Can't get away from the Storm Trooper

The Casio G-Shock G9000-8V has off white color case and nicked name: Strom Trooper. I had one before. I really like the white face with off white case. And the dual 1000hr comes in handy from time to time. I sold it for some other watches.

Now I am going to have one again. And yes, yet another inpulse buy. I am still afraid that it won't get much wrist time because the other mechanical, solar and kinetic scream: "wear me to keep me running".

Another plan would be to purchase a solar atomic Mudman later, and then do a case/straps swap to make the atomic Mudman into a atomic storm trooper.

I don't know yet. Let's wait and see.

So I have never get away with Marathon SAR, but apparently I keep selling my Rolex(es)

Let's talk about the one that's gone first, which is the Rolex Milgauss. I can't seems to keep Rolex for very long. And may be I am in the process of "trying out" higher end watches. I like the Milgauss, but I don't like it enough to keep it. So off it goes.

I think I need to give Rolex a break off my want-to-buy list, cause while I think they are extremely nice watch, I just don't think they are sticking in my collection.

Now comes the one that I can't seems to be get away with, which is the Marathon SAR. I already lost count of how many Marathon SAR I have bought and sold. And yet, there's another incoming one. Ultimately, I still think Marathon SAR is one of the best implimentation of a proper dive watch in that price segment, especially at the pre-owned market since the Marathon SAR with the original non-tritium dial is already discontinued.

I think the Seiko SUMO 200m diver with 6R15 movement comes very close to the value of a Marathon SAR. But the SUMO lacks sapphire crystal and metal movement retainer. After the after market sapphire crystal upgrade, the price of the both SUMO and Marathon SAR comes very close, while the SUMO still spot a plastic movement retainer. Its not something that's apparent to average owner/user since its inside the case and hidden from view from the owner (unless you open up the case), but that's when the "value" part comes in.

Don't get me wrong, I still think the Seiko SUMO is great value and I would get one (a blue one and mod it with sapphire crystal, SBDX001 Marinemaster clasp and hands) if the right opportunity present itself.

Maybe I should mod Marathon SAR into a no-date version with sword hands since I've always wanted a Rolex Sub ND 14060M. I don't know yet. One thing I do know is that since I sold my Rolex Milgauss, I now have some toy funds freed up and I am on watch hunt again. :-)

So what am I looking for in the short term? I guess mostly lower to mid level ones now:

• Sinn 656 / 856 / 857 / U1 with bracelet
  
• Breitling SuperOcean black dial (model from 2007 only)
  
• Seiko with 8L35 automatic movement
  
• Tag Heuer Carrera chonograph (black dial)
  
• Omega Speedmaster (double sapphire)
  
• Fortis Marinemaster with bracelet
  
• Doxa SUB 1200T Professional
  

That's not a short list .. ;-)

You can't have enough SMY089

A few close up shots of the SMY089

No more D300 and no more Luminox

I am back from my vacation and this actually happened before I left for my vacation. I got my D300 and I shipped it back to the seller the next day, cause the camera is not quite what he described. Havnig said that, I still give the seller points for standing behind the deal and did a quick refund. Though I was able to take the new camera with me during my vacation, at least I didn't lose any money out of the whole situation.

And my Luminox is gone as well. Not that I don't like the watch. Its just that I don't want to deal with battery powered watch which I can't regenerate the power by movement (kinetic) or light (solar).

I also have a Garmin Forerunner 305 (GPS + HRM) and a Timex iControl iPod remote control watch, sitting there not doing much. I am tempted to see if I should just let them go (to get something else).

More come and go, and they are not all watches ...

I sold my Omega SMP GMT Great White. While I like the watch a lot, I come to realizing I only need one SMP and its going to be the black Bond. So off it goes. Plus I found that I like the Bond bracelet much better, it looks better with the 20mm non-tapering links/clasp, and its more comfortable too!

Then comes the non-watch item. :p I wanted to "upgrade" my DSLR from Nikon D80 (DX) to D700 (FX), knowing that FX will provide 1:1 ratio on the frame captured and better low ISO performance. But the investment to go FX is just too much right now. So I end up getting a D300 and stay with DX format instead. Since I already have the lenses for DX from my D80, I don't have to shell out a lot of money for the upgrade. I pretty much only need to upgrade the DSLR body and re-use everything else (except that I need to get a CF card). D300 still able to give me better metering, betterlow ISO preformance, environment seal on the buttons, live view, etc.

In the future, I may get 35mm or 50mm f1.8 lens, 17-55mm f2.8 lens, SB800 speed flash, the battery grip and that's pretty much it. But that's for later and I am not in a hurry for them.

I have pushed my upgrade to D300 for a long time before I have put more of my "toy resources" into watches. For this time, the sales of the SMP GMT pretty much covers the cost of D300.

For my next watch, I am thinking about a Omega Speedmaster "moon watch" double sapphire, Omega Planet Ocean black/black 42mm, Rolex Y series Sea DWeller / Submariner Date (or LV) / Z series Submariner COSC, Paneria Submersible 24 / 111 (sandwich dial) / 183 / 287, Seiko Marinemaster SBDX001, etc.

Another one down

I really like the look of G-Shock MTG910DJ, I think its one of the best looking G-Shock. I didn't care for the time stamp feature since I can't find a good use for it. Overall I still think its a great G-Shock.

But I just find it sitting in the watch box most of the time when I own it. So I think its better for me to just move on with it. And I will be off to its new owner soon.

On the other hand, the Seiko 200m Kinetic SMY089 has been on my wrist ever since it arrived. My SMP is getting jealous ... LOL

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


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