Dec 3, 2010 Digital Watch Week Watch #5 Timex IRONMAN T53331

Today's watch is is a Timex IRONMAN T53331. This watch needed a new strap so I put it on a NATO. I put everything on NATO's. Shockey is very fond of these Ironmans, he has a very similar watch that will be profiled at a later date.

This watch has a rather large display and is very easy to see. It also features a top pusher for easy access to lap and split times, and black resin top ring within a black case. Sport timing features include a 100-hour chronograph with lap or split option, 24-hour countdown timer with countdown/stop and countdown/repeat functions, and 99-lap counter. It also features daily/weekday/weekend alarms with 5-minute back-up, two time zones, built-in setting reminders, and water resistance to 100 meters (330 feet).

Columbia CL5054 Compas Watch on a NATO Strap

As you know I like to put all my watches on NATO's. Here are some pics of my Columbia CL5054 on a 20mm NATO Strap.

At first I didn't like it on the NATO but now I think it looks pretty good. But then again I am partial to NATO straps.

Nov 20, 2010 Timex Ironman on a NATO strap at the driving range

My father in law gave me this watch. It needed a strap. As usual, I put it on a NATO. NATO straps rule!

Nov 19, 2010 Nato Strap Week Watch #5 Casio G Shock GL-7500HD-1 Milshock on DYI NATO/ZULU Strap

Today's watch is my G Shock 7500 that I fitted with a modified heavy duty 4 ring Zulu Strap. I had wanted to put one of my G Shocks on a NATO but after Shockeys struggles with the adapters I wanted to find another way. I came up with this. Instead of modifying the watch or using adapters, why not modify the strap itself. I chose a heavy duty 22mm ZULU and cut notches at the points it needed to fit the lugs. I then melted the cuts with a lighter. It worked great!

Besides being fitted with a NATO, this is a really cool watch. It is a limited edition 2005 model that was designed by legendary Hawaiian Surfer Donald Takayama. It's a G-Lide model that features a tide graph, moon phase indicator and a vibrating alarm that is perfect for swimmers, surfers, water skiers and anybody else who needs an alarm they can feel instead of hear.

It's a fantastic watch that I am very proud to own!

Casio makes a great watch!

Nov 18, 2010 Nato Strap Week Watch #4 5513 Homage Milsub

Today's watch is another watch that I put together. It is a homage to the Rolex 5513 No Date Submariner Milsub. I bought a cheap 16610 copy on the bay from a guy in China and the dial on the bay from a guy in Hong Kong. Origiainaly I had sword hands on it since I wanted it to be a milsub. The 5513 is my favorite example of the submariner. The watch was in production from 1962 until 1990. The 5513 has no date complication so the dial has a much cleaner look and no ugly cyclops on the crystal. I prefer the 5513 to its modern counterpart the 14060 due to the matte finish of the dial and the lack of steel rings around the hour markers. I also like the acrylic domed crystals of the 70's and early 80's versions. I am in the process of sourcing a acrylic crystal for this watch. As usual, I hope to own a genuine 5513 someday.

I am wearing this watch on a "Bond NATO" strap. It's not exactaly like the NATO 007 wore but it's close. I will write more about that later.

The 5513. A fantastic underated and overlooked submariner!

Nov 17, 2010 Nato Strap Week Watch #3 Columbia Mt. Kilimanjero

Today's watch has a really cool back story. I call it my Kilimanjero watch. It was a promotional keychain that was mocked up for Columbia. It doesn't have a model number that I am aware of. I took it off the keychain clip and put in on a cool Maratec Zulu. I lent this watch to my sisters boyfriend, Carlton when he climbed Mt. Kiliamanjero in Tanzania, Africa. He wore this watch as he climbed the mountain and at the summit. How cool is that! For that reason this watch will always remain on this strap. It even has some African dirt still on it.

On a side note, Jason Statham wore a very similar Columbia watch in the 2005 film Chaos.

A very cool Columbia indeed!

Nov 16, 2010 Nato Strap Week Watch #2 Chronotac Vintage GMT

Today's watch is Chronotac's homage to the 1970's Rolex GMT Master. I bought this watch on Ebay. It is very impressive for a cheap Chinese watch. It has a 21 Jewel self winding automatic movement and a 4th GMT hand. It doesn't have jump hour but you can set the GMT hand independently. It also has a vintage domed acrylic crystal that is very cool! The GMT master is my favorite Rolex and I hope to acquire one someday. Maybe when my buddy Shockey becomes a millionaire investor, he will give me one as a gift. In the meantime this fantastic Chronotac will suffice.

The Rolex GMT Master was introduced in 1954 and was designed in collaboration with Pan Am airways, hence the blue and red bezel inserts of the original iconic models. The watch has 4 hands, one of which is a 24 hour hand that can be set to a second time zone or set to GMT (Greenwich Mean Time). This feature allows the wearer to tell time in 2 time zones. A great feature for pilots and travelers. The rotating bezel allows for a 3rd time zone to be tracked.

All in all a great watch. If I could only wear one watch, the GMT would be it!

Nov 15, 2010 Nato Strap Week Watch #1 California Dial Milsub

First up for NATO strap week is this watch that I created. It's a fantasy watch as I believe a watch like this has never been produced. I really llike submariners/Milsubs and I also like the California dial so I combined the 2. I also faded the bezel insert and pearl to give it an older worn vintage look.

11/14/10 - 003 for a lazy Sunday

Keeping time like a champ.

11/9/10 - Ellis Custom California Dial Milsub Ref 003

Nov 7, 2010 Sunday. California Dial Milsub Ref 001

11/02/10 - IPOD Nano on a NATO Strap.

This is a great idea! Wear your IPOD Nano as a watch! All you need is a 20mm NATO watch strap. They come in a wide variety of colors.

Happy Hallloween real world Testing of 003

10/30/10 - making the pumpkin car

Rangers!

10/30/10 - Go Rangers!

My vintage 1950 Jaeger-LeCoultre with Turler branded dial on NATO

JLC needs no introduction, it's one of the best watchmakers in the world. Turler is one of the best jewelers in Switzerland.

High end watch brands will produce small batches of watches specifically for Turler to brand and sell in their shops.

My particular JLC also sports a rare 12,2,4,6,8,10 Dial with numbers and markers in Rose Gold.

Rolex Explorer II

Pictured with the Project X Designs Orange Blackout DLC'd Explorer II

Carlton's Eco Drive!

On stock strap and sweet Orange NATO! C bought 2 other natos for this watch and is going to rotate. One of them is a 5 stripe 3 color reproduction of orginal James Bond Nato. It's awesome!

002 Milsub Golf with Josh

Josh built a 1 hole par 3 in his back yard.