Deep Dive: What is 316L steel and why is it used in watches? What about 904L?

 

316L steel is a type of austenitic stainless steel. The "L" stands for "Low carbon," which is a crucial part of its properties.

Long Term Assessment: The Modern Mariner - A Five‑Year Wearing Review of the Tudor Black Bay “Midnight Blue”

There are watches that impress at first sight—and then there are watches that endure. In a world where fleeting trends often masquerade as icons, the Tudor Black Bay “Midnight Blue” stands apart: a timepiece whose reputation grows not through novelty, but through lived experience. Over half a decade of wear, testing, travel, and everyday life, the Black Bay has evolved from an admired diver to an indispensable companion.

This is not a standard review. This is the story of what happens after the honeymoon period ends.

A Legacy Reborn

When Tudor revived the Black Bay line in 2012, it did more than reissue a vintage diver—it distilled a design language shaped across 60 years of Tudor’s underwater exploration. Its spiritual ancestor, the Tudor Oyster Prince Submariner ref. 7922 from 1954, lends DNA to the case, crown, and the clean, functional ethos of the watch.

Deep Dive: What is Rolex's Chromalight?

Image taken from https://www.keepthetime.com

Chromalight is Rolex's proprietary luminescent material that glows blue in the dark.

It's used on the watch's hands, hour markers, and sometimes the bezel pearl (e.g., on the Submariner) to ensure legibility in low-light or no-light conditions.

Head-To-Head: Seiko Alpinist SPB117J1 (6th Generation) versus Seiko Alpinist SARB017 (5th Generation)

The Alpinist is classic line of sports watches from Seiko. It is a series of watches designed in 1959 for mountain climbers. The first is the iconic Laurel Alpinist. The most famous of all the Alpinist and a cult classic, the SARB017 is the face of the series. This is the 5th generation Alpinist and it was launched in 2006. In 2020, Seiko launched the 6th generation Alpinist with updated movement. 

I have the SPB117J1 (below and left) and the SARB017 (below and right). In this short write-up, I will be comparing both watches.

Head-To-Head: Solar Technologies Employed by Four Major Brands; Tissot, Seiko, Citizen and Casio

In this particular article, I wanted to do a head-to-head comparison between the various solar technologies employed by four major brands: Tissot, Seiko, Citizen and Casio. The comparison will be based on the detailed reviews of four watches in the collection that are tabulated below: 

 

Tissot T‑Touch	Seiko Prospex Alpinist
Citizen Promaster Tough	Casio G‑Shock MOVE

 

Head-To-Head: The White Rolex Trio, Daytona, Explorer II and Sky-Dweller

Three Crowns, One Collector: Comparing My Rolex Sky-Dweller, Daytona, and Explorer II

Finding the “perfect” watch is a lifelong journey. For me, that quest has led to three very different Rolex crowns, each claiming a unique spot in my collection. After years of chasing, buying, and wearing them, I’m breaking down how the sophisticated Sky-Dweller, the iconic Daytona, and the rugged Explorer II compare in the real world.

TUDOR Royal 41mm Steel Case Salmon Dial M28600-0009 - Sport‑Chic Identity, A Review (plus Video)

The Tudor Royal 41mm Salmon Dial M28600 has long stood out to me as one of the most eye‑catching and versatile watches in Tudor’s contemporary catalogue. With its distinctive integrated bracelet, sharply notched bezel, practical day‑date complication, and that unmistakable salmon dial, the Royal line strikes an impressive balance between refinement and sportiness. It’s the kind of watch that feels equally at home with a suit or a more casual outfit: something few watches in this price segment manage to pull off convincingly. As a result, the Royal has been on my radar for quite some time, quietly climbing higher on my personal wishlist.

Recently, I received an unexpected message from my dealer that immediately caught my attention. He mentioned that a Tudor outlet was offering a special deal as they were looking to clear out existing stock. Sensing an opportunity, I quickly gave him four different Tudor models I’d be interested in, asking him to check which, if any, were available under this promotion. Then came the waiting game.

About a day later, the news came back. Of the four options, only the Tudor Royal was available, and specifically in the salmon dial configuration. While my initial preference had been the blue dial variant, the moment I heard the details, any hesitation vanished. The pricing on offer was simply too good to ignore, especially for a watch that I had already admired for so long. In the end, the decision felt almost effortless. I jumped at the chance and placed the order immediately, confident that this was one of those rare moments where timing, opportunity, and enthusiasm align perfectly.

Head-To-Head: Seiko Prospex Turtle Divers; the Mini-Turtle SRPC37K1, the Turtle SRP773K1 and the King Turtle SRPE03K1

Below is a comparative review of the three Seiko Prospex dive watches from your collection:
Turtle (SRP773) (left), Mini-Turtle (SRPC37K1) (middle),and King Turtle (SRPE03K1) (right).

 

TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Glass Box Limited Edition Middle East (MEIA Limited Edition) CBS2218.BA0048 - Comfort, Balance, and Visual Drama, A Review (plus Video)

I have been looking at the TAG Heuer Carrera series for some time now. In particular, the modern interpretation of the Carrera Chronograph with the so‑called “Glass‑box” crystal has always appealed to me. The way the sapphire crystal curves seamlessly into the case, evoking vintage chronographs from the 1960s, gives the watch a strong sense of heritage while still feeling contemporary. It was very much a piece I hoped to acquire at some point in the future.

Unexpectedly, my dealer at the local TAG Heuer boutique reached out to inform me that they had been allocated a very special model to promote for a few days only. This was a Middle Eastern exclusive limited edition, with just three units made available to them. The watch in question was the Carrera Chronograph Glass Box Limited Edition Middle East (MEIA Limited Edition), reference CBS2218.BA0048.

To be completely honest, I was not in the market for a new watch at that time. I had other financial commitments that required my attention, and purchasing another timepiece was not something I had actively planned for. That said, there were several distinctive elements of this particular model that immediately piqued my interest. Beyond the already‑appealing glass‑box crystal, the use of Eastern‑Arabic numerals gave the dial a unique regional identity that felt both culturally meaningful and visually striking. The green colourway—rich, deep, and tastefully executed—added another layer of appeal, setting it apart from more conventional Carrera variants.

The fact that it was a chronograph only strengthened its attraction for me. Chronographs have always occupied a special place in the Carrera lineage, and this model felt like a thoughtful blend of historical inspiration and modern execution. The exclusivity of the piece, combined with these design choices, made it increasingly difficult to ignore.

In the end, without overthinking the decision too much, I decided to pull the trigger and bought it.

Long Term Assessment: Victorinox Dive Master 500 “Black Ice” Mechanical

Introduction 

Over years of observing, wearing, and occasionally field‑testing the Victorinox Dive Master 500 “Black Ice” Mechanical, I have come to appreciate its particular blend of durability, refinement, and utilitarian discipline. The watch, built from 316L stainless steel with a gunmetal PVD coating and powered by the ETA 2892‑A2, presents itself as a piece engineered not only to survive harsh environments but also to age with understated dignity. 

Case Construction and Wear Characteristics

The 43 mm case—excluding the screw‑down crown—sits securely and comfortably on a 7.5‑inch wrist, thanks largely to the well‑designed crown guards and overall weight distribution. The gunmetal “Black Ice” PVD coating has shown itself to age gracefully, developing soft highlights along contact edges rather than the harsh wear typical of gloss‑black finishes. This muted evolution suits the watch’s tool‑forward design philosophy.