The Watch MTM Special OPS

MTM Special OPS Air Stryk II

Specifications:

• 47mm wide case
• 17mm thick
• 57mm lug to lug
• 24mm lug width
• 155 grams in weight
• Titanium Case
• Sapphire Crystal
• Modified Ronda 703 quartz movement
• 100 meters water resistant with a screw down crown
• Rubber strap (other options and other rubber straps available)
• Retail Price $1,050 USD

• Features:
• TITANIUM CASE
• SWISS ANALOG MOVEMENT
• DIGITAL COMPASS
• MULTI-FUNCTION DIGITAL DISPLAY:
• – TIMER/DATE MODE
• – ALARM MODE
• – GLOBAL, WORLD-TIME MODE
• – 24 HOUR MODE
• – CHRONOGRAPH MODE
• – ELECTRO-LUMINESCENT BACKLIGHT
• LONG LASTING, LOW LIGHT, LUMINOUS INDEX
• 3 YEAR WARRANTY

With a brand name like MTM Special OPS, obviously the owner has a military background and produces watches with Military/Law Enforcement personnel in mind.  And  doing some reading on the website, you will see that is the case. Myself, I am not a member of the Military or a LEO, and do not pretend to be. Granted, things like a world time mode, chronograph, compass etc, should definitely be useful to someone in the Military to have in a watch. But, what about us civilians? Do we even need a watch like this? Well, the simple answer is no. But most of us don’t dive or fly a plane, and we have dive watches and aviation styled watches, don’t we?

So, I am going to review this watch the only way I now how; as a watch enthusiast. And while I might not have a need for all of its functions, that doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate them, nor does it mean I don’t think this watch is pretty damn cool.
Now, first things first. This watch is large. Very  large. When you are looking at 47mm by 16mm thick square watch case, it is imposing to say the least. Is it too large? Well, that is debatable. With its digital functions, being a large watch makes it easier to read for sure. And, most G-Shock watches, which have a lot of the same functions are this large as well, if not larger. And while G-Shock watches are very lightweight due to mostly a plastic construction, so is the Air Stryk II, as it is made out of high grade titanium.

Before we get into some of the features of this watch, lets talk about construction. It has a solid Titanium case with a grey DLC coating, Sapphire crystal, and Hex screws everywhere. A large screw down crown with 4 pushers. A Solid titanium screw down case back and a silicone rubber strap. The hex screws used on the case and lugs are solidly in place with no issues. The lug bars themselves are quite unique. It utilizes a two piece screw bar and both ends when unscrewed with the supplied tools have rubber o-rings attached to them, to allow for a tighter fit, and to prevent the screws from being stripped.

They have the solid construction down, that is for sure. So what about usability? The 4 pushers operate many different functions, more than I can or want to type all out here, so please make sure to check out the video above. The settings are easy enough, and not over complicated in my opinion. The only thing I was not able to figure out, was how to sync the analog time with the digital time. Now, If you are going to use the analog for a home time just as an example, and the digital time for a another time zone, the hours would of course be different, but the minutes and seconds should sync. The only way I was able to do that was by setting the analog time and then going into the digital setting and keep pressing the reset button on the seconds, until I could get the time to sync. As you can imagine, it was a little frustrating. And it is quite possible that I just missed how to sync them easily, but if it were easy, I would think there would have been a setting that allowed this feature, and I did not find one. Everything else, as far setting the day and date, alarms (you can have up to 5 daily alarms), using the chronograph and timer and the back-lit electro-luminescent  function were all pretty standard and self explanatory.

For this review, I chose the white dial, but there are many more dial options available, even some with carbon fiber. The dial itself, or should I say the analog dial, is easy to read and has a lot going on when it comes to construction of it. Large 3D ramp style markers filled with superluminova compound surround most of the dial except for the 12, 3 and 9, these numerals are solid 3D pieces of the superluminova compound and attached to the dial. The skeletonized baton markers are coated in the same dark grey as the case is, and make a nice contrast against the white dial. Of course, the hands are going to get in the way of the digital display at some point, and this is inevitable.

When it comes to the readability of the digital section, well, it depends on your lighting. As you can see in some of my photos, you can not see the digital readout well at all times. The good thing is that the digital portion does have a EL Back-light feature, so if you find yourself not being able to see the readout, just push in on the upper left button, and it will glow a nice shade of blue.

Wearablity is going to be subjective. I have a 7.5 inch wrist, and for daily wear this watch is a beast. It is just beyond what I would normally wear. It is relatively comfortable due to it being titanium, so it is not a brick on the wrist, and the silicone strap is soft and pliable. Though, as we all know, silicone is also a lint and dust magnet. So while comfortable, it can look like crap quickly if you are not constantly wiping it off. Fortunately, MTM Special OPS offers about 3o different strap options for this watch, so if the one I show it on isn’t for you, they probably have an option you will like. The rubber strap is fitted with solid titanium buckle, which also uses a hex bar construction.

The screw down case back is titanium and features a large sword/dagger logo and a bead blasted finish. But most are probably wondering about what is under the case back; the movement. Now, I can only go on info that is given to me, but on the MTM website, they list the movement as being “Proprietary Swiss Quartz”. When I inquired further about that, I was told that the movement is “Modified Ronda 703 that incorporates with the digital displays and compass”. So, while they are using a base Ronda 703 as the starting point of the movement, the are modifying it to their needs for this watches’ specific functions.

When it comes to the luminescence, as you would imagine from looking at those markers and numerals, it is excellent in any low light or complete darkness situation. There are two different lume colors being used here as well, the hands and applied markers glow a light blue, while the numerals give off a strong fluorescent green. Not only is it functional, but damn cool to look at.

How do I sum up this review? Well, as usual, I did pick this watch apart and give you my real world findings of it. There are some things I think could have been done a little bit better, but I can say that of almost any watch. The construction is for sure top notch, and the overall package is worth the price of $1000 in my opinion with all it has to offer. How many civilians are interested in this watch over Military/LEO?  That I am not sure. I will say the functions can come in handy, and while we have many of these functions in our smartphone these days, I would think if you are going to be outdoors you would rather be using this solid and well built watch, versus your phone. And plus, you don’t have to worry about being in a service area or hoping your phone holds an all day charge.

Source From: http://watchreport.com

6:25 PM   by Unknown ·   0

The Watch AVI-8 Hawker Hunter AV-4043-03

AVI-8 continues to produce a vast lineup of pilot style watches at affordable prices. The latest release in the Hawker Hunter series is the AV-4043. Past Hawker Hunter models provided the general appearance and features that many pilot style watch lovers sought out. The new AV-4043 models add some fantastic aesthetic appeal that I am certain most will find quite pleasing. The Hawker Hurricane AV-4043 has a full retail price point of around $725 USD, however, the AVI-8 brand is heavily discounted and this model will sell at around $249 USD once released. The package will also apparently include a nato strap and an AVI-8 GMT clock. You can read more about AVI-8 and the models the company offers at: http://www.avi-8.co.uk/. The AV-4043-03 model comes with the following basic specifications:

• MOVEMENT: 21 Jewel Japanese Automatic
• CASE: Stainless Steel
• CASE DIAMETER: 44mm
• STRAP: Genuine Leather Strap
• WATER RESISTANCE: 5ATM
• WARRANTY: 2 Years International

The watch case is composed of stainless steel with a very evenly applied PVD coating utilizing contrasting brushed and high polished finishing. The case in the specifications is described as round but I would consider the case as more of an octagon while the dial opening is round. The case measures 44mm in diameter and right around 46mm including the crown. However, measuring 10 to 4 on the case the measurement is a whopping 50mm. The lug tip to lug tip measurement is also a substantial 53mm. Even with some whopping case measurements, the model is 11mm thin which will slide nicely under a dress shirt cuff if necessary. Even though the watch only weighs 100 grams, the other specifications will lead to quite a substantial appearance on the wrist. The weight, however, will keep the watch from feeling cumbersome on the wrist. A proportionately sized 7mm push pull crown is located at the 3 o’clock side of the case. The crown is extremely easy to grasp and engage. Based on my past experience with budget priced watches, I have found that many have quite a bit of play or wiggle in the crown when engaged, but I can report the crown on this particular example is quite firm. One of the coolest features of the model, sticking with the aviation theme, is the colored roundel painted on the crown face, paying homage to the roundel painted on the RAF planes.

This version of the Hawker Hunter is fitted with a flat mineral crystal nearing 39mm in diameter, which provides a great view of the great looking dial. Beneath the crystal is one of the sharpest looking skeletonized dials I have seen on any AVI-8 timepiece. The multi-layered, multi-colored dial is quite striking. I truly love the vintage colors used on the dial and handset. The dial is laid out in semi-NavB format with the minute markers notated around the dial except at the 12 o’clock and 6 o’clock positions. The 0 and the 6 used at these locations remind me of the Hamilton Below Zero watch model, which I have always found quite appealing. I really like the large 24 hour complication located at the 9 o’clock position on the dial, which provides a little bit of flair by utilizing a red hand indicating the 24 hour time. The dial does have a little bit of vintage lume on the markers, as well as, the hour, minute and second hands. The lume has solid glow on initial charge but fades rather quickly, however, my opinion regarding lume remains unchanged as being more of a gimmick than a true necessity. Overall, I think the dial will most certainly catch the eye and create quite a bit of conversation as it provides a significant amount of detail and aesthetic appeal.

The case back is screwed down to the upper part of the case. The case back has general specification information etched around the perimeter about the watch model that is typical of many case backs. However, the 24mm mineral crystal display is quite unique from any other AVI-8 watch model I have ever seen. Beneath the crystal, AVI-8 has applied a coating or sticker displaying the company name and the roundel also found on the crown face. In this case, I am going to give high praise to the feature, even though the movement looks quite a bit nicer than a standard Miyota 8215. Beneath the display case back is a modern 21 jewel Miyota Automatic 8217 movement. The movement has quite a bit of striping and has as I alluded to earlier, much more aesthetic appeal than base Miyota automatic movements. The movement has been fairly accurate as one would expect from a 21 jewel Miyota automatic at around +15-20 seconds a day. I know AVI-8 wants to keep costs down while providing a quality timepiece to consumers, however, I would enjoy seeing the company use some higher grade Miyota automatic movements in future productions. A 9100 series Miyota in this particular model would really present even more consumer appeal in my opinion.

Finishing off this version of the Hawker Hunter is a fantastic tan leather strap. The straps recently provided by AVI-8 truly never disappoint. Typically, I have found that budget priced watches have flimsy watch straps, which tend to make me believe that some watch companies consider their straps as an afterthought. The leather strap provided with this model is quite soft and supple and is extremely comfortable on the wrist. Also, as you will notice in the photographs and my video on my 7 ¾ inch wrist, the strap is constructed with quite a number of sizing holes that will allow for a wide array of wrist sizes. The strap is nearly 4mm thick and measures 22mm at the lug tapering to 20mm at the tail. The strap also has two keepers, one fixed and one floating, which are necessary with any good leather strap. The strap is finished off with a sturdy signed thumbnail style buckle. As far as improvement in this area, the only suggestion I would make would be to eliminate the taper of the strap.

Overall, the newest addition to the Hawker Hunter series is going to present quite a bit of value once released to the general public. The model provides quality specifications outside of the mineral crystal, which I found to be the only detail of the watch lacking. The roundels painted on the crown face and incorporated on the case back provide extra levels of detail not often found on budget priced watches in general. I would like to thank AVI-8 for working with WatchReport.com on this review. I would like to thank each of you for reading and ask that you take a moment to view the brief video presentation included with the review and subscribe to the WatchReport.com YouTube channel. I look forward to your thoughts and comments, as always.

Source From: http://watchreport.com

6:22 PM   by Unknown ·   0

The Watch Model: BRGMT4303

BRERA OROLOGI ETERNO GMT

• Model: BRGMT4303
• Case Material: Stainless Steel
• Case Width: 43mm
• Lug to Lug: 50mm
• Thickness: 12.5mm
• Strap Width: 22mm
• Dial: Blue-multi-level, Square texture
• Bezel: Stainless steel with blue ceramic inlay
• Strap: Suede and rubber
• Movement: Swiss ISA 8176/1990
• Crystal: Sapphire, Anti-reflective
• Crown: Screw down crown system and press buttons
• Water Resistant: 10ATM
• Retail Price: $795 USD

Brera Orologi has updated their Eterno model, now with a GMT complication and alarm, powered by a Swiss ISA 8176/1990 Quartz movement. They have also upgraded to a ceramic bezel. For my past review of the chronograph Eterno, please click HERE.
When it comes to the GMT version of the Eterno that I am sharing with all of you today, I can say there is a lot that I love, and very little that I don’t. One thing to keep in mind when it comes to Brera Orologi, for the most part they are not using automatic movements. While this ISA quartz movement does have a GMT and alarm complication, it is not what most WIS are usually looking for in an $800 watch. But as I have mentioned in the past, Brera Orologi has some of the best dial work I have seen in their price point, and their case finishing, attention to detail, leather and rubber straps and the overall experience is something that can not be overlooked in my opinion. While of course taste is subjective, I feel this watch is a beautiful sport watch that has a lot to offer.
Let’s explore:
The case at 43mm is a great size for many, not small and not overly large. As usual, Brera Orologi has done a mix of finishes, sandblasted, brushed and high polished. The case and crowns are sandblasted, with just the tops of the pushers being polished. The large knurled crown does screw down and operates the time, date function and the alarm hand. The GMT hand is controlled by the top pusher when the crown is unscrewed. Both of the pushers do have a screw cap, so they need to be unscrewed before you can use them.

The case back has the combination of all 3 finishes and like usual, is very well done. As I have said many times, besides movement, there is nothing that screams fashion watch when it comes to Brera Orologi, at least the ones I have reviewed. And let’s be honest, quartz movements do not make a fashion watch either. Some might be wondering, what is a fashion watch? Well, by general consensus, usually owned by a clothing or cologne brand, inexpensive or using sub par components and finishing, none of which are present here with the Eterno.

The dial on this example is actually a deep blue, basically a navy blue. It might be hard to see in some photos due to the lighting, but the dial and bezel are blue. The center dial has what I like to call a waffle texture, and surrounding that a standard hour track. The outer dial has applied steel hour markers, and the chapter ring has your minute and hash marks. The date, which does get lost a little in the dial, is located at the 6 o’clock position, and a 60 second counter between the 2 and 3 o’clock positions.. And as you can see in the photos, the Eterno GMT does not lack color either. Orange, light blue and white accents grace the dial and hands. The 24 hour GMT bezel has a ceramic inlay and also has white and light blue accents as well. Protecting the dial is a flat sapphire crystal with a decent internal AR coating.

When it comes to using the watch for the GMT and alarm, setting the hands is easy enough, I just wish the pushers didn’t have the screw caps. Especially for the alarm. When you set the hand and turn the alarm on (by unscrewing the cap on the bottom pusher, and pressing once), you have to do the same to stop the alarm when it goes off, or to turn the alarm off altogether. While having the screw caps does prevent accidental pushing of these buttons, it is not a large watch where I feel this is necessary. When on my wrist and the way the watch wears, I don’t see your wrist depressing the buttons by accident.

Speaking of wearing it, the 43mm case is very comfortable on my 7 ½ inch wrist. Part of the reason it is so comfortable is the combination brown suede and grey rubber strap. The outside of the strap is a soft brown suede accented with white and blue stitching, and the underside is a textured, gray natural rubber. Not only is it comfortable, but has a striking look to it, and should help to keep the strap looking newer for a longer period of time. To top it off, or to end the strap if you will is a solid, signed stainless steel buckle.

How do I sum up the Brera Orologi GMT? Great looking sport watch with high end quality and components, with a grab and go quartz movement. It’s a watch that will look just as good dressed up as it will with a pair of jeans. Damn, that sounds like a magazine ad…
Well, what are the negatives? Honestly, I can not find a negative. Some will say they want an automatic movement, but is that a negative of how this watch is built? No, it isn’t. The watch itself is well built, has a great dial and strap and at $800 might not be the best bang for your buck, but that all depends on what you are looking for in a watch as well. 

Source From: http://watchreport.com

6:20 PM   by Unknown ·   0

The Gruppo Gamma Vanguard Watch

Looking for a watch that quenches your thirst for bronze but doesn’t break the bank? Look no further than Gruppo Gamma, a brand that we’ve grown to love, which has a few that are right in your wheelhouse. Since WatchReport reviews watches that our audience seems to crave, Gruppo Gamma, and its watches, is no stranger to our site. Months ago, I ordered one of their bronze Vanguard (N-18V) watches after a friend, whose opinion I trust dearly, couldn’t stop complementing the watch. One could say that he reviewed it before I did, and I would soon confirm for myself what he’d been so over-the-moon about.
Gruppo Gamma Vanguard Specs:

• Case Diameter: 44mm
• Case Height: 16mm
• Weight: 170g with strap
• Lug Size: 24mm
• Lug to Lug: 54mm
• Strap: Buttero strap, brown, length 125 x 80mm, 24 x 24mm, raw edges with Type V buckle and an additional Ghilbi strap, brown (greenish tinge), with the same dimensions and characteristics as the Buttero
• Movement: Miyota 9015
• Crystal: Sapphire with anti-reflective coating
• Water Resistance: 200m
• Retail Price: $579.00

The package arrived safely to my doorstep, and I was soon greeted by Gruppo Gamma’s hard-to-forget logo. Inside the reinforced one-watch travel case I found the warranty card, the two extra straps mentioned above, a screwdriver, and two extra lug screws, which was a nice added touch. Most importantly, I discovered the Vanguard (N-18V) I’d been so eagerly expecting. No instruction manual was included with the packaging, but truthfully, I’m yet to read one as most of us have become quite familiar with the operation of an automatic movement.

While I had a plethora of dial configurations and colors to choose from, I’d been yearning for a green Arabic dial for some time. This version of the Vanguard’s dial is a dark matte green, which plays well with the bronze colored case and chapter ring that butts up next to the dial. To say the dial is uncluttered is an understatement since only the brand’s name graces it. Inspired by iconic brands such as Panerai, a three dimensional look was achieved by placing a layered luminescent dial underneath the main one, allowing for the C3 Superluminova to shine through the Arabic numeral cutouts at the 12, 3, 6 and 9 positions, also known as a sandwich dial. Matching V-shaped cutouts can also be found throughout the dial in 5 minute increments, with painted on individual minute markers in-between. This was my first sandwich dial, and I can’t believe the depth it adds to the watch’s overall look. Once charged, the CS Superluminova shines brightly though the cutouts, giving you hours of night time luminescent feedback. Bronze is reintroduced via its use in the Vanguard’s hour and minute hands, which are also heavily lumed with Superluminova. For added dial pop, Gruppo Gamma chose a red seconds hand; one that beats around gracefully and is powered by the Vanguard’s high-beat 28,000 bph Miyota 9015 engine. After reading the above, it might come as no surprise that I found the dial to be extremely legible under any lighting condition.

The Vanguard’s CuSn5 bronze case, previously thought to be CuSn8, is hefty and robust, but wore well due to its down-turned lugs. The entire 44mm case is brushed as is the porthole styled bezel. Unlike some watch reviewers, I wear my watches well before ever writing a word about them. With that said, you will notice that my bronze Vanguard’s case doesn’t look as pink as a new bronze case normally would, as it has already started to patina, which is a clever word for oxidation. While this may initially sound scary, patination, whether forced or naturally occurring, is a coveted process, and its effects can be as unique as the people that own and play with this “living” metal. The screw down crown, protected by two beefy crown guards, is signed “Gamma III” and sits in the Vanguard’s 3 o’clock position. Two non-functional hex screws add to the Vanguard’s nautical quasi-steam punk vibe. Due to its textured grip, I found the crown to not only be easy to operate, but sturdy feeling as well. The sapphire crystal, which is ever-so-slightly domed, is AR coated and sits microns above the bezel.
While the Vanguard doesn’t necessarily holler “dive watch” at first glance, as many of the classics do not, there are enough subtle diver clues strewn throughout the watch, like its porthole inspired bezel that reminds you that this is a serious marine inspired timepiece not to be taken lightly. A large luminescent pearl marks the 12 o’clock position, and equally sized recessed holes appear every ten minutes following. You’ll find three raised areas along the bezel that not only assist you in turning it, but they also act as access points for bezel removal, of which I did not do. The 120 click uni-directional bezel was functional and had no play when purposefully moving it back and forth during my testing of it.

The brushed stainless steel case back is the Vanguard’s only departure from its bronze construction, as a bronze case back would more often than not turn a wrist green as it reacts to the chemical makeup of a person’s skin. While a 100% bronze watch looks incredible, the green-ish tinge your skin takes on does not. The brand’s logo revisits the center of the case back along with pertinent information, including brand name, serial number, movement type and crystal material. This is the first time that we bear witness to the Vanguard’s water depth rating of 200m, as it’s pleasantly absent from the dial. Six stainless steel screws secure the case back to the watch, and with it, Gruppo Gamma yet again exemplifies the definition of “uncluttered” with their case back design.

As this is a bronze piece, a bracelet is absent from the total package, but two incredibly supple 24mm leather straps have taken its place. The strap that came attached to the Vanguard is knows as a Buttero, and the second is known as a Ghilbi. While I prefer to wear my Vanguard on canvas, I must admit that the Buttero wore extremely comfortable on my 7.5 inch wrist, and it was buttery soft right out of the box. The second strap, called Ghilbi, has a brownish-green look to it, and it appears to replicate the naturally occurring characteristic of exotic animal skins. Each strap came equipped with custom bronze V-styled buckles that matched perfectly to the Vanguard’s case.
While the homage watch debate wages on, Gruppo Gamma has kept its head down and continues to deliver affordable, well-built watches to enthusiast who are more concerned with quality and pleasing aesthetics rather than solely the name that’s printed on the dial.

Source From: http://watchreport.com

6:14 PM   by Unknown ·   0

The Szanto Aviator 6103

Once again I am thrilled to share my thoughts about a watch model from SZANTO Watches. A year or so ago, when I first had the opportunity to review a SZANTO watch, I was really unsure of what to expect when the watch arrived. Through various conversations with the company, the fashion watch concept was stressed by the marketing representative. What is the first idea that pops into your head regarding “fashion watches”?  In regard to watches, I know for me and almost every colleague of mine, the “fashion” label has strong connotations for lack of quality. Based on what I have personally inspected from SZANTO, the quality of the product has never been an issue.

One of the latest offerings from SZANTO Watches is the Aviator, is their take on a big pilot style watch. The Aviator line consists of a few different models but for this review I will focus on the 6103, which is the stainless steel cream dial option. The Aviator has a full retail price point of $450 USD for non-plated models. I have not come across any discounted pricing for this particular model through an extensive web search. Feel free to read more about SZANTO Watches and the various models offered by the company offers at www.szantotime.com.  The Aviator 6103 model comes with the following basic specifications:

• MOVEMENT: Miyota 8217 21 Jewel Japanese Automatic
• CASE: Stainless Steel
• CASE DIAMETER: 46mm
• CRYSTAL: K1 Mineral Glass
• STRAP: Genuine Calf Leather Strap
• WATER RESISTANCE: 10ATM
• RETAIL PRICE: $450 USD

The watch case is composed of stainless steel with brushed and blasted finishing. The case measures 46mm in diameter and nearly 51mm including the crown. The lug tip to lug tip measurement is fairly massive at 54mm. Even with some whopping case measurements, the model is just under 13mm thin which should slide nicely under a dress shirt cuff if necessary. Even though the watch only weighs 103 grams, the other specifications will lead to quite a substantial appearance on the wrist. The weight, however, will keep the watch from feeling cumbersome on the wrist. With an over-sized watch, an over-sized crown shouldn’t be a surprise. The Aviator comes with a massive 11mm “onion” style push pull crown located on the 3 o’clock side of the case. Since the crown is quite large, it is extremely easy to grasp and engage. Remember when I alluded to earlier that fashion watches can have suspect quality? Typically, based on my past experience, I have found many fashion watch crowns to have quite a bit of play or wiggle when engaged, but I can report the crown on this particular example is quite firm with absolutely zero play.

The SZANTO Aviator is fitted with a flat K1 hardened mineral crystal. The crystal is over-sized just like the watch, measuring 41mm in diameter, which provides a great view of a rather vintage style dial. I am quite happy that with such a large dial that SZANTO didn’t clutter it up. I have seen far too many large dials, just because so much surface area is available, a watch company will try to cram in a bunch of complications or writing. Two thumbs up to SZANTO keeping it clean with the limited branding above and below center dial. I really like the cream colored dial combined with the vintage colored lume applied on the Arabic hour markers and on the handset as each compliment the other quite nicely. The Aviator has two complications, the date window located at the 3 o’clock position on the dial and a 24 hour indicator at the 9 o’clock position on the dial.

The vintage superluminova “radium” on the markers and the handset is quite intense on initial charge but as with most vintage lume fades fairly quick. The afterglow does last for a few hours, so telling time in a dark movie theater or the like shouldn’t be much of a problem inside of a couple of hours. Overall, I think the dial will most certainly catch the eye and create quite a bit of conversation as it provides a significant amount of aesthetic appeal. I still prefer a sapphire crystal to mineral every day of the week.

The case back is screwed down to the upper part of the case. The case back has general specification information etched around the perimeter about the watch model. The SZANTO logo and branding is etched at the center. Beneath the case back is a reliable 21 jewel Miyota Automatic 8217 movement. The 8217 provides the 24 hour complication and is slightly more decorated than a Miyota 8215. I have to admit, since the model is only 100 meters water resistant and the movement is slightly decorated, a display crystal would have been a great addition to the watch. My only gripe with the 8217 is the lack of a hacking feature and the sweep second hand can be fairly choppy similar to the 8215. The movement has been fairly accurate as one would expect from a 21 jewel Miyota automatic at around +20 seconds a day. I know SZANTO wants to keep costs down while providing a quality timepiece to consumers, however, I would enjoy seeing the company use some higher grade Miyota automatic movements. A 9100 series Miyota in this particular model would have been a home run in my opinion.

Finishing off the SZANTO Aviator is an incredible brown calf leather strap. Every strap I have seen on a SZANTO watch has been of high quality and never disappoints. The strap is another area “fashion” watches typically fail miserably but not SZANTO. Obviously, the company understands that comfort plays a huge role toward exactly how much wrist time a consumer will allot to their product, so the straps they provide are far from just an afterthought. The calf leather strap provided is quite soft and supple and is extremely comfortable on the wrist. Also, as you will notice in the photographs and my video on my 7 ¾ inch wrist, the strap is constructed with quite a number of sizing holes that will allow fitting on wrists over 8 inches in size. The strap is slightly over 3mm thick and measures 24mm at the lug tapering to 22mm at the tail. The strap comes with two keepers, one fixed and one floating, which are necessary for any good leather strap. The strap is finished off with a heavy duty signed buckle. The only aspect of the strap that bothers me is the taper. I wish all watch companies would eliminate the taper period. Overall, the Aviator strap is great looking, high quality, and comfortable so another two thumbs up for SZANTO.

In summary, the Aviator Series from SZANTO Watches is going to provide quite a bit of quality and presence for consumers seeking an over-sized pilot watch. While far from perfect, the Aviator comes with some nice specifications including a Miyota automatic movement, great design, aesthetic appeal, and a fantastic strap far exceeding many well known fashion watches on the market. Upgrade the crystal to sapphire and switch from the 8217 Miyota to a 9100 series option and the $450 retail price would be much more palatable in my opinion. While not totally out of line at the current retail of $450, many watch fanatics will clamor for the upgrades I have mentioned above. Regardless, the Aviator is a quite striking looking pilot style watch and I give SZANTO two thumbs up for producing a quality fashion pilot style watch. I would like to thank SZANTO for working with WatchReport.com on this review. I would like to thank each of you for reading and ask that you take a moment to view the brief video presentation included with the review and subscribe to the WatchReport.com YouTube channel. I look forward to your thoughts and comments, as always.

Source From: http://watchreport.com

6:11 PM   by Unknown ·   0

The Orange Watch Company (OWC)

Specifications:

• 40.5mm stainless steel case
• Lug-to-Lug 51mm
• Lug Width 20mm
• 13mm thick
• 220 grams
• Ceramic Bezel
• Snowflake hands
• 4.5mm thick sapphire crystal
• 4mm thick stainless steel bracelet
• 300 meters water resistant
• Movement as reviewed: Soprod A-10 automatic movement
• Price: $1100 USD

Orange Watch Company, or OWC as I will refer to them throughout the review, might be a company you are not familiar with, but you should be. Especially if you want a superbly made homage to classic Rolex, Tudor and Mil-Sub watches of the past. If you want something that is a true homage, meaning it is not trying to be a one of one copy, the OWC should fit the bill.

After having this watch in hand for about a month, I struggled with how I wanted to word this review. What does that mean? Well, this is not a watch that is revolutionizing anything in the watch world, not in terms of design, materials or movement. But, I was absolutely impressed with the OWC Mil-Sub and I thought it would come off “glowing”, a term some people use on the internet if you write a review that praises a watch. I guess since I am a reviewer and even though I will without hesitation tell you what I really think of the watch, if I really like a watch and can’t find a fault with it, I somehow didn’t do a good review….

Well, two things. One, that is ludicrous. The reality is, there are times I just love a watch up and down for what it is and I cannot find any real issues with it. The second thing is, that is not the case with this watch. I do have a few issues with it, but none of them are about the quality of the watch, as I find the fit and finish on this model to be superb.

This version of the OWC Mil-Sub has snowflake hands, no date and a lumed ceramic bezel and Soprod A-10 movement. I mention that because you can configure your watch differently if you choose as there are a few options OWC has. You can opt for a Seagull movement which will drop the price to about $725, a Steel bezel insert, and sword hands instead of the snowflake, and lastly a date version as well.

Believe it or not, the dial and bezel insert color on this model are actually a deep dark blue, which might be hard to pick up in the photos. It is actually hard to pick up in real life as well, to the point I had to email the owner of the company to ask him which it was. I didn’t know if I was seeing a blueish dial because of light coming through the crystal and that was just the hue it was giving off or if it was actually a deep blue, because you can see in some photos how it definitely looks black. While I like the look of the dial and bezel, I think if you are going to go blue, a lighter shade or a more pronounced blue would have been a better way to go, as this is so close to black it is hard to tell the difference.

What I do like about the dial is that it is clean and not cluttered with text and while many times I prefer a date, these days unless it’s at the 6 position or in place of a marker, I prefer to have it without. This model as I said is available with a date, but looking at it on the website I do not care for it, it just looks out of place. The markers are painted on, instead of applied and that is something of a letdown at this price point. Though it can be argued that the choice of painted markers was for aesthetic and not a cost issue.

The top of the case and bracelet is all satin brushed, while the sides of the case and bracelet are high polished. Many I am sure at this point know I am not the biggest fan of high polish unless it is a dress watch, but I really do like everything else on the watch so much that I can overlook it. Not only is the case and bracelet well finished, both have some heft to it. This is a solid case and bracelet coming in at over 200 grams for a watch that measures only 40.5mm in diameter. Another thing of note on the case would be the use of the lug holes that have torx screw bars for bracelet/strap attachment. Included are 2 torx screwdrivers that are coated to lessen the damage of scratches against the case. The bracelet uses the same screw heads, but are one-piece screws, where they thread into the link itself. This really should be standard on all watch bracelets. Super easy to size, and the bracelets also include half links.

Now, while the bracelet is easy to size, I did have an issue and also something I found odd as well. The issue I had was that a few screw bars got stripped and were then spinning. This could have been my fault though, as I might have torqued the screws back in too hard or at a wrong angle when sizing. I would just suggest some caution when screwing the bars back in and do it lightly and just until they are tight. I did speak to the owner on this and he says that are always working on improving and that it has not been a widespread issue.

What I found as odd was the use of a dual deployant clasp instead of a diver’s clasp, after all this is a dive watch. Personally, I do think the dual deployment is much cleaner looking, but you give up having micro adjustment holes for a nicer aesthetic. The bracelet does include two half links, and I was able to get a pretty decent fit for my 7 ½ wrist.

The movement used in my example is the Swiss Soprod A-10. If you are not familiar with this movement, Soprod is a company that is making many calibers of movements, and the A-10 was designed as a direct replacement for the ETA 2892. It has a 42-hour power reserve and a very smooth sweeping seconds hand. Other companies that have been using this movement for a few years would be Stowa, Ball, and Aegir, to name a few. So, as you can see this is not a movement to look down upon. And between the movement and the action of the crown on the OWC, everything is pretty seamless. The action on both the crown and bezel is fantastic and a sign of a quality watch.

Lume is superb as you can see, right up with many of the lume kings. I do not think anyone who loves long lasting and bright lume would be disappointed.
As always I have tried to convey what I like and what I don’t like about the watch, and hopefully have done so here. Beyond the little issue I had with the bracelet screws, I cannot find any other quality issues at all. I spoke to a few of my watch friends and I think we all agreed that the watch somewhat reminds us of a scaled down Orient Saturation diver, with a different dial. So, if you have always liked that watch but felt it was way too large for your tastes, you might want to check out the OWC Mil-Sub.
I show photos of the packaging as well. It is a wooden “puzzle” box, and while the watch was well protected, you have to use a knife or screwdriver to get the top to come off, and the box can literally be disassembled in a few seconds. Not sure what the point of that is, and feel the company can save themselves some money by going with a standard watch box, or instead doing a nice leather or canvas travel roll. But we do not buy a watch for its box, so I might be nitpicking there.

And I am possibly nitpicking because there is just not a lot that I can point out here that I do not like. The OWC Mil-Sub looks and feels great on my wrist and feels slightly larger than its listed specs, most likely due to the case design and a non-tapered thick bracelet.
I would honestly recommend this watch to anyone who wants a high quality homage in a more average size that is not a one off copy of anything; at least in my opinion. Hats off to OWC for sure, for a job well done.

Source From: http://watchreport.com

6:06 PM   by Unknown ·   0