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Pugwash's Navitimer Review


Pugwash

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"Here's how it is ..."

Cpt. Malcolm Reynolds, Serenity.

154988-13944.jpg

I call this shot the Andreww/By-Tor Special.

Here's how it is, I ordered my Navitimer from Ruby back in the day when she first started making her name as she-who-has-the-new-Navitimers. It's a 28,800vph Asian 7750 copy with the transport gear layer added to change it to a Tri-Compax layout, emulating the 7753 on the original.

154988-13945.jpg

It arrived, I wore it, I Bob-for-Breitlinged it up and ... it died in its first week.

154988-13946.jpg

Side view to show the amazing tank-like profile common to all 7750/7753-based watches.

Being a decent sort of dealer, Ruby said that she would gladly replace it and I got a return address and sent it back. It's now the 25th of September.

"TIME PASSES"

The Hobbit - a videogame

A fortnight later, she's still not received it, but I can live with that as I'm on holiday.

"THORIN SITS DOWN AND STARTS SINGING ABOUT GOLD"

The Hobbit - a videogame

Ok, it's 3rd of November. This is starting to be a little unfeasible. Let's verify the address I sent it to. Oh, damn, she gave me the wrong address. Oh well. It can happen, I suppose.

While we're depressed at this point, let's have a look at the back of the new Navitimer. As you can see, it's got a temperature converter. I've used it precisely twice in the last week.

154988-13947.jpg

Temperature conversion scale - more useful than you'd think.

Anyway, back to the tale of weeping and gnashing.

I waited, got a tracking number (useless as usual, until it gets to France) and was off work the day I got an email from the French postage system that the Concierge had received the watch. I went downstairs and got it from her and she was a little surprised I knew it was there as she'd got it in the last 5 minutes.

154988-13948.jpg

mmm ... pretty

As you can probably guess, I ordered it in standard configuration, with the steel bracelet, even though I knew I'd probably never wear it on the steel as it is just way too bling for a skinny white guy that works in IT like me. It takes 22mm straps and I'd already had the one that got sent back on a Bob Strap so this one had the strap taken off before I removed the plastic from it. It's a very shiny strap. If you can do bling, this is a great starter.

Personally, I love the off-white style. It's really stunning. Some prefer the dark black or blue dials and I get it, but for me, this is the one.

All in all, it's been a while to get to me so I'm a little too relieved to pick fault with it, but I'll try:

The date-wheel is recessed. Of course it is, this is an Asian 7750 in Tri-Compax - they all do that. If you don't like this, get a 12-9-6 layout one. I knew this error and the following one before buying, but just in case you didn't, here you go.

The Slide Rule is off. It doesn't line up properly. This is a known problem with the 28k Navitimers that the 21k ones didn't have. Check your local dealer's photos, I defy you to find one the dealer's not nudged off-centre to hide this glaring error. Unfortunately, this is annoying because you'll use it more than you'd think. I've used it in the doctors to convert my weight from pounds to kilos and once at work to convert Pounds Sterling to Euros.

Having said that, I'm not at all disappointed in this watch and would recommend it to anyone that can live with its faults. Here's a parting stock shot, just so you get the big picture and don't get hung up on the details:

154988-13949.jpg

Come on, you want one. You know it...

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Looks just great in white. I could be really tempted.

However I have a dead 'Series Special' with the old Asian movement and I have bought a ETA 7750 to fit into it. The hands should be a straight swop with the ETA. I also have a good gen dial but it is approx 2mm larger than the rep so no go there.

Does Ruby have the standard 6-9-12 layout also? Does anyone know the case size and dial dia?

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  • 9 months later...

I too missed this good review the first time. Worth a bump! :)

I had the black 3-6-9 version.. it was stolen, but I am tempted to buy it again, even though I seldom wore it. A "flaw" on mine was that the bezel/glass assembly did not have a good fit to the case.

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  • 2 weeks later...
  • 1 month later...
Nice review Pug. I just got my first navi off one of the boards and have been going back to look up info on them. Nice pictures too!! Does yours have AR or is it just the pictures? Hard as I try I can't see the crystal.

It's just the pictures. It doesn't have AR.

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  • 3 months later...
  • 2 weeks later...
Thanks yellowmen... try to enlighten among many options ... the replica of the photograph corresponds to one of the collectors in particular? ...

;)

Read the review. It came from Ruby. While the watch is excellent, the service was ... odd.

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  • 3 months later...

Bump!

G'day all, I'm new here and have just received this same watch myself in the last day or two - and thoroughly enjoyed your review Pugwash!

I have a seriously noob question though if I may - I know what the top 2 sub dials do (I think!) - seconds on the left, min's in stopwatch mode on the right - but what is the bottom one for?!

My intuition tells me it is the month of the year (since like, it has 3,6,9,12 and all...) - so my second question is, how do you set it - CAN you set it even, with these rep's??

Thanks again for the great read and apologies in advance if you are rolling your eyes reading this - I am chronically new at this!

Cheers

Parma

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I have a seriously noob question though if I may - I know what the top 2 sub dials do (I think!) - seconds on the left, min's in stopwatch mode on the right - but what is the bottom one for?!

Hours for the stopwatch.

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Bump!

G'day all, I'm new here and have just received this same watch myself in the last day or two - and thoroughly enjoyed your review Pugwash!

I have a seriously noob question though if I may - I know what the top 2 sub dials do (I think!) - seconds on the left, min's in stopwatch mode on the right - but what is the bottom one for?!

My intuition tells me it is the month of the year (since like, it has 3,6,9,12 and all...) - so my second question is, how do you set it - CAN you set it even, with these rep's??

Thanks again for the great read and apologies in advance if you are rolling your eyes reading this - I am chronically new at this!

Cheers

Parma

elapsed hours for your stopwatch....

the one at 9 is running seconds, should be cheerfully trotting around all the time, the one at 3 is elapsed minutes for the stopwatch... :D

ah...see, thought I was being clever in answering the question, but I was being soooo clever I didn't notice there was already a "page 2" already with the answer.... :bangin:

Edited by asiparks
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  • 7 months later...

Pugwash

Thanks for the trouble you went to to write about this watch.

I am new to watches in general and am becoming fascinated by both their beauty and functionality.

I bought this same watch a month ago - quite by accident - the first none-dressy watch ever.

I never take it off now.

I do have one question: my version has the logo ('B' with wings) as an applied gold peice.

Are most of the lgos on these watches printed on - or is that just the way they look?

Thanks again.

SkyKing (and you have to be pretty old to know who that is!)

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