Shoe Porn - Double Monk Straps

It's been awhile, readers! The month of November was a period of hectic studying and exams. I should add that they are too some of the final ones that I'll ever be taking in my life, unless I choose to pursue a master's degree or take professional exams.

For now though, the end of my final semester in university means that I'm about to be thrust out into the working world. Naturally, in fitting with the culture at The Watch Post, this thought dawned upon me; "What better way to start my career than to look the part?".

And thus, let's start from the bottom-up. First though, a little background on my work shoe situation: I've been using a pair of black square toed shoes for work so far, something I bought years back having not known better. I've since learned that square toed shoes seem to be quite the fashion faux pas.

Luckily though, there seems to be a type of shoe out there which is capable of washing away the sins of such a heinous footwear faux pas; the double monk strap.

Shoe Porn

All I could think of when I first saw these shoes was, holy shit, these look damned good.

Edward Green Westminster

Reading up on double monk straps led me to brands such as Edward Green, John Lobb and Alfred Sargent. Unfortunately, those are just a pipe dream for now as I'm not about to spend half a grand on a pair of shoes even if my finances permit me. I'll come back for a double monk strap by these brands when I'm a managing director or an executive. I promise.

Archules Bronx Hill II

Meermin Classic Collection Dark Brown Calf

Ah, here we have something more in line with my financial situation. Double monk straps from Meermin of Spain and Archules of Singapore. I'll be making my choice between either of these soon and then, as is customary, a full review shall be posted here.

Also, stay tuned for the next post which will be an end of the year summary post about what The Watch Post has went through during the year and what you can expect to come in 2015. Thanks for reading!

Shortcomings with the 5.11 Rush 12

It's has been a little under four months since I acquired the 5.11 Rush 12 and I've come to realize some of the shortcomings which I've failed to see earlier. Using the pack on a daily basis over these months has changed my perception a little for the worse.

First, and also my biggest gripe with the 5.11 Rush 12, is that it has absolutely no ventilation to speak off. The Rush 12 simply features four slightly raised panels at each corner of the pack which touches your back. Slightly meaning it's not nearly enough to raise the pack off your back in a way meaningful enough to allow any air to flow into the area. As such, carrying the bag is akin to carrying an oven. I've perspired immensely whenever I carry it with both straps on. This is further made worse by the weather in tropical Singapore; hot and humid all year round. A short walk of a couple hundred meters will often leave the back of my shirt drenched in sweat. I now resort to carrying this pack on one strap whenever it's a sunny day outside; not the best of solutions given my usual load. In my opinion, 5.11 should seriously consider incorporating mesh ventilation panels in future revisions of their Rush packs.

The rubber patches found on the side in contact with my back could also be done away with. I think they are largely unneccessary since they don't really help the pack in staying still against my back. These also abrade away at the clothes I'm wearing and mine have shown serious signs of wear from just normal everyday school use.

Next, I can't say I'm the biggest fan of the strap which incorporates a neck yoke system. It does indeed do it's job of distributing some of the weight onto your neck but for the most part the yoke simply gets in the way of comfort.

Over on the other side of the pack, the compression straps aren't the most effective straps as there is only a pair of them, situated in the upper half of the pack. The bottom of the pack is usually where most of my items end up, making the placement of the compression straps at the upper half of the pack quite a poor decision indeed. At the very least, I think the compression straps should be situated right in the centre of the pack, but the best solution would be of course to have a pair of compression straps, one serving the upper portion and another serving the lower portion.

I'd also like if 5.11 made a size in-between the Rush 12 and the Rush 24. The Rush 24 is much too large for me at over 32.7 litres of capacity, yet the next smaller option is immediately the Rush 12 which is over 11 litres less at 21.2 litres. A pack at 25 litres so would be the perfect size for me, and could well exist as a Rush 18.

Recently though, there seems to be a bag which overcomes all these shortcomings; a pack from Helikon-Tex's Direct Action line known as the Dragon Egg. It's 25 litres in capacity, has a meshed ventilation system to keep things cool, features normal straps that doesn't have a neck yoke nor does it have the rubber patches and has compression straps across the upper and lower part of the pack. It looks really nice too, barring two problems; it's constructed in 500D Cordura and also there's the rather hefty price of around EUR115. I'd have preferred 1000D or 1050D nylon construction, althought it's already 1.4kg with 500D construction so I think 1000D would have been unnecessarily heavy. I'm not too sure about the paracord handle but I think I'll assess that when I have the pack itself.

So that's it for today's post, thanks for reading!

Review of Casio G-Shock DW-5600E-1V - Simplicity Done Right

Greetings readers, it's been a long time since the last post. The reason for the absence? Getat, and the less said about him, the better. The watch from Getat did eventually arrive around three whole months after I placed my order. To top off the quarter of a year waiting time, the watch arrived completely dysfunctional; the movement just doesn't start ticking no matter how much it has been wound.

Alas, I wasn't too motivated to write about my very poor experience with Getat and it'll certainly be my last time dealing with him. I like the way the watch looks and thus have chosen not to send it back to Getat for a refund which God knows how long will he take to process. So for now, it'll be just lying around on a shelf till the day I decide to bring it to a watchmaker.

That is all I'll say on Getat in this post, because today we are here for something else; to cover a new acquisition I've made in the last couple of days. What exactly have I procured?

Why, the venerable classic, Casio G-Shock DW-5600E-1V of course.

 Long have I yearned for a digital watch to accompany me on runs and visits to the gym after the straps on my Casio F-91W broke. Since then I've been using analog watches to cover these duties but analog watches simply cannot do the job as well. Using a countdown bezel on a diving watch is after all, not the most convenient nor accurate method to measure rest time between sets. It didn't serve well for timing my runs either, which is why a digital watch had to be had. Without further ado, the technical specifications of the DW-5600E-1V:

• Shock resistant
• 200 meter water resistance
• Electro luminescent backlight with Afterglow
• Multi-function alarm 
• 1/100 second stopwatch
• Countdown timer with auto-repeat function
• Auto calendar (pre-programmed till year 2099) 
• Accuracy of ±15 seconds per month
• Battery CR2016 
• Approx. battery life: 2 years 
• Module 3229
• 48.9 x 42.8 x 13.4mm / 54g

 The DW-5600E-1V is held as the quintessential G-Shock by Casio themselves. It is the latest iteration in the evolution of the square-shaped DW series that begun with the DW-5000C, released over 31 years ago. To start off, let's discuss the size. The DW-5600E comes in at a perfect size in my opinion, large enough to have some wrist presence yet not being stupidly large. The size is considerably bigger than a F-91W which I liked a lot since the F-91W always felt a little too tiny for me.

The watch wears very comfortably, partially thanks to being just 54g in weight due to the resin construction. Now, I'm used to wearing watches made of metal since just about every other watch I have save the F-91W is metal. Coming to resin is therefore a big departure for me and I have to say, it is pretty nice. The DW-5600E doesn't feel poor in quality or durability despite the resin construction and you feel that this watch can actually survive a beating more than watches made from metal. There is a YouTube video here of the watch being thrown off seven stories and it continues to function so yes, this watch is likely to outsurvive the person wearing it. The resin strap is decent enough, being sufficiently pliable and comfortable. The buckle though is where I felt an improvement could be made, since it was just a stamped buckle which is really thin and felt quite cheap.

Reading the time is a breeze, with a LCD display that is relatively large and has great clarity and contrast of the digits from the background color. Viewing angles are excellent but not at the level of OLED displays; one would have difficulty reading the time from angles nearing 90 degrees. I don't see this as a major disadvantage though since turning your wrist or your neck by just a little will always ensure you can get a clear view of the display.

As is standard with most G-Shock watches, the display is covered by a mineral crystal which will do nicely in protecting the display. The raised bezel assists with keeping scratches off the crystal unless you happen to have an impact very precisely landing on the crystal. Sapphire would have been a nice addition but keep in mind that the DW-5600E is one of the cheapest in the G-Shock range and it would no longer be so if it had a sapphire crystal. The choice of mineral crystal is more in line with G-Shock ideology as well since it is harder to shatter. The display is backed with a bright electro luminescent backlight that makes for easy viewing in low light conditions. It glows with a nice green color and serves the purpose very well indeed.

The face of the watch is flanked by four buttons, namely the adjust, mode, start/stop and backlight button. All the buttons are covered by a lip which protects the button from being depressed should you drop it. The adjust button is markedly more recessed than the other buttons in order to prevent accidental adjustments in the course of usage. Changing between modes also produces the signature 'beep' sound. The beep produced when going back to the main screen which displays time is higher in pitch than the beeps produced when accessing other modes. This gives you an auditory indicator that you're back to the main screen. Little touches like that show the amount of thought that Casio has put into their watches.

Over on the back, we have a backplate that is held down by four screws. Usually, only the higher-end or older G-Shocks have screw down case backs. Since I'm no G-Shock collector though, the case back on the DW-5600E suffices for me as it still commands a very respectable water resistance level of 200m.

Timekeeping has been on point so far, with no deviation in the two days I've acquired it from a website I used to set it against. Further testing is required here to see the deviation in a month and in a year's time.

The Casio G-Shock DW-5600E-1V is a simple digital watch with extreme durability, and it is for that reason why it is such a great watch. It isn't addled with twenty alarms, thermometers, altimeters and barometers, just plain and simple timekeeping with functions such as a countdown timer, an alarm and a stopwatch, all of which I see as being rather useful.

This watch is one of few that has been approved for use in space by NASA and I can see why. It is the epitome of simplicity, of form meeting function, of durability meeting intuitivity. Then you add in the price; the DW-5600E can be had for about USD$42 on Amazon. Now it's a brilliant watch with a brilliant pricing. This is the watch I'd take with me if the world is going to be a zombie-infested, post-apocalyptic world tomorrow. On that note, thanks for reading and stay tuned!

Review of Zebra F-701 - Addition to My EDC

Today we shall be looking at a new addition to my EDC, the Zebra F-701 pen. Before that though, let me give some background information; I've been using Pilot G2's and other run-of-the-mill pens all my life, and I thought I'd change that by investing in a pen fit for EDC, which would serve to fill the pen slots in my 5,11 Rush 12 too. I wanted a pen that had good build quality, preferably metal construction, as well as good writing performance; nothing outrageously demanding in my opinion.

A quick search on Google showed that Fisher Bullet Space Pens, Parker Jotters and crowdfunded efforts on Kickstarter ruled the day. These were all great choices in their own rights; the Space Pen is known for the refills which can write in highly demanding environments, the Parker Jotter for their classic design and the multitude of Kickstarter pens for their custom craftsmanship and special designs.

The Kickstarter efforts were of course, way beyond my budget, nice as they were, while I didn't like the idea of fidgeting with a cap for the Space Pen. I already in fact have a Parker Jotter pen in stainless steel, and the Jotter's design just doesn't speak to me. I disliked that the barrel of the Jotter tapers towards the tip, something which I think will compromise comfort whenever there is considerable writing to be done. Where does that leave me then?

Enter Zebra F-701, the darling of many an EDC forum.

This pen has a reputation which precedes itself. The reason why is clear when you pick one of these pens up. It features a fully stainless steel barrel, which although isn't monocoque in construction (the knurled grip and smooth barrel are separable), feels very solid indeed. The weight is satisfying, reassuring and feels like something much more expensive than the price F-701's go for; the presence of the F-701 in hand is truly outstanding for the price. Top points to Zebra for the well-designed feel of this pen.

Writing with this pen has been a pleasure thanks to the addition of the knurled grip which is both functional and classy at the same time. It does its job well, allowing you to get a nice grip on the pen. The pen has remained comfortable to use for even for extended periods of writing. Perhaps the grip is a little less comfortable than the rubber grips on G2s but the tradeoff for the good looks is ultimately a plus for me. Of course, that is also dependant on how tightly one grips the pen while writing.

On the back end of the pen, we have a retraction mechanism which Zebra claims as being quieter than usual. It is indeed a little quieter than a standard Pilot G2 I'd say, and is a nice touch for those who like to click their pens on occasion. The retraction mechanism has a nice, springy amount of tension to it, and while may not be the most authoritative of clicks, is nice enough that I have no qualms. The plunger retracts fully when the tip is out, meaning that it won't rattle around when writing or turned upside down.

The surprising thing about the retraction mechanism is that it is plastic in construction, while its lesser brethren, the Zebra F-402 actually lays claim to a metal retraction mechanism. I certainly see myself hacking my F-701 to accomodate the F-402 retraction mechanism in the near future. Not that the stock F-701 mechanism is awful, it is actually quite decent, but I'd like my F-701 to have metal construction as much as possible.

Next, we come to the writing performance. The Zebra F-701 plays host to a fine ballpoint refill. For all intents and purposes, the stock refill is decent enough. The lines are clean, and is comparable with a typical ballpoint. It's by no means a great ballpoint, but that might be a problem rectifiable!

There are numerous topics on the Internet on people hacking the F-701 to fit Fisher and other refills. Having not tried a Fisher refill yet in my life, I don't know how these refills stack up against each other. Again, I'd certainly hack my F-701 to fit a Fisher refill in the near future.

The F-701 comes right out the box with a metal clip that is nicely adorned with the Zebra logo and the model number. It serves its purpose well enough, clipping onto shirt pockets and other objects firmly. The amount of tension is not too little such that it flops around after being clipped and not too much to make clipping a hassle. The clip feels solid enough and seems unlikely to break as long as it isn't abused. Hopefully, the tension will stay the same with usage. In a word, I have to say the clip on the F-701 is nice.

Coming to the price, the F-701 costed me SGD$8.30. I have nothing but good things to say about the F-701 and that would stay the same even if costed twice as much. At the price it goes for, the F-701 is astoundingly good value for money. Of course, there are some things that stop this pen short of being the best that it can be; plastic retraction mechanism and writing performance which is just average. Even still, I am thoroughly impressed with this pen, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a nice writing instrument but doesn't want to burn a hole in their pocket.

So that was the review of the Zebra F-701, thank you for reading and stay tuned for upgrades to the refill and retraction mechanism!

New Strap for the MDV106 - Paros

As mentioned in my review of the Casio MDV106-1A here, the stock resin strap that comes with the watch was downright awful. It's thin, creates a creaky sound as it rubs against the lugs and just reeks of cheap.

Now don't be mistaken, the MDV106 is one of, if not the most brilliant watch I've ever come across for the price. Thankfully, although Casio chose to cut corners with the strap, this is a problem that can easily be remedied given the standard lug width of 22mm.

Therefore, I went off in search of a strap today, one that would be worthy of playing host to the venerable MDV106. That of course means paying a visit to K2 Watch Company, for nowhere else in Singapore will you find a watch shop which prices their straps so fairly.

And this is the the result of the trip; a Paros black leather strap with red stitching. More pictures to follow.

I'm quite pleased with the strap so far. It is quite supple and has a nice leather smell. It also claims to be waterproof as stamped on the back so I'm expecting it won't deteriorate upon getting wet. We'll see how true those claims are in due time. Overall, it's quite a nice strap and really fitting for the MDV106 in this aspect; value for money. I got this strap for all of SGD$13, a really good price for a leather strap in my opinion. The red stitching also complements the red tipped second hand well, and I'm loving the MDV106 more than ever!

The thumbnail type buckle that comes with the Paros has pleasantly surprised me. I was expecting a cheap stamped, tinny buckle to come with the strap but on the contrary, the buckle is actually quite thick and features a nicely brushed finish all over.

What happens when two kings of value for money come together? You get a beautiful combination. Paros meets Casio, this is definitely one for the ages.

Review of Casio MDV106-1A

The end of my internship has brought about a bout of retail therapy to calm my nerves from the stresses at work over the last two months. Today, I acquired the Casio MDV106-1A, a watch which has a cult following on several watch forums. In this review we shall discern if the MDV106 is worthy of its cult status.

Now let's start off with the quality, fit and finish of the MDV106. The MDV106 is 44mm across in diameter, inclusive of the crown. It comes in at about 92g in total, which does make the watch feel solid. 

The MDV106 can be had for about USD$40 onwards. The quality of the case construction though, is good. I don't even have to add that it's good for the price because it is that good, case quality is has not been compromised in spite of the low price. The finishing has been well done as well, with no rough edges or machining marks as far as I could observe.

We should consider that at USD$40, this watch is something of the next step up from the MQ24 rubber quartz series they offer, and it's a very big step up.

The case is polished on the sides and is brushed on all vertical surfaces. It is curved down at the lugs which is great for preventing overhang on smaller wrists. Flanking the sides of the crown are the crown guards, which I always prefer my watches to have. It is an attractive case design and I give Casio top marks for case quality and finish. Make no mistake, this is no Blancpain or Audemars Piguet but the case will hold its own very well against just about any nonluxury steel watch.

Over on the back, there is an engraved marlin which is a nice touch by Casio. Now I can brag about my $40 watch caseback being more decorated than on a $5000 Rolex. The caseback is screw-down which is great to see on a watch this affordable.

The crown is screw-down, which helps the MDV106 achieve a 200m water resistance rating. The crown is a just a little on the rough side when screwing down, but is not a major problem at all to me. It's very impressive Casio has managed to implement such water resistance measures on a watch of this price.

It features a mineral crystal which is flanked by a unidirectional coin edged bezel. The bezel clicks along nicely although there is some play, and it can move backwards by about half a click. Still, it's not too bad and I've certainly come across bezels which are much worse. On my watch, the bezel lines up exactly to the 12 marker so that's great too.

If there's another great thing it's that the seconds hand hits all the markers spot on. This is something I can't guarantee of all MDV106's so it's always best to buy quartz watches at a brick and mortar store. The movement is also one of the most silent I've ever come across; you really have to put your ear right up to even be able to hear the ticks. I guess some people like loud watches but I'm definitely for quiet movements, so the MDV106 is again a sweeter deal because of this.

 Moving onto the dial, it is really clean and simple, which is a good thing. No unnecessary subsecond indexes, just good old one whole seconds. It features a marlin on the bottom half which is quite tastefully done in my opinion.

The hands are really well done on the MDV106. They are long enough, such that telling the time at a glance is a breeze. Finished in polished steel, the hands add some flair to the dial and reflect light in a very attractive way. The seconds hand is tipped in red which is a nice addition.

Eventually though, Casio has to cut corners somewhere. That is clearly evident in the lume used on this watch. It won't hold a candle to any Seiko diver, losing it's charge extremely quickly and after about one hour the lume is pretty much nonexistent. Even after exposure to my brightest flashlight, the initial bloom is not that impressive at all. This watch won't please lume fanatics, that's for sure!

To set that off, the MDV106 features a universal lug width of 22mm. That was great for me since I found the stock resin strap to be pretty bad. It is pretty soft and comfortable, but only because it's so thin. It doesn't seem hefty enough for the watch head and makes lots of creaky noises. I will definitely be looking for alternative straps in the coming months.

In conclusion, the Casio MDV106-1A is really an excellent watch. It has nearly all the makings of a good watch; good build quality, nice dial and hands, good water resistance and well thought-out design. Even without being as affordable as it currently is, I would think that the MDV106 is a great watch. It IS however affordable!

This is the shining moment of Casio, where excellent design meets affordability. About the only thing this watch doesn't excel in is the lume department, but that's easily forgivable by me. To answer my own question at the start of the review, yes, this watch does indeed deserve its cult status.

So that's it for the review of the Casio MDV106-1A. I know I'll be thoroughly enjoying and appreciating the MDV106 in the months to come, all $40 of it. Thanks for reading!

5.11 Tactical Rush 12 Review

A week ago, I took delivery of something I've been looking to acquire for a long time; the 5.11 Tactical Rush 12 backpack. Now the Rush 12 is a highly popular bag among EDC hobbyists for many reasons; among some of which are a good, solid quality, great compartmentalization options, well-thought-out design, all these at a rather good price. Being quite the EDC enthusiast, I had to verify these claims myself.

I present to you, the review of the 5.11 Tactical Rush 12.

As is customary, let's go through the specs on the Rush 12 before anything:

- 16 individual compartments
- Hydration pocket
- Wrap-around MOLLE/SlickStick web platform
- Internal multi-slot admin compartment
- Zippered fleece-lined eyewear pocket
- Hook and loop fastener nametape and flag patches
- Water-resistant 1050D nylon construction
- 18" x 11" x 6.5" main compartment
- 1476 cubic inch / 24 liter capacity
- Adjustable height sternum strap
- Two external compression straps
- Contoured yoke shoulder strap system
- Self-repairing YKK® zippers
- Glove-friendly pull tabs

I've only started using this backpack recently so my loadout is still very much a work in progress. I meant to build my EDC around my backpack of choice so this review will be focused on the backpack itself as much as possible, for my loadout could only be planned after getting this bag.

Right, onto the Rush 12 then. Now, before coming to the Rush 12, I've been using various fashion backpacks, none of which are tactical in nature. They were designed to look good but I can't say the same for their functionality.

This means that coming to the Rush 12 was a big departure from those packs. The Rush 12 quite simply excels at functionality. I think the Rush 12 is also quite a decent looker to me, although it does definitely tip towards being quite militaristic given the MOLLE webbing. I chose black as I'm primarily going to be using this as a school bag and I prefer to keep things stealth, instead of say, going for the multicam.

Let's start with the compartments that this bag has. At the front, there is a large admin pouch for all the small and important items. There is a plethora of pouches here; two pen-sized slots, a larger slot which I chose to put my Fenix LD22 in, two larger pouches that encompass the pen and flashlight slots, and one large pouch that is zippered and almost as large as the admin pouch itself. On the opposite, there are another two medium sized pouches, one of which I chose to put my scientific calculator in.

You have lots of room to play with here, and having this many compartments constantly tempts one to think of the next piece of EDC to acquire to fill up all the pouches. I think the admin pouch has been really well done.

Picture credit of CandlePowerForums

The main compartment features two zippered mesh compartments that allow you to easily see the contents. On the other side, there is a compartment that can be cinched by an adjustable drawstring. It's good for making sure items stay still while carrying which can be a big annoyance. The main compartment will fit a 15" laptop quite snugly, which is perfect for my Dell XPS15. It has been able to comfortably fit my gym gear such as shoes, shaker bottles and whatnot. Of course, the clamshell style really makes things easier as you don't have to fight with the size of the opening.

Flip it over to the back, and you will see the padded straps which make for a very comfortable carrying experience. The straps incorporate a neck yoke system which partially distributes the weight of the pack onto your neck as well. I have found the Rush 12 to be a very comfortable backpack to carry.

Additionally, there is a hydration bladder compartment located where your back touches the backpack, which purpose is quite self-explanatory. It also has a hard plastic backing to make sure that irregularly shaped contents don't poke you in the back as you're carrying them around. I've never had a backpack that had this feature before and I think this is simply fantastic. It's been a problem I've faced with my fashion backpacks and I've always had to create a makeshift hard plate but to have one designed from concept is much better.

All in all, I have to say the 5.11 Tactical Rush 12 is brilliantly executed. The design has been well thought-out to maximize the comfort of the user, providing numerous options for the user in terms of customizability (adding of pouches via the MOLLE webbing) and the huge number of compartments means one will be able to find the space to put almost anything. Top that off with 1050D nylon construction, this backpack is meant to last decades, if not a lifetime.

About the only gripe that I had with this backpack is that it does weigh quite a bit even when empty, which can be a problem especially when you're carrying it in your hands by the carry handle. Of course, there had to be a flipside to this pack. Even still, the Rush 12 is pretty much fantastic in most other aspects and I'm very happy with my purchase.

This review is little less specific than I usually do for reviews of my gear, so I think I might come back and do an in depth one when I have assessed it over a longer period. Stay tuned for it and thanks for reading!

Another Incoming from Getat

Right folks, from the previous post it may have seemed that there was a little debate going on as to whether I would go for an Obris Morgan Pradata or a Getat. I later came across the dressy JDM Orient WZ0011DV, an absolute beauty of a watch, bringing the battle to a three-way showdown.

 

Naturally, the Orient was by no means cheap for me, coming in at USD 400. I've paid more for watches before, of course, but right now USD 400 would mean giving up one month's worth of my internship salary! Therefore, the Orient is sadly out of the choice. I see it as a piece with the potential to be a timeless classic; relevant regardless of your status or age in life, so I would really like to come back and buy the Orient someday.

That leaves us down to two, the Obris Morgan and the Getat. Now the Obris Morgan, as I have mentioned before, is outstanding value. Good quality case, movement and features at a really good price. Still, I think the deciding factor of why it wasn't the winner of the three this time round was because I was looking for something dressier, and the Pradata is very much a dive watch in spite of some dressy elements on the dial.

I therefore present the winner of the three-way showdown; Getat.

I think I must really love Panerai homages, plus I was quite satisfied from my maiden experience with Getat. Here are the specs which I have requested for this time:

1:1 44mm Luminor case in brushed finish and polished bezel

Marina Militare engraved sandwich dial with C3 lumed indices

Sapphire crystal with colorless AR coating

Gold hands

Asian Unitas 6497 (aka Sea-Gull ST36)

24mm Tan strap with Pre-V buckle

Getat claims the new cases are 1:1 with PAM 111 and are also 100m water resistant. I've covered the improvements in the cases and dials here if you're interested. I'd really like to see the improvements that Getat has claimed in person and I hope that they'll be worth paying the extra for.

So how much did I have to part with for this purchase? Well, Getat was having a 20% discount at the time of buying. The 20% discount was only valid for orders up to the 13th of June, so my order amounted to USD 144. There is still a discount right now, lasting up till 3rd of July, although it's only a 10% discount. Up to the 23rd of June, it will be a 15% discount. If you were ever sitting on the fence thinking about a Getat, now would be a good time to hop onto the bandwagon!

He claims that orders will be sent on the 11th of July to 15th of July, something I can only bleakly hope for given the experience I had with him previously. He was having a sale back then too, and he missed the 'deadline' which he imposed on himself by weeks.

Regardless, I'm happy to be able to bring all the readers of The Watch Post a new watch to feast your eyes upon this year! It's been sometime since my New Year post in which I promised new purchases and it's finally happening. Stay tuned for more updates, peace out!

Upcoming: Obris Morgan Pradata

Perhaps it stems from the absence metal bracelet watches I own, which caused me to take a serious liking to the upcoming Obris Morgan Pradata, but first, let me explain why the absence is so; I've flipped my Kemmner Turtle off recently.

Much as I love that watch, I still flipped it. It is no fault of the watch indeed, 'twas a great piece capable of matching watches many times its price. Perhaps the fault then is not with the watches but the owner. I'll admit it, the fun is very much in the chase and it's really hard to find a keeper. You get used to the looks of a watch after awhile and it's back to the hunt to find something that will excite you again.

Which is why I'm here to announce the new source of excitement.

The Obris Morgan Pradata.

Now for a quick rundown on the specs:

Diameter: 43mm excluding crown guard, bezel 44mm
Thickness: Bezel 4.5mm, case 6mm, Back case 2.2mm

Lug width: 22mm
Lug to lug: 52.6mm

316L Stainless steel construction
  Five link bracelet
Miyota 9015

Super-LumiNova C1 or C3 on hands and indices
Automatic helium escape valve

300m Water resistance
3.5mm Thick sapphire crystal with underside AR coating
Weight: 236g with unadjusted bracelet

In terms of features, the Obris Morgan Pradata seems pretty run-of-the-mill, but consider this; the Pradata ranges from USD279 - 299, depending on the finish of the casing and the bracelet you choose. Fantastic pricing has always been one of Obris Morgan's strong points, as they have shown with the Nevon and the Branco. The Pradata is once again no exception.

You'd have to look hard to find a full 316L stainless steel watch with a Miyota 9015 or equivalent movement at such prices. Obris Morgan also delivers their watches in this excellent Pelican-like case and provides FedEx delivery worldwide which is included in the buying price! This really shows how far your USD300 will stretch in buying a watch which really puts some other microbrands to shame, considering the fact they're using similar case suppliers but charging three to four times the price Obris Morgan charges. Obris Morgan is undeniably the king of value for money watches till someone outdoes them in this game.

Now the Pradata has some undeniably obvious Fullswing Industrial DNA which is evident by the caseback opener design markings being exactly the same as the ones on the Kemmner Turtle and various other Fullswing Industrial watch cases.

The second hand also looks exactly like the one on the Kemmner Turtle.

Of course, this is all perfectly fine with me. From my experiences with Fullswing Industrial crafted watches, they have been nothing short of stellar. Case quality is on point with much more expensive manufacturers and Fullswing Industrial is about as good one can get with microbrands.

Need I remind you that the Precista Dreadnought GMT cases were sourced from Roland Kemmner who in turn sources his cases from Fullswing Industrial? Among other microbrands which turn to Fullswing Industrial are Armida and Dagaz, and they have proven themselves to know how to build a quality watch if anything.

The Pradata is similar to the Kobold Seal and WestCoasTime 1000m which is a little chunkier than I am used to, but I'm willing to go out of my usual preferences to support a company which can sensibly price their products!

Looks like it's going to be a fight between Getat and the Obris Morgan Pradata this year, and I have an ominous feeling for Getat on this one (sorry!). Thanks for reading and have a good day!