Seiko Sawtooth Diver, SCH063

Age: September, 2007

Dimensions: 46mm wide w/o crown, 20mm lugs

Features: Day, Date, Hardlex crystal, Uni-directional rotating bezel, Water-resistant 200m, Quartz movement, Fully lumed hands and hour markers, Screw-down crown at 4:00.

Notes: My low-ball bid won this on the bay last summer, and when I put it on it didn't come off for months. The lume is outstanding, the quality in materials is there, and it's quite comfortable. The bezel is still stiff (I hear it's an easy fix), and clicks with a very satisfying feel. Having recently fallen in love with automatics again (and procuring an amazing piece to be reviewed later), this out-of-production-diver has been nudged onto the "maybe for sale" list.

Tissot Quickster Chronograph

Age: 2001

Dimensions: 42mm wide (w/o crown), 20mm lugs

Features: Date, Tachymeter, Event timer (1/10 second, 12 hour events), Sapphire crystal, 100m water resistant, Swiss quartz movement

Notes: I bought this watch used, but just after its release. I really like its 70's style, but modern durability and ease of use. This edition, with the blue and white rally striped strap, is a bit of a collector's item and has appreciated nicely. I still take it out and enjoy it from time to time.

Hamilton King Khaki

Age: Circa 2005

Dimensions: 37mm wide (w/o crown), 19mm lugs

Features: Day. Date, Fully lumed hands (including second hand) and Arabic numbered hour markers, Military time markers, Sapphire glass crystal, Swiss quartz movement, Crown guard, Water-resistant to 50m

Notes: I bought this watch because it's younger, more basic cousin was featured in one of my favorite movies, After Hours (1985). This King Khaki has a full day window at 12:00 that makes it a bit dressier; it came on a black leather strap, but I keep it on this gnarled NATO strap because it is too darn hot here to wear any watch on leather. It's really cool to look down at the watch and see all the numbers glowing.

Seiko Arctura Kinetic Chronograph, 7L22-0AA0

Age: June, 2004

Dimensions: 40mm wide, integrated bracelet

Features: Date, Chronograph (45 min events), Sapphire crystal, Kinetic movement, Integrated bracelet, 100m water-resistant, Lumed hands

Notes: I was excited to receive this, but now I find the styling too modern for my taste. I like the recesses, finish and coloring of the dial, and I really appreciate the bracelet's homage to the fishbone bracelet of the old 6138s, but the overall shape of the watch combined with the small time-keeping portion of the dial makes it feel cold and impersonal. Something I find interesting is that the chronograph buttons have a feel like that of a mechanical watch as opposed to a quartz. I have yet to find a kinetic that fully satisfies me. The search continues...

Seiko Black Ion Chronograph, SNDA65

Age: November, 2008

Dimensions: 42mm wide (w/o crown), 22mm lugs

Features: Black ion-plated stainless steel case, Hardlex crystal, Chronograph (1/20 second, 12 hr events), 100m water-resistance, Quartz movement, Lumed hour markers and hands

Notes: I bought this watch for myself as a holiday gift late last year. I love it for several reasons: its Sinn-like appearance, light weight, strong lume and durability. I replaced the factory canvas strap with a 22mm Bond Zulu strap, and think it looks great. There is also an orange-striped black Zulu that would look good on it as well. I heartily recommend the SNDA series watches to anyone contemplating buying one. Or two.

Seiko Criteria Perpetual Calendar, SLT083P

Age: 2003

Dimensions: 40mm wide, integrated bracelet

Features: Date, Compass rotating inner-bezel, GMT hand, Perpetual calendar, 100m water resistant, Double-clasp locking bracelet, Hardlex crystal, 8F56 Quartz movement

Notes: This watch is a keeper. I bought it several years ago just because; and I rarely keep watches I buy for no special occasion. But this watch is so well-made, and so jammed with features, I can't sell it. The finishes on the bracelet, for example, are a combination of brushed pieces and polished. The chrome hour markers tipped with lume are also numbered from one to 24, so as the GMT hand makes its way around it tells military time. The GMT hand also doubles as a compass with the inner-bezel. The textured dial and domed Hardlex crystal add luxury, and the lume on the sword hands (including an arrow tip on the second hand) are highly readable.

Seiko 5 Sport Diver, SNZD65K

Age: 2007

Dimensions: 40mm wide, Integrated band

Features: Unidirectional bezel, 7s36 movement and exhibition back, Day, Date, Textured dial, 100m water resistance

Notes: I bought this on a flier on eBay and was surprised at the quality I got for the price. The lume was outstanding (but could have used more) and the dial really played with the light nicely. I could almost get away with it as a dress-diver. In the end, I sold it to fund another purchase.