Happy Canada Day (belated) From The 11th Province!

Point of full-disclosure. I am in a "mixed" marriage...

My wife is Canadian.

Owing to this, I think I understand better than most how important Canada has ALWAYS been on the world stage. And apart from that - Canadians are SUPER nice people! So as a resident of the 11th Province, I think we should make an effort to be better neighbors, because if history proves anything else, when we've needed their help, they've always been there for us. Merci, Canada!

So, I was pleased to see this latest offering from Marathon to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Canadian flag. 

Courtesy of Marathon

This is the 41mm SSNAV-D AUTO
Type II - Pilot's Automatic.

The case is of stainless steel and measures 41 mm in diameter. The movement is Sellita's SW200-1.

Courtesy of Marathon

This is a limited edition of 500 pieces, very well priced at $1,280.00 USD.

Here are the pertinents -

Movement: Sellita SW200-1 with Incabloc Shock Absorber

No of Jewels: 26

Calendar Type: Date

Luminous Features: Tritium Gas Tubes

Crystal Material: Sapphire

Crown Type: Screw-Down

Case Material: 316L Stainless Steel

Case Finish: Parkerized

Bezel Type: Bi-Directional

Bezel Scale: 12 Hour

Submersibility: 10 ATM

The 1918 SG60 Merlion Trench (Limited Edition)

From Vario -

Courtesy of Vario

I am a bit biased. I have long been a fan of Ivan Chua, the owner of Vario. He has managed to get a handle on what people want, and offer it in a very wallet-friendly fromat. And with this latest version of the 1918 Trench? He's done it again!!!

Courtesy of Vario

It's not every year that something as important as a country's 60th anniversary occurs. For Singapore, one of the most dynamic countries in the world, 2025 is just that birthday!

So the 1918 SG60 Merlion Trench (Limited Edition) bears a special case back engraving to help commemorate this special occasion.

Courtesy of Vario

Yes, I want this watch! It is at once special, but attainable thanks to Vario's insistence on offering top quality time machines at prices we mere mortals can actually afford.

In this instance, the 1918 SG60 Merlion Trench (Limited Edition) can be yours for $428 US (if I have read the info. correctly).

Here are the pertinents -

Limited Edition of 60 pieces

Specifications
Case diameter: 37mm
Case thickness: 10mm
Dial: Enamel
Crystal: 2mm double domed sapphire with inner AR applied
Lug width: 18mm
Lug to lug: 45mm
Lume: BGW9 Lume
Case Material: 316L stainless steel
Caseback: 316L stainless steel with option for empty caseback and laser engraving at additional cost
Crown: Screw-down crown
Movement: Adjusted Miyota 82s5 automatic gilt movement (Côtes de Genève) with hand-winding and hacking seconds. 21 jewels 21.6kpbh more than 40 hours power reserve
Water resistance: 10 ATM
Strap: Crazy horse leather with bund pad (75mm/120mm) or single pass (270mm)
Warranty: 2 year global warranty

• 2 Year International Warranty
• Free Worldwide Express Shipping
• Customers are responsible for any Duties and Taxes to be paid - Please contact us if you would like a quote to prepay
• Inspected in Singapore, quality and satisfaction guaranteed

Watch is cased in Singapore and limited to 60 pieces. A standard, non-limited version of this watch available in 37 and 40mm will also be available later, without the commemorative caseback engraving, embossed merlion and individual numbering.

Delivery will start on 7 July 2025.

In Case You Missed It - The Heritage Small Second 1938 COSC

From Tissot -

Courtesy of Tissot

Back at the turn of the century, I was, well, a younger man living and working in San Francisco. Although obsessed by watches, financially speaking I was not exactly in the Rolex demographic. Yes, I had walking around money, but let's just say I was only going a few blocks ; ) 

Over a three year period I acquired three different Tissot Heritage pieces that bore names connected to Portugal, where Wendy and I had lived for one year back in the 90s. The Lisboa, the Porto, and the (de) Janeiro. And they were quite nice. Situations evolved, desires changed, fortunes won and lost, you get the idea. 

But I keep coming back to the Tissot Heritage pieces as many of them offer a wonderful watch with a COSC certificate at a price that won't wipe out your "pin" money.

Courtesy of Tissot

And the Heritage Small Second 1938 COSC truly ticks all of the boxes. It is Goldilocks sized (just right) at 39 mm. The dial is clear and legible, and for once the date window wasn't squibbed by trying to have it, and the number 3 occupy the same space.

And the price is approachable at $1,095 (at least here in the lower 48).

Here are the pertinents, straight from the folks in Le Locle -

Technical specificities

• The Tissot Heritage 1938 pays tribute to Tissot's history. The 39 mm stainless steel case adds elegance and finesse. The vintage-inspired dial reinforces the watch's timeless aesthetic.

• SKU

  T1424281108200

  Collection

  Classic Traditional

  Weight (g)

  109.00

  Warranty

  3 Years of Warranty

  Country of manufacture

  Switzerland
• Length

  39.00

  Width

  39.00

  Thickness

  9.82

  Lugs

  20.00

  Water resistance

  Water-resistant up to a pressure of 5 bar (50 m / 165 ft)

  Case shape

  Round

  Case Material

  316L stainless steel case

  Case options

  See-through caseback

  Crystal

  Domed scratch-resistant sapphire crystal
• Energy

  Automatic

  Movement

  Swiss automatic

  Power reserve

  Power reserve of 42 hours

  Caliber

  11 1/2'''

  Diameter (mm)

  25,6

  COSC

  Yes
• Dial color

  Grey

  Indexes

  Arabic
• Strap/Chain reference

  T605049903

  Strap details

  Stainless steel

  Strap color

  Grey

  Buckle

  Jewellery clasp with safety, Standard buckle, Interchangeable quick release bracelet

  Buckle options

  Interchangeable quick release bracelet

The MARINE TYPE 3

From Laventure -

Courtesy of Laventure

This is the latest drop, offering two different versions. A white dial (above), and a black dial (below) -

Courtesy of Laventure

Limited to 100 pieces each, here are the pertinents -

Technical specifications

CASE

• Titanium Grade 23
• Diameter : 38,00 mm
• Thickness (without crystal) : 8.90 mm
• Length lugs to lugs : 46.20 mm
• Finishing : « tribofinition » / « stonewashed »

BEZEL

• Titanium Grade 23
• Fixed
• 60 graduations filled with black lacquer

CROWN

• Titanium Grade 23
• Diameter : 8,00 mm « Big Crown »
• Screwed

DIAL

• « Amagnetic » Sandwich Construction
• Galvanic black top plate, Super-LumiNova white pad printing
• Soft-iron bottom plate (Faraday cage)

HANDS

• Hours, Minutes and Seconds, matt white + Super-LumiNova white

WATERPROOF

• Laboratory-tested depth 300 m / 1000 ft to ISO 6425

ANTI-MAGNETIC

• Faraday cage
• Laboratory-tested resistance to magnetic fields to ISO 764 standard

STRAPS

• Main strap PFKM rubber and Titanium Grade 23 buckle
• Textile / Elastic secondary strap

The movement

Calibre 4 produced by Sellita on a “SW300-1 b” base for LAVENTURE®.

- Swiss Self-winding mechanical movement

- Frequency 4Hz, 28'800 Alt/h

- 25 jewels

- 56 hours power reserve

- Gilded 3N circular-grained pearl pattern plate

- Bridges "Côtes de Genève", diamond spiral, LAVENTURE engravings, gilded 3N

- Openworked oscillating weight, satin-finish, paper spiral, curved « soleillage », LAVENTURE engravings, gilded 3N

- Officially “CHRONOMÈTRE” certified

The Sky Racer from Hemel

 

Courtesy of Hemel

Per Hemel:

The Sky Racer was created in partnership with The League of Microbrands—the fastest-growing online microbrand community exclusive to Facebook and now boasting over 60,000 members. The goal was to re-case the renowned ST19 column wheel chronograph movement, previously celebrated in our Air Support pilot series. The result: a bold cushion case, a rational panda dial with an unexpected sandpaper texture and beautifully appointed details all around. With a nod towards historical precedent, we skillfully blend heritage with aesthetic innovation.

PRICE: $ 549.99 

• Movement:  Seagull ST19. Hand winding caliber.

• Case: 316L Stainless Steel, polished & brushed

• Case Width: 43 mm

• Case Thickness: 14 mm

• Lug Width: 20 mm

• Lug to Lug: 49 mm

• Caseback: Screwdown, engraved, sapphire window

• Dial: Textured w/Superluminova BGW9

• Front Crystal: Box sapphire w/AR coating

• Water Resistance: 50 meters

• Crown: Signed, push / pull

• Bezel: 120 click rotating, BGW9 lume, ceramic insert.