Thursday, January 21, 2010

Finally found a new watch!

For those that don't know, I love watches.

Something about them just intrigues me.  A fine watch not only brings out your taste and style, but somehow adds a level of maturity and finesse to a man.  And I think due to my great-grandfather and father, Seiko watches made it to the top of my list.

Here is what I was looking for in a Seiko watch (which is why it took so long):

Automatic winding / movement
Calendar
Japanese Kanji for the calendar
Working condition
Affordable
A style that I like <-- actually not the hardest part!

There are a few problems though, one being that only older Seiko watches produced locally in Japan have the Kanji-calenders (from what I've heard, and all the new one's that I've checked out are only in English).  Another being that old Seiko watches are pretty expensive and some models are quite rare!

Well I've been all over Kobe searching far and wide.  I've even been to some crazy pawn shops and some very shady looking places where I think the watches were stolen, and I realized that unless I'm buying from a real watch repairman, even if I find an awesome old Seiko, it might not work very well if it even works at all.  I had to get one that was old but "refurbished" so to speak by a man certified to do so.

Well I finally found one that I love and fits the other requirements as well!  I got it at "Ha Ru Na - Watches and fine Jewelry" shop in 三宮 (さんおみや) Sannomiya, a large district in 神戸 (こうべ) Kobe.

I'm so excited that I got a real (and rather rare) old Seiko in great condition, that I made a video instead of pictures of it to show it to you guys!



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WciJphr3UZA


It is a Seiko 5 Actus with 25 Jewels, model number 6106-7600T.  Made in Japan and has both English and Japanese calendars (you can choose between the 2 with the push of a button)!  Not to mention Automatic Winding / Movement .  The Second Hand moves 4 times within the space / time of 1 second, a rather unique feature of Seiko.  (Their newest watch as of this year moves completely fluidly "like time itself.")

This watch, which is dated back to the 1970's is one of the first watches to move in this way.

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Back in Japan!

Well I had the fine pleasure of going home for a few days and eating lots of beef---but now I'm back in Japan!

I know I have been neglecting this blog for my gleefully hedonistic lifestyle studies, but I will start carrying my camera around more and making more pictures and videos.

For those of you wondering if I'm already in gear again here in Japan, I offer you this one photograph today:









































This is me at the 阪急 (はんきゅう) Hankyu Department Store in 西宮 (にしのみや) Nishinomiya Gardens Mall.