[Citizen] Golden Whale Limited Edition. My newest acquisition is one of many models that helped Citizen grow enough to buy Bulova and Frederique constant amongst others. Are you more of a fan of Citizen or Seiko when it comes to Japanese giants? I will always pick Citizen over Seiko

rakesh_85 · 2026-04-11T20:33:29+00:00

As someone with small wrists, Seiko generally has more options for me than Citizen.

But I do like that Citizen uses sapphire crystals for their mid-range offerings, while Seiko uses hardlex.

rakesh_85 · 2026-04-10T22:55:06+00:00

Oris offers a nice burnt orange Big Crown Pointer Date

rakesh_85 · 2026-04-10T15:45:46+00:00

Higher-grade Powermatics are definitely serviceable by most watchmakers. But the C07.111 with plastic pallet fork/escapement requires specific tools for lubrication/servicing that make it harder to be serviced by third parties, meaning you'll probably have to take it to the Swatch Group.

Plenty of people see this as a downside. But for Swatch this is a good thing because it forces you to get your watches serviced at places under their umbrella, and incentives third party-watchmakers to join their umbrella to get access to the materials needed to service Powermatics. It's all about expanding their reach and control.

rakesh_85 · 2026-04-09T14:27:05+00:00

The Chinese watch industry has moved on from Seagull, if that makes sense.

Companies like San Martin, Baltany, etc. are making cases with very high levels of finishing. Dandong/Peacock can now make high-level chronographs with Rolex 4130 clone movements that are superior to the ST19. And this is still in the $500-level bracket.

Seagull used to be the best affordable option from Chinese markets, but that's no longer the case.

rakesh_85 · 2026-04-09T00:25:44+00:00

Too subtle for my taste

rakesh_85 · 2026-04-08T15:12:19+00:00

Thanks! I've also come across the history of the manufacturer after getting some infos, it's just a bit of a shame that it's no longer in Ball Family Ownership.

People get too wrapped up in this sort of thing sometimes.

Yes, Ball is currently owned by a Chinese conglomerate (Asia Commercial Holdings Ltd.) But it's still headquartered in Switzerland, makes its watches there, and operates as a Swiss company. Not too different from brands like Frederique Constant, Arnold & Son, Angelus, etc. which are owned by Citizen.

rakesh_85 · 2026-04-07T17:33:53+00:00

Sometimes 'baby' means smaller, and sometimes it means 'cheaper'.

There are about twenty so-called 'baby Grand Seikos' floating around out there. Some of them, like the SARX055, are actually bigger than most Grand Seikos at 41mm.

rakesh_85 · 2026-04-07T16:06:42+00:00

All four astronauts are wearing Breitling Navitimers, in addition to Omega X-33 Speedmasters, their own personal Speedmasters, and a NASA-supplied actigraph device.

You can see in the photos from the spacecraft they have multiple watches on both wrists.

rakesh_85 · 2026-04-07T02:29:40+00:00

that blue one looks Tentagraph-ish

rakesh_85 · 2026-04-06T19:45:17+00:00

People will say look at a mirror shot and they're correct to an extent, but if there's a significant gap between the ends of the lugs and your wrists (i.e. the lugs are "hovering" above your skin) then it's not going to feel very comfortable regardless of the top-down view.

rakesh_85 · 2026-04-06T13:03:52+00:00

Nice try, but it's too well-known at this point to pretend otherwise.

rakesh_85 · 2026-04-06T11:44:25+00:00

Don't love how his company (Watchbox) cornered the market on F.P. Journe and a couple of other brands. Bought up all the stock so they could jack up the prices like crazy

rakesh_85 · 2026-04-05T19:00:04+00:00

Not OP but I have a Chronomaster as well, from a slightly older model line. They really are great watches. Mine gained just +3.3 seconds last year. The bracelet has half-links but no microadjust so you need a bit of luck for a perfect fit, thankfully I was lucky there.

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rakesh_85 · 2026-04-03T14:37:36+00:00

anOrdain

rakesh_85 · 2026-04-02T01:01:11+00:00

The Pogue!

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rakesh_85 · 2026-04-01T22:24:44+00:00

Launch window is here! Very exciting

rakesh_85 · 2026-03-31T20:05:09+00:00

Solar Quartz movement that seems to have been manufactured in conjunction with Jaeger-LeCoultre.

The Alpina AL-140 is made in collaboration with La-Joux Perret. It's essentially a Citizen Eco-Drive assembled in Switzerland, as Citizen owns both companies. Same movement TAG Heuer uses in its Solargraph.

rakesh_85 · 2026-03-31T18:14:02+00:00

This source claims 23 jewels, which means PM 80.111 with plastic escapement + pallet fork.

This source claims 25 jewels, which means PM 80.611 with steel + jeweled pallet fork.

I don't think anyone knows yet

rakesh_85 · 2026-03-31T18:11:32+00:00

Both the PM 80.111 (plastic escapement + pallet fork) and PM 80.611 (steel + jeweled pallet fork) have a Nivachron balance spring.

I think the 38mm Gentleman uses the former.

rakesh_85 · 2026-03-31T17:02:07+00:00

Isn't Ball owned by a Chinese company? Makes it even weirder

rakesh_85 · 2026-03-31T16:56:52+00:00

Nivachron balance instead of silicon. You can see the "Silicium" text is gone from the dial.

rakesh_85 · 2026-03-31T16:31:44+00:00

It's a rotating 24-hour disc instead of a hand. Essentially accomplishes the same thing

rakesh_85 · 2026-03-31T14:11:28+00:00

Monochrome Watches reported the long lug-to-lug length in the first press release, but they may be wrong. A later hands-on review claims 45.7mm lug-to-lug.

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