An amazingly detailed post on how to buy a Seiko 6309 diver, one of the iconic Japanese divers of the last century. The 6309 has an automatic movement and is built like a tank with the crown at 4 o’clock. I have my father’s, which I redid completely after he left it sitting in a drawer for about 20 years. It’s a striking piece and, along with the Orange Monster, is a great newbie collector’s watch.

HOW TO BUY A SEIKO 6309 DIVER (Belongs in FAQ) [Seiko and Citizen Forum]

Help us help you this year. Fill out our 1st Annual WWR reader’s survey and register to win a black Nooka ZOT watch courtesy of Nooka.com. Deadline for entries is Midnight, January 31, 2006.

All email addresses will be destroyed after the contest is over. Please tell us what you think about WWR and tell us a bit about yourself so we can expand and improve our coverage next year.

Survey Site

Nice review of the Digiteur MSA, Chronoswiss’ “digital” watch.

Chronoswiss’s new Digiteur MSA was introduced at Baselworld 2005. MSA stands for “montre sans aiguilles” (watch without hands) and this watch is, indeed, a watch without hands. A mechanical digital watch, in other words.

It takes a bit of getting used to, but once you do, it’s a very easy-to-read display. The three windows set into the plain silver face make for an elegant and sophisticated wristwatch that is still functional.

Chronoswiss Digiteur [Stylophiles Online]

TimeZone has some great shots of the new 5960P Calendar with leap year indicator and all sorts of goodies. I hate the hands, though. Does anyone else feel the same way?

Full release after the jump.

NEW Patek chrono/calendar/auto caliber, ref. 5960P! [TimeZone]

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These internecine struggles happen in every industry, and the watchmaking world is no exception. Apparently this group will

Based in Avenches, the purpose of this alliance is not marketing, but to “perpetuate manual know-how and creative work” according to Mr. Dufour.

The alliance will be inspired in particular by the philosophy of the guild and the exchange of knowledge. Each founding member will keep his independence. To finance its objectives, they will sell particular models of each one of its member products specially for Time Aeon.

They will also feature Charlize Theron in a very poor movie alongside an addled Frances McDormand.

New Independent Watch Association Formed – Time Aeon [TimeZone]

Ming at WatchRap has some striking shots of a Gerald Genta jump hour. I like Genta, as a whole, but sometimes they get ugly. This one has all the parts in the right place.

Gerald Genta Retrograde Jump Hour! [WatchRap]

Here very cute little homemade Panny - some paper, some Xacto knives, and a $20 quartz crap piece. Excellent work.

See what happens when I get bored? [BigWatchForum]

KrazyDad reviews a super cool wooden clock kit made of pressboard, dowels, and not much else. Very George Washington Carver.

Here are the components spread out. Most of the parts are laser cut plywood. There are also some dowels, screws, nylon washers and string. The kit comes with a detailed and helpful 43 page instruction manual, that is *much* better than the terse instructions that come with IKEA furniture. Jeff is very careful to navigate you through most of the potential “gotchas” that will occur during the construction process. I started working on the clock about 2 and a half weeks ago, working mostly on weekends. All in all, I’ve probably spent about 20 hours on it thus far.

The Ascent - A Wooden Clock Kit [KrazyDad]

Help us help you this year. Fill out our 1st Annual WWR reader’s survey and register to win a black Nooka ZOT watch courtesy of Nooka.com. Deadline for entries is Midnight, January 31, 2006.

All email addresses will be destroyed after the contest is over. Please tell us what you think about WWR and tell us a bit about yourself so we can expand and improve our coverage next year.

Survey Site

I had strayed from the quartz digital path in the last few years thanks to my obsession with mechanicals, but I’ve always thought I’d like to return to the fold. Last week I received two Casio watches, a Pathfinder and a G-Shock, and I am happy to say that I’m pleasantly surprised.

Now I know you all like your ETAs and Big Bangs, but a watch like the G-Shock G7500-1V is pretty sassy little number that can help road warriors stay awake on the red-eye and might survive a nasty turn at the baggage claim.

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