I also posted this over on The Seiko & Citizen Watch Forum. It pretty well says what I am looking for. I find I am self conscious wearing a rep and that violates the second rule of wrist watches.
I got one useful reply over there; but, this seems to be a more active board. So, I am reposting it here.
A Wrist watch should:
I. Tell the time by some means acceptable to the owner.
II. Make its owner feel good.
III. Make its owner look good.
At some point I will put a sterile face on a Sub Rep. I think the mil sub being sold by Trevor would look great with a sterile face; However, at the present I am looking for a watch, not a project.I. Tell the time by some means acceptable to the owner.
II. Make its owner feel good.
III. Make its owner look good.
I got one useful reply over there; but, this seems to be a more active board. So, I am reposting it here.
Hi, I am pretty sure that I have not posted here before. Like many first time posters, I am about to purchase a new watch. I have been wearing a Citizen Eco-Drive for about four years and decided to get a dive watch. I am pretty well stuck between the Seiko models and a couple of Orient models.
Here is the big problem, due to a childhood disease; I have a very small left wrist. I also have a small left ankle and my nose is even pushed a bit toward the left side of my face due to the left side being smaller; but, none of this is relevant except for one point. I have a very small wrist. Measuring it right now, and this is immediately after some punching bag work, it is Five and one-half inches. On a normal scale of men’s wrists, that is quite small.
I currently wear an Asian model Eco-Drive. I picked it up in China and the model does not show up on the US Citizen Watch webpage. It is a chronograph model and I estimate its width to be about 37mm without crown and a hair under 40mm with it. I am happy with the size of this watch.
I am a bit hesitant to admit it; however, I also tried a cheap “sub-style” watch to see if I like the diver watch style and to see if I would be Ok with the size. I put a nylon strap on it (on a sports watch I like nylon more that the steel bracelet of my Citizen) and went on some adventures (very mild adventures; mostly involving Mt. biking, lake swimming, and climbing rock faces in order to rope the bicycle up for more riding, stuff like that. . . ). I decided that I like the size and style for outdoor activities. However, without a doubt, it is the largest I would consider. I would estimate it to be 40mm across the dial with the bezel included and about 44mm with the crown included.
I also decided that I want my next watch to be mechanical, or automatic. There is just something lifeless about a quartz watch. If it were not for this consideration I would get another Citizen without hesitation. However, it is a consideration.
As such I am torn between the Seiko and the Orient models. Of course, from a business model, it is a great success for Seiko when people are only considering which of “their” products to purchase. However, there are some branding and brand positioning issues when a company’s products are competing against their other lines. Yes, I digress. . .
If the Seiko SKX013 model were available I think that the decision would be made. However, it is not available; so, it is not an option. Amazon used to show the SKX013 as not available; but, now it just directs me to the SKX007K2 instead. This leads me to suspect that it isn’t coming back.
As such, I am now trying to decide between four models. Two of them are Seiko and two of them are Orient. The Seiko’s have the advantage of a less obtrusive brand label and that they are well known, and regarded. The Orients have the advantage of being built by a company that makes its own movements.
Here are the contenders:
http://www.amazon.com/Seiko-SKX007K2-Divers-Automatic-Watch/dp/B000B5OD4I/ref=sr_1_5?s=watches&ie=UTF8&qid=1341209700&sr=1-5&keywords=seiko+skx007+dive+watch
I have a concern because the product description does not match the specifications. The description says 46mm while the specifications say 40mm. I am also not sure that I like the crown at four o’clock. So, I fear that it may be big and the overall look is a bit modern; but, it is on the shortlist.
The next one is also a Seiko; however, it is a Seiko 5. I am concerned about the Seiko 5 because the parent company, Seiko appears to be so ashamed by this line that it is not even included on the Seiko webpage. Yes, that is a concern.
http://www.amazon.com/Seiko-Mens-Watches-Sports-SNZF29K1/dp/B001JQC96W/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pdT1_S_nC?ie=UTF8&coliid=IAMO8DWUNQLOB&colid=1XIQ8OPHA4MO9
I like it. Yes, it is a blatant knock off of the Sub; but, like I mentioned, I like the look of the Sub. I like the size; the description puts it at 38mm without the crown and 42mm with the crown. A little smaller would be good; but that is acceptable. As stated, I am concerned that the Five series is, apparently, a low end line that the parent company distances itself from. I worry that I am looking for a GMC, and getting a Geo.
The next contenders are Orients’. Orient seems to be a well-respected, if little known, maker that is noted for manufacturing their own movements.
The first contender is the Orca. . . A whale. . . really? I am looking for a small watch, tell me this thing isn’t named after a whale. . .
http://www.amazon.com/Orient-Mens-CEM76002B-Solid-Watch/dp/B004FUBWSU/ref=sr_1_4?s=watches&ie=UTF8&qid=1341203636&sr=1-4&keywords=orient
OK, this thing looks bulky; however, the specs say it is no bigger than the others I am looking at. Does it wear bulky?
Another strong contender from Orient is the Ray.
http://www.amazon.com/Orient-Black-Automatic-Watch-CEM65008B/dp/B007BF61GO/ref=sr_1_3?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1341203971&sr=1-3&keywords=em65009d
I like the look other than that thing at 2 o’clock, what is it? Please tell me that it isn’t a helium release valve. Other than the styling disaster at 2 o’clock, I like it. The ring around the bezel makes it look smaller than the orca. However, looking at the spec sheet, it looks like they are the same size.
So, with all that being said, note that I did not mention bands. No matter what I get, I will probably get a NATO band to put it on and none of them come with a NATO band factory option.
Can you give me any other suggestions? It is obvious that I am looking at low priced, small, dive watches. At this point it is pretty much between the Seiko 5 and the Orient Ray. I am open to thoughts and recommendations.