u/LordRaglan1854

Switched out the (really good) Hruodland brown leather strap for this cheap blue pilot strap from AliX. Quite a tonal shift to what was already my favorite wrist companion.

Started with a Militado ML14, finished with a Farasute Trackmaster. Bought about 30 pieces and refined things down by trial and error to 18.

Will I buy more Chinese watches? Probably not. Any addition is on a strict 1-in-1-out basis. Since I'm not into integrated bracelet watches or tank cases, I don't feel like I'm missing anything.

Will I reduce the collection further? There are 3-4 I could get rid of, maybe drop it down to 12 eventually, but I'm in no rush.

Do I own Seiko or Swiss watches? I sold my Seikos, and recently bought some Swiss ones (TAG Carrera, some Oris, and a Breitling Superocean).

Advice? Yeah:

1. Take risks. Experiment. Find what you like. Even if you flip a watch on a loss, it's still insignificant money compared to what you'd lose when you walk out the door of an AD with a new Omega.
2. Stop. Don't hoard. Don't "collect".
3. Get out of the (price) basement. The cheaper the watch, the less likely it is to satisfy. There are exceptions, but you won't know it if you don't own some more expensive watches to compare against.
4. Buy at least one Swiss watch. Used. 15 years old or older. Not Rolex or Omega. Plenty of value picks out there (TAG, Zenith, and Breitling especially). Pro Tip: Use AI to find the obscure references that match what you are looking for.) It is the best way to hard-stop a Chinese watch-buying addiction and will save you money in the long term.

38mm, Seagull ST1902.

At first glance, it's a pretty solid take on the Zenith A386 ... though take a closer look, and you'll notice the subdial proportions are way off, the first sub-dial should be light grey, and the iconic 4:30 date window is missing.

However, I'm going to argue that none of that matters. This is a pretty, vintage-Zenith-style watch that should be and can be enjoyed on its own terms. There's a lot of "heart" in the design, from the radial brushing on the lugs to the beautiful ultramarine of the second subdial and the remarkable accuracy of the case shape. They didn't have to make it as nice as it is, but I appreciate that they did.

Finally, a quick shout-out to the blue FKM rubber bracelet from AliX. Proving again that the right strap choice can really elevate a watch.

Some might dismiss this watch as a standard 38mm 1963 ST19 chrono pimped out to look like a Zenith, but though there are shared components with the other ST19 watches, there are some really nice touches here on the S465 that make it stand out: the subdials in particular are stunning, the homage to the famous El Primero tri-color feels just right. The radial brushing on the tops of the lugs adds a touch of 60's elegance. And the supplied blue leather strap matches perfectly.

This is a big, chunky, heavy (165.5g as fitted) watch. I find the only way I can wear it comfortably is to have the bracelet loose enough for the watch to slide below the wrist bone and sit on my lower wrist, as pictured.

Unfashionable maybe, but super comfy!

I've been meaning to bring this Pelagos 39 homage to your collective attention for a while. I bought it a little while back and set it aside for a bit, but it's been getting a lot of wrist time recently.

As with several other OK watches, this one gets scarily close to the original. At 1/10th of the price. But let's put that aside for a moment: This is a really nice watch with an understated, easy-to-live-with vibe. While it's expensive within its peer group, no corners needed to be cut to make the budget, and none were. Fit and finish are stellar. [As usual for Chinese watch/PT5000 crown interactions are not the greatest, but that and .. ok, gasp, yep titanium scratches easily .. are the extent of the negatives.]

A watch this small didn't need to be titanium, but titanium is what gives the watch its character: the lightness, the warmth, the toolishness. The full lume bezel is a standout, with that amazing radial finish.

EDIT: diver. I really should proofread.