Today's theme had me wanting to pull out something from my past. Back in 1986 when I was in the US Navy we pulled into the Vancouver World Fair as part of their fleet week. While touring around it we had the chance to interact with other sailors from around the world. I traded a Russian sailor my Casio with the keypad for this watch - we were both happy with the trade!

Hello guys. This is a question for you all. As some of you know, I have published my first book on Amazon, The Brand Guide, covering the 65 most significant brands of horology out there (here's the link to buy it, if you want). The book is a subset of my original production, available as a PDF ebook only on my website, TheWatchManual (dot com) - books that are way bigger, 600+ pages against 200. This means that I have to decide what to focus on next - and I have a few ideas. But I have just two hands - so I need to develop them one at a time. The question is: what's the first guide you would like to see out? - The Vintage Brand Guide, dealing with important vintage brands that have disappeared - The Micro Brand Guide, dealing with relevant contemporary microbrands - The Independent Brand Guide, showing the best independent boutique brands - The Horology History Guide, detailing the development of history, brands and people through the ages - The Complications Guide — Everything you need to know about chronographs, calendars, GMT, minute repeaters, and tourbillons. What they do, how they work, and why they matter. - The Vintage Collector Guide — How to buy, date, authenticate, and value vintage watches. A practical guide to navigating the secondhand market without getting it wrong. - The Movement Guide — Inside the mechanical watch: escapement, balance wheel, hairspring, and shock systems explained for the serious collector. - The Dial Guide — Dials, hands, materials, finishes, and patina. The most visible part of the watch, and the least understood. - The Style Guide — How to wear watches, how to build a collection, and the ten watches every collector should know. - The Materials Guide — Steel, gold, platinum, titanium, ceramic, sapphire, rubber. What the materials of a watch actually mean for the object and the collector. - The Servicing Guide — What happens during a service, what it costs, what to expect from a watchmaker, and how to protect your investment. - The Essential Watch Guide — The world's most important watches. The definitive reference for every serious collector. - The Design Watch Guide - The best watch designs and designers in a handy guide

The second watch purchase this year. I actually got it last week, but this is the first time I've worn it out. Addiesdive AD 2094 (homage to the Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra), pebbled turquoise dial, domed mineral crystal with AR coating, oyster bracelet with milled clasp, Miyota 8215 movement, 316L stainless, blue BWG-9 lume, screw-down caseback and crown, 100m water resistance, 39mm case, 13mm thickness, 48mm lug-to-lug, 20mm lug width. It really doesn't wear like a 13mm dive watch. With no heavy bezel it doesn't wear like a dive watch at all, and I really love the dial. So far I'm pleased, most of these I saw on AliExpress during the back-to-school sale were running right around $100, I found the one seller who had it for $77 and change. We'll see how it goes going forward.

This one is a throwback because of it's vintage aesthetic, I'm loving this on the leather .

Happy Throwback Thursday! This one is a throwback to a little over a year ago, June 2025, when I was looking for a red dial watch. And not wanting to spend a lot. I had been casually looking around for a while and then came across this one, the Casio MW600F. I wish it had a more classy name but that seems to be it. This is not really a flashy, fire engine red. Rather, more of a wine or burgundy red, perhaps. Anyway, the wine red dial immediately captured my attention, and for $24.88 it fit the bill at the time. Honestly, while not really a problem, the resin strap is not the most comfortable and may get replaced at some point, but overall what's not to love about a $25 watch with a date window, nice lume, nice dial look, and 100m water resistance? Showing again, that one need not spend a fortune every time for a nice looking and functional watch. Is it a luxury brand Swiss watch? Nope. Does it tell the time and look nice? Yes, it does. - Model #MW600F-4AV - Quartz Movement with Analog Display - 39mm Round Black Resin Case - Wine Red Dial with Textured/Matte Finish - Luminous Hands - Fluted Crown - Date Window at Three O'clock - Mineral Dial Window - Black Resin Band with Buckle Closure - Water Resistant to 100 m (330 ft)  In general, suitable for swimming and snorkeling, but not scuba diving - Ten Year Battery Best wishes for a wonderful Thursday! 😀