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It's a happy day, a new watch arrived at Ricky Lee's Home For Wayward Wristwatches It's a happy day, a new watch arrived
Dakota "Explorer" Homage

Ricky Lee
December 06, 2009 07:59AM
 Registered: April 2005
Posts: 17,866 (2012-03)

And this one just might be a keeper.

I've long been intrigued by this marque's marketing paradigm (Kiosks in upscale malls.. it don't GET no more Brick 'n' Mortar than that! Smile), but had never personally handled one. Well, now that I have, I am quite favorably impressed..

Dakota "Explorer"

Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for supersized photo

All-stainless case, very finely wrought screwdown caseback and crown, weighing in at 40mm X 47.5mm X 9mm, using 20mm straps. Sure, the bracelet would not pass the MCV Test Rolling on the floor laughing my a.. off, as it's folded links.. Oops! but very finely crafted ones! Thumbs up! Indeed, they're ground so smooth on the top links that I had to look close to make sure they weren't solid.

The movement was a bit of a surprise here. Not the usual TMI/SII or Miyota, but a 10-1/2 ligne 1-jewel France Ebauches. 'tis an impressive product both cosmetically and functionally.

Now, I apologize profusely for the above photo. But I've an excuse! Laughing This watch might have a sapphire crystal, you see.. It's certainly flawless, and definitely has some sort of AR coating. A stone bee-yotch to photograph. Also, the watch quite obviously hadn't been cleaned in that photo. Blushing But maybe this was fortuitous, as when I saw the photo I was shamed into givin' her the Tom Swift Bathroom Sink Spa Treatment. And it cleaned up real well! So well that I predict you'll soon see some Catalog Shots..

So.. I dunno. While this one may indeed go into The Sales Case, it will be priced at a level where it won't be a quick sell. Win-win for me, however it goes.

-Ricky

Messages In This Thread


It's a happy day, a new watch arrived at Ricky Lee's Home For Wayward Wristwatches It's a happy day, a new watch arrived Image Attachments

 Ricky Lee 231 December 06, 2009 07:59AM

Your on a roll, Ricky. (n/t)

 Mark C. 136 December 06, 2009 08:26AM

Thumbs up! Smile (n/t)

 IF 117 December 06, 2009 08:06AM

Ricky's Watch Photography Axiom©

April 12, 2010 08:18PM

"The greater your desire and the harder you try for a really nice photo of any given wristwatch, the less pleasing the end result will be."

Boohoohoo! I am crying

A case in point:

Dakota "Explorer"

Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for supersized photo

The only photos of that thus far have been pure crap. Oops! So much so that I won't even link them. Thumbs down

That first photo is a modest improvement, perhaps, but the dial color is totally inaccurate. Eek! Add in the reflections in the crystal, and it's a no-go. Ironically, since they're my usual nemesis, the HWS is a bit better..

Dakota "Explorer"

Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for supersized photo

..at least as far as the color of the dial. A deep, deep charcoal gray, it can (and does!) look black under certain conditions. Then again it just looks plain brown sometimes! Crazy! Loco! Loony! For instance:
Dakota "Explorer"

Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for supersized photo

OTOH, the case looks better to the naked eye than that photo might lead you to believe. Sure it's missing some paint in the recessed bezel markings. Yeah, it's got a few scratches. But all in all quite a wearable watch which, to me, is (slightly! Rolling on the floor laughing my a.. off) above "beater" condition. And one that I'm fond enough of that I will probably try another Dakota at some point in the future.

Thanks for readin'!

Cheers!

-Ricky


Messages In This Thread


Ricky's Watch Photography Axiom© Image Attachments

 Ricky Lee 431 April 12, 2010 08:18PM

Concur! I am angry! Cheers! (n/t)

 VoodooDance 131 April 13, 2010 01:47PM


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