Ball Fireman Classic 40mm
Hamilton Khaki Field 42mm
Seiko Samurai SRPB49
Scurfa Diver One S/S
Ball strictly gets off work duty and while the lume is superb and very stealth in the light, it’s just a bit too nice to knock against a rail car. Its ties to the early history of the railroad though fairly much nonexistent these days still influenced my purchase. Actually to read their site seems to minimize the difficulties of the modern railroad industry, though we do have it easier than the old days. Hamilton gets the most work use and now that it’s on a NATO I definitely don’t expect that to change. The 24 hour time markings have become a must at work and no longer have to give my watch a second thought for time filling out delays or getting track warrants. The Samurai I had every intention of selling to help fund the Ball, but just couldn’t bring myself to do. The bracelet which I didn’t find attractive in pictures is surprisingly nice and solid and well made, though with the standard clasp and extension design made mainstream by the Monster and Sumo. It works and works well, though this watch really comes up a notch with the beautiful ToxicNATOs Shiznit line, especially the blue/grey version pictured here.
The one piece worth an extra mention here is the Scurfa. This watch was given to me through Terry’s giveaway in the earlier days of ToxicNATOs and that is one of the reasons I’ll never part with it. The other is that Paul during the making of these mentioned the difficulty of getting a solid, properly fitting bracelet for this model and I don’t think many were made. I sometimes use it for work or randomly grab for it on occasion, both on the bracelet or a NATO. I don’t wear it as much as I used to, but it’ll always find some wrist time here and there due to the story behind it and Paul’s unique company approach of somehow making super affordable watches with pretty much every feature we wish Seiko would offer in an SKX. It feels special for what it is and feel like it covers a market that should probably be larger. Well made quartz divers for entry level money with a sapphire crystal. They don’t seem to exist otherwise.
