All parties come to an end, ...

which it is the case for my Omega SMP co-axial blue Bond. The will be off to its new owner soon ...

I think its one of the my best buy for my entire collector "career". It has beautiful case and bracelet, comfortable to wear, looks fantastic, the lume is among the best I have seen, the co-axial movement with longer service period and best time keeping over the range of power reserve ...

But if its the "best", then why sell it? Good question. Just like the case of being the best man at a wedding. Per Jerry Seinfeld: "I was the best man at the wedding. If I'm the best man, why is she marrying him?" Ok, that basically got nothing to do with me selling my "best" watch and I just to post it somewhere. Haha~ :p

But the reason for me selling my SMP blue Bond co-axial basically comes down which one should I keep? the blue or black Bond SMP co-axial?

Well, ever since I saw the black Bond, I've always wanted one. I think the black color is deep and definitely gave the SMP a brand new look. The "whitter" lume though doesn't shine as bright as the C3 SL, but it makes the watch looks much better with the deep black bezel and dial. And since I could live with Rolex, which lume is definitely not one of their strength, then I think the "brightest lume" may not be the most important thing on a watch for me.

So, the black Bond wins, and bye-bye blue Bond.

I do think may be I shouldn't be collecting just one (SMP) case style. Diversity is good. May be my next watch would be a Panerai just to make it different. Who knows? LOL :D

Some other Panerai for me to drool on

Though I still can't convince myself of Panerai's pricing, I do like their watches.

Another Panerai that caught my attention is the Panerai 92 Arktos SE from 2004 of 500 units to celebrate the Mike Horn's Arktos expedition.

Panerai 92 Arktos SE

The SE model has a uni-directional compass bezel, the Crystal is 4.2mm thick, and its anti-magnetic up to 100,000 A/m. Water resistance 30 bar or 300m.

Also the PAM 252 North Pole GMT (2006 Limited Edition - 500 pcs) and PAM 186, both with GMT hands.

The wait is almost over

When I had my Rolex GMT Master IIc (116710LN), I like the size and the comfort of it a lot. And then I had to let it go because I almost semi screwed by the credit card company (and I have since stopped using ALL my Master Cards and would only use my American Exress and Visa). And then take a few step back, I tried on a Rolex Milgauss black dial (116400) when I still had my GMT IIc. And I found I really like the size and comfort just like the GMT IIc. Along with the exceptional capability for anti-magnetism, I knew I would want one ... :D

Fast forward to today, my GMT IIc was lone gone and I have a black Milgauss incoming. I opt-ed for the black Milgauss non-GV (no green sapphire for me) version because the regular black dial version looks much cleaner to me and i don't know the orange indice on the white dial version (not to mention the weak lume of the orange lume material).

I will give the Milgauss a try and see how much I like it, and see if I could like without the date feature.

One thing though, if I do like the Milgauss and decided to keep it, then at least one (or more!) SMP in my collect is in jeopardy! :p

Warzone: over 200k

Still playing Quick cash, land unit only.

It was over 200k but the computer was getting slow and I got bored. :p

Looks like I still have room to still keep it going. But I just didn't care enough to do it. LOL :D

Wave: 244
Score: 201817


(click on pix to view bigger image)

More on the Seiko Kinetic 200m diver SMY089

It has been on my wrist days and nights for almost the full work week. The more I wear it the more I like it. It wraps around my wrist very well. I found it comfortable to wear it for extended period of time. I begin to dig the board integrated lugs, the polished center links and curvy roundish case shape. .

The Marinemaster clasp works well with the watch and definitely adds a nice feature (adjustable diver extension) to the watch.

It lacks anti-reflective coating for the crystal, but I can't be too picky at this price point, LOL :D Though I wonder if the aftermarket sapphire crystal (with AR coating) for Seiko SKX divers would fit the SMY089.

The watch came with battery level at 10 min mark. After I put it through two of my running session, now its at the 20 min mark. I think it will takes a bit more work to bright up to full charge.

I plan on wear this one with bracelet only because of the integrated bracelet with odd lug size. I don't even know what lug size it is ... LOL :D (16mm lug size? May be?)

What should I "try" next?

Okay, so ... I am pretty happy with the watches that I have right now. But ... the hunter for the next watch can't stop right there (or here), right? hehe :p

So What should I get next?

Since I am a fan of Omega, I am thinking about a Speedmaster, the moon watch 3570.50 or the double sapphire (front and back) 3756.50. Things that I may not like are the lack of date complication and the water resistance is only to 30m. I am used to diver watches with WR200m or more, so 30m seems a little ... not enough. :p But the history of the Speedmaster definitely intrigue me.

Then maybe a 42mm PO with black bezel and white numbers. I like the PO and its definitely an "upgrade" from SMP. But at the same time, its a lot of the same watch as my co-axial SMP (same 2500C co-axial movement, same layout of the manual HEV) ... and yes, I am weird. Cause I can have 2 co-axial SMP with different color but think co-axial SMP and PO are somewhat alike ... LOL :D

I also toyed with the idea of yet another Seiko Marinemaster 300m automatic (SBDX001). I have had quite a few of them and I was never been able to keep them in my collection. But a Seiko 300m MM auto on rubber strap just seems like a proper tool (diving) watch. I don't think I want history to repeat itself (again, with the buying and selling of Seiko 300m MM auto), but I really dig that tool watch look.

Omega Seamaster 1200m Ploprof, Rolex GMT Master IIc and Panerai 243 or 312 seems to be a little out of reach right now. But if I happened to come across a good Rolex Submariner ND COSC, Submariner Date (Y series with lug holes or LV), Sea Dweller (Y series with lug holes), PAM 111 or 24 submersible (with the new strap change system). Then I might bite the bullet and get one.

I will just take my time, I am not in a hurry to get another yet. I think this is a good sign that I am happy with my watches right now.

Its a Warzone ...

Let me say this up front: Quick cash, land unit only.

The situation was not looking good, but that was quite a traffic jam ... LOL :D

This is my high score so far: 179800


(click pix for bigger image)

A few more new pix and a few more $0.02 of my new SMY089

I wanted a analog diver watch with bracelet that I can go to in a hurry when all my other mechanical watches are not winded. My search landed me the Kinetic Knight (SMY089). I finally pulled the trigger on one.

I have had (more than just) a few Seiko before, so I already have an expectation on how the watch should be at this price point. And Seiko delivers it right on the money.

The case is a good size for my wrist (my sweet spot is 40-42mm case size). Its nice to see a case that has a lot of curves. The lugs are curved down and lugs my wrist a little bit. The integrated lugs also give the watch a "board shoulder" look.

The side of the case and bracelet, as well as the center links, are polished. And the top of the case, bracelet and bezel are brushed.

The bezel is also recessed (like the Sumo), which makes the bezel slight harder to turn.

The clasp is a Seiko signed 4 holes with diver extension. I have since replaced it with the clasp from SBDX001 Marinemaster to take advantage of the adjustable diver extension. The MM clasp fit and works great with the SMY089.

The dial is nice and easy to read. It has a checkered finish in the center and glossy finish on where the raised indices are. The lume is the usual "Seiko Great", it works and it works all night (tested by me when I woke up at 6pm and can read the time with ease)

I also like that it has both date and day wheel, which will makes it a great vacation watch.

And here are the pix:

Just ordered: Fenix MC10 angle light

I finally ordered a Fenix MC10 angel light in black. I am in step closer in replacing my RCR123 lights :p

(Of course, I think I need to order a few more AA and AAA lights ... LOL)

Seiko 200m Kinetic diver SMY089 2nd impression

I finally got the SMY089's bracelet sized, put on the SBDX001 Marinemaster clasp (which fits and works great), set the time and date, and now its on my wrist.



First, I have made a mistake saying the original SMY089 clasp doesn't have diver extension. I guess I have been away from SKX and Monster for too long and forgot that the diver extension is at the other end of the clasp. (which is the same for Monster) So the SMY089 does have diver extension on its 4 holes clasp.

But of course, I since swapped it out for the Marinemaster clasp to take advantage of the on-the-fly adjustable diver extension.

The watch itself has great detail, like the polished case side with brushed on the top of the case. The bracelet has the same matching finish, polished on the side, brushed on top, with polished center links. The case shape is curvy with minimal hard angle. Somehow it reminds me (very remotely) of the case design of the Panerai 1950 case design. Its comfortable on the wrist, and the integrated bracelet gives it a "board shoulder" look. The lugs are also curved down so the watch will "hug" your wrist a little.

The lume is the usual Seiko diver quality, which means its plenty bright and it will last through the night. (tested: went to bed before 12am and checked the time at 6am and it was still easily readable)

I think its a great wearer/beater with the great lume, easy to read dial all the times any time, great comfortable bracelet, reliable 5M63 kinetic movement (6 months power reserve max).