Buy/Sell Recommendation: IWC Ingenieur Automatic Mission Earth Reference IW3236 - BUY

I did a review on the IWC Ingenieur Reference IW3236 back in October 2013. To read the full review, please click here: http://westernwatch.blogspot.com/2013/10/iwc-ingenieur-reference-iw3236.html.

Below is a video of the watch on my wrist. After considering the positives and negatives of the watch, I recommend that this watch is a BUY.

Seiko Prospex SLA033J1/SBDX031 Limited Edition 1970 Diver - Two Thumbs Up, A Review (plus Video)

The year is 1970. Two great things happened that year.

The first was the launch of the now iconic Seiko 6105-811X dive watch (either 6105-8110 or 6105-8119; both are exactly the same, the last digit in the reference number indicates in which market the watch was originally sold). The production run of the watch span from 1970 to 1977 and came in two minor variations. The early models from 1970 were labeled “WATER 150M PROOF” on the dial, and “WATERPROOF” on the case back. At some point later that year, they changed the text to “WATER 150M RESIST” with “WATER RESISTANT” on the back. This was due to a change in nomenclature by Seiko.

The second was my birth.....

The Recreation

At Baselworld 2019, Seiko recreated yet another famous dive watches after the SLA017J1 and the SLA025J1, with the SLA033J1. The SLA033J1 is a re-creation of the famous Seiko 6105-811X dive watch nicknamed “Captain Willard” (due to it being worn by Martin Sheen’s character, Captain Willard, in the Vietnam war movie Apocalypse Now) or more commonly known as the "Turtle" diver (due to its asymmetrical cushion-shaped case). This Prospex timepiece is assembled by hand in the Shizukuishi Watch Studio in northern Japan.

Head-To-Head: Seiko Gundam 40th Anniversary Limited Editions Prospex 1000m Marinemaster Professional Zaku II SLA029J1/SBDX027 versus Seiko Marinemaster Professional 1000m Automatic Diver SBDX011

In my collection I have the Seiko Emperor Tuna SBDX011 and more recently, the Seiko Gundam Tuna Zaku II SBDX027 (or SLA029J1 to the global market). Both are similar in most areas but there are subtle differences. Apart from some cosmetic changes to represent the tie-in to the Gundam lore, the changes can be found mostly on the watch casing design itself.

Casio G-Shock Full Metal 5000 GMWB5000GD-1ER Black (Similar to GMWB5000V-1ER, GMWB5000-1ER, GMWB5000G-2ER, GMWB5000G-1ER, GMWB5000D-1ER, GMWB5000D-1ER, GMWB5000GD-9ER and GD5000-9JR) - A Must Have, A Review (plus Video)

Since 1983 or over the last 36 years, G-Shock series by Casio has become a cult classic, a must have piece for any serious collector. Casio was lucky to have an engineer by the name of Kikuo Ibe who wanted to create and make the most durable and reliable watch on Earth.

With the launch of the first G-Shock in 1983, the DW-5000C, a number of key innovations were introduced such as keeping the timekeeping module suspended inside the casing with only a few points of contact to reduce shock transmission, capable of withstanding 200 meters of water pressure and could withstand falls of up to 10 meters onto a concrete floor. Since then, the G-Shock has evolved in terms of design and technology. Solar power, Bluetooth connectivity, various sensors as well as GPS have all made it into at least one of the many G-Shock models released over the years. Different materials such as stainless steel and titanium as well as different display styles such as analogue or a mixture of analog and digital have been used to make the series more functional in any situation. No longer would you just find a plain black rectangle shape G-Shock, the range has expended to all shapes, sizes and colours.

Seiko Prospex Automatic Field Watch Green SRPD33K1 (similar to SRPD31K1 & SRPD35K1) - A Refreshing Adventure Watch, A Review (plus Video)

The first time I visited Tokyo years ago, I bought myself the Seiko SARB017 Alpinist, a very refined gentleman’s classic sports watch. Over the years, Seiko has come out with modern interpretations of the Alpinist with contemporary hands and markers. Everything else, such as the location of the crowns (the primary time adjustment and winding crown and the internal bezel controller crown) remains the same at 3 o'clock and 4 o'clock, respectively. Last year, Seiko stopped the production of the SARB017 Alpinist.

I also got in the collection the Seiko Prospex Fieldmaster SBDC011, another sports watch with a Tuna casing and compass complication. For this model, the bezel is external but it has some interesting graphics on its case-back. This has some bearing to the watch I will be reviewing in this posting.

For Baselworld 2019, Seiko launched a new series of land-base sports watches under the Prospex line. The SRPD31K1, SRPD33K1 and SRPD35K1 series is a refreshed evolution of the Alpinist. Although Seiko does not accord the Alpinist nickname to this new series, the resemblance is obvious. Moreover, there are some elements of the Fieldmaster incorporated as well. Out of the three models, I chose the SRPD33K1for the collection. More about the rest of the models at the end of the review.

The series is definitely targeted to the global mass market. It does not have a "J" suffix which would indicate the manufacturing was done in Japan. Instead, this series is manufactured in the many Seiko manufacturing facilities all over the world, apart from Japan. Hence the suffix "K".

TimelyBuys 10 Watch Briefcase Black Carbon Fiber Zippered Travel Storage Case - This is a Good Buy and I Approve, A Review

Got myself another 10-watch watch-box. Made by TimelyBuys, via Amazon, it was priced at USD39.99 (plus another USD16.86 for handling and another USD2.84 for import fees deposit).



This time, I was able to use my gift card of USD27.85 given to me via my Amazon store. In total, I spent only RM136.05.

Seiko Gundam 40th Anniversary Limited Editions Prospex 1000m Marinemaster Professional Zaku II SLA029J1/SBDX027 (similar to SLA031J1/SBDX029) - Gundam Tuna, A Review (plus Video)

I have to be honest, I am not an anime fan. Although The Mobile Suit Gundam television series was launched when I was a kid (I was a nine year old then), it wasn't a series that local television companies in Malaysia (RTM and TV3) broadcast. As such, it was more than a decade later that the series was broadcasted in Malaysia hence the fan base is more junior in age compared to me. When it was announced that Seiko will be doing a collaboration with Gundam for its 40th Anniversary celebration, I wasn't that impressed.

As you know, I do have the SBDX011. When I compared the original Emperor Tuna against the collaborative Gundam Tuna, I started to get interested. There are a number of tweaks in the new Gundam Tuna that I recommended Seiko to consider changing when I first reviewed the SBDX011 years ago. Anyway, I am a sucker for unique stuff from Seiko and after considering the merit of getting it for the collection, I pulled the trigger.

Funding My Hobby

As at the time of the publication of this article, I was able to generate the following to help subsidise my watch collection hobby. The sources are:

1. Nuffnang - Blog advertisement - RM1,257.31 (paid); RM34.42 (in the account)

2. YouTube - Video advertisement - USD117.88 (paid); USD0.01 (in the account)
3. Amazon - Blog advertisement - USD27.85 (paid); USD0.00 (in the account)

Using the FOREX as at 29 May 2019 (USD1 to RM4.19), my total income at this moment is RM1,902.38.

Not much but with your support, it can get better.

If your would like to help, this is what you can do:
A. If you have a YouTube account, follow my channel => https://www.youtube.com/user/63672674
B. If you like to buy anything from Amazon, just following the Amazon link on my blogs. Every purchase made, a percentage will go towards subsidising the collection

C. If you would like to donate directly to me, at the side bar, there is a DONATION button. Through PayPal, you can make it happen.

D. Just visit my blogs and explore 😀

THE IMAGE BELOW IS THE LINK TO MY AFFILIATE STORE

OMEGA Seamaster Planet Ocean Co-Axial Reference 2208.50.00 - An Update Review

Today I will be doing an updated review of my wife's Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Co-Axial Reference 2208.50.00. The previous review was done on February 14, 2014 and you can find the link here: Omega Planet Ocean. Since I got it for her, a number of interesting things happened to it that I would like to share.

The Basics 

The model of Planet Ocean I got for my wife is made out of stainless steel, A rather large watch, the casing is 45.5 mm wide and paired with a stainless steel bracelet. Lug width is 22 mm while its lug-to-lug length is 52 mm. Topped with a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, the watch has a height of 17 mm. It features a black dial with a date window at the 3 o’clock position and its call-to-fame is its orange unidirectional rotating divers’ bezel. The watch is capable of 600 meters of water pressure and is powered by Omega's in-house Co-Axial calibre 2500 automatic movement.

This model's call-to-fame is the bright colour of its bezel. The unidirectional aluminum and steel insert rotating bezel is painted orange. There is a lumed pip at the 60 minute position as required under the ISO 6425 Divers' Watch Standard. The bezel is designed with a gear tooth-like design rotates very nicely in 120 click increments. Both sides of the domed scratch-resistant sapphire crystal have been given an anti-reflective coating to reduce glaring.

Glycine Combat 6 Vintage Reference GL0122 - A Wise and Good Investment, A Review (plus Video)

I am definitely into the military or infantry watch phase. Everywhere I look, only military style watches appeal to me. When I was crazy for dive watches I used to wear them in every occasion but experience have taught me that contemporary styling is important and a mismatch situation of a timepiece with a specific attire is a fashion faux pas.

The Glycine Combat 6 Vintage Reference GL0122 is a simple watch. Made from 316L stainless steel, it has an original military style dial layout with an automatic movement. Manufactured strictly to the MIL-W-3818B military specifications (see the PDF document at the end of the review), the three handed watch with a date complication is easy to use, reasonably accurate and tough.

Since this is the first Glycine in the collection, it would be good to cover the core history of the brand.

Glycine was founded by Eugène Meylan in 1914, The company has been producing watches at its factory in Bienne, Switzerland. One of its famous series is the Combat range. Combat or military style watches stand out for their classic design, enduring strength and reliability. Since the early 1960s, Glycine has offered a slew of examples made for severe conditions of wear and use using military specifications.