SEIKO 7S26-0020 vs ROLEX 3130 Re Test

ROLEX EXPLORER and SEIKO DIVER'S RE TESTED AND COMPARED AFTER 9 MONTHS OF HEAVY USAGE.

Conclusion:
With the price tag,
with all the day-date complication,
with the age circa 1996 2001 Production date 1D (same age as the Explorer K series)
SEIKO 7S26(A)-0020 functions accordingly as expected.(including the SKX013)

With the price tag,
without day-date complication,
with COSC standard,
with the age circa 2001 (K series),
ROLEX 3130 function accordingly as expected.

I'm happy with both watches, plus the Pro Trek as well.

I'm returning the 7S26 gold plated to my dad. Hopefully he will be happy with the performance of the overhauled watch too.

If God willing, perhaps the next test will be a high end Seiko Movement vs Rolex Movement. I'm hoping to get a sample for the test, (I mean if I got extra cash to purchase the next watch and to do the testing, not to purchase just for testing :-)). The bulky Marine Master perhaps...?aaaa...just wait.

Japanese's high end mechanical movement is known for it consistency and reliability, can wait for the next purchase...no problem, not in hurry.

SOMEBODY NEED TO TEST THIS :-) ( as I couldn't find it in youtube).

(A3) ACCURACY AND RELIABILITY
My Marine Master is almost on par with my Submariner Date. Both watches are running at +5 to +7 seconds per month. For the Seiko Marine Master priced at 1/3 the cost of a Rolex Submariner, I would say that it is good value for the money. However, we have yet to see a Marine Master perform accurately for a 10 to 20 year period for they have not been around that long. Rolex Submariners from the 1980s can run very accurately for their age. Some owners claim accuracy of about +/- 10 to 15 seconds per month.

Both watches have been tested in the open ocean and not in some machine isolated a watch laboratory. Rolex had officially issued COMEX and US Navy SEALS professional divers with Submariners and Sea Dwellers for their jobs. Likewise, Seiko had issued Japanese Marine Biologists with their watches as well. Not to mention the countless testimonials from deep sea divers, their trust on Rolex and Seiko. Thus, I would say that they are “battle” proven over the years.

The down side to the Marine Master is that it must be sent back to Japan for maintenance. The regional Seiko service centers do not conduct servicing of the 8L35 movement. Warranty is only valid in Japan. On the other hand, Rolex service centers are around the world. This also makes the Marine Master a much rarer watch outside Japan when compared to the Submariner or Sea Dweller. Warranty is international.
source :

Seiko Marine Master vs Rolex Submariner Date (Version 3)

Exploring Vientiane - 2.00 am in the morning.

I couldn't sleep. So I packed up my gear and went a walk by myself looking for an interesting subject at 2:00 am.

Patuxai Monument
"It's already late, no entry sir," says the guard
"Just gimme 10 minutes ... please ... big dogs you have there..."

Patuxai - literally meaning Victory Gate or Gate of Triumph, formerly the Anousavary or Anosavari Monument known by the French as Monument Aux Morts) is a war monument in the centre of Vientiane, Laos, which was built between 1957 and 1968. Patuxai is dedicated to those who fought in the struggle for independence from France. In romanising the name from the Laotian language, it is variously transliterated as Patuxai, Patuxay, Patousai and Patusai. It is also given the name of Patuxai Arch or the Asian version of Arc de Triomphe of Vientiane as it has general resemblance to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris; however, it is typically Laotian in design, decorated with many Buddhist mythological figurines such as of kinnari (half-female, half-bird figures) - Uncle Wiki

Finally, I got the Peace Gong.

Gong Perdamaian Dunia - World Peace Gong (History)

Where is Vientiane?

From a distance, at night, the street and the monument reminds me slightly of Paris too, but of course here with extremely peace. And for sure I couldn't get this shot during office hour.

 Have you ever watched that movie... American Werewolf in London?

What a Crazy Night!

Vientiane Laos , 8th June

2:36 am

Points to ponder:

Just imagine, if you are in the middle of nowhere at 2:00 am, with your cameras on, handphone (off course), and you get stopped by strangers, what will you do? What will be the first thing they will search for?

It's nothing to be proud of, and I'm just sharing my experience. But as usual, if you need to get the shot, then you need to get the picture - at the right time.

Anyway, never do this at home friends.

Rolex doesn't mean status

"Rolex doesn't mean status, or even success. It means achievement, a refusal to compromise, and a commitment to quality in a world where everything around me seems to be getting cheaper and flimsier by the day." - Christian Cantrell

source : http://www.watchreport.com/2008/05/review-of-the-rolex-sea-dweller.html#more-257

SANYO My Old Friend

Long time no see...Sanyo my first digital watch. Beli kat area Chow Kit.

...haaa yang tu tangan Sulaiman Randes @ Man "B****y" otai Kampung Baru :-)

SEIKO M354 M00NRAKER on TV2

0000 Golden Classic on 2 - Moonraker.
Great the first and last time I watch this movie when I was a little boy in a 'Cap Ayam' cinema, the time when audience can smoke in the theatre. Now it is playing on TV.  Not gonna miss it now...

There you go...JAWS was actually a good guy...:-)

1979 'Moonraker'

Seiko m354 Memory Bank 'Plastique Explosive' Wristwatch

(explosive coil hidden in caseback)

Use
Bond and Holly Goodhead were trapped inside the bunker of a space shuttle's launch pad, under it's rocket boosters. Time quickly running out, Bond removed the explosive, stuck it to a welded exhaust grate and blew it off the wall, making for an easy escape.

Specs
A digital watch, with an extended back-plate that could be removed to reveal a small but powerful explosive charge and a detonator wire. The explosive is removed and the detonator wire plugs into the side of the watch, a button detonates the explosive at a safe distance.

Watches of James Bond One of the finest Bond gadgets that you can own is of course a wristwatch.  Below you can find a list of the watches that were featured in the movies. Please contact Bond Lifestyle if you think there are errors in this list.

Dr. No (1962) Rolex Submariner From Russia With Love (1963) Rolex Submariner Goldfinger (1964) Rolex Submariner Thunderball (1965) Rolex Submariner Breitling Top Time You Only Live Twice (1967) Rolex Submariner On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969) Rolex Submariner 5513 / Rolex Chronograph6238 Diamonds Are Forever (1971) Rolex Submariner Live And Let Die (1973) Pulsar LED / Rolex Submariner 5513 The Man With The Golden Gun (1974) Rolex Submariner 5513 The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) Seiko 0674 LC Moonraker (1979) Seiko M354 Memory-Bank Calendar For Your Eyes Only (1981) Seiko H357 Duo Display Seiko 7549-7009 Octopussy (1983) Seiko TV Watch / G757 Sports 100 A View To A Kill (1985) Seiko Seiko model SPW001, H558-5000 quartz digital-analog  (duo-display)- Seiko model SPW001, H558-5000 quartz digital-analog (duo-display)-by Dell Deaton The Living Daylights (1987) Rolex Submariner 16800/168000 Licence To Kill (1989) Rolex Submariner 16800/168000 GoldenEye (1995) Omega Seamaster 2541.80 Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) Omega Seamaster The World Is Not Enough (1999) Omega Seamaster Die Another Day (2002) Omega Seamaster Casino Royale (2006) Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Omega Seamaster Diver 300M Quantum of Solace (2008) Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M Bond 23 ?

Sources : RTM Malaysia, http://watchismo.blogspot.com/2006/11/james-bond-gadget-watch-history-q.html,http://www.jamesbondlifestyle.com/index_gadgets.php?m=ga

ROLEX MICKEY MOUSE

Hmmm....I didn't know that Rolex Mickey Mouse does exist...

A custom design re-finished Rolex Oysterdate #6694 dial in Blue with a Mickey Mouse design.

source: blue mickey mouse oysterdate

or maybe it was Lorus's Mickey Mouse with blue dial?

Sample of 1980's Mickey Mouse watch.

Description: A charming Mickey Mouse watch marked Quartz, Lorus. From the 1980's era, 

Maker: Lorus

Width: 1 in. (2.54 cm)

Weight: 1

Title: Mickey Mouse Watch, Lorus

Materials: metal Type: Quartz

source: http://www.goantiques.com/detail,mickey-mouse-watch,2381888.html

Hi folks, I'm just searching for my first watch that my Dad gave me in which I can't remember the brand...:-) And I don't think it was a Rolex with a blue dial although it looks the same, if yes then I surely still have it today.

and I confirmed that it was not LCD...

... just forget it.

D DAY Zippo Lighter

As I'd mentioned about the Zippo Lighter earlier, I guess it's the time to give it some light as it is kept-dark in the jacket for ages.

The one and only Zippo I have.
They had made a collection just to give me this expensive lighter and one of them had passed away.
The memory remains friends.

A Rocker - Heavy Metal 007

Just got a new bracelet for my 007.

As usual I ask the salesperson why the Jubilee is more expensive than the Oyster. She says that it comes with a price like that and doesn't know what the reason really is.

However, I already have a Jubilee on my SKX013. So why not fix the Oyster on my 007?

Now let see how it looks on a pair of the new Heavy Chains...

Seriously if you are into Heavy Metal, this one will suite you friends.

Grrrrr...it's a wearer now.
update 16/11/2011 - The end links hold tight, it doesn't rattle.

Maggie MeeXplorers

Explorer 114270 in the middle of nowhere...

Instant noodles is the best way to ease your growling stomach perhaps just about 10 minutes before it really screaming for heavy meals.

Traveling is fun, but sometime it is not easy for some of us, especially the food; for those who are abide by religion they can't simply consume any foods. Therefore the best way is to get ready with snacks and have it anywhere and hold to it before you reach the intended destination and seriously unpack the 'halalun' Brahim Instant Nasi Beriani rations ...:-) and balun.

SEIKO 6105 IN APOCALYPSE NOW - Family tree of the SKX007/009

Seiko 6105-8119Case Diameter: 44mm
Case Height: 12.5 mm
Case length: 47.5mm
Lug Width: 19 mm
Movement: Seiko 6105B 17 jewel 
hacking automatic. 21,600 bph, 
quick-set date
Case material: Stainless steel
Crown: Non-screw-down
Bezel: Bi-directional, indexed
w/ 60 clicks
Water resistance: 150 meters
Vintage: 1973

Scubawatch trivia:

Capt. Willard, played by actor Martin

Sheen in the movie Apocalypse Now,wore

a Seiko 6105 dive watch

Seiko 6105s were very popular with American GIs in

Vietnam, as the watch had a reputation for ruggedness

and durability in the harsh Vietnamese combat

environment. Although not a "military issue" watch, it was

readily available at the local PX.

Source: http://scubawatch.org/seiko6105.html

http://watchesinmovies.info/movies/apocalypse-now-1979/

Keturunan panglima gak Seiko SKX007 ni rupanya tak tahu plak ... hehe tapi memang konfom jam ni lasak boleh bawak pi perang tak percaya baca interview dalam entry Bermadu Kasih - Sharing Love kat bawah tu...cerita betul tu bukan cerita Mat Sentul, Cek Embun mahupun Jebon.

A direct descendant of the Seiko 
6105/6309/7002 dive watches, 
the SKX007 has been in 
production since 1996.

Seiko SKX007KCase Diameter: 41 mm
Case Height: 13 mm
Case length: 45 mm
Lug Width: 22 mm
Movement: Seiko 7S26, 21j 
automatic, 21,600 bph, quick-set 
day/date
Case material: Stainless steel
Crown: Screw down
Bezel: Uni-directional,indexed w/
120 clicks
Water resistance: 200m
Vintage: 2008

Black Magic Woman

Black Magic Woman :-)

(Explorer 114270 on black leather strap... another prototype of mine)

7S26 Gold Plated Seiko 5 - A Truly Work Horse.

I'm so lucky that my dad still keep his watch.

He put it aside because the watch is not so accurate anymore.

I'm gonna send it to the service center to get it fully overhauled and regulated.

Dear friends. 

This watch is a testimony of how good the 7S26 Seiko engine is. 

My dad never took it off ever since it was presented to him ages ago. He brought this watch everywhere; to the office (before retiring), gardening, rubber plantation, repairing house, workshop, please translate - 'menebas', 'tebang pokok', carpenting - 'bertukang', 'tunggu durian' and many more 'kampung' hard-works as well as 'pergi haji' and 'buat umrah'.

Yes, 7S26 is a truly work horse engine for all sort of work - for all walk of life.

The history of my life WATCH STRAPping...

The history of my life WATCH STRAPping...

• A Mickey Mouse watch - black leather strap or PVC strap but I remember that it was black.
• Familiarised with Dalil and TIMEX - black leather strap or PVC strap but I remember that it was black.
• My Mom's Citizen / Titoni - leather strap
• Digital Sanyo - Stainless Steel
• Citizen - Stainless Steel
• Alba - Alba leather strap / after market rocker style cobra serpent strap / after market leather strap
• Animal W001- velcro strap / after market leather strap / after market stainless steel
• Gold Plated Seiko 5 - gold plated stainless steel
• TISSOT PR50 - stainless steel
• Fake Rolex Explorer 2 - stainless steel
• Seiko Diver's SKX013 - stainless steel
• Seiko Diver's SKX007 - original Seiko Tsunami rubber strap / original Seiko nylon strap
• Casio PRO TREK PRG 130T - Original Pro Trek Titanium Base Steel
• Rolex Day-Date 18k gold - Beautiful Leather Black Strap with gold plated Rolex Buckle
• Rolex Explorer - Stainless Steel / Nato Strap / Kangaroo Black Nato Strap / Seiko Nylon Strap / Homemade Brown Vintage Leather Strap

My personal comment on straps:

• Stainless Steel - no match, versatile, durable, water resistant, self-certified for daily bashing. e.g my Animal 001 finally used stainless steel.
• Titanium Base Steel - no match, light weight, versatile, durable, water resistant, self-certified for daily bashing. e.g Casio PRO TREK 130T
• Leather Strap - beautiful, but not so durable. Big No-No for swimming or shower purposes. Need to change after sometimes.
• Nato strap - Durable, water resistant, skinny single layered nylon, I personally don't feel it right 'gonjeng'.
• Seiko strap - Durable, water resistant, double layered nylon, so far the best nylon strap I've tried.
• Seiko rubber strap - Durable, water resistant, suitable for daily bashing but it's rubber. I switch my seiko Tsunami rubber strap with the Seiko nylon just because it's rubber.

I've explored and tested so many straps, therefore now I'm making my own strap:
My Homemade Brown Vintage Leather Strap for Rolex Explorer 1 - simple, beautiful. rugged, silky smooth. Well, surely it's not for swimming nor shower purposes, and I'm testing the prototype and will let you all know the outcome, but not so soon.

Just see the photos in the Rugged Modern Vintages entry below.

Thanks,
Explorerdiver's leather stitching department :-)

The Rugged Modern Vintages.

The black crackled Zippo was a present from my friends in 1996.

Rugged Modern Retro looks of the discontinued Rolex 114270

Peace No War :-)

Casio PRO TREK PRG 130T - Wrist Shot

Easy access to all information at a glance.

Casio PRO TREK PRG 130T - after sometimes I don't  feel right. This is a very 'light' big watch but very complicated to use... or perhaps I am too lazy to learn :-) In fact, I hardly used all the features. 

But it went with me to Ayuthia, there another sentimental value...it's a keeper as well.

As for the compass, what I do to compensate the missing compass on the Explorer is that I bought a cheap plastic compass and slide it to my nylon Explorer strap. I need the compass to know where the West is...I mean at night.
The compass is important when you cannot find any 'mangkuk kuali kawah pinggan dishes' a-la Astro that is normally pointing to the west especially in the middle of nowhere in Cambodia.

I don't 100 % trust the digital GPS...

Rolex Explorer Wrist Shot @ Laos - Viet Nam Border

Rolex Explorer Wrist Shot @ Laos - Viet Nam Border

Explorer Engine 3130 - Robust Simple Elegance?

K series Explorer 114270

The Engine 3130 - Robust Simple Elegance?

28800 bph / 8 herzt

The same engine that powered the Submariner No Date.

Something about K.

Montgomerie's original sketch in which he applied the notation K2

Although the summit of Everest is at a higher altitude, K2 is a much more difficult and dangerous climb, due in part to its more inclement weather and comparatively greater height from base to peak. The mountain is believed by many to be the world's most difficult and dangerous climb, hence its nickname "the Savage Mountain."
The name K2 is derived from the notation used by the Great Trigonometric Survey. In 1856, Thomas Montgomerie made the first survey of the Karakoram from Mount Haramukh, some 210 km (130 miles) to the south, and sketched the two most prominent peaks, labelling them K1 and K2.
Thomas Montgomerie was the member of the team who designated it "K2" for being the second peak of the Karakoram range. The other peaks were originally named K1, K3, K4 and K5, but were eventually renamed Masherbrum, Broad Peak, Gasherbrum II and Gasherbrum I respectively.

SEIKO DIVER'S SKX007

for your eyes only.

ANIMAL W001 - Soon my time will stop ticking too...

The history of my life WATCHing...

• A Mickey Mouse watch - A present on my fifth birthday if I could recalled. My dad told me that it was a Rolex. I didn't even know what was Rolex back then. Only now I knew that he was just kidding me.
• Familiarised with Dalil and TIMEX - it was my on my Dad wrist.
• My Dad took me to my first James Bond Movie - Moonraker, I remembered the Jaws character better than Roger Moore..:-)
• Citizen / Titoni - Borrowed my Mom's watch.
• Digital Sanyo - My Dad took me to Chow Kit Road and told me to select any watch that I like as a present for me for successfully being accepted to a boarding school :-(
• Citizen - A present from my mom when she returned home after performing Haj in Mekah.
• Alba - Another present from my mom - also when she returned home after performing Haj in Mekah for the 2nd time.

Now with my own money :-)

• Seriously into TIMEX. But I got hooked up to Animal WR001 Sport Watch Quartz Japan Movement.
• Animal W001- It was on my wrist for more than 10 years.
• Gold Plated Seiko 5 - for my Dad on the Father's Day. See the smile on his face.
• Animal W001 rotating with Tissot PR50 - But this Tissot was not so water resistant - I sent it for service and never reclaimed it back. Until one day I gave my good friend the service receipt and told him that if he wanted a watch then he may take it from the workshop and pay for the service bill. Then I sold the watch to him cheap.
• Animal W001
• Fake Rolex Explorer 2 - I didn't know that it was a fake. I bought it cheap USD50. Bloody fake! It never lasted. I threw it away. Never get a fake watch anymore!
• Animal W001- my faithful Animal start giving problem. It intermittently died after the battery changed. Now it is time to get a new watch, and that was SKX013.
• Seiko Diver's - SKX013 not so long after I met the SKX007 in a second hand shop.
• Seiko Diver's - SKX007 with heavily scratched mineral glass and badly wounded. I wonder what the previous owner had done to this watch.
• Seiko Diver's SKX007 and rotating with the Animal W001 - getting annoyed with the accuracy of the automatic watch (SKX007). I got so fed up with the SKX007 that was never accurate.
• Started researching and eyeing for good automatic watches like Sinn, Tag, Fortis, Hamilton, Breitling and at the same time looking for a watch with a better accuracy. Finally I made a decision to get a solar watch.
• I was considering to get the TIMEX IRONMAN but finally I purchased a Casio.
• Casio PRO TREK PRG 130T - I told myself that it would be the last watch that I ever purchased.  Try to sell the SKX007 but nobody wants it. So I keep it.
• Casio PRO TREK PRG 130T - after sometimes I didn't feel right. This is a very big watch and very complicated to use. I hardly used all the features. But it went with me to a trip to Ayuthia, Siam. That give the watch a sentimental value.

Again start eyeing for automatic watch. Got hooked up to the Rolex Day-Date gold. A very beautiful watch. Very-very extremely beautiful Rolex. But it wouldn't stand the daily bashing if it were to be permanently on my wrist.

So I decided to purchase another watch and it must be a Rolex. However I never wanted the Explorer 2 anymore, everytime I look at it, its remind me of the fake bloody fake.

• Finally I purchased the low profile Explorer and felt really sad that I had to depart with my beautiful Rolex Day-Date.
• Coming back to the SKX007... sent it to Seiko Service Center... get it fully overhauled, changed the mineral glass and walla! It came back to me smilling...it will be a keeper.
• That's about it
• Emm...the Explorer tells me that it is 2:00 am... time for bed sir.

So that's all.

My beloved faithful and trusted Animal W001.

Purchased in England.

Japan Movement.

THIS IS A RARE AND 1ST MEN ANIMAL SPORTS WATCH

ROTATING BEZEL

LUMINOUS  HANDS/MARKERS

DATE WINDOW

100M DEPTH

I had to work hard, bloody hard to purchase it. It was my first salary. It gave me excellent service. 

It accompanied me during the happy and sad time, see what I see, travel with me to several places in the world, keep me going through the oldest rainforest in the world and finally to the highest peak of the Malay Peninsula that is Gunung Tahan.

WATCHing part of my life. Most of the time was with the faithful W001.

Rest in Peace my dear friend W001.

Soon my time will stop ticking too....

Bermadu kasih - Sharing Love

Dua yang bermadu kasih.

I have no intention of purchasing others. Stop here and both are definitely keepers.

Diver's - bigger and heavier.

Look fierceful. Tend to feel its present on the wrist after wearing it for sometimes. What is this big chunky thing doing on my hand....?

I had met a law enforcer with a Diver's (rubber strap), when asked about the watch he commented enthusiastically "I go swimming and used to get caught in hostile environment with my Diver's on. This watch is tough, many have tasted it"

Explorer - Slimmer and lighter.

Look harmless but lethal only when people realised it.Very comfortable and it grows on you after sometimes.

People will take a glance and maybe stare at it for couple of seconds (this is where you will start feeling uncomfortable) and still, they can't figure it out.

"Yes, it is a stealthy Rolex and it is super low profile without the bracelet. I would say that it has the ability to give you that 'safe-feeling' that you really need when exploring new unknown places, in which even a fake Submariner is unsafe still."