A few days ago I got my first automatic wristwatch. It’s a Seiko, dark green (olive) colored, military style watch with a nylon band. It is very reminiscent of the watches worn from WWII, Korean, and Vietnam wars. In fact, they even made it a proper size, 35mm, which is appropriate for a military watch. 35mm is actually a smaller sized watch for a man, often called mid sized now. Why is it small? If you are marching 25 miles a day, every ounce counts. Also, in hand to hand combat, a smaller watch, with less mass and surface area, is less likely to get damaged.
As you can see, it has nice, defined, broad hands, and luminescent material. The fit and finish is excellent for the money (less than $100). The photo does not really do it justice, the numbers are laser sharp and the hands really jump out. The sweeping second hand is almost hypnotic. In case you have never seen one, a mechanical watch second hand sweeps, instead of jumping from second to second. In this case, it advances 6 times a second.
Here is the movement of the watch. It is an automatic, meaning it is self winding, purely mechanical watch. No battery, quartz oscillator, or stepper motor. Just springs and cams and gears. That is really why I wanted the watch, in addition to the unique looks. A mechanical watch can run for decades. With maintenance, it can last a lifetime.
I know most people use watches for what they intended for. A simple tool to tell time. That is just fine. A decent quartz watch for 20 bucks will serve you well for years. Every now and then though, you want something that is beyond a simple tool. It is a machine with hundreds of years of engineering behind it. This particular watch was meant for less developed parts of the world. Why do less developed parts of the world still wear mechanical watches? Simple, try to get a battery replaced in some third world hellhole. You may be able to get bullets for you AK-47, but try to find a CR-2016 button cell when your watch dies.
Overall, I am very happy with the watch. As a watch, it does what is supposed to, you can tell time easily and quickly. The luminescent material is very useful and glows almost all night long. It is nice not having to press a button to light the watch up. With an automatic watch, it needs you and much as you need it. Without your wrist movements, it will wind down and stop. In a way, it is environmentally friendly. No mercury and no battery to replace. It uses ‘waste’ energy from your arm to keep running.
I am sure I sound like a watch nut now, but I am still thrilled with this gift from Tiffany.