Hello everyone!
Last year was a huge milestone for me in terms of watch hobbying, as I started my collection on December 31st 2016, and closed 2017 with 4 watches in my line-up. They are all fairly affordable timepieces, but it took me a lot of sweat to get each, from saving the money to reading tons of online reviews, ordering them online (I live in Congo, no other way…), getting them in Belgium, paying the duty, finding a way to send them my way… So yes, I definitely consider managing to purchase 4 watches a personal success I’m quite happy with!
So I thought it would be nice to start my blogging year with a small overview of my line-up, and a few considerations on the role each watch plays in it. Apologies for the bad pictures, I wasn’t in good conditions to take them, only had my phone with my camera left at home, and was too impatient to post this to wait for better lights to come my way. Here we go!
SBDC003 « Blue Sumo » or « Blumo »
As mentioned in my detailed review, the Seiko SBDC003 was my first automatic watch, an unplanned purchase, and one that came with strong doubts on size from the start. It’s also one that came with the unfortunately usual bezel and index misalignment issues, and I’ve considered flipping it several times over the first months I’ve owned it. How and where does it stand in my collection today?
There is no need to hold the suspens any longer: my glorious Blumo definitely isn’t on the “to consider flipping” list anymore. I grew used to its large size with time, largely thanks to its marvellously designed lugs that make it super wearable. After purchasing 3 more watches in a few months, the SBDC003 remains the one that has the most substantial wrist presence of all, which provides a lot of wear pleasure during leisure time. One year into owning it, I still didn’t get over admiring its deep blue dial, tooly hands and incredible lume yet. Most of all, I am still absolutely amazed by its case design and finishing at this price point. Cherry on the cake: I’ve recently bought it a Crafter Blue strap, and it gave it a second life, highlighting the dial’s blue accents and making the watch look a tad smaller than it did on the bracelet. It’s definitely less versatile, but as this is my week-end watch, the Crafter Blue usually works when I need it. If not, putting the bracelet back isn’t too complicated thanks to the drilled lugs.
In conclusion, and despite some growing competition in my line-up, the Blumo remains my favourite week-end watch. It took me some time to get attached to it, but I’m now totally hooked and don’t consider flipping it any time soon. I still fancy owning a smaller and more versatile (black or white dialed) diver, but am now thinking of taking my time to save its purchase money, rather than flipping the SBDC to do that.
Seiko SARB017 Alpinist
This purchase came 2 months after the Blumo, but it was the one I initially wanted. The only reason why I ended up with an SBDC was because I couldn’t find an Alpinist in Belgium. So, in a sense and despite its crazy cheap price (360 Euros including delivery at the time), this was my first grail watch. And it didn’t disappoint, from the first minute. I can say with no hesitation that this is the watch that received the most wrist time, and by far, in my line-up.
What can I say that hasn’t been said already about the Alpinist? Probably nothing. But I’ll gladly second and repeat what I’ve read many times: I don’t know of any better value for money in affordable automatic watches. For a nearly ridiculous price, one gets a ton of history, a classic but admirably well finished case, a gorgeous and truly original green sunburst dial, as well as exquisitely matching golden hands and indexes. Cherry on the cake, it comes with some lume, even though (by far) not as impressive as on the Blumo.
Remarkably given its very specific design, it’s also a strap monster. It sits well with any type of brown leather, looks ok on some black and green ones also, the only reservations I have is wearing it with a NATO, as I haven’t found a truly matching one – other than leather Zulus which are gorgeous, but we’re not in the NATO sphere anymore then.- Last but not least, it looks gorgeous on an Oyster bracelet, as I could personally experience after purchasing the Strapcode oyster and trying it on. I unfortunately hate its quality and finishing so I won’t wear it and try to flip it instead. But the looks are fabulous, so I’ll do my best to find an OEM Seiko bracelet even though they are discontinued.
To conclude on the place the SARB017 holds in my line-up, one year into owning it: a very substantial one, and one that is not about to go. I’m definitely keeping this one until I die or pass it over. Even more, if I’m lucky enough to find a white Alpinist in decent condition at around 700 Euros, I’ll pull the trigger with no thoughts. Yes, even at that price, it’s worth it.
I’ll conclude this by one piece of advice: if you like the Alpinist and are still hesitant, don’t wait too long to pull the trigger, as there is a growing rumour it may be discontinued in 2018. Hard to tell, as Seiko never makes such anouncements in advance, but I guess the line-up they will propose at Basel will give indicators. Will we see a potential SARB017 replacement? The answer comes very soon…
Glycine Airman DC-4 Purist – GL0072
I’ve bought this watch with lots of expectations. Its history, vintage design and original 24h dial really spoke to me on pictures, and forum reviews were raving about it. I spent a couple of months looking for an affordable purchase option, and when I saw a drop at 600 USD on Massrop, it became a no-brainer, even considering the 150 Euros of import taxes from the US. So I pulled the trigger.
Purchasing watches online without trying them on first can be as unpredictable as a World Cup football game, and I’ve learnt this to my expense. I was very impressed by the Glycine opening the box: overall, it’s a beautiful watch and pictures didn’t lie. After wearing it for a while, I noticed a couple of things I didn’t particularly enjoy in the design, but none of these were deal-brakers. It’s even one of the rare watches on which a couple of ladies spontaneously complimented me. And yet, it never grew on me.
I spent some time wondering why it’s so. Is it because of the particularity – which I would call ruggedness- of the case design? The particular feel and action of its bezel? The fact that the time is less straight-forward to read than on a usual 12 hours dial? The polishing, that looks thicker and less well executed than on my Seikos – at least to my personal taste?- Again, it’s none of these specifically as I don’t consider them deal-brakers, but it could be the sum of them… Whatever the reason, I don’t fully appreciate the “spirit” of this watch like it deserves to be. When wearing it, it’s the only one I look at only to check the time. A clear indicator that it has to go find a better, more appreciative home.
I’ve finished making my mind up after receiving the Stowa Flieger two weeks ago. I’m not going to anticipate on the coming detailed review but it’s already clear that this type of design speaks to me much more in terms of pilot watches. The DC-4 was an interesting journey, is an objectively gorgeous watch, is very much lovable, but not by me. It’s still in the line-up, yet only until I find a buyer at a decent price for it.
Stowa Flieger Klassik – no logo no date
This is my latest purchase, and one I will review in the next 10 days, as I’m facing a crazy beginning-of-the-year workload, and want to have sufficient one-to-one time with this baby before talking substantially about it. So I won’t say much about it, other than I so far love it. Very high expectations on this one!
Seiko Presage SPB069
This one isn’t part of my collection yet, but I thought I’d mention it as I have a pre-order on it for the next batch to be delivered in February. I don’t own a dress watch yet so this was a natural next step in my collection. Was initially thinking of a white dial, as I don’t own any light toned dials, and of course considering Seiko’s white enamel line for this. But when the SPB069 came out, I simply couldn’t resist its theme (tribute to the night and the moon, I’m a night owl and writing this post at 1:46 am) and gorgeous looks. I usually hate (and I weight my words) roman numerals and am not sure how I ended up ordering one with such large ones but hey, if watches were about brains and logic, I wouldn’t be here writing about them right now. I’ll write (much) more about it after receiving it.
Considering the Seiko comes at about the same price point as the Stowa, I’ll be interested in comparing the VFM of these two watches. They are very different horses, a dress-watch and a pilot, one placing most attention and costs on the dial, the other on the movement and case, etc. It should be an interesting comparison between apples and pears!
Well, that’s it for now dear friends. Thank you for taking the time to read this. My coming next review will be of the Stowa Flieger, but I will try to post more regularly and shorter posts on watch related discussions, and new findings I make on the web. Hope you’ll also get a chance to read those, and in the meantime please don’t hesitate to drop a “hi” in comments. Have a great day!
Small Toys for Grown Men 