The Seiko S-wave automatic watch. Another rare series.

 The seiko S-wave series was what I think was Seiko's attempt at penetrating the funky hip style of young teenagers who like the designs of ala "Swatch". Released in 1997 in the Hong Kong Market it wasn'nt very popular and the later exported to South East Asia. The S-waves, being not so popular were soon discontinued and Seiko focused more on their best selling Seiko "5" series.

Well Fast Forward 15 years later, Collectors started to look for the S-wave series and of course its getting really hard to find. What makes this watch really good? especially among collectors? well here is the plus points :

1) Just another 7s26 movement? not really...the movement is a 7s36A not B not AO so its one of the very first few 7s26 movements

2) No "5" logo. but an "S-wave" hence not your ordinary seiko 5

3) Signed crown. Beautiful "S" symbol on the logo. Signed crowns are not available on any seiko 5 and rarely on other seiko's

4) Comfortable Solid link bracelets with Solid End Links.

There was quite a few S-waves made with different cases and dials shown in the picture below:

 Seiko S-wave family

Now as you can see this particular S-wave that I am reviewing is NOT in the picture above. So I am quite in the dark on which model or what the model number is. Would appreciate it so much if anyone could tell me the model number of it.

Nice Blue dial. No "5" Logo

 The S-wave "S" Signed crown and signature bracelet

 Solid end links and see through case back

Seiko Clasp

Ultra rare Casio MD-808 Titanium Diver Illuminator

Ahhh titanium, being in the aerospace and aviation industry I really like this wonder metal. Not only issit strong, but light as well. Used on watches and spectacles it gives ultimate comfort and sometimes you may even forget that you are wearing them.

 

The stunning Casio MD-808 Titanium illuminator Watch

 

Recently I was in the hunt for a good casio beater watch. Feeling nostalgic, I didn't just want any casio, I wanted a casio "illuminator" of the 90's. Now wait a minute, whats the difference with the casio illuminator of today? Well today casio uses LEDs for the illumination, although its bright, its usually not very even.

 

Marble style illuminator, 1/3 the weight of stainless steel

 

The old illuminator (very much like timex's indiglo) had a cyan colour light and had a " marble stone" like finish and evenly bright across the dial.

So when browsing for a casio on ebay, I stumbled across this good looking Casio Marlin MD-808 watch. The Marlins are usually watches made by casio specifically for sea men, water sports and divers. These watches usually have a Marlin fish logo engraved at the back. Other japanese watches also does this like a dolphin, wave or tsunami logos for the dive watches.

 

Casio Marlin Logo, Titanium, Serial no. and model number.

 

Now why do I say this watch is Ultra Rare? well prior to buying any watch I usually do a google search on it wanting to find out what other users think of the watch and when I did, all I found was a link back to the ebay listing that I was watching. If you came here looking for "MD-808" you would probrably find the ebay listing which I won.

Now why do I consider this watch very special? What I like about this watch is:

Watch case and design : The case styling is looks very much like a "Tag". Compared to a quartz tag I would rather get this casio because it has the illuminator funtion. Rated to 200m water resist, lightweight and made from titanium. Casio rarely used titanium for their analogue watches. You would usually find titanium on digital casio watches like the MR-G, Frogman G-shocks and Protrek Triple sensor watches and those are mostly digital. It is very light and comfortable to wear.

Dial : The dial is nice and clean with very nice hour markers that have silver borders. The hands are lumed (not required but just incase the battery runs out on the illuminator) The hour markers are not lumed.

Now no watch is perfect and this watch has its low points. I really wished that this watch had:

1) a bigger size, the small 37mm diameter is a bit small but still the same size as my swatch iron so i guess its okay.

2) a date window. I really wish it had at least a date window. I can live without a day window.

3) A better strap/bracelet. The original bracelet, has folded links and tapers down to a very small 16mm when the lug size is actually 20mm. I have modified it with a more macho 20mm rubber strap.

 

Titanium bracelet, wish it was solid and wider.

 

So this concludes my Casio titanium illuminator review. I'll let the pictures do the talking.

 

Unboxing

 

On the wrist

 Now I can see the time in the cinema. Yayyyy!! :)

The little known Seiko 7S25 UFO

Mention the word 7S26 and immediately eceryon thinks about a seiko 5 and probrably some seiko divers automatic watches. When someone mentions a Seiko UFO, one is quick to imagine the Seiko 6139 Automatic Chronograph watches.

Well here come the weird looking Seiko SNW011 which is based on the 7S25 movement (also found on the Seiko "Samurai's". The 7S25 is actually just like the common 7S26 but with only a date window with no day.

True enough its weird design is either a "like it" or "hate it" affair but I think THIS watch truly deserves the nickname "UFO" and the other one should be "UFO Chrono".

I think this wacth is rather rare and I was quite close to grabbing it but was stopped when my friend said..."what an ugly watch!!"

Anyways here is my verdict on the watch :

Case : Stainless Steel, The case is huge measuring up to 44mm with a see through case back

Dial and hands : Dial is simple and white with date only only window...hands...ughhhh could be better. Lume is good too.

Braclet : Braclet is a nice butterfly clasp type with solid links and solid end links. NICE!!! :)

Big diameter with fat hands

UFO design...where is the landing pods and ramp?

Date only window

Solid end links....nice

 

Overall : The design is weird...but I guess its a more dress type than sporty watch. Anyways let the pictures decide. Like it or hate it its up to you.