Hello Dwc'ers! I'm grateful for the warm welcome I'm receiving in the main forum, and have been asked to posted my thoughts on my Resco Patriot. I've posted on this topic on WUS already, but rather than just reposting here, I decided to take some more pics and add fresh thoughts...but there is some crossover
. Also, I've had the watch for little over a week, so this is all $.02, as I'm still on teh honeymoon.
The carefully designed case and painted dial are the highlights of this watch, in short.
The Patriot's case is milled, and generally modern in dive watch design, with it's best features distinctly utilitarian. It has fairly short lugs, despite appearing long due I think to the outside line of the lugs. The inside line of the lugs curve inward on the sides, creating a nice curve when viewed directly from under the lugs. The short lugs could be a problem for fat straps (haven't tried), but this watch is for natos. This is due of course to the cut nato channels in the side of the case and a recessed caseback.
On my 7 inch wrist it wears tall, but thanks to the careful design elements mentioned, the watch is balanced, noticeably more so than the microbrew ~44mm divers I've owned (LM-6 and Helson SD for example), as well as the more similarly sized UTS 500m. Because of the cnc'ed case and amagnetic cage (which consist of an amagnetic dial & back plate and cylinder good for 80000 A/m), the watch is heavy, but not wildly so, and I've found can be worn all day without my wrist getting worn out. The 20mm lug size looks better on the watch IRL, and because the watch dosn't flop at all, isn't a problem in my book.
The bezel has Marathon-like wide notches. They are very grippable without being total overkill. The 120 click bezel has a firm metallic click. It compares the closest in feel to my old Breitling SO Pro, which of course was only a 60 clicker, so on the Resco the ratchets are shorter. The bezel turns easily but not loosely, more easily than the Helson SD and waaay easier than my Bluering (which is so tight I think it's a flaw of construction). The feel does not oust the UTS 500m for having the best feeling bezel action of the 'brews I've handeled.
The #'s on the bezel are deeply engraved and crisp. It's a clean look which dovetails IMO with the indices on the dial and the recesses on the bezel. Hate as people do the choice of a countdown bezel, I've come to think it plays a significant role in tying the design together.
The huge lume dot looks great and again ties the bezel design more firmly to the dial, but I am concerned that when it falls out some time in the distant future it will really be a gaping hole. Hopefully LT and Resco will be around for that fix.
The crown is nicely machined, obviously grippable, and is complimented by some handsome looking crown-protector casework. I wish the trident on the crown was engraved deeper as the #'s on the bezel are. It threads soundly and with no wobble (), but I have found that the Benarus Moray I and my Breits both had a smoother, finer feel. When winding the movement, there are clicks in the distinctive Slav manner which is kinda cool.
The finishing on the case is top-notch amongst the 'brews I've owned, and dare I say, even comparable to the all brushed Breits I've had in the past. All the edges are crisp without being too sharp (another problem with my LM-6) For an example of nice finishing, the outside of the bezel notches are slightly more polished and horizontally brushed vs. the inside of the notches which are vertically brushed (poorly captured above). The brushing, however, is not as deep or rich as the Omegas I've owned. the finish on my 2254.50 was amongst the best I've seen (for watches under 1.5k).
The lugs have hex bars, which I initially wasn't fired up about...but they are growing on me. I've found it's noticeably easier to remove the bars stably, lowering the risk of annoying lug scratches. I changes straps all the time, so this could be a big deal in the long run. Also, since I posted the above pic of the wabi'd screws on WUS, Resco got in touch and offered to send some fresh ones scotch free...nice!
The crystal has a tall dome and the bezel is steeped inline with the curve: a nice Koboldian touch. You are probably thinking this doesn't look like a double AR coated crystal-- and you're absolutely right! The first thing I did with this watch was remove the outer AR coating which was sadly already awfully scratched. Here's a pre-removal pic:
I think it looks better now!
The dial is less clouded, the grey color comes out better (it really looked purplish to me before), and, surprisingly, the lume seems a bit more perky (perhaps the initial charge is simply more noticeable with a clearer crystal). There is indeed more reflection on the crystal but it is more than manageable with the inner AR and better than the alternative. I hear that Resco is stocking single side coated crystals, and for someone buying new, I'd recommend it.
alert: I love the dial. Totally readable, printed very crisply. The famous Lum-Tec uber thick lume lives up to it's fanfare and it's frankly gorgeous IMO. Its so thick as to almost appear domed and is a bit glossy. I chose the grey dial because I think the grey color balances the very loud large Brand/Model text and huge indices. For some reason the look on the whole seems to blend better to me with this color combination and the ss case. It will certainly present some challenges as far as strap selection goes, but after having a ton of black dialed divers, I think it will be fun. The grey is various shades in different lights, and still a bit purplish when the AR is visible (occasionally). One quibble: the depth rating does not appear perfectly centered under "Patriot," which is either my imagination, or a genuine mistake. Here is a lume shot:
Basically I think it's a Lum-Tec blend of bgw9, which is pretty but not a bright as C3 SL. While I like the hour and minute hands design and size wise, I do wonder why they had to be a different color than the dial (they are Lt's version c3 SL I think). The trident second hand is cool in my book, but I wish there was lume on the second hand (which clicks at a even but slow 18000 bpm), I don't see why that couldn't have been done. All and all, it stays lumed for a long time with the amount applied, but it's not blinding.
Final thoughts/questions: I've not discussed the Slava 2427 movement choice (
http://www.christophlorenz.de/watch/movements/s/slava/slava_2427.php?l=en), because good info is out there. Rob of Resco has argued extensively on WUS that this movement is more robust that ETA alternatives. The Patriot is accordingly a no-date because the function is apparently the movement's weakness. Personally I buy it, and don't mind the movement at all (it will surely be the only diver I will have running one). Of course, on the downside, the movement is a plain as they come and is a low beat mover.
One good question I don't know the answer to is the source of the cases. Of course, if design and finish all check off, then the question is somewhat esoteric; nevertheless if it turned out to be a Frickers or Swiss case, I'm sure that would be an added factor to the oft-disputed value quotient. Giving a similar quality of finishing to what I've seen on the Kobold AD, and Resco's know connection to Kobold, I wonder if the case is sourced from the same place?
The CS from Resco has lastly been outstanding. They have been friendly and encouraging since I first got in touch, When I let Resco know I had found one used, they were enthusiastic and congratulatory and said they are happy to help if the watch ever needs repairs, offered a discount on straps, and even to swap dials for cheap if I ever wanted.
And lastly: I think it's totally badass to have a watch built and tested in CA!
I hope the resurrection of USA watchmaking is further precipitated by these small companies.
So there you go, thanks for reading!
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Cant wait until Donna has the Resco and to hear her thoughts on how the watch compares to her Kobold! 
There's not much in the features of this watch to dictate such a high price tag, so you'd think a good chunk of that would go toward QC. I wonder how that would've happened.
). Fortunately I paid $850 out the door so the price was right. I'm pretty sure QC is careful on Resco's end as only 300 Patriots are going to be released this run. The watch came in a nice UK made Pelican case (no pics sorry) and was plenty protected. 
)
