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Seiko Marine Master 300

My latest Seiko, the Marine Master 300.

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
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Seiko Black Sumo, SBDC001

Here’s my mini short review of Seiko Sumo.

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.

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Полет Сигнал/Alarm: A Milestone in Russian Horology

The history of mechanical alarm watches

The first alarm wrist watch was first introduced in 1947 by Vulcain. The Cricket watch was also nicknamed “The Presidents’ Watch”, since Eisenhower, Nixon and Johnson were all loyal customers and eminent ambassadors for the Cricket.

In 1959, 1st Moscow Watch Factory developed the first Soviet Wrist alarm clock “signal” 2612 (“Flight”). It was almost a copy of the A.Schild 1475. I can’t find much information on the AS and Poljot link.

Photos of the AS 1475 can be found at Ranfft Watches.

In 1978, the 2612 was slightly tweaked, thus the caliber code was changed to 2612.1.

A comparison between the 2612 and 2612.1.

Lost image 🙁

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Soviet Horology Milestones

I will be posting a series of horology milestones of the Soviet Union which I wrote for BDWF Russian forum.

I have to thank Kevin for inspiring me to write my first milestone on the Poljot Signal, Полет Сигнал, a mechanical watch with alarm features after I posted my collection of the alarms, which is 1 of my favorite Soviet caliber.

My first Soviet Union mechanical watch is the Poljot Alarm 2612.1.

Lost image 🙁

and my alarm collection grew..

Lost image 🙁

Well, I will leave the milestone for the next post..