Lee's Watch Thread for MM'ers of Impeccable Taste

[WRXtranceformed]

There are some surprisingly good non-fashion brand options in the $100ish dollar price point, but for a little more scratch you can really get yourself a nice timepiece.  Here's a great example that I bought last night actually, completely on a whim (although I have been watching / following the brand for a while).

Dan Henry Watches (https://danhenrywatches.com/) was created by, obviously, a guy named Dan Henry who is a well known watch collector.  He wanted to create a brand that offered legitimate quality timepieces inspired by the historical designs that he was in love with but without breaking the bank.  As a side project, he created this interactive timeline of watches and watch designs to show you where this guy's head is at:  https://www.timeline.watch/

I was part of a focus group set up by a marketing company (that ultimately got fired) for the redesign of his website.  I was told I would get a discount off one of their watches but never heard back, until I learned about the firing after emailing Dan Henry directly.  Being the cool microbrand that they are they offered to give me a discount any time I ordered, just to let them know.

He has a bunch of really cool designs (I'm partial to divers and his '70s inspired diver models are pretty sweet) but after a 2 year process he just released his "1964" Gran Turismo chronograph.  https://danhenrywatches.com/collections/...hronograph

I saw the first pictures posted on his Instagram and then watched this early review from The Urban Gentry:



With the discount and due to my desire to pick up a similarly styled Omega Speedmaster within the next 6 months, I figured this would be a great entry point to have another watch I can wear in the meantime without worry during travel, etc. (my vintage pieces stay home now when I fly). Joey also said he'd buy this off of me when I buy a Speedmaster, so how can I say no to that

I decided on the "Panda" dial with no date, as it keeps the dial super clean and is true to the homage of the Rolex Daytona / Heuer Autavia.  The sunburst dial, sunken chrono registers and faux-blued hands all make for a very handsome piece.  The full kit it comes with is really nice too:  a fitted "beads of rice" bracelet, matching leather strap with quick release bars, and a leather and canvas 3 watch roll.  You can't beat that for $250!  I don't know how he is making money.  The watch is powered by a "meca-quartz" movement, which is a hybrid of a quartz and mechanical movement.  Basically a battery powers the watch and gives you the accuracy, reliability and cheap service of a quartz watch while the chrono functions are engaged via mechanical levers.  Normally on a watch like this I prefer automatic / manual wind movements, but the VK63 is a Seiko movement and is cool in its own right, it still retains some of that soul of a mechanical watch with the large sweeping seconds chrono hand.

This is what it will look like, it even has an engraved Aston DB5 on the caseback!  I'll post some impressions when it gets here!