The Syncro

From Straton -

Courtesy of Straton

Straton makes fun, good looking watches that are aggressively priced, and offer a HUGE bang for the buck. And I say that as a satisfied and loyal customer. More and more, I have become a huge fan of Seiko's Meca Quartz movements.  All the "warm fuzzies" of a mechanical movement with the accuracy and low-fuss of quartz. What has taken the watch world so long to embrace this is beyond me.

At any rate, at $499 this is a super watch at a fantastic price. And I'll save "value proposition" for the douchier outlets out there, regardless of price, this watch is dope!

Here are the pertinents, should you be so inclined -

• Case Material - 316L (Surgical Grade) Stainless Steel, Polished and brushed steel - Version E black is DLC coated (Diamond like Carbon) 
• Case Size - 44mm or 40mm 
• Lug To Lug - 44mm case: 49.9mm 
• Lug To Lug - 40mm case: 46.0mm 
• Case Thickness - 14.9mm with domed sapphire 
• Date window
• Movement - Seiko VK64 meca-quartz hybrid 
• Sub-dial description - VK64 left (60 minute Chrono timer) right (24 hour time)
• Crystal - Domed Sapphire Crystal -9Hands - Luminescent Hour Hands, C3 Superluminova 
• Crown - Screw down 
• Unidirectional rotating domed sapphire crystal bezel 
• Strap - 44mm case 22mm width, 40mm case 20mm width 
• Water Resistance - 20ATM/200m 
• Warranty - 24 Months

Something Pretty Exciting

From Hemel -

Courtesy of Hemel

This is the latest offering from a micro brand that is starting to gain a real following.

 

This is the Hemel HFT20.  A really cool bi-compax chronograph that offers the customer some options for customization.  

 

Option 1:  a GMT bezel -

 

Courtesy of Hemel

 

The GMT bezel is unidirectional, 120 clicks allowing for fairly precise setting of the second timezone.

 

Option 2:  a 60 Minute bezel -

Courtesy of Hemel

There is a third option for with what is described as a Standard bezel.

But the options go even further, with the option of having either a self-winding or auto-quartz movement.  And I think that this is a fantastic move on the part of Hemel.  There are a LOT of customers out there who love the look of a watch, but at a given price point it might be just out of reach for them.  Moreover, there are some folks who actually prefer quartz for its accuracy and it's lower maintenance.

Courtesy of Hemel

And the choice of movements was also intriguing -

 

For the mechanical version it is the Seiko NE88.  Self-winding that can also be hand-wound, with a hacking function for the second counter.

For the quartz, it is actually a mecaquartz, the VK64 mecaquartz also from Seiko.  Offering the best of both worlds - the accuracy of quartz with the smooth second sweep of a mechanical watch.

The price for the self-winding version is a very reasonable
$999.99.  The mecaquartz weighs in at a very attainable $ 449.99.

Courtesy of Hemel

Here are the pertinents for each model:

                                                     

• Movement: Seiko NE88 (automatic & manual wind, hacking second hand, 28,800 bph, 34 jewels, 45 hour power reserve).                                                                                           

• Movement: VK64 mecaquartz. Quartz caliber incorporates gear architecture for smooth second hand sweep.

• Case: 316L Stainless Steel, brushed

• Case Width: 42 mm (46 mm w/crown)

• Case Thickness: 16 mm (w/flat crystal)

• Lug Width: 20 mm

• Lug to Lug: 49 mm

• Caseback: Screwdown, engraved

• Dial: Matte black w/Superluminova C3

• Front Crystal: Flat sapphire

• Water Resistance: 100 meters

• Crown: Signed, push / pull                                                                                                        

• Bezels: 60 Minute bezel, ceramic / GMT and Standard bezels, stainless steel

• Straps: Vintage cognac leather, two piece with signed buckle and steel rivets.                                        

 

This new offering from Hemel is currently available as a pre-order item, and my understanding is that the pricing is subject to increase once the pre-order period is over.  For exact pricing, etc. please reach out directly to the folks at Hemel -

HEMEL