Let's see your Seikos!
Discussion
Ev_ said:
Finally got round to shooting my Bullhead recently. It's been an ongoing "rolling restoration" project for a few years now. Spec includes a NOS case, new bezel, new genuine crystal, and quite a few other odds and ends that you can't see.
That is fab!I've got the brown version, but it has more "patina" than yours
RicksAlfas said:
Ev_ said:
Finally got round to shooting my Bullhead recently. It's been an ongoing "rolling restoration" project for a few years now. Spec includes a NOS case, new bezel, new genuine crystal, and quite a few other odds and ends that you can't see.
That is fab!I've got the brown version, but it has more "patina" than yours
pstruck said:
eccles said:
Loving my new SRP711 at the moment. Hand winding, hacking, domed crystal and a real feel of quality. Got a nice oiled leather strap for it to finish it off.
I like that. Where did you source it? http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_tr...
Creation watches have them on offer at the minute as well....
http://www.creationwatches.com/products/search/res...
Couldn't resist this Seiko Sportura (Creation Watches' e-mails seem very well targeted at me 
) - and fortunately I ordered it a week ago because it's now a fair bit pricier due to the drop in dollar/pound exchange rate.
It's a Solar Perpetual Calendar model, with sapphire crystal and a rather nice bezel with a crystal insert. The dimensions of Sporturas make them look enormous; I don't think I own another 44mm watch, yet it wears perfectly normally. The face is big enough to be legible despite being busy and the lugs turn down quite a lot so it hugs the wrist. The bezel diameter might be 44mm but the case tapers outwards from the back; it's about 40mm diameter underneath.
There are a few reasons I wanted another Sportura. I have a 10yr old BAR Honda special edition which I wore for at least 6 years as my only watch. I'm fond of it but it looks a little worn now and the carbon fibre strap is not cheap and virtually impossible to get hold of if I wear it out again. It's also battery powered, and is the reason I bought my first automatic and started to become a watch magpie. And there's the main reason: I think Sportura models are very under-appreciated. It's hard to find reviews online, despite them being quite high spec for the price and interestingly designed and finished.
Currently I think it's going into my three watch favourite rotation with a Tudor Black Bay Black and SARB017 Alpinist.
) - and fortunately I ordered it a week ago because it's now a fair bit pricier due to the drop in dollar/pound exchange rate.It's a Solar Perpetual Calendar model, with sapphire crystal and a rather nice bezel with a crystal insert. The dimensions of Sporturas make them look enormous; I don't think I own another 44mm watch, yet it wears perfectly normally. The face is big enough to be legible despite being busy and the lugs turn down quite a lot so it hugs the wrist. The bezel diameter might be 44mm but the case tapers outwards from the back; it's about 40mm diameter underneath.
There are a few reasons I wanted another Sportura. I have a 10yr old BAR Honda special edition which I wore for at least 6 years as my only watch. I'm fond of it but it looks a little worn now and the carbon fibre strap is not cheap and virtually impossible to get hold of if I wear it out again. It's also battery powered, and is the reason I bought my first automatic and started to become a watch magpie. And there's the main reason: I think Sportura models are very under-appreciated. It's hard to find reviews online, despite them being quite high spec for the price and interestingly designed and finished.
Currently I think it's going into my three watch favourite rotation with a Tudor Black Bay Black and SARB017 Alpinist.
Edited by Jobbo on Tuesday 28th June 18:15
Ev_ said:
Finally got round to shooting my Bullhead recently. It's been an ongoing "rolling restoration" project for a few years now. Spec includes a NOS case, new bezel, new genuine crystal, and quite a few other odds and ends that you can't see.
A black Bullhead has always been on my list of wants. Its just moved to the top. Excellent resto and photo.
Jobbo said:
Couldn't resist this Seiko Sportura (Creation Watches' e-mails seem very well targeted at me ) - and fortunately I ordered it a week ago because it's now a fair bit pricier due to the drop in dollar/pound exchange rate.
It's a Solar Perpetual Calendar model, with sapphire crystal and a rather nice bezel with a crystal insert. The dimensions of Sporturas make them look enormous; I don't think I own another 44mm watch, yet it wears perfectly normally. The face is big enough to be legible despite being busy and the lugs turn down quite a lot so it hugs the wrist. The bezel diameter might be 44mm but the case tapers outwards from the back; it's about 40mm diameter underneath.
There are a few reasons I wanted another Sportura. I have a 10yr old BAR Honda special edition which I wore for at least 6 years as my only watch. I'm fond of it but it looks a little worn now and the carbon fibre strap is not cheap and virtually impossible to get hold of if I wear it out again. It's also battery powered, and is the reason I bought my first automatic and started to become a watch magpie. And there's the main reason: I think Sportura models are very under-appreciated. It's hard to find reviews online, despite them being quite high spec for the price and interestingly designed and finished.
Currently I think it's going into my three watch favourite rotation with a Tudor Black Bay Black and SARB017 Alpinist.
I realise this is a ridiculous comparison, but how does the Alpinist compare against the Black Bay?) - and fortunately I ordered it a week ago because it's now a fair bit pricier due to the drop in dollar/pound exchange rate.It's a Solar Perpetual Calendar model, with sapphire crystal and a rather nice bezel with a crystal insert. The dimensions of Sporturas make them look enormous; I don't think I own another 44mm watch, yet it wears perfectly normally. The face is big enough to be legible despite being busy and the lugs turn down quite a lot so it hugs the wrist. The bezel diameter might be 44mm but the case tapers outwards from the back; it's about 40mm diameter underneath.
There are a few reasons I wanted another Sportura. I have a 10yr old BAR Honda special edition which I wore for at least 6 years as my only watch. I'm fond of it but it looks a little worn now and the carbon fibre strap is not cheap and virtually impossible to get hold of if I wear it out again. It's also battery powered, and is the reason I bought my first automatic and started to become a watch magpie. And there's the main reason: I think Sportura models are very under-appreciated. It's hard to find reviews online, despite them being quite high spec for the price and interestingly designed and finished.
Currently I think it's going into my three watch favourite rotation with a Tudor Black Bay Black and SARB017 Alpinist.
Edited by Jobbo on Tuesday 28th June 18:15
TheJimi said:
I realise this is a ridiculous comparison, but how does the Alpinist compare against the Black Bay?
I don't think it's a ridiculous comparison (I doubt you'll get any snobbery on this thread, particularly!) I still rate the SNZH53 better in many ways than a friend's Rolex Sub so I'm as cynical about the value in expensive watches as anyone.Having bought the Alpinist in April and the Black Bay about 6 weeks ago, I've lived with them both long enough to be critical. You'll note neither is on the original strap; the Alpinist's is rubbish and I never even bothered to try it, simply changed it as soon as it arrived. The Black Bay came on a bracelet, which is lovely but I am more of a strap man so I spent £50 on a strap for it, and it's lovely - and suits the watch better than the OE leather, I think (it's a Colareb Roma). So lovely I have a Colareb Venezia on order for the Alpinist.
I wear the Black Bay more, because it's more dressy with a suit. The Alpinist is quite casual really. Anyway, enough of the objective loving. The Alpinist feels higher quality than a Seiko 5, the casting of the case is more intricate and the finishing is precise (e.g. where the brushed and polished surfaces meet). The movement feels beautifully smooth when you change the time or date, or hand-wind it. The crown screws down very precisely. But the Black Bay shades it in every area except the movement feel, which it just matches. The biggest difference is the crystal; the Black Bay's just seems to have no reflection (they're both sapphire and I believe are both argon-coated, but clearly something is done better on the Tudor). The numerals on the Alpinist are gorgeous, but the indices on the Black Bay with their gold ring around the lume feel more precise, yet still warm and human.
I'd wanted both for years before actually buying them and I don't regret either. One is not a substitute for the other in any way. There are some minor negatives with both: the lack of a date on the Black Bay is annoying, which I hadn't expected. The second crown on the Alpinist feels a bit too free-spinning and there's a little bit of dead movement/backlash in the rotating chapter ring.
Brilliant response, thank you! 
Reason I asked is that I'm kinda stuck between the Black Bay (Black) and the North Flag.
The Alpinist is also a watch that's been on my radar for a long time, but due to not being able to try one on, I've put off ordering one.
Liking your choice of straps too, the Roma is cracking.
Reason I asked is that I'm kinda stuck between the Black Bay (Black) and the North Flag.
The Alpinist is also a watch that's been on my radar for a long time, but due to not being able to try one on, I've put off ordering one.
Liking your choice of straps too, the Roma is cracking.
I finally jumped on the Alpinist because eBay did the 20% off voucher up to £50, and I found an EU seller offering the watch new for £259. So £209 to me didn't seem a great risk. I should have taken a photo from the side; the lugs of the Alpinist are very sculptural.
The more direct competition for the Alpinist would be the new 36mm Black Bay without dive bezel. While the Alpinist isn't as small as that, it's noticeably more slight on the wrist than a normal Black Bay.
Notice I'm avoiding giving an opinion here... I don't regret spending the money on either.
The more direct competition for the Alpinist would be the new 36mm Black Bay without dive bezel. While the Alpinist isn't as small as that, it's noticeably more slight on the wrist than a normal Black Bay.
Notice I'm avoiding giving an opinion here... I don't regret spending the money on either.
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