Review : Merkur S/Steel Tuna Version 2.0 (SBBN015 Homage)

Further to the review on Sharkey's BT2.0 @ https://andywristwatches.blogspot.com/2018/12/review-sharkey-bronze-tuna-version-20.html, here was the second part in relation to the Merkur stainless steel Tuna version 2.0 ("ST2.0").

Merkur shot to fame with their Miyota-based SBDX017 homage some years back, with purchasers commenting that the quality was a notch higher compared to the Seiko-based similar homage from Sharkey, LTM, Hima, and the likes. They tend to produce in smaller quantities with a view to maintain quality control, so it was no surprise that their products tend to be sold-out relatively quickly.

I contacted its promoter during the design stage on ST2.0, and the piece incorporated some key features that modders like us tend to upgrade on stock Seiko watches that we purchase. Movement was vide the popular NH35A, it had a lumed bezel insert like that of the LCBI, and sapphire crystal was supplied in lieu of the lower spec hardlex crystal.

Therefore, for the sub-RM1k affordable price range that it was going for, one would be getting a lot of watch for the price indeed.

The Swiss C3 lume was generously applied such that the end result would give Seiko Lumibrite a run for its monies. Placed next to my SLA021J1, it could truly hold its own despite costing only circa 7% of the Seiko's Malaysia RRP : RM15,050 price tag.

As could be seen from the above pictures, the CNC stainless steel parts were of good quality with good finishing and fittings. The sapphire crystal was an appreciated upgrade over Seiko's hardlex and coupled with the robust NH35A work horse, time-keeping as observed over the 24 hours that I had the ST2.0 proved to be convincing, which was not surprising actually given Seiko's reputation. Merkur gave an international 1-year warranty towards its watches. 

All in all, this had been a great purchase towards the study on the design and I had taken the necessary measurements of the parts in order to assist me towards the proposed goal. At this point in time, I'm still unsure if I would keep this homage piece stock or mod it further into the Seiko Tuna that I envisioned.

In the meantime, do enjoy more pictures of the piece :

Review : Sharkey Bronze Tuna Version 2.0 (SBBN015 Homage)

NB : After getting this Tuna, I have decided to throw caution to the wind and net the massive SBDX014 Tuna instead. Will need to work on strengthening the wrist further then ;p

Readers would remember that I was pondering over some custom jobs for an automatic SBBN015 Tuna equivalent with an automatic NH35A movement some months back; and while I had located an Indonesian-based watchsmith i.e. Pak Ridwan whom could hand-make bronze and stainless steel Tuna cases, the relatively high cost (app USD500 per case, excluding cost of a genuine Seiko Sumo for him to harvest the parts) had me on second thoughts. For instance, if I were to utilise a Sumo as the base, I could be looking at circa RM4k as the overall cost. Some of his artworks included the following :

Over the years, I had been purchasing quite a few pieces of micro brand watches as I wanted to study on the reverse engineering and works involved. A goal that I had at the back of my mind, was to  some day tinker about and come out with a watch design based on the Seiko NH35A / ETA 2824-2 / Sellita SW200, that could serve as a common base for easy modding works with lots of available parts in the current market.

And earlier the week, I met a fellow watch enthusiast whom had a similar dream and he in turn had a few friends whom wanted to pool resources together towards such a project; so there could be some synergy working towards this end.

One of the design that I had always been intrigued with was the Tuna, specifically along the dimensions of the SBBN015 given its wearability (compared to the more massive SBDX014 Emperor Tuna); but instead of a quartz movement like that of the SBBN015, I wanted the Tuna to have an automatic movement like that of the NH35A.

As I researched about this matter, I found references towards Sharkey and Merkur, both of which produced homage watches including that of the Tuna. I contacted the promoter; and while Sharkey's version 2.0 design was purely based on what the factory had in mind, Merkur's version 2.0 was still under the pre-production stage so certain tweaks could be done. I ordered both the version 2.0 designs to gauge the end products.

This blog entry would review Sharkey's Bronze Tuna 2.0 ("BT2.0"), while a subsequent entry would review Merkur's. For starters, both watches were in the sub-RM1k price range and for that affordable price, one would be getting a lot of watch for that price. Do note that there would be another 5% SST charge on the inward parcels as documented @ https://andywristwatches.blogspot.com/2018/12/international-parcel-hub-lcct-5-sst-on.html.

I was a fan of LCBI lumed ceramic bezels and while Sharkey did not give the option of ceramic bezel insert on the bronze piece, they were able to lume the insert compared to the initial offerings. And the  Swiss C3 lume was generously applied such that the end result did give Seiko Lumibrite a run for its monies.

As could be seen from the above pictures, the CNC bronze parts were of good quality with good finishing and fittings. The sapphire crystal was an appreciated upgrade over Seiko's hardlex and coupled with the robust NH35A work horse, time-keeping as observed over the 24 hours that I had the BT2.0 proved to be convincing, which was not surprising actually given Seiko's reputation. 

All in all, this had been a great purchase towards the study on the design and I had taken the necessary measurements of the parts in order to assist me towards the proposed goal. At this point in time, I'm still unsure if I would keep this homage piece stock or mod it further into the Seiko Tuna that I envisioned.

In the meantime, do enjoy more pictures of the piece :

International Parcel Hub @ LCCT : 5% SST On Watches

The 5% SST on watches came into practise on 1st September 2018. I had a shipment of 4 in-coming watches, which were anticipated to arrive by Christmas 2018; so when I received a call from Pos Malaysia informing me that the parcels were detained by Customs, I knew that a visit to the Customs was in the pipeline.

To be fair, Pos Malaysia had a service to clear the parcels from Customs; but at RM50 per parcel (not including the actual SST payment), I thought that I would do well to settle the matter myself. The personnel on the other line then informed me to proceed to KLIA given my confirmation that I would like to retrieve the parcels myself.

I would share my experience so that you could avoid the obstacles that I faced. Firstly, the instruction to clear the parcels at KLIA was a mistake. I drove there, proceeded to Pos Malaysia KLIA and was informed by the personnel there that the actual international parcel hub was at the old LCCT, which was some 20km away. The personnel informed me that they had to entertain many people whom go there to collect their parcels, only to be re-routed to LCCT thereafter.

Next, once I reached LCCT, I was informed that I should have my parcel IDs ready. The personnel there informed that the Pos Malaysia caller should have informed me the parcel IDs during the call; otherwise I would have to check from other departments to retrieve the IDs. While the departments were just a stone's throw from each other, I was sent running from one counter to another, to pass on some papers to and fro. It seemed that computers and phones had yet to see the light of the day over there.

After retrieving the parcels, one would then be required to bring the parcels over to Customs and open them for the checking. After the assessment of the purchase invoice (do remember to bring these along), the Customs would then state the SST amount payable and you could then make the necessary payment accordingly.

But well, now that the parcels were safely in my custody, I would be tinkering with them over the weekend :)

Mod Works : Seiko SKX007 "Planet Ocean"

Readers might remember that I had a couple of Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean with various calibers, in my collection. However, today's entry ain't about Omega's Planet Ocean, but about the versatile Seiko SKX007 and it's transformation into the Planet Ocean homage.

These were some of the Planet Ocean that I had over the years :

Wait a minute, that last picture ain't a real Planet Ocean! That sneaky SKX007 tried to pull a fast one on us all :)

To transform the classic SKX007 into the Planet Ocean, we would do well to get the parts ready in advance. In this example, the parts were all sourced from Dagaz as per the following :

Expect to pay top dollars amounting to USD191.50 / RM500 invested into the above parts, but the end result would be worth it. Just take a look at this baby in its current state. 

When the new NH35A movement arrives in due course and gets fitted into this baby, then the transformation would be largely completed.

Wrist Shot : SKX009J1

There were a few e-mails from readers for wrist shots of the SKX009J1. Well, here you go then...

Goodbye, Seiko SKX009J1...

Readers might know that Seiko had discontinued its evergreen SKX007 and SKX009, with the replacement being the Mini-Turtle (SRPC3/4x). As it was, collectors were snapping up whatever stock that were still there in the market, especially the Japan-made J-variant as could be seen by the "Made in Japan" print on the dial.

This was my SKX009J1 and I wrote about an in-coming SKX007 that would be under-going some mod works @ http://andywristwatches.blogspot.com/2018/11/psycho-about-seiko-part-deux.html. As we all bid goodbye to an everyday classic and one of our fave modding specimen, let us enjoy some pics of this beau piece. This SKX009J1 had been upgraded to a Strapcode Super Jubilee bracelet with solid end-links, which was miles better compared to the rubbish Z22 rubber strap or original Seiko oyster/jubilee bracelet with hollow end-links.

2 Pepsi pieces side-by-side but the Seiko SKX009J1's price was merely 10% of the Tudor's, yet the Seiko was truly a lot of watch for the entry-level price tag it carried.

What a great piece the SKX009J1 truly was! Goodbye, Norma Jeane...