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Just received my first A1  Rate Topic 
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 Posted: Mon Jan 21st, 2013 06:42 pm
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Darvis
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Let me start by saying... Wow!

So, I'm not a watch collector, or connoisseur, or master watch builder. I like watches, and have quite a few... Marathon SARs, Seikos, Omegas, Tourbys, etc... I'm particularly fond of my Seiko Sumo; it's been the one I wear the most outside of the SKX007 and my 2006 non cyclops SAR. The problem is that, each of those watches... as great as they are, always come up short in one way or another. None are just quite perfect.

The Sumo- Love it, but the recessed bezel..
The 007- A classic, but a tad too small for my 8.5 inch wrists
The Tourby Big Pilot- Awesome, but not a beater by far
The SAR- love it, except the crown at 3:00

So I was on the search for the one that was going to do it all. I wanted that tool looking, waterproof, Marathon-like bezel, crown at 4:00, big big big watch.

I was seriously close to pulling the trigger on the 45mm Shark Diver, but the crown was still the compromise and I just couldn't get myself to hit the pay button.

I had never heard of the A1, even in all of my web searching, I stumbled on it while reading yet another review of another watch, just a short reference about the "A1"

WOW! It was love at first sight. Everything the Sumo has for style with the SAR bezel and 4:00 crown, and it is gloriously HUGE!!! I wasted no time ordering the Miyota black dial (I LOVE Miyota's, so added bonus there).

It was here in 3 days, insane!!

What a great experience, what a great watch. I'm a convert. The only downside? I'll have to start saving for another, and another, and another...

If you're someone that's on the cusp about buying this watch and you're reading this- do it!!! You will not regret it!! It's such a great watch, I literally joined this forum just to say so.


D

Last edited on Mon Jan 21st, 2013 06:54 pm by Darvis

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 Posted: Tue Jan 22nd, 2013 01:31 am
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ps1
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Congratulations on a new watch. thumbsup.gif

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 Posted: Tue Jan 22nd, 2013 03:58 am
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Khronos
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Indeed, but where are your pics!!!

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 Posted: Tue Jan 22nd, 2013 07:19 am
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mellons
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the a1 is a class watch: great on bracelet also!

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 Posted: Tue Jan 22nd, 2013 08:52 am
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Antoine1966
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Congratulations on your new acquisition...I have sold 4 of my divers in the last 2 months, but this will always remain a constant.

Enjoy and post some picsThumbsUp02.gif

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 Posted: Tue Jan 22nd, 2013 09:52 am
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stew77
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Big congrats Darvis!thumbsup.gif

Would love to see some wrist shots if you get the time. Enjoy!

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 Posted: Tue Jan 22nd, 2013 06:08 pm
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Darvis
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Here's a horrible quick and dirty shot of the A1 (yes, it's upside down) and some of my bigger watches like the Tourby Big Pilot on the left and the Sumo and Spork up top. That's a Steinhart over to the right.

The Pilot Watch on Leather is the Marathon, and It's big on diameter, but the A1 eats it alive in height and heft!

Man, I'm going to have to work on my watch shots!!


Last edited on Tue Jan 22nd, 2013 06:09 pm by Darvis

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 Posted: Tue Jan 22nd, 2013 06:41 pm
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Newton
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Congrats on the A1. I know the feeling, I just recieved an A2 and am now going on a selling spree to finance an A1.....or an A4.....or that A3 with the white dial.

Armida is AWESOME !!!

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 Posted: Tue Jan 22nd, 2013 07:12 pm
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Darvis
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I know, I'm seriously lusting over the A1 with the orange hour hand. I NEED that one for a NATO strap so I'll always have one on steel and one on the NATO, ready to go.

Then, I'll need a third so I have a pair and spare, just because...

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 Posted: Tue Jan 22nd, 2013 11:06 pm
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stew77
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Darvis wrote:
I know, I'm seriously lusting over the A1 with the orange hour hand. I NEED that one for a NATO strap so I'll always have one on steel and one on the NATO, ready to go.

Then, I'll need a third so I have a pair and spare, just because...


Great lineup of timepieces Darvis! thumbsup.gif

I'm diggin' the entire lineup including the awesome A1!

...I can see "the WIS disease" has definitely infected you with all this crazy talk about acquiring 3 versions of the A1!!!thumbsup.gifdog smile.gif

...hanging around this place will only serve to fan the fire! chickendance.gif

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 Posted: Wed Jan 23rd, 2013 08:03 am
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Darvis
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LOL! Thanks!! It's not like I need a lot of encouragement to spend my money on watches..

snoopy1.gif

For the life of me, I can't figure out what took me so long to discover the A1, though. I mean, it's not like I don't spend my spare time on the 'net looking at toys (flashlights, knives, watches..)

Had I stumbled across it sooner, I could have probably saved myself some coin trying to land my grail watch with all the others.

Anyway, I'm going to try to get some better shots this week. Even after I "found" the A1, it was tough to see how it stacked up to some of the other pieces I have in my collection. I found a few decent ones, like a comparison to the Black Monster and the Shark Diver, but little else. The pilot watches are a great comparison now that I have the A1: I can say that the A1 delivers that pilot watch size (if you like BIG watches) with much more comfort. The 4:00 crowm does the trick.

Plus, some of the user reviews are a little behind the times. This current Miyota version shipped with both the bracelet and rubber, plus has the domed crystal which is really sweet.

At first, it was hard to understand why the price was significantly higher than what folks were reporting they payed a few years ago for the older Miyota movement and flat crystal. This is a significant upgrade and well worth the extra $$$. The bracelet is very well done, right up there with the Marathon SAR steel. In fact, the screw links are better executed. Plus, the 9015 movement hacks... I wasn't expecting that. My Maratac Pilot watch has the 8245, which has been great, but it doesn't hack and the 9015 is significantly quieter.

I should also note that there is ZERO distortion form the crystal. My Maratac sports a domed crystal, but I'll be darned if it's readable form any angle other than straight on. What a difference in the A1!

I can confirm what others have reported with respect to the lume, it's insane. I've never had a watch where I can see the lume glowing in daylight, literally. A few seconds in direct sunlight and this thing becomes a flashlight.

I know I'm gushing here, there are a few very minor things that stand out as not so perfect out of the box:

It's a tool diver, no question about it, the edges do not have that "bar of soap" quality. The Sumo beats the A1 hands down in theis department. But, it's not uncomfortable when wearing the watch. I only notice this when I'm handling it

The crown threads are not exactly smooth, however, the dental floss trick fixed that right away

The lume on the bezel is exposed... time will tell if it stands up to any abuse, or wears off at all

Lastly, the clasp could learn a lesson from Seiko, or any of the deployant clasps. I think it needs the dual push buttons on the side as a release vs. the friction fit. It doesn't "snap" as much as I'd like and is not exactly easy to get on or off. It does the job, just feel it could be refined a bit

Anyway, there you have it... hoping some other potential first time A1 purchaser benefits from this feedback. The bottom line is that it's an astounding value; not sure much else comes close to be honest, in any price range

 

D

Last edited on Wed Jan 23rd, 2013 08:06 am by Darvis

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 Posted: Thu Jan 24th, 2013 05:07 pm
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Newton
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Darvis wrote: I know, I'm seriously lusting over the A1 with the orange hour hand. I NEED that one for a NATO strap so I'll always have one on steel and one on the NATO, ready to go.

Then, I'll need a third so I have a pair and spare, just because...

For some really sick and disturbed reason........that makes perfect sense to me
crazy.gif

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