Watchlopnik, with bonus toolopnik content.

"ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com" (ita97) 06/10/2018 at 11:46 • Filed to: None

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I wore a watch from 6th grade up through my early twenties, and it was usually something digital, black and with a rubber band. A Casio G-shock of some variety was usually on my wrist. Early in my time with the boy scouts Marine Corps, I stopped wearing a watch with the exception of a police academy where one was required. As a radio operator it turned out that I always had devices that would link up with the time one way or another and not wearing a watch always pissed off the chain the command, which meant I never again wore a watch after my first year or so.

10 years later as a para professional in academia, I began thinking that I could be watch person again. Because I’ve got something digital in my pocket to tell me all sorts of things including the time, I knew that analog was the only way to go. Mechanical things appeal to me, and all the reading pointed me towards a Seiko 5.

In the snk803, I found what I was looking for. An automatic movement from a reputable maker, a small, light-colored face and matte silver bezel that doesn’t look like a piece of bling and a price that is reasonable to try being a watch person again. The clear back is neat, too.

I knew not to buy a watch for the band, so I ignored the beige fabric strap that it comes with and ordered a brown leather strap and a spring bar tool at the same time.

To my surprise, I actually didn’t hate the fabric strap it came with. Were it not for my suspicion that the beige strap would end up looking pretty dingy pretty quickly, I would’ve considered wearing it as it came out of the box for awhile.

After a few minutes of fiddling around with the spring bar tool, I fitted the Hirsch camel skin strap I picked up with the watch. I’m a happy camper with the end result, and I think I’m a watch person again. At this price, I’ve already got ideas for a second Sieko 5 with a nato strap as a weekend/boating/golfing watch.

Toolopnik bouns:

Our Amazon overlord also brought me a new torque wrench. After thousands upon thousands of clicks (and so many of those re-torquing lug nuts between sessions at racetracks), ye olde craftsman torque wrench finally clicked chunked its way into the torque wrench afterlife. It was one of the first tools I ever bought. It’s no Snap-On or Matco, but it should do nicely.

A wheel that was so well acquainted with ye olde torque wrench

Decay buys too many beaters > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 06/10/2018 at 12:07

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Beige is such an under rated color for watch faces. I’ve been using my snk803 as a daily watch for more than a year now along with my Vostock.

DucST3-Red-1Liter-Standing-By > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 06/10/2018 at 12:28

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I just sold my Snk803! Got this snk621 to replace it. It jives a little better with my work wardrobe

benjrblant > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 06/10/2018 at 12:35

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I’ve had that watch with the black face, I really like it.

I’ve also got a tekton torque wrench- like it as well. Though my small one (1/4" drive) has crapped out. Not sure why.

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > Decay buys too many beaters 06/10/2018 at 12:48

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I really like it. I wasn’t look for anything that attracted attention.

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > DucST3-Red-1Liter-Standing-By 06/10/2018 at 12:57

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I can see that. Luckily for me, I wear dress clothes to work no more than a few days per year. Most of the time my work wardrobe is more along the lines of jeans and solid color, button-down casual shirt with a brown leather belt and brown, leather casual shoes. I could definitely see a watch more like that if I wore dress attire on a regular basis.

Spanfeller is a twat > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 06/10/2018 at 12:58

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I had to go across town to fix my citizen’s strap as it had broken. Usually I’m not a watch person, but my calculus professor won’t let us check the time using our phones in class (or he’ll assign extra homework) so I had it fixed.

It was a 16 mile round way trip to fix the 2 dollar part. But in the process I learnt that Citizen is really into the whole Ecodrive business... and that since I have one citizen watch I get a 30% discount if I buy another.

As far as I can recall, it’s the only watch I have and it was a gift ten years ago

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > benjrblant 06/10/2018 at 13:10

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I’ve got a few other Tekton tools, and I like them. They’re not Matco type stuff, but because I don’t turn wrenches for a living anymore, I’ll probably never be able to justify buying tools at that price point again. They’ve got their place for when you need more tool than what the China tool store will get you, but you also can’t justify calling the Snap-On dealer. I used to put Craftsman (especially their “professional” line tools) in this category, but the slow rolling demise of Sears really gutted their local availability for me. Similarly, I’ll pickup OTC tools for good-quality, more specialized stuff at not unreasonable prices.

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > Spanfeller is a twat 06/10/2018 at 13:12

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It turns out a spring bar tool and a nice strap were almost as much as the watch, but I have a feeling I’ll get more use from that tool.

Spanfeller is a twat > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 06/10/2018 at 13:21

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Even the folk at the store told me it was a very wierd size for the strap and the spring bar. I doubt I’d ever be able to get a different non rubber strap (I’d actually go with cloth for ventilation) its a simple watch, I don’t think it’s worth that much money.

DipodomysDeserti > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 06/10/2018 at 13:35

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I’ve had that same Seiko for about twelve years now. Great watch. I smashed the back crystal camping a few months ago, but the movement seems to still be working.

TheRealBicycleBuck > DucST3-Red-1Liter-Standing-By 06/10/2018 at 13:36

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I have come close to buying that watch several times.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 06/10/2018 at 14:02

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I’m wearing a DW5600, have the same torque wrench and will get a seiko 5 later this year.

Dave the car guy , still here > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 06/10/2018 at 14:11

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Like the watch. I approve of both band choices. I’ve switched most of my watches to NATO straps except a couple with leather. I got over pulling out hairs with metal bracelets long ago.

VonBootWilly - Likes Toyota, but it's still complicated. > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 06/10/2018 at 17:32

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I started back into watches a few years ago with the same Seiko. I also ordered a strap and also liked the original. I ended up going through a few more before settling with this as my fave.

Which is all sorts of not stock, but it’s where I landed with only about 3 other watches I actually love. This one was a Seiko SKX with the face from yours, and a few nice touches to make it exactly what I was looking for.

Shour, Aloof and Obnoxious > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 06/10/2018 at 17:47

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Nice choice. That particular Seiko 5 basically mimics the Timex Weekender that Lifehacker loves so much, but is waaaay better, because 1) it has the calendar and B) it’s a Seiko and not a Timex. Nice, casual piece that will last.

DucST3-Red-1Liter-Standing-By > TheRealBicycleBuck 06/10/2018 at 17:54

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Highly recommend. Huge bang for the buck. I paid 75 for mine