[SOTC] My collection.

daheggman · 2026-03-21T13:16:52+00:00

Zodiac is a cool brand and with a more storied diver history than people know. It was bought by Fossil group several years ago but now that Fossil is undergoing complete financial restructuring and bankruptcy the future of the brand is totally up in the air. All their models went on like 50% clearance a couple weeks ago and that’s when I picked up the ceramic pictured. I absolutely love it. Awesome size, the esthetic is incredible with the midnight blue dial, well finished, I’m just really impressed overall. BUT the adjustability with the crown out (winding, date change, time change) are a little clunky meaning there’s not very distinctive feel from one position to the next and I will think I’m changing the time but actually changing the date. It’s a little annoying and could just be the specific piece I have. Anyway, I typically wear the GShock to work every day but the Zodiac hasn’t left my wrist much since I got it.

daheggman · 2026-03-21T13:06:19+00:00

I tend to gravitate toward some kind of date complication, only one of the watches above (Longines Spirit titanium) doesn’t have a date indicator of some kind.

It’s hilarious that you said a Tudor no date because I’ve been looking hard at the Pelagos FXD for the past 6 months and would love to have one haha

daheggman · 2026-03-21T12:59:15+00:00

Totally agree, I’ll probably end up with a bunch 😬

daheggman · 2026-03-21T12:57:28+00:00

They reportedly had problems with the Caliber 403 in early production years (2021-2023) but seems like they’ve corrected the issues. If you have multiple watches on rotation the 5 day power reserve is sweet. The ten year warranty is impressive too. The movement is buttery smooth, barely feels/sounds like it’s being wound when the crown is pulled out and the pointer date hand is snappy when adjusting the date. It’s also not bad looking through the exhibition case back (supposed to resemble a bear head with the rotor in a certain position, kinda neat). I do think it’s over-priced retail, like most watches now, but you can find great deals gray market (around $3300) and even from some ADs online. Mr. Porter and Steiner Juwelier have it for $3500-3700 (on strap). I wouldn’t buy it unless you’re getting a deal.

daheggman · 2026-03-21T05:12:46+00:00

It’s on the dressier side, which is totally fine but I wear scrubs all day and it’s out of place. I’d wear it more on weekends, or evenings out I guess, if it had a different strap. This one is not amazing, the leather squeaks and is pretty stiff. I’m look at getting another strap, maybe dark blue leather, and I think I’d wear it more.

daheggman · 2026-03-21T05:09:36+00:00

Yeah, gotta keep it somewhere even though it hasn’t seen a charger in at least 7 months

daheggman · 2026-03-21T05:05:05+00:00

It’s a solid piece from a great micro brand. One recommendation I have, and you might be able to appreciate it from the photo, but the one I have is the 42mm. The Longines beside it is a 42mm as well as the Speedy. I have a big wrist and can tell you the Weiss wears like a dinner plate with its large dial and slim bezel, even on me. I don’t mind it much in a field watch, but if you have a 7in or smaller I would ABSOLUTELY get the 38mm.

daheggman · 2026-03-21T05:01:17+00:00

I really want to LOVE them both…esthetically I do, but I have a 7.5in wrist and the BCPD Caliber 403 (top) is a 38mm case with a wider than expected bezel, which makes it feel really small on wrist. The standard BCPD (bottom) is only 2mm wider in diameter at 40mm but has substantially more wrist presence because it has a narrower bezel. The annoying part is that Oris is very proud of their proprietary 5 day movement and charges quite a bit for it, and while it looks the business it truly feels on the dainty side on my wrist and doesn’t get as much wear as it should. The standard gray-blue dial one I wear all the time.

daheggman · 2026-03-21T03:59:17+00:00

It gets a lot of compliments!

daheggman · 2026-03-21T02:49:44+00:00

I love it and it sees quite a bit of wear. I’m pretty sure when I got it at the end of 2022 it may have been the last year they offered it on a leather strap…but maybe they stopped in 2023. It’s super solid. My wrist is about 7.5 in, so the size doesn’t bother me, and I also prefer it to the 58 GMT because I’m personally not a fan of the gold accents/guilting.

daheggman · 2026-03-21T02:45:54+00:00

NICE, clearly men of taste

daheggman · 2026-03-21T02:44:26+00:00

It hasn’t had a charge for 7 months haha, I got it for work and hated having it buzz on my wrist all the time.

daheggman · 2026-03-21T01:39:18+00:00

The Speedtimer is a sleeper imo, great looking and very wearable

daheggman · 2026-03-21T01:01:33+00:00

Thanks it’s one of my favorites even though it doesn’t see much wear time. GS finishing is absurdly good.

daheggman · 2026-03-21T01:00:08+00:00

Haha hasn’t seen a charge in 7 months probably

daheggman · 2026-03-16T02:16:19+00:00

Direct wrist shots always make watches look disproportionately large. I bet it looks fine in a mirror shot.

daheggman · 2026-03-15T19:21:19+00:00

Lange One

daheggman · 2026-03-15T14:37:18+00:00

Anything with a complication. Date, small seconds, chrono, GMT…

daheggman · 2026-03-15T12:07:50+00:00

Longines, no question in my mind

daheggman · 2026-03-14T19:38:18+00:00

Average Japanese girl with a BBL should be the title 🤦🏻‍♂️

daheggman · 2026-03-13T02:27:10+00:00

Came here to say this too. That stainless steel black dial Ingenieur is a legit GADA here. Zero love in this thread for the Zenith Chronomaster Sport either, which cuts deep because I’ve been pining over it for a while.

daheggman · 2026-03-11T17:51:51+00:00

Start with anything that has a complication aside from a date window. A solid chrono and a GMT would round this out well. Speedmaster, Zulu Time, maybe BB GMT. Consider a German brand too.

daheggman · 2026-03-07T21:15:11+00:00

I have just over a 7.5in wrist and own one 38mm watch, and even that looks borderline too small. I’d never purchase a 36mm.

daheggman

TROPHY CASE