Express Review:  Zodiac Sea-Chron Automatic Chronograph  

# ZO3605

Fantastic overall presentation in a Swiss Made automatic chronograph.  Great size (42mm x 20mm lugs x 17mm thick) with lots of personality and strong auto movement.

Note:  the deep blue dial is hard to photograph, it looks black in many photos

Plus:  Superb and balanced deep blue sandwich dial.  Legible with solid white minute hand.  Sharp looking black ceramic bezel.  SW510B movement offers reliability and great power reserve (60+ hours).  Quick release bracelet.  Nicely weighted.

Minus:  Dreaded pin/collar system on links.  Butterfly clasp is nice but a fold-over deployant would be better.  Crown could be a tad larger.  Somewhat hard to find.

Sum:  Zodiac knocked it out of the park with this one.  Excellent value for a nearly perfect diver chronograph.  Hits all the right notes and does so with a no-nonsense style.  If you find one, buy it.

 Express Review:  Sheffield Allsport Diver 1A Automatic:  

# Deep Gray 300

(shown here on aftermarket Benchmark Basics grey leather strap)

Another vintage watch brand resurrected for the modern era.  This Sheffield Allsport measures 42mm x 22mm lugs x 13.8mm thick with 300 meters of water resistance. An attractive diver without frills.  Tool watch anyone?

Plus:  Pleasing gray dial with orange minute hand.  C3 Swiss lume.  Minimal dial printing.  Omnipresent NH35 movement.  Appropriately sized crown.  Sapphire xtal with A/R.

Minus:  Faux screws at the lugs look hokey.  Not a fan of standard nylon NATO-style strap; more strap/bracelet choices needed.  Does it need a date?

Sum:  Very nice fit and finish.  Clean overall look.  Attractive pricepoint.  Honest presentation and direct/responsive contact with Sheffield owner.  Can’t go wrong with this one.

Express Review:  Miltado Automatic:  #ML20

Miltado gives Sinn vibes in a smaller 39mm size with 20mm lugs and an 11.3mm thickness.  Has all the features you could want, with pushbutton clasp, machined deployant and 5 micro adjustments being an especially nice touch.  Miltado site presents information clearly, completely and with a no-nonsense approach.

Plus:  Smaller size attractive to some.  Great matte navy blue dial.  Good legibility and lume.  Screwed bracelet links.  Minimal dial printing.  Finish claimed to be scratch-resistant and fingerprint-proof.

Minus:  Smaller size may not suit some.  All stainless bezel with white numerals a bit hard to read.  Sterile caseback makes watch look unfinished.  Font used on date wheel looks a bit odd.

Sum:  Solid construction with good finishing.  PT5000 (ETA 2824-2 clone) movement. Impressive feature set for the price.  A hard to beat sharp looking homage.

Express Review:  Dominatore Del Mare Scilla Automatic:  

#DD-8027-02

Another micro-brand that has its own vibe.  Fairly standard dimensions (42mm case x 20mm lugs x 14mm thick). Color combos add some interest.  Japanese movement for reliability.  Fine quality for the pricepoint.

Plus:  ‘Mustard’ yellow accents look great.  Yellow leather strap actually works.  Good legibility.  Brushed case and solid caseback seem robust.  10 ATM water resistance is fine for most people.

Minus:  Yellow strap may be too flashy for some.  Would prefer a flush bezel pip instead of protruding.  A sapphire xtal would be nice instead of mineral.

Sum: Not much to fault with this piece.  Good construction with NH35 automatic movement.  Wears and presents well.  A bargain if bought at a discount.

Express Review:  Seiko Prospex Samurai Automatic:  Red #SRPL11; Black #SRPL15

This pair of Seiko Samurais share the same case, bezel, caseback, dial, handset and movement but are showcased here in two different colorways.  Great dimensions (41.7mm case x 20mm lugs x 12.3mm thick).  Expected Seiko build quality.  Bright lume.  Attractive pricing if bought at a discount.

Plus:  Reliable 4R35 movement.  Good sized crown for easy handwinding when desired.  Nice bracelet or strap.  Engraved bezel insert.  Just about the perfect size. 

Minus:  Bracelet has cheap stamped deployant.  Date window could be larger.  Date position at 4:30 may bother some wearers.  Color of red dial appears faded instead of deep in color. 

Sum: Sized much better than the original Samurai way back when.  Solid Seiko design, quality and reliability.  You really can’t go wrong with this Samurai series.

Express Review:  Crafter Blue Mechanic Ocean Mark II #MO2SS007

Another microbrand that delivers a real dive watch.  Decent overall proportions (41mm x 22mm lugs x 13.5mm thick).  Pro feature set (sapphire xtal, 300 meter water resistance, Swiss-grade lume).  DLC coated bezel for durability.

Plus:  Nicely weighted.  Solid Miyota 9015 automatic movement.  Great looking gradient dial with legible black hand set.  Quality craftsmanship with excellent FKM rubber strap and fine case finishing.

Minus:  Crown guards make it hard to screw in crown.  Crown could be larger.  No anti-reflective coating on crystal.  Bezel design limits functionality.  20mm lugs would be preferred for overall balance.

Sum: An intriguing dive watch that speaks its own language without veering off course.  Quality look and feel.  Very legible.  Easy watch to become a favorite.

Express Review:  Nezumi Baleine Automatic #BA3.302/1

Superb microbrand combining Swedish design, German assembly and a Japanese movement.  Nice overall proportions (40mm x 20mm lugs x 12.5mm thick).  Solid feature set (sapphire xtal, 200 meter water resistance, good lume).

Plus:  Beautiful blue dial and bezel.  Proper no-date movement (Miyota 9039).  Very nice embossed caseback.  Comfortable and attractive rubber strap.

Minus:  Pricey if purchased new.  Crown could be a tad larger.  Case detailing should be better for the pricepoint.

Sum:  An overall excellent diver from an energetic company.  Ticks most all the boxes in a positive manner.  This watch is a ‘whale’ of a fun time and wears well with good looks.