Day 10 WRUW Monday October 10 Wear A Limited Edition Watch

[cd_god]

OK

It is October 10th (somewhere)

Day 10 of the October WRUW daily theme.

Today's theme is “Wear a limited edition watch”

For the sake of argument the watch must be numbered.

The Seiko "Save the Ocean" Spoons and Samurais are "Special Edition" not limited edition.

Back in 2015 when the original theme list was discovered through the golden plates and translated through the Joseph Smith seer stone "The List" was pretty clear and concise.

Back in the old days Seiko had the Y2K collection, the Yellow Monster, the Alpinist and Landtrek SSASS, the Landmaster automatic 8L35.

There were a few Kinetic Landmaster limited editions.

Since then there are hundreds of different Thai market abominations and every month is an anniversary Grand Seiko issue and so on and so on and that is just Seiko and not including the Swiss

So who is going to show their Yellow Monster?

Chris had one.

Chuck Tze from TOF had one back in the day.

I know better than to show my Alpinist SSASS on "Wear a Unique Watch Day" for a bonus point as there are more than a few lurking here.

[rossr]

This is the only limited edition piece I have. Seiko Nano Chariot - the "Steve Jobs". 

[raz]

This is the only LE watch I own now. It’s kinda cool and got me to learn more about Shackleton expedition in Antarctica. Amazing story. Quite excited earlier in March when they announced Endurance was found

www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-60662541

[Rod]

Yesterday i introduced the Tokkotai, here's the rest of my watch #52 story (abridged).

In 2013, pre facebook takeover of the forums, most of the Japanese watch forums were linked by various members and there wasn't much going on that the general Seiko enthusiast didn't hear about. Around the time there were a number of replica/homage Seiko's being made with various levels of success, the Spanish Seiko (Okies, now on facebook) watch forum were designing this Homage (call it what you like) of the watch worn by the WW11 Japanese pilots, I heard about the watch and joined the forum to hopefully be able to be part of the purchase.
I was lucky enough to see the watch evolve, one thing i do remember that there was considerable debate on the dial design and if any name or logo was to be included, I for one am happy it was excluded. The original had larger numerals and hands but this rendition is a happy medium between the original and what's easy to wear.

All those that wanted one put their name down and made a deposit (1/3 I think from memory) in early 2013 and....waited, I was lucky with number 52,

Well Gerlach was chosen to produce the watch and the plains were displayed on the forum for all to see, up until then I had never heard of Gerlach but a quick visit to their web site confirmed that they were ready, willing and able to produce this watch to a very high level, I've since bough a couple more Gerlach's and they are all well built.

In June 2014 the watch was presented and started being sent out, i received mine around October and it's more than meet my expectations.

Due to the delay in production and other issues, mainly increasing the limited run from 100 to 150, the initial depositors were given the red/black strap as a sweetener, i was just happy to have the watch. 

The watch came with the NATO red/black strap (my preference), the leather strap which is very thick and would require softening to wear, the 147gram SS bracelet that when fitted to the watch makes the whole assembly a whopping 240g and being a 43x52x13mm case is a hard watch to wear with it fitted and the ammunition crate box with cleaning cloth/certificate etc

From Gelach:

Seiko TMI NH35A movement
Case size: 43x52x13 mm
Case made from surgical stainless steel 316L
Waterproof: WR200
Luminous hands and face
Sapphire glass, one side covered with anti-reflective coating
Screwed crown
Leather 22mm lug-to-lug size
Wooden box
24 month warranty

[SeikoSoMatic]

[tritto]

Not really a limited edition, but a build out of parts of a limited edition - can't afford what the real thing, but this is indistinguishable and it makes me smile.

[SeikoSoMatic]

Oct 10, 2022 3:15:53 GMT -8 tritto said:

Not really a limited edition, but a build out of parts of a limited edition - can't afford what the real thing, but this is indistinguishable and it makes me smile.

Well, why not? More power to you! 

[inboost]

The one of 700 Pokéwatch would be my only limited edition (until the SRPJ41). I purchased the set (but had to chase one of them individually) from Seiko Japan as they were home market release only. This was my first experience importing watches from Japan too.They were sold out very quickly and like many limited editions instantly went out to the world auction market at double to triple price. These were purchased as a Family treasure as the whole Pokémon thing ran for decades in our kid's lives (at times much to my Wife's and my chagrin). The red and green watches went to my Son and Daughter. I also managed a Pikachu Baby G-Shock for my Wife and an Eevee dress watch for my Son's Girlfriend (also very enamored of Pokémon and that particular character). 

[suntzu]

[leffemonster]

I’ve a few limited edition watches including my Presage Crown Chronographs; the green-dialled SPB129J1 and the JDM blue-dialled SARX081. The SPB is numbered (1964 units) yet the SARX (1000 units) isn’t - it has a standard serial number 🤔 Likewise, my 140th Anniversary SUR457P1 - a “limited” edition of 11,000 😆 has a standard serial number, as does the SRPC15J1 that I won in the 2018 Anniversary Contest.

I’ve an LE Melbourne Watch Company Lonsdale (150 units) and Spinnaker ‘Help For Heroes’ LE Spence (300 units). I’m not sure if my Marloe Watch Company Morar is classed as a limited edition - I think it’s more of a limited production run of 250 units.

But I’m not wearing any of those today, I’m sporting the STBR019 ‘Prospex LOWERCASE Limited Edition Baycrew’s Group Exclusive Model’. This is one of a series of limited and special edition LOWERCASE collaborations released in 2018, the Baycrew’s Group model running to 550 units. I got it for a bargain price off ebay and immediately replaced the rubber strap with a MiLTAT Super Engineer. It’s one of my favourite solar watches.

[cd_god]

Today's Seiko golf tip of the day: lack of concentration results in sloppy play.

Yesterdays Seiko golf tip of the day: when playing dogleg, choose a route that's safe and you won't be sorry.

D. Freemont Incabloc

10 made.

Sun-Blush finished case

If it was a coin it would be "artificially" toned as I am sure heat was involved.

[59yukon01]

[russtmurray]

Celebrating Thanksgiving with this Handaufzug...

[dapellegrini]

Today I am wearing my first (and currently only) Bulova. A future re-edition of the Parking Meter. “Future” as in, next year, 2023. 



That’s right. I have been to the future, and this is what it looks like. See inboost ’s post here.  Ok, ok, they are just selling next years watch this year…. Here it is:





Side tangent - how many Swiss watch companies have ended up being bought by a Japanese group? Is Bulova the only one with that distinction?

Also, what makes a watch limited? I think a lot of non-limited watches are made in quantities of less than 5,000. I guess it depends on the popularity of the watch in question - 5,000 of a new Pogue from Seiko would seem too limited for example.



Ok, back to our regularly scheduled program …

Out of the box this watch comes on a leather strap. The packaging is careful to state that the movement is Japanese (Miyota), but the leather strap is Chinese. It feels nice enough - likely really an animal skin of some sort and not a synthetic Chinese stand-in, but on it’s tightest setting, it is WAY too loose on my wrist. I took a gamble on a 22mm Razor Wire bracelet from Uncle Seiko - and I think it has fixed this watch for me. Of course I had to remove ALL of the removable links to get it to fit right on my 16.5cm wrist, and It’s still huge, but now that I can wear it correctly, I quite like it. 

Here's a look at the odd case shape:









For better or worse, this re-edition uses a 0S21 Miyota Quart movement ($37 USD on esslinger.com), instead of a mechanical caliber like the original. It also retains the funky shape but the dial and buttons are reconfigured to fit this modern quartz movement, so its more “inspired” by the past than “driven” by it. It’s essentially a bullhead chronograph with a unique dial, reminiscent of the original. I do not own many modern quartz watches, but I find it slightly weird that when you press the chronograph pusher to start it, you get a click, but the second push has no resistance at all - it works and stops the chronograph, just doesn’t click. Then you get a click on the reset (other button). Maybe that’s how other Miyota chronos work? I dunno.

I had never heard of this watch (or the original) until I stumbled on this one while contacting a local watch maker to inquire about servicing some of my Bell-matics (which they told me they do not service because of the low value and high complexity). This watch was promoted on their home page, and heavily discounted. I bought it on a whim, figured I would flip if I didn’t like it. Since then, I have learned that I may be a hoarder, as I am so far only a buyer, not a seller - and I think I will keep this one too

[HiBeat]

I have a lot of true serial numbered "XXXX/YYYY" Seiko LEs not to mention the un-numbered LEs (yes the new SRPJ41 falls into that bucket) such as the OG Black Series Turtle SRPC49 (one of my all time favorites) and such not to mention like Josh says "special editions" which means absolutely nothing.  

So an SRPH11 today, the 2021 Black Series New Samurai.  But wait. is it really very 'limited" if the LE run is stated at the outset to 8,000 watches ? 8,000 they say ?   How is this even a "limited edition"?  Who says they will ever even sell that many? I'll bet the worldwide sales to date are under 3,000 but what the heck it qualifies and it's a knockout execution.

On a perfectly matched Clockwork Republic rubber strap made solely for this watch (so maybe its an LE too )   It really ups the SRPH11 game from the lousy thin thing that came with it plus with the fitted black metal end links this combo just takes this to the next level.

[pip]

So I have any numbered watches? Not that I recall. I’ve had a look through the ‘normal’ watchboxes and nothing in there.
What I do have is one of the crusty brigade on a LE numbered and “Not for Sale” nato with a chicken on it. You can only get on if these by having three reviews published in Fifth Wrist.
Am I meeting the criteria? I’ll have to appeal to Josh’s better nature for that, although last reports are that he keeps his better nature well hidden 🤣

[HiBeat]

@dapelligrini Bulova is an AMERICAN company !!!

Drive to LaGuardia airport from the GWB you go right past it in Queens.   (Better yet, stay the hell away from LaGuardia airport 

[dapellegrini]

Ah!  I thought, similar to Hamilton, they moved to Switzerland in the early days to get that SWISS MADE title - didn't they?  Either way, you would be technically right - they were an American company first - and also I agree, stay away from LGA.

[leffemonster]

Oct 10, 2022 11:06:48 GMT -8 pip said:

What I do have is one of the crusty brigade on a LE numbered and “Not for Sale” nato with a chicken on it. You can only get on if these by having three reviews published in Fifth Wrist.

And it’s even a birth year LE NATO with a chicken on it! 

[ouroboros]