Watch Collection

My current affordable collection of Chronographs and Watches...

I really never wore a watch at any point in my life, but one day in 2022 I randomly decided to research how a chronograph worked. This led to a multi-day dive into a horological rabbit hole where I learned about the history of mechanical watch making, the different types of watches, the "quartz crisis" and resulting changes to the industry and more. And, of course, I learned about famous and historically relevant specific watches and chronographs.

One day a few weeks later, I ordered a bunch of cheap "homage" watches on Amazon from Pagani Design, a Chinese company specializing in making near exact copies of famous chronographs and watches (though they are not considered fakes as Pagani Design does not try to pass them off as anything other than Pagani Design watches). These were mainly purchased to be used as "conversation pieces" and I have not worn them very often - maybe a handful of times and usually the Omega Speedmaster copy.

To "legitimize" my colllection, I then focused on acquring respectable affordable watches. Some of them might still be considered "homage" watches, but homages that were insirpired by famous pieces and not direct copies thus they had their own cache. This includes some very well respected pieces with legitimate heritage such as the Citizen Pro Master NY0040 diver and the Seiko SKX007 diver. I also splurged a little on a pre-owned Tag Heuer Carrera that is my only fully mechanical Swiss chronograph. Even though Tag Heuer is somewhat polorazing amongst watch snobs, it is still a legitimate luxury Swiss brand with a true racing heritage and because of my automotive enthusiasm this was the chronograph that originally ignited my curisoity. And then I subsequently added a couple of respectable Swiss Automatic divers like the Hamilton and the Certina. With the exception of the cheap Pagani Designs, nearly all of the watches below were acquired pre-owned, manyh of them are out of production and that is where the value is.

(I also acquired tools and knowledge to size and swap out bracelets and straps of all types as well as to open case backs to service quartz batteries as needed)

Watch	Reference	Case Diameter	Band Width	Type	Movement	Glass	Water Resistance	Country of Origin
Tag Heuer Carrera Chronograph	CV2014-2 My first fully mechanical Swiss chronograph	41mm	20mm	Mechanical/ Automatic	ETA Valjoux 7750 25 Jewels 48 hour reserve 28,800 bph (4hz) 8 ticks/second Hacking? Yes Three-plane cam chronograph	Sapphire	100m	Swiss
Hamilton Khaki X-Wind Chronograph	H77616533 Swiss fully mechanical Chronograph Aviation / Pilot's watch with crosswind calcuation on bezel	44mm	22mm	Mechanical/ Automatic	Hamilton H-21 (Based on ETA 7750)   25 Jewels 60 hour reserve 28,800 bph (4hz) 8 ticks/second Hacking? Yes	Sapphire	100m	Swiss
Certina DS Action Dive Watch	C013.407.11.041.00 Swiss mechanical semi-luxury true ISO certified dive watch w/ dive extension clasp	43mm	21mm	Mechanical/ Automatic	ETA 2824-2 25 Jewels 38 hour reserve 28,800 bph (4hz) 8 ticks/second Hacking? Yes	Sapphire	200m	Swiss
Hamilton Navy Scuba Dive Watch	H82335131 Swiss mechanical semi-luxury dive watch. Beautifully finished, but at 100m WR more of a 'desk diver'	41mm	20mm	Mechanical/ Automatic	Hamilton H-10 (based on ETA C07.611)   aka 'Powermatic 80' 25 Jewels 80 hour reserve 21,600 bph (3hz) 6 ticks/second Hacking? Yes	Sapphire	100m	Swiss
Seiko 5 Sports GMT 'Batman'	SSK003K1 An affordable fully mechanical "office" GMT. Black and Blue bezel remincient of Rolex Batman GMT.	42.5mm	21mm	Mechanical/ Automatic	Seiko 4R34 (GMT) 24 Jewels 41 hour reserve 21,600 bph (3hz) 6 ticks/second Hacking? Yes GMT (24 hr hand)	Hardlex	100m	Japan
Seiko SKX007 Dive Watch	SKX007K2 Legendary affordable mechanical diver. As a nod to its large modding community, I put on a silver bezel to mix up the look.	42mm	22mm	Mechanical/ Automatic	Seiko 7S26 21 Jewels 41 hour reserve 21,600 bph (3hz) 6 ticks/second Hacking? No No Handwinding	Hardlex	200m	Japan
Citizen Pro Master Dive Watch	NY0040-50e Another classic and mechanical 200m real certified diver! Issued to Italian Navy in the late '90s - the Marina Militare.	42mm (wears smaller because case is wider than black part of bezel)	20mm	Mechanical/ Automatic	Citizen Miyota Calibre 8200 21 Jewels 42 hour reserve 21,600 bph (3hz) 6 ticks/second Hacking? Yes	Mineral	200m	Japan
Seiko SSB031 Chronograph	SSB031 Popular discontinued Seiko. I have two of these, one on bracelet, the other on one of three quick release straps - black rubber, black leather and brown leather both w/ white stitching. It has an Omega Speedmaster aka 'Speedy' vibe.	40mm	20mm	Quartz	Seiko 6T63 'Mechaquartz'   ('Mechaquartz' means the chrono function is part mechanical, giving smooth sweep of chrono second hand)	Hardlex	100m	Japan
Seiko Prospex Land Solar Chronograph	SSC705P1 Compass Bezel I keep this one on a black rubber strap. My "sports" watch for hiking and outdoor use because of compass bezel, solar power and 200m water resistance.	44mm	22mm	Solar Quartz	Seiko V176	Hardlex	200m	Japan
Seiko SSB355P1 Chronograph	SSB355P1 My other large sports chronograph, this one with a sliver tachymeter bezel. Very cool detail on face despite being quartz.	45mm	22mm	Quartz	Seiko 8T63 'Mechaquartz'   ('Mechaquartz' means the chrono function is part mechanical, giving smooth sweep of chrono second hand)	Hardlex	100m	Japan
Casio Edifice Slim Chronograph	EFSS570D Styled to give an AP Royal Oak vibe without being a direct homage.	44mm	22mm	Solar Quartz	Casio Solar 5634	Sapphire	100m	Japan
Casio G-Steel GSTB400	GST-B400 Evolution of the famed G-Shock with more upscale materials such as the stainless steel bezel and carbon fiber case.	46mm	28mm	Solar Quartz	Casio Solar 5657	Mineral	200m	Japan
Rotary Chronospeed	GS0335119 Aviation or Pilot's watch w/ slide rule calcuator bezel I keep this one on a black leather strap w/ white stitching. A Breitling Navitimer homage.	42mm	22mm	Quartz	Miyota 0s20	Acrylic	100m	Swiss
Citizen Pro Master World Time GMT	BJ7100-82E I keep this one on a perforated black rubber strap, a "traveler's" style GMT with rotating world timer bezel and 200m water resistance.	41mm	22mm	Solar Quartz	Citizen Eco Drive B877	Mineral	200m	Japan
Pagani Design 'Submariner'	PD1639 Rolex Submariner diver "homage" - mechanical movement. The Submariner may be the most famous dive watch in history and was worn by Sean Connery in early Bond films.	40mm	20mm	Mechanical/ Automatic	Seiko NH35A 24 Jewels 41 hour reserve 21,600 bph (3hz) 6 ticks/second Hacking? Yes	Sapphire	100m	China Japanese Movement
Pagani Design 'Seamaster'	PD1661 Omega Seamster diver "homage" - mechanical movement. The Seamaster is the second most famous dive watch, also worn by later Bond actors in Bond films.	42mm	20mm	Mechanical/ Automatic	Seiko NH35A 24 Jewels 41 hour reserve 21,600 bph (3hz) 6 ticks/second Hacking? Yes	Sapphire	100m	China Japanese Movement
Pagani Design 'Speedmaster'	PD1701 Omega Speedmaster 'Moonwatch' "homage". The Speedmaster was the first watch to pass NASA tests and was famously worn by astronauts on the moon.	40mm	20mm	Quartz	Seiko VK63 'Mechaquartz' ('Mechaquartz' means the chrono function is part mechanical, giving smooth sweep of chrono second hand)	Sapphire	100m	China Japanese Movement
Pagani Design 'Daytona'	PD1644 Rolex Daytona "homage". The most famous chronograph designed for auto racing.	40mm	20mm	Quartz	Seiko VK63 'Mechaquartz' ('Mechaquartz' means the chrono function is part mechanical, giving smooth sweep of chrono second hand)	Sapphire	100m	China Japanese Movement
Benyar Chronograph	BY-5140-L Super cheap throw-away watch originally to mimic a Tag Heuer Carrera. I actually like the way it wears which annoys me because its so cheap.	44mm	22mm	Quartz	Seiko?	Hardlex	30m	China Japanese Movement