Credits: Article and images by Jan Lidmaňský @ Quill & Pad. See the original article here - https://quillandpad.com/2024/02/03/three-kinds-of-blue-3-cool-and-relatively-affordable-limited-edition-watches-under-3000-from-seiko-oris-and-union-glashutte-reprise/
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Reliable and sexy
Whenever you decide to wear a watch, it must match your outfit. That’s why more and more manufacturers have begun to supply extra straps.
Oris offers a steel bracelet or strap, Seiko a silicone strap in addition to the steel bracelet, and Union Glashütte a blue-stitched textile strap to complement the fitted rubber strap (a steel bracelet can be ordered separately).
However, only Union Glashütte’s Belisar Sport offers easy strap interchangeability, even if it’s only relatively common quick-release spring bars with pins.
Let’s not forget the clasps, either. While Union Glashütte goes easy with a tang buckle, Seiko and Oris secure their bracelets here with proper folding buckles with extensions. Seiko has its typical triple-folding clasp with secure lock, while Oris’ system contains a classic folding clasp with release buttons on either side. The extension system is similar with links that fold out.
Movement and precision
The screw-down crown, which all three of these blue representatives offer, controls a different mechanical movement in each of the cases; all three of the movements have similar features like automatic winding, date indications, and three hands with hacking seconds.
Seiko chose the 6R35 caliber from Morioka Seiko Instruments’ own manufactory. As this is a very affordable watch with full steel screw-down case back, only the rotor has been decorated. However, the 6R35 movement features a proprietary bidirectional winding system called Magic Lever as well as a hairspring and mainspring of Seiko’s own production. The balance frequency is 3 Hz and the movement offers a healthy 70-hour power reserve.
Union Glashütte reworked the famous ETA 2892 and called it caliber UNG-07.S1. It features new decoration on the bridges and ball-bearing rotor, which the Belisar Sport Date exhibits through a transparent sapphire crystal case back with a light blue anniversary logo and a silicon hairspring. Its frequency was dropped from 4 to 3.5 Hz, which saves energy, reduces wear, and extends the power reserve to 60 hours.
The red rotor became an Oris registered trademark in 2002 and is visible in the Caliber 733 powering the Aquis Clean Ocean. It is based on the Sellita SW 200-1, which comes with 4 Hz balance and offers a 38-hour power reserve.
Which would you choose?
My guess is that the majority would choose the Seiko Prospex out of these three, and that’s no surprise. It is the least expensive, has the best price-performance ratio, and high collector desirability.
However, I would choose the Union Glashütte because has a direct link to the shop that I grew up with in my home country, the Czech Republic. And it’s the first time here that a major watch brand has made a special edition in collaboration with a retailer.
And because watches should be fun!
For more information, please visit:
www.seikowatches.com/global-en/products/prospex/special/55th-anniversary-limited-2nd
www.hodinky-koscom.cz/koscomlimitka
www.oris.ch/en/watch/oris-clean-ocean-limited-edition/01-733-7732-4185-set
Quick Facts Seiko Prospex 1970 Diver’s Modern Reinterpretation, aka the Blue Captain Willard Limited Edition (Ref. SPB183J1)
Case: 42.7 x 13.2 mm, hardened stainless steel, water resistant to 200 m
Movement: automatic Caliber 6R35, 70-hour power reserve, 3 Hz/21,600 vph frequency
Functions: hours, minutes, (hacking) seconds; date
Limitation: 5,500 pieces
Price: €1,550
Quick Facts Union Glashütte Belisar Date Sport Koscom 30 Years Anniversary Limited Edition
Case: 45 mm, stainless steel, water resistant to 200 m
Movement: automatic Caliber UNG-07.S1 based on ETA 2892, 60-hour power reserve, 3 Hz frequency
Functions: hours, minutes, (hacking) seconds; date
Limitation: 30 pieces
Price: €2,300
Quick Facts Oris Aquis Clean Ocean Limited Edition
Case: 39.5 mm, stainless steel, water resistant to 300 m
Movement: automatic Caliber 733, based on Sellita SW 200-1, 38-hour power reserve, 4 Hz/28,800 vph frequency
Functions: hours, minutes, (hacking) seconds; date
Limitation: 2,000 pieces
Price: €2,050
Jan Lidmaňský is a watch collector and journalist from the Czech Republic; follow him on Instagram at @watch_the_food.
* This article was first published 10 February 2021 at Three Kinds Of Blue: 3 Cool And Relatively Affordable Limited Edition Watches Under €2,500 From Seiko, Oris, And Union Glashütte
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Credits: Article and images by Jan Lidmaňský @ Quill & Pad. See the original article here - https://quillandpad.com/2024/02/03/three-kinds-of-blue-3-cool-and-relatively-affordable-limited-edition-watches-under-3000-from-seiko-oris-and-union-glashutte-reprise/