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| Joined: | Tue Feb 6th, 2007 |
| Location: | Scranton, Pennsylvania USA |
| Posts: | 2408 |
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I scored these watches courtesy of two WIS on 2 continents :D
HMT watches are made in India, the same way since 1962, on machinery sold to the Indian government by Citizen. They are both 17 jewels, handwinding, non hacking and IMHO the most affordable mechanical watch available new today. I saw some models posted on another forum and inquired about them. A gentleman in India offered to pick up some for anyone who was interested and ship 'em out as they are only available in HMT stores in India (and on the Bay but that is another story). Another forum member bought a bunch including these two for me and forwarded them after arrival. I believe they retail new in India somewhere around 20 US dollars each(!), and the WIS in the US sent them to me for free(!!). hand6.gifhand6.gif
I was a little afraid they would be a bit too small, but at 37mm they are just fine on my 7.25" wrist. Here's some wrist shots, first the white dial "Janata" which I wore to work today:
This is the black dial version of the Pilot, and yes, the number 12 is hand painted:
Fit and finish is as good as any inexpensive watch, and both are running around +15 sec/day since right after Christmas. The original straps were horrible though, they made Russian straps look luxurious ;) I threw some $5 specials on them from Wally World and was good to go.
I got started in this obsess...err...hobby through cheap Russians, the Indians have them beat!
Cheers,
Griff