SAS Sea-01 LE

Discussion of SAS Watches and Míleata Military Watches

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matt.wu
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SAS Sea-01 LE

Post by matt.wu » Fri Jul 27, 2012 2:44 pm

I just wanted to share some initial impressions along with additional photos.

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First off - the category everyone cares about. The watch is a FANTASTIC "bang for the buck". It's amazing to think that MSRP, delivered from Ireland, comes in under $1000. Pretty unheard of even by most micro-brand standards, much less by a quality company lead by an individual trying to do it right like Graeme.

The watch comes in a nice package:

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I am liking it a lot. It's a really unique design in EVERY aspect. Folks who see it straight on might initially think Panerai, but other than the squarish overall shape and the use of a sandwich, there really isn't too much resemblance. The mix of finishings is fantastic, with a nicely brushed case, the enamel-looking bezel, and the matte finish of the dial. The LE dial/hand combo is spot on - love the white lume. The date window is nice (and the date sits close to the dial - one of my pet peeves is when the date sits too low). Bezel is ridiculously secure and easy to grasp. The crown screws down with several turns.

And it's a perfect strap watch. Lots of space at the lugs, but since it's a flat case in between the lugs, the gap doesn't look too bad even with this straps like an ISO or my custom Micah straps. And short of a quick-release mechanism like Panerai or IWC employs, the hex screws on the SAS combined with the well-built, included tool, probably make for the easiest, most-secure strap changes around.

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I think my only reservations are that it does wear pretty large (almost too large for me) because the lugs don't really slope downward at all (they do on top, but not on the bottom). Also, I think it could benefit from a slightly domed crystal. It's already such an angular watch, it'd be nice to soften it up a little.

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All-in-all, another home run from one of the "good guys" when it comes to startup brands. The bar was set high, as I've had great experiences with Todd and AEgir watches, but Graeme did not disappoint.

I've wanted to try out an SAS for awhile, and I'm thrilled to finally have one of my own. Thanks for putting together this LE, Graeme. I think the one modification I might want to do is to paint the hands white where they are painted glossy black, to give it that "floating hands" feel and make the hands a little bolder. For those who can't see it in person, pictures don't make it apparent, but the hands are matte at the center and glossy as they go outward. Really nice little touch. You can kind of see it in this picture:

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And a few more concluding photos:

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:htfu:

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Re: SAS Sea-01 LE

Post by ikkoku » Fri Jul 27, 2012 2:51 pm

how thick is that puppy?

a no date version would be freaking fantastic :ugeek:

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matt.wu
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Re: SAS Sea-01 LE

Post by matt.wu » Fri Jul 27, 2012 3:07 pm

ikkoku wrote:how thick is that puppy?

a no date version would be freaking fantastic :ugeek:
I think it's 16mm, but unlike some other 16mm watches where part of that measurement is the domed crystal, this one is ALL case/bezel. So it feels bigger/heavier.
:htfu:

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Re: SAS Sea-01 LE

Post by jeckyll » Fri Jul 27, 2012 3:07 pm

Very Nice!
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Graeme
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SAS Sea-01 LE

Post by Graeme » Fri Jul 27, 2012 3:16 pm

Hi Matt
That's a great write up thank you, I am glad you like it.

It's good that you picked up in the hands. On the stainless steel versions my idea was to give the impression that the hands were floating, the inner part is the same colour as the dial and this helps to give the impression that the silver is floating. When I was doing the PVD watches I wanted to reflect the idea but try and do it in the style of the case. So the stainless steel cases had silver hands and the pvd cases had black plated hands.

This makes this Special edition unique using the black hands on the stainless steel case.


Regards
Graeme
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Re: SAS Sea-01 LE

Post by rockmastermike » Fri Jul 27, 2012 4:27 pm

a serious watch that looks like seriously well made backed by a seriously cool guy

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Re: SAS Sea-01 LE

Post by chris7013 » Fri Jul 27, 2012 4:38 pm

Nice write up Matt and another outstanding offering from Graeme. #11 from the first edition is still going strong by the way. Like Matt said it wears tall and heavy but very manageable on a strap, throw it on the bracelet and its a chunk for 6.75's like mine. I'm on my phone right now so I'll have to look at the pictures when I get home.
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Re: SAS Sea-01 LE

Post by aikiman44 » Fri Jul 27, 2012 4:43 pm

Another SAS triumph, excellent pick up.
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Re: SAS Sea-01 LE

Post by jimyritz » Fri Jul 27, 2012 5:31 pm

Well done Matt! If that was a 40-42 I would be buying....

Looks like super value and well made.

Mike

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Re: SAS Sea-01 LE

Post by Techart » Fri Jul 27, 2012 6:24 pm

wow nice, love the watch strap, even the packaging is tops! :salute:

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Re: SAS Sea-01 LE

Post by manitoujoe » Fri Jul 27, 2012 6:46 pm

Very nice!! Yeah, I love this watch.
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Re: SAS Sea-01 LE

Post by homathetes » Fri Jul 27, 2012 6:50 pm

Solid write up Matt. I think my favorite part is that fresh take on the sandwich dial. Also the kit looks pretty cool.

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Re: SAS Sea-01 LE

Post by deepcdvr » Fri Jul 27, 2012 8:17 pm

Good job, Matt - thanks for the write up :thumbsup:

That watch seriously kicks ass..

I've been much more operational lately and would love to take that puppy out and put it through it's paces.. :shock:
VR/
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Re: SAS Sea-01 LE

Post by sharkfin » Fri Jul 27, 2012 8:32 pm

One chunk of goodness!

Nice write up and observations.

Another cool piece by Graeme. ;)

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fastward
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Re: SAS Sea-01 LE

Post by fastward » Fri Jul 27, 2012 8:51 pm

I wore Shorty's tonight and I must say that it's a really nice, well put together watch.

Looks great on the French Canvas. :thumbsup:

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Re: SAS Sea-01 LE

Post by Snpr9696 » Fri Jul 27, 2012 9:19 pm

My classic says hi. sAs is a serious piece.
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Re: SAS Sea-01 LE

Post by kempoman » Fri Jul 27, 2012 10:45 pm

Nice pick up & your pics rocks!!
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Re: SAS Sea-01 LE

Post by cali kid » Fri Jul 27, 2012 11:31 pm

Great write up, amazing watch!!! :cheers:
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Re: SAS Sea-01 LE

Post by Chauncy7 » Sat Jul 28, 2012 6:37 am

That bezel :love: :love:

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Re: SAS Sea-01 LE

Post by DaveT » Sat Jul 28, 2012 6:42 am

NICE! Love that new combination of the Dubh Linn dial/hands in the SS case :thumbsup:
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Re: SAS Sea-01 LE

Post by Axelay2003 » Sat Jul 28, 2012 7:20 am

jimyritz wrote:Well done Matt! If that was a 40-42 I would be buying....

Looks like super value and well made.

Mike
I love everything about it, but the size. 40-42mm case size would also rock this! I gues Mike and I are in the minority regarding case size.

Graeme, would you consider a limited run on a smaller size case?

Great write up Matt!

Gerald
It's a beautiful world! Gerald.
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Re: SAS Sea-01 LE

Post by fastward » Sat Jul 28, 2012 7:32 am

Axelay2003 wrote:
jimyritz wrote:Well done Matt! If that was a 40-42 I would be buying....

Looks like super value and well made.

Mike
I love everything about it, but the size. 40-42mm case size would also rock this! I gues Mike and I are in the minority regarding case size.

Graeme, would you consider a limited run on a smaller size case?

Great write up Matt!

Gerald
I thought the same thing, but it's a very wearable watch, even with my very masculine, yet slender wrists. :thumbsup:

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Graeme
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SAS Sea-01 LE

Post by Graeme » Sat Jul 28, 2012 7:56 am

Axelay2003 wrote:
jimyritz wrote:Well done Matt! If that was a 40-42 I would be buying....

Looks like super value and well made.

Mike
I love everything about it, but the size. 40-42mm case size would also rock this! I gues Mike and I are in the minority regarding case size.

Graeme, would you consider a limited run on a smaller size case?

Great write up Matt!

Gerald
Hi Gerald
I have thought about making a 42mm version but I have other models in the planning stage so it will be a couple if years before I could look seriously at it.




Regards
Graeme
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Re: SAS Sea-01 LE

Post by Axelay2003 » Sat Jul 28, 2012 7:58 am

Graeme wrote:
Axelay2003 wrote:
jimyritz wrote:Well done Matt! If that was a 40-42 I would be buying....

Looks like super value and well made.

Mike
I love everything about it, but the size. 40-42mm case size would also rock this! I gues Mike and I are in the minority regarding case size.

Graeme, would you consider a limited run on a smaller size case?

Great write up Matt!

Gerald
Hi Gerald
I have thought about making a 42mm version but I have other models in the planning stage so it will be a couple if years before I could look seriously at it.




Regards
Graeme
Trust me when I say this, I will wait patiently.

Thanks for giving me(us) the possibility!

Gerald
It's a beautiful world! Gerald.
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Graeme
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SAS Sea-01 LE

Post by Graeme » Sat Jul 28, 2012 8:06 am

Axelay2003 wrote:
Graeme wrote:
Axelay2003 wrote:
jimyritz wrote:Well done Matt! If that was a 40-42 I would be buying....

Looks like super value and well made.

Mike
I love everything about it, but the size. 40-42mm case size would also rock this! I gues Mike and I are in the minority regarding case size.

Graeme, would you consider a limited run on a smaller size case?

Great write up Matt!

Gerald
Hi Gerald
I have thought about making a 42mm version but I have other models in the planning stage so it will be a couple if years before I could look seriously at it.




Regards
Graeme
Trust me when I say this, I will wait patiently.

Thanks for giving me(us) the possibility!

Gerald
:)


Regards
Graeme
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