I made this image a couple of weeks ago. My wrists do not get along well with bracelets because of a protruding bone. A bracelet causes the watch head to bump the bone, which irritates the skin.
I never noticed that this is different than most wrists. Hmmm… I suppose I am unique.
My Omega Speedmaster Triple Date is the first nice watche in my small collection. It came with a stainless steel bracelet that is sized to fit my wrist. However, like most humans, my wrist dimensions change over the course of a day such that a bracelet is either too loose or too tight.
And, I have little tolerance for a loose bracelet because of a bit of bone on my wrist that is more prominent than in a lot of people. A loose watch with any mass will bounce into it multiple times a day, which results in some discomfort.
As a result, I prefer my watch to be relatively immobile on my wrist. That means that bracelets are not my best choice for affixing a wristwatch to my wrist.
A leather, rubber, or cloth strap will work much better because they are readily adjustable as my wrist circumference changes during the day. They also have a little inherent give to them that means they will change length slightly with my changing wrist geometry.
I have learned a bit about NATO and Zulu nylon straps. They provide another way of adding some color that can complement my wristwatch.
And so I have my Speedy on a seatbelt nylon NATO in blue. This straps complements the blue dial of my Speedy nicely and I like the combination. Plus, the strap is very comfortable against my skin.
I also think that a blue strap with some gray or silver might also be a nice color combination for the Speedy. I will spend some time this weekend shopping.
My buddy Jimmy loaned me his ’57 Speedmaster Replica, later called the Reissue, to wear for a week. It is not a small watch at about 41mm case width. But, it is the iconic Speedmaster that represents the watch that introduced the line.
I favor chronographs because of my affinity for tool watches. So, the Speedmaster appeals to me.
Is the watch too big for my diminutive wrist? I don’t think so.
Life is good.
As I wrote before, I do not expect to have a large watch collection and plan to sell those that I do not wear. But, I like watches, always have, and the mechanical movements fascinate me.
There are many reviews of the Hyperion so I am not going to do that. The technical aspects of the watch as well as its aesthetics are described all over the Internet. I cannot add anything to that mix other than I like the look of the watch and it fits me. I will be tracking that over the next few months and we will see if it sticks.
I have always had an affinity for wrist watches, but never acted on it. I turned my nose up at the Rolex brand because they always seemed a little proud of what they are. That is almost always a turn off for me.
I had a Timex I bought as a very young man and wore it until the case was so corroded by my skin that it started cutting my wrist. I guess that watch lasted me a couple of decades.
It was replaced with a Seiko Quartz chronometer that I wore for years, finally replacing the movement 20-years ago and mistakenly buying a Seiko Sportura that was far too big for my wrist. It has languished on a shelf all that time.
When Apple released the Apple Watch, I bought one and used several of them over the intervening period until late last year. The smartwatch has always irritated me a bit with its insistence on making itself known. And, after reading Cal Newport’s Digital Minimalism, I found myself wanting to be less connected and more present.
Last year I took up my love of mechanical cameras and realized just how good they are and that they have no need for batteries (which only run the meter).
And a gift from a friend reminded me that the same thing is true about mechanical watches. And, so I own a few.
This Cincinnatus from Cincinnati Watch Company arrived this morning. It needs a NATO strap and I am working on that. It is just a watch with no complications (unlike some of my other favorites). I think I will like it a lot. I will know more in a month or two.
I had supper with my buddy Jimmy last night. He brought me a pretty to wear for a few days. I cannot recall the brand name, but it is called a Zodiac. I believe it is vintage, from the 1960s. It is a triple-date (Day, Date, Month) and has a moon phase complication that is cool.
I have not timed it yet, but my sense is that it is running within a few seconds per day, which is better than my Speedie! It is also small enough that it does not dwarf my 6.5-inch wrist.
I am completely enamored of my Omega Speedmaster chronograph. Plus, I really like tool watches. But I might actually wear a Zodiac.
My buddy is really into mechanical watches and has been for several years. So, I am dabbling lightly and enjoying the camaraderie. I deeply enjoy listening to him talk about watches — something is very passionate about. Even if I am not so invested in the hobby (or obsession), it is interesting.
He loaned me this lovely vintage Wyler chronograph to wear for a week. I am enjoying it.