So after asking some questions on WUS, I finally pulled the trigger: I bought the SNK809. It arrived today.
Anyway, this is really my first watch that I pick out/care about (my mom would get me cheap watches when I was little but I'd always lose them), and my first mechanical watch, too.
Vendors
I bought the watch from
Premierworld on eBay. They're pretty reliable and they have good customer service; they've earned crazy positive feedback and responded quickly to my questions.
I don't love the look of the bracelet as much, so I bought a couple straps that I feel suit the watch better. I ordered an
18mm one-piece Zulu strap from Amazon and a leather Breitling-style strap from Don Ginsler. I had no issues with Amazon; the Zulu strap arrived in two days. Speedily answering customer questions and giving helpful advice, Don is a pleasure to do business with.
Quick note: to switch straps at home, I bought a
spring bar tool from Amazon as well. I can use the bracelet... iono when. Maybe when I'm dressed up? even though the watch isn't dressy at all. I can use the Zulu when I'm out exercising or doing a lab at school. And I think the leather strap will be my daily.
First impressions
Wow, this thing is small--smaller than I had expected. But my wrist is small so it is fitting. It's also pretty hefty and compact, but after a while you don't notice. Maybe I just think it's heavy because I haven't really handled a lot of watches (except for my dad's Rolex GMT Master I). Anyway, the numbers and dates are pretty legible. The finish on the outside is nice and smooth. It looks like metal (it is metal, to clarify :-!) in person rather than gray plastic.
It wasn't running when I opened the packaging, so I just put it on and shook my wrist for 30 seconds and it's been running smoothly ever since. Setting the date was fairly easy. You just pull out the crown in two positions that correspond to date and time change. Even though the SNK809 uses a non-hacking calibre (7s26b), there is a way to stop the second hand that is explained in this guide.
A note about the calendar function: It does display Spanish days (LUNes, MARtes, MIErcoles, etc.) but only for a couple of hours in the after midnight I think.
The lume is just enough, although I haven't taken it outside for a whole day yet. We'll see. Charging the lume under a lamp for a few seconds does yield an adequate brightness.
All in all, I think this little timekeeper is a lot of watch for the money: nice military/pilot design, date, day, and a reliable automatic movement. However I think people with bigger wrists will be disappointed at the 37mm (crown included) watch diameter.
If you guys have any other questions or requests, please let me know. Thanks WUS!
Here is the watch on a Zulu!
Sorry it's out of focus, but it's a distanced wrist shot
Anyway, this is really my first watch that I pick out/care about (my mom would get me cheap watches when I was little but I'd always lose them), and my first mechanical watch, too.
Vendors
I bought the watch from
I don't love the look of the bracelet as much, so I bought a couple straps that I feel suit the watch better. I ordered an
Quick note: to switch straps at home, I bought a
First impressions
Wow, this thing is small--smaller than I had expected. But my wrist is small so it is fitting. It's also pretty hefty and compact, but after a while you don't notice. Maybe I just think it's heavy because I haven't really handled a lot of watches (except for my dad's Rolex GMT Master I). Anyway, the numbers and dates are pretty legible. The finish on the outside is nice and smooth. It looks like metal (it is metal, to clarify :-!) in person rather than gray plastic.
It wasn't running when I opened the packaging, so I just put it on and shook my wrist for 30 seconds and it's been running smoothly ever since. Setting the date was fairly easy. You just pull out the crown in two positions that correspond to date and time change. Even though the SNK809 uses a non-hacking calibre (7s26b), there is a way to stop the second hand that is explained in this guide.
A note about the calendar function: It does display Spanish days (LUNes, MARtes, MIErcoles, etc.) but only for a couple of hours in the after midnight I think.
The lume is just enough, although I haven't taken it outside for a whole day yet. We'll see. Charging the lume under a lamp for a few seconds does yield an adequate brightness.
All in all, I think this little timekeeper is a lot of watch for the money: nice military/pilot design, date, day, and a reliable automatic movement. However I think people with bigger wrists will be disappointed at the 37mm (crown included) watch diameter.
If you guys have any other questions or requests, please let me know. Thanks WUS!
Here is the watch on a Zulu!
Sorry it's out of focus, but it's a distanced wrist shot