This is my Sinn 104 I St Sa. This wristwatch commemorates a personal achievement of mine, transitioning from my military career to earn my undergraduate degree and getting accepted into graduate school. Although it memorializes a single moment for now, the wear and scratches inherited across a lifetime will embody more stories to tell: this […]
Watches
A look at America’s once great watch company: What Makes a Fine Watch Fine (1947)
The Hamilton Watch Company was once one of America’s greatest watch manufacturers. To give a quick overview of their storied history, the company was founded in 1892 and based out of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. For almost a century, Hamilton was widely regarded as one of America’s most prestigious watch brands and all of their manufacturing took place stateside. […]
Casio G-Shock DW5600E-1V: The perfect watch for duty or adventure
As an infantryman, a wristwatch was a part of our daily uniform. Due to the nature of the job, the watch had to be tough, reliable, and precise. If you were fancy, you might have worn a Suunto, but many of us common folk went with a Casio or G-Shock. These watches not only fit the bill […]
The Rockwell Coliseum Raider Project Watch
I always like a good watch that can be worn out on the town, during a workout, or out in the field without having to worry about it breaking. I’ve been a long time Casio G-Shock fan because of just that. Wanting to upgrade from the G-Shock I searched for a watch that could fulfill […]
GX1 Swiss Chronograph review and looking forward with LIV Watches
I must admit that I have become increasingly difficult to impress when it comes to watches in the sub-$1000 range. There are plenty of beautiful and reliable options, but few really stand out from the crowd. The GX1 Swiss Made Chronograph from LIV Watches not only stood out, but it surprised me. As a watch […]
Want a vintage style dive watch without breaking the bank? Customize your own with Walter Mitt
Many watch enthusiasts regularly look for used vintage dive watches — arguably one of the most sought-after styles on the market. Unfortunately, the cost of those watches is often well over $1000 for a quality functional timepiece that has the worn characteristics that are desired. Walter Mitt not only offers a watch that checks all […]
Seiko SNK809: Widely considered the best entry-level automatic watch
I wore a Casio or G-Shock watch exclusively while I was in the military. I wasn’t alone in that regard, just about everyone with a watch was rocking a Casio. Aside from the bells and whistles they offered, the appeal of these watches was their accuracy, toughness, and affordability. Not to mention they were the […]
The story of my Suunto Observer: To hell and back
Immediately after the shock and horror of 9/11, we in the 2nd Ranger battalion got to packing, knowing it wouldn’t be long before we were headed to the sandbox for a counter-punch. One of the new pieces of gear I picked up before we headed over in early 2002 was a Suunto Observer watch from […]
One watch to rule them all? Ocean Crawler Champion Diver Barracuda Point
The Ocean Crawler Champion Diver Barracuda Point is one of the rare watches in the sub-$1000 price range ($949 to be exact) that I would consider a true everyday watch. Virtually all watches can be transformed by simply changing out the strap or band, but the Barracuda Point accomplishes this transformation better than any others […]
Dress it up or beat it down: HELM Vanuatu dive watch
The HELM Vanuatu is a named after an island in the South Pacific famous for its coral reefs and a WWII shipwreck. HELM does not hold back from describing this piece as a beater watch. Other sites have referred to it as chunky. Turns out they are all correct. One thing is for sure, this […]