Affordable Vintage: 1970 Grand Seiko 61GS 6145-8000
While Seiko is probably best known for their dive watches, they are also masters of creating hi-end dress watches. Their Grand Seiko (GS) line made its debut in 1960, and continued until the 1970’s. The mechanical Grand Seiko was revived in 1998 and continues production to this day. The most iconic of all the Grand Seiko case designs began as the 44GS in 1966 (manual wind), and culminated in the 61GS in 1968 (automatic). The 61GS line was the result of refinements over the years including technology from the Astronomical Observatory Concours of the late 1960’s.Reviewed here today is a 1970 Grand Seiko 6145-8000. The watch was designed by Taro Tanaka, the first graduate of a college design program hired by Seiko. He wanted to design a watch that would “sparkle brilliantly” while on display, one that would compete with the Swiss watches of the time. He came up with a set of rules that would come to be known as the “Grammar of Design”.The components of

Crazy illogical things one does...
So i have always craved the new Rolex Daytona Ceramic Bezel white dial and after months of waiting/networking/calling - finally found an AD who would sell me one. When I was waiting for the AD to pack up the watch, I was roamed around and came upon a 26740ST Elephant; it didn't jump out at me at first, but it was a thing of beauty. Went home with the Daytona - but kept thinking about the Elephant. Long story short, i ended up selling the Daytona at 2nd hand prices after having only worn it for just 2 days and buying the Elephant. Not trying to start a flame war as I still think the Daytona is a beautiful piece, but sometimes, you just love what you love. Hopefully I am not the only one who has turned their backs on common sense for the AP they love..

15400 in the UK (advice)
Never owned an AP did toy with the idea of a ceramic diver but that meant moving on all of my Rolex collection which I wasn't and still not willing to do.But of late I have really started to admire the 15400With little knowledge of these and being in the UK what's sort of price should I be looking at and would it be AD or grey (prefer to buy new or LNIB) Dial wise I'm looking at the black dial.For some back ground, collection evolution is going in the route of selling my custom 114060, keeping my 116600 and then adding a white 116500 and looking to add this 15400Any help or advice most welcome

INCOMING and OUTGOING. APs and Elephants and Pandas OH MY!
OK, so after a month or so contemplating I have finally pulled the trigger. I am currently in consolidation mode. So despite the fact that I have an exciting piece coming in- I am still a bit sad to see my Panda go.The Jumbo 15202ST will be arriving on Friday Once again, special thanks to my good friend Thanh (Takuya AKA Thanh Do). This is the fourth or fifth watch I have purchased through Thanh and every transaction is just perfect. If you are interested in buying a watch - you would be crazy not to talk to Thanh.This is a good week for me - I received my BNIB PP 5726/1a yesterday (from Thanh) and on Friday as I mentioned will be receiving the gorgeous, iconic and classic AP Royal Oak 15202ST Jumbo (btw, most people probably assumed I meant the gray/gray 42mm ROO but to me for some reason Jumbo reminds me of Dumbo and elephants came to mind ) and I will be saying goodbye to my AP 42MM ROO Panda Chrono I have my eye set currently on a nice dress watch in the range of 25-35k on a stra

Why 2 sizes of the Planet Ocean?
42mm and 45.5mm? Seems to me there is not that much difference? They even both have the 8500 movement in it?I don't see the need.Can someone explain. Does omega have an excess of 42mm cases that they are using up or something?