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A Poor Man's Guide to Race Watches

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"Why I don't own a Rolex Daytona, Tag Heuer Monaco, or Omega Speedmaster."
Many years ago, while still a young boy in my teens, I purchased my first real watch from a fellow I chanced to meet on the South side of Chicago, who casually inquired of me: “Hey man; wanna buy a watch?” Twenty dollars later I was the proud owner of (undoubtably someone else's) sparkling new Seiko 6138-0011, which years later, came to be known as the Seiko UFO. I knew absolutely nothing about the watch--just that I liked it. Not only was it my first nice watch, it was also my first experience with a chronograph and tachymeter--two features that while seldom used, automatically categorize a watch as a bonafide Race Watch!

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Years later, I have several Race themed watches and while I'm the first to admit I use them to time nada, and that I forgot how to use a tachymeter scale fifteen minutes after I read the instructions, I still like having those two pushers sticking out the side, and that scale printed on the bezel of, almost any watch--their uses and application be damned! The three pictured above by the way, in contrast to the big three mentioned earlier (that I don't own) are all quartz watches. The Gekota uses a Seiko SII VK64 Meca-Quartz Movement, while the Seiko SSC667 uses a solar charged V175 quartz movement, and the Straton Daily Driver's tank is filled with a Miyota 6S21 quartz movement. There's nothing exotic or expensive about any of them, yet they all keep excellent time--and curiously, never need winding. Still from a purest's point of view, a quartz Race Watch is to a mechanical Racing Watch, what a Prius is to Formula 1 Racing. Sadly, I have to admit I feel pretty much the same way--I curse myself for dropping out of the bidding for Paul Newman's Daytona, when the bidding hit $15,000,000--if I'd just held on another ten minutes! And how about that sexy Chopard Mille Miglia 2019 Race Edition? What about the Grand Seiko's SBGC223?!!! Truth is, there are more sexy Race Watches out there than you can wave a checkered flag at. Have a favorite of your own? Mention it! Haven't caught the bug yet, but want to know more? Check out these links: https://www.watchtime.com/blog/speed-8-watches-inspired-auto-racing/

https://www.realmenrealstyle.com/racing-watches-guide/

https://www.crownandcaliber.com/pages/racing-watches

https://www.watchgecko.com/motor-racing-watches-heuer-camaro/
(Edited)
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amey.kanade
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Aug 30, 2019
I bought the gekota after seeing your first post...love the watch
RayF
22220
Aug 30, 2019
amey.kanadeMe too! --I'm putting mine on right now ;- )
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