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cgalny
157
Aug 17, 2018
I received mine ten days ago. Here are my impressions of the watch.
I've owned many watches over the years, in all price ranges (still have way too many in my collection). The dial on this is one of my favorites. As has been mentioned, the style is unique, and in my opinion very easy to read.
I also like the red strap, which is probably the most comfortable leather (supposedly) strap I've ever tried. It's very smooth and doesn't bind or slide around. However, it's a bit short compared to other straps. I have large (7.75-8 inches) wrists, and have to use the last hole, which makes slipping the loops on the end difficult. The strap should be a bit longer. Nevertheless, I really like it. But if you have a wrist larger than 8 inches, you're going to have to replace the strap.
The stop and jump feature at twelve o'clock is really cool, and for some reason fascinates me.
The luminescence is, indeed, backlighted, and my own specimen stayed illuminated, albeit somewhat dimly at the end, for over eight hours. Of course, that assumes your eyes have adjusted to darkness.
Here's what I'm not too crazy about.
According to atomic time, it's lost a bit over one second in ten days. Which isn't bad, but on the other hand you can buy a ten dollar quartz watch that will match that. I normally would not pay $230 for a quartz watch, but as mentioned...I really like the dial. The only quartz watches I've paid this much, and more, for are Bulova Precisionist movements, which are accurate to within 15-20 seconds/year (confirmed via my own watches). Perhaps I'm being picky; it may be too early to judge, since the movement may still be "breaking in", but I expected a bit more accuracy.
The case is too thick, in my opinion. There's no reason for a quartz watch to be this thick, even for a supposedly railroad watch style.
Watches that are water resistant to a depth of less than 50 meters make me nervous...even dress watches, which of course this watch is not. In any event, I would have much preferred this watch to have a 50 meter water resistance rating.
Even though I like the strap, based on its condition after wearing it for ten days, I don't think it's going to last very long.
Anyway, I'm glad I bought the watch...the dial is gorgeous, and as long as it doesn't become less accurate, I'm going to keep it.
cgalnyAd case thickness: In my understanding, it is due to the battery. According to http://calibercorner.com/mondaine-caliber-58-02/ , it uses CR2032 (and this is because it has smooth seconds hand and two motors), which is a big-a** battery being 20 mm wide and 3.2 mm thick itself, hence "2032". So it is placed behind the movement, not inside it as in other quartz watches.