Hamilton Khaki Field King Automatic Ref: H64455133 - A well balanced watch, A Review

This is my second Hamilton watch. When I bought my Hamilton khaki Field Officer Auto H70615733 (http://westernwatch.blogspot.com/2013/12/hamilton-khaki-field-officer-auto.html) back in 2013, I was on my way to Jakarta. This time around, I got another Hamilton on the way to Jakarta. The watch that I got is the Hamilton Khaki Field King Automatic H64455133.

I had to take four links out of the bracelet to allow me to wear it comfortably.

Group: Status of my Omega collection - The three "Omegoes" (pun intended!)

Recently, I saw a posting on the Watchuseek forum regarding the number of watches one have for any particular brand. That got me thinking of compiling group shots of my collection using the same rules. I decided to focus on Omega first.

Officially, I have three Omegas. Although there are four listed on my collection page, the fourth is actually my wife's. The gang of three consists of (from L-to-R) the Seamaster PloProf, the Speedmaster Bullhead and the Speedmaster Reduce. From the picture you can see the size difference of all three watches. From a massive 48 mm for the PloProf, to the relatively large 43 mm Bullhead down to the, just nice, 39 mm Reduce, the watches represent different wearing experiences. 

Head to Head: Laco 1925 Squad Atacama “Ninja” Reference 861632 versus Arctos Elite GPW Military Titanium Automatic

The German makes a number of interesting military watches. Although there are a lot of interest generated towards the pilot watch genre, other branches of the German military since the turn of start of the 20th century has their own set of specifications peculiar to the respective branch of service. Since there are lots of published information about German pilot watches, I want to focus this article on just German infantry watches that I own.

In my collection I own the Laco 1925 Squad Atacama “Ninja”, a watch dedicated to urban police Special Forces unit, and the Arctos Elite GPW Military Titanium Automatic, a watch for the German infantryman and the German KRK (Crisis Reaction Forces) soldier. Below are pictures of the watches on my wrist plus key specifications for each of them.

Stainless steel, PVD 46 mm across (excluding the crown) & 13 mm thick. Lug width is 22 mm Swiss ETA 2824-2 automatic movement with 25 Jewels, approximately 42 hours of power reserve Date window, unidirectional bezel (countdown timer style) Rubber 500 meters	Titanium, brushed 42.5 mm across (excluding the crown) &11.7 mm thick. Lug width is 22 mm NH35A Japanese automatic movement with 24 jewels, approximately 41 hours of power reserve Date window, unidirectional bezel (diver style) Leather bund 200 meters

Omega Seamaster Bullhead Chronograph Limited Edition Watch Reference 225.12.43.50.01.001 - I like the way it is, A Review

When Omega introduced the Seamaster Bullhead Chronograph Limited Edition watch during BaselWorld 2013, it created a lot of buzz. It seems that Omega has finally realized the value of their historical iconic designs and it was time to milk it. This is one of the first modern re-introduction inspired by the 1969 Seamaster Driver Bullhead watch (since then Omega has re-introduced a number of its old icons e.g. the Speedmaster Mark II, among others).

It was love at first sight when I lay my eyes on the Bullhead. I had set my heart to get it, eventually. However, I was deeply disappointed to find out that it was going to be a limited edition piece. The likelihood that I would get it became unbelievably slim. However, fortune shined on me and in 2015, I was presented with the opportunity to realize my dream.

The example that I was lucky to get my hands on is the pure black version with the production number 121 (out of 669). I actually like the number. Although I don’t believe in numerology, the 121, to me, signifies what I like about the watch; the symmetry and utility of the design.

There was another option, the Bullhead with the silver dial. However, after looking at it first hand, the silver surface was reflecting too much light that makes it difficult to see. The black version has a more practical feel to it.

German GPW Military Titanium Automatic Watch (by Arctos Elite) - Tough, Accurate, Simple and Cheap, A Review

My interest in military watches was ignited when I happened to see this particular model from Arctos Elite under their GPW Infantry line. While searching online about this company, I found out a few very interesting facts that is worth mentioning.

On 1 April 1923, Philipp Weber founded the WEBER & AESCHBACH watch company in Pforzheim, Germany. Due to the devastation of Pforzheim in World War II which saw the destruction of the factory, the company was reborn on 21 October 1947 and renamed ARCTOS-UHRENFABRIK PHILIPP WEBER.

In 1982, based on the need for a watch of highest reliability, the German Department of Defence comissioned ARCTOS to produce and supply a chronograph for pilots and submarine commanders. ARCTOS watches became official standard equipment of NATO and the German Armed Forces under the NATO reference and supply number 6645-12-194-8642. Unfortunately, due to intense competition, ARCTOS went out of business in 1994.

However, which financial banking from Dorothea Bachmann, a retired business woman and passionate watch collector and Mr Hans IIg, in 2004, ARCTOS Präzisionsuhren e.K. was re-established in Aarbergen, a small town close to Pforzheim. The rest is history.

The watch that caught my eye was the GPW Infantry automatic titanium watch. Saw that it was available on Amazon and I put in an order. It was priced at USD249.95 (retail price was USD425.00) and courier charges was an addition USD49.95. Total cost in Ringgit was RM1,109.24

Article: The movements that power the collection

There are a few movements or mechanical watch engines that power my watch collection. Generally, these can be aggregated into a few manufacturers. I shall now now give a list of movements that I have as part of this collection. These are:

This movement is a specially skeletonized version of the ETA 6497-1

1. ETA 2824-2
2. ETA 2892.A2 
3. ETA 2893-2
4. Sellita SW200
5. Miyota 8205 - Japanese
6. Miyota 8215 - Japanese
7. Miyota 82S5 - Japanese
8. Miyota 9015 - Japanese
9. Sii NH15 - Japanese
10. Omega 3220
11. Omega 2500
12. Omega 8500
13. Rolex 1575
14. Rolex 3131
15. Rolex 3132
16. Rolex 3135
17. Rolex 4130
18. TY2807SV - Chinese
19. IWC 80110

Despite the fact that this collection only covers watches made in Western countries, quite a number of the brands use Japanese and Chinese made movements to power their creations. As the quality of Japanese and Chinese made movement improves over time while maintaining a positive price differential over Swiss made movements, it is very likely that the use of non-Swiss movement will increase in the near future.

OCEAN7 LM5 GMT - A perfect gentleman's watch in every sense, A Review

If you have been following my collection journey especially on the Ocean7 Watch Company, I already have three of its offerings (The LM8, Airnautic Early Bird and the LM3 V2). This latest acquisition will be the fourth. The LM5 GMT has been touted to be one of the most beautiful diver given the use of sapphire not only as a material for the crystal covering the dial but also as the base material for the bezel itself.

I like doing business with Ocean7 Watch Company. The owner, Mitchell Feig, keep close connections with the people who have bought, and will eventually buy, his watches.

Head to Head: Omega Seamaster PloProf Reference 224.32.55.21.01.001 Versus The Oyster Perpetual Rolex Deepsea Sea-Dweller Reference M116660-0001

It is the clash of titans. This is how best to describe when this two giants from the houses of Omega and Rolex go head-to-head on a no-holds-barred comparative review. What is the prize? To be crowned as the better deep diver.

The watches that joined the collection in 2014

This is a short video of the watches that joined the collection in 2014.

1. Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 116520
2. Ocean7 LM-8 Professional Deep Diver 
3. Disney Parks Authentics Mickey Mouse 
4. Rado Original Diastar Diver Automatic 
5. Omega Seamaster PloProf

My Watch Collection Rules: How I Classify My Collection – Best Diver by Each Brand (Part 4)

In Part 1[1] of a series of articles regarding watch collection rules, I mentioned the importance of following your own set of rules for this hobby. The first that I follow is to categorize my collection to movement types. In Part 2[2], I mentioned about category types. In Part 3[3] I follow material types.

In this fourth installment of the series, I explained about acquiring the best diver watch each brand can produce.

Omega Seamaster PloProf 1200 M Omega Co-Axial 55 x 48 mm Steel on Rubber Strap Reference 224.32.55.21.01.001 - Its true KPI is how well it continues ticking after being abused, A Review

A watch brand's ultimate professional diving watch. This is one sub-category of my collection philosophy that I have tried to keep with some degree of success.

Since my acquisition of the Rolex Deepsea Sea-Dweller, I have slowly assembled a collection of the best diving watches a brand could create by a few respective watch brands. As at today, I have in my collection the following brand/highest specification dive watch:

1. Rolex/Deepsea Sea-Dweller
2. Deep Blue/Depthmaster 
3. Ocean7/LM-8
4. Bell & Ross/BR02-92 
5. Victorinox/Dive Master Black Ice
6. Orient/Pro Saturation Diver 
7. Citizen/Promaster Autozilla
8. Seiko/Marinemaster Emperor Tuna

Before the close of 2014, I was able to add on to that list. This time, a 'grail' watch from Omega - The Seamaster PloProf. The story how I got the watch is interesting.