The Coolest Samurai X...Air Diver’s Seiko 4R35

Solid and heavy, tight and secured crown, good readability and visibility, rugged-sharp and tough looking, handsome and suitable with any straps, powered by an automatic in-house engine would be the coolest feature that can happen for an ‘adventurer’s timepiece’. 

Actually, any watch can meet the basic purpose of telling time and becoming a handy tool whenever is possible either during your travel or in your daily routine; for example the Casio Protrek is one of the tough and best choice for all rounder tool watch, however an adventurer sometimes need a reliable timepiece with automatic movement to accompany him during his unexpected thrill and exploration from time to time. If not why Rolex produced
the Explorer 2 just for the caves exploration? 

My ex Casio Protrek #wristshot

For the timepieces enthusiasts, every in-house automatic mechanical movement plays in a league, different from the 
battery and quartz watches. Sometime for a frequent 
explorer it is not the watch that he needs, what he needs during his tough time is his ‘buddy’. Remember Wilson in the Cast Away movie?

Samurai X with NATO

With the screw down crown, steel case back, 200 meters water resistant, solid and heavy feel,  ‘glo in the dark’ Lumibrite, readable dials with the silver outline, sturdy crown guards, beautifully and ruggedly crafted crown and unidirectional bezel, with hacking function and a manual winding capacity, the Samurai X with calibre 4R35 engine that beats at 21,600vph, with power reserve of approximately 41 hours and finally; a face that doesn’t resembled the luxuriousness of the expensive Rolex Submariner, ticked all the raincheck list of my tool watch specifications and requirements.

All the features embedded in it make it a suitable replacement tool for my reliable 7S26 SKX007 (it is in the workshop for overhaul at this moment). 

The black and blue Samurai X

“The Samurai X has the ruggedness of my ex-Damasko DA46. It runs on the reliable 4R35 engine with lesser complication and it has dials with the silver ouline - just like my ex-Explorer 1. This watch possesses the solid, strong, secured, steelty and ‘very tight feel’. Its suited every fieldman/outdoorsman needs, to me its meet the explorer needs.”

My ex Damasko DA46

My comment on the other options?

1. Seiko the Alpinist? It is a germ-stone. Its beauty defeat the purpose of its functionality. Would you bring your precious stone to a jungle or perhaps to a place where you might accidentally scratch it or bash it up agains something? If it is dubbed as a gentleman timepiece then go to a dinner  or official event and funtion with it...fragile item doesn’t belong to a rough place.

The beautiful Alpinist

2. Seiko Landy X? Seriously, having a ‘see-through case back’ on a watch really put me off. I would choose the Landy X over the Alpinist anytime due to its readabality and ruggedness. However, the ‘see-through’ case back and the slight protrudes of face glass over the bezel make it a scratch prone watch, and it becomes a big NO too...but I love the design especially the brushed case.

The rugged Seiko Land Prospex

3. Omega Speedy Reduced and Pro? Well, the dial is quite small for my eyes, and again I can handwind my 4R35 if I feel like doing so. To me, a calendar feature is very important for a tool watch. 

(And to the Malay timepiece collectors or watch enthusiasts, a watch without the calendar function is dubbed or called as ‘pekak’ or a ‘deaf’ watch. Even the Rolex Explorer 1 is categorised as ‘pekak’, the same goes to the rare Submariner No Date - the original James Bond watch. Again, nothing is wrong for becoming a ‘pekak’ watch, it is just becoming deaf, you got nothing to loose if you forget the day and date. Means you are free from 
becoming slave of the day and date - no meeting, no 
deadline and no rush! Enjoy your timepieces in the peace of time! No worry...)

My ex Explorer 1

A watch to me is not about luxury, it’s a time tool. People of the ancient used stick and sun rays for telling time, no watches, no fuss. Different people with different job and experience surely have different views and opinions regarding their own watch and preference too. All views are appreciated!

Enjoy your timepiece in your peace of time... but refrain yourself from doing time...

DAMASKO DA46 FULL SWING

Ok guys.
Plan to wear my ZERO ONE HUNDRED with the original strap full swing starting from Oktober 2012 till next year plus 2 months journey to Turkey on road (at the end of next year). Gonna see the outcome and test the robustness of this watch pairing with the greasy - blackened diesel engine.

My house already becoming a greasy workshop - fixing and preparing the 4 wheelers (it's early but a year preparation is actually the best - ample time to prepare the for the unprepared circumstances).

It's gonna be a full swing hectic year ahead.

Should i fix a RAM or stay with the existing Cyclone?....money again...

Ta!

latest of mine...

DAMASKO DA46 ON VARIOUS STRAPS

Just having fun with the straps.

with the original supplied strap. handsome and good looking pilot.

Die Hard with the Seiko Divers nylon strap. 

This is what the watch looks like in real situation -- oily fingerprint, rough condition and such. This is what DA46 is built for --  ruggedness.
the day and date switches over approximately 15 sec before the clock strike midnite - snappy!

with the tan leather strap pic #1

with the tan leather strap pic #2.
This only good for show case model or perhaps with sport car -- well I don't know, maybe good on cowboy too :-)

Why I Chose DAMASKO DA46 and Not the Others?

t was mainly due to these factors: 

1. 12-hour ring (according to US military specifications). I can use it as a tool for dual-zone timing. 

2. Hour, minute, permanent central small sweep second,  Day/date window with new, modified position 

3. Everything about the patented technology of the crown, case, Viton and, etc. 

4. Dimensions and weights: 

• Diameter: 40 mm 
•  Overall height: 12.40 mm 
• Bezel diameter: 41.80 mm
• Lug width: 20 mm 

5. Not really about the strap even though it is handmade, waterproof and rubber lined black leather straps with bead-blasted, hardened buckle and such -- I quickly changed it to my Seiko Nylon strap and switch to other leather straps just for fun. But if it is on duty, then the Seiko Nylon will be a picker.

6. It looks modest on 6.5 to 7-inch wrist.

7. It is a serious tool watch.

8. It is rare, thus far not many out in the wild.

9. It is made in Germany.

and (my personal view)

Why not the Damasko DA46 Black Automatic Watch? 

Because I am not sure about the extremely abrasion-proof Damest layer Icehardened to 60 HRC or 710 HV, fully hardened, a small chip on black coating will look ugly so, I prefer not to have my heartbroken due to that. I don't want to hate this watch man!

Why not Damasko Damasko DC66 or DC66 Si Automatic Chronograph Watch? 

1. Because I don't fancy chronograph watch; it is too complicated for me. 

2. The thickness height is 13.70 mm -- high and will look bulky on me. 

Why not Damasko DK10 In-House movement? 

1. It will be on my wish list if it has the same look as DA46 with the 12- hour ring. 

2. Clear back case put me off.

Why not SINN 857 UTC?

1. Because it has that small humidity detection capsule.

2. I don't like to see it turns blue -- it means "money", and it will bug you until you change it.

3. The GMT complication on 857 is replaced by the DA46 bidirectional 12 Hour ring bezel -- so it is less complicated on DA46 movement -- less to worry.

4. The only SINN that really hooked me was the simple, rugged #Sinn657 (and after 8 years - today 23 April 2020 and coming back to this post I prefer the looks of #Sinn656 - #Sinn556A/B and also Damasko DS30 but not the small window date - maybe it is because of the experience and aging factors?) and DA46 is the perfect alternative to it - (no longer an option!)

Finally:

This watch really smiled at me when I first saw it in the show-case. I had the same feeling when I first saw my Animal W001, about 15 years ago

Love it!

DAMASKO DA46 WRIST SHOT

The photos below were captured using my iPhone. I never thought that I would snap any of the DA46 wrist shot sooner that this.

The cyclists are approaching to the finishing line at Dataran Merdeka.

Here, I got a few shots of it when I was caught in a traffic jam due to the Jelajah Malaysia 2012 Cycling Competition last Sunday. I never knew that the road was blocked on that day.

The Marshals and the escorts are following closely after the cyclist.

I was informed by the policeman that the cyclists were finishing the 199.5km ride from Ipoh to Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur.

Black/White/Luminous Green and Grey-well matched color - Royal Malaysian Traffic Police.

Well, I'm not gonna say much about my new DA46 AKA Mr Zero One Hundred just yet. It is till in probation. Let it get blend and get use to movement and we will come back to it after three months or more.

Damasko DA46 Automatic Watch

 

Damasko DA46 Automatic Watch Product ID: da46 Manufacturer: Damasko Movement: ETA 2836-2 Self-winding, mechanical movement 25 jewels 28,800 bph Shockproof according to DIN 8308 Anti-magnetic according to DIN 8309 Gold-plated movement, rotor with Geneva stripes 

DA 46 functions: Hour, minute, permanent central small sweep second Day/date window with new, modified position

Case: Stainless steel, bead-blasted, nickel-free Ice-hardened to 60 HRC or 710 HV, fully hardened Integrated anti-magnetic inner cage, anti-magnetic to 80,000 A/m or 100 mT Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on both sides, AR coating on the underside only: available at special request Crystal gasket resistant to UV radiation Solid screw back with O-ring Viton gasket Gaskets of crown with permanent lubrication Gaskets made of Viton offering premium chemical resistance Screw-down crown with protective shoulders, crown mechanically hardened – nearly indestructible Crown barrel screwed into case according to “System Damasko” – absolutely easy to service

Bi-directional rotating bezel with exact minute engagement on ceramic bearing, patented mechanics Protected from the intrusion of dust by gasket element Hardened, PVD-coated and scratchproof bezel insert Two optional bezel inserts: 60-minute countdown or 12-hour ring (according to US military specifications) 

Water resistant according to DIN 8310, pressure-proof up to 10 bar/100 metres

Crystal with secure fit also under negative pressure

Dial: Matt black, hour markers and triangle at 12 provided with a persistent special paint

Hands: The hour and minute hands are painted black and provided with a white, persistent special paint The second hand is painted black and coated with signal yellow special paint

Strap and bracelet: Handmade, waterproof and rubber-lined black leather straps with bead-blasted, hardened buckle

Dimensions and weights: Diameter: 40 mm Overall height: 12.40 mm Bezel diameter: 41.80 mm Lug width: 20 mm Weight without strap ... grams 5-55 bezel

Warranty: 2 years.

Mine is DA46 # Zero One Hundred, welcome to the club Mr Zero One Hundred!