I present to you my Bulova lunar pilot reference 96a299 purchased in January 2025.

This is the version I was waiting for, the one that is probably the closest to the original worn in 1971 by NASA astronaut Dave Scott who commanded the Apollo 15 mission, the fourth landing mission on the Moon. At the beginning of the trip, he wore the Omega Speedmaster on his wrist. But Scott, along with other astronauts, had received a prototype chronograph from Bulova to test (reference 88510/01), which he had chosen to wear as a reserve. Indeed, after two laps on the lunar surface, he noticed that the glass of the Speedmaster had come loose. For his third EVA outing, Scott put the Bulova on his wrist.

When I opened the box I said Wow, the dial of this Bulova lunar pilot is simply magnificent, there is a really impressive depth, the design of the case but especially the originality of the wing-shaped push buttons gives it a really atypical and retro 60s look. I come back of course to the dial which is for me the most beautiful success of this watch which of course recalls the Omega moonwatch. The thick glass which protects the integrated tachymeter bezel then the 3 different levels allow it to have a very beautiful relief. For the rest the visibility is excellent, indexes and hands are very effective and finally the watch is ultra precise thanks to the movement equipped with a 3-pin quartz crystal with a frequency of 262 kHz, 8 times higher than that of standard quartz, allowing precision and a loss of a few seconds per year. I would have preferred that Bulova keep the satin finish of the case of the original version and of course a mechanical movement rather than quartz which would be more faithful and even more legitimate, certainly the price would not be the same but we would still be far from the prices of the speedmaster.

This can be a very good alternative to the Omega, but even more compared to a moonSwatch that I owned and quickly resold because their quality-price ratio is really not good.

Last little remark, I have a small wrist but frankly the 43.5 it goes on the other hand the metal bracelet is a little too long even by putting it on the shortest too bad 😉

See you soon!

The other choice that allows you to carry a piece of history

I just bought it in January 2025 so it's going to be complicated to give you a concrete opinion.
I had never had a G-Shock before and thinking about it I found it surprising and a shame especially when you've been collecting watches for 25 years now. So it was time to get the famous CasiOak for my part the bluetooth and solar version model GA-B2100-1AER.
Having been used to wearing GARMIN SmartWatches since 2015, the all-plastic and connected type didn't surprise me but where G-shock makes the difference is to think that for relatively low prices you can have a watch with such impressive specifications and a robustness to all tests.
This GA-B2100-1AER is really cool and comfortable to wear because it is very light, the octagonal shape gives it a slightly seventies look that I like, the sunray dial is very effective and the layout of the opening on the digital screen is harmonious.
Apart from the push buttons that I find much too short for proper use, otherwise it is flawless.
Now that I have fallen into it, I have made a small list of the next G-SHOCK acquisitions, I was weak and quickly fell for the DW5900-1 which appeared in 1998 in the cult film The Big Lebowski (my favorite), and on Walter's wrist who wears the famous DW-5900C-1 that I will receive soon, opinion to follow...


My first G-shock but not the last

I present to you my Seiko skx 009 7S26 bought in January 2024, I wanted it for a long time, between 2010 and 2015 I was looking to acquire one but I had not yet decided and at that time I had bought a good dozen watches and unfortunately it was not part of them.
It has been in my collection for 1 year and quite often on my wrist, it has a superb face that makes you want to wear it often, the shape of the case and the bezel are really original, the horn to horn is relatively short so it is very pleasant and goes well even for a small wrist. What I like the most is clearly the deep blue and matte dial but I especially love the design of the 6, 9 and 12 o'clock indexes then the Pepsi bezel which goes wonderfully.
An addictive diver, a must have, I validate 100%

I finally fell for this iconic watch

Bought in November 2023. It's more of a Red Star 1963, because it's not the official model of Maison Sea-Gull... but it's still legitimate, there is indeed the famous ST1901 mechanical winding movement based on the Venus 175, 38 mm case and acrylic glass, I chose this version to get as close as possible to the original version.
It's a very accessible watch that was a great success on the Internet, I got it very easily at a more than reasonable price.
You always take a risk when buying a watch on the Internet without trying it but frankly it's without regret and at worst it can be resold.
It has a little charm thanks to its bi-compax type chronograph, a pretty champagne dial and gold indexes, for my part I'm not totally a fan of the hands whether in terms of shape or color (a bit cheap) except for the large red second hand which makes sense for a watch coming from China.
The case is relatively basic and the domed glass really gives it that vintage look, the back reveals the ST19 movement which is impressive at first glance but you shouldn't expect finishes worthy of high-end watchmaking movements, but it's still down.
A watch with excellent value for money that is truly endearing and deserves to be in a collection.


China's first aviation watch for the Air Force

My first vintage watch, dating from 1978 which corresponds to my year of birth, bought for my birthday in November 2023, this little Hamilton pilot GG-W-113 is a watch issued by the US Army during the Vietnam War.

History:
In 1967, the US Army (the US Air Force) began producing the GG-W-113 for its pilots. 3 brands were selected (among others) by the US government: Benrus, Hamilton, Waltham and Marathon. Early examples do not feature any text on the dial, unlike the Marathon watches of the late 1980s. Fifteen jewel movements were required as a minimum, as was the use of tritium luminous material, until the specification was rescinded in 1987.

MIL-W-3818B specifications:
1. A 15/17 jewel hand-wound movement
2. Able to withstand shock and survive a 4-foot drop onto a block of wood
3. Daily accuracy of +/- 30 seconds
4. Must be water-resistant
5. Luminous hands for readability at all times
6. Must be anti-magnetic
7. A hacked central seconds hand
8. A minimum power reserve of 36 hours
Quite a program...

I had been looking for a vintage watch from my birth year for 2 years, I was also looking for a Tissot seastar from 1978 that looks like the PRX but impossible to get my hands on it, so I came across this superb Hamilton whose history I know well, it is in some way the descendant of the khaki field that I particularly like and being a fan of pilot's watches I could only fall for this watchmaking icon.

Technical data:
34 mm parkerized stainless steel case, thickness: 11 mm, lug width: 18 mm
Movement: 17 jewels, ETA 2750, Hamilton caliber 649 manual winding with stop second
functions: hours, minutes and seconds, 24 hour indicator
Hesalite glass, water resistant 30 m

The Hamilton GG-W-113 American Mil-Spec Pilot's Watch

UTINAM ORBIS sinistral watch n°229 purchased at the Philippe Lebru boutique in Besançon during our stay on the road of time measurement. It is a watch with a sinistral quartz movement, it works counterclockwise so we read the time backwards (like in a mirror).

For the record, we had to keep a souvenir of our trip on the road of watches in 2015, because we had started our journey at the Museum of Time in Besançon then direction Villers-le-Lac and the visit of the Museum of Watches and finally Switzerland with the visit of Le Locle and also its magnificent museum of watchmaking and to finish in style the international museum of watchmaking in La Chaux-de-fonds ... an exciting trip for lovers of the ticking clock.

Overall this watch is really atypical and original, the dial with curved edges, the hollowed-out aviator-type hands, the contemporary typography and a case without lugs where the bracelet seems to be an integral part of it, all this gives it an ultra modern Bauhaus look, just a pity that it is not an automatic movement.

Technical data:
Utinam orbis calibre sinister quartz ronda, round brushed and polished steel case Ø 39 mm, matt white dial with white flange, domed mineral glass, 3 sinister hand movement, black leather strap.

Made in Besançon

This review follows that of my Omega Seamaster 300. Also bought in 2008 for the birth of my son, I hesitated with the Omega Speedmaster moonswatch but not the same price, Oris being better placed in terms of price, I fell back on this model which had caught my eye since I saw it in the store.

Thinking back, I tell myself that I should have bought only one, having bought the Seamaster and the Big Crown on the same day in the same store in Switzerland I had the budget for the moonwatch...in short it was necessary to choose so my wife offered me the Seamaster and I treated myself by buying this pretty pilot's watch.

It's always a real pleasure to put it on my wrist, it is really atypical with its telemetric scale bezel, it has a very classic side in the composition of the indexes and numbers, the chronograph is always appreciable and functional, to finish I find it really elegant with these cathedral hands and its slightly guilloché dial background, all this gives it a retro look that makes it timeless.

Technical data:
Oris Big crown telemeter Caliber eta 7750 Reference
01 674 7569 4064-07 5 21 56
43 mm steel case, Automatic movement 674 date and chronograph, Hesalite glass, water-resistant 30 m

A favorite

Watch offered by my wife for the birth of our son in 2008. I had hesitated for a long time with the blue version and since my father-in-law had it, I did not particularly want to have the same as him, but I was especially afraid of getting tired of it, regretfully because it is still not the same as the one worn by James Bond.

It is really magnificent, I find that it is very versatile both to leave in sport mode and well dressed for an event, a very comfortable, reliable and functional chic sport model.
I wear it quite often because it is a perfect diver, quite thin because quartz version, top lume, superb wavy dial, domed sapphire and approved by 007.

Technical data:
Omega seamaster Caliber OMEGA 1538 ref 21230416101001
41 m steel case, domed sapphire crystal, water resistance 300 meters, screw-down crown, date, unidirectional rotating bezel, helium valve.

James Bond's watch in black

Watch given in 2000 by my wife 25 years ago and still functional.
I wore it frequently for almost 8 years but since then it has been stored in my watch box and it very rarely returns to my wrist.
At the time I loved wearing red in my outfits, so it seemed obvious to have a watch of this color on my wrist.
It is an unpretentious watch, it is fun with its flashy red dial color, always precise and very practical with its chronograph.
It will always remain in my collection because sentimentally irreplaceable.

Technical data:
Swatch Irony Chrono BULLFIGHTER YCS4010
40 mm aluminum case, plastic glass, chronograph, date, water-resistant 3 m

The first in my collection

The Swatch brand was created in 1983 by Nicolas G. Hayek in Switzerland. The name "Swatch" is a portmanteau formed from "second watch" or "swiss watch", in reference to its objective of offering an affordable and quality Swiss watch. Swatch launched its first watch in 1983, revolutionizing the watch industry by offering colorful and fun designs at an affordable price.
The range includes colorful and fun designer models like the Swatch Original, the<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/swatch/irony"> Swatch Irony</a> and the<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/swatch/skin"> Swatch Skin</a>, or the<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/swatch/sistem_51"> System Swatch 51</a> an automatic model entirely assembled by machines. Swatch surprised everyone in 2022 with the launch of the collaboration with Omega and the becoming famous <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/swatch/moonswatch">Swatch Moonswatch</a> !
The brand Swatch is owned by the Swatch Group and produces approximately 3,100,000 watches per year, all models combined. To choose a Swatch which suits you best, Dialicious owners' reviews are a valuable resource for evaluating each of the different models through real customer experience.
(Updated December 2023)

This is my first analog watch! I bought it in my last year of engineering school and it accompanied me to my first job. It was my daily for about ten years until I bought an Orient Bambino and my partner gave me my Longines Presence in 2010. This Swatch Irony Chrono reference CADMOS YCS409 is robust, elegant with its openwork hands that remind me of the Omega Seamaster Diver 300M, the chronograph hand has a look that reminds me of the Speedmaster.... The worm is in the apple. I like its matte black dial and the whole thing is working 100% for over 23 years. My son has already spotted it in my collection and he plans to get it soon. By the way, this watch is indestructible but who said a Swatch is disposable?

My Swatch Irony Chrono is indestructible!

Casio irony JO de Sydney 2000...quartz, approximately 36 mm. In new condition (I have a second one...), I don't wear it, it reminds me of the Olympics and Australia....it is very readable with its white background. The rubber strap is of superb quality. Thick and comfortable. The downside of this model (and other Swatch) is the noise of the second hand!!!

Back to Sydney...

Watch given in 2000 by my wife 25 years ago and still functional.
I wore it frequently for almost 8 years but since then it has been stored in my watch box and it very rarely returns to my wrist.
At the time I loved wearing red in my outfits, so it seemed obvious to have a watch of this wrist color.
It is an unpretentious watch, it is fun with its flashy red dial color, always precise and very practical with its chronograph.
It will always remain in my collection because sentimentally irreplaceable.

I present to you my Swatch Irony size 38mm in diameter with a black unidirectional bezel and an Aluminum case. Thus this feature allows the horns not to break like on the plastic Swatch models. My model is sober, silver dial, black diving bezel, large black Arabic numerals in indexes. This watch is very versatile, extremely comfortable, light (Aluminum case 👍), thin, precise, modern ... with its Swatch Swiss inscription in green and its Mercedes hour hand, it looks like a Rolex GMT Master II 🤭🤔😉). It can be worn in all circumstances. Its small flaw: limited water resistance (depth not mentioned), where its cousin, the Swatch Scuba (it, in plastic) had a mention "water resistant 200m.

Swatch Irony Aluminum unidirectional bezel

To Xavier and PMEA, it encourages us to explore our drawers and... magic. The watch of my college years: steel and blue. This quartz watch has everything a child-friendly watch needs: highly readable with numbered and doubled hour markers in the afternoon, cyclops on the date window at 3 o'clock, steel bracelet and folding clasp. The thin steel bezel is engraved with "swatch". It may be from this watch that I get my love for blue dials!

Swatch Irony of Childhood

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)

Swatch Irony Owner Review : Spicy, humble and functional

The first in my collection

Where to buy your Swatch?

YOU ARE :

Other reviews published by Le Duc

Bulova
Lunar Pilot

Casio
G-Shock

Seiko
SKX

Sea-Gull
1963

Hamilton

Utinam Besançon
Orbis Senestre

Oris
Big Crown Telemeter Chronograph

Omega
Seamaster Diver 300M

Other Swatch Irony owners' reviews

Swatch
Irony

Swatch
Irony

Swatch
Irony

Swatch
Irony

Swatch
Irony

Customize your Swatch with our selection of accessories:

ABP Concept

Swatch Irony Owner Review : Spicy, humble and functional

The first in my collection

Where to buy your Swatch?

YOU ARE :

Other reviews published by Le Duc

BulovaLunar Pilot

CasioG-Shock

SeikoSKX

Sea-Gull1963

Hamilton

Utinam BesançonOrbis Senestre

OrisBig Crown Telemeter Chronograph

OmegaSeamaster Diver 300M

Other Swatch Irony owners' reviews

SwatchIrony

SwatchIrony

SwatchIrony

SwatchIrony

SwatchIrony

Customize your Swatch with our selection of accessories:

ABP Concept

Bulova
Lunar Pilot

Casio
G-Shock

Seiko
SKX

Sea-Gull
1963

Utinam Besançon
Orbis Senestre

Oris
Big Crown Telemeter Chronograph

Omega
Seamaster Diver 300M

Swatch
Irony

Swatch
Irony

Swatch
Irony

Swatch
Irony

Swatch
Irony