SOTC September 2023
I just snapped a couple of pictures while cleaning up the office & closet upstairs, so I figured I'd drop them here for comments and questions, should anyone have any. What's there? Starting with the mechanicals in the winders:
Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra World Timer - Impulse-bought after eating too many dumplings at Din Tai Fung in Valley Fair mall. I was taking #4 (below) in for service and this guy was on display. Tried it on and it was love at first sight. I think it's still the best world timer available for sale, and might even go so far as to say best watch the world has to offer as of right now.
Zenith Pilot Type 20 Adventure - Got it earlier this year just after the new Pilot lineup introduced at Watches & Wonders replaced these in the catalogue. Got a great deal from the grey market.
Marathon Red Maple Anthracite GSAR - Lucky find at Gnomon just a few weeks ago. I had missed the original limited edition announcement, so I'm really pleased to have managed to find one in stock. #46/72.
Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean - Bought for me by my now-wife-then-fiancée when we got engaged. My first real mechanical watch.
Tag Heuer Formula 1 Mario Kart - Saw the pre-release notifications, signed up on the notification list, got a buzz on my phone and pulled the trigger. Super fun and currently my only mechanical chronograph.
In the watch box, a bunch of G-shocks and a couple of odds and ends:
The 8-bit Brew - My wife's watch, actually. She picked it up at the Windup watch fair in San Francisco earlier this year.
G-Shock G-STEEL GSTB100GB1A9 - Was looking for something beefy and gold-tone and this fit the bill. Got a discount from some online vendor and swapped out the strap with an AliExpress black DLC steel bracelet.
G-Shock Full Metal GMWB5000D-1 - Bought second hand from the r/watchexchange subreddit. Got a great deal, very happy with the style.
G-Shock Full Metal GMWB5000GD-9 - Same as #3, bought from reddit, even cooler and shinier.
G-Shock x Super Mario Bros. DW5600SMB-4 - Fun collab, why not, right?
G-Shock Full Metal GMWB5000TVB1 - Same as numbers 3 and 4, reddit purchase. Less shiny, certainly way more cool.
G-Shock Analog-Digital GA2100-7A with an SKXMOD bracelet and case mod. - Went full CasiOak here, it's great. Bracelet and case are both of a lot better quality than I'd have expected. Very solid, and a fun look for situations where I might not want to wear something too pricey.
Coca-Cola x G-Shock DW5600CC23-4 - My newest square, and what a colour! I drink a lot of Coke Zero. I've been off and on the wagon with that stuff over the years, but definitely off it right now. A fun vibe for sure.
Marathon Sage Green General Purpose Quartz - A "free-gift-with-purchase" and at 34 mm, pretty small for me. Currently on the quite short strap it came with for occasional use by my wife.
So what do you all think? What do you love, what do you hate, what should be next? I definitely have a wish list, but I'm always interested to hear what people have to suggest!
Silicon valley engineer spending too much money on trinkets?
Option #1: Expensive - GO SeaQ Panorama Date
Option #2: Less expensive, but still darn expensive - GS SBGA375
Option #3: Positively cheap, but money goes to a good cause - the ichibunz Watermelon Watch
https://www.watchcrunch.com/Mr.Dee.Bater/posts/behold-the-atichibunz-watermelon-watch-buy-a-watch-help-save-the-world-25-206693
Option #1: Expensive - GO SeaQ Panorama Date
Option #2: Less expensive, but still darn expensive - GS SBGA375
Option #3: Positively cheap, but money goes to a good cause - the ichibunz Watermelon Watch
https://www.watchcrunch.com/Mr.Dee.Bater/posts/behold-the-atichibunz-watermelon-watch-buy-a-watch-help-save-the-world-25-206693
That GO is boss. Panorama dates rock socks.
I’ve tried on a couple of Grand Seikos in that case in the past. Too small for me, I think. That said, if I ever buy a GS it will for sure be a spring drive.
I saw that post… I’ll have to go take another look. I’m not sure I need anything new right this minute, but if it’s for a good cause…….
That GO is boss. Panorama dates rock socks.
I’ve tried on a couple of Grand Seikos in that case in the past. Too small for me, I think. That said, if I ever buy a GS it will for sure be a spring drive.
I saw that post… I’ll have to go take another look. I’m not sure I need anything new right this minute, but if it’s for a good cause…….
If the SBGA373 is too small, there’s always this monstronsity!
If the SBGA373 is too small, there’s always this monstronsity!
Yeah it’s bigger for sure. And a lot busier looking and more expensive too. My wish list had the SBGA429 for a long time… until I tried it on and my heart was broken. Maybe I can get used to the size. I’ll have to go check it out again. 😀
That coke g-shock is fire! I’m not even usually a digital guy, but I love that thing.
Great collection!! Love the variety.
I'm a huge fan of that Type 20!
Can you give us more info on the winders please?
Yeah it’s bigger for sure. And a lot busier looking and more expensive too. My wish list had the SBGA429 for a long time… until I tried it on and my heart was broken. Maybe I can get used to the size. I’ll have to go check it out again. 😀
Ha! Yeah, it's ugly! Which is why I love it!
Here's another ugly one, but less busy dial!
They're so ugly that they're already going for like 25% off MSRP on Chrono24!
That coke g-shock is fire! I’m not even usually a digital guy, but I love that thing.
Yeah I have all those digitals either because the price was right or I had some other special occasion or requirement. It's nice that they're easy to take care of. 😄
Couldn't pass up the opportunity to have a two-Mario-watch collection!
Great collection!! Love the variety.
Aw shucks, thanks!
I'm a huge fan of that Type 20!
Can you give us more info on the winders please?
Thanks! I'm happy I have a broad enough wrist to wear it. I'm sure the 45 mm measurement scares a lot of people off from even trying. It's so retro and so cool!
The winders are from the Boxy Fancy Brick winder series. I got them on Amazon. I previously had garbage winders like this one, but it turned out to be hard to keep the bigger watches from rubbing on the lid. The Boxy winders have nice perks like settable TPD and direction. The watches also always stop right-way-up, which is pretty cool. The modularity is a perk, too - if one breaks I'm not stuck replacing a bunch of other working motors.
Ha! Yeah, it's ugly! Which is why I love it!
Here's another ugly one, but less busy dial!
They're so ugly that they're already going for like 25% off MSRP on Chrono24!
For a company that's known for hitting designs out of the park, there sure are some rough edges in the collection. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I suppose.
For a company that's known for hitting designs out of the park, there sure are some rough edges in the collection. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I suppose.
It's hilarious, but I LOVE the new lion design, precisely because it's so out of left field and weird! Genuinely, the SBGC253 is going to be my next GS.
With all that said, I do think the GO SeaQ Panorama Date has to be your next purchase. 😜
It's hilarious, but I LOVE the new lion design, precisely because it's so out of left field and weird! Genuinely, the SBGC253 is going to be my next GS.
With all that said, I do think the GO SeaQ Panorama Date has to be your next purchase. 😜
It's definitely been in the periphery of my planning. Here's my actual current watch list from Chrono24. Limitations of that site mean that some of my microbrand thoughts aren't captured, but it's definitely some things I'm interested for the future. I'll present it here without further comment other than to say some of these are clearly out of any normal human's price range (mine included). But in hopes of more discussion - here we go!
Ha! Yeah, it's ugly! Which is why I love it!
Here's another ugly one, but less busy dial!
They're so ugly that they're already going for like 25% off MSRP on Chrono24!
That's a reason to buy one😂
That's an outstanding collection. The world timer and type 20 caught my eye. It's said every collection should have a Speedmaster. I don't agree it should have a G-Shock. I really need to pick one up. Nice work on those.
As for whats next. A GO is a solid choice. Thanks for the post.
That's an outstanding collection. The world timer and type 20 caught my eye. It's said every collection should have a Speedmaster. I don't agree it should have a G-Shock. I really need to pick one up. Nice work on those.
As for whats next. A GO is a solid choice. Thanks for the post.
Thanks! I have a (fancypants) speedy on my wishlist pictured above. I think they’re neat, but I’ve never owned a manual winding watch. I think it would be weird.
I’ll chalk you up as another vote for the GO. It’s definitely a super cool product.
Thanks! I have a (fancypants) speedy on my wishlist pictured above. I think they’re neat, but I’ve never owned a manual winding watch. I think it would be weird.
I’ll chalk you up as another vote for the GO. It’s definitely a super cool product.
My Speedy is a manual wind. Sometimes I forget to wind it because everything I own is an auto. But it doesn't bother me.