Nice review! You covered alot. I must say it looks like a solid piece. (n/t)

Nice review - great info & pics
Have to agree with yourself that, for some, the bracelet version is just too far out there

However, as a collector of many pieces which are not widely regarded has having any sort of value past personal sympathy (Bill Blass watches comes to mind) I can certainly grokk where you're going as this one has great details, is solidly built and looks the business in most every way.

The only snag for me is well, its a Croton(tm), which in my mind savagely wrestles with Invicta to round out the now missing and sorely absent Lords of K-Mart level standard. Who will win? Yes, K-Mart carried $200+ watches, stereos and TV's. In much the same light as the name DeBafre (a linguistic nightmare in the western hemisphere, I concede) the name Croton just grounds my kite with a jolt of evil lightning.

My preference is, if at all, then for the love of humanity - on the strap.



Again, nice review.

Enjoy! I know you will.

Re:...the name Croton just grounds my kite...
I must admit that I have "crouton" in my mind, the crispy baked thingies which the French sometimes put in their soup or salat!

Re: I must admit that I have "crouton" in my mind, the crispy baked thingies which the French sometimes put in their soup or salat!
Those crispy baked thingies are quite popular in the USA, too.

Croton's earliest roots apparently lie in Italy, not Switzerland as you might expect. I say "apparently" because hard info on the original pre-Nationwide Time company is mighty scarce. Some sources specifically say that they are named for and started in Crotone, Italy. Others say that they "began in a small workshop on the Swiss-Italian border". Thing is, Crotone is about as far from the Swiss border as you can get, and still be on the mainland.

Also, Croton was involved with Nivada and Nivada-Grenchen at some point. Watches bearing both all three names in various combinations exist.

Wish I knew more, but it's a bit of a puzzle...

Re: The only snag for me is well, its a Croton(tm), which in my mind savagely wrestles with Invicta to round out the now missing and sorely absent Lords of K-Mart level standard.
Ahhh.. well, can't argue there.

While I could point out that has a long and legitimate history going back well over a century..



..and that they were once a serious competitor for well-respected mid-line Swiss brands such as Certina, Mido, Rado, or Tissot, that would be disingenuous. The truth is that since the acquisition of the marque by Nationwide Time in 1991 they are pretty much a "ShopNBC Brand" not much different than a Stauer, Steinhausen, Stührling Original or, yes, Invicta themselves.

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Ethan_Mack
In much the same light as the name DeBafre (a linguistic nightmare in the western hemisphere, I concede) the name Croton just grounds my kite with a jolt of evil lightning.

You know, it's funny, but the name itself doesn't bother me in the same way that does. Not in the least.

Now, their status as a hyped-up ShopNBC Brand, that's another thing. I'm willing to overlook it because..

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Ethan_Mack
..this one has great details, is solidly built and looks the business in most every way.

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Ethan_Mack
My preference is, if at all, then for the love of humanity - on the strap.

Interesting. So far you're the only one who's shown a preference for the leather strap.

It does work well, IMHO. Far better than I expected it to!

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Ethan_Mack
Again, nice review. Enjoy! I know you will.

Nice write-up, as usual, Ricky.
I almost fainted when you said it s a snap-in case back. I saw on the back that it has the Rolex-style serrations AND the universal style ones. I can't believe they went to all that trouble on a snap-in back!

How're the crown threads?

Nice looking watch. I'm a sucker for blue.

I fear I've given the wrong impression!

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Smaug
I almost fainted when you said it s a snap-in case back. I saw on the back that it has the Rolex-style serrations AND the universal style ones. I can't believe they went to all that trouble on a snap-in back!

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Smaug
How're the crown threads?

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Smaug
Nice write-up, as usual, Ricky. .. I'm a sucker for blue.

my friend. I've a soft spot for blue watches meself.

Re: Croton Aquamatic Dual-Time model CA301150SSBL
Great review, Bro Ricky, and congrats on the purchase. There is no way I would be able to wear that watch on my size nothing wrist, but I am sure it is smashing on yours! Enjoy it immensely.

Re: There is no way I would be able to wear that watch on my size nothing wrist..
Well.. with the Dual-Time Module in place, it is a behemoth, and no two ways about it.

But fit a conventional strap, and not so much.

Very cool indeed  (n/t)

Congrats on a great score - I like em both, seperately and together!  (n/t)

Thanks heaps mate. And if you look at..
..the "74mm across the lugs including the Dual-Time Module", it might even be big enough to win a spot in your watch box.

It does 'wear' pretty big with The Module in place...

I'd have to try one on but I think the 43mm case would be a deal-breaker...send yours over so I can see!  (n/t)

Negatory on that proposition Good Buddy.
I'm enjoyin' it far too much to bear partin' with it!

 (n/t)

on that Croton, Ricky! Excellent review, as well. ENJOY!  (n/t)

Thank you Bro. Ed!
I am indeed enjoyin' the heck out of it.

great review. Neato watch, big and little. Looks good on the NATO, too! (n/t)

Bro. Chris. But I couldn't help but notice another pointed non-mention, this time of the white leather.
No doubt ye think I've Taken Leave Of Me Senses.

And well you might wonder!

But, honestly, it does feel fine on leather, and that's how I'm wearin' it as I type this.

Mind you it's unlikely to last long.

Not totally opposed to a white strap, that combo doesn't really do it for me though.
White rubber dive strap on the white dial version, though...hmmm.

Re: White rubber dive strap on the white dial version, though...hmmm.
Sounds like a plan!

Honestly, I grabbed the white strap simply because it was the first leather at hand.

That being said, I must admit that I find meself liking it quite a lot!

Quite a lot for your money indeed!  (n/t)

Dank je Captain.
Mind you if we overlook my US $50 in Amazon.com Rewards this is nearly a US $100 watch.

Not exactly inexpensive by my humble standards.

But yes, well worth it IMHO!

Re: Not exactly inexpensive by my humble standards
We are so on 1 line here!

I paid almost a € 100 for the 2nd hand Constantin Weisz, but looking around on the net and looking at the pictures, it felt like it's the money worth and probably even more than that. A new one in silver in Germany would set me back € 208,50. and they don't even sell the gold version. I also saw people doing WTB's and WTT (for very nice invicta's) for this watch, so I have high expectations...

Re: We are so on 1 line here!
I thought we would be.

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James T. Kirk©
I paid almost a € 100 for the 2nd hand Constantin Weisz..I have high expectations...

Saw that!

Congrats and FWIW I reckon ye Done Good!

Re: I reckon ye Done Good!
Some are talking it down as being just another boutique watch, but considering the very sought after mesh band of 24(!) mm., (I have seen the watch sold in Germany 2nd hand for € 120,00 with a simple leather strap!) But also the watch is heavy, big, has a 30 jewels Sea-Gul in it, I can't imagine it would be a piece of cr*p. Of course it's a fake name, but it IS a German firm (who are sending me extra links for the end piece of the bracelet), they have the watch just made in China to keep the price down, something what happens a lot in the Western World lately, as I told ensign...

Re: Some are talking it down as being just another boutique watch..Of course it's a fake name, but it IS a German firm..
Pay no attention to the nay-sayers. In some circles there seems to be a special dislike of companies with German-Chinese "dual citizenship". This is usually evidenced by the use of the term GermAsian to describe the firms and their products.

in particular has many detractors, to the point where they've been Black Listed on several watch forums. Yet I've been quite impressed with every Trias I've handled, and my own..

Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for

..has been running flawlessly for 3+ years.

I see no reason to doubt that your incoming CW will be just as satisfactory.

Re: to the point where they've been Black Listed on several watch forums
Yep, CW is also on that list, but they make an assumption, without having the items in hand and scrutinized. Those who have bought one of them before, have bought more and this particular one seems to become a kind of well sought after item, as I go trough the internet. And even the quick response of the German owner (Cheyron GmbH, Cologne, Germany) to send some links, was very positive in my eyes. It's a pity, the original pouch of the watch is not available any more, as I heard it could well be used as travel pouch for a couple of watches but hey, I got it for a good price (if customs don't make any fuzz), though pretty to the top of my 2nd hand watch budget!

A darned nice watch for the money!  (n/t)

Thanks Bro. Jimmy!
But now ye've gone and hurt me feelings by pointedly not using the plural.

Oh well, I'll just assume the Li'l Bracelet Watch ain't your cuppa neither.

I adore the little bracelet watch however...
I avoid bracelets whenever possible. Anyway... Nice watches for the money Ricky!

Well. Thanks again.
I wasn't fishin', honest.



Again, I realize the Dual-Time Bracelet is a fairly outré feature, and I'm perfectly fine with the fact that it doesn't appeal to most.

As long as we keep in mind that it's not permanently attached.