I’m sure you’re familiar with the most common choices of travel storage, there are watch pouches, flat watch rolls, and cylindrical leather watch rolls/cases too. But there’s one storage item that’s slowly becoming an increasingly popular choice of watch storage, and that’s the hard case. In the last few months, a few companies have started to offer customised hard cases designed specifically for watch storage. 

One such brand is To The Hour, and they offer a wide range of cases to store anywhere from 1 watch all the way up to 40 watches. Recently they were kind enough to send me one of their Enigma III cases to take a look at. 

The Enigma III is made from a genuine Peli 1060 Micro Case. To use a relatable expression, Pelican Products are the Rolex of hard cases. They’re widely renowned for their durability and are an ideal choice for keeping items safe and secure. The case of the Enigma III is made from hard plastic with a gloss finish that is crush-proof. Furthermore, the body of the case has a rubber liner that doubles as an o-ring seal that helps keep the case water-resistant and dustproof. There’s also an automatic pressure equalization valve that balances interior pressure and helps to keep water out.

The interior of the Enigma III is fitted with a custom foam insert, with slots for 3 watches. The main body of the foam is nice and firm to absorb any shocks that the case and its contents are subjected to, whilst the foam cushions and lid foam is soft enough to mould around any size of watch. 

One of the nicest things about the Enigma III is that because it’s a Peli case, it comes with a lifetime guarantee. That means that in the unlikely event that the case is damaged it would be replaced completely free of charge. 

The Enigma III retails for £69.99, which seems a small price to pay for peace of mind when it comes to watch storage. However, I feel honour-bound to say that in the course of my research I found that you can buy a standard Peli 1060 case for £39.06. So, you’re essentially paying nearly £31 more for the custom interior that To The Hour offer. 

Whether or not it’s worth the extra is down to the individual, but you do get a custom interior done to a professional standard, which saves you a lot of time and effort. Plus, there can be no doubt that the Enigma III will keep your watches safe and secure. I plan to make this my go-to choice for storing my watches whilst travelling because I can’t think of a more suitable means of storage.  

You can purchase the Enigma III from To The Hour’s website here.

The post Hands-On With The Enigma III Case From To The Hour appeared first on 12&60.

In the middle of this spectrum sits the humble watch roll. Usually made from canvas or leather, watch rolls are great for storing your watches whilst travelling, as they’re lightweight and pretty compact. Leather watch rolls are also one of the most stylish means of watch storage, especially when compared to bulky peli cases or wooden boxes.  

Today, I’m looking at some watch rolls kindly sent in by Mayfair Watch. The company specialises in retailing vintage Rolex and Tudor watches, but also offers leather watch rolls. They come in either black or brown, and there are versions for storing either one or two watches. 

My initial thoughts upon receiving these were very positive. Whilst I don’t know the tannery that produced the Italian leather, I can feel that it’s of good quality. It’s smooth to the touch and supple, but it’s also nice and thick, so I’m confident that it will last for a long time. One thing I immediately noticed when I got these was the delightful scent of new leather that hit me as I opened the box. Some cheaper watch rolls that use low-quality leather smell of chemicals, and I was reassured that this was not the case here. 

On the front of each roll you’ll see the word “MAYFAIR” stamped into the leather along with the union flag. The stamping is exceptionally crisp, which is another sign of good quality. Again, on cheaper watch rolls you’ll find that any stamping is not as deep or well-defined. 

On the inside, every surface of the watch roll is lined in suede. This means that there’s no chance of any watches getting scratched during storage. The watches are kept safe on suede cushions that have press studs on either side to hold them in place. 

The cushions themselves have plenty of give in them too. Even with my very skinny 6.25” wrists I could close the bracelet on one of my watches around the cushion. There’s also enough room for thick watches too, with the roll able to comfortably hold a Seiko Willard on a NATO strap. 

The finishing as a whole is very good, but there are some minor inconsistencies in the stitching and glueing. These aren’t noticeable unless you’re looking for them, and it’s important to bear in mind that each of these watch rolls is handmade, so some imperfections are to be expected. 

Mayfair Watch have priced their watch rolls at £89 for the single cushion option and £98 for the two cushion versions. Whilst this is a fair amount to invest in watch storage, the prices are fair given the quality of the products. 

Plus, if you use the code 12&60, you can get 15% off. So check out the Mayfair Watch website here to purchase these watch rolls and view their inventory of vintage watches. 

The post A Look At Quality Leather Watch Rolls From Mayfair Watch appeared first on 12&60.

Personally, I’m in the pro camp. You don’t hear people get their knickers in a twist when it comes to food that imitates others: I’ve never seen someone raging down the aisles at Tesco or Sainsburys when they come across their own brand cornflakes or coke. And if they were truly illegal, don’t you think the likes of Rolex would quickly shut down the reputable Swiss brands? Such as Steinhart, Squale, Davosa? I’m not talking about proper homage brands such as Pagani Design or Parnis for instance, as they most likely will just do whatever the hell they want anyway. 

I have reviewed a few Submariner homages, but I’ve never handled a Pagani before. At long last, I have one in my hands. I’ve always wondered if they’re any good, as they pack a massive punch for an incredible price.

So then, let’s take a look. Are they that good? Let’s find out.

Pagani Design Batman GMT Video Review

Pagani Design Batman GMT Specs

• Dimensions: 40mm diameter x 12.7mm height x 48mm lug to lug
• Water resistance rating: 10ATM / 100m
• Movement: Pearl DG5833GMT
• Lug width: 20 mm
• Warranty: 1 year
• Price: ~£60
• Buy here: https://bit.ly/3AMDRLi

I’m not going to pass comment on how this watch looks, after all, Pagani Design have had nothing to do with the timeless brilliance of the Rolex. The only thing they can take credit for is the logo – which I’ll touch on later. 

The most impressive thing with this Pagani Design is how it fits so many high-quality materials into such a cheap package. Let’s go through the important specs: 

• Sapphire crystal
• Ceramic bezel insert
• GMT automatic movement
• Exhibition caseback
• Pretty nice looking bracelet and double locking clasp

I mean, that ticks A LOT of boxes. And £60? Something has to give, surely. This is why I’m so dubious about the quality. How can they promise so much for so little? I’m going to try my best to be quite critical in this review.

Sapphire crystal is a pretty simple one nowadays, as it’s a given on watches above £50. Still, it’s always a nice thing to have – for many, it’s a requirement on any watches they buy, with good reason.

Next up is the ceramic bezel insert. I love the look of them; the glossy/polished finish makes a watch look much more expensive than a standard painted aluminium/steel equivalent, and it just demonstrates much higher build quality – as it does take a lot more to manufacture. All markings are clean and crisp, and it does look excellent to the naked eye.

Whilst we’re on the 120-click bezel, let’s discuss the action, which is possibly the main issue I have with the watch. Whilst it’s not “terrible” as such, it has a lot of play – not only in the circular direction, but you can wiggle it up and down and left and right too. It does line up though, to be fair to it, but if you want to use it, it’s not particularly pleasurable. 

The movement is the “Pearl DG5833GMT”. I must admit, I’ve not heard of Pearl before – as far as I’m concerned it’s the make of my drum kit. But, it appears to be a pretty standard Chinese movement that may or may not behave itself – it’s going to be pot luck if I’m honest. It has a fairly loud rotor: you can hear it spinning. The positive is that the custom printwork on the rotor is pretty remarkable on a watch costing this much. The exhibition caseback ensures you can see it in its plain, industrial glory. 

When manipulating and setting the movement, the thread on the screw-in crown feels a little tetchy, sometimes you can’t quite catch it right and have to reset to avoid any cross-threading, which would be catastrophic. Apart from that, the rest of the case is exceptional for the price.

The bracelet is very nicely machined and finished – the polished centre link is mirror-like which looks great, but will likely pick up scratches quickly. The double locking clasp is very nice indeed – with a continuation of the polished centre, which has “Pagani Design” really well engraved along it. It’s easy to use and feels reassuringly sturdy when you’re using it. There’s a slight wiggle between the links so you get a small amount of rattle, but nothing at all to put me off keeping it on the bracelet. 

The logo: the only thing on this entire watch that’s original. How does it hold up? I think it looks pretty good here. Sometimes these cheapo homage brands have such terrible brand names, with revolting fonts and icons. “Pagani” is hardly a beautiful name, but it looks pretty good on a Rolex homage. The icon itself is also quite pleasing to the eye; a shield shape that plays on a variety of letters.

This custom logo is embossed on the end of the screw-in crown, which is finished much better than I was expecting. I was thinking either plain, or laser etched at most.

The stated 100m water resistance is questionable: simply put, I wouldn’t trust it. It’s not the kind of watch I’d take swimming anyway, purely because I wouldn’t want to risk it. 

The rest of the dial is a complete duplication of the Rolex, but it’s finished to a remarkable degree, even under a macro lens: sure, it’s not perfect, but I don’t have any complaints here for the price. 

The lume is a major disappointment; it’s truly abysmal. They may as well not have bothered it’s that bad. However, lume is always at the bottom of the list for cost savings and I always find it to be terrible on cheap watches. 

Finally, there’s one thing left to point out – the cyclops over the date wheel isn’t lined up very well. It magnifies the date well, however, so it’s not an issue with the functionality of it, but rather the application.

Pagani Design Batman GMT Final Comments

Clearly, there are some issues with the watch; it’s not perfect. The bezel has some play, as does the bracelet. And the lume is non-existent. But, that’s where my grumbling ends. Everything else about this watch is utterly brilliant for the price. It looks fantastic, wears well, and for the most part, is excellently built. 

There is a part of me that thinks these are quite possibly made in the same factories as replicas, and that it is possibly the replica trade that’s squeezing the price-to-quality ratio. Some may be bothered by that, others will not bat an eyelid. After all, that’s complete hearsay with no proof, and this isn’t a replica. But of course, just the fact that this is a complete homage will make it a complete no-no for some.

Whatever the case, for £60, you will be extremely hard-pressed to find a better finished and specced watch.

The post Pagani Design Batman GMT Watch Review appeared first on 12&60.

Costing a mere $89, it’s a lot cheaper than many alternatives of a similar ilk. I only realised how and why when I started doing some research for this review: it’s not really leather! Wait, hold up?! That’s right – it’s PU leather. When I found that out I can’t deny I was a little disappointed, however – the fact that I couldn’t even tell it wasn’t real leather is a testament to the quality of this thing. And yes, whilst real leather is synonymous with luxurious travel accessories, PU leather is actually extremely hard wearing, so there’s an argument for it being a sensible choice. Let’s check it out.

The specs

• Width: 24cm
• Height: 7.5cm
• Depth: 10cm
• Weight: 360g
• Price: $89 / ~£68
• Buy here: https://www.mirageluxurytravel.com/collections/3-watch-case/products/jade-black-3-watch-case

Mirage claim that their PU leather is as smooth as full-grain leather. I’m not going to argue with that, as it certainly had me fooled.

The interior is quilted with mahogany velvet, which is deliciously smooth to the touch.

Each cushion is designed to fit a watch measuring up to 55mm in diameter, with a max height of 15mm, and a strap or bracelet to fit between 6-8” wrist size. That pretty much caters for everyone and most watches, bar a few really tall diver mechanical chronographs which can exceed 15mm.

The process of removing the cushions is pretty ingenious; each one has two tabs which fit into the channels of the dividers, so you can easy slide them in and out.

These dividers and the outside edges are seriously chunky – providing solid protection for your treasured watches.

4 snap buttons for a case this size is overkill in a positive manner; you know the watches will remain secure in their tiny little beds.

A detailed Mirage logo is engraved into the center of the top flap, done to perfection.

Final comments

I’ve had a quick look on Amazon, and there are a number of 3-watch PU leather travel rolls for much less. HOWEVER, as is always the case with cheap stuff on Amazon – you get what you pay for. So I’d be confident in saying that you;d be able to tell the different comparing one of those £20 watch case and this one by Mirage.

The biggest seller for me is the sliding inner cushions, resulting in exceptionally easy usability. Ususally in watch rolls like this, the cushions are fixed into place with snap buttons, which can be fiddly. The sheer softness of the interior as a whole is another win for me.

The post Mirage Jade Black 3 Watch Roll Review appeared first on 12&60.

When I first laid eyes on the RENITOR travel case, I knew immediately that I wanted to check it out. Made in a similar vein to the excellent Pelican cases – it’s remarkable that we don’t see more watch travel cases like this. I love the Eleven:11 single watch case, which is indeed made by Pelican, but it’s also 4 times the price of the RENITOR at £95.

So, at £23.99, is the RENITOR Single Watch Travel Case worth it? Let’s check it out.

The video review

The specs

• Dimensions: 135mm width x 55mm height x 95mm depth
• Weight: 202g
• Price: £23.99
• Buy here: https://amzn.to/3shIxEy 

Firstly, let’s start from the outside. It’s made with a hard ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) outer shell, featuring a raised criss-cross pattern to keep things interesting, and for grip. It does feel reassuringly hard and sturdy when you handle it. ABS has a strong resistance to corrosive chemicals and physical impacts and is commonly used for Lego and plug sockets. The RENITOR logo is printed in white ink in the centre of the top.

The ABS case makes it rather shockproof and crushproof, which is always good properties to have for a travel companion. With the rubber O-ring seal, RENITOR also says that it’s waterproof – however I’m not sure about the details on that, and I’m not willing to put it to the test.

Opening the case can be a struggle at times due to the very tight seal and sturdy clasp. I’d rather it be that way than very loose and floppy – at least it’s guaranteed to be reliable and unlikely to pop open on its own.

RENITOR state that the case can fit watches up to 65mm in diameter and 20mm in height. I have no doubts about the diameter, but the height will be a bit of a squeeze. The top of the watch case is secured against an eggbox style foam inner to the lid, which certainly keeps the watch in place. 

The flexi-fit insert is a more sturdy shaped foam block, which pushes snugly into the cutout. The shape of it seems to work quite well, however, the finishing on this one leaves a bit to the imagination – it’s a shame to see several channels scratched into the surface. However, whilst it may be unsightly, it doesn’t affect the performance of the insert. It’s perfectly sized for my pretty average 7” wrist, so my bracelet watches fit like a glove. If you have a larger size, it won’t be an issue, however, if you have a much smaller wrist size then it may end up being a bit of a squeeze to fit the watch on. Alternatively, it would be easy enough to trim some of the insert off.

The RENITOR logo is cut into the bottom edge of the foam insert which is a nice touch.

Additionally, there are some loops around the outside to fit a small padlock (a VERY small padlock), and the attached carry cord is very handy indeed for transportation.

Final comments

I’ve used this recently, for an overnight business stay. It housed the watch well, it was rugged enough to hold its own, and it was company enough to not take up too much space in my small case. There’s nothing at fault here, and it also comes with a microfiber polishing cloth. Sure, the flexi-fit insert needs to be better finished, but in a genuinely very practical and useful case that costs less than £25, I’m happy to overlook that. If you’re after a seriously sturdy but affordable travel case, then this is certainly worth your consideration.

The post RENITOR Single Watch Travel Case Review appeared first on 12&60.

That brings us nicely to their first watch – the Albion which is so named after the country in which Povey resides. If you aren’t familiar with the name Albion, that is because it’s old, ancient in fact. Traces of the name can be found back to 320BC and can often be seen in literature by classical writers such as Peter Ackroyd’s ‘Albion – The Origins of the English Imagination’.

SPECS

• Diameter: 38mm
• Thickness: 9.6mm
• Lug width: 20mm
• Lug-to-lug: 45mm
• Case material: 316L Stainless Steel
• Crystal: Box dome Sapphire coated Mineral
• Dial: Sandblast White
• Movement: ETA 902.002
• Battery life: up to 10 Years
• Water resistance: 50m
• Weight: 48g
• Strap: Light Havana by Sedgwick & Co
• Warranty: 3 years
• Price: £125
  • Use code watchitallabout for 20% off! Making it £100
• Buy here: https://www.poveywatches.com/shop/the-albion-silver

Povey has taken a simple approach with the Albion opting to go with arguably the most basic of them all – a two-hander meaning there is no seconds hand, and admittedly, in this case, it works well. The handset is high polished fence post style that merges with the overall aesthetic very well, the indices, however, have a touch more flare. At the 12, 3, 6 and 9 you’ll find some well done faceted applied double indices with the rest being made up of a single design. All the indices are done in a high polish and look completed to a good standard. In-between the indices you’ll find a simple and unobtrusive printed minute track.

The dial is a simple affair too; as all you’ll find is some neatly printed branding, the dial also has some subtle texture to give it a bit of character, though not too much as to distract too heavily from the indices.

Mineral crystal that has a thin Sapphire outer coating. In theory, this should be the best of both worlds as you should get the scratch resistance of Sapphire and the impact resistance of mineral, but in reality, I’m not entirely sure it works that way. If it does, then it’s a perfect middle-ground and should be both highly scratch-resistant and less prone to shattering.

The box dome-style has another big draw too as causes some playful distortions of both the indices and hands. One thing I’m not so fond of though is the choice of anti-reflective coating. Povey has opted to use a generous amount of blue AR, and that isn’t bad as this crystal is highly reflective and it does help cut that however the blue is so prominent it does somewhat detract from the vintage esque design. In this case, clear AR would have been preferred.

For the case, Povey has again opted for the notion that simple is better and honestly it’s little underwhelming though does suit the overall aesthetic. The bezel is done in a high polish and is ever so slightly curved so that it hugs the domed crystal nicely leaving no visible gap. Like the bezel, the mid-case is polished though a touch slab-sided, luckily the mid-case is very slim so that it’s not too noticeable. Below the mid-case, the case heavily slopes down into the caseback creating a nice appearance. I wish they would have opted to curve the entire case as that would have been the icing on the cake for this vintage classic inspired design.

The caseback is completely flat and again high polished. It’s held in place with four screws which fits the design though does mean this watch only has 50m water resistance which to be honest is perfectly fine for a casual wear watch. Right in the centre of the caseback, you’ll note the embossed branding that sits in a lovely cleanly done portion of machining that adds a touch of interest. Surrounding that is the specs that have been well engraved and finish off the caseback, though not overly fancy, it’s well-executed.

In use, the Albion scores well as the watch is simple to use and is great to just grab and go. The crown is simple but effective as it has enough grip and isn’t too small to make it unusable. In action, the crown and stem mechanism turns very smoothly and feels very reassuring to use. It’s a simple single-stage push-pull crown which is perfect for this style of watch. There is no ghost date position and makes it that much easier to use whenever you need to adjust the time which is not that often thanks to the quartz movement.

Povey have opted to take a sensible route and go tried and tested sourcing a good quality ETA 902.002 quartz movement which features 4 synthetic jewels and has a theoretical battery life of up to 100 months (8 years) depending on the battery specifications and use. Poveys website lists a life span of 10 years which in theory could be achieved depending if the battery has been upgraded which is honestly unlikely so you’ll more than likely get closer to the 8 years stated on the ETA spec sheet. The accuracy of this particular ETA movement is stated between -10/+15 seconds per month which is pretty much standard.

Now we come to the reason why I felt this watch stood above the competition and that is the included Sedgwick & Co (https://www.poveywatches.com/british-leather) leather strap. Most of the time watches at around £125 come with a decent leather strap, but Povey has taken things up a notch and sought the expertise of a well-renowned leather tannery, Sedgwick & Co. Sedgwick & Co have been in the business for a very long time and are most known for their work creating Bridles for the equestrian industry as well as supplying very high-quality leather that in this case is used for the Albions strap. At present the Albion can be purchased with one of three leather straps – the one included with our Silver model is the Light Havana which is a beautiful rich brown. Starting with the inner portion of the strap, you’ll note the lovely soft tan leather inner that honestly feels great against your wrist and is one of the best inners I’ve ever encountered. It’s also stamped, donating both parties.

The outer layer, however, is not as impressive when compared to the inner, it feels too new and a touch plasticky, however, I have a feeling that this is the type of strap that will only get better with wear and age, so take this with a view that straps like this need to be worn and weather.

The stitching in the strap is very well done throughout and is tight, uniform and matches the strap perfectly.

The hardware is a mix of leather keepers -which are very well made and a different style of buckle. The buckle is Stainless though I’m not certain as to the grade. I do however really love the design as it has a few flourishes including the profile and branding that is done similarly to the caseback. The buckle is held in place using a spring bar and I have had no issue as it feels well secured in place.

The cherry on top of this whole experience is the inclusion of a leather care kit that comes with a pot of leather care solution and a cloth, definitely a nice bonus and will help keep the strap in good condition.

We’ve established that the strap is good, but does that lend itself to a comfortable wear? Well, sort of. For my case use, I found it to be reasonably comfortable for daily wear though it’s certainly not the most comfortable I’ve ever experienced. This is down to the strap and like mentioned it’s age, given more time the leather will likely soften while becoming more pliable and less rigid, because as is, it’s a little too so, then again it is fairly new. The watch design does help with this thanks to the slim profile, its low weight and the lug design. The lugs flow down very nicely and do help the strap flow around the wrist in a nice fashion. Thanks to its small diameter and short lug-to-lug the Albion is well suited to those of us with slim wrists. For reference, I have 6” inch wrist and this just fits on the strap, though if you were to swap out the strap it would comfortably fit if you have a 5.5” inch wrist.

To sum up, the Albion from Povey has been pleasantly surprising though unfortunately doesn’t do much to excite the inner watch-nerd. As is, the Albion is well specced compared to similarly priced rivals, nicely executed throughout with minimal issues, is solidly put together, attractive and great for daily use, plus the added extras further bolster this, but I’m just left not feeling much at all. Like mentioned it’s good – in fact a very good watch for the price point, yet I just am left with no strong positive or negative feeling, it just fails to resonate and stir up any emotion.

The post Povey Albion Watch Review appeared first on 12&60.

What is tritium illumination? Tritium is a gas; also known as super heavy hydrogen. It emits electrons through beta decay and when these electrons interact with a phosphorous material, fluorescent light is created that can last up to 20 years. This cold illumination is completely self-powered, which makes it an extremely reliable light source.

It doesn’t glow as bright as charged lume, but of course, it doesn’t require charging at all. If a Seiko and a Nite watch were kept in a dark drawer for a month, the Seiko’s lume would be completely dead, but the tritium would keep on glowing.

When Nite first announced their tritium keyrings, I immediately fell in love. As a full-on watch nerd, having a jumbo tritium tube attached to my keys sounded epic. Sadly, they sold two batches out immediately before I could get my grubby mitts on them. Now though, I’m the proud owner of a green and ice blue tritium keyring.

Let’s check them out.

The specs

• Dimensions: 40mm height x 10mm diameter
• Weight: 7g
• Price: £18
• Buy here:
  • Green: https://www.nitewatches.com/gb/merchandise/tritium-keyring-green
  • Blue: https://www.nitewatches.com/gb/merchandise/tritium-keyring-iceblue

The video review

The build quality

What’s not to like here in terms of construction? Simplicity is always best, and they’ve done a good job of designing a simple yet eye-catching product. In reality, it’s all about those big fat tritium tubes, so to make them the focal point is the right thing to do.

The size is suitable for a keychain, it’s not going to get in the way but it will serve its purpose of a feature. The weight is light too, so it’s not going to make your keys an unliftable piece of dark matter.

The overall construction is a cylinder, with a polished top and bottom. There are knurled steel blocks above and below the central piece, the top featuring a hole for the provided split ring.

The central area looks and feels like clear perspex / plastic, but not so in a cheap way.

The illumination

In broad daylight, you may just feel like these are coloured tubes in the middle. Even in semi-dark, they don’t yet glow too brightly.

However, as soon as it is dark, they come into their own. In pitch black, you’d have to be blind to miss them. The first day I received them, I left them on the dressing table in my bedroom. That was a mistake, as they were so bright they glowed that end of the room up.

I had to put them in the dressing table drawer. And even then, I could see the glow peeking through the drawer crack like some sort of infinity stone.

With one of these strapped to your keys, there is no chance misplacing them in the dark.

Whilst these tritium tubes don’t have a T-rating in the same way the watches do, they have a Maximum Activity of 13.6 GBq (Gigabecquerel, the becquerel being a measurement of radioactivity). If you’re a radioactive scientist, please let me know what that means.

Final comments

If like me, you love all sorts of watch based merchandise, then the Nite tritium keyring is worth considering. £18 may seem steep for a keyring, but when you consider the practical value of them and the fact that they’re tubes of radiation providing self-powered illumination, it’s not that bad is it. And at that price, it really would make the perfect gift for a watch enthusiast.

The post Nite Tritium Keyring – the perfect watch enthusiast gift? appeared first on 12&60.

You can go disgustingly expensive (some leather accessories can cost £500), or you can have a dig around and find some great smaller brands creating lovely hand made products at very reasonable prices.

Harry’s Watch Accessories are quite new to the scene, but what immediately struck me whilst browsing their store was the variety of products, with interesting and unique designs, as well as the reasonable price.

This Buttoned Leather Watch Case will cost you £34.99; so is it worth it?

The video review

Before we get into the product itself, there’s something I need to get off my chest. Everything about Harry’s Watch Accessories seems unequivocally British. Therefore, once I made my purchase I was expecting to receive the product in a few days, maybe a week. However, a number of weeks of passed before I enquired, which I was informed it was still in transit. I wasn’t the only one, a couple of guys on Instagram messaged me saying they were in the same situation.

I ordered it on 19th May, it was shipped on 21st May, and I received it on 8th June.

It turns out that they are being shipped from Minsk, Belarus. I know the pandemic has crippled international delivery, so it’s a shame for them. However, I feel I should have been informed – I don’t care if the products are dropshipped, or made by hand by someone internationally and sent directly to me – but it would be good to have that expectation of delivery time. As I said, I was under the impression it was all UK based, so this was a little confusing. My recommendation would be for them to get a batch made and sent over to the UK so they can post from here, thus avoiding this issue. Also, I think it would be good to let their clients know that it’ll be sent internationally.

Does my experience mean I won’t buy from them again? No, it does not; nor do I think it should put you off either. Just expect a longish wait.

Anyway, now that’s out of the way – let’s talk about the product.

Overall, I feel it’s a well made, cleverly designed product at a very reasonable price. I’m a little bit bored of the regular watch rolls you see everywhere, so a bit of clever outside-the-box thinking for this case is more than welcome.

The leather is thick, supple and smells great – it’s clearly good quality stuff. The grain on the underside is lovely and soft. It’s all very neatly cut and stitched, bar a couple of slightly messy end stitches (but only on the inside); but this reminds you that these are hand made to order, so I’m not expecting perfection.

The pouches themselves comfortably house watches up to 42mm in diameter, which should cater to the majority of clients. Anything bigger and it will be a bit tight. Of course, as it’s leather, it’ll likely stretch in time so that could change moving forward.

I like the inclusion of the caseback protectors, which would be used specifically for watches with bracelets – you slip this behind the caseback so the bracelet doesn’t scratch it up when flattened against it and slipped into the pouch.

When loaded with watches and closed, the whole package is rather neat and tidy. The three pushbuttons down the side are easy to use, solid and reassuringly secure. Personally, I feel this is a much better and intuitive way of closing it, rather than a length of leather which wraps around a couple of times as per a regular watch pouch.

All in all, am I satisfied with my purchase? Most definitely. Yes, it did take 3 weeks for delivery, but I’m sure that’s only due to the pandemic currently. I would have preferred to have known that it was being shipped from overseas, just to manage my expectations. It’s not a problem at all that it is, but if someone is after a gift for instance and needs quick delivery times then it could be an issue.

However, it’s a clever alternative to other travel accessories. Ingenious yet simple design, good quality leather, decent craftsmanship, and an affordable price makes this a solid option for anyone.

The post Harry’s Watch Accessories Buttoned Leather Watch Case Review appeared first on 12&60.

The specs

• Dimensions: 38mm diameter x 11mm height x 47.5mm lug to lug
• Weight: 125g
• Water resistance rating: 5ATM / 50m
• Movement: Seiko NH36
• Accuracy: -3.8 sec/day
• Lug width: 20mm
• Warranty: ? years
• Price: ~$60 / £45
• Buy here: https://www.gearbest.com/mechanical-wristwatches/pp_3007431668703164.html?wid=2000001&lkid=15160681

The video review

The post Cadisen C1032 Watch Review appeared first on 12&60.

The MDV-106 is also referred to as the marlin, due to that fish appearing on the dial and caseback. It’s widely available at under £65 / $60, and I’ve seen other watch enthusiasts share it going for a pretty ridiculous $35 in places such as Walmart.

The main thing going for it is that it’s a solid, dependable, trustworthy diving watch. Let’s take a closer look to see if it lives up to its hype.

The specs

• Dimensions: 44mm diameter x 12mm height x 49mm lug to lug
• Weight: 92g
• Water resistance rating: 20ATM / 200m
• Movement: Casio 2784 Module
• Lug width: 22mm
• Warranty: 1 year
• Price: varies; $60 / £65
• Buy here: https://amzn.to/2jMJ0RX

The video review

The case

I’ll be honest, the case isn’t the most exciting, but I suppose throughout this review we need to keep in mind the price. The majority of the case is polished, which is an interesting choice: the side and bottom are, with a brushed top. As this is supposedly a functional diving watch I was expecting more to be brushed to avoid obvious and easy scratches.

The shape is very much a standard barrel, with a bevelled edge on the top shoulders. It’s an interesting choice that the sides of the case are fully polished – as this is a watch built for purpose, to be used in the water, it’s going to get knocked about. Perhaps a brushed finish would be better for the sake of longevity; as it’s not going to take long for scratches to take over. The top and bottom of the case are brushed, with reasonably defined lines where the finishes meet.

The crown is very plain – no markings exist on it at all. It’s screw-in, with a reasonably smooth thread. The grip is fine to use, but nothing outstanding. I guess they have to cut corners somewhere.

The fact the Duro has a mineral crystal can perhaps be seen as a negative. To be honest, it’s unrealistic to expect a sapphire crystal on a watch under £100, so I’m ok with it. Whilst it doesn’t appear to have any sort of anti-reflective coating, it provides a clear view of the dial.

The 120 click bezel is easy to rotate, however, it does have a small amount of wiggle and backwards play. The toothed outside edge provides a suitable grip allowing me to use it. Being polished, it catches the eye due to the array of angles associated with the teeth. The bezel insert is made of aluminium, with printed markings and a lume pip at 12 located within a trapezoid.

The screw-in caseback is brushed, with a polished bevelled edge around the outside. In the centre, a marlin fish is engraved, with some other specifics surrounding and below it. All the markings are done to a deep and accurate level.

The dial

A standout characteristic of the Duro’s dial is no doubt the sunray finish to it. Completely unexpected, and not something I had previously noticed on photos, it’s a beautiful dark charcoal grey intermingling with deep blacks.

The printwork is delicate and functional. Casio is printed in the centre of the top half, and the marlin returns on the bottom half of the dial above “WR 200”. The marlin artwork is very tasteful and is even of cult status due to its graceful design and recognisability. When Casio uses a marlin, it is a grade classification and signifies it has at least 200m water resistance and is suitable for diving.

There’s a subtle minute track on the rehaut which frames the dial.

The date window at 3 is just large enough for the black numerals on the white wheel to be legible. There’s a bevelled edge which helps soften the transition, and a printed white outer border.

The applied hour markers have a polished border and are filled with lume. They’re not the deepest, but they do catch the light effectively and make the dial stand out whilst working in tandem with the sunburst backdrop.

The hands are reasonably straight forward: the hour hand is an arrow with a border to separate the head. The minute hand is a pointed baton; both are pitched. The lume filled centres don’t extend for their entirety; they have a metal counterweight. I’ve found the hands to be perfectly legible, if not a tiny bit small visually.

The lume is pretty decent for the price. It glows green and is certainly above average for watches costing a few times the Duro.

The strap

I’ll be completely honest, the black resin band the Duro comes with is plain, boring, and does the watch no favours. Hence why I immediately switched it out for one of my two-piece NATO straps, which is so much more comfortable and looks much better.

The resin strap is useful still, but personally, I’d only use it for actual swimming or diving. It’s comfortable enough but is very long so you end up having a long tail end. The tang buckle is also disappointingly plain, being polished steel and not having any markings or detail at all.

At least with a standard 22mm lug width, you’ll be able to find plenty of options.

The movement

The movement is a Casio 2784 module. The SR626 battery should give you 3 years battery life, and the movement is easy enough to operate: unscrew the crown, pull out to the first step for date advancement, and the second step for time alteration. It has a hacking seconds hand so accurate setting is possible.

Another thing the Casio Duro is well known for is the accuracy of the seconds hand. Believe it or not, it’s quite often you see seconds hands not hitting the markers bang on. This Duro is indeed very accurate although not quite perfect.

Final comments

When I first opened the box (which is a small cardboard box with a plastic watch stand within), I wasn’t overly blown away by the Casio Duro. Whilst I’m still not blown away by it, I’ve realised that it doesn’t aim to impress. It’s all about being a solid no-frills diver. Designed and built to be used. Diving.

Yes, there are other options available at the same price range. Parnis immediately springs to mind; however – would you trust a Parnis enough to actually go diving with? Most probably not – I certainly wouldn’t. So in reality, the Duro is the cheapest, most trustworthy diver available. And that’s where it comes into its own. I’d wholeheartedly trust this watch underwater. I’d trust this watch to keep ticking whilst I use it for jobs that would most likely end with it getting bashed up.

There are countless examples of Casio Duros being used, nay abused, to within an inch of its life – and they just keep on going. As long as you’re not expecting it to replace all your watches in your watch box, you can’t go wrong with adding this to your collection.

The post Casio Duro MDV-106 Watch Review appeared first on 12&60.

The specs

• Dimensions: 40mm diameter x 11.25mm height x 47mm lug to lug
• Weight: 59g
• Water resistance rating: 5ATM / 50m
• Movement: Ronda 705
• Lug width: 20mm
• Warranty: 2 years
• Price: $95 / ~£77
• Buy here: https://mileneal.com/collections/prestige-quartz/products/majestic-ocean-blue-quartz
• Milanese mesh strap: $20 / ~£17 https://mileneal.com/collections/straps/products/milanese-mesh-strap

The video review

The post Mileneal Prestige Ocean Blue (Quartz) Watch Review appeared first on 12&60.

Enter Indulou; with their German made industrial watch stands. It fits perfectly on a desk and is a very simple, but stylish way of displaying your watch on any surface. Indulou describe this nicely when they say “Do not let your watches lie around, give them a proper home!”.

Let’s take a look.

The video review

The specs

• Dimensions: 9cm x 9cm x 9cm
• Material: brushed stainless steel & leather top
• Warranty: 1 year
• Price: €24.99
• Buy here: https://www.indulou.com/english/

The Indulou watch stand is crafted from solid, thick, brushed steel. It’s entirely made from one single piece, cut and bent into shape.

Four thick, clear rubber feet stuck on the base ensures the stand stays in place and doesn’t scratch your tabletop.

The actual section your watch rests on is covered by a very thick and soft unfinished leather hide. This is very good quality leather and ensures your watch doesn’t get scratched. If you don’t like the rugged appearance too much then don’t worry; it’s well hidden behind the watch once it’s on there as this section is not too wide.

I’ve found that it is very reasonably sized – it seems to be measured for around a 7” wrist – obviously a watch on a leather strap with a tang buckle is not an issue as you’d size it to fit, but if you have a smaller wrist then your sized bracelets may not go around it.

In reality, it’s a great example of simple, effect design – completed in an elegant way. Thanks to this simplicity, it looks very trendy on the desk, bedside table, sideboard, drawers, anywhere.

I use mine every day at work, so I think it’s a great buy. Rugged, solid construction done well. Sehr gut, und danke Indulou!

The post Indulou UNO Watch Stand Review appeared first on 12&60.

The specs

• Dimensions: 40mm diameter x 10.5mm height x 47.5mm lug to lug
• Weight: 61g
• Water resistance rating: 5ATM / 50m
• Movement: DG2803 ($25 on its own) – 28.8k?
• Accuracy: +2.0 sec/day
• Lug width: 20mm
• Warranty: years
• Price: $55 / £44 (fluctuates)
• Buy here: http://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/NS9HEzK

The video review

The post Starking (AliExpress) AM0239 RL77 Automatic Watch Review appeared first on 12&60.