Watches

Jewelry that I can get behind! Return to Home

I started wearing watches habitually in college with a "Ducati Corse Silicon" that my uncle gifted me. However, I also did rock a "Casio AE-1000W" during my time as a cadet candidate, then officer in the JROTC. By the time I did an internship at a recruiting firm, my father bought me this Seiko quartz watch (I believe the "Seiko 6N42-00H0"), I naturally ended up liking watches. I have a small collection that I treasure and hope it'll be all that I ever need. While they're neat, I'm apprehensive to go further down the rabbit hole where I'd be more intimate with watch winders, obsessing over lug to lug measurements, or knowing the nuances between Japanese Miyota and Swiss movements.

Owned

Casio F-91W

The Thinkpad of watches: it's cheap, can take a beating, and may garner strange looks if used out at a cafe or a date.
With it proven to be faithful even on a summit to Kilimanjaro, this is probably the only watch you would ever need.
My only personal issues with this watch is that the gap between the band and watch sometimes makes a squeaky noise every now and then. People online say that it's caused by grime, and solutions are to either lubricate it, or to live with it. Thankfully, from my experience, the noise eventually disappears. But when it gets to a point where I cannot ignore it, I swap to my other watches for the next few days.

Casio MQ-24

The need for this watch came for situations such as taking the JLPT where only analog watches, not digital, are permitted. Casio being the king of cheap quartz watches, I ultimately settled on this after seeing Pope Francis using it. That, and a close friend of mine swears by it.

Citizen NY4050-62A

My first automatic watch and the newest watch to my collection. I got it for a deal where I ended up saving 10,000+ yen. Multifunctional for it to serve both as an everyday and even dress watch. Also accompanies me daily to work as a salaryman.
As far as I am aware, this is a Japan exclusive product.

Casio AQ-230A-7AMQYJF

Latest watch to my collection. Has both an analog (minus second hand) and digital display. Compact, tiny, and stylish to wear even in a suit.

Other

Apple Watch Series 5 (...and smart watches in general)

I got this as a graduation present from my cousin. It's extremely useful for custom jogging workouts and more detailed data for my hikes, but it has lost my favor. For it to work for me, I'd basically have to neuter it; all notifications switched off. Having constant pings or vibrations makes me instinctivly pull my arm up like I'm the Lone Wanderer checking my Pip-Boy 3000. And considering that I want to focus on a more privacy-respecting relationship with technology, the tracking done by an Apple Watch is contrary to what I am trying to achieve. However, I will say that it has faired me better than a Fitbit that I owned a few years ago which got water damaged after a few laps at the pool. That being said, I can't see myself further utilizing a smart watch. I can't seem to think of any benefits from its "conveniences." Though, Garmin watches seem popular among hikers, but I can honestly make do with the Casio F-91W.
I also had "Samsung Gear 2 Neo" in high school that my father gifted me after he came back from a trip to Hong Kong. I remember having a Pip-boy "watchstyle" which was the coolest thing of all time. I had a classmate in high school that also had this watch and we'd send texts to each other during class. Felt like some spy stuff.

Casio G-Shock DW5600E-1

It looks useful for outdoor excursions but honestly I'd only get one because of Kazami Yūji from Grisia no Kaijutsu. It's just more economical to keep my Casio F-91W and replace it if it breaks down. Though it's unlikely they'll ever get physical damage on normal hikes. I'll probably ever only consider getting one if I get into waterfall climbing.

Seiko 5

Before I got my Citizen, this automatic watch looked perfect for me as it is economical but could pass off even as a dress watch. I haven't had the opportunity to look at physical stores around Tokyo, and the prices online were not like the "under $100" that I see talked about online in the west.

Orient Bambino Generation 2 Version 3

Sleekest cheap automatic watch that I wish I could've gotten my hands on years ago. As years pass by, it's harder to come across by and is a lot more expensive.