I had planned to buy myself a Grand Seiko Snowflake Spring Drive in 2023 for my tenth birthday when I stumbled upon it in a second-hand store last year.
And then, I completely fell in love when I put it on my wrist.
The reflections of the hour and minute hands and indexes (Zaratsu polishing), the blued seconds and power reserve hands, the highly detailed dial with its "Tatami" texture and its little GS logos.
When you get closer, you can see some details like the Lion hidden among the GS and the inscription "caliber 9R 10th anniversary" on the flange because it is a limited series for the 10th anniversary of the Spring Drive (2004-2014).
Of course, it works perfectly and is super precise: less than 10 seconds per MONTH.
If I had to find a fault, the only small one I could find concerns the metal bracelet which is not very easy to adjust (micro screw) and to change for its Croco bracelet.
Otherwise, a killer.


Grand Seiko 10th Anniversary of Spring Drive

This Perrelet is my first "out of the ordinary" watch with a turbine inside a watch!
I discovered this watch model by watching the Dialicius video with the presentation of the turbine diver by Tangui.
I also find it hypnotic because as soon as you move your wrist, the blades start to turn very quickly until they disappear and you stay looking at the dial until they slow down.
Another very original thing is its crown which is embedded in the case and which can be manipulated thanks to a folding handle. Super pretty but not very practical for winding the watch.
Otherwise, it is a very comfortable watch to wear with its rubber strap and not very heavy: thank you titanium.
It is a little big, 48mm anyway, but the lugs are very short. So good presence but does not look huge.
I don't wear it often but I like to rediscover it from time to time like a toy that we have put aside.

A Turbine in my Perrelet

Skeleton watches have always fascinated me and it was while watching a show that I discovered this Swiss brand "DONE" and saw this one in their collection. And there, Wow.
A real skeleton on a hand-wound watch as beautiful on the front as on the back.
As soon as you turn the crown to wind it, the gears start to turn and then you see its heart beating and it's magnificent. You can also immediately see the power reserve depending on the tension of the spring. The finishes are very beautiful and the bracelet is very comfortable.
The case is made of grade 5 titanium and it is water-resistant to 100 m.
Inside, the ETA 6494 is much larger than the SW 200 of my old skeleton watches (Hamilton and Oris, part of the movement at the back of which was hidden by the oscillating weight) and it allows us to admire this superb skeleton through the anti-reflective sapphire crystals on both sides of the watch.
Only very beautiful and good. Very beautiful achievement and superb work.
The only small regret, no stop second and not very precise (-12s/d).

A completely transparent skeleton

I had the steel version of this model for a few years but I didn't wear it anymore because it was really too heavy (200 g), even though I loved it.
It had everything of a perfect Tool Watch diver but when I found this one, I jumped at the chance.
I found all the Victorinox know-how. Titanium bracelet and case, 500 m resistance, a helium valve, a transparent case back to see the ETA 2896 movement, a very beautiful lum on the hands, the indexes and on the rotating bezel.
Otherwise, a small particularity on this watch which is very rare on a diver, it has a large date very well integrated into this beautiful dial where you can even see carbon.
The numbers are on a black background like the dial which really doesn't clash at all. Not like on some watches which have a date on a white background with a beautiful black dial. What Horror!!
This Victorinox Dive Master 500 is a limited edition of 900 copies, including 30 copies for France.
It is very light and very comfortable to wear.


My titanium diver with a big date

This 2010 Tissot PRS 516 automatic has seen it all. A real tank, but it comes at a price: 232 g on the scale.
In any case, I like it and I wear it almost every day at work, not behind a desk but rather in the field and I don't spare it anything, yet it has never let me down.
Why this one?
Because it's a design that I love and I need a Chrono at work.
With its openwork bracelet, it is associated with motorsport, especially with this chronograph model equipped with a Valjoux 7750 that can be seen through the transparent back. Another feature that I love is the syringe-shaped hour and minute hands, very readable and very precise. Otherwise, very practical, well integrated and which I use often, the day and date window is on a black background so fits very well in this black dial. (I hate having a white block for the date on a beautiful black screen!)
Every time I put it on my wrist, I imagine finally having the TAG HEUER CARRERA “PORSCHE” of my dreams.

Tissot “Particularly Resistant”

Another French brand that does a great job.
BRM: Bernard Richard Manufacture.
Their watches are super sporty, with most of them featuring references to cars and circuits.
This mechanical watch is water-resistant to 100 m, yet it weighs less than 50 g.
Here's the recipe to get it:
- Skeleton movement
- Drilled hands, horns and crown
- Makrolon case
- Drilled technical fabric strap
- Titanium buckle
The watch is super comfortable to wear and with its featherweight, you totally forget about it.
But as soon as you lay eyes on it, it has a hell of a face.


BRM Featherweight

What attracted me to this watch was this other way of reading the time.
Its dial is inspired by submarine instrumentation, such as a depth gauge here.
I don't really like "single-hand" watches like the MeisterSinger, but this one is something else, another universe.
Above all, there is this "lightning" hour hand where the hour change and the return of the minute hand are instantaneous.
This watch has several complications: a jumping hour, retrograde minute and a power reserve indicator.
It also has a transparent back and a very well-made leather strap.
For your information, this model is a limited edition of 250 pieces.
And with this sick face (black and yellow), it matches really well.
RESERVOIR is a very young French brand (but Swiss made) that makes superb, very original watches like the SONOMASTER (uses the VU-meters of old amps) or the POPEYE (with its articulated arm).
I love this brand and I love this watch.


A watch with a lightning-fast passage of time

La marque SYE [Start Your Engine] a &eacute;t&eacute; cr&eacute;&eacute;e en 2020 par Arnaud Pezeron &agrave; c&ocirc;t&eacute; de Paris en France. La marque inaugure le Sport Tailoring au poignet. Elle propose des montres sport-chic de caract&egrave;re, fiables, ludiques et abordables inspir&eacute;es de l'univers de la m&eacute;canique auto-moto. La gamme comprend deux mod&egrave;les distincts, la <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/sye/mot1on_automatic_24">SYE MOT1ON Automatic 24 </a>et la <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/sye/mot1on_chronograph">SYE MOT1ON Chronograph</a>.
Cette marque embarque une innovation sur le changement du bracelet disponible en acier ou en cuir. La montre n'offre aucun espace entre le bracelet et la boite d&ucirc; &agrave; l&rsquo;absence de cornes, ce qui am&eacute;liore son confort et sa portabilit&eacute;.
<h2 class="p1">Combien co&ucirc;te une montre&nbsp;SYE&nbsp;?</h2>
La gamme SYE comporte deux mod&egrave;les disponibles sur le site de la marque : La SYE MOT1ON Automatic 24 est propos&eacute;e &agrave; partir de 750&euro;. La SYE MOT1ON Chronograph est propos&eacute;e &agrave; partir de 599 &euro;.
SYE est ind&eacute;pendante et produit plusieurs centaines montres par an tous mod&egrave;les confondus. Pour choisir une SYE qui vous correspond le mieux, les avis clients Dialicious sont une pr&eacute;cieuse ressource pour &eacute;valuer chacun des diff&eacute;rents mod&egrave;les &agrave; travers l'exp&eacute;rience r&eacute;elle des clients.
Consultez le <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/top/les_meilleures_marques_de_montres_francaises">Classement des meilleures marques de montres fran&ccedil;aises</a> dont SYE fait partie.
(Mise &agrave; jour Novembre 2023)

The brand SYE [Start Your Engine] was created in 2020 by Arnaud Pezeron near Paris in France. The brand is introducing Sport Tailoring on the wrist. It offers sporty-chic watches with character, reliability, fun and affordability inspired by the world of car and motorcycle mechanics. The range includes two distinct models, the<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/sye/mot1on_automatic_24"> SYE MOT1ON Automatic 24</a> and the<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/sye/mot1on_chronograph"> SYE MOT1ON Chronograph</a>.
This brand has an innovation in changing the bracelet available in steel or leather. The watch offers no space between the bracelet and the case due to the absence of lugs, which improves its comfort and portability.
<h2 dir="ltr">How much does a SYE watch cost?</h2>
The SYE range includes two models available on the brand's website: The SYE MOT1ON Automatic 24 is offered from &euro; 750. The SYE MOT1ON Chronograph is offered from &euro; 599.
SYE is independent and produces several hundred watches per year, all models combined. To choose an SYE that best suits you, the Dialicious owners' reviews are a valuable resource for evaluating each of the different models through real customer experience.
Check out the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/top/the_best_french_watch_brands">Ranking of the best French watch brands</a>, including SYE.
(Updated November 2023)

Reservoir Tiefenmesser Owner Review : Astute, different and bluffing

A watch with a lightning-fast passage of time

Other reviews published by PATAVERN

Grand Seiko
Spring Drive

Perrelet
Turbine

Done
Mechanica B02

Victorinox
Dive Master 500

Tissot
PRS 516 Chronograph

B.R.M Chronographes
V6

Reservoir Tiefenmesser Owner Review : Astute, different and bluffing

A watch with a lightning-fast passage of time

Other reviews published by PATAVERN

Grand SeikoSpring Drive

PerreletTurbine

DoneMechanica B02

VictorinoxDive Master 500

TissotPRS 516 Chronograph

B.R.M ChronographesV6

Grand Seiko
Spring Drive

Perrelet
Turbine

Done
Mechanica B02

Victorinox
Dive Master 500

Tissot
PRS 516 Chronograph

B.R.M Chronographes
V6