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3T WIS
| Joined: | Sun Jul 5th, 2009 |
| Location: | Santiago, Chile |
| Posts: | 185 |
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Well, some days ago I posted an enabler about a Swiss Army Dive Master quartz blue dial DOTD, for US$ 169, which is a bit more than the bracelet alone.
Got it on Friday. Did not pay too much attention, as it is a quartz, and my mind is on my incoming Ball. First look was a bit deceptive, as I thought that the dial did not look as good as the guilloche in my Maverick II chrono. Also, noticed that the hands were matte and not shiny as the ones in the above mentioned, and in my new love, the Seamaster. Also, the internal cyclops looked strange and not useful, as the number did not appear larger than in my Seamaster.
Got the plastics off and sized it a few minutes ago. And started changing my mind. Well, it is a quartz, so no chance of getting deeply into my heart - although as some (or realistically nobody...) would remember, after the earthquake a quartz went into my wrist - but I am liking it more and more every minute.
Dial: it is a nice matte blue dial, that does not cast reflections. Looks much better than what I thought when I first saw it behind the plastic protector. After looking at the size of the date in my other Swiss Army, I realized that the cyclops is doing its job.
Hands: Could be larger (they realized that in general, as the ones in the new Dive Master and Airboss are sword-shaped and larger). Second hand lines up with the indicators, which is something appreciated in a quartz, and less usual than what could be thought. As the dial, they do not cast reflections.
Bezel: very smooth, far more in a Breitling style than in a typical Rolex
Bracelet: Sturdy, well constructed and comfortable, with scissors clasp (appreciated...), and dive extension. Pins, not screws, but easy to size.
Caseback: As simple as they get. I like either see-thru or well elaborated/engraved, so not a winner in this department.
Crown: Well, this is the BEST FREAKING CROWN in my whole collection! It is as smooth as it gets, big, deep, with a large and well made logo, and with a gazillion turns to lock it
Lume: Great lume. Hands could be larger, but it is top notch. Picture below is at fast speed (1/60, nothing but the lume appears, so a clear indication of how good it is)
Overall, I believe it is not easy to get a nicer watch for the price I paid. Probably would not be saying the same at the MSRP, but for 30% of it, it is a killer!
It is a true tool watch, if I was diving (which I stopped doing 10 years ago), I guess it would be my first choice out of my collection. However, I need to acknowledge that, even 10 years ago, I relied on a diving computer and not in my watch when down the water.
Pics (dial looks much darker in general):
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