Caveman's Watch Forum

ALPHA Daytona Post about a Handwound watch Post about a Chronograph Pulled the trigger on this one! Post contains Picture(s) >>

Posted By: Ricky Lee McBroom <dodge_boyz@yahoo.com>
Date: Saturday, 24 May 2008, at 4:30 p.m.

Yeah, got a new one on the way.

eBay seller's photo
eBay seller's photo

A rerun from yesterday's B30! thread;

--On Thursday, 27 March 2008, at 3:11 a.m. TakesALickin' wrote:

} The fit and finish is amazing
} for a sub $150 watch.

I've found that to be the case with all three of my Alphas. Only difference is mine are all sub $100 watches. Smiley

} My first one (pictured below)
} ran a minute slow per day, so
} I sold it.

You know, now that you mention it, I recall your PMWF related post report on that. Indeed, it has been your fabulous photos and your erudite pontification on the ALPHA Post about a Chronograph that finally swayed me on this one. Ya D@mn Rat B@stards you! Smiley Laughing out loud! Rolling on the floor laughing my a.. off! Laughing out loud! Smiley

} But I knew from other forumners'
} accounts that it was possible to
} score a good runner, so I took
} another swing.

Thumbs Up for this Watch Never say die! Thumbs Up for this Watch

In my case, a Daytona homage has been on my wish list for some time. Ever since I got my son this one as a B'day present..

My son's b-day gift

..loved it, at a distance. Up close, I didn't like the silly triple-date movement masquerading as a Post about a Chronograph . That really bugs me, for some reason. In fact, it's the one and only thing that I don't like about the ALPHA Sea-Master. In that case, it very nearly ruins an otherwise fantastic watch for me.. I struggled mightily before Pulled the trigger on this one! ing it, and was prepared to flip it. But, to my surprise, I found it easy to live with. Still, if it were and actual Post about a Handwound watch Post about a Chronograph Post containing a movement picture it'd certainly be a better timepiece for it, IMHO!

} The new one runs much closer
} to the chronometer specs
} claimed on the dial.

Glad you were able to Pulled the trigger on this one! a good 'un! Applause! Applause!

} It's a long term keeper for me
} (as most of my collection seems
} to be now).

Thumbs Up for this Watch for keepers!

} I like the bezel on that one!

Yeah, the Daytona is my favorite ROLEX design, with the..

Alpha Explorer GMT

..Explorer a close second. Actually, those are the only ROLEX designs I like. Laughing out loud! Datejusts and Submariners and Presidents, etc., just don't do a thing for me. But I like the Daytona and Explorer a lot. I dunno.. something about their design just feels right in a way that's difficult to describe...

So I really shouldn't blame you - 'twas my tight-a$$ Scots nature just couldn't resist a $118 homage! Rolling on the floor laughing my a.. off!

Ennyway, a most pleasant surprise (that this ALPHA model even existed, I mean). Dunno how it got in under me radar. Do you have any idea how long they've been offering it? Last time I checked the Paul Newman was the only Post about a Handwound watch Post about a Chronograph they offered. The Daytonas homages used to carry only that durned triple-date movement...

-Ricky


Update - 24 May, 2008

The bracelet was too short as provided and, while I had extra links, I initially slapped it on a rubber Oyster from Modena Watches

Alpha Daytona Chrono

Poor Man's' Watch Forum

ALPHA Daytona Post about a Handwound watch Post about a Chronograph Watch with a Power Reserve indicator report. Aka My Modest Attempt At Analytical Horology. Post contains Picture(s)

Posted By: Ricky Lee McBroom
Date: Friday, 11 July 2008, at 2:47 p.m.

I wound and set 'er on Wednesday morning @ precisely 06:02 and, somehat to my surprise, 'tis still chugging along 53 hours and 36 minutes later!

Thumbs Up for this Watch Thumbs Up for this Watch Applause! Applause! Thumbs Up for this Watch Thumbs Up for this Watch

Means I can confidently wind this one only every other day. Good feature, that!

Gratuitous Post contains Picture(s) ...

And the movement (Mr. Pink Pink's Found on the Bay! Post contains Picture(s) )...

But why analytical, you say? Easy! I intend to repeat the test with the Post about a Chronograph running continuously, to see how that effects Watch with a Power Reserve indicator .

Stay tuned! It has to be close to the end of Test One. Rolling on the floor laughing my a.. off!

-Ricky

Messages In This Thread

ALPHA Daytona Post about a Handwound watch Post about a Chronograph Watch with a Power Reserve indicator report. Aka My Modest Attempt At Analytical Horology. Post contains Picture(s) (views: 139)
Ricky Lee McBroom -- Friday, 11 July 2008, at 2:47 p.m.
I am looking forward to see how the Post about a Chronograph mode affects Watch with a Power Reserve indicator Post contains no message text (views: 11)
Reto -- Saturday, 12 July 2008, at 9:49 a.m.
Great power reserve, especially considering the price point. (views: 15)
Paul J Costa -- Friday, 11 July 2008, at 3:55 p.m.
Definately one of the great bargains of the watch world. Good looks and interesting movement, alot of watch for relatively little money.
It's good looking too. Thumbs Up for this Watch Is it a Watch Made in Japan or USSR or Russian Watch caliber? Post contains no message text (views: 12)
jceeo -- Friday, 11 July 2008, at 3:51 p.m.
'tis a Watch Made in China -made Post containing a movement picture . Post contains no message text (views: 17)
Ricky Lee McBroom -- Friday, 11 July 2008, at 4:32 p.m.
Talk about timing. Smiley The end result is 53 hours 44 minutes 20 seconds Watch with a Power Reserve indicator Thumbs Up for this Watch Post contains no message text (views: 19)
Ricky Lee McBroom -- Friday, 11 July 2008, at 3:05 p.m.
Yeah ... seems like a long spring. Post contains no message text Post contains Picture(s) (views: 21)
Lamsing -- Saturday, 12 July 2008, at 8:55 a.m.
Photo by Lamsing
Thumbs Up for this Watch ! Have you tried winding every OTHER day? Curious if that affects accuracy... Post contains no message text (views: 6)
Ricky Lee McBroom -- Saturday, 12 July 2008, at 1:00 p.m.

Poor Man's' Watch Forum

ALPHA Daytona Post about a Handwound watch Post about a Chronograph Watch with a Power Reserve indicator Aka My Modest Attempt At Analytical Horology [Update] Post contains Picture(s)

Posted By: Ricky Lee McBroom
Date: Tuesday, 15 July 2008, at 2:26 p.m.

If you'll recall my original post, the Daytona went 53 hours and 36 minutes on a full wind, with the Post about a Chronograph function not used.

I wound and set the watch on Monday morn (at 06:02 again Laughing out loud! ). I engaged the Chrono function, and it's been running continuously since then. Errr.. 27 hours 15 minutes so far.

Again, I consider this level of Watch with a Power Reserve indicator ( > 48 hours, IOW ) to be very useful, as it means the watch need only be wound every other day. Would save plenty of wear & tear on the (screwdown, remember) crown. Thumbs Up for this Watch

Anyone care to guess how long she'll go with the Post about a Chronograph running? I'll but a small wager on > 36 hours... Rolling on the floor laughing my a.. off!

-Ricky

Messages In This Thread

ALPHA Daytona Post about a Handwound watch Post about a Chronograph Watch with a Power Reserve indicator Aka My Modest Attempt At Analytical Horology [Update] Post contains Picture(s) Post contains Link (views: 148)
Ricky Lee McBroom -- Tuesday, 15 July 2008, at 2:26 p.m.
ALPHA Daytona Post about a Handwound watch Post about a Chronograph Watch with a Power Reserve indicator Aka My Modest Attempt At Analytical Horology [RESULTS] (views: 89)
Ricky Lee McBroom -- Wednesday, 16 July 2008, at 2:35 p.m.

To my utter astonishment, it went 53 hours 21 minutes with the Post about a Chronograph running continously. This is soo close you might as well say it makes no difference! Are you Crazy?! but Thumbs Up for this Watch !!

T'anks for readin'...

-Ricky

Fantastic result Thumbs Up for this Watch Post contains no message text (views: 4)
Reto -- Wednesday, 16 July 2008, at 3:13 p.m.
Back around a hundred years ago Post contains Picture(s) (views: 31)
Lamsing -- Wednesday, 16 July 2008, at 8:25 p.m.

when some mainsprings were made well, others from inferior alloys, the consumer would wind a watch to judge whether the mainspring had some "ginger".

Winding the alpha chrono is a unique experience among my collection. The spring is super long. Well there is one watch that is similar, the Hamilton 992b pocket watch. I measure the run time on that one but don't recall exactly. I believe it was in the range of 48 hrs.

Have not done the chronometer endurance test ... but the watch does about 53 hrs.
Photo by Lamsing
I guess that's good that the chrono ran that long at all. Laughing out loud! Post contains no message text (views: 10)
Robmks -- Wednesday, 16 July 2008, at 3:36 p.m.
+1 Laughing out loud! Post contains no message text (views: 5)
SoCalWis -- Wednesday, 16 July 2008, at 3:41 p.m.
Fantastic result indeed Thumbs Up for this Watch So the caliber is perfectly adjusted Thumbs Up for this Watch Post contains no message text (views: 7)
Reto -- Wednesday, 16 July 2008, at 3:13 p.m.
Good post. I'm going to guess 38 hrs with chrono on >>> (views: 18)
Adam in NYC -- Tuesday, 15 July 2008, at 3:56 p.m.
I wonder whether winding it every 2 days v every day would effect accuracy. Smiley
AFAIK the difference on a Valjoux 7750 is around 5-6h Smiley Post contains no message text (views: 10)
Micha -- Tuesday, 15 July 2008, at 4:26 p.m.
That may be where I got 38 hrs from since they're usually 42-44 fully wound Smiley Post contains no message text (views: 8)
Adam in NYC -- Tuesday, 15 July 2008, at 4:34 p.m.
Thank you! Adam. Hmmm. Say 11 to 14% less Watch with a Power Reserve indicator on the Valjoux with chrono running... >>> (views: 16)
Ricky Lee McBroom -- Tuesday, 15 July 2008, at 8:32 p.m.

..if that ratio holds true with the ALPHA, then I'm looking at a minimum of 46 hours.. and potentially 48 hours.

I could live with that! Smiley

-Ricky

Yes, mine runs the same... (views: 20)
two2tone -- Tuesday, 15 July 2008, at 3:15 p.m.

pretty amazing actually. -Twotone

Watch Question is the ROLEX daytona crown screwdown too? Post contains no message text (views: 15)
anjizkit -- Tuesday, 15 July 2008, at 2:32 p.m.
'tis, I'm pretty sure. But 'tis also an Post about a watch containing an automatic movement , no? So not much of an issue... Laughing out loud! Post contains no message text (views: 11)
Ricky Lee McBroom -- Tuesday, 15 July 2008, at 2:34 p.m.
ah... Thumbs Up for this Watch when did rolex make it a auto? Post contains no message text (views: 9)
anjizkit -- Tuesday, 15 July 2008, at 3:13 p.m.
Rolex Daytona's used a modified Zenith El Primero >>> (views: 26)
Reto -- Tuesday, 15 July 2008, at 3:18 p.m.

until Rolex developed their own automatic chronograph caliber 3000 IIRC. As far as I know there were never any handwind Daytonas, maybe before the El Primero times.

Best regards -Reto

The Paul Neumans were Val. 72 HWs Smiley Post contains no message text (views: 13)
Adam in NYC -- Tuesday, 15 July 2008, at 4:00 p.m.
So were the Neuman ROLEX 's screwdown crown? Inquiring minds want to know! Smiley (views: 11)
Ricky Lee McBroom -- Tuesday, 15 July 2008, at 10:58 p.m.

Seriously.. am curious if Rolex would place their vaunted Reputation For Quality on a crown that they knew would go through 1,800+ cycles 'tween Recommended Service Intervals. Laughing out loud!

I s'pect so. Heck, I think the ALPHA can handle it, personally. Rolling on the floor laughing my a.. off!

-Ricky

The one watch Reto doesn't have. Laughing out loud! Post contains no message text (views: 13)
Kelly M. Rayburn -- Tuesday, 15 July 2008, at 10:01 p.m.
Rolling on the floor laughing my a.. off! R O T F L M A O ! Rolling on the floor laughing my a.. off! Score one for Kelly! Laughing out loud! Post contains no message text (views: 8)
Ricky Lee McBroom -- Tuesday, 15 July 2008, at 10:53 p.m.
I had the movement though... the first >>> Post contains Picture(s) (views: 21)
Reto -- Wednesday, 16 July 2008, at 7:23 a.m.

movement I disassembled was a Valjoux 72. And I did not even half the tools one should have to do so. After 3 hours of disassembly with good notes (circled the parts of each step on a large sheet of paper and numbered them) it took me 12 hours to put it back together. What a fun task.

Many years later, I got a mail from a watchmaker in Germany who had seen the picture below. He said that he needed a Valjoux 72 very urgently. I warned him explicitly again that I had disassembled the movement. But he was not scared away and offered a decent price for the movement.

Best regards

Reto

PS it speaks for the design of the 72 that it survives these kind of WIS attacks. In comparison, the 7750 looks a lot more fragile.
Photo by Reto
Ah! Yes, I recall reading it soon after joining the PMWF related post, but had forgotten which Post containing a movement picture 'twas. Great work! Thumbs Up for this Watch Post contains no message text (views: 6)
Ricky Lee McBroom -- Wednesday, 16 July 2008, at 12:08 p.m.

Poor Man's' Watch Forum

Re: ..just keep it out of water. >>

Posted By: Ricky Lee McBroom
Date: Friday, 27 June 2008, at 8:35 p.m.

In Response To: I have one and think its actually pretty nice.. (chickenlips)

Chances are it'd be fine. My ALPHA Explorer Post about a GMT or 2nd Timezone watch has been dunked many times with nary a problem. Indeed, none of my Alphas are strangers to water.

I don't quite understand why everyone assumes Alphas totally lack water resistance. If anything, ALPHA rates them conservatively, seems to me.

Contents May Settle Shipping. Close Cover Before Striking. Your Mileage May Vary.

-Ricky

Messages In This Thread

Took the plunge...ordered an Alpha (views: 238)
Dan Parmelee -- Friday, 27 June 2008, at 6:28 p.m.

I have one and think its actually pretty nice.. (views: 73)
chickenlips -- Friday, 27 June 2008, at 7:17 p.m.
Re: ..just keep it out of water. >> (views: 66)
Ricky Lee McBroom -- Friday, 27 June 2008, at 8:35 p.m.
Interesting...maybe they save $ by skipping WR testing, but build quality is there. Post contains no message text (views: 34)
sidspappy -- Friday, 27 June 2008, at 8:59 p.m.
Gave this some more thought on the homeward commute.. >> (views: 37)
Ricky Lee McBroom -- Friday, 27 June 2008, at 11:35 p.m.

..long drone on the interstate, light traffic today. Smiley

Anyway, AFAIK 3 ATM is the highest rating that ALPHA gives any of their watches. But I'm betting that they're actually designed to a much higher standard. At least 5 ATM, and quite possibly 10.

However, I'll also bet that they do have quality control issues, with a significant number of units failing the higher WR standard. But rather than scrap these units, or address the root cause(s) of the failures, they've simply lowered the rating to 3 ATM, at which point most all units pass.

I've worked in the manufacturing sector for, lo, 3+ decades and I've seen this scenario more times than you'd believe. Few companies will admit to such shenanigans, mind. But it happens. Trust me. Laughing out loud!

-Ricky

Actually, according to their web sites, they do test for WR. Post contains Picture(s) >>> (views: 58)
Ricky Lee McBroom -- Friday, 27 June 2008, at 9:24 p.m.
And appear to use quality equipment, at that.
From the Alpha web site

From the Alpha web site

And yes, I said web sites, as in plural. In addition to the main one I see posted here, and which Google serves up, there are a couple of others.

If you search for 'Unidesign Workshop' (Alpha's parent company, apparently) you'll find this one.

And if you drill down even deeper, this one pops up. I don't quite know what to make of that last one. It seems redundant...

-Ricky

Re: Actually, according to their web sites, they do test for WR. Post contains Picture(s) >>> (views: 35)
Dan Parmelee -- Saturday, 28 June 2008, at 2:29 a.m.
would guess the last website you linked is the real Alpha Watch website, and the one we are all accustomed to visiting is the reseller that simply uses their name.

Sorta like finding a Citizen dealer that calls themselves "Citizen Store", or whatever.

The last site does have some watches I haven't seen from them before, like the all-black Planet Ocean homage....which I really wanted.

Re: I would guess the last website you linked is the real Alpha Watch website.. >>> (views: 29)
Ricky Lee McBroom -- Saturday, 28 June 2008, at 3:26 a.m.

I don't think so. Note the lack of pricing info and Shopping Cart. As noted above.

I can't quite ken the raisin d' eater of the latter, but I'd say that the first site linked is definitely Mr. Pink Pink's main biz site.

-Ricky

Ohh, bad idea -- that usually only strengthens the desire for the real thing. I started with a homage too once... Post contains Picture(s) > (views: 118)
Bjorn Keizers -- Friday, 27 June 2008, at 7:05 p.m.

Re: Ohh, bad idea -- that usually only strengthens the desire for the real thing. I started with a homage too once... PI (views: 39)
Dan Parmelee -- Friday, 27 June 2008, at 7:38 p.m.

On the contrary, I think owning an homage will make me glad I didn't spend $1800 on the real thing...I get bored with watches in about 6 months (often less).

I'm with you, Dan. >> (views: 27)
Ricky Lee McBroom -- Friday, 27 June 2008, at 9:08 p.m.

I've got 3 Alpha homages. Rather than make me lust for the 'real deal', they make the Very Rich Mans Watch! price of the originals seem ludicrous. And, mind you, 2 of the 3 have been with me for 2+ years, so it's not a "flash in the pan"...

-Ricky

I have to agree with Bjorn...Take it from a SPEEDMASTER owner who used to own an ALPHA homage. Laughing out loud! Post contains no message text (views: 25)
Jakub Ostrowski -- Friday, 27 June 2008, at 8:00 p.m.
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