What GADAW should I get?
I was almost decided, but now I'm hesitant again. If you can spare the time, can you throw some insight or some tips my way? Here are my top co tenders:
Seiko Baby Alpinist
+ beautiful dial
+ 70h power reserve
- a bit thick
- no applied indexes
- limited bracelets (if I choose blue, I will buy aftermarket, that's not an issue. But none havs tolless clasps.)
- availability might be ending, I need to decide soon
Green
+ colour matched
+ I generally prefer green over blue
- green and gold are hunter colours and I don't like them
Blue
+ elegant
- the indexes may feel too yellow against the pale hands
Traska Commuter
+ thin
+ accurate
+ hardened surface
+ sunburst dial
+ toolless clasp
- isn't yet available with both a date and a toolless clasp (I think it will come eventually)
- isn't yet available in green, turquoise or purple (I'm hoping, though)
- no display case back
- it still might look too boring sometimes
Something Else
Round, Ø36 - 38 mm, the thinner the better
Below 1000 €. Preferrably around 600 €
The lighter the better. Must be below 135 g.
Three hands, date
Long lasting luminous indexes and hands
Domed sapphire crystal with AR
Elegant, pleasant, not boring, not overembeĺished, with at least some originality
Display case back is preferred
Must have bracelet options
Toolless clasp is preferred
Disqualified contenders:
Seiko Retro Alpinist SPB245. The colour scheme is spot on, but the design is too pointy.
Islander High Brookville (purple). Almost there, but at Ø41 it's too big.
Casual cheapskate with a taste for both the classic and the colourful.
The classic green color baby Alpinist, of course! 😉
Can look at nivada super antarctic line
Can look at nivada super antarctic line
Thanks, but I already have a 3-6-9 watch. I crave a date now.
I have the green Baby Alpinist and it’s an awesome watch. The only drawback in my opinion is the bracelet could be better. I put it on a leather strap and it’s nearly perfect now.
Seiko lairal Alpinist reissue
Gifted a brown one to a non watch mate and he's given it hell and it's still running & looking great.
Superb underrated watch that fits your parameters & imho is a step above those suggestions.
Buy used , paid £350 for mine 😉👍
The classic green color baby Alpinist, of course! 😉
Yeah, strong contender, but I'm still not sure about the gilt details.
I have the green Baby Alpinist and it’s an awesome watch. The only drawback in my opinion is the bracelet could be better. I put it on a leather strap and it’s nearly perfect now.
I like bracelets... have you tried Uncle Straps or Strapscode aftermarket bracelets?
Seiko lairal Alpinist reissue
Gifted a brown one to a non watch mate and he's given it hell and it's still running & looking great.
Superb underrated watch that fits your parameters & imho is a step above those suggestions.
Buy used , paid £350 for mine 😉👍
Yeah, very nice, but as I've stated, they're too pointy for my taste.
I like bracelets... have you tried Uncle Straps or Strapscode aftermarket bracelets?
No I haven’t checked for after market bracelets. Generally I like bracelets as well but for now I have on leather.
Yeah, strong contender, but I'm still not sure about the gilt details.
I can understand your trepidation at having gilt accents on what is otherwise a stainless steel watch, but I think it can work. I had similar concerns with purchasing a Vaer Meridian, but now that I have it, I think the gilt accents work well on it.
Yeah, very nice, but as I've stated, they're too pointy for my taste.
Pretty much the exact opposite of myself, I've got an irrational hatred of round lume plots 🤣👍👍
I can understand your trepidation at having gilt accents on what is otherwise a stainless steel watch, but I think it can work. I had similar concerns with purchasing a Vaer Meridian, but now that I have it, I think the gilt accents work well on it.
Blue and gilt is a different beast. 😀 It's just that green and brass are traditional hunter colours. Twin shotgun, green hat adorned with boar fur, beer belly.
Maybe I could change my mind if I saw it in person...maybe...
Hey @CheapHangover, I strongly suggest you to take a look on Christopher Ward. I think the Aquitaine Dune will be perfect:
You will see at WC that a lot of people love CW watches, myself included. The ratio price/quality/specs is unbeatable.
I hope that helps
Pretty much the exact opposite of myself, I've got an irrational hatred of round lume plots 🤣👍👍
I'm glad you found your optimal design! :)
Hey @CheapHangover, I strongly suggest you to take a look on Christopher Ward. I think the Aquitaine Dune will be perfect:
You will see at WC that a lot of people love CW watches, myself included. The ratio price/quality/specs is unbeatable.
I hope that helps
Ah, CW are certainly very nice. I'd rather think of the Sealander, though. Dune looks too tooly. Sadly, they're both outside my budget. Not sure if they remain there if they release a dial I won't be able to resist.
Bit more expensive, but achiveable -> Nomos Club 😉
I voted D although I do love an alpinist in any variety.
My D vote is the Nevada Grenchen Super antarctic
Probably the brown dial variant...
For that budget I’d look at something from Christopher Ward.
In that budget, I’d go Hamilton Murph. But if choosing between the three, green baby for sure.
Take a look at this wise good size and with Damascus steel definitely not boring. With a great price to boot.
Yeah, it's a very nice piece. I've mostly looked at their AD8 divers, but these are very attractive too. :) Thanks.
For that budget I’d look at something from Christopher Ward.
Sealander is an upmarket option, yes. :)
No AR.
Sorry OP, you narrowed it down so much that pretty much only the baby Alpinist fits all the criteria while looking awesome doing it.
Btw, what made you start hesitating? I'd say, go for it, it's a very nice watch (but I may be very biased).
Just my taste at the moment! For the last two years, I've fell in and out of love with it several times. At first I wanted to wait to be really sure I liked it, then there was no money, and then there seemed to be no more Alpinists, so I said I'll get one once my trial period ends. Inexplicably, when it's so close, they seem to be getting available again (from AD's. I don't want to risk grey, JDM or second-hand for that price).
Also, my daily is a Tisell Explorer 36, which is an antithesis to the Alpinist: Small and thin, all applied, no date, stark shapes and colours. Recently, when I was sick, I only wore my Casios, so I had time to warm up to the E. Also, various other genres caught my fancy during the winter. So that's why. But I think it'll come back again... the Alpinist is unique and the "Baby" is my jam. I hope so.
And I still can't decide whether greek or blue. Gold bezel and grey dial are out. Brown has perhaps the most balance, but this shade of brown isn't my thing.
Yeah, it's a very nice piece. I've mostly looked at their AD8 divers, but these are very attractive too. :) Thanks.
Oh yes the AD8 is an awesome watch for sure I just looked yesterday and the AD9 series might be everything you want. And the dials are 🔥
You may consider Christopher Ward C63 Sealander
Green Alpinist cause it's also been on my list since I first saw it😅 It's a must have.
Got the Traska, and love it.
It's tough and good looking.
The anti scratch treatment doesn't make it shine so be aware of that, but it does mean it's more resistant.
Let me ask - why would you keep the Traska? Is it for the thinness (although Venturer is thicker than Commuter, it's still slimmer than the Seiko), hardened surface, bigger lume plots, simpler dial, or something else?
What would be the main deciding factors for you?
Bit more expensive, but achiveable -> Nomos Club 😉
They're too expensive for me, sorry. They are beautiful, but not in the line of what I'm looking for.
I got the Commuter for my GADAW and have been really happy with it! Went with the no date version and have actually liked having no date, but recommend it if they have the version and style you like
I got the Commuter for my GADAW and have been really happy with it! Went with the no date version and have actually liked having no date, but recommend it if they have the version and style you like
Thanks. From all sides I keep hearing they're great watches. Alas, I already have my Tisell as a simple dateless watch, so it would probably have to go...which still might happen.