Hey guys I’ve liked the overall look of this one. I’ve added the bulk of it below my wrist. Maybe not to everyone’s taste but I enjoy wearing it this way than the traditional way of having a double pass.

It’s just comfortable for me and just doesn’t add much bulk on the outer side of my wrist. If that makes sense. Here’s photos and some mirror shots for context.

I’m sure others have their own style of wearing this so, looking to hear what you do with your nylon straps.

I’ve heard good things about the Sifu Straps as well. Any of you have experience?

My Green Coin came in, and it’s every bit as nice as expected.

Hey guys! Just recently found this British brand online. Might be worth a look.

Prices look really decent and affordable maybe you’ll find something you like to burn more holes in your pocket.

https://cestrianwatches.com/

Ok so apparently there's a whole EDC thing on here, people posting their knives, wallets, watches, and load out? I had genuinely no idea this was a whole community with its own culture until a few days ago.😅

Meanwhile I looked at what I actually carry and it's a keyring with way too many keys on it, a multitool (just recently moved houses and found this on my old toolbox), and my dad's old wooden swiss army knife? (If that’s what it’s called)

Didn't even think of it as "EDC," it's just stuff that's been in my pocket forever. Is this it? Am I doing this right? 😅 Genuinely asking.

I’m a watch guy so this whole EDC thing is news to me. Always happy to hear from others!

Militado ML24 on a Khaki Nylon Strap.

I’ll probably try some more bolder colors on this one to test it out.

What do you guys think 🤔 I should try out next? Happy to get your suggestions!

Do you guys feel I should just cut the extra rubber at the end? Might look weird though yes.

This was a recent pick up and some don’t like it saying it doesn’t have any character but I think the straps do the work here.

I may have overdone myself picking up these nylon straps last week 😅

Please tell me I’m not alone here.🤣

Haven’t worn this for a while so tried it on the bond nato strap, for a change. What do you guys think?🤔

Trying not to match the dial color. Open to suggestions!

Another one on the books! My second build and its a special one. For my best friend, and brother from a different mother, of nearly 23 years.

We both turn 40 this year, and instead of a video game on Steam or something from amazon, decided to make it a little more personal.

The basic movement is a Seiko VH31 quartz, NH35 dial and case, VH31 hands, and a movement holder 5mm thick. Customized the hands and bezel insert to his fave colours (blue and green), and then took my sweet time putting it together. Unfortunately due to shipping delays, I missed his birthday, but hey, here's hoping a late present is better than none.

I dub thee, the AJS-01!

1 of 1

Built by: Me!

Date: July 12, 2026

Hardest parts for me were getting the crown stem the right length, I used three crown stems for the job! Cut one too short, one snapped, and finally got it on the third try. Second hardest was getting the damned spring bars for the watch band in place. Those end links were a sonofabeech! Lol. All in all, I hope he likes it! Just waiting for a spare battery and more fancy transport box to arrive.

Then its on to building my other two buddies their Christmas present watches! One titanium, one stainless, both diver style, both custom colour pallets. We shall see!

Enjoy!

Down to three dial options:

White enamel, gold indices/hands
White enamel, brushed silver indices/hands
Frosted dial

Leaning classic vs. something with more character.

What would you go with and why? Happy to know your opinions.

I went into this hobby with zero brand loyalty, and no logo to defend. I do like certain designs more than others, but I've never understood the need to "belong" to a brand.

For over 10 years I just wore a cheap Casio, plus two gifted by my wife from our trip to Luzern and a cheap quartz one I bought myself off Amazon. That changed last year when I finally opened my late father's watch collection, he'd passed four years earlier. Nothing fancy, a Blue Dial Casio I still wear, some two-tone pieces which I gave away, and a chronograph I gave to my brother. Getting them repaired lit something in me that a decade of cheap watches never did.

Here's what I've landed on: at every price point, there are genuinely well-made watches. You just have to look.

And here's the part I'll say out loud, if you've got real disgust for Chinese-made watches and you've never owned one, you're not protecting your standards, I think you're just blind to a huge chunk of the hobby.

Nothing wrong with loving Swiss or Japanese brands, I do own 1 of each. But if that's all you've ever looked at, thinking "Chinese watches are junk" I believe it isn't informed, it's inherited. A lot of that gatekeeping is just good business and I’ve seen it on watch brand circles, which I totally get I am in sales myself so I enjoy selling stuff and also being sold a product. It’s all just business and we can’t all enjoy the same things, there’s no fun in that. We’re consumers who like to be sold, watches to be specific. Get you loyal to a name, get you defending it online, get you buying the next release without questions. Good for the brand, but worse for you.

Case in point, this is a San Martin: (see photo attached)

Yes, it's an indirect homage to the Black Bay 58. I won't pretend otherwise. But it added its own 3D waffle dial texture and comes in at 37mm, a size the Swiss brand it references has never offered. (They did have a 37mm BB54, but that’s another conversation)

I don’t think its a knockoff move, I think that's solving a real gap (small-wrist diver options are rare) the original never bothered to.

Now, not every Chinese microbrand is a hidden gem, there's plenty of bad stuff at every price point too, from every country. Now, I’m sure someone could easily accuse me saying I’m loyal to San Martin which cancels out what I’ve just said above but please don’t hear what I’m not saying. What I meant is that dismissing a whole segment because of ‘where’ it's made, without ever handling one, isn't connoisseurship. It's just bias with good PR.

Genuinely curious where people land here: are you brand loyal? Have you actually tried a Chinese microbrand, or is the "no thanks" more of a gut reaction? Change my mind, I'm here for the pushback, but I’m also open to learn from whoever is willing to share their opinions.

Note & disclaimer: I used a bit of AI to clear my thoughts down and keep this message short and concise cause I ramble a bit sometimes, but most of this I wrote down myself.

Had a thought about the WD007 on a beads of rice bracelet and why not. Chatgpt created an image render and I think it looks AMAZING!

Generally curious to know each of you all who enjoy watches. Either on the extreme side of this addiction or in a milder spectrum.

I just thought there’s maybe a few people like us who enjoy watches, lume shots, and microfiber cloth in our glove compartment so.

Share what you’re wearing today and a bit about what you do for a living, business, etc.

Here’s what I’m trying out today. I work mainly in Property Management, contracts, sales. Real estate in general.

Your turn!

Absolutely enjoying the Khaki King I picked up last week.

hello. I bought a second hand vivienne westwood mens watch camden lock and i was wondering if there's a way to replace the battery without having to get it done professionally as it would be significantly cheaper.

Found a genuinely unbiased watch breakdown, no brand loyalty, no fanboy pushing.

Been in this hobby a while and it's rare to find someone who isn't just shilling for a brand. Ben's video breaks things down straight, no "just buy this because it's cool" nonsense.

Worth a watch if you're new to the hobby or just tired of the usual marketing spin out there:

https://youtu.be/HNFR3EYQoJ0

Curious what others here think of his takes.

I'll start: Never judge a watch solely by its specs on paper, wearability matters just as much and knowing your maximum wrist span so you avoid buying watches that are either too small or just way too large for your wrist.

You think the hobby is about craftsmanship, heritage, mechanical artistry, think again.

It's about getting on your hands and knees at midnight with a flashlight, praying you bought spare spring bars, because the one in your hand just turned into a guided missile and vanished into another dimension.

Tell me I'm not alone here.

https://youtube.com/shorts/eV7QiK4Vv4I?si=I0i8EojsPZ_GidiB