🚨 Photo dump! 🚨 Windup Watch Fair Wonders - San Fran! 😃
Day 1 in the books!
I budgeted 2 days , probably would be fine with one, but I also like taking my time. I’ll do a shorter day tomorrow and then have time to get in a long run around the city. 🙂
This’ll be primarily a pic tour with minimal words.
I can confirm many watches hung off past my 15.25cm / 6.0 wrist. It’s not always predictable- some huge watches fit fine, some small go out laterally too far.
Sooooo many brands - it was quite overwhelming. Some brands offering 10 to 50% off for buys made at the fair. Ask for a discount and you may get it!
On to the pics
Alpina - had a look at the diver. Felt too top heavy in steel and bezel was difficult to use
Accutron - these were cool! Really liked the look of these. Fit well. Lower turbines spin in response to motion/bumps, upper spins constantly. About 3k I think? IRL these were much better than expected
Citizen - the fancy ones - solar and +\~ 5 sec a year. Light as air, hard Ti, looked brilliant. I want one! On desk it’s a reference clock for all your other watches!
Bulova - almost, but not quite, spring drive smooth seconds sweep. Classy colorway 👌
Minase. Fit great and looked amazing IRL. Side sapphires:
One of my favorites of the fair - davido in blue
Shell pieces in urushi laquer
High horology dialwork
Zodiac ceramic - I love the zodiac butterfly clasp but didn’t love this model as I thought I might. Sometimes ceramic feels cheap?
Oris Propliot X - a larger 10 day older model. Cool but a bit too monotone for me.
Oris laser rainbow 🌈- the last one they had. I inquired if the pro pilot would ever get applied indices and was looked at like I was crazy.
Was cool, but not as dynamic as I’d hoped.
New movement is 5 day PR, 10yr warranty.. but looks so basic. 4R seiko level of finish. Can’t have everything 🤷♂️.
Kermit looked pretty cool, but didn’t excite me enough to be tempted.
Doxa - I like this carbon model .. but: heavier than I expected for carbon, band really goes out wide right from the case. Doxas has so many striking colorways in its range.
Bravur- cool cycling themed watches. I love the theme but put in a request for a watch that I’d want to wear while riding. They said a TI or carbon might be coming - which would be more ideal IMO. Their Steel chronos are great off the bike tho’. Valjoux chrono, not column wheel sadly.
Great guys behind the brand, I’ll get one of these sometime
Straum - fantastic, solid (and a bit too heavy feeling IMO) , with stunning nature themed dials. 50 per dial pattern then they retire that pattern
Horage - Pure quality. All 10mm or less. In house/totally Swiss /micro rotor/ tourbillon models. GMTs with hidden GMT hand, or a jump hour for non GMTs to add versatility
Only the best: all watches are 904 steel, hardened Ti, or polished grade 5 Ti .
BTW..the slightly older K1 modules (regular rotor is K1) are 50% off, I might grab one tomorrow 🤫🤫🤐.
Perrelet. - hmmm 🫤 . It’s interesting but not 5k USD interesting. Didn’t wow me, despite the brand’s incredible history.
Xeric- super creative, similar to MAD1, but a more simple design. A more wearable case tho!
This model was like a planetarium. 1/2 the stars move as a seconds indication, half are static. Cool effect!
Also, lots of floating hours models with 3 spinning discs.
Prices 300 to 1100 - very reasonable, but personally I prefer higher quality finishing , so not for me despite being quite fun.
Part 2, with more details pics and stories tomorrow.. tired and time for bed now 🥱.. thanks for reading 👍
@fieldwalker.watch/ on Instagram. 一期一会 Treasure the unrepeatable nature of a moment. Zen Zaratsu state of mind. ~6” wrist. Explore the ocean and the mountains in my free time.
Looks like the weather cleared up a little bit. Glad you’re having fun so far.
Also a brief but happy meeting with some of league of extraordinary watchcrunch members :
@FlatteryCamp @whystopatone @AlohaBrah21 and Tom @OmegaMan75
Also missing from my too long post:
HAPPY May the 4th!
Sadly I didn’t have my Oris Stars with me 😢
Looks like the weather cleared up a little bit. Glad you’re having fun so far.
I brought almost nothing warm… and San Fran was colder than Vancouver. Bad planning 😂
The value of being here: so many brands I’d never seen, other than on the internet. Really no way to see a Straum, other than buying or attending an event like this.
Very worthwhile, some watches thought I loved were a nope, some I didn’t think twice about got shortlisted. 💸
Great to see your pics and impressions, looking forward to part 2!
I had the same thoughts as you about minase and the doxa carbon. Fwiw xeric did it before the MAD, so who's homaging whom? :P
Great review, thanks for sharing. Very interesting to see some brands I never heard about😀
Great to see your pics and impressions, looking forward to part 2!
I had the same thoughts as you about minase and the doxa carbon. Fwiw xeric did it before the MAD, so who's homaging whom? :P
Thanks Rob ! 🍻
Had no idea I got wrong on Xeric and MAD! Oops!
I knew Max designed MAD1 back in 2014, but had no idea and only guessed on when Xeric was released. My bad. Will edit ✍️
Anyway - They are quite different both in price and appearance, so the point is basically moot. And FTR, I like both of them 🤙
Thanks for sharing, mate! Appreciate it.
@jpbalbin Check out the Minase Davido ;)
Thanks for sharing the watch pics! There are a few I want to take a closer look at now in a future windup fair, like the citizen, minase, and Xeric. I agree that the Accutron is better in person. Last year windup fair got me hooked on that. Regarding SanFran weather…. I still have my lifelong lesson tourist scalping priced Alcatraz sweatshirt that I was forced to buy because it was in the 50’s and I had just come from San Jose in a t-shirt where it was in the 90’s.
This is such a great review. Thanks for the in depth shors and descriptions.
Great post! Thx Alan, just sipping a double espresso checking out all the amazing watches that you tried on. I am finally at the stage in my hobby when I wish to be frugal with my purchases, the variety would be too tempting for me personally, haha. Experiencing the hobby vicariously actually works. 🙏
Oh that Divido...
Looks like you’re having a ball! Thanks for sharing pics and commentary! Enjoy day 2!
Amazing work. Thanks for taking time to post.
I brought almost nothing warm… and San Fran was colder than Vancouver. Bad planning 😂
The value of being here: so many brands I’d never seen, other than on the internet. Really no way to see a Straum, other than buying or attending an event like this.
Very worthwhile, some watches thought I loved were a nope, some I didn’t think twice about got shortlisted. 💸
Prefacing Mark Twain…the coldest winter was a summer in SF. This is why the shops sell so many sweaters. If you have time, check out Presidio Tunnel Tops. Amazing views, food trucks, and the Walt Disney Family Museum.
Wow, that's one way of getting watch lust served, but appetite not necessarily filled
Ok havnt read it all yet but first thing I saw was an illustrations of DoNUts!! Oh wait it’s not so disappointed …
Great spread! Wish I could've justified a flight over
Dude, ‘nuff of the watch talk - go back to sleep! 😆❤️
What is sleep?
That washi paper dial is 🎯
Some fantastic time pieces there, thanks for sharing 😎
Thanks Rob ! 🍻
Had no idea I got wrong on Xeric and MAD! Oops!
I knew Max designed MAD1 back in 2014, but had no idea and only guessed on when Xeric was released. My bad. Will edit ✍️
Anyway - They are quite different both in price and appearance, so the point is basically moot. And FTR, I like both of them 🤙
I wouldn't have known except that when I passed the Xeric table on Friday, I overheard the guy proclaiming "we did it first!"
Thanks for sharing the watch pics! There are a few I want to take a closer look at now in a future windup fair, like the citizen, minase, and Xeric. I agree that the Accutron is better in person. Last year windup fair got me hooked on that. Regarding SanFran weather…. I still have my lifelong lesson tourist scalping priced Alcatraz sweatshirt that I was forced to buy because it was in the 50’s and I had just come from San Jose in a t-shirt where it was in the 90’s.
Hilarious, but I bet a fairly typical story!
Oh that Divido...
One more aspect that stood out, the Minase models are so ..’ faceted’
All are striking looking builds that is different from every other watch at the fair.
Wow, that's one way of getting watch lust served, but appetite not necessarily filled
You got it Pontiac. I vowed to not buy - But I might buy 🤪
Bravo on an excellent review, Alan! Bravur is imprinted with your DNA! Tom (who goes by several pseudonyms: Escapement Artist but @OmegaMan75 on the Crunch) and I love hanging out with those guys (I think Magnus and Johan are their names)
Bro, it was awesome to finally meet you - sorry for the disappearing act but I’m a kid on crack at WindUp. Have a great 2nd day at the event, wish I could attend but traveling today. Have a safe trip back❤️🤙
(picked up this fella at WindUp!)
Totally my friend. I was a monkey on meth as well. Not good at staying still 😂
Will tag Tom properly- my quick hunt revealed we have a lot of guys named Tom here so got nowhere.
Sweet Zodiac! I own the ultramarine dream but love your Olympus (I think that’s the name?) as well. Vintage look, new build 👍
Great post Alan. Thanks for taking us with you.
Thanks Danilo!
Hope to meet you at one of these events sometime 🍻
Wow! How many watches! Thank you for sharing with us your journey at that fair!
Wow! How many watches! Thank you for sharing with us your journey at that fair!
Yup - bonkers. Felt like over a hundred brands, and each one with several models to be excited about
Awesome- yet exhausting 😅. Working on part 2 right now…
Yup - bonkers. Felt like over a hundred brands, and each one with several models to be excited about
Awesome- yet exhausting 😅. Working on part 2 right now…
Yes, many watches to see and analyze! Some of them with very attractive designs! We look forward to the second part! 🤗
Great review, thanks for sharing. Very interesting to see some brands I never heard about😀
You and me both - it was crazy seeing so many brands at once!