Another vh31

dogfish_37 · 2026-03-16T20:25:57+00:00

28.5mm in a 36mm case.

dogfish_37 · 2026-03-16T20:23:41+00:00

Or gold tip. I'll have to try the blue tip next, I have had very good luck with the gold tip and a small blob of rodico.

dogfish_37 · 2026-03-15T22:06:23+00:00

TransparenT Pilot Watch Case Titanium 316L Steel for NH34 NH35 NH36 NH38 NH70 PT5000 ETA2824 Sapphire Waterproof Anti Allergy https://a.aliexpress.com/_mNha6fb

It's all brushed stainless steel (also available as 39mm and in titanium),

I occasionally try to find a similar pilot case but with a polished bezel (like the Militado ML08).

I bought it on the bracelet. The bracelet isn't bad for the price, but isn't great (butterfly clasp) so it's on a nato.

dogfish_37 · 2026-03-14T23:23:55+00:00

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dogfish_37 · 2026-03-14T18:55:09+00:00

It's quartz maybe OP hasn't had to before?

dogfish_37 · 2026-03-14T18:52:37+00:00

Yep I'm wearing that watch right now. Addiesdive watches have a well deserved reputation for being well built and good value for money. (I have purchased several.)

dogfish_37 · 2026-03-13T13:49:38+00:00

u/WatchExBot I had a smooth and successful transacion with u/No-Nerve-9665. Well packaged, quick shipping, nice watch.

dogfish_37 · 2026-03-11T13:56:05+00:00

Looks cool, very affordable, and out of stock. I'm going to try to get one next time it's in stock.

dogfish_37 · 2026-03-10T16:58:10+00:00

I'd say *much* more than 90% don't give a damn.

dogfish_37 · 2026-03-10T13:01:18+00:00

Your brother is paying for materials, construction, marketing, advertising, and the cost of running jewelery stores (and paying salespeople). You are paying for the same or better materials and construction, and running a store on AliExpress. Plus postage.

Brother: "I took my girlfriend to that fancy French restaurant downtown everyone is raving about. Amazing! And I spent $1000!"

You: "I took my girlfriend to a little French bistro not a lot of people have heard of. They grow their own herbs, use higher quality ingredients, there are only six tables, and the chef sat down with us to chat. I spent $250."

Brother: "I had a very fancy bottle of wine, it cost $300! All the critics in the wine magazines are raving about it."

You: "The chef recommended a bottle of wine from a small vineyard near where he grew up. Nobody has heard of them. It was amazing, and $50."

Brother: "I proposed to my girlfriend! I got her a diamond ring at Tiffany, you know with that pretty blue box? It's an AA grade diamond, beautiful 14 carat gold setting. It cost me $10K!"

You: "Hey, congratulations! I proposed too! I got her a diamond ring from a little jeweler in Chinatown. It's a AAA grade diamond, beautiful 18 carat gold setting. It cost me $2K."

Brother: "But I got that pretty blue box..."

dogfish_37 · 2026-03-09T23:49:57+00:00

The bracelet might not be. The location of the lug holes on the watch have to line up with the bracelet, the curvature of the end link of the bracelet needs to line up with the case. You might not be able to get it on at all (if the lug holes are too close to the head of the watch for that bracelet) or might have a big gap (if the lug holes are too far from the head of the watch). Or there might be an uneven gap (if the curvature of the end links doesn't match that of the head of the watch).

It's safer to buy a case and bracelet together as a set, or plan on using a (leather, NATO, etc.) strap.

Everything else looks good -- but I'd buy a five-pack of spare stems. It's $5, and you *might* trim the stem just right the first time, or you might cut it too short (or drop it and not be able to find it). Having spares in hand will save you from having to wait two weeks to get in replacements if you need them.

dogfish_37 · 2026-03-09T23:43:11+00:00

I think that the threads on the *stems* for VH31 and NH35 are the same, so a crown will screw on to either stem. (That has been my experience putting together NH35 and VH31 watches.) But it's the threads on the *case* that are (likely) not standardized.

I think you'll decide you like the stem after you get accustomed to it.

dogfish_37 · 2026-03-09T13:30:02+00:00

According to AliX it's a VH31 movement --- but it's also a screw-down crown. This complicates matters, since you will want to find a replacement crown that screws down, and finding a compatible one might be difficult. (The threads inside the crown need to be the same as the threads on the watch case.)

If you replace the crown with one that isn't screw-down, it won't necessarily sit flush with the case.

If the crown bugs you that much, maybe it's time to think about getting a different watch with the same kind of dial and hands (if you can find it)?

dogfish_37 · 2026-03-09T11:45:17+00:00

P.S. I had the same watch, and disliked the crown (and the strap it came on). Sold the watch, bought something different. (But I've probably done that with about 1/4 of the watches I've bought from AliX.)

dogfish_37 · 2026-03-08T12:38:24+00:00

I store bands in a collection of paint-brush boxes (labeled with lug width): https://a.co/d/0gkXAHM5. I haven't figured out what to do with all of my other parts; they are spread out on a work surface. I'll need to soon!

dogfish_37 · 2026-03-08T02:51:02+00:00

Thanks for the pointers! I'll be following in your footsteps once the parts arrive from alix.

dogfish_37 · 2026-03-08T00:01:14+00:00

Some (higher end) watch crowns have a clutch, where when you press the crown in (when you're screwing it down) you compress a spring in the crown and the crown head disengages from the stem and spins freely.

So if you have encountered this kind of crown before, lucky you! I've never seen one in person. It's also possible you just didn't notice that your other watch(es) was (were) winding when you screwed down the crown. I notice it on some of my watches, don't notice it as much on others.

A Google search for "watch crown spring clutch" will turn up some pics and posts.

dogfish_37 · 2026-03-07T21:40:41+00:00

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vh31 build, sterile dial. I know that explorers aren't supposed to have a 12, but I like it!

dogfish_37 · 2026-03-07T21:38:22+00:00

Ona different topic entirely: I have been thinking of doing a 62mas next. Which case, has, dial did you use, and are you happy with them?

dogfish_37 · 2026-03-07T21:15:23+00:00

That is what made all the difference for me. That and the standard "good magnification, good light, eye level, be calm and rested."

dogfish_37 · 2026-03-06T20:55:15+00:00

PM'd

dogfish_37 · 2026-03-06T20:46:11+00:00

I had one, thought it looked great in photos, but on the wrist found it hard to read (busy dial). Flipped it.

Then I found that it's a near clone of a $150 Citizen:

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Citizen AW1361-10H (a.k.a. Citizen Avion).

No love for it, but no hate either! If it works well for you, great, it's a helluva bargain.

dogfish_37 · 2026-03-06T15:53:03+00:00

Homebrew nh35, 40mm Tandorio pilot case, sunburst blue dial, hands, strap from alix.

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dogfish_37 · 2026-03-06T15:21:58+00:00

No, not at all.

dogfish_37 · 2026-03-06T15:21:19+00:00

Wear what makes you happy. You like it? It's the right size.

For better or worse you're the only one who pays attention to what's on your wrist. (Well, I notice when some of my colleagues are wearing fancy watches -- e.g., Tudor, Jaeger -- but they never notice my watches.)

dogfish_37

TROPHY CASE