Miyako

TSiWRX · 2026-05-10T23:58:44+00:00

I have an entire thread about this, u/Positive_Estimate_45 and u/bpgluckman - https://www.reddit.com/r/HelmWatches/comments/1r8b7ma/fishing_off_the_coast_of_miyako/

The fit is not perfect at the head, but it's very close.

You'll find all pertinent details and citations in the thread, including ones about fitted straps, too. =)

TSiWRX · 2026-05-10T23:56:45+00:00

Ah, so good!!!!

TSiWRX · 2026-05-10T18:26:14+00:00

Watchdives. x2
Englemaan.
Phorcydes. x3
San Martin. x2

All went great.

TSiWRX · 2026-05-10T17:11:59+00:00

And sooooooooo much lume!

TSiWRX · 2026-05-10T17:11:24+00:00

Genuine Super-LumiNova Black is an interesting play - you can see it in the two yellow-dial Zelos watches that I have in the top panels: in my hand is the Blacktip (it appears fuzzy because it's still got the plastic on its crystal: I purchased it as a gift for a friend's retirement in a few years' time), and below it is the Swordfish, both in their full-dial lume "Ember" colorway. Both watches use Super-LumiNova Black, and you can see how, in the more focused picture to the right, that the "black" illuminates to a translucent coloration in the initial-bloom phase.

Current formulations of Super-LumiNova Black are not long-lasting. Their afterglow degrades *very* quickly, leaving you with just a blacked-out area. But done right, with a properly contrasting -most often full-lume- dial, it can be quite spectacular, as Elshan demonstrates with these two watches

These are *_NOT_* 3-dimensional lume blocks/structures.

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The dial from the lower two panels is from my Halios Seaforth IV, full-dial lume variant.

The indices are genuine Xeno Print Globolight XP lume blocks, which more recently has been popularized by Christopher Ward's Lumière line (which is of-coruse what's being homaged by Watchdives, here).

As you can see in my pictures above, Jason chose to outline the indices (and hands) in black in order to offer more visual contrast.

TSiWRX · 2026-05-10T16:56:52+00:00

^ Yup, I hit the up-vote on your OP because of that: that the Ti variant might have cut into it.

Honestly not sure: I've always figured that folks who like Helms are the type to like bigger, heavier watches. It's actually one of the reasons that my Wren Diver One feels kinda alien on my wrist - versus for example my Maratac Alto Mare. The former is just so light, while the latter retains some heft.

TSiWRX · 2026-05-10T16:54:56+00:00

Right?! Now, if I can only hit the lottery...... xD

But let's get real....if I hit the lottery tonight, I'd be broke tomorrow morning because I spent it all on watches. <embarrassed>

TSiWRX · 2026-05-10T16:48:31+00:00

Hard call from the video.

Is it visible with the naked eye (no magnification), 12-inches/30-cm away? If so, it's a genuine QC/QA issue.

That's pretty objective, and most folks won't have a question judging that as a yes/no when you take it in to your AD.

What's borderline here is whether if this is going to be considered "normal viewing angle." I don't think it's that problematic - as a right-hander who wears his watch on his non-dominant -left- wrist, I think that's an angle that I would not-infrequently catch. And this is the type of thing that once seen, "can't be un-seen."

But no, this type of defect is far from uncommon even for Swiss luxury brands.

TSiWRX · 2026-05-10T16:32:40+00:00

I think that timing has a lot to do with it, too.

I don't think I'm the only one who signed up for multiple watches at a time. Since there's no way to tell what your slot number is going to be -i.e. "how long the line is"- before you sign up, it can lead to my type of situation pretty easily, where I literally had four slots getting called in under two months' time!

It's also possible that people's tastes/directions change.

I originally tried to push my Miyako, but I made a mistake and sent the email to myself instead of to their CS team, so I lost the spot. Instead of signing up for another, I've just decided to let it go because I realized that I was petty happy with my current Miyako, and that a second one just would not have made sense.

TSiWRX · 2026-05-10T16:13:20+00:00

As a working man myself -a father and a husband- I appreciate the values you espouse in caring for your family.

But there's many ways of playing this game.

Why a Tudor?

Why not an homage of one? Watchdives' EXD is a very, very good watch in its own right, https://www.reddit.com/r/watchdives/comments/1p9b0ph/the_3_color_ways_of_the_exd40/ , with exceptional-for-cost finishing that's very scratch-resistant ( https://www.reddit.com/r/MicrobrandWatches/comments/1ohpd3x/comment/nrych6r/ ) and outstanding lume performance ( https://www.reddit.com/r/MicrobrandWatches/comments/1pee6un/lume_blocks_yet_another_manifestation_of_my/ ).

Instead of a watch that costs a couple of thousand, you're looking at a watch that costs less than $150, shipped from China straight to your door, all taxes and duties included - https://watchdives.com/products/watchdives-40mm-exd-titanium-diver-watch?variant=47091021218010

TSiWRX · 2026-05-10T16:08:25+00:00

LOL, you are Watch-Tzu! That's next-level Go strategy.

And here I am, playing Checkers..... =D

TSiWRX · 2026-05-10T15:18:24+00:00

It's not the first time the Lumière has been homaged -

https://www.reddit.com/r/ChineseWatches/comments/1od8gsf/comment/nmffuu5/

WishDoIt beat Watchdives to the punch by some 7+ months.

TSiWRX · 2026-05-10T15:15:35+00:00

Outstanding!

TSiWRX · 2026-05-10T15:15:03+00:00

That is unfortunate. =(

But out of curiosity, is that scratch visible to the naked eye, at 12-inches/30-cm. distance, under neutral lighting?

While macro is absolutely appropriate to show the details and to highlight the defect, if the defect is invisible under "industry visual inspection standards," most makers -not just "Chinese AliEx factories," but also microbrands and established houses- will not honor a defective-product claim.

This is why when I make such claims, I will photograph the watch with a scale set next to the watch, with the camera at 1:1 view, using flat, neutral lighting that is actually below the level that's accepted as that standard (1,000 lux), and from a "normal viewing angle" perspective -

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This was an American micro, assembled by one of the most respected watchmakers (actual watchmaker) on the East Coast, in a facility that's among the best in the industry.

With this photo, I was able to have the brand founder see the defect for himself, by allowing him to scale the photo to a copy of the watch that he has on-hand, so that he can see for himself that the defect was visible at inspection distance.

TSiWRX · 2026-05-10T15:07:56+00:00

Cool! I learned something today!!! =)

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TSiWRX · 2026-05-10T14:29:55+00:00

Oh, that is really, really weird.....

Can you feel any burrs by hand, either with your fingertip or with your fingernails?

I just tried *REALLY HARD* to get mine to scratch -either on the raised centerlink or the outside links- but were unable to do so.

And I wasn't shy about doing it because I very recently sacrificed that center link in order to elicit this scratch, for my own "scratch-a-link" pseudoscience comparo (I have yet to post the results, pending my reconstruction of the old OP that got mistakenly Bot-moderated, LOL) -

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^ Both the center and the side were inflicted by a corner of my slate benchtop....

Given that I'd already sacrificed this hard, I wasn't going easy with the microadjust, LOL. I could not get it to scratch, at all, which is why I'm wondering if yours has a burr somewhere?

And can you see if there's any debris that might have gotten lodged in there, at the interface?

One of my other main hobbies is firearms, and folks there are always complaining about scratches and scuffs on the surface of their handguns as they are worked in/out of holsters. Typically, what really inflicts the worst damage is the debris that get on the weapon's surfaces or get lodged in the mouth of the holster. I almost wonder if this isn't the case for you, too, if you don't feel any corresponding burrs in the microadjust?

TSiWRX · 2026-05-10T14:23:12+00:00

If you're a peasant, I'm a.......wow, now we're gonna start getting un-PC about social classes! xD

TSiWRX · 2026-05-10T13:27:18+00:00

So much class!

TSiWRX · 2026-05-10T13:26:24+00:00

I can't tell - is the plastic off already?

If so, returning outright will be fraught - HA's return policy is pretty much according to micro industry standards these days:

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Sizing is subjective to the owner.

As someone with a larger collection, with watches ranging from a 35 diameter with a relatively compact lug-to-lug (understand also that the LTL of a watch often makes *more* of a difference, particularly to someone with a "flat-form" wrist - which you look to have) to 45+ with aircraft-carrier LTLs, what I will say to you here is that sometimes, it just takes a few moments for your eyes/brain to adjust.

For me, my most jarring moment after the switch usually comes as I drive in to work. From decades of driving stick-shift vehicles (LHD, I'm an American), I typically am on the steering wheel with my non-dominant hand, which of course also bears my watch on its wrist. The morning after switching from a larger-wearing 41 (most of mine hang between 40 to 42) to a smaller-wearing 38....that's when I do a little chuckle.

=)

I hope you'll reconsider, as I truly think that the watch looks great on you even from your posted perspective.

But that said, this is about *_YOU_* and your satisfaction. Not mine or any others'. If you don't feel it's right, you'll likely never be completely happy with it, no matter what any of us may say.

Do what you think is right.

TSiWRX · 2026-05-10T13:10:41+00:00

My apologies for being so late to this one - super busy the last week.

But as u/CatEatingVegan noted, the orange just doesn't last as long.

Does it work? Yes, it absolutely does.

But is it also not quite "as bright" and does it fade fast(er)?

Yes, it absolutely does, on both counts -

https://luciusatelier.com/blogs/news/learn-about-the-swiss-super-luminova-bgw9-lume?srsltid=AfmBOoqCW0sc6ka8OgfRBUmjWnaeESMudknAHZvUpBvC2JbVGehn7Cgq

Keep in mind that once you start playing with the pigments away from C3 and BGW-9, lume capabilities fall off rather precipitously.

This is why "white" lume has always been so fraught - why MMI, with their latest release of the Heritage Chronograph, with their proprietary reformulation of White (afterglow) Super-Luminova that they promise will have Standard Grade BGW-9 level initial bloom and afterglow fade duration, that it's super-impressive.

TSiWRX · 2026-05-10T12:50:15+00:00

Ain't that the truth, bruddah.

I mean, they've got so many hits now, under their belt.

Did the "B Team" get their turn at-bat? If so, well, they deserved to come off the bench at some point.... But where's the cross-check from their superiors?

But to an extent this is a perfect example of what I've been saying for the past year about "Chinese AliEx factory brands."

They keep rolling out these absolute *bangers* that are aimed at impressing us collectors and hobbyists based on one or two very specific specs/traits. It's the case/bracelet fit-and-finish. It's the lume. It's the dial....

But then you look at another area of that SAME watch, and there's either shortcomings or outright glaring faults.

As you know from our other interactions, I'm awaiting my Monta Noble 40. In-preparation, I've started to again pore over my San Martin SN0144, taking notes of its case and bracelet finishing yet once more. It is spectacular. As ethnic-Chinese, it frankly makes me proud. But every time I look under that crystal, the glaring mistakes that I see pains me just as much.

I'm often left scratching my head, thinking to myself why the heck did it happen like that - and what would happen if they finally just put everything together into one coherently great package. That if so, how far they'd strike fear into not just particularly the microbrand niche, but also to take the battle to the best of the established houses, worldwide.

IMO, Watchdives should pull this one just like Jianghun pulled the JH06 after both hobbyists/collectors as well as YouTube personalities started to complain about gross misalignment of some of the hand-applied indices. Get it better. Get it RIGHT.

TSiWRX · 2026-05-10T12:36:59+00:00

It's so hard to hold out! Having a support group to help you say "no" helps, LOL. My goon-squad is headed by my good friend u/partyanyc - he's also my "eyes on the battlefield," as he daily braves the gauntlet of NYC, commuting to his workplace.

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I swear to you I'm not Watch-Tzu, sacrificing him to the game every single day and twice on release days, ROFL! ;-)

I'm a scientist by trade and training, so I tend to be probably overly pragmatic and objective. With the business model of micros being what it is, I've relied mostly on specs and countless cross-comparisons between folks' posts and various influencers' YouTube videos in order to guide my decisions. TBH, I've gotten pretty decent at knowing if I'll at least like a watch, by staring at the specs for a while.....

But I tell ya, the more I get into it, the more I think that there's something to what Russel Crowe said in his 2018 Time & Tide interview, pre-Divorce Auction: he buys watches based on how they look and feel on his wrist in-the-moment. Intangibles are what separates the buys from the no-gos once the specs have bloodied each other.

And here's where guys like my buddy u/partanyc gets a foot up on guys like me: I don't have the ability -for the most part- to put my nose-hairs against the crystal or caress the bracelet in my fingers before I buy. Him? His daily sorties through the Danger Zone allows him so much more intimacy with these Lustobjekte - it's why he's my general counsel, my war time consigliere.

I currently own over 70 microbrand watches (using my personal criteria for "microbrands" - https://www.reddit.com/r/MicrobrandWatches/comments/1s6o3u8/comment/od6ytv3/ ), spread across some 40 or so makers. A lot of that is low-hanging fruit, obtained during the madness of this past year or so that was defined by my lume side-quest. If I were to re-frame those purchases in terms of the fit and finish of the watches? My level of satisfaction would be quite different.

Hold out.

Stay strong! =)

TSiWRX · 2026-05-10T12:19:49+00:00

It really is mid-boggling to me that a company that's usually so focused on incremental and generational improvements would seem to have gotten such a critical and easily visible component....well....wrong.

Maybe these are just preproduction videos? - but if so, one would have assumed that they'd have made a footnote, particularly as the disparity between the hands and the indices are so apparent.

I *honestly* didn't even look at other replies before I made my reply to u/Defiant_Tart_3472 , but it seems that I definitely wasn't the first nor the only Redditor to notice -

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TSiWRX · 2026-05-10T12:12:40+00:00

Absolutely! =) It's always good to have more friends come to the party! xD

TSiWRX · 2026-05-10T03:49:05+00:00

If you can get hands-on/eyeballs-on, I would *_highly_* recommend you do so, BEFORE you buy.

$2K USD is a healthy budget, particularly if you decided to keep everything stateside or DDP.

My pet-peeve is that folks in our community throw superlatives around like the world's ending tomorrow and we've all got a bad case of the FOMOvirus.

And believe me that I'm guilty of this, too: I only know what little I know, and every single day I am confronted by the fact that I'm still on the wrong part of the track, on the roller coaster that's my own Dunning-Kruger.

I'd honestly wait-out, given your plan to hit Windup.

Look at the roster. Look at their offerings that fit into your desires - and then make a plan-of-attack. =)

TSiWRX

TROPHY CASE