One of my favorite watches I own is a Hamilton Khaki King Scuba. It has a super cool vintage vibe going with the black dial and I love how they arranged the day and date locations. Unfortunately this watch has been discontinued for a few years now so I didn’t really plan on finding a clean silver dial automatic example with the blue bezel insert ref: H64545153 for a VERY good price. I have the Quartz version but it is soulless and is in pretty rough condition.

In the sub $500 category this was my grail watch. I have a minty example inbound!!!

Congrats on the find! That is a looker.

That's a sweet Hamilton, stick!

quote:

Originally posted by stickman428:
One of my favorite watches I own is a Hamilton Khaki King Scuba. It has a super cool vintage vibe going with the black dial and I love how they arranged the day and date locations. Unfortunately this watch has been discontinued for a few years now so I didn’t really plan on finding a clean silver dial automatic example with the blue bezel insert ref: H64545153 for a VERY good price. I have the Quartz version but it is soulless and is in pretty rough condition.

In the sub $500 category this was my grail watch. I have a minty example inbound!!!

Very nice -- congratulations. I really need to add a Hamilton to my rotation...I keep looking at the Jazzmaster chronograph line, both in black and blue and in automatic or quartz, and they all look very nice to my eye. One of these days it'll happen.

Well, another micro-brand strikes again! After getting all the Helms, and an Aquatico, Zelos, a couple Richard LeGrand, etc. I figured I had enough… until I saw this Direnzo Eclipse. The retro style really struck my fancy and I decided I had to have one. Ordered it back in June and just got it 2 weeks ago. Came with the bracelet, a very nice leather band and a NATO. It’s Swiss made (SW-200-1) and, so far, keeps very good time. I set it when I got it and this morning it was 10 seconds fast, not bad after a couple of weeks. I opted for the no-date version.

Here it is… figured I’d show it with all the bands.

That’s a beautiful watch! I was quite tempted by their blue dial version. That dial has a vintage and extremely unique vibe going on.


Nothing against Hamilton’s bracelet, it’s ok I guess but this watch feels MUCH better on a nice brushed 20mm shark mesh bracelet. There are elements of this watch that remind me very much of it’s corporate cousin Omega, specifically the old Seamaster (Pierce Brosnan era) as well as the newest Seamaster. The bezel insert on this baby looks to be almost the identical color and catches the light the same as my 1999 Seamaster. The overall appearance is similar to the silver dial unofficial Daniel Craig era Bond watch.

And into the heavy rotation it goes.

I love my Rolex James Cameron DSSD but, while traveling I'd really like to have a watch with a GMT complication, that's not as valuable as the Explorer II (Polar) that I'm still lusting for. After an extensive search, I found a great deal on a Alpina Alpiner 4 GMT that seems to fit the bill quite nicely. A pretty watch that looks very different than my "Diver" style, is quite reliable (according to posters here) and it's a lot of watch for less than $1000.00. Pics from the internet, since I'm going to have to wait a bit for mine to arrive. I'll have the stainless steel band on it when it arrives, but I'm considering an Alligator strap as an alternative. Suggestions?

That Alpina is stunning!

I'm partial to Beads of Rice stainless for it.
Give it a vintage look.

In respect for the passing of Sir Sean Connery I will post what I am wearing tonight at work. My tribute to Goldfinger. I know it isn’t a vintage Rolex Submariner no-date but, I do enjoy this Casio diver. Someday when the kids are gone and the house is paid for I will get that Submariner. Let’s see what you have!!!

[IMG:left] [/IMG]

That Casio diver, despite being just $50 is a long standing heavy hitter bargain. One of my sons has one and like you, immensely enjoys it. Don't be embarrassed by owning one.

quote:

Originally posted by bald1:
That Casio diver, despite being just $50 is a long standing heavy hitter bargain. ...Don't be embarrassed by owning one.

I concur. I've had mine down to 60 feet multiple times, and in both warm and cold water, and -- as the old TV commercial for a different brand used to say -- it takes a licking and keeps on ticking. I, too, put mine on a "Bond" strap, even going so far as to buy an RAF strap that was slightly too narrow, in homage to Goldfinger. (After taking some pictures I put it on a properly-sized NATO strap.)

No embarrassment here. I discovered that watch last year by posts here. Reviews online were/are top notch. Love this thread. I do have an older Tag chronograph and a Tissot chronograph as my “high end” watches but, will get an Omega someday.

Came across this site which I found interesting. Build your own watch kits. Not sure about how the kits are in terms of value as I don't know what sourcing individual parts costs. I'm sure someone will weigh in.

https://diywatch.club/

quote:

Originally posted by bald1:
Came across this site which I found interesting. Build your own watch kits. Not sure about how the kits are in terms of value as I don't know what sourcing individual parts costs. I'm sure someone will weigh in.

https://diywatch.club/

That is cool!!!! Now you got me thinking....

It’s finally happened. I’m going to get to experience Gnomon’s customer service.

I bought this as a daily beater so I didn’t beat the hell out of my Ball Fireman. The Valjoux 7750 movement inside keeps exquisite time. Better timekeeping than my Ball actually averaging about +1 second a day! I hate that I have to send it back but the minute subdial had a slight misalignment that I could originally live with BUT has only gotten worse in the less than two weeks I’ve owned it and worn it exclusively. The hour subdial looks like it has an ever so slight misalignment as well.

This sucks. I’ll keep y’all posted on the situation.

FWIW, the 7750 is an outstanding movement for durability and accuracy.

It isn't a fancy movement by any means, but it offers the ultimate bottom line of any mechanical watch - it works and it works well.

Accuracy should not shift over time either.

My 7750 is keeping 3+/day every day. Rivals any Rolex I've had or my Marinemaster 8L35. By this I mean consistency, no change in error. Same thing every day no matter what.

Hope you get the alignment sorted. Had the tach sweep hand offset and it bugged the crap out of me, now it's made right.

7750 has a peculiarity of the hands needing to be applied HARD, so unless the shop has the right tools, it's tough for them. I'm sure Gnomon has either the right tools or people to do this.

Gnomon offered to reimburse me up to $40 USD if I have a local watchmaker fix the alignment. I’m tempted to just send it back to them for repairs as they are an authorized dealer.

What should I do? What would you do?

Gnomon sent me as shipping label and has thus far been an absolute pleasure to work with. I’m thinking it’s best to send it back to them as they are an authorized dealer.

I live 35 min from the nearest DHL drop off location. Ugh. Hopefully I can arrange some sort of way for them to pick it up? I really don’t want to drive to Greensboro because of this.

I'll keep y’all posted.

quote:

Originally posted by pulicords:
I love my Rolex James Cameron DSSD but, while traveling I'd really like to have a watch with a GMT complication, that's not as valuable as the Explorer II (Polar) that I'm still lusting for. After an extensive search, I found a great deal on a Alpina Alpiner 4 GMT that seems to fit the bill quite nicely. A pretty watch that looks very different than my "Diver" style, is quite reliable (according to posters here) and it's a lot of watch for less than $1000.00. Pics from the internet, since I'm going to have to wait a bit for mine to arrive. I'll have the stainless steel band on it when it arrives, but I'm considering an Alligator strap as an alternative. Suggestions?

That is a good-looking watch. What is the bezel, marked with 1 to 36 measure?

quote:

Originally posted by pulicords:
I found a great deal on a Alpina Alpiner 4 GMT that seems to fit the bill quite nicely. A pretty watch that looks very different than my "Diver" style, is quite reliable (according to posters here) and it's a lot of watch for less than $1000.00. Pics from the internet, since I'm going to have to wait a bit for mine to arrive.

Very nice -- congrats. I'm a big fan of Alpina, and have two of my own.