Hey Monocrom... yes indeed, Citizen Eco-Drive watches are awesome. Sensibly priced, quite accurate, and you never have to even think about power. Oceanus solars are really great watches, too. Can't leave out Seiko solars either.Have heard rumors that a Citizen Eco-Drive solar battery is good for a minimum of 10 years, max. of 20 years. But the one in my BM7080-03E is still going strong over 20 years later. Plus, best part is, unless the power reserve is down to 0% the light can be recharged with a very bright flashlight. Surprised that Citizen models aren't more popular on CPF than they are.
That looks great!I replaced the stock strap with a black leather one with orange stitching. Photo from today.
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That Longines is a beaut! It's hard to beat those classic faces. And plenty of heritage to back it up.I like GPS, Bluetooth and Radio Controlled solar watches. They make sense. I actually have a G-Shock GA-B2100. It is a wonderful beater for me. I wear it almost every day but only in my woodworking shop or in my garage when also wearing a boiler suit. I want to enjoy more substantial ones but something holds me back.
Recently, I was on the market for a daily watch without any complications, with titanium case and bracelet. I was looking for something like a field watch or pilot's watch with some degree of causal dressiness. The Seiko Astron GPS Limited Edition was just what I was looking for. I would finally enjoy the merits of Solar GPS technology. I was about to pull the trigger, but nope! The Longines Spirit seduced me.
I now have to contend with an accuracy that the Astron would make fun of, in addition to either putting the watch on a winder or, wind and adjust it whenever I use it less often than 3 days. As a bonus, I will get it periodically serviced by an authorized dealer. I wonder why I gave up perfect accuracy, months of power reserve and lifetime autonomy but somehow, I do not regret. It seems there is magic in old school.
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Impressive. Get it COSC certified.That Longines is a beaut! It's hard to beat those classic faces. And plenty of heritage to back it up.
Mine today was this retro Seiko. Weirdly great accuracy from an automatic. You'd think it was a quartz. Less than a minute a week. Really got lucky with this one.
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I'd rather spend the $400 on other toys, but I'd be pretty curious on how it would do.Impressive. Get it COSC certified.
I totally agree on Radio Controlled (or GPS or Bluetooth) solar watches and I cannot rationalize my old school choice. I reckon this is emotional rather than rational.There is much to be said for solar power (once charged, it could run for 9 months without seeing any light at all). Given any small amount of any kind of light on a periodic basis, it will never run low on power.
And the radio-controlled accuracy keeps up to the second accuracy at all times.
I love that stuff, but it was the exquisite Zaratsu (people who polish the Grand Seiko cases) case polishing and the looks that won me over to this Oceanus. I swapped the bracelet for leather, just because I like the look and feel of leather.
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I enjoy auto mechanical watches and steel bracelets at times, also. I switch up what watch I wear every few days, and even occasionally more than once a day. Just choosing by mood and whim, sometimes by activity. I like solar, automatic/mechanical, and quartz, as well as bracelets, leather straps, and NATOs. All good!I totally agree on Radio Controlled (or GPS or Bluetooth) solar watches and I cannot rationalize my old school choice. I reckon this is emotional rather than rational.
I also agree on the look and feel of leather straps but I cannot wear them daily because I sweat a lot. They develop a stinky stiffness in no time. I can enjoy leather only with dress watches because of their limited use in less demanding conditions. Your post made me think that you are living what I keep dreaming about. Just enjoy.