SOTC 2023: Divers? We don't need no stinking divers!
Throwing my watch box into the fray. My first ever and last of the year SOTC!
TLDR: 9 watches, and only one with a rotating bezel. Way too many fliegers. Also I don’t actually hate divers, I just don’t have one at the moment.
Top Row:
Seiko 5 LTD SRPK27 Snoopy Pilot. This is an old photo, it's now fitted with a slim black shell cordovan Delugs strap that is miles better than this padded Seiko OEM monstrosity. Way more appropriate for it's 36.5mm case.
Seeing Seiko manage to make a Type-B flieger design seem playful by featuring a flying Snoopy and Woodstock and using Charles Schultz font numerals made this a must buy. This is an easy favorite even though it did trigger a bit of a super-spreader event, resulting in a mini-pandemic of Snoopy purchases in our household
IWC Spitfire Chronograph. My nicest piece. I love how this watch has remained so legible even with all of those subdials. The fauxtina helps warm the watch up a bit, while I think some of the IWC chronos can feel a bit clinical.
[Empty Slot] Future Nomos Metro Gangreserve. This is an empty slot and reserved for a Nomos, which I'm hoping to acquire in either 2024 or 2025. The pillow looked really lonely so I made a B&W cutout of the watch to keep it warm lol.
IWC Mark XX: My GADA and easily my most worn watch. If you haven't guessed by now, I'm for some reason enamored with the aesthetic of pilot's watches, and this IWC is IT. Yes, it's a simple watch, but the finish is amazing. I love the turned down chromed hands full of lume, the chamfered polished edges, the thinness, and it's insane 120 hour power reserve.
Farer Resolute 36. This one-week old watch [NWA writeup here!] is my newest addition and obtained to celebrate a new job. It's both my most fun and dressiest piece. I love the white lacquered enamel dial, raised blocks of lume, pops of color, and signed bronze crown. Not half bad for a sub $1K watch. Farer did an amazing job on this one.
Also as a side note my wife has really bonded with this one and has already started wearing it. Is it the one that gets her into watches? I simultaneously hope so and hope not. 😂💸😭
I'm ready for the next lume battle suckaaa
Bell & Ross Vintage 126 XL. I picked this up about 12-13 years ago as my first real watch exiting college. Frankly at 42mm it's too big for me, but whatever, I guess it was the style back then. It's gotten some nice dings in the case but with this kind of watch I think it only makes it look better.
Bottom Row:
A custom watch my 8 year old made for me on my birthday. This striking 1:1 is hand fabricated with an integrated elastic strap and features a number of unique details including being the thinnest watch in the world, a day window at 9, and lugs at 3 and 9 instead of the traditional 12 and 6.
Timex Q GMT. My one watch with a bezel. I couldn't get the stock butterfly clasp bracelet to fit right (no microadjust links! Aargh) so I eventually replaced it with a bracelet from Ali Express meant for a Casio that has the similar odd shape of this bracelet. The aliexpress bracelet fits better, but I dunno. It feels cheap. And as for the watch, I'm not super fond of the friction bezel always being off center.
It's a cool watch and the proportions fit my wrist well, but I'd like to replace it w/ something with a 12-hour bezel such as the Hailos Seaforth or Baltic Aquascaphe SB01 for easy tracking of a second time zone. I've discovered that my brain doesn't think in 24 hours, so a GMT is useless aside from simply being pretty. And that said, the Farer Lander IV GMT is VERY pretty so maybe I just go with that even though it's an unnecessary complication to me and I'd probably never bother setting the 24 hour hand to anything. Sigh. Watch collecting is not rational.
Jack Spade. I'm not sure what the exact model name was but the point is moot in that it's long been discontinued. A really nice inexpensive quartz watch and yet another flieger inspired design. I bought this one well before I had my IWCs, so it served as a great cheap alternative to the real thing.
Seiko5 "Speed Racer." This thing is a pretty wild design and at 38mm and looks great on my wrist. I never really bonded with it though and have only worn it a handful of times. If a Seattle area person is interested in it, LMK.
If replacing this wacky thing in the near future, I'd probably go with a Mister Jones Beam Me Up.
G-Shock GBX 100-2. This G-Shock is a bit unusual for two reasons: 1: it displays local tide information and 2: it has a very easy to read e-ink display. The tide info is actually quite useful to me as a photographer; there are a few spots along the Washington State coastline such as at Shi-Shi beach and Rialto beach where you can get stuck at high tide. This watch helps me time my shots to get the desired water level in my compositions and also helps keep me safe.
A custom bracelet made for me by my 5 year old. It pairs very well with each watch in my collection. I might update this with a better photo later.
And that's basically it. It's a 12 slot watch box, but 2 slots are permanently reserved for whatever my kids create for me. Once I get the Nomos, it'll be a strict one in, one out policy. I'm not much of a flipper so I can't imagine the collection changing too much from where it's at right now. The Timex, Jack Spade, and Seiko 5 Speed Racer may not stick around forever, but I'm enjoying them enough for now.
Thanks for reading all!
Seattle landscape photographer with a watch habit. Portfolio: WashingtonStatePhotography.com
I agree nobody needs more than one diver
And that’s why watch collecting is interesting, I am the opposite to you. I can’t bond with pilot watches and only own Divers, however I was a diver in the military, 80s/90s and still recreational dive. So I have an affinity with them, and the one none diver I own I am going to sell as I just get nothing from it, no matter how hard I try.
Nice Pieces 🍻
And that’s why watch collecting is interesting, I am the opposite to you. I can’t bond with pilot watches and only own Divers, however I was a diver in the military, 80s/90s and still recreational dive. So I have an affinity with them, and the one none diver I own I am going to sell as I just get nothing from it, no matter how hard I try.
Nice Pieces 🍻
Exactly! I love being able to admire others’ watches on here while knowing I’d never bond with it. The Glaschutte Original divers for example are gorgeous.
To be honest I will likely be adding a dive style watch to replace the Timex - I’d like something w/ a 12 hour bezel to track a second time zone. The Halios looks like a really nice option.
HAHAHAH!!! This really got me good!
Lovely collection, and great writeup. That future Nomos is really a great one...good luck on chasing it down.
I am in a similar state with a distinct lack of divers, though I do miss the bezel for timing things. I have a chronograph now that works, but it is almost to accurate...if that makes sense. I am in the same state with 75% of the box "locked in" and the rest are on the bubble that will likely get bumped off the starting squad over time.
Great collection! I’ve never bonded with pilot watches but definitely love some of the design elements and the history… maybe one day I’ll snag a Sinn. I do really like that B&R Chrono if that qualifies… but I have a thing for chronos 😂
Got a laugh out of the Nomos cutout, and it’s great seeing that particular watch get some love. I have a fondness for the 35mm Orion and the Tetra… but haven’t pulled the trigger on either as I realized I am more of a tool watch guy.
Btw, love you found space in the box for your kids… that’s special and always helps put things into perspective. ❤
You have some really nice pilot watches!
It appears the custom watch on the lower left appears to have non-existent water resistance, and is chronometer-certified at exactly 2 times of the day. 🤣
I dislike pilot watches too, but these have some variety whereas it's usually a struggle to find the differences between two dive watches.
I got bored with rotating bezels and let go of my divers...by the way, how's the battery on the b'tooth G shock? have you changed it yet?
Great collection 👏🏻love the IWCs and Nomos! 👌🏻
I dig your style. Love simple pilots aswell 🔥 but my daily beater is somehow a black pvd Citizen promaster diver 🤯🤣
Nice collection. 👍🏽 And a refreshingly wholesome and lighthearted post!
HAHAHAH!!! This really got me good!
Lovely collection, and great writeup. That future Nomos is really a great one...good luck on chasing it down.
I am in a similar state with a distinct lack of divers, though I do miss the bezel for timing things. I have a chronograph now that works, but it is almost to accurate...if that makes sense. I am in the same state with 75% of the box "locked in" and the rest are on the bubble that will likely get bumped off the starting squad over time.
Thanks! Lol I love the idea of my kid having sat down and drawing a watch from memory. He did a great job.
I totally get the timing comment - a bezel is like an egg timer and so easy to keep tabs on at a glance while a chrono has a small subdial with the minutes - it’s just not quite as practical for timing.
Love the collection. I’m with you on the Pilot’s watches, especially IWC. love my Mark xx.
Great collection! I’ve never bonded with pilot watches but definitely love some of the design elements and the history… maybe one day I’ll snag a Sinn. I do really like that B&R Chrono if that qualifies… but I have a thing for chronos 😂
Got a laugh out of the Nomos cutout, and it’s great seeing that particular watch get some love. I have a fondness for the 35mm Orion and the Tetra… but haven’t pulled the trigger on either as I realized I am more of a tool watch guy.
Btw, love you found space in the box for your kids… that’s special and always helps put things into perspective. ❤
Thanks! I came into this hobby liking the stark and legible no-fuss tool like appearance of pilot watches. My journey was a little different than others I guess.
That B&R is interesting and I’m not even sure what you’d call it. It’s like a field watch with chronograph and tachymeter? And 200m of WR? I like it due to its uniqueness. I don’t think it was a super popular model and it’s not even listed in their archives.
You have some really nice pilot watches!
It appears the custom watch on the lower left appears to have non-existent water resistance, and is chronometer-certified at exactly 2 times of the day. 🤣
Exactly! Perfectly consistent accuracy and it never gains or loses a second! 😅
I dislike pilot watches too, but these have some variety whereas it's usually a struggle to find the differences between two dive watches.
Thanks! I’m aiming for strategic diversity I guess. The Jack Mason is probably the only real redundant watch in the box but I bought it before the IWCs to satiate the desire for a flieger when I couldn’t justify buying a real one.
I got bored with rotating bezels and let go of my divers...by the way, how's the battery on the b'tooth G shock? have you changed it yet?
I get it but also rotating bezels were a hit at my kids’ old daycares and preschools. At least the 1-4 year olds notice what’s on my wrist… 🥲
Haven’t had to replace the battery on the g shock yet, but it’s only 6 months old. I think they say to expect about 1.5 or 2 years since it’s not solar due to the e-ink display.
"Is it the one that gets her into watches? I simultaneously hope so and hope not."
Brilliant.
🤣
And a very fine collection, sir.
I dig your style. Love simple pilots aswell 🔥 but my daily beater is somehow a black pvd Citizen promaster diver 🤯🤣
Haha there’s nothing wrong with that! It’s a cool watch. I saw a YT video where someone filled theirs up with oil to get that enhanced readability at an angle like the Sinn oil filled diver. It created a really cool effect.
"Is it the one that gets her into watches? I simultaneously hope so and hope not."
Brilliant.
🤣
And a very fine collection, sir.
Thank you! Lol I offered to buy her her own Farer but she replied with “why? I’ll just wear yours” and now I don’t actually know who owns the watch anymore
Nice collection! Just missing a diver tho... Kidding. Love the Mark XX. The Mark XII was a dream watch for me back the day.
Nice collection! Just missing a diver tho... Kidding. Love the Mark XX. The Mark XII was a dream watch for me back the day.
Thank you!! The Mark XII was indeed a beauty. IIRC Harrison Ford wore one on the Apple TV show Shrinking (great show too BTW). And I’ll probably get a diver one day…
Love it! Especially your kid’s patek.
I’ve never done a SOTC, but when I do it’ll balance out your diver light with me leaning diver heavy 😜
My favourite is the custom handmade watch with the elastic strap❤️
Thank you!! The Mark XII was indeed a beauty. IIRC Harrison Ford wore one on the Apple TV show Shrinking (great show too BTW). And I’ll probably get a diver one day…
I'm a long time Ford fan and I didn't know that, will check it out! I did know he wore an 80s SS datejust which I was able acquire only because it was much easier to find than the mk 12 lol
And that’s why watch collecting is interesting, I am the opposite to you. I can’t bond with pilot watches and only own Divers, however I was a diver in the military, 80s/90s and still recreational dive. So I have an affinity with them, and the one none diver I own I am going to sell as I just get nothing from it, no matter how hard I try.
Nice Pieces 🍻
MarcCO, I think you are spot on. That’s what makes watch collecting interesting. I love both pilot and dive watches. But, right now I have no pilots, 3 divers, and 3 dressier watches.
That’s an awesome collection. Love the IWCs and Bell and Ross.