Watches in the Wild (Heaven for Microbrands: A Windup Watch Fair Emergency Edition Part 2, Volume 33)

Read part 1 for my thoughts on the booths.  Below are some of the super cool watches I saw on other nerd's wrists while I strolled around the floor.

Buckle in kids, this is going to be a long one.  For my own sanity, I am avoiding brand representatives, floor employees, or any of the 2000 Rolex Submariners/GMTS/OP/Datejusts I saw over an hour and a half.  I just can't be bothered.

Doxa 300 SharkHunter

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The first watch seen at the show, immediately as I walked in the door.  

I am vaguely aware of Doxa's sordid-by-watch-standards history; legacy Swiss brand which changed owners a couple of times and some disgruntled executives decided to start a rival with the name of a prior holding company, yadda yadda.  It's a whole thing but not really my thing.

Mostly, I just like how cool this watch looks!  I love that Doxa has its own cool design ethic and might have even been one of the pioneers of diver orange.  

Tudor Ranger 

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Seen near the Alpina booth.  I was pretty down on this watch when it first came out.  I felt it was an odd homage of a not particularly popular watch which itself had an apocryphal origin story 

After a couple of tries on the wrist at ADs, I've decided that it finally fills the Explorer sized hole in Tudor's lineup so they can make the BB36/41 into something else.

But you know.....still don't like it much

Islander republic gmt

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Hey someone actually bought one of these!

I've played around with one of the before and it's always struck me as a product that was more ill timed than ill conceived.  Island watch clearly designed and released these without knowing the market would absolutely be flooded with cheap and reliable GMT movements from Seiko and Miyota. 

I like this watch and it wears well.  Sometimes you get the bear.  Sometimes the bear gets you.

Studio Underdog Strawberries and Cream

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Seen on the wrist of a man in a red jumpsuit.  You do you man!

I love the designs of these little watches.  They're fun and silly and just a great time.  The Seagull movement scares me a touch, I've had mixed experiences with them overall.

Does Studio Underdog regulate these guys? I'd love to have an additional layer of QC.

Longines Zulu time GMT in green

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On the wrist of an older gentleman.  I desperately wanted to ask him about this watch but never got the chance.  He was swarmed by others who were interested in it.

It both looks bigger and more green on wrist than in photos.  It's a killer looking watch.  I should go back to the AD to try this on again.

Squale 1521 "50 Atmos"

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Seen near the Zodiac booth in the wrist of a gentleman.  I complimented it and had a lovely conversation about Squale models I'd tried on before, Long Island Watch, and the Zodiac Olympos.

This watch is a very beautiful, very special, very brilliant blue.  I'm not a diver guy but I could see wanting a watch this color.

CWC SBS Diver

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Seen near the Fears watch booth.  This is the first CWC SBS I've seen in person and I'm not sure what to think about it.

I am vaguely aware of the history behind this watch, its status as an issued watch and (possibly) it's participation every war that the UK has fought since 1987.

None of that really matters to me in buying a watch but I do appreciate the old fashioned sword hands and the slightly nicer than purely utilitarian style.  I often think this might have been the future of Omega had they continued down their military contract strategy many years ago.

Brew Metric Gold

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Seen on the wrist of a lady near the Brew table.  Might have been an employee but you know what, I enjoyed this watch so forget it.

I like chronographs, I don't think watches are serious things at all, and I occasionally like something absurd and blingy.  So of course I would like this watch!

I often think about this as a substitute for a Vacheron Constantine 222.  The idea of how much rage I am inducing just by making the comparison tickles me.

Marathon GSAR

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Seen upstairs in the stairwell.  If the Brits design something that might look good on a NATO or a dressy leather strap, our Canadian brothers went for something much more brutalist. 

If the CWC has the design chops of the HMS Hood (which I think is the most beautiful warship in history), the Marathon is an M1 Abrams with the tank tread of a bezel to match.

What a cool watch!

Sinn U50

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Two seen.  I sometimes have a tough time with Sinn aesthetic choices.  The Minecraft syringe hands and the dark grey bead blasted steel tend to run against my aesthetic tastes.  I will never stop complaining until they change their bracelet clasps.

But I gotta say these watches wear fantastically.  They're thin and hug the wrist beautifully.  I get the love for the.

Traska Venturer GMT in Steel Blue

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Caught out of the corner of my eye while looking at Duckworth Prestex.  I almost picked up one of these but eventually decided to give myself a cooling off period.

Then they sold out and I am filled with regret.  I should get one of these on wrist at some point just to mull it over.

Oris Pro Pilot x salmon

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Seen on the wrist of someone around the Oris booth.

I have so much cognitive dissonance over this watch.  I absolutely love how it looks.  Just killer (although I find it very funny that they made a "Pilots watch" that's actually kinda hard to read).

I don't love how it wears.  I find it sharp and a bit rattly.  I can't tell if that's a design thing or a QC thing.  I wager its the sort of thing you need a perfect fit for.  

Zelos swordfish TI (Satin?)

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Seen near the Vaer booth on the wrist of a gentleman.  I complimented it and we traded watches for a bit (my Seiko SARF011 for his Zelos).  He encouraged me to go for a Zelos, he's a big fan.  I think I'm mostly waiting for a non diver Zelos that I'm in love with but I'm closer today than I was yesterday.

If you're on here, I love your watch and you seem like a mensch but I can't for the life of me find the dial color online!  I think Satin?  

Orient kamasu red dial

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Seen next to the G-Shock booth.  A true blue (red) classic.  I'm always surprised by how good and how unique this and the teal reference of the Kamasu look relative to how much they cost.

Tissot PRX two tone 

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First time I've seen this version with the rose gold bezel.  It's very tasteful watch and looked very sporty on the gentleman who wore it.

I do think its one of those watches that wears bigger than the dimensions and requires a perfect fit.

Omega Speedmaster Racing (white dial on NATO)

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Seen on the wrist of a gentleman near the presentation/EDC area.

Maybe it's just me being a crank but I find that I like virtually every other Speedmaster more than the Moonwatch.  Not that the Moonwatch isn't a great design but the history it represents has meant a markedly conservative design ethic.  With non Moonwatches, Omega seems to stretch it's muscles a bit.

Black Bay Red

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On the wrist of a well dressed gentleman near the Christopher Ward booth. The old model with the wall of text. 

I love this era of Tudor, where they were doing odd things with bezels and colors.  

San Martin SN007

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Last watch seen while walking out of the show.  A fun homage to cap the afternoon.

Windup Crew, what cool watches did you see on your fellow nerds?

Reply
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What a great write up! I try, but fail, every time I try to identify another watch - from a distance. I was at Windup on Friday and I may have been wearing a San Martin 62Mas homage. I'm pretty sure I'm the only one wearing a San Martin to Windup! Thank you for your post and thank you for including me. I wasn't planning on going back on Sunday...but now I might, because there is so much to see :)

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bigwrist415

What a great write up! I try, but fail, every time I try to identify another watch - from a distance. I was at Windup on Friday and I may have been wearing a San Martin 62Mas homage. I'm pretty sure I'm the only one wearing a San Martin to Windup! Thank you for your post and thank you for including me. I wasn't planning on going back on Sunday...but now I might, because there is so much to see :)

Were you the bigger dude walking in around 2:30ish? I was just walking out around then. Love the San Martin SN007. Just a fun watch for the start of a weekend.

Yeah man, head on back there! I only got to spend 2 hours before other duties called but I imagine I could spend a day or two easily.

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Yep big dude - I was also wearing a Watch Crunch cap. If you ID'd the watch but missed the cap -- that would be hilarious. At the WatchCrunch meetup that night, Max was giving away Watch Crunch tshirt but only medium size - the collective groan from the girthy watch nerds 🥺

Your posts are great and very informative - a major reason why I'll head back there on Sunday.

I remember noticing your posts when we were all playing 2 truths and a 1 lie.

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bigwrist415

Yep big dude - I was also wearing a Watch Crunch cap. If you ID'd the watch but missed the cap -- that would be hilarious. At the WatchCrunch meetup that night, Max was giving away Watch Crunch tshirt but only medium size - the collective groan from the girthy watch nerds 🥺

Your posts are great and very informative - a major reason why I'll head back there on Sunday.

I remember noticing your posts when we were all playing 2 truths and a 1 lie.

Lol, I saw the cap and missed the WC badging....blind as a bat here except when it comes to watches. Awesome that I finally profiled a WC member through pure serendipity and bad on me for not asking about it!

I have a WC T-shirt in my drawer and didn't have the chance to wear it due to being at the office. Next time!

Love your posts btw. Was reading some of the back catalog and welcome to the #longformmafia!

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Back in the wine shop today and just spotted this beautiful Omega Railmaster.

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The owner seemed disinterested in watches. Even the one on his wrist.

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Sinnguy

Back in the wine shop today and just spotted this beautiful Omega Railmaster.

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The owner seemed disinterested in watches. Even the one on his wrist.

A railmaster! Rare in the wild!

I won't ever get over the fact that they decided to collapse the line into the Seamaster line, so we now have the Seamaster Railmaster.

Just wonderful silliness!

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Sinnguy

Back in the wine shop today and just spotted this beautiful Omega Railmaster.

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The owner seemed disinterested in watches. Even the one on his wrist.

Railmaster and Ranger are both watches I really am drawn to because of their simplicity.

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Again thanks for these posts - great stuff!

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Fully agree with you about the Islander Republic GMT. A great concept marred by the worst timing in history.

I was out at a social with some of the other parents from a program my daughter was in at her elementary school. One of the wives was wearing a Rolex Hulk. She told me she had asked her husband for it about 15 years ago when she turned 40, and was surprised at how much they cost now. I was floored.

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JBird7986

Fully agree with you about the Islander Republic GMT. A great concept marred by the worst timing in history.

I was out at a social with some of the other parents from a program my daughter was in at her elementary school. One of the wives was wearing a Rolex Hulk. She told me she had asked her husband for it about 15 years ago when she turned 40, and was surprised at how much they cost now. I was floored.

I kinda like the Islander but the timing just absolutely killed their value positioning.

Wonderful spot! I have a friend with a Hulk and he literally never fails to brag about it when I see him. He has a ton of other redeeming qualities but it is bizarre to me that that watch is so celebrated.

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The Traska GMT is absolutely classy. I didn’t know much about the brand when these first came out but as I’ve read up and seen more pictures, I really like what they’re doing.

Awesome write up and sounds like some amazing spotting.

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valleykilmers

The Traska GMT is absolutely classy. I didn’t know much about the brand when these first came out but as I’ve read up and seen more pictures, I really like what they’re doing.

Awesome write up and sounds like some amazing spotting.

You should make your way to a Windup event at some point. It's a rare event that allows you to spend as much or as little time as you want and feel like you got the full experience.

The Traska is fantastic and I should have pulled the trigger on the steel blue when it came up. Just procrastinated and now....poof. it's okay, I think I'm looking forward to their future refinements.

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valleykilmers

The Traska GMT is absolutely classy. I didn’t know much about the brand when these first came out but as I’ve read up and seen more pictures, I really like what they’re doing.

Awesome write up and sounds like some amazing spotting.

The 10:00 crown was a major turnoff for me…otherwise, I really liked Traska’s design.

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Spotted a GP Laureato Automatic on the metro. At first glance, I thought it was another PRX. Then I noticed that the bracelet was rather different. There wasn't good lighting in the metro carriage, so it was much later when I could make out the GP on the dial

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milneraj

Spotted a GP Laureato Automatic on the metro. At first glance, I thought it was another PRX. Then I noticed that the bracelet was rather different. There wasn't good lighting in the metro carriage, so it was much later when I could make out the GP on the dial

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Yeah man! Absolutely fantastic spot. I only see laureatos at watch nerd events. Amazing that you saw it in the wild!

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or any of the 2000 Rolex Submariners/GMTS/OP/Datejusts I saw over an hour and a half.

😂🤣😂

Since I saw no watches I’ll comment on yours and live vicariously in your horological dreamscape ☺

Doxa’s shady history made me just slightly jaded enough that diver crazed me hasn’t yet bought one. Need counselling maybe.

Yup. Ranger. 🎀 💍 👎

Yup. Seagull owned/started by Chinese government, not my friend, so nnnooooope for those super fun Underdogs

Yup. I think VC copied brew on the 222. Bad VC!

But Tissot PRX copied everyone, and was way to big lug to lug for my wrist, so boo 😒 for Tissot.

I like the Propilot, but have never seen in person. Your description is a little off putting. I emailed Oris asking them to please fix it with applied markers (yes, really. They didn’t answer) . Even YouTube vids have told me how lame the legibility is. I think that’s pretty much the only requisite for a pilot watch 😂

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Great post. I love my green bezel Zulu Time. I spotted a Lufthansa cabin crew member on the train wearing a Milgauss the other day, how appropriate!

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Fieldwalker

or any of the 2000 Rolex Submariners/GMTS/OP/Datejusts I saw over an hour and a half.

😂🤣😂

Since I saw no watches I’ll comment on yours and live vicariously in your horological dreamscape ☺

Doxa’s shady history made me just slightly jaded enough that diver crazed me hasn’t yet bought one. Need counselling maybe.

Yup. Ranger. 🎀 💍 👎

Yup. Seagull owned/started by Chinese government, not my friend, so nnnooooope for those super fun Underdogs

Yup. I think VC copied brew on the 222. Bad VC!

But Tissot PRX copied everyone, and was way to big lug to lug for my wrist, so boo 😒 for Tissot.

I like the Propilot, but have never seen in person. Your description is a little off putting. I emailed Oris asking them to please fix it with applied markers (yes, really. They didn’t answer) . Even YouTube vids have told me how lame the legibility is. I think that’s pretty much the only requisite for a pilot watch 😂

You understand my chaotic sense of watch related humor!

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timepiece.pete

Great post. I love my green bezel Zulu Time. I spotted a Lufthansa cabin crew member on the train wearing a Milgauss the other day, how appropriate!

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Fantastic spot! I feel like the Milgauss is the perfect watch for a Lufthansa pilot.

The Zulu Time is one of those watches that I circle around constantly. I'd honestly like to live with it for a couple weeks. Not forever but just long enough to feel my way around it. I'd like to have some longer term opinions on it than "it looks pretty okay on my wrist."

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Great choice.

I was torn between the two tone and blue dial.

Either choice, though, is great, especially for the price.

Titanium are so comfortable too.

#sarf012 #seiko #presage #gmt #travellersgmt #titanium #integratedbracelet #6R64 #seikojdm #jdm

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sawtelle.gaijin
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Great choice.

I was torn between the two tone and blue dial.

Either choice, though, is great, especially for the price.

Titanium are so comfortable too.

#sarf012 #seiko #presage #gmt #travellersgmt #titanium #integratedbracelet #6R64 #seikojdm #jdm

It's a pretty great watch. The two tone is very pretty though I was smitten with the blue dial the moment I saw it!