u/taonzen

I have this new Baltany S2049 field watch - a "clomage" of a Hamilton Khaki. I picked the blue dial version, which, while it looks sharp, kind of limits my strap choices.

I've been trying these Bisonstrap canvas 2 pc straps for the warm weather, and the blue looks like a good daily wear color, the slate dresses it up a little because it sets off the blue dial, but the tan... meh, I'm not sure about it. The watch looks great on a brown leather strap, but the tan canvas is probably too light.

I'd ask my wife, but she's already got a headache from rolling her eyes at me spending a half hour swapping and comparing colors. ;-)

Just spending the afternoon winding my watch.

[Baltany S2049 field watch, Seagull ST2130 movement, on a nylon Zulu]

Just got my new S4108. I went with the white dial, gold case because I just did not have any white dial watches.

The finishing is very good, and the gold PVD coating looks like polished gold, and not that odd zinc chromate electroplating that I have seen on older watch cases.

The 36mm diameter is a surprisingly nice size, and the dial is very readable. I mean, I grew up with 36mm men's watches, so I don't know why I am surprised... years of 40mm and 42mm divers have just made me forget the older, more refined look.

No problems with the Seagull movement. The small seconds does not "hack" when the crown is pulled, but since I don't expect to wear this watch on any coordinated field missions, I'm okay with that. I also like the symmetry of placing the date at the bottom of the small seconds subdial.

The 18mm leather strap is decent quality, and the lug edges and corners are nicely broken to prevent sharp edges and corners from catching or scratching.

This will be a nice watch to wear at the office or with a jacket and tie out to dinner.

I have spent the past month swapping straps on my new S2049. I like the aesthetic of a Nato on a field watch, especially as an actual work watch, the idea of the other spring pin keeping the watch from falling off seems smart. But I don't like how the doubled thickness of the strap and keeper makes the watch sit up too high.

After trying the Baltany "long length" strap, I finally cut the keeper strap about 1/4" (6mm) from the stitching, and am now wearing it as a single pass. It feels less bulky, and the section where the strap loops up at the end of the lug does not catch on my jacket sleeve.

The leather itself is decent quality and there's no danger of the watch slipping around (the purpose of the keeper strap). I ordered a black and brown strap and right now I like the brown because it shows off the blue dial.

Okay, that doesn't even rhyme.

Anyhow, I have been swapping straps around for my new S2049 field watch. I'm not crazy about Natos, but I do like a single pass Zulu. I was trying different watches, when I realized that I have a beater Timex that I never wear, and I had bought a steel bracelet for it. So this afternoon, I swapped the leather single pass I has been wearing with the bracelet.

Totally different look, and I'm not sure I'll keep it. But now I won't have to worry about it getting wet.

In the course of shopping for a new field watch, I kept running across Baltany and their sister company Milifortic. Wasn't what I was interested in, but then I started wondering just how they measured up.

Eventually I decided to try the Baltany S2049. It's an obvious homage to the Hamilton Khaki, and the finishing is surprisingly pretty decent. Screw down crown, case back, sapphire, and 100m WR, so this really is a watch that one should be able to wear camping, or getting dunked in a river, or even taking a dip in the pool.

My order was delayed because they ran out of NH35 movements, and were in the process of switching over to the Seagull ST2130. I have never had a Chinese watch before, so I was a little apprehensive. That said, the watch is keeping good time, I love the color and the micro second outer track. The leather straps are decent although stiff from being new. I ordered 4 straps, because what the hell. 2noicws and Nato, in brown and black. The brown is a few shades lighter than I liked, so I swapped it with one I already owned.

I spent a few days doing a lot of yard work, mainly cutting logs and branches after a storm. At some point I noticed a "floater," which showed up in a few different spot and now seems to have stuck to the inside of the crystal in between the 10 and 11. It is luminous, but my numbers and hands don't seem to be missing any spots, so I'm not sure where it came from. When I get tired of it, I can probably open the back, lift the movement and blow it out.

Anyhow, it's a nice size at 39mm, and while they spec it at 11.9mm thick, it doesn't quite feel that high. The lume lasts long enough for me to read the time at 3.30 am. I'll give it a month to settle in and then check to see how the accuracy is.

So, I may have just received the first of the new batch of the revamped S2049 Military Field watch. The NH35 movement has been replaced by the Seagull ST2130, a slightly higher beat automatic.

That's on the inside. As some of you know, the S2049 is a "homage," with many of the design features of the Hamilton Khaki. Baltany took the design further by adding a screw down crown (with a nicely machined large straight knurl), sapphire glass, 100m WR, and a brushed stainless case. To me, this holds to the original purpose of a field watch, which should not be polished to a shine.

The blue version has a nice, deep blue dial with a slightly offset area for the printed numbers. The outer dial has nicely printed 1/5 seconds markers and the inner dial has the expected 13-24 numbers.

The nice difference from the previous version is the thin, white frame around the date window, making it easier to read and setting the date off from the 15 - which is placed dangerously close to the window.

The watch ships with a brown leather strap for the blue dial and a black one for the black dial. You can also order Nato style leather straps. I ordered one of each color. The straps are stiff from being new, and came with extra spring pins, a nice touch.

After swapping them around I decided that the brown worked better, but the color town was lighter than I preferred, so I swapped to a darker brown leather Nato I already had.

I like the sword hands, and especially how the tips extend well into the edge of the dial. The seconds hand is tipped with a nice red arrow that extends into the microseconds track, and is counterbalanced with a classic looking circle.

The case diameter is 39mm, which is big enough to read comfortably, but small enough to wear under a buttoned shirt sleeve. It also has a screw down back and a 100m WR.

The Seagull ST2130 had run down, so I gave it a dozen or so careful winds and reset the date and time. The movement (which Baltany calls the caliber) is amazingly quiet, and the seconds hand moves smoothly.

The lume shows up well, but no comment yet as to how long it lasts. The lume is on the main 12 hours, with a small pip at the edge of the dial over the numbers. The hands are lumed, but the seconds is not.

The finishing is generally good. I can see some very faint machining marks on the case, which are mostly obscured by the matte brushing. The only concern is the bottom of the case, at which the edges are fairly sharp. I may consider softening them with a very fine stone.

Overall, I really like the looks of this watch - even more so in person - and Baltany did a nice job with presenting a classic field watch.

So, I may have just received the first of the new batch of the revamped S2049 Military Field watch. The NH35 movement has been replaced by the Seagull ST2130, a slightly higher beat automatic.

That's on the inside. As some of you know, the S2049 is a "homage," with many of the design features of the Hamilton Khaki. Baltany took the design further by adding a screw down crown (with a nicely machined large straight knurl), sapphire glass, 100m WR, and a brushed stainless case. To me, this holds to the original purpose of a field watch, which should not be polished to a shine.

The blue version has a nice, deep blue dial with a slightly offset area for the printed numbers. The outer dial has nicely printed 1/5 seconds markers and the inner dial has the expected 13-24 numbers.

The nice difference from the previous version is the thin, white frame around the date window, making it easier to read and setting the date off from the 15 - which is placed dangerously close to the window.

The watch ships with a brown leather strap for the blue dial and a black one for the black dial. You can also order Nato style leather straps. I ordered one of each color. The straps are stiff from being new, and came with extra spring pins, a nice touch.

After swapping them around I decided that the brown worked better, but the color town was lighter than I preferred, so I swapped to a darker brown leather Nato I already had.

I like the sword hands, and especially how the tips extend well into the edge of the dial. The seconds hand is tipped with a nice red arrow that extends into the microseconds track, and is counterbalanced with a classic looking circle.

The Seagull ST2130 had run down, so I gave it a dozen or so careful winds and reset the date and time. The movement (which Baltany calls the caliber) is amazingly quiet, and the seconds hand moves smoothly.

The lume shows up well, but no comment yet as to how long it lasts. The lume is on the main 12 hours, with a small pip at the edge of the dial over the numbers. The hands are lumed, but the seconds is not.

The finishing is generally good. I can see some very faint machining marks on the case, which are mostly obscured by the matte brushing. The only concern is the bottom of the case, at which the edges are fairly sharp. I may consider softening them with a very fine stone.

Overall, I really like the looks of this watch - even more so in person - and Baltany did a nice job with presenting a classic field watch.

Edit: forgot to mention that the case diameter is 39mm, which is big enough to read comfortably, but small enough to wear under a buttoned shirt sleeve.

Older guy here. I have an older Cannondale Synapse with a (I think) 53cm (M) frame. In the past I used to prefer larger frames, but I have shrunkified over the decades, and now I'm about 5'6". Instead of slamming my stem, I'm slamming my seat post, and I'm still stretching more than is comfortable. Obviously, this means it's time for a new bike.

I see the new Synapse alloy comes in frame sizes of 54, 51, 48. Obvy, the 54 is out. According to the Cannondale chart, the 51 covers 5'5" to 5'9", and the 48 covers 5'2" to 5'6". My LBS closed last year, but one in the next town carries a lot Cannondale, and has a 48 in stock. My gut is telling me that this is the right choice, since 1) I'm not going to grow any taller as I age, and b) I can always extend the seat post and handlebar stem.

I ride recreationally, usually solo, and mainly on New England roads. Typically going out for 20 to 50 mile rides, a two or three times a week depending on free time.

Any input from the community, especially from the older riders would be appreciated.