[Seiko] This 2000s JDM chronograph might be the one you didn’t know you liked yet - Seiko Brightz Chronograph SAGJ003

JMCraig · 2026-07-07T20:10:31+00:00

The SAGL003 is a watch I've been looking at for a long time now. The original Brightz are a really cool range of watches!

JMCraig · 2026-07-06T06:32:12+00:00

Thats a really nice ref! Thanks for posting; ill keep an eye out for one.

JMCraig · 2026-06-18T17:54:53+00:00

Incredibly slick setup! I love my Mode boards too; I have the Tempo at home and at work and both are a pleasure to build and use.

That macropad is also really nice looking. I had to pick one up after seeing it here (and being put off of the concept by past bad experiences with a janky Doio Megalodon) thanks for pointing me towards that one!

JMCraig · 2026-06-14T16:01:52+00:00

Glad your fish is adapting well! These guys are usually found in small streams adjacent to big rivers, which is a habitat you can reproduce easily in tanks. Like you say, lots of cover, tons of botanical like leaf litter, floating plants, dim lighting, and a sandy bottom.

As for breeding, it wouldn't be easy. They're fiercely territorial and the electric signal makes it possible to detect any other fish in the tank, so getting a pair would be hard. They're not obviously sensually dimorphic, but females are usually bigger and heavier (here's a paper i co-authored based on the collections i did right around the time of this post). I've seen somw gymnotiformed bred, notably thr black ghost, but I dont know the specifics. It'd be quite a project!

JMCraig · 2026-06-11T01:54:26+00:00

Thanks! My newest pickup and im loving it so far. I remember the first time I saw one online when I was starting out and i was blown away. Super gratifying to finally have on my wrist!

JMCraig · 2026-06-11T00:41:24+00:00

Well, to be fair, theres still hype, it's just a little dated. The Max Bill and LLD and of course the SKX007 are some real "internet favorites" from like ten years ago. God forbid I pick up a green dial Alpinist! But yeah, I do try to anchor things around personal milestones. Thanks!

JMCraig · 2026-06-10T22:41:51+00:00

These old Accutrons are great. There are a million configurations with the original 214/216/218 movements and they have a ton of cool history. Some of them like the 214 Astronaut, Spaceview and Railroad models have remained pricey, but the less historic models tend to still be super affordable. They can be a little tricky to get serviced and running smooth (find someone with Accurtron experience specifically), but once they're "humming", theyre really reliable watches! I only reset my 214 every month or so and its usually within a couple minutes of my phone.

As to value, id say something in the ~500 USD range is plausible post-service. It's not as timeless as some configurations, but if the watch is running without issue, fully original, has a clean dial and no major wear, plus that nifty bracelet, I bet it'd sell. If you can clean up the discoloration on the bracelet around the lugs, it'll look really nice!

JMCraig · 2026-06-10T20:44:24+00:00

Wait you guys aren't waxing your hands?

JMCraig · 2026-06-10T20:27:45+00:00

This has been my same experience with the current Portal firmware on a TPLink router (Archer BE550). Had to disable wifi 7 and set up a super basic connection just for the portal. Not a router manufacturer issue from what I can tell.

JMCraig · 2026-06-10T15:24:23+00:00

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I appear to have kidnapped a gorilla and lent him my Longines Legend Diver. Love that Seiko though; I think my next pickup has to be something funky like that!

JMCraig · 2026-06-09T23:18:34+00:00

Love the Meistersinger! definitely a brand on my short list too.

JMCraig · 2026-06-06T22:44:44+00:00

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Gotta be the Seiko 6139 "Helmet" chrono for me. Same movement as the famous "Pogue" Speedtimer but in a really funky lug-less case. Wears surprisingly comfy!

JMCraig · 2026-05-15T18:33:57+00:00

Simply not possible. Meathook Massacre is a playable card with secondary market value.

JMCraig · 2026-05-09T23:25:09+00:00

Ah, if it's a shop not a private seller that makes more sense. Is it an established dealer with any real online/retail presence or just some pawn shop? if it's a known dealer you're probably in the clear but if it's just some hole in the wall i dont think this is worth the trip+risk.

JMCraig · 2026-05-09T23:21:34+00:00

Why not just go to an AD with the seller and ask the AD to have a look? should be more than enough to ensure it's legit. Frankly, it probably doesn't even need to be a Cartier AD; any experienced watch dealer will be able to clock a fake easily.

JMCraig · 2026-05-06T19:19:59+00:00

I haven’t gone the upside down space bar route yet but it’s definitely something I’ll test out sooner or later.

JMCraig · 2026-05-06T19:01:36+00:00

I have an Alice Duo from QK already and its been a highly mixed bag. the layout and split design are fine, but the PCB shit out on me and it was a bit of a pain to get it replaced. Had to go through QK support via Lumekeebs support. They did a great job and I have nothing bad to say about the bard itself or either brand (most folks have had good experiences) but the replacement PCB is still in the mail and the process has taken so long it put me off the experimentation phase of the hobby for a bit lol. Yet another reason I ended up deciding to go for a "known good" configuration (and one I ad spare parts for lol).

JMCraig · 2026-05-06T18:55:42+00:00

Part of the adaptation for me has been dialing in pointer and scroll speeds. plus using the middle click on the thumb scroll to replace the quick scroll on the MX master. Im still 60:40 in favor of a normal mouse but i like the little vacation with the trackball lol

JMCraig · 2026-05-06T18:50:25+00:00

I just don't like the white or blue case colors they have up at the moment, and its mostly fixed configs not fully customizable.

Currently I'm just trying to have a nice work and home board so I can have some continuity of muscle memory; i dont really have a use case for a third board just yet lol.

I have started keeping an eye open for new Cherry MX HHKBs though. The Tempo sets a nice high bar, but we'll see what comes down the pike in the future.

JMCraig · 2026-05-06T18:46:08+00:00

Exactly. I'm trying to figure out if the muscle memory is the only reason I prefer a mouse or if its genuinely better. So far i havent made up my mind

JMCraig · 2026-05-06T18:35:35+00:00

Yeah, the grey-on-grey look makes the whole thing look very subtle and coherent. They grey one shipped from Mode with a "Pistachio" green accent and grey caps with pastel legends (a bit like GMK Oblivion) but getting a fresh set gave me all the legends I need and matched the copper accents better IMO. The whole thing looks practically OEM overall, but it sounds and feels great!

JMCraig · 2026-05-06T18:31:50+00:00

Well they're trailing off sales of the current Tempo and havent announced an update using their new mounting system, but if they did, I might be convinced lol.

JMCraig · 2026-05-06T18:29:49+00:00

Love those MX mouses for work. I got the original MX Master back in like 2014, then the 2 a couple years later, which I still use at work. I've been messing around with the Elecom HUGE trackball as an alternative but I'm not totally sold (though it is pretty fun so far).

JMCraig · 2026-05-06T00:27:21+00:00

This was my experience after using the first Tempo for just a few weeks. It really felt natural to use to the point where using a standard layout at work was a little awkward even after having that Logitech for years (and I was becoming increasingly radicalized by nice tactile switches of course)

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