i started my collection primarily with chronographs, adding some other interesting
devices along the way. being a former🤑 manufacturing engineer / turned air-traffic
controller, the mechanisms and power sources interested me foremost. i started with
several🤑 quartz watches, moved to an automatic, tried some accutrons (which i still
feel to have one of the most🤑 ingenious movements ever made), looked at hamiltons, etc.
i found myself constantly coming back to the automatic 🤑 movements - i guess i find
just a little bit more 憇oul?in an automatic. before the flames 🤑 start, no ?i am not
forgetting about handwinds. ;-)(notice the gruen) several automatic chronos
eventually found their way🤑 into the stable.
once i had settled my interest on
mechanical matches, it was a natural progression on to added 🤑 complications. i already
had several chronographs. an explorer ii and a breitling cosmonaut answered a need
for🤑 secondary and alternative time displays, and a gerald genta golfing mickey
fulfilled my need for whimsy. i next🤑 moved on to a jlc master moon.
the master moon
was a nice watch. i really liked the moon-phase🤑 display and the fine work on the
movement. the triple date was nice as well, especially considering the weird🤑 shifts i
work and how easy it is to lose track of the days / dates, but the watch🤑 was just a
little too cultured for my tastes. i come from a blue-collar background and i only
🤑 wear a suit once or twice per year ?a dressy watch is not a high priority for me.
i
started🤑 looking at perpetuals, but found that the majority of them were as dressy, or
even more so, than the🤑 jlc. i was also concerned with the legibility of the sub
displays. my aging eyes had trouble🤑 with the jlc抯 day and month indicators and many
of the other watches i saw, such as the novocento,🤑 were even smaller.
i had seen a big
date first on a lange and thought that it was pretty cool. 🤑 when i first found the
glash黷te klassik and karee perpetuals with the big date i was intrigued. i🤑 actually
came close to buying a klassik moonphase with the big date that i saw on the sales
corner,🤑 but i held off fearing that it would be to dressy. i also had been eyeballing
the ulysse🤑 nardin acqua perpetual, but preferred having a moonphase over a year
readout.
once i saw the navigator, i was hooked.🤑 it seemed to have everything i needed
?big date, incredibly legible sub indicators, in-house movement, more of a🤑 sporty
look, etc. additionally, this was a limited edition watch, but is that good or bad?
i🤑 had mixed feelings on buying one. intending this to be a regular use watch, the
exclusivity of the🤑 limited edition is somewhat wasted on me and would probably be
better appreciate by a 慶ollector? also, a🤑 limited edition means higher cost ?3 to 4
times what i had previously paid for any watch and a🤑 substantial amount over the
non-limited editions.
two different watches appeared on the sales corner in a short
period of time.🤑 i contacted both sellers and entered into negotiations, neither of
which came to fruition; however, through these 🤑 initial contacts i was able to find a
piece that was available and reached an agreement. in the 🤑 mean time, i sold off
several of my other watches to finance the effort.
so, here it is!!
the box is as🤑 you抎
expect for a perpetual. solid wood, nice documentation, nifty adjusting tool,
etc.
the strap and clasp are very🤑 nice. the wider 慿eeper loops?on the strap definitely
in keeping with the more sporting nature or the watch.🤑 i replaced the strap with a
hirsch carbon fiber strap immediately after these pictures were taken. (see below)🤑 i
placed an order for the go bracelet through someone connected well enough to get me a
little🤑 discount. it took a while for the bracelet to arrive, but i think it was worth
the wait.
the🤑 movement is imho beautiful. i can抰 recite the technical details of it
?i抣l leave that for those in🤑 this forum who are more qualified. sapphire back. 21kt
rotor. swan neck, etc.
this picture shows the excellent🤑 dial layout. all indicators
are very legible, even in low light. the dial itself is actually a🤑 very deep brown or
charcoal color that i was unable to bring out in these photos. the luminosity🤑 is
quite good as well. even the individual minute indices are luminous. right under the
word 慜riginal?is🤑 the year indicator dot. you can see in this picture that it is
turning from yellow to black,🤑 the other two colors being white and red for the leap
year. the display shows ?and ?for the🤑 entire month of december.
the case is very
finely finished; this is especially noticeable in the case to lug transition. 🤑 i have
worn the watch 3 ?4 days per week for the last 3 months and it still looks🤑 good.
whatever small signs of wear it has picked up are well hidden by the matte finish.
🤑 case height is 12 mm, diameter 38mm, lug width 19.5mm.
the case>
the bracelet arrived
today. it is quite comfortable🤑 and adds a fair amount of heft to the watch. the end
links are solid and a very🤑 tight fit; it took a little bit of work to get the spring
bars to re-engage after i installed🤑 them. two links were easily removed to fit my 7
1/2?wrist. i had been waiting for awhile🤑 for this bracelet so even though i was home
sick, i had a little bit of single-malt to celebrate!🤑
>
i have had this watch for 3
months and have not regretted the move at all. the watches i🤑 sold were:
