I’m not as big a fan of divers as I am of aviator watches, as I prefer cleaner faces… that being said, the Sinn U1 is starting to really grow on me. Technologically, this watch boasts the kinds of innovations that Sinn is known for. Firstly, the entire case and bezel are made from submarine steel (hence, the U designation from German U-Boats), which makes the watch extremely resistant to salt water and magnetic fields. The U1 is also water resistant to 1,000 meters – the lab that was contracted to tested the watch also tests actual submarines for their depth limits. In short, this is not a “pretty” watch; it’s a workhorse that’s made to withstand extreme environments. Whether you choose to put the U1′s durability to the test is totally up to you. It’s just nice to know that your watch is capable of taking a beating.

Omega Speedmaster Chronograph, c. 1966.

Lily entrusted me with the task of choosing a watch for her dad’s birthday this year. The challenges I faced with this selection were twofold: firstly, it had to be something that he’d like to wear, and secondly, it needed to be reasonably priced. Most of the watches I write about are not cheap, and frankly even if we had the money to buy my father-in-law a really nice Swiss or German timepiece, it might not be something that he’d be into.

My final selection was a Seiko SNZG15K1. Many are unfamiliar with the brand’s collections that are available outside of the US – the Spirit and 5 lines are relatively inexpensive and feature automatic movements. These watches are a far cry from the cheap Seikos that you might find in a drugstore… in short, they offer an incredible bang for the buck. I can’t think of another sub-$150 mechanical watch that I’d rather buy.

Aesthetically, this is perfect for my father-in-law, who prefers understated things that can take a beating. The watch has a 42mm high-contrast face which make for great readability, and the nylon strap is a nice touch. The tang buckle has a matte finish to match the casing, and there’s a leather accent sewn into the band for durability. My only complaint is that the movement does not allow for hand winding (thus, it must be worn daily to continue running). But that’s a small gripe on a watch that’s an excellent value.

I mentioned that these Seikos are not available anywhere in the US – your best bet on acquiring them is through a proxy like Roachman or on eBay. I’m not looking for a watch right now, but I’d certainly be excited to add a Seiko to the collection in the future. For now, though, I hope my father-in-law enjoys this timepiece as much as I did picking it out for him.

I have to admit that this particular watch design took awhile to grow on me. I first discovered Meistersinger while browsing WatchBuys (the site where my Sinn was purchased from) and the lack of a second hand really threw me off. Months later, when the watch popped up again on another forum I was browsing, I was intrigued. The biggest asset of their single-hand face is simplicity – it’s about as clutter free as one can get. I’m assuming that the single hand also helps the ETA 2824-2 automatic movement achieve an impressive 48-hour power reserve. Meistersinger’s unusual design is influenced by sun dials and older pocket watches, all of which featured only one hand. Thus, it only tells time in 5 minute increments – the watch shown above indicates that it’s 10 minutes after 10.

For those of us who value extreme time accuracy, this watch’s method of timekeeping might not be the right choice.  But as Meistersinger points out, in the pre-industrial age clocks only told time in 15 or 30 minute increments, and that sufficed for them; this watch design is meant to encourage people to slow down and not stress over exact minutes. The concept seemed strange to me until I realized that when asked what time it is, I often round times up or down just for ease of communication (i.e. “it’s almost 9:40″).

For what it’s worth, Meistersinger also makes some modern “traditional” three-hand watches that are quite handsome. I find the single-hand design to be the most compelling of the lot, though. I don’t know if it’s something that I can personally wear, but it’s a design I can appreciate.

Damasko has just announced that they’re bringing back the DA-36/37 models after discontinuing them for a short time. The DA-36 is my favorite of the German company’s offerings, mostly for its understated appeal but also for the technical innovation that has gone into the watch itself. The matte black dial with hi-contrast arabic numbers is designed to be easily readable, and the yellow second sweep hand is a nice touch too. The case is where the watch really shines: it’s stainless steel, nickel-free, bead-blasted, and ice-hardened to make it extremely scratch-resistant.  Like the Sinn 656, it’s got an integrated antimagnetic core and a sapphire crystal with A/R coating on both sides to improve visibility from all angles. Their gaskets provide UV radiation and chemical resistance to protect the watch internals, and their patented crown contains a self-lubricating cell to eliminate friction.