I went to K2 to service my Aqua Dive Caribbean, then as usual, Mr Goh will bring some of his latest goods for us to take a look.

He brought out 2 Citizens, saying he just got it like that day or the day before.

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Initally I was attracted to the black dial, but I don’t really like the open concept, so I took a closer look at the white dial and I was hooked.

The models are:
- White dial NP3010-00A
- Black dial NP1000-04E

What really attracted me to the white dial is the dial layout, the weight, the size, as a whole, the watch just stand out to me.

Of course, the blue hands are always a bonus.

I was trying very hard to capture the shiny reflective sub-dial, I believe it’s MOP or similar material.

The details and finishing on the dial is amazing for that kind of price range. I guess the main factor that got me is the price, it’s an offer that you couldn’t resist.

Here you can see, it’s a “Made In Japan” model with sapphire, again additional points awarded. If you look closer at the back, do you realise there’s no screwed down caseback ?

The rotor is very attractive, I’m not a fan of display case back but this really looks good, however you can tell that the finishing is still rather coarse as compared to any GS or Swiss counterparts.

Still, it’s good to remind oneself that the price is well worth it.

I’m assuming from the sides that the watch is a 2-piece case, with screws on the back securing the case together.

Overall, I’m very pleased with the watch itself. A very nice dress watch for me that I can rotate with the Seiko Cocktail for formal events.

A parting wrist shot.

Features :
- Textured dial with date and 24hr indicator
- Luminous hands and markers
- Display case back
- Water resistance 100m (10bar)
- Citizen 4166 Movement
- Sapphire crystal

Size:
- Case Diameter: 45mm (including crown)
- Case Diameter: 43mm (excluding crown)

The Helson Sharkmaster.

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Wanted to jump onto it during the pre-order stage but somehow hesitated, probably I was bitten by the impulse purchase and flipping of the Ocean7 LM-7 and also limited funds at that time.

I eventually gave in and purchased direct from Peter Helson.

Firstly, I was torn between all the different variation, 3 or 9 o’clock crown, blue or black dial, black or silver date wheel….

As I haven’t got the chance to try it out, 9 o’clock crown or destro seems kinda weird, especially when you are setting the time, (had a experience with the Ocean7 LM-7).

Between blue and black, I prefer black.

So there it is.

Taken with the Raynox 250 mounted on a 50mm F1.8.

Finally gave my Raynox 250 another chance, my previous attempt with it didn’t went that well, probably because I left it at F1.8. Almost everything was out of focus. LOL.

The main reason why I like the Helson SM so much is because of it’s monobloc case design.

One solid piece case, it’s a fine modern piece to add to my growing monobloc collection.

For those who find it familiar, it’s a Omega Seamaster 1000 homage.

More info here: http://www.convention-floor-videos.com/seamaster1000/

I don’t think I can find one within reach, so I went for the next best thing.

A very solid piece

I decided to match it with the 22mm Omega Mesh, leaving the Helson mesh untouched.

Another frontal shot playing with the reflection from the sapphire crystal and acrylic bezel insert.

What’s a review without a lume and a wrist shot ?

The good thing about case design is that it follows the curve of your wrist, so it might fit on a smaller wrist without the lugs protruding out too much and it’s not pointed lugs, it’s sort of hidden with a hood.

Measurement wise, it’s about 45mm on the curved back from spring bar to spring bar, almost 1.8″, if I measure the entire case length from 1 lug hood to another, it’s 53.75mm.

Overall it’s a very nice solid piece and it sits nicely on my 7″ wrist, although you need to tighten the bracelet or straps as it’s pretty top heavy.

Hope you enjoyed reading my short mini review.

I got to learn that Ocean7 actually released a Ploprof homage, LM-7, couple of years ago. I was tempted by it, didn’t really like the SS version, so I managed to source a pre-owned PVD version.

It’s using a Sellita SW200 movement, a ETA 2824 clone. Time keeping is still great, +5-6s after 5 days, even thou it’s a year old watch and I might be the 3rd owner already.

Anyway, I spent some time reading about the whole process of this watch in Watchuseek Ocean7 forum, from how the idea was formed to production, it took a year before it started shipping at the end of 2008 !

It’s amazing how they managed to design this watch with so many inputs from the forum, going over the details of the color of the dial, 5-minute interval markers, acrylic or sapphire bezel insert etc.

Front

Red bezel lock button

Another close up of the front, I really like the watch and the solidly built case.

It is possible to adjust the bezel while wearing the watch . You have to adjust the bezel with your thumb and index finger, while pressing the button down with your middle finger.

If you are wearing it on your left hand, it’s a little harder, you have to adjust the bezel with your thumb and middle finger, while pressing the button down with your index finger.

Both the crystal and bezel insert uses sapphire, making the front surface of the watch very scratch resistance.

Check out the hands, the lume is great.

Signed crown !

Case back, according to the past post forum posting, every watch will be pressured tested for the 1000m rating.

It’s definitely “Swiss Made”, halfway through the project, a lawyer from the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry, contacted them to investigate their use of the designation, “Swiss Made”, on their watches.

Ocean7 proved their claims, to their satisfaction and passes their criteria for the use of that designation.

Now for the straps try-out, choosing the most suitable shoes.

Original Ocean7 isofrane rubber

Brown pilot leather ?

Tanned leather ?

Carbon fiber ?

Thick straight leather ?

Orange rubber ?

Black bracelet ? It’s rubber from Panatime.

Zulu for the toolish look ?

Well, I settled for this plain black leather strap for a change from rubber.

It’s waterproof. *grin*

When I saw the sales post in SCWF, I couldn’t resist and emailed Kucimo, who’s the seller.

After a few email exchange and googling around for his sales history, I was more assured about the transaction as it’s not a small amount.

So he shipped it out on Monday, and I got it on Wednesday ! EMS shipping rocks.

Upon receiving the parcel, it’s a real hassle to open it as it’s very well packed with multiple layers of tape but you will know that the watch is well protected and it will be safe and sound inside.

My first impression of the watch when I took it out, is WOW. The sweeping second hand, the solid 1 piece case (monocoque), the finishing, dial and hands, it’s a work of art.

A very solid and heavy piece

From my understanding, the 8L35 movement is a undecorated, unadjusted version of the Grand Seiko 9S55. A 26 jewels, automatic, 28800bph, capable of hand winding and hacking with 50 hour power reserve. It’s also known that the 8L35 along with other Grand Seiko movements are hand assembled in Japan by a team of 20.

I tried to hand wind the watch, same smooth sandy feel. Once the second hand starts sweeping, I can’t help but to stare.

Now for the rest of photos.

Lume is charged by the morning sun

No separate case back

Side profile, a common complain is the lack of a signed crown.

Side profile

Well, it’s a 6L15 with hand winding and hacking feature. I really like hand winding my watch. Besides reading time and adjusting time, hand winding is the closest thing with interacting with the watch.

Most of my Russian watches are hand windable, they tend to go “click click click” when you wind, it’s the click going against the ratchet wheel. The click also prevents the main spring from unwinding.

Anyway, on newer movements, like 6L15 and ETA 2824, the winding goes without such clicking. It’s has a sandy feel, like sticking something into the sand and twisting it.

That’s the main difference on hand winding for me and the hacking is a bonus feature.

The watch, chunky piece of metal with a beautiful finished dial, raised hour markers.

Signed crown, a very nice touch, as my other Seiko do not have any signed crown.

Head only, very nice mirror polish, thou it’s like a scratch magnet if you are not careful with poking through drilled lug.

Damn solid end links, also problematic as you can see from the following shots…

Sumo on leather, doesn’t cut it. The gap is way too wide.

Wrist shot with leather, the gaps look ok here, but you have to look at it in person.

Rubber, same issue but the gap is smaller, more acceptable.

Finally, with my straight ends Anvil. Doesn’t cut it too.

Ok, now for the comparisons.

Sinn-ko VS Sumo VS Monster, some commented about the fat fonts on Sumo.. well it’s a Sumo what.

Sinn-ko VS Sumo VS Monster crown shot, signed crown is nice.

Anvil & Stock Bracelet comparison, now here’s where some will pick on, the puny sized bracelet. It’s actually 20mm and tapered down ! I didn’t measure, but it’s around 18mm. I think it should be 22 and tapered to 20.

Sumo with butterfly wings.

Sinn-ko with heavy duty flappers.

Monster with hmmm, monster wings..

And sadly, it has parted to his new owner.

Well, I been wearing it for a while, it’s about time to post up a decent review of it yet.

The Seiko 6138-0011 also know as the UFO. I went to read up a bit on Seiko chronographs and why everybody was advising on leaving the chronograph function on.

It’s an automatic chronograph movement, using column wheel to engage the chronograph function and most importantly, it’s using a vertical clutch system.

In typical chronograph, like my Poljot 3133, it brings the chronograph wheel train into contact with the normal power train to start the chronograph. In such engagement, usually you will see a jerky start and for the 3133, the size of gear teeth do not match, it will cause a lot of wear and tear if you keep the chronograph moving.

The special vertical clutch system, is always running and it will engage or disengage from the clutch face that carries the central chronograph hand.

You can read more on how the vertical clutch works here: http://www.horomundi.com/articles_details.php?id=20

Its a tad boring but you will get to know why it’s recommended to leave the chronograph turned on for vertical clutch based chronograph.

As for me, I got it last week, it’s been running for almost a week, ran of out power reserve for 1 day, I wind it up, yes, we can wind the 6138 manually.

It’s keeping really good time so far.

More photos:

Close up of the dial, using a Raynox Macro lens

Exposure of 1.6s, love how the second hand sweeps.

The back

The front with it’s spreaded wings

K2, Mr Goh’s thick thick 20mm Paros strap

Battle scars as my friend put it…

The inscription is “автоматическое” = Automatic, “23 камней” = 23 Jewels and “Сделано в России” = “Made in Russia”.

Movement: Slava 2427 automatic
Jewels: 23
Functions: hours, minutes, seconds, day, date calendar

The unique part of the movement is there are two mainsprings.

Giving constant power, even when it’s low on reserve.

When my girl bought me this Fossil 52MM, I was practically hooked on big watches.

I was shopping for a mechanical watch as opposed to the usual quartz watches. I wasn’t a big fan of mainstream or popular products, I rather go out of the norm, I’m always choosing obscure products.

I decided with Russian Horology. I went to Red Army Watches and bought myself a Vostok-Europe. The model I selected was the Maxim Gorky.

It’s a tribute to Tupolev ANT-20 aka Maxim Gorky.

Picture from Wikipedia

Overall, it’s a hefty watch and thick bracelet. Lume is close to non-existent.

Movement: Vostok 2432 automatic
Jewels: 32
Functions: hours, minutes, seconds, date calendar, day/night indicator

A point to note, the rotor is exposed on the front, if you look carefully at the edge.

Movement is from Russia (Vostok) and watch assembled in Lithuania (Vostok-Europe)

With this, it’s a start of my Russian Horology journey.