So today I got a knock on the door, and in the postman's hands was a jiffy bag marked "Hong Kong." I knew what it was, but I was surprised that it arrived so soon. When I closed the door, I slowly opened up the bag, and inside was a well wrapped watch. Good start. The watch looks really impressive up front, the shape of the case is fantastic, good quality stainless steel. The crown guard is of a satisfactory quality, it locks down well but isn't hard to open. Some people would probably say it was too easy to open... I highly doubt it offers any water resistance, but since I'm not diving with this watch it doesn't really matter. the dial has been well printed, but poorly lumed, though this was to be expected. It's funny really, the hands light up pretty darn well in the dark, but the numerals barely light up at all. The glass is apparently made out of "hardened mineral crystal" and it seems to be of a pretty high quality, I'll soon know - when this beast gets bashed about by daily wear. The magnifying bubble works well, and so far it's a feature I quite like. The only thing that lets the asthetics of this watch down is the terrible strap it comes on... Plastic croco is a no go for me, makes the watch look a little cheap... Ok it was cheap, but it deserves better. The buckle the watch comes on is of a good quality too... Let me say right now; no pick - pocketer in the world will be able to pull this watch off of your wrist, infact I have trouble putting the watch on with such a thick strap, and such a thick buckle... I took a screw driver to the holes in the strap, to try and loosen them up a little. You can decide for yourselves if this is a good point or a bad one. I'd like this watch to sit tight on my wrist, it's too heavy to be knocking about else where, thus I didn't mind making my own ajustments.
So, the important bit - does this watch function properly? the answer to this question is yes and no. It appears to keep fantastic time... Well except for that damn GMT hand. I'm disappointed to tell you that the GMT function on my Marina Militare barely works... The GMT hand can be set indipendantly, and when you maualy set the local time with the normal hour hand, the GMT hand will gladly follow the main hour hand (quite) well. Yet when the watch is left of its own accord, 9/10 times the GMT hand will just sit there motionless!!! and if it does move along, it does not record accurate time, which is a shame - because that is after all what I wanted this watch for... Then again at £60 I can't say I've been "robbed" per se. The movment appears to be of quite a high quality, for one thing this is an automatic watch, and the 2 different crown positions can be found with ease, quite contary to popular belief. The date function works well, and can be set easily, as can the GMT hand - it's just a shame it doesn't bloody work. I have a suspicion that China has tried their hand at fancy complications and lost this time round. It's a shame a better movement hasn't been used,because it would be 110% worth the extra cost of the watch. Just looking at the face now, that GMT hand appears to have shifted about one milimetre from the 4 o'clock marker in the space of 30 minutes local time...
I was thinking of getting a Toshi strap to put on this watch, but instead I think I'm going to save my pennies, get a custom Marina Militare made and then hopefully I'll have a watch more worthy of Rich's work. I just hope he doesn't mind shipping to New Zealand... I have no idea if I can have a custom GMT
Marina Militare made, even if it's just one tied to the hour hand. I'll see what my options are I suppose.
And the bit you've all been waiting for......
Thanks for reading, please do comment!
Vincero
So, the important bit - does this watch function properly? the answer to this question is yes and no. It appears to keep fantastic time... Well except for that damn GMT hand. I'm disappointed to tell you that the GMT function on my Marina Militare barely works... The GMT hand can be set indipendantly, and when you maualy set the local time with the normal hour hand, the GMT hand will gladly follow the main hour hand (quite) well. Yet when the watch is left of its own accord, 9/10 times the GMT hand will just sit there motionless!!! and if it does move along, it does not record accurate time, which is a shame - because that is after all what I wanted this watch for... Then again at £60 I can't say I've been "robbed" per se. The movment appears to be of quite a high quality, for one thing this is an automatic watch, and the 2 different crown positions can be found with ease, quite contary to popular belief. The date function works well, and can be set easily, as can the GMT hand - it's just a shame it doesn't bloody work. I have a suspicion that China has tried their hand at fancy complications and lost this time round. It's a shame a better movement hasn't been used,because it would be 110% worth the extra cost of the watch. Just looking at the face now, that GMT hand appears to have shifted about one milimetre from the 4 o'clock marker in the space of 30 minutes local time...
I was thinking of getting a Toshi strap to put on this watch, but instead I think I'm going to save my pennies, get a custom Marina Militare made and then hopefully I'll have a watch more worthy of Rich's work. I just hope he doesn't mind shipping to New Zealand... I have no idea if I can have a custom GMT
Marina Militare made, even if it's just one tied to the hour hand. I'll see what my options are I suppose.
And the bit you've all been waiting for......



Thanks for reading, please do comment!
Vincero