We have a bit of a Japanese theme going on this month. We begin with hands-on reviews of watches from Grand Seiko, Seiko, and Citizen. From Grand Seiko, we have the exquisite SBGJ249 Hi-Beat GMT from its new Seasons Collection. And from Seiko and Citizen, we have a handful of dive watches. To prevent this roundup from being too much of a Japanese watch fest, we are also taking a closer look at Rexhep Rexhepi’s sublime Chronometre Contemporain watch.
From around the Web, we have another Panerai movement scandal. This time, it seems that the company’s supposedly new in-house P.9200 chronograph movement isn’t exactly what it claims to be. Moving on, we have a shocking account of an interaction between Ming Watches and one of its customers. Alright, enough drama — we end this month’s roundup by speaking to Roni Madhvani and learning more about his breathtaking collection of shaped watches.
1. HANDS-ON WITH THE SPECTACULAR GRAND SEIKO SBGJ249 “SHOSHO” HI-BEAT WATCH
Is there another company that can match Grand Seiko’s creativity in coming up with new dials? Earlier this year, the brand unveiled a new collection of four GMTs called the “Seasons Collection,” inspired by — you guessed it — the four seasons. One of the standout pieces is the SBGJ249, also known as “Shosho.” It represents summer. It features a 39.5mm stainless steel case, stainless steel bracelet, and a hi-beat movement that beats at 5Hz. The dial, however, is the star of the show. The off-white dial has a textured wave-like pattern that’s inspired by winds blowing over the lakes and ponds of Japan. Hit the link below to take a closer look at this watch.
Source: aBlogtoWatch
2. Hands-On: Rexhep Rexhepi Chronometre Contemporain Watch
If you are searching for a time-only watch that’s truly high-end in its execution, it doesn’t get much better than the Rexhep Rexhepi Chronometre Contemporain. The watch may look simple, but its components and execution are anything but. Like any high-end watch worth its salt, the Chronometre Contemporain has a grand feu enamel dial. The hands, which have a unique shape, are handmade and -finished. And speaking of finish, the movement is lavishly hand-finished with a host of various techniques. What stands out most of all is the exaggerated anglage or inward angles. The architecture is noteworthy too because the movement layout is pleasantly symmetrical. This really is watchmaking at its finest.
Source: aBlogtoWatch
3. HANDS-ON: SEIKO PROSPEX SEIGAIHA SLA053 & SLA059 USA EDITION WATCHES
The United States is a key market for Seiko. Just look at the number of recent limited-edition watches that Seiko and Grand Seiko have created for the American market. And here, we have two limited-edition divers — the SLA059 and SLA053 — that have been collectively referred to as “Seigaiha” which roughly translates to “blue ocean waves.” Essentially, these are variants of the ever-popular SLA021 Marinemaster watch. I think most Seiko fans will agree that this is no bad thing. The Marinemaster is a cult favorite and these editions with their fancy dials can only be good news for Seiko fans. If you love the Marinemaster but prefer something that’s a little out of the left field, these two watches are great options.
Source: aBlogtoWatch
4. HANDS-ON: BULOVA LUNAR PILOT LIMITED-EDITION WATCH FOR 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF APOLLO 15
Though we all know the Omega Speedmaster Professional as the Moonwatch, it wasn’t the only watch that went to the moon. On August 2, 1971, a Bulova chronograph on the wrist of astronaut David R. Scott ventured onto the moon. The Bulova was his backup and he called upon it after the crystal on his Speedmaster popped off. This event is a huge deal for Bulova because it can now claim to be one of the few watch brands to go to the moon. In celebration of this momentous piece of history, Bulova has released a special 50th-anniversary Lunar Pilot watch that pays homage to the original watch Scott wore on the moon. It features a titanium case with bright gold accents and it has a highly accurate 262kHz quartz movement.
Source: aBlogtoWatch
5. Watch Review: Citizen Promaster Mechanical Diver 200M NB6004-08E
2021 is the year that Citizen is making a renewed and big push into the market. After unveiling the impressive Caliber 0200 earlier this year, they have just released a new dive watch. Though the brand is famous for its Eco-Drive dive watches, the new Promaster Mechanical Diver 200M, as its name clearly suggests, has a mechanical self-winding movement. The caliber 9051 movement within beats at 4Hz, which is higher than your typical Seiko dive watch, and has a power reserve of 42 hours. The other parts of the watch are just as interesting. The case is Citizen’s Super Titanium. And so is the distinctive large knurled bezel. If you think Seiko divers are too ubiquitous, this is not a bad alternative.
Source: aBlogtoWatch