#mechaquartz

[johnbiggsny]

Undone announces a chronograph for lovers of the open road

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[pkansa]

Undone announces a chronograph for lovers of the open road

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[pkansa]

Hemel's newest releases are working on their night moves

@HemelWatches newest releases are working on their night moves #newmodels #chronograph #diver #field

You can blame that title on growing hearing Bob Seger on the radio all the time. Any which way, over at Hemel, they just announced two new additions to their Night Ops lineup. Since we’ve not covered them previously – and one flew in under the radar this summer – we thought we’d cover off on them all.

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[pkansa]

Introducing the Hemel HFT20 Night Ops

Introducing the @HemelWatches HFT20 Night Ops #mechaquartz #chronograph #under$500

Just a few days ago, Hemel launched a new version of it’s HFT20 series, the Hemel HFT20 Night Ops. On the surface, it looks like the watch was just hit with a coat of paint (as compared to prior models), but there’s a bit more to it than that. And of course, if you’re not familiar with the watch to begin with, well, let’s get you acquainted.

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[pkansa]

#Repost @wristwatchreview with @get_repost ・・・ The Dart Wahoo Chonograph is a top-down mecha-quartz bullhead - https://wristwatchreview.com/2018/06/05/the-dart-wahoo-chonograph-is-a-top-down-mecha-quartz-bullhead/ #mechaquartz #wahoo #chronograph #quartz

[pkansa]

The Reverie GT is a driving-inspired mecha-quartz chronograph that is priced to move. The $350 watch features a sweep seconds hand and minute chrono register along with a 24-hour dial at 3 o’clock. The piece comes in three colors – rose gold, blue, and white – and is surprisingly elegant. I, for one, am a fan.

The watch comes to us from Reverie, a company that has run successful Kickstarters before. They’ve surpassed their $3K goal and should be shipping the watches in January, a welcome goal. The piece we tested looked very formal with a bit of driving energy and looks good with suits and formal wear. This isn’t a casual watch. All of the details – from the thin hands to the guilloched dial, scream Bentley vs. Baby Driver.

The most interesting thing is the movement. It’s a mechaquartz which means at acts like a mechanical and there is no quartz ticking. From the site:

The GT’s engine is a Seiko VK64 mecha-quartz movement imported from Japan. A mecha-quartz movement is a hybrid movement combining the accuracy of a quartz watch with the beauty in motion of traditional mechanical chronographs. This means that the GT’s seconds hand moves in a sweeping motion similar to a mechanical watch (instead of ticking one second at a time) and has an instant fly-back function when the chronograph is reset.

The VK64 movement truly offers the best of both worlds: Japanese time-keeping accuracy and elegant mechanical action. It also has other benefits compared to mechanical chronographs, such as better accuracy, a slimmer profile, lower cost, and lesser weight.

True to the GT’s driving roots, the chronograph function allows you to time your drives. The GT’s tachymeter scale also lets you measure your speed over a fixed distance. It is the perfect accompaniment for your next road-trip.

Good driving watches are hard to find but this cute, handsome, and elegant piece is surprisingly nice, surprisingly cool, and a very good value. I am, as usual, honestly very impressed.

The impressive Reverie GT goes vroom, vroom The Reverie GT is a driving-inspired mecha-quartz chronograph that is priced to move. The $350 watch features a sweep seconds hand and minute chrono register along with a 24-hour dial at 3 o'clock.

[pkansa]

@Regrann from @wristwatchreview - Check out "Pit-row preview: Introducing the Geckota C-1 Racing Chronograph" at WristWatchReview.com #chronograph, #featured, #newmodels, #under$500 #chronograph, #mechaquartz, #racing - #regrann

[pkansa]

I have to wonder if Geckota is embarrassed by its new C1 Racing Chronograph. They shouldn’t be; although it’s obviously a Heuer Camaro homage it brings plenty of new ideas to the table. But they seem to want to avoid that inspiration because the Camaro is just about the only chronograph they don’t mention in their news release on the new watch. Let me try to absolve them of their shame.

Produced from 1968–72, the Camaro was a short-lived cushion-cased cousin of the mighty Carrera. Looking at the C1 and the Camaro side-by-side, the resemblance is unmistakable. But Geckota has done a lot to refine and modernize the design; this is no copy. They look like a big brother and a little brother, and that’s not meant to be patronizing.

First the size. The Camaro was 37 mm, but the C1 is a very modern 42 mm. For me and my 7″ wrist that’s a negative, but I know I’m in the minority there. The lugs are now 22 mm and the case is 12 mm.

The C1 adds a polished bezel, where the Camaro had none. That adds a bit of refinement to the look and a bit of protection for the C1’s sapphire crystal. But the C1 case retains the brushed top and polished sides that make the Camaro a rugged beauty.

The handset tracks the original, as does the dial layout with the date at 6:00. The indices take things up a notch—literally. All the indices are a bit longer but the real trick is with the sticks on either side of the sub-dials, which are notched to frame those dials. It gives them a home on the dial and makes the whole thing a bit tighter than the Camaro.

The C1 is an evolved Camaro, with one hitch: This is a $375 watch (with a trio of straps as a pre-order bonus). So you’re not getting anything like the Valjoux 7734 that powered the Camaro Dato. But the Seiko VK64 mecha-quartz provides the feel and instant reset of a mechanical chrono at an unbeatable price. By strapping a mechanical chrono’s levers, hammers, wheels, and heart pieces to a quartz timekeeper the Seiko VKs arguably give you the best of both worlds. Here’s a look inside:

Some will always turn their noses up at a battery, and it does lack that perpetual magic of a spring-powered movement, but the mecha-quartz makes chronographs attainable at a relative bargain, without sacrificing much of the fun of a mechanical. That’s a lot to recommend it. The VK64 in the C1 does have some odd features, though: there is no running seconds on the C1 and the 3:00 dial is a 24-hour register that seems out of place on a racing chronograph.

Limitations of the VK64 aside, if the C1 is indicative of what Geckota has in mind as they continue to expand their watch line then they have nothing to be ashamed of. Expected delivery is May 2017. geckota.com

Geckota C1 Racing Chronograph

Price: $372.76USD (Pre-order)

Who’s it for? Seeking a modern Heuer Camaro at a modest price.

Would I wear it? It would make a great excuse to take a spirited country drive.

What I’d change? The black and white version could use a little more color, or the gray a little less.

Standout feature? Cushiony goodness.

Specs from Geckota

Case Material: 316L Stainless steel

Case Size: 42 mm x 12 mm x 45 mm

Lug Width: 22 mm

Movement: Seiko VK64 mecha-quartz

Crystal: AR-coated sapphire

Lume: Swiss Super-LumiNova on applied indices and minute/hour hands

Water resistance: 100m (10atm)

Bands included: Zuludiver Gunmetal Grey NATO, Geckota Vintage Racing Reddish Brown Leather, and Classic Milanese Mesh

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Pit-row preview: Introducing the @watchgecko Geckota C-1 Racing Chronograph I have to wonder if Geckota is embarrassed by its new C1 Racing Chronograph. They shouldn't be; although it's obviously a Heuer Camaro homage it brings plenty of new ideas to the table.