Initially, I wanted to take a break from the sports-watch-packed months, but I couldn’t help when decided to get my family involvement, once more The Unisex Appeal, for this month’s lookbook. That would be my father, particularly for my case. Why? Not only because we have just celebrated Father’s Day in June, but the pivotal role he played for me in watch collecting.
As many of our parents or close kins, they are the prime influence during our childhood phase. Arguably, it lingers on even to our adulthood where they espouse our penchant for a particular hobby, watches in this instances. In my case, the watch journey from day one was sparked by my father. As fervid as I am today, I’d strongly remember he was all about Seiko and Citizen… His indefatigable haring on each of his pieces had stayed in my memories and influencing throughout my budding journey (if you’ve been following us on social media, you should get the picture). Like him, we had a lot of common in watch-collecting – we tend to be drawn towards authentic quality pieces, fascinated with the sports genre, and are die-hard JDM fans. Unsurprisingly, he even approved and consented to my newest Steinhart acquisition just last month.
We’d appreciate part of our bonding magic that flows in both of us is through this mutual hobby. Now that’s something extraordinary about watches. However, we’re not talking about our live-long collections from our watch numero uno today (that’s for another time), but zooming on some curated ones that he recently fancy from Gnomon. And through them, it proffers the allures.
Therefore, this lookbook is yet another blip from the usuals and refreshing exploration of five sports watches, comprising state-of-the-art watchmaking from each respective brand. Instead of my own suggestions and selecting those I felt would elate my dad, I thought, why not let dad choose his own adventure for this month. All that said, his altruistic picks belie on some recent ones, which he thought might bring some alacrity for himself, and most importantly, for you guys. And while we’re at that, let’s treat this as a reminder to appreciate once more for those who were our motivator/s to become an aspiring aficionado. So now let us check them out below, on what my father had round up.
Oris Aquis Date Calibre 400 – Bracelet – 43.5mm – Ref. 01 400 7763 4135-07 8 24 09PEB
More often than not, my father prefers the timeless aesthetics of a watch. Especially those that prioritized forms that follow functionalities in the first place. Therefore, it came to no surprise when he saw our mailing list on the night where we dropped the all-new Oris Aquis Calibre 400. The professional diver permeates the brand’s ethos in manufacturing capable sports watches that followed its history. Aquis divers are a classic, possessing a relentless appeal for adventures while bringing a 21st-century dive watch design language.
Although several alterations and new colorways are shown throughout its lifespan, what’s distinct about the new Aquis and caught both of our attention was its all-new in-house movement. Finally, Oris has developed its own wide-market in-house movement for the watch world, innovated with both performance and reliability in mind. Basically, the new calibre 400 is an automatic movement boasting a pair of mainspring barrels that offers a 5-day power reserve. Thanks to the implication of a silicon lever and lubrication-free escape wheel, its impressively anti-magnetic in design. The new in-house movement has been tested to 2,250 gausses and runs on a chronometer-like accuracy of +5/-3 seconds a day. Oris assures us that this movement is robustly built within its bread-and-butter everyday dive watch through laying down a 10-year warranty (and service interval).
Squale 20 Atmos Black Ceramica
As with the classic as mentioned above, here’s one that proves the point. Last month we launched the new Squale 20 Atmos Black Ceramica. My dad hand-picked it without hesitation. What we have here is another classic silhouette of a sixties diver and endured overtime, just like the Swiss brand established by the Von Buren family.
Since its resurgence in the early aughts, my dad and I are square fans, proudly owning a few throughout the years. But what set this model apart is how cleverly Squale replaced the ubiquitous “Mercedes” handset with its own. Commonly found through its 50 Atmos collections, the broad sword hands, accompanied by its retro seconds, befits the 20 Atmos classic diver harmoniously without being too playful. Sans the flat sapphire crystal with date-magnifier for a domed one, it is perfectly orchestrated as a good dive watch by balancing both the retro aspect and modernism.
Seiko Prospex King Turtle 200M Automatic Green Ref. SBDY051
Oh yeah, and how can we forget his favorite watch brand Seiko? He will pick a Seiko any day, no holds barred, even when put against those occidental ones. Consequently, one particular that heretofore his passionate Seiko love was the Ref. 6309-704X Turtles. Launched in 1976, they were part of his teenage epoch. He has owned quite a few Turtles (one old and a few new re-issues), but among them, the King Turtle Green stood out to him the most.
He’d felt it was the pinnacle of Seiko’s execution, the razzle-dazzle, and the piece de resistance of what the stylish dive watch could be. It clads a ceramic bezel insert with a sapphire crystal (finally), and most mesmerizingly, a khaki green “Clous De Paris” checkered-board patterns dial that is en vogue today. No wonder I concurred with him entirely on this.
Yema Flygrat Pilot M1
Speaking of classic sports watches, he does not confine himself to purely those that tackle the ocean’s depth. That’s right, he loves his pilot watch affair too. As his live profession affiliates with aviation (and no, he’s not a pilot), he’s invariably fascinated with aeronautical instruments. Naturally, a no-frill design pilot watch excelling in precision timekeeping was his thing. So for his recent selection, he went with the latest French offering: the Yema Flygraf Pilo M1.
He then told me this is how pilot watches should be done today—an excellent modern interpretation with genuine hints of the brand’s heritage. The M1 is at that. It is apt for today’s market, bestowing a new satin steel bezel that matches the sharp-looking case. The 39mm dimension hits the sweet spot while behooving a military/aviation theme 24-hour matte dial, providing excellent legibility in any circumstances. Also, let’s not forget its in-house caliber YEMA2000 – an incredible feat as remarkable as the above Aquis Calibre 400.
Steinhart Ocean 1 GMT Two-tone Black/Khaki Ceramic
As once mentioned by Hodinkee’s Danny Milton, “Now there’s a saying that goes, “this isn’t your grandfather’s [insert word here].” In the case of two-tone, in many cases, however, it is.”” In this context, the tantalizing combo of steel and gold hues is all the more relevant. We could see the embracement of the 80s fashion today, with brands re-releasing two-tone sports and dress watches in the trendiest ways. Well, and my dad couldn’t welcome it more by picking one with the best of both diving and aviation worlds: the newest Ocean 1 GMT Two-tone Black/Khaki Ceramic.
It’s quite a charm even for me, with its unique neo-vintage ceramic bezel in both black and a khaki tone (which I felt more mustardy), matching seamlessly to its rose gold “snowflake” handset. Steinhart meticulously paired the traveler’s diver with a matching pulchritudinous rose gold/steel bracelet, encapsulating the 80s nostalgia to its fullest. That said, aside from its empirically good looks, it represents some of the best value for money, modernly built “vintage” watches of today.
