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Hamilton Khaki Navy GMT under the microscope
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Yes indeed this is what my two tissots look like. The rest of my watches don't match the same quality but are most definitely not like the Strela.
Ill go ahead and take some pictures.
PS: What did you use to take the pictures?
Ill go ahead and take some pictures.
PS: What did you use to take the pictures?
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I don't remember the exact model in the lab - I guess it should be Nikon AZ100
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Yeah mine are not as good as yours, obviously. Im just using a cheap microscope/P&S camera, my DSLR does not work well with my microscope... at all. Focusing isn't really the best with the point and shoot.
Here are mine... unprofessionally done.
Tissot Visodate watch
Day number: "5" in red. 40x magnification
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"D" in Visodate, underneath Tissot logo on the dial. 100x magnification
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Cannon pinion, where the 3 hands meet. 40x magnification
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3 o' clock hour marker: 100x magnification
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Cotes de Geneve, 40x magnification
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Here are mine... unprofessionally done.
Tissot Visodate watch
Day number: "5" in red. 40x magnification
"D" in Visodate, underneath Tissot logo on the dial. 100x magnification
Cannon pinion, where the 3 hands meet. 40x magnification
3 o' clock hour marker: 100x magnification
Cotes de Geneve, 40x magnification
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great shots! 
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just for a comparison Strela vs. Hamilton. Two similar screws in two watches sold for similar price - the quality approach is quite different, I guess, this is also THE indicator of the production philosophy. I'd love to get some Sea-Gull, Seiko for testing too. Next piece will be my Orient Star
![Product Wheel Circle Metal Font]()
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Great shots again, both of you. Thanks very much.
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Awesome photos.
How about a shot of the gears to compare as well.
Hope you can get a few more makes up later. Cheers, and well done
How about a shot of the gears to compare as well.
Hope you can get a few more makes up later. Cheers, and well done
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Remember you are not comparing equal watches. You are comparing a very cheap mechanical chronograph with a simple automatic watch of the same price. Honestly, for the price I find the screw in the Hamilton to look pretty bad.
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A very cheap $500 watch.
Seagull can produce a better chronograph, and doesn't mess up this badly.
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They do? Take a look at a 1963 under a microscope. You'll be surprised. Shame I can't use my microscope to take pictures...
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That is actually how all screws look under a microscope after they have been put in with a screwdriver. Screwdrivers are harder than screws so there will always be some distortion. What is shown in that picture is what a screw should look after being tightened properly.
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1963 re-issue the one that is not manufactured by Seagull?
https://www.watchuseek.com/f101/seagull-1963-a-255360.html
https://www.watchuseek.com/f72/what%92s-wrong-my-chronograph-504772.html
https://www.watchuseek.com/f71/some...field-chrono-my-new-me-macro-lens-680453.html
I don't see any stripped screws or any indications of major flaws (bad painting, crooked lume, etc).
You can take pictures using just about any point and shoot camera. I took pictures with my microscope, it just takes a bit of patience.
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The blue hands on mine are not painted evenly: the edges barely have any paint at all. The red hand looks pretty similar to the ones shown on the Strela. Besides, the St19 is very cheaply decorated. Nothing that bothers me since it's invisible to the naked eye...
The screws in my Stowa are not deformed like those shown here.
In short, I just wanted to point out that paying 500 bucks for a chrono or a regular watch is not the same price class at all. I'd never put an affordable watch underneath a microscope and expect it to be flawless. None of the flaws of the Strela appear to be visible to the naked eye so it's perfectly acceptable to me.
The screws in my Stowa are not deformed like those shown here.
In short, I just wanted to point out that paying 500 bucks for a chrono or a regular watch is not the same price class at all. I'd never put an affordable watch underneath a microscope and expect it to be flawless. None of the flaws of the Strela appear to be visible to the naked eye so it's perfectly acceptable to me.
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I love these threads. Many thanks to Curiousman for the beautiful photography. Indeed the 2893 is a nicely finished movement. You can find an excellent comparison article between the ETA 2892 and the Sea-Gull ST18 by Lysanderxii at this link. The Sea-Gull comes out looking pretty good. It's worth noting that almost any watch exhibits flaws under close magnification. If you are prone to any OCD tendencies, a loupe can seriously mess with one's idealized concept of watches, be they $100 affordables or $3000 grails.
Martin, if you want to borrow one of my Sea-Gull ST21 watches I'll be happy to loan it to you for the micro-view treatment.
Martin, if you want to borrow one of my Sea-Gull ST21 watches I'll be happy to loan it to you for the micro-view treatment.
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challenge accepted!I love these threads. Many thanks to Curiousman for the beautiful photography. Indeed the 2893 is a nicely finished movement. You can find an excellent comparison article between the ETA 2892 and the Sea-Gull ST18 by Lysanderxii at this link. The Sea-Gull comes out looking pretty good. It's worth noting that almost any watch exhibits flaws under close magnification. If you are prone to any OCD tendencies, a loupe can seriously mess with one's idealized concept of watches, be they $100 affordables or $3000 grails.
Martin, if you want to borrow one of my Sea-Gull ST21 watches I'll be happy to loan it to you for the micro-view treatment.
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OK. Thanks.
I did find some of the flaws to be visible to the naked eye.
I didn't mention the decorations, I mentioned the fact the ST19 doesn't have damaged screws.
If you are fine with that, it is your choice.
But don't try to make excuses, Strela can do better.
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Not all 31's are created equally https://www.watchuseek.com/f10/show-your-3133-a-588799.html
Volmax 'Big Strela' @ x2 cost for example, and Buran etc.
As the 31's were designed to be one of the most robust movements just wondering if Maktime have quality levels grading levels too
Volmax 'Big Strela' @ x2 cost for example, and Buran etc.
As the 31's were designed to be one of the most robust movements just wondering if Maktime have quality levels grading levels too
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I'm not making excuses. Why would I? I don't even own a Strela...
But I find the flaws to be present in a lot more expensive watches as well such as flaky paint on the hands of an expensive Doxa watch. When I look at that large photo; I find a fine looking watch. I don't worry about the microscopical level for affordable watches as long as my eyes can't see it.
I'd be pissed if my Stowa wouldn't be any better, but I can tolerate it on a very affordable chronograph with a decent movement.
By the way, my ST19 equipped watch had a missing screw and one screw that had half the blue paint scratched away it also didn't reset correctly.
The 3133 looks a bit rough because the old machinery was still being used. There was no money to improve the machinery, so the old Valjoux equipment was used. As of last year, the legendary 3133 is no more so old stock is being used. I expect even rougher examples to turn up a while from now. But, at that price point I'm not expecting a lot of decoration if any.
I have seen too many imperfect expensive watches to fuss over an affordable Strela ;-)
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