Building a Beater Collection Pt 6
So as I mentioned in Part 5 (link below), I was well down the watch rabbit hole at this point, and mere putty in the hands of (select) YouTube watch reviewers.
While watching just about every "watches under $200" video imaginable, I fell under the spell of the Seiko Flightmaster.
I wanted this watch. I NEEDED this watch. Everything about it was perfect for me. It even has a freaking slide rule bezel - and I'm an engineer!
So I went to get one post haste.
And then reality slapped me upside the face like a dead fish.
The "under $200" watch was hovering around $400, and increasing rapidly. Checked Ebay, $350 and up.
Apparently Seiko is pulling the plug on this model.
So I debated. It was way overpriced. It wasn't worth the money. Something else is out there, surely...
But I kept thinking about this watch. I looked at pictures. I watched every video.
I had lust in my heart.
So eventually I gave myself permission to over-pay for this lovely lowercase-g grail.
And you know what? I freaking LUV this watch. It suits my personality. It looks right on my wrist. It has a tachymeter. It has a fancy stopwatch function. It has an honest-to-god slide rule.
And a compass on the stock and a thing which tells time.
While the alarm is charmingly useless, it doubles as a very nice second time zone, which I have set to Paris for an upcoming trip with my wife.
The mecho-quartz has been very accurate without losing any noticeable time over the past month or so.
And I just stare at the damn thing.
Worth every penny. For me.
I'm not a huge fan of the stock bracelet - a bit too blingy, kind of a cheap clasp, not really the right choice. For me.
So I got the de rigueur French paratrooper strap with the yellow stripe. And it looks quite good, but it's a bit too follow-the-herd for me, and the elastic tends to come a bit loose over the course of the day. Not bad, but not my utimate strap for this.
Next I got the 21mm vintage leather Dassari from Strapsco shown. When it arrived the leather was a bit dry looking, a bit of a grey dustiness to it, so I used some leather conditioner I have for my boots, and it became a much nicer looking brown.
But in person I didn't care for the look of this watch on that strap.
So it's back on the Marine Nationale. For now at least. It will be a suitable choice for Paris, n'est-ce pas?
Another watch coming tomorrow...
Previous:
https://www.watchcrunch.com/MrPsionic/posts/building-a-beater-collection-pt-5-28918
Next:
https://www.watchcrunch.com/MrPsionic/posts/building-a-beater-collection-pt-7-29105
I'm a musician and in the guitar amp biz. I do gear reviews on my own YT channel but I'm not here for that - this is my side hobby. That said, I know how the sausages are made both in production/manuf...
"You'll shoot your eye out!" 🤣
By the way, have you tried a bundt strap?
By the way, have you tried a bundt strap?
No, they look too trucker to me.
I do like the cakes, however.
ALSO: I know I will probably get some hate for this one, but Invicta has a 42mm watch (not too small, not too big) that has 200m WR, that is an homage to the Rolex SM Batman, for only $56. And it's a TMI PC32 Quartz movement. Can't beat that with a stick. Just my opinion.
https://invictastores.com/invicta-pro-diver-men-s-watch-42mm-steel-33253
I did the same thing lol
Enjoy that bad boy!
Cheers
I'm partial to the extremely busy look of slide rule bezels, but being a numerically inept English major has thus far dissuaded me from thinking seriously about acquiring one. Because I'd have to force myself to learn how to use it, because I'd feel secret shame if I had something on my wrist that I couldn't operate.
It's not like I'd ever anticipate having an actual use for it. It's not like anyone else on the planet would ever get a glimpse of my watch and ask me to demonstrate my competency, and then charge me with Stolen Slide Rule Valor if I couldn't. None of that would matter; I would know, and the knowledge would poison my enjoyment of the watch.
So I'd have to learn. And that's a challenge I'm not quite ready to set for myself.
Watch looks sharp as hell on you, though!
I'm partial to the extremely busy look of slide rule bezels, but being a numerically inept English major has thus far dissuaded me from thinking seriously about acquiring one. Because I'd have to force myself to learn how to use it, because I'd feel secret shame if I had something on my wrist that I couldn't operate.
It's not like I'd ever anticipate having an actual use for it. It's not like anyone else on the planet would ever get a glimpse of my watch and ask me to demonstrate my competency, and then charge me with Stolen Slide Rule Valor if I couldn't. None of that would matter; I would know, and the knowledge would poison my enjoyment of the watch.
So I'd have to learn. And that's a challenge I'm not quite ready to set for myself.
Watch looks sharp as hell on you, though!
I feel exactly the same - I am compelled to learn how to use this thing.
It will be very useful in Europe next week, as I can use it to convert km to real distances. 😜
This is like a Speedmaster Racing x Navitimer for a fraction of the price. Worth every penny indeed!
Great series, would love to see a shot of the whole collection at the end
looks good on one these
I like some of the Dassari straps. 🤪