In this blog, I will highlight my watch collection. All the photos are mine. New posting will be uploaded the start of every week (Sunday)
Today, we are conducting a head-to-head comparison of five distinct models within the Seiko Alpinist lineage, a "living icon" that traces its history back to 1959 with the Laurel Alpinist. Designed specifically for the Japanese mountain climbers known as "Yamaotoko," this series was Seiko's first attempt at a specialist sports watch.
Grand Seiko has established itself as a titan of watchmaking, renowned for its exceptional finishing, innovative technology, and deep connection to Japanese aesthetics. The two watches reviewed—the Spring Drive GMT Chronograph SBGC201G and the Evolution 9 Mechanical Chronograph Tentagraph SLGC007G—represent two distinct pinnacles of the brand's craft, separated by five years of evolution. One is a powerful, feature-packed hybrid sports watch, while the other is a refined, high-beat mechanical statement piece.
LumiBrite is a proprietary luminous material developed and used by Seiko in its watches. It is applied to the hands, hour markers, and sometimes the bezel of a watch to make them glow in the dark, ensuring legibility in low-light conditions.
In simple terms, it's Seiko's version of "glow-in-the-dark" paint for watch dials, and it's known for being exceptionally bright and long-lasting.
Based on their profound historical impact, five movements are particularly strong contenders. The table below summarizes why each is significant.
| Movement |
| Notable Watches & Legacy | ||
| Lemania 2310 (Cal. 321) | The moon landing caliber: Foundation for Omega's Cal. 321, the first watch worn on the moon | Omega Speedmaster, Patek Philippe perpetual calendars | ||
| Jaeger-LeCoultre 920 | The ultra-thin enabler: Thinnest full-rotor automatic movement; made the first luxury steel sports watches possible | Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, Patek Philippe Nautilus, Vacheron Constantin 222 | ||
| ETA 2824-2 | The universal workhorse: Mass-produced, reliable movement that powered countless brands for decades | Used by hundreds of Swiss brands; inspired the Sellita SW200 clone | ||
| Zenith El Primero | The high-beat survivor: First integrated automatic chronograph; kept high-frequency mechanics alive during the Quartz Crisis | Zenith Chronomaster, Rolex Daytona (early models) | ||
| Rolex Caliber 3135 | The modern icon engine: Paragon of robustness and serviceability that powered Rolex's most iconic watches for 30+ years | Rolex Submariner, Datejust, Sea-Dweller |
From a purely mechanical perspective, Japanese watchmaking's most significant contributions are different in character from the Swiss "most important" movements. While Swiss contenders are famous for their historical events or design influence, Japan's strength lies in democratizing quality, relentless innovation, and achieving a unique synthesis of technologies.
The following table summarizes the three most significant Japanese contributions to mechanical watchmaking.
| Key Japanese Contribution | Primary Significance | Notable Movements & Legacy |
| Seiko's Accessible & Robust Mechanics | Democratized automatic watch ownership with reliable, affordable movements. | 7S26/4R/NH Series: Workhorse movements powering millions of watches (e.g., Seiko 5, SKX divers). Proprietary Tech: Magic Lever (efficient winding), Spron alloys (durability), Diashock (shock resistance) |
| Citizen/Miyota's Ubiquitous Workhorses | Powered the global microbrand revolution as a reliable, off-the-shelf engine. | Miyota 8215/9015: Mass-produced, reliable automatic movements used by hundreds of brands worldwide. Citizen develops its own in-house mechanical calibers as a true manufacturer. |
| Grand Seiko & Credor's High-Horology | Proved Japan could rival Swiss precision and craftsmanship at the highest levels. | Spring Drive (cal. 9R): A unique hybrid, using a mainspring regulated by a quartz-crystal-controlled "glide wheel" for exceptional accuracy (±1 sec/day). Hi-Beat (cal. 9S): High-frequency mechanical movements (36,000 BPH) for superior precision. |
It has been more than a year since the Seiko Prospex Sea 1968 Heritage Diver's GMT Watch SPB519 was launched. This particular model is the poster child for this series which currently consists of four models (more about this later in the review). I always wanted to get one but never had the opportunity until now.
For reference, I bought the watch in 2013. The initial review on the watch can be found here (click for the original review).
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316L steel is a type of austenitic stainless steel. The "L" stands for "Low carbon," which is a crucial part of its properties.
This is not a standard review. This is the story of what happens after the honeymoon period ends.
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.
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| Image taken from https://www.keepthetime.com |
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.
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.
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).
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. 
Case Construction and Wear Characteristics
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The Omega Speedmaster Mark II and Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional are two watches represent two distinct philosophies within the Omega Speedmaster lineage: the Mark II is a bold, modern, and technically advanced reinterpretation of a 1969 design, while the Moonwatch Professional is the direct, historically faithful descendant of the watch that went to the moon.
The Deepsea is heavy. There’s no escaping that. At first, the heft was almost distracting, like carrying a small anchor on my wrist. I remember thinking: “The wearing experience is all about being able to carry the weight. The watch is a heavyweight and the weight is obvious to wearers.” Over time, though, my wrist adjusted. The mass became familiar, almost reassuring, like a reminder that I was wearing something built to withstand the ocean’s crushing depths. Still, compared to my other watches, the Deepsea always feels like the brute of the collection.
I finally got a Longines watch for my collection.
I was on a trip to the UK to attend my daughter's graduation ceremony. It has been my tradition to buy myself a watch to commemorate such events. A few days before the ceremony, I visited the Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet to see what watch shops were there and what brands and models they carried.
The only interesting shop I found was Hour Passion, which carries a number of Swiss brands. The Longines section was prominent, but it did not carry the most recent models. I later found out that by accepting this limitation, the shop is free to offer deep discounts that other Authorized Dealers (ADs) may not be allowed to give. For this shop, the standard discount is 30% off the MSRP.
My eyes fell on the blue HydroConquest Chronograph on a bracelet. I knew this model had been phased out in 2023. After further negotiation with the dealer, I received an additional 10% off the already discounted price.
Before making the purchase, I contacted a dealer friend in Malaysia to find out if it was a good deal. While the MSRP would be cheaper in Malaysia due to different tax structures, the discounts offered in the UK were so deep that the deal was very palatable. Sweet!
Based on brands of watches (and other merchandise that are watch related) that are part of the collection and their corporate ownership, here's the clustered grouping as at July 2025:
Citizen Group (Citizen Watch Co.):
Seiko Group:
Casio Computer Co., Ltd.:
Casio
Swatch Group Ltd.:
Rolex SA:
Compagnie Financière Richemont SA:
LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE (LVMH Horlogerie):
Zenith
Fossil Group, Inc. (License Holder):
Disney Parks Authentics (Fossil holds the license)
Invicta Watch Group:
Victorinox AG:
Victorinox Swiss Army
Timex Group:
Timex
Independent Brands / Microbrands / Other:
Likely Independent:
Retailer:
Tech:
Fashion/Licensed:
