My Grail Watch #7: Doxa Sub 750T GMT Sharkhunter

Back in 2008, one of my friends Gary showed me an IWC Portuguese Chronograph and I was in awe of the it's aesthetics and being a mechanical engineer, was more in awe of the makings and windings of the watch. This started in me a passion  for looking and reading, not necessarily owning, watches, and the rest as they say is history.

10 watches into this hobby, all of which I really love, I still have in my head a list of what I believe would make my own perfect collection.  Read complete list of my favorite watches here. As my taste evolves, and as I spend more time (and limited resources) into this hobby, it is noticeable that a few watches from my list have come and gone but there are still a handful which I consider to be my favorite watches.

In this series I try to share what makes the following watches so desireable (according to me and only me)

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Doxa Sub 750T GMT Sharkhunter

picture from rlewisk of http://forums.watchuseek.com/f29/sold**
-doxa-sub-750t-gmt-sharkhunter**sold-487684.html

Doxa was probably one of the first smaller watch brand that I knew about. The brand's cult like following and its image as the originator of orange watches (whether this is true or not) makes it impossible not to know the brand among watch enthusiasts.

SOTC End of 2010

This is about 4 months too late, but as they say, better late than never.

Here's the SOTC (State of the Collection) at the end of 2010.

Top row, from left to right: Seiko SNKF07K1, Seiko SNKF05K1, Seiko SNKF11K1, Seiko SNKF09K1
Bottom row, from left to right: Steinhart Nav. B-Uhr II 44mm Auto, IWC Pilot's Watch Chronograph 3717, Seiko 6139

How Many Watches Do You Wear...

...at the same time?

I saw this interesting question posted at PWC, and after posting my response, it was no surprise that the majority only wear one watch at a time. Of 32 respondents, only 2 individuals wear more than one watch at the same time.

One of them wears 2 watches at the same time. One on each wrist. This reminds me of Diego Maradona who wears 2 of his signature Hublots, one on each wrist. According to El Diego he wears two watches at the same time because he wants to have one set at the time zone of his location and the other on his native Argentina. I would have thought a Hublot endorser like him would already have heard of this thing called GMT watch or a World Time watch. Anyway, I think he gets away with it because he is one crazy, bigger-than-life kind of guy.

SIHH 2011 Panerai Prices

Finally, the prices of the 2011 Panerai models have been released! Even as these prices are not yet final, it gives an indication how much these PAM babies would cost.

Luminor 1950 P.2004 Left Handed Titanium 44mm Special Edition PAM345 - CHF19,100
Luminor Chrono Daylight Steel 44mm PAM356 - CHF7,500
Luminor 1950 P.2002 Left Handed Titanium 47mm Special Edition PAM366 - CHF12,600
Radiomir Chronograph, Steel 42mm PAM 369 - CHF6,200
Luminor 1950 REGATTA Sub P.9001 Titanium Special Edition PAM371 - CHF10,100
Luminor 1950 P.3000, Steel 47mm PAM372 - CHF8,800
Radiomir P.3000, Platinum 47mm Special Edition PAM375 - CHF37,000
(to follow tomorrow...)

All prices are in Swiss Francs, +8% VTA included. Thanks to Nad for sharing this in PWC.

When Bronze Finally Doesn't Mean Third Best

Bronze is usually associated with coming in third, deserved by someone who got beat by those awarded with gold and silver. But in the world of watches, Bronze is disassociating itself with being third best and based on the reception of the Paneristi to the Luminor Submersible 1950 3 Days Automatic Bronzo PAM382, Bronze has zoomed to the top of the PAM-must-have pedestal.

And who can blame the ristis? Look at this beauty.

Luminor Submersible 1950 3 Days Automatic Bronzo PAM382
(pictures from SJX of Watch ProSite)

I am obviously one of those people that has been enamored by this beauty and the concept of developing my own unique case Patina based on where I am, what I do, and my body chemistry has got me drooling for a piece of bronze candy. Unfortunately for me, the Bronzo unofficially costs about CHF9,300 (USD9,600) which is more than what I can afford.

Time to sell a kidney.

Not wanting to part with any of my vital organs, I quickly turned to Mr.Google and what I saw lifted my spirits up. It seems that there are more than a few options at a price range more palatable to a common pinoy watch idiot like me.

Benarus Bronze Moray
(from watchprojects.com)

Anonimo Bronze Polluce

(from Nalu of WUS)

Helson Bronze Shark Diver
(from time2watchdotnet.blogspot.com)

And my two favorite bronze divers:

Bronze VDB II
(from vintagevdb.com)

Kazimon 1500 Bronze
(from leeye rolexforums.com)

Unfortunately for me, these bronze pieces are as rare as a Pithecophaga jefferyi in the mountains of Cordilleras! They exist but seldom do you see them in the wild! All of them had very limited production runs and it seems that their owners are not willing to let their pieces go. If it was me, I wouldnt either especially if the case Patina has already developed.

I'll probably need to be extra vigilant in waiting for these independent watchmakers to even have a chance of owning a bronze piece in the future. In the meantime, I'll also pray for an online watch forum contest where prizes are watches instead of medals, and where I won't mind actually finishing third best for the bronze!