quote:

Originally posted by Jimineer:
I always wanted a watch with a green face. When I saw the Seiko Alpinist I had to have it. Holy cow this thing is small: 38 or 39 mm depending on who you listen to.

Here it is on my wrist with the only 20mm NATO strap I have. How small is too small? I have 8.5” wrists. Maybe I’m just used to larger dive watches and G Shocks. What do y’all think?

It looks very nice on your wrist. I had a hang-up about small watches for a while until I saw a picture on my 40MM Marathon SAR on my wrist. I thought it was too small; it looked great in the picture.

Great watch, enjoy it.

RMD

Thanks guys, it’s growing on me a bit. Strapcode has an Angus Jubilee for the Alpinist that I like. But I may check out some leather NATO straps first.

quote:

Originally posted by side_shot:
what do you guys use to remove links in your watch band...

When I needed to shorten the band on my Seiko 5 I checked YouTube for instructional videos, and one of them recommended a tool I bought from Amazon for about $10. It worked fine and saved paying a jeweler to do it.

quote:

Originally posted by Jimineer:
Thanks guys, it’s growing on me a bit. Strapcode has an Angus Jubilee for the Alpinist that I like. But I may check out some leather NATO straps first.

They look good on leather. I don't love them on bracelets.

A post by BianO re: NATO band colors "made" me change my bracelet to:

...for a while. I love having multiple bands/straps.

quote:

Originally posted by Z06:
A post by BianO re: NATO band colors "made" me change my bracelet to...

I think that looks really sharp!

Maybe I'm getting older, but I'm starting to appreciate a more simple watch. I got this Orient Bambino gen2 v4 a couple months ago, and have worn it more often than my other watches lately, at least a couple times per week. I've kept it wound daily as well, and I'm shocked at how accurate it has been. The gen2 also has hacking/winding which was absent in the first gen apparently. Gorgeous grey sunburst dial, rose gold indices and hands, and a huge domed crystal. Though a bit large to be a true dress watch, the 41.5mm case hits the sweet spot for me. It came with a natural tan suede strap, which I actually would like if it weren't for the dark leather borders.



I've worn it with this cheap perforated black leather strap to dress it down a bit more, but it really doesn't do the watch face much justice.


I also tried it on both brown and black crocodile straps but they didn't seem to match either.

Finally settled on this very plain light brown/tan strap and it is a much more pleasing combination. Added a deployant as well. A hell of a lot of watch for the money.

THAT is a beautiful watch!

quote:

Originally posted by agony:

I've become a huge fan of grey dials. Your Orient is a fine example!

I like it, Agony.

quote:

Originally posted by agony:
Maybe I'm getting older, but I'm starting to appreciate a more simple watch. I got this Orient Bambino gen2 v4 a couple months ago, and have worn it more often than my other watches lately, at least a couple times per week. I've kept it wound daily as well, and I'm shocked at how accurate it has been. The gen2 also has hacking/winding which was absent in the first gen apparently. Gorgeous grey sunburst dial, rose gold indices and hands, and a huge domed crystal. Though a bit large to be a true dress watch, the 41.5mm case hits the sweet spot for me. It came with a natural tan suede strap, which I actually would like if it weren't for the dark leather borders.

Nice. I have the blue Bambino v3 and it's a great travel business watch for me. No value in case something happens to it and, important in my business, not ostentatious in front of my customers.

I'd like to get one of the new small seconds Bambinos but the date window just ruins that one. I'm a big fan of date windows, too, just not on that watch.

Yeah I'm not enamored with small seconds....I like a big sweeping seconds hand. I do think the new open heart is cool.... but again that date window kinda ruins it.

I just heard that Seiko is discontinuing the SARB033 and the Alpinist, SARB017. If you own one of these the resale value probably has/will gone up. Will be interesting to see what they are replaced with.

quote:

Originally posted by Jimineer:
I just heard that Seiko is discontinuing the SARB033 and the Alpinist, SARB017. If you own one of these the resale value probably has/will gone up. Will be interesting to see what they are replaced with.

Yup.
I got this link from my brother this morning.
I've always liked the Alpinist. Maybe I need to get one now.
https://www.seiyajapan.com/blogs/news/sayonara

Aren't weekends supposed to be for sleeping in? Well I got up too early, so decided to upgrade my modded SKX007 with a new double domed sapphire, plain polished stainless steel chapter ring, coin edged bezel and a new bezel insert. I modded this a dozen or so years ago, with a dial from Bill Yao/MkII, and sword hands. I always thought afterward that the face looked too busy with the indexed oem chapter ring and the oem bezel insert but never got around to replacing them. So today was the day. Ordered parts from Dr Seikostain in Poland, and an insert from Dagaz.

Before:



The venerable yet-dated 7S26 movement. One day I'll upgrade the movements in all my SKX's with something hand-windable and hackable.


Crown removed


An empty shell.


Bezel popped, crystal and chapter ring removed.


New sapphire crystal and coin edged bezel installed:


movement reinstalled


Bezel insert applied and done!



Love the new crystal, bezel, and chapter ring...still undecided about the insert. It's aluminum, and finished nicely, but the numbers are printed slightly off-kilter. I'll eventually get a ceramic 12-hour insert in the future.

That is a good dial with those hands.

I think it looks very unique. I like polished chapter rings and have one on order for a mod I am going to do as well.

RMD

So I finally got around to having my Speedmaster 1171 bracelet fixed.
It had a stress crack in it from being deployed over and over.
Apparently this was an issue with these bracelets.
Well I found a guy with a laser welder that does aerospace stainless steel work.
He was thrilled to have the chance to fix my watch bracelet.

$30 later it's fixed!

Before


After





Link to original video: https://youtu.be/rgMLF2ebGVs

That's pretty awesome, SC!

Very cool!

RMD