Seiko Prospex Speedtimer Automatic Datsun 240Z Limited Edition SRQ057J1 (similar to the regular-production SRQ055J1) - Linking Two Giant Japanese Brands, A Review (plus Video)

Another Seiko Speedtimer has graced the collection. This time around, it is a collaboration between Seiko and the precursor of the Nissan Motor car company of Japan, Datsun. This collaboration has some meaning to me as the car my wife had when we first got married more that 30 years ago was a red Datsun 130Y.

 

I also bought this particular Speedtimer as its has a design feature that is actually quite contemporary to most brands but seldom seen on a Seiko automatic chronograph - a tachymeter scale set on the bezel instead of on the chapter ring. More about this later.

 

The colour combination, with black being the dominant colour and a touch of red, blue and polished steel gives the watch character that is not too blatant yet subtle. 

 

To be honest, I am kind of hooked into chronographs at the moment and when the SRQ057J1 was announced, I felt the need to get one.

Hamilton American Classic Boulton Death Stranding 2 Limited Edition Reference H13605130 - Futuristic Art, A Review (plus Video)

The Hamilton Watch brand has some of the most iconic designs in the watch industry. The Face2Face series (Version II & Version III which are in the collection), the Ventura Elvis, the Aviation X-Wind, the PSR, the ChronoMatic, the Aviation Takeoff and the Belowzero, among others have cultivated a strong following of watch collectors. The brand is also famous for having tie-ins with blockbuster movies with the brand's first on-screen appearance in the 1932 film Shanghai Express. In fact, the Hamilton watches has graced the silver screen in over 450 major feature films. As a result, over the last 93 years, Hamilton has become known as the movie brand, thanks to its close association with Hollywood productions.

 

For me, despite being part of the Swatch Group, Hamilton still has design independence and the innovative drive to create something different than the typical run-of-the-mill offerings by some of the brands in the group. 

In all honesty, my acquisition of this watch has nothing to do with it being a tie-in with the Death Stranding game franchise but more to the aggressive design.

Seiko Sportura Kinetic Direct Drive SRG021P1 Black PVD (similar to SRG017 & SRG019) - A General Purpose Watch, A Review (plus Video)

I have two Kinetic watches, the Seiko SKA475P1 and the Seiko Prospex GMT SUN019P1. Both uses the first generation Kinetic technology whereby the internal battery or capacitor is charged only by the movement of the internal flywheel rotor. 

 

The Direct Drive is a second generation Kinetic technology introduced by Seiko back in 2007 where the wearer can not only charge the internal battery or capacitor by wearing the watch but also by turning (or winding) the crown.

 

Over the years, I have always kept my eyes out for a worthy specimen to join the collection but truth be told, I wasn't that committed to get one, until now.

 

While browsing at a Seiko Boutique store in Mid Valley Megamall, I happened to noticed this Black IP-coated Sportura. It was going for cheap as it has been in the store for years. I immediately snapped up the SRG021P1.

This purchase tick two boxes for me: the first Sportura and the first Direct Drive Kinetic in the collection.

 

I suppose you can also say that this is a NOS (new old stock) model. Based on the serial number, this particular watch was made in 2014. Nevertheless, the dealer assured me that everything is still in perfect working order. The standard warranty is still given. Even the leather strap has been replaced by the dealership beforehand. 

Orient Star Sports Outdoor Green PVD Reference RK-AU0208E - Clean Dial but Stiff Leather Strap, A Review (plus Video)

Another new offering from Orient Star under the Sports series is the Outdoor group. Consisting of seven models, this group caters to adventurers. The design is not as aggressive as a dive watch but more substantial than a standard wristwatch. In fact, the design of the crown is more in-line with a pilot watch.

Orient describes it as a field watch. However, at first glance, what most people would notice (me included) is the strong “Flieger” or German pilot watch design of the Second World War that has dark matte dial, brightly luminous sword hands and equally bright Arabic and line-shaped markers. The  onion crown is also another give-away to its aviation-style DNA. Nevertheless, what sets it apart from a pilot watch and to be in-line with the brand's official definition is the size and the fact that it has a power reserve indicator. More about these later.

I chose the PVD green model with reference RK-AU0208E. This particular model comes with a black painted casing, green dial and thick double-layered leather strap.

Seiko Premier Sunburst SRP311K1 Black PVD Monster, Second Generation (similar to SRP307, SRP309, SRP313, SRP315, SRP319, SRP455, SRP457, SRP459, SRP581, SRP583 & SRP657) - Evergreen Icon, A Review (plus Video)

When the first generation Seiko Monsters (GEN1 Monster) first came out back in 2000, I wan't into the watch collecting craze yet. When I went headlong into the hobby from 2010 onwards, I decided to get myself a GEN1 Monster in the form of the SKX779K1. Really enjoyed the over-engineered design and its toughness relative to its asking price - real value for money!

When the second generation Seiko Monsters (GEN2 Monster) came out in 2012, I was rather lukewarm over the new series. In all, 11 different models were offered with some limited edition models set at a very high price. Many felt that Seiko was milking the Monster genre too much and the slew of offerings literally overwhelmed the fans. I didn't get one for the collection as I felt the line was crashing with too many new examples suffocating the Monster sub-line.

In late 2018, Seiko launched the third generation Seiko Monsters (GEN3 Monster) and this got me re-evaluating my earlier assumptions about this sub-line. The love for the Monster series was too overwhelming to be snuffed out by the over-exuberance of the GEN2 Monster releases. Therefore, after seven years since the release date of the GEN2 Monster, I start to source for one.

CITIZEN Promaster TSUNO Chronograph Racer Eco-Drive Limited Edition 100th Anniversary Model AV0077-82E - Bullhead Fame, A Review (plus Video)

The year 2018 marks Citizen Watch Company's 100th year of operation. To commemorate this key milestone, the Company released a series of unique, vintage-inspired bullhead chronograph called the Tsuno Chronograph Racer, at Baselworld 2018 watch fair. The inspiration behind the series was the 1973 Challenge Timer Tsuno Chrono (or “horned chronograph” in Japanese). For more about the series, please refer to a special dedicated section at the end of this review.

What caught my attention was a special 100th Anniversary Model, the AV0077-82E which was not part of the original quartet launched during Baselworld 2018 back in March 2018. This special limited edition is an all black PVD version with matching bracelet. To be honest, I would have gone for the blue dial version but considering the significance of the milestone it honours, I decided on the AV0077-82E.

I found one on SeiyaJapan for USD748.00 or RM3,216.24 (at the time of purchase). Unfortunately, the package was subjected to local taxes which added another RM175.45 (inclusive of RM19.10 administrative fees) to the total.

Casio G-Shock GW-M5610BC-1JF JDM Multi Band 6 with Bracelet - A Cornerstone for Any Collector, A Review (plus Video)

Casio produces a number of G-Shock watches only for sale to the Japanese domestic market (JDM). This list of JDM G-Shocks focuses on the 5000-series such as the common DW-5600 and the GW-M5610 models.

I currently have only one G-Shock in the collection (although I listed two on this blog, the G5600-1DR is technically my son's). That is the extra-large GX-56BB-1DR which has some drawbacks due primarily to its size. Although it is a serious tool watch, it does not have the flexibility like its smaller brother, the 5600 series. Its brute bulk is its call to fame.

I need to get a 5600 series model into the collection to experience the additional flexibility of the much smaller and practical classic G-Shock. After doing my research, I decided to get one with a composite bracelet instead of the traditional resin band (like my son's). This particular model I chose has the same style of display like the big brother i.e. a reverse display - white display with black background.