My journey so far. A boring story with lots of pics...
Jun 28, 2013 2:09:13 GMT -8
seikoholic, donciccio, and 2 more like this
Post by C4L18R3 on Jun 28, 2013 2:09:13 GMT -8
Being new to this forum, I think a proper introduction is in order...
December last year I bought 2 watches and thought it would be a good idea to learn more about them by browsing watch forums. For the longest time I thought I was ‘into’ watches until I stumbled upon WUS at the start of the year. Since then I’ve been fairly active on WUS and SCWF but never really introduced myself there (as far as I can remember). So why am I now posting an introduction here at Wrist Sushi? Maybe it’s my natural fondness for things Japanese and sushi in general? Or maybe because on this forum, everyone is relatively ‘new.’
Whatever the case, I know I like the vibe here… so please indulge me as I tell you my predictable but hopefully still interesting story thus far (and proceed at your own risk)…
I am a 41 year old father of 2 wonderful young boys. Motorsports is my favorite hobby, followed by mountain biking and until recently, watches (Seiko in particular). As the saying goes, the shit hit the fan when I found the watch forums, and what started as 6 watches in January is now 23!
Since the late 80’s, a Seiko Chrono 150 alternating with an also now vintage TAG F1 Chronograph served as my daily beaters. Last year I finally decided for an update and instead of getting a new Tag F1 or the pricier Carrera model, got these instead:
Tissot Visodate (re-issue)
– Vintage goodness but brand new.
Longines Conquest GMT
– Great for work (which includes a lot of travelling)
The more time I spent at WUS, the more I got into the habit of visiting the Seiko subforum. This rekindled my interest in Seiko and in a matter of days I had pulled the trigger on what would be the start of a trigger-happy, 5-month Seiko buying spree for me. The fact that I learned about strap options and mods did not help either! Below are my first Seiko autos (the usual suspects) including a Sinn style Kinetic:
I have since given the SNZG13J to my brother. I wanted to share my new-found love of Seiko to my bro, so off it went with 5 Natos, a bracelet, spare spring bars and a tool as a birthday present. He was blown away of course! I only wore it twice and this is how I liked it:
The 009 stays with the Jubilee most of the time and on some days, it goes on a patriot NATO. I’m actually wearing it today on the Jubilee and it is one of the most comfortable bracelets I’ve ever worn (will post a pic if ever there’s a WRUW for today). Here’s a pic on the NATO:
I specifically bought the SKA465 and, sometime later, the SNDA57 to set it up as seen in the following photos. They both go well with a number of strap combinations but in my opinion they were meant for these NATOs:
After enjoying the 009 for some time, I also wanted to try having an 007 modded by Yobokies. It drove me crazy trying to get a mod combination that I would appeal to me for a long time (otherwise it would be a never-ending, expensive process of re-modding). So a few late nights researching and a number of email exchanges later this arrived at my doorstep:
The 007 intially came with a Jubilee but this rubber strap imho goes much better with the look of the watch.
At this point I was really getting interested in a lot of Seiko models and couldn’t decide which ones to go for. The Seiko BFS was on my list, I found one in the sales forums but I was too far away and a few hours too late - it wasn’t meant to be. That’s when I stumbled upon the Spork - a design which I found much more attractive than the BFS! Admittedly it was a high price to pay for well-loved piece but given the relative difficulty finding one in such condition I bit the bullet. I believe the previous owner is also an SCWF regular:
The Spork was well worth it and stayed on my wrist for weeks at a time. Over at SCWF I got to read more on vintage Seikos and as soon as I saw a photo I immediately lusted after the bronze Bullhead! After some searching and waiting I finally found one, followed it but then lost it. The price was too damn high! Really wanting one and being quite disappointed at losing the bid for a mint example, I told myself that perhaps vintage watches weren’t for me so I turned my attention to the quartz re-issues. Since I enjoyed my Tissot Visodate, I figured that buying a re-issue was the only way for me to get the look, price and practicality that I wanted. So off to Chino I went to see if there were any silver quartz (SCEB009) ones left. Arrrghh!!! Out of stock. I then spent the next few days telling myself that I would have to be contented with the black one (SCEB011). Black was nice but silver was my first choice. Eventually I was ready to get the black Bullhead and went back again to Chino to place the order and lo and behold, silver was back in stock! Nice. I did what any rational watch loving idiot would do, I got both! And here they are now:
It was after this experience with the quartz Bullheads that I realized that I was still hopelessly lusting after a bronze automatic! Don’t get me wrong, the quartz models are fantastic well built timepieces which in my opinion will become classics in their own right. But the lure of a 40 year old classic was just too strong. So after a lot of searching and inquiring, I finally found what I think is an untouched example:
Ok, so I’m truly stoked at this point! A bronze Bullhead at last!!! WOW.
I was really over the moon with this acquisition and this is where the “shit-hits-fan-AND-idiot-cranks-it-up-full-blast” phase begins. The Bullhead is such a great watch and has so much presence and character that I was left in awe! It occurred to me that these older models had a charisma that not only made them feel special, they stood above the even more expensive, more popular brands because of their understated elegance and technical innovation. Something expected from a Japanese brand such as Seiko.
Needless to say, I got even more curious and was badly bit by the vintage bug! Deciding on the next one became quite easy. It had to be from 1971, my birth year. Of all the models from that year this called to me the most:
I absolutely love the silver version that I’m thinking of getting another one just to keep it as a spare! It’s a very handsome design and the fact that it comes with a bit of history (6139) and it’s from 1971 makes me love it all the more.
My wife was noticing the number of parcels coming in and was grilling me for spending on Seikos! I know "it's just a Seiko." Unfortunately she is with the majority in thinking that Rolex is the only watch worth buying/keeping. She wears a Tag by the way and has already informed me of her desire to upgrade to a Rolex. Dang. So my wife went out of the country for a week... here’s what happened next…
A vintage GMT! Bought this from a famous person at SCWF…
What’s not to love about this one? My 2nd 6138!
One of Seiko’s many technical innovations... also from 1971 and came complete with mint bracelet and box.
For some reason, I was really attracted to this Champagne dial. My 2nd 6139!
Happiness comes in small packages indeed!
My most recent Seiko purchase took some time to think about. It was a toss-up between the 6105 and the 6309. Some of you here might remember the thread I started back at SCWF to get your views on both. In the end I went for a 6309 with a 6105 dial. Now I know there are those who detest modding but hey I’M VERY HAPPY with this one so just be happy for me as a fellow enthusiast okay? (And no further discussions on fakes and whatnot) I like the fact that it’s got a 22mm lug so I could set it up nicely with Swedefreaks end links and my favorite bracelet design, the razor. To be honest, this one really gets a lot of wrist time:
Unfortunately it will be some time before I get myself another Seiko as I am setting my sights on obtaining other watches in the near/far future (an Autodromo Monoposto, a Halios Laguna and a Meistersinger Perigraph). Given my wife’s recent…. ermmm ‘complaints’ regarding my watch buying, this might take a while longer. If I were to list down my next few Seikos then it would probably be a black Bullhead, the UFO, a Big Blue and a gray dialed (orange accented) BellMatic in coffin bracelet please (in that order)... then a Citizen Seven Star Parawater Diver... and then maybe one Citizen Bullhead... (well you know how this goes...)
My watchbox so far:
What’s not in the box is a decade old Suunto Vector, a Timex HRM and a G-Shock (can't remember the model number). If somebody were to ask me why I collect, I’d say it’s because I love the character, the look and feel of a watch and how it makes me feel when I have it on my wrist. This is where my ‘pride of ownership’ comes from - regardless of price, brand or people’s perception. I’ve always ‘gone the other way’ in most of my interests and that’s why I have such a high regard for Seiko. I look forward to gaining more knowledge and acquiring more Seikos in the coming years. When the time comes, I hope my sons can also appreciate and enjoy them...
That’s my journey so far… my name is Tristan and I’m a Seikoholic yes1.gif
I end this post with some random pics, as if this post didn’t have enough!
Thanks for reading. Good vibes to all! a063
December last year I bought 2 watches and thought it would be a good idea to learn more about them by browsing watch forums. For the longest time I thought I was ‘into’ watches until I stumbled upon WUS at the start of the year. Since then I’ve been fairly active on WUS and SCWF but never really introduced myself there (as far as I can remember). So why am I now posting an introduction here at Wrist Sushi? Maybe it’s my natural fondness for things Japanese and sushi in general? Or maybe because on this forum, everyone is relatively ‘new.’
Whatever the case, I know I like the vibe here… so please indulge me as I tell you my predictable but hopefully still interesting story thus far (and proceed at your own risk)…
I am a 41 year old father of 2 wonderful young boys. Motorsports is my favorite hobby, followed by mountain biking and until recently, watches (Seiko in particular). As the saying goes, the shit hit the fan when I found the watch forums, and what started as 6 watches in January is now 23!
Since the late 80’s, a Seiko Chrono 150 alternating with an also now vintage TAG F1 Chronograph served as my daily beaters. Last year I finally decided for an update and instead of getting a new Tag F1 or the pricier Carrera model, got these instead:
Tissot Visodate (re-issue)
– Vintage goodness but brand new.
Longines Conquest GMT
– Great for work (which includes a lot of travelling)
The more time I spent at WUS, the more I got into the habit of visiting the Seiko subforum. This rekindled my interest in Seiko and in a matter of days I had pulled the trigger on what would be the start of a trigger-happy, 5-month Seiko buying spree for me. The fact that I learned about strap options and mods did not help either! Below are my first Seiko autos (the usual suspects) including a Sinn style Kinetic:
I have since given the SNZG13J to my brother. I wanted to share my new-found love of Seiko to my bro, so off it went with 5 Natos, a bracelet, spare spring bars and a tool as a birthday present. He was blown away of course! I only wore it twice and this is how I liked it:
The 009 stays with the Jubilee most of the time and on some days, it goes on a patriot NATO. I’m actually wearing it today on the Jubilee and it is one of the most comfortable bracelets I’ve ever worn (will post a pic if ever there’s a WRUW for today). Here’s a pic on the NATO:
I specifically bought the SKA465 and, sometime later, the SNDA57 to set it up as seen in the following photos. They both go well with a number of strap combinations but in my opinion they were meant for these NATOs:
After enjoying the 009 for some time, I also wanted to try having an 007 modded by Yobokies. It drove me crazy trying to get a mod combination that I would appeal to me for a long time (otherwise it would be a never-ending, expensive process of re-modding). So a few late nights researching and a number of email exchanges later this arrived at my doorstep:
The 007 intially came with a Jubilee but this rubber strap imho goes much better with the look of the watch.
At this point I was really getting interested in a lot of Seiko models and couldn’t decide which ones to go for. The Seiko BFS was on my list, I found one in the sales forums but I was too far away and a few hours too late - it wasn’t meant to be. That’s when I stumbled upon the Spork - a design which I found much more attractive than the BFS! Admittedly it was a high price to pay for well-loved piece but given the relative difficulty finding one in such condition I bit the bullet. I believe the previous owner is also an SCWF regular:
The Spork was well worth it and stayed on my wrist for weeks at a time. Over at SCWF I got to read more on vintage Seikos and as soon as I saw a photo I immediately lusted after the bronze Bullhead! After some searching and waiting I finally found one, followed it but then lost it. The price was too damn high! Really wanting one and being quite disappointed at losing the bid for a mint example, I told myself that perhaps vintage watches weren’t for me so I turned my attention to the quartz re-issues. Since I enjoyed my Tissot Visodate, I figured that buying a re-issue was the only way for me to get the look, price and practicality that I wanted. So off to Chino I went to see if there were any silver quartz (SCEB009) ones left. Arrrghh!!! Out of stock. I then spent the next few days telling myself that I would have to be contented with the black one (SCEB011). Black was nice but silver was my first choice. Eventually I was ready to get the black Bullhead and went back again to Chino to place the order and lo and behold, silver was back in stock! Nice. I did what any rational watch loving idiot would do, I got both! And here they are now:
It was after this experience with the quartz Bullheads that I realized that I was still hopelessly lusting after a bronze automatic! Don’t get me wrong, the quartz models are fantastic well built timepieces which in my opinion will become classics in their own right. But the lure of a 40 year old classic was just too strong. So after a lot of searching and inquiring, I finally found what I think is an untouched example:
Ok, so I’m truly stoked at this point! A bronze Bullhead at last!!! WOW.
I was really over the moon with this acquisition and this is where the “shit-hits-fan-AND-idiot-cranks-it-up-full-blast” phase begins. The Bullhead is such a great watch and has so much presence and character that I was left in awe! It occurred to me that these older models had a charisma that not only made them feel special, they stood above the even more expensive, more popular brands because of their understated elegance and technical innovation. Something expected from a Japanese brand such as Seiko.
Needless to say, I got even more curious and was badly bit by the vintage bug! Deciding on the next one became quite easy. It had to be from 1971, my birth year. Of all the models from that year this called to me the most:
I absolutely love the silver version that I’m thinking of getting another one just to keep it as a spare! It’s a very handsome design and the fact that it comes with a bit of history (6139) and it’s from 1971 makes me love it all the more.
My wife was noticing the number of parcels coming in and was grilling me for spending on Seikos! I know "it's just a Seiko." Unfortunately she is with the majority in thinking that Rolex is the only watch worth buying/keeping. She wears a Tag by the way and has already informed me of her desire to upgrade to a Rolex. Dang. So my wife went out of the country for a week... here’s what happened next…
A vintage GMT! Bought this from a famous person at SCWF…
What’s not to love about this one? My 2nd 6138!
One of Seiko’s many technical innovations... also from 1971 and came complete with mint bracelet and box.
For some reason, I was really attracted to this Champagne dial. My 2nd 6139!
Happiness comes in small packages indeed!
My most recent Seiko purchase took some time to think about. It was a toss-up between the 6105 and the 6309. Some of you here might remember the thread I started back at SCWF to get your views on both. In the end I went for a 6309 with a 6105 dial. Now I know there are those who detest modding but hey I’M VERY HAPPY with this one so just be happy for me as a fellow enthusiast okay? (And no further discussions on fakes and whatnot) I like the fact that it’s got a 22mm lug so I could set it up nicely with Swedefreaks end links and my favorite bracelet design, the razor. To be honest, this one really gets a lot of wrist time:
Unfortunately it will be some time before I get myself another Seiko as I am setting my sights on obtaining other watches in the near/far future (an Autodromo Monoposto, a Halios Laguna and a Meistersinger Perigraph). Given my wife’s recent…. ermmm ‘complaints’ regarding my watch buying, this might take a while longer. If I were to list down my next few Seikos then it would probably be a black Bullhead, the UFO, a Big Blue and a gray dialed (orange accented) BellMatic in coffin bracelet please (in that order)... then a Citizen Seven Star Parawater Diver... and then maybe one Citizen Bullhead... (well you know how this goes...)
My watchbox so far:
What’s not in the box is a decade old Suunto Vector, a Timex HRM and a G-Shock (can't remember the model number). If somebody were to ask me why I collect, I’d say it’s because I love the character, the look and feel of a watch and how it makes me feel when I have it on my wrist. This is where my ‘pride of ownership’ comes from - regardless of price, brand or people’s perception. I’ve always ‘gone the other way’ in most of my interests and that’s why I have such a high regard for Seiko. I look forward to gaining more knowledge and acquiring more Seikos in the coming years. When the time comes, I hope my sons can also appreciate and enjoy them...
That’s my journey so far… my name is Tristan and I’m a Seikoholic yes1.gif
I end this post with some random pics, as if this post didn’t have enough!
Thanks for reading. Good vibes to all! a063
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