opinions, you can be sure that I put time and thought in to evaluating the subject matter to make sure it is impressively outstanding enough. A Seal of Approval on a watch usually means it is certainly worth owning, if you can afford it and appreciate its qualities.

With all this praise must be an indication of dismay. The Bad Idea Award is my Orwellian manner of disapproval. Something is very wrong with the item or event that receives this award. While the item might not be wholly bad, there is at least one significant flaw or problem with it. Usually this flaw is so bad, that I would caution against purchase. It is OK if you get it for free. The bad idea element might manifest itself in various forms. It might be a quality or aesthetic element. It might be a functionality problem, or an exaggeration in asking price so extreme it should be protested. Bad Idea Award articles are usually imbued with a degree of humor (unless it was myself who had to experience the 'pain' first hand). This is so to help you smirk at the follies of others. When you see a Bad Idea Award it is usually worth your time to read about my thoughts as you will be enlightened and entertained, as well as warned to stay clear of something worth avoiding.

To help you keep up with all the new awards given, see the "Good Value Award," "Seal of Approval Award," and "Bad Idea Award" Categories located on the right column. Clicking on the category itself will give you a list of all the articles that contain the award.

Written by Mr. Ariel Adams - aBlogtoRead.com, trusted independent watch media.

Automatic Movement Based Seiko Prospex Marinemaster SBDX001 Is Worthy Swiss Competitor

admin — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 08:50:26 +0000

This watch is not to be confused with the other Seiko Prospex Marinemaster watches that I have been talking about. Those don't have automatic movements, but rather Kinetic Direct Drive or Spring Drive movements. For example, I spoke of the similarly named Seiko SBDD001, which has a similar name, but different look and movement. The Seiko SBDX001 is an amazing offering by Seiko for a number of reasons.

Japan has always toiled with the dive watch. They certainly release a number of them, and models range from Swiss watch homages, to avant garde designs with limited appeal. The Citizen Aqualand series has always been highly functional, but I am sorry to say a bit ugly in my opinion. On the other hand Seiko has released a number of diving watches, some with names like Samurai and Monster. Again, some good, some bad style wise, but I am sure each of them are dependable. The Japanese have always played around with various movements in diving watches (all of their watches for that matter). I can think of at least 6 different types of movements I've seen in Japanese diving watches (quartz, Eco-Drive, Kinetic, Kinetic Direct Drive, Spring Drive, and Automatic). The last four of these movements is at least somewhat mechanical. However, Japan is the only other country next to Germany and Switzerland that can design and produce reliable quality mechanical movements on any mass scale.

So inside the Seiko Marinemaster pictured is one of Seiko's best automatic movements. The 8L35 automatic with 26 Jewels and a 50 hour power reserve. Accuracy easily matches certified chronometer levels, and often exceeds them. For example an average chronometer is accurate to within 6 seconds a day, while the Seiko 8L35 is accurate to within 10-15 seconds a month. Pretty nice for quartz crazy Japan.

The Seiko SBDX001 is the only Marinemaster watch that actually says "Marinemaster" on the watch. Seiko has never been known as one who artfully names their watches, so just know that this watch is a Seiko, in the Prospex line, which is a Marinemaster, and is the model number SBDX001. Know that and you can find one in a store, I hope. Actually, you'd have to travel to Japan to get one in a store, but they are available online.

What I really like about this watch is the cohesiveness of the design and the nice features. To me, this is what the quintessential Japanese mechanical diving watch should be. Seiko was finally able to take everything people loved about Japanese styled diving watches and combine them together into one watch that absolutely typifies the theme. You aren't buying a Japanese copy of a Swiss watch, you are getting something that is pure Japanese refinement from the look of the dial and hands to the philosophy in the movement (which has a wonderfully smooth seconds hand unlike cheaper automatic movements). Seiko watches have always preferred functionality over form, but a style has developed overtime. One of these elements is the 4 o'clock position of the crown, as well as the large number indexes and no nonsense bezel. Inside the face you'll notice a sloped chapter ring with minute increment marks that make the watch easy to read, and happens to add a nice 3-D look to the watch. Further, the rich luminant on the face and hands are a bright plus as seen in the video above.

The price of this watch is about $2,000 retail and is a good value considering all the high points. The watch is not perfect, as few watches are. Though allow me to clear a few things up. The watch is rated for 300m water resistance. Some might wonder why not deeper for the money. Well, unless you like seeing large number written on a watch, consider how often if ever your body is not only going to be diving that deep, and surviving. So 300m will satisfy just about anything you'll ever need. The watch is also heavy. To be rugged and reliable the Marinemaster is essentially a hunk of solid steel. It is over 200 grams and about 44mm in size. If you want to reduce the weight you can put on the included rubber strap that comes along with the metal bracelet. Further still, you can simply wear the watch for a few days until your weak wrist adapts. Seriously, that is all it takes to acclimate to a heavier watch.

Lastly, the only real complaint which may be justified is to the bracelet. Let me start off with saying that this Seiko Marinemaster bracelet is really cool. It features a ratcheting system for easy fitting and adjusting, which I just love. The thing is, Japanese watch bracelets have just never equaled the refinement and quality of their European competitors. They just aren't as fluid or feel as solid. It is not about comfort necessarily, but expect a Swiss watch that is upwards of $5,000 to typically have a pretty darn impressive bracelet. Someday soon, Japanese will figure out how to match Swiss and German bracelets, and for less cost. But until then, you should know that the Europeans have the Japanese beat on that end.

The Seiko Prospex Marinemaster is a handsome addition to any collection, especially those that love Japanese or dive watches. It is another of those perfect everyday watches that will dutifully see its owner through any occasion. One thing this watch does communicate to me over its European cousins is "rough me up." In a good way that is. Swiss watches make me want to shield them from the elements and danger to maintain their appearance, while a good Japanese watch always appears ready for duty and willing to take whatever you can throw at it. This is one of the reasons a high-end Japanese watch such as this calls to me, and why it ought to call to you too.

See Seiko Marinemaster and Prospex watches on eBay here.

See Seiko Prospex watches on Amazon here.

SEIKO PROSPEX GREEN SUMO SCUBA DIVER’S 200m LIMITED EDITION SBDC019 MONSTER

US $1,539.99

SEIKO PROSPEX YELLOW SUMO SCUBA DIVER’S 200m LIMITED EDITION SBDC017 MONSTER

US $1,479.99

SEIKO PROSPEX Watches SBDC007 Mechanical DIVER SCUBA 6R15 Caliber MARINE MASTER

US $1,269.99

SEIKO Prospex SBDC001 Sumo Automatic 200m Scuba Dive Watch

US $648.50

SEIKO PROSPEX Watches SBBN021 Diver 1000m Quartz 7C46 MARINE MASTER PROFESSIONAL

US $2,249.99

SEIKO PROSPEX MARINE MASTER PROFESSIONAL WATCH SBBN021 Rem City Japan

US $2,169.00

Written by Mr. Ariel Adams - aBlogtoRead.com, trusted independent watch media.

Marcello C. Nettuno 3 Review: About The Best Watch Available For Under $1000 MSRP

admin — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 00:10:01 +0000

Instead of being clever in the title of this review, I wanted to make it clear how good this watch is considering the price. I have handled a good deal of watches, perhaps not as many as I would like, but enough to know that price does not always equal quality of construction. Meaning you can enjoy a superbly built watch at a very reasonable price. Sure a $100 watch is probably going to feel like it is shabbily put together compared to something in the several thousand dollar range, but once you go up from there, things can get a bit fuzzy. However, some watches seem to hit built quality that is out of their price league.

Handle a $5000 watch and a $50,000 watch and there will not be too much noticeable difference in terms of how it feels. Sure there will be different complications, movements, and materials used, but enough of the time the watch will feel the same. Often enough, watches in the $1000-$5000 range actually feel more solid than those priced higher. There are a number of reasons for this, but it really has to do with the level of craftsmanship at the watch maker's facility. The much higher priced watches are more for show, combining precious materials and delicate complications. A solidly built watch can come from unlikely places.

Which brings me to Marcello C, a relative infant among many watch makers, having only been founded in the 1990s. Marcello C takes a simple approach to making watches. Essentially, they use time-tested and approved classic designs with their own twist, apply high grade materials, and sell them at affordable prices. It is a Swiss watch maker with a German watch maker ethic, and it works. Part of being a newer watch maker is getting your name and product out there, and aggressive pricing is a big part of this. Even though Marcello C watches are priced well, their watches are slowly increasing in cost as they become more comfortable with the admiring fans they have been able to increasingly cultivate.

I learned about Marcello C watches several years ago, and instantly recognized that the Nettuno 3 was the best watch to buy for my budget and desire to enter the world of fine watches. Since then, I have Acquired two Nettuno 3 models, one with a black face, and one with a silver face. For the silver faced version, I outfitted it with a thick brown leather strap, which looks very handsome in my opinion contrasted against the silver on steel tones of the face and case.

The first thing you'll notice about the black faced version of the Nettuno 3 is that it resembles a Rolex Submariner. The number indicators are different, but the illusion is not coincidental. The Rolex Submariner is one of the most appreciated and recognized watch designs ever created, and has been emulated by watch makers for years. The Marcello C Nettuno 3 takes this diving watch design and makes good use of its most functional and aesthetic elements. You have to know the Rolex Submariner well, but the Nettuno 3 actually improves on many areas. For one thing, the bracelet is a pinnacle of comfort. Unlike most Rolex Submariner clasps, which are too large, the Nettuno 3 clasp on the bracelet is thin and functional while still offering the safety of a double locking mechanism. A tasteful Marcello C logo is laser etched into the metal here, and on other part of the watch such as the crown, and the case back. Another obvious area of improvement over the Rolex Submariner is where the watch is polished or left brushed. In my opinion, the Rolex sometimes looks confused in terms of selecting the different treatments of the metal, where the Nettuno 3 is graceful in its application of polished and brushed finishes on the case and bracelet.

Ergonomically, the Marcello C Nettuno 3 suffers in no areas. The crown is just the right size and easy to operate and unscrew, even though it protected by mini lugs on the case. I often unscrew the crown on my Nettuno 3 watches in order to manually wind the watch, even though they are automatics. I do this because I wear several watches in rotation, and want my Nettunos always ready if they are called for wearing duty. As I indicated before, the bracelet is very comfortable, and easy to adjust with the screwed links. The bracelet also features a diver's extension. This is a little extension that is meant to be used if you are wearing the watch over a diving suit. This is a diving watch of course, and it is fully capable of being used during dives with its 300 meter depth rating.

Another diving feature is the watch's rotating bezel with is a pleasure to turn offering 60 satisfying clicks. Some rotating bezels I have used seem flimsy and disjointed. The Nettuno 3 bezel smoothly, yet firmly moves in one direction around the face offering time measures of up to one hour. I usually use this to measure how much time I have left on a parking meter. I now prefer watches with rotating bezels, as the added functionality is welcome to almost any watch, detracts from the look of an empty bezel which is common.

The legibility of the watch has never failed me. The hands are classically shaped without being too obtrusive; they are often referred to as "baton hands". One minor complaint about the Marcello C Nettuno 3 has been that it is not bright enough in darkness. It is true that it could have more super Luminova coated on the hands, but they would then suffer from looking too blotchy as the luminent on hands must be thick in order to radiate more light. The hands are purposefully delicate to increase legibility, and I have personally never had trouble reading the hands in darkness. If you are someone who requires bright watches for night viewing, there are other watches available that have very large, richly coated hands and number indicators that will serve for such purposes. The Nettuno 3 remains classic and aesthetic despite its utilitarian roots.

The movement of the standard Marcello C Nettuno 3 is the ever so popular ETA 2824-2 automatic movement. Although other Nettuno 3 models (with a GMT or chronograph complication utilize other movements). ETA 2824-2 movements have been the staple movement of many watches since the 1970s when the 2824 movement originally was released. Since then it has proved an excellent and reliable movement found in many watches much more expensive than the Nettuno 3, which at well under $1000 is a bargain. The ETA 2824-2 has often been touted as being chronometer accurate. Meaning that if Marcello C paid to get the chronometer certification, the Nettuno 3 would most likely pass with flying colors. I have personally noticed a high level of accuracy with my Marcello C watches. Typically, you will have to adjust any automatic movement once a month or so by about a minute or two to compensate for loss or gain of seconds which is completely standard. Marcello C takes special care to "adjust" the ETA 2824 movements within the Nettuno 3 cases to ensure maximum accuracy and reliability.

I have seen several versions of the Marcello C Nettuno 3 watch. Along with being available in various colors, there are models with different hands, with or without the date magnifier, and even GMT (24 hour time, also use for a second time zone) and chronograph versions. The most popular version, and my pick is the standard model, designed to be elegant, and purposefully reminiscent of the best diving watch design and style ever formulated. My Nettuno 3 watches have been through a good deal of activity with me, and never let me down. Always working, always pleasant to look at, and they look good on the wrist at a very comfortable, but never petite 42mm. One size up from the Nettuno 3 are the Marcello C Tridente models. These are a tad larger (44mm I believe), and have a lower depth rating. Otherwise the watches are virtually the same as they both use an ETA 2824-2 movement.

Marcello C watches have a limited although existing distribution in the US. There are now at least 2 authorized dealers, and Marcello C watches show up on eBay from time to time. If you want a great looking, well built classic looking divers watch, you really cannot go wrong with the Marcello C Nettuno 3, or any other Marcello C watch for that matter. I owe Marcello C a lot because as I said earlier, it was the brand that got me into nice watches in the first place.

Read my comparison of the similar yet different Marcello C. Nettuno 3 and Tridente watches right here.

See Marcello C watches available on eBay here.

See Marcello C watches on Amazon here.

MARCELLO C TRIENTE 20052SOLID STAINLESS STEEL DIVERS WATCH

US $799.99

Written by Mr. Ariel Adams - aBlogtoRead.com, trusted independent watch media.