The Orient Mako "Pepsi" Classic Review

This was the time when my watch crazy hobby just started to take off. I already had a Seiko Orange Monster but the monster was like all tool and tough watch, so its not very dressy and suitable for formal occasions. I was in the market for diver watch (not that I go diving anyways just wanted the assurance of a 200m rated watch :P). I wanted something that was classic and elegant but would not burn a hole too deep in my pocket. I heard about the Orient Mako and apparently there are three variants, The classic Mako, The Mako Ray, and the Mako XL. Initially I was interested in the Mako XL for its size but the very poor lume deterred me. The Mako Ray is newer but didn't have arabic numerals (6,9,12). The Mako classic was the one for me but apparently its getting harder to find.

The Orient Mako Pepsi

On a business trip down south to Johor, I finally saw a Mako Classic "Pepsi" sitting nicely in the display cabinet of a watch shop. At first I was actually looking for a Blue Mako since many have commended how nice and mesmerizing the blue dial is. The Pepsi one had the same nice blue dial only with a different bezel. Putting it on my wrist and looking at it I was immediatley under its spell with the blue dial glowing in my eyes and just like that I told the shop keeper...."I'll take it"

I like the idea of being unique (not having the same watch as the other guy), so when I realized that the Pepsi Mako usually came on rubber starp and not on bracelet I just had to have it. (some other guy must have bought a black or other color mako previously but wanted it on rubber)

The watch...

Simple Packaging

This watch is all is all quality...quality you can see and feel. Orient really got it right with this one. With its under 200 dollar (USD) tag and quality finish you really get a bang for your buck. The automatic movement is quite accurate and very easy to start up and wind thanks to its quarter-circle rotor disc. Orient uses in-house movement not borrowed movements like some swiss brands using ETA movements.

The dial and lume

 

Two toned Blue dial. Lume shot in total darkness.

Gorgeous blue metallic dial that reflects a two tone blue colour depending on how the light hits it. Aviator style arabic numerals with silver linings. Nice no nonsense hour and minute hands sword like with silver linings. The second hand has a nice red tip (too bad its not lumed). The day/date display is white with silver borders (nice). Lume is bright enough(not radioactive bright) and lasts while I sleep so that I can tell the time at 6:30 a.m.

Bezel, Crown and Pushers...

Signed Crown...elegant

The bezel is uni-directional with 60 clicks and aligns properly at 12 o'clock and every other miniute marker. Some complain that the numbers on the bezel should be bigger. Orient addressed this by making the Orient Ray bezel having bigger numbers. The pusher that you see on top of the crown is for quick day change.(I really wished that it was a quick date change since that can be useful for 30th to 1st day of the month changes) It has a screw down lock so that you wont accidentally change the day. The Mako XL does not have a lock. The crown is a screw down type, well guarded and SIGNED!!! with the orient lions logo. This very nice and elegant since even some other more expensive brands only have plain crowns.

The bracelet...

I like the bracelet. No nonsense, oyster style with brushed finish, polished sides and solid links. The only downside is that the end links are folded. (Solid end links would have been perfect). The clasp has a safety and machined with the Orient logo.

Solid links and machined clasp

Conclusion.

This is 'The' watch that put orient on the map. Classic looks and I like the fact that even with the "Submariner" ish looks its a completely different watch with quick day pushers, arabic numerals and nice hands. If you wish to grab one, the Classic Makos are getting more and more rare replaced by the Mako ray. The Mako Ray has rectangular hour markers, large numbered bezel, fancier bracelet and some say brighter lume. If you happen to find a classic Mako do take the time and try it on your wrist.

A nice watch at the office breakfast table

Choosing the best watch for you - Part 2 : Watch Materials

What is you watch made of? Stainless steel? Plastic? Resin? Here I will share the pros and cons of all watch materials and which ones wil suit you best.

Stainless Steel - I think this is the most common type of material used on watches nowadays for its durability and ease of production and costs. Steel watches can come in two types of finish which is either polished chrome like finish for those who like the shiny "bling" and a brushed or matte finish for those who like the more suttle industrial "tough" look. Steel watches are usually heavy so the nigger the watch, the heavier the heft on your wrists. On a plus side, polished finish steel watches can be re-polished if some scratches appear after a long period of use.

A polished finish(see how shiny it is) and a brushed finish

PVD Coated Stainless Steel - This type of watches are one that give the "Gun Metal" look. These watches look very nice and rugged and usually in dark colours like black, dark gery, or dark brown. Its basically a stainless steel watch which is coated with the coloured material. Although they might look good eventually the coating will give way and if you scratch your PVD watch... there is no way of polishing it up again.

A brand new PVD watch and a used PVD watch

Gold - Oooooh the expensive gold. At one point of time gold watches were all the rage but not anymore as gold watches now just seem to look cheesey (but thats my personal opinion). Expensive to make, high cost and difficulty in maintanence probrably brought its downfall. Anyways any gold watch user would never have peace of mind wearing it as it attracts many would be robbers. Just as in jewelry it cannot be made of 100% gold anyways because if it did it would be easily dented.

A famous gold watch brand back in the 80's

Resin - Usually in black, Casio watches have a lot of models that use resin's for their watch cases. Tough and less prone to scratches it has proven to be a popular choice for sport watches. The toughest resin made watches are of course the Casio G-shocks. Resin watches are tough but it also depens on the humidity of the country that you live in. Where I come from (Malaysia) the humidity is high so resin and rubber watches do not last as long. (althouth its still quite long). Resin watches usually have a stainless steel caseback.

A mud resistant resin watch

Plastic - Plastic cased watches were made popular by Swatch watches and was usually design in frech funky designs and one ca also see the watch mechnism. The advantage is of course the watches were relatively in-expensive. Plactics watches are also really light weight, suitable for those who need to tell time but dont like the feeling of anything heavy around their wrists. Swatch watches also use plexi-glass on the dial making it easy to polish off any scratches on the face.

Plastic cased watch

Titanium - Ahhh the metal used on spacecraft and highspeed aeroplanes. This space age material has the durability of steel without the weight. Get this type of watch material if you like steel watches but do not like the heft of heavy watches. The lightweight often makes users forget that they are wearing a watch. One downside to titanium is that it scratches mush easier than stainless steel and only comes in matte finish. Best to use a nato or rubber strap with titanium watches if you have a rugged lifestyle.

Titanium. Although it looks big..its light!!

And there you have it, the many types of watch materials to help you choose the best watch for you. Anything I missed? Lets not mention exotic materials like white gold and platinum as its quite rare on a watch.

The Seiko SKX033 Submariner Pepsi -mini review

As I have said before, I was rather late in jumping on the Seio bandwagon so I am sure that there are more than enough reviews of this iconic homage to a classic watch....The Seiko "Submariner". In this short review I would just wish to share my personal experience in finally obtaining this gem and let the pictures do the rest.

I accuired this watch after selling off another SKX031 of an acquaintance of mine. Why didn't I get that watch for myself you may ask? perhaps because it was already modded with an orange dial and a faded bezel which I did not fancy plus did not have the time to do a fixer upper.

The modded SKX031

But apparently the guy had another SKX033 but this time the dial was stock, the pepsi bezel ok but came with a Seiko Z22 rubber strap. I thought to myself, "perfect!" since I have heard that many didn't like the stock Osyter bracelet with folded links anyways. I wasted no time quickly grabbed it.

First impressions...

For a dress watch the size is perfect, not too small and not too big. The dial is apparently very very dark blue, almost black to me (perhaps I was too used to the bright blue face of my Orient Mako). Lug size is 22mm so it will take a majority of Nato and Zulu straps(I have yet to get one). I tested the power reserve and the watch kept running for 42 hours based on the time I left it in my cupboard and the time the watch stopped.

Bracelet hunt...

Searching for a stainless steel bracelet was no easy task ( I felt that the classic sub look was taken away with rubber straps) I finally found an aftermarket ala Presidential bracelet while searching at Campbell and Pertama complex. I didn't mind that it was aftermarket because unlike the stock bracelet this one had solid links :)

Presidential Bracelet with Solid Links

Comparison

The SKX033 may look small but I was surprise to find out that its the same size as an Orient Mako. The SKX might "look" smaller because it has a thicker bezel. Compared to the Seiko Spork the Sub is dwarfed. Lume on the SKX033 is also quite good. A bit brighter than the Mako and lasts long enough for me to see the time at around 6:30 a.m.

So here is the finished Seiko SKX033 Pepsi Submariner...

Tribute to my favourite Seiko Thread

Size Comparison with Orient Mako and Spork

Lume Comparison (no lume on bezel)

On the wrist

Conclusion

After reading many reviews and wanting this one for so long, I am not dissapointed when I finally got my hands on one. Worth every freaking penny and a definite keeper. This one is going to follow me to the office, formal occasions and other functions...for casual outings...I have the Spork :)


Hoped you liked the mini review as much as I liked making it :)

* Apologies for the "Un-rotated" pictures. I rotated them before uploading to blogger but blogger kept on rotating it back :(