No 267 & 326 - Citizen Royal Marines Commando

This is one of my absolute favorite tool watches. How could you ever go wrong with a matte titanium case, 300m depth rating, Eco-Drive, lots of lume, screw down crown and case back and then top it off with a monocoque design? Exactly, you can't, impossible! And then to call it Royal Marines Commando, I mean, you don’t even have to try to sell it to me because I have already bought it. Perhaps the big Royal Marines logo ruined the dial a bit. I think it would have looked a lot cleaner without it. The engraving on the case back alone would have been enough. Anyhow, this watch is just awesome. A perfect everyday/adventure watch. The only feature it lacks is a bezel but at the same time I think it looks much better without one. The 40mm case with the 20mm lugs makes it sit perfect and you have tons of strap options to play around with. I didn’t like the kevlar strap it came on and mainly wore my first one on a black Isofrane. The second one got equipped with an original Seiko Marine Master 300 rubber which gave it a unique and cool look but it also was very comfortable once you’d broken in the rubber and it became a little softer and more flexible. 

#267 - The Citizen Royal Marines Commando, ref. BN0110-06E.

On the Isofrane.

I can only recommend this watch. I haven’t really got anything bad to say about it. It’s affordable and you really get your money’s worth. If you don’t like the Royal Marines logo there are a few other versions of this watch that has pretty much the same specifications but without the logo. 

#326 - The second one on the kevlar strap.

On the MM300 rubber.

 

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No 205 - Certina DS Action Ti Diver

The product pictures of the Certina Action Diver all looked fantastic and promising when it was announced. But when everyone who bought it started to post pictures of the watch it looked quite disappointing to me. It was something about the finish. I came across the titanium version to a really good price and felt it was worth giving a try. And it was worth trying it just to confirm it wasn’t as nice as it was easy to believe it was going to be judging from the promotional pitcures. But I must say that the titanium version actually felt better than the steel version. More comfortable to wear and the gray sunburst dial is actually pretty nice and gives it a much toolier look compared to the black and blue dial available on the steel version. I only wore this watch on the bracelet but really think it is better worn a rubber which will help preventing the crown from digging down in the wrist.

#205 - The Certina DS Action Ti Diver, ref.C013.407.44.081.00.

I’m sorry but just can’t vouch for the Action Diver. It is boring. In this price range I think there are a bunch of other watches that are more fun and appealing.

© All pictures by a Watch Flipper's Diary unless noted.

No 163 - Certina DS Podium Titanium Multifunction

I’m not going to torture you with this one. Honestly, what was going on here? Enough with the cheap Certina’s! But I bought it and now it has to be revealed. OK, it’s a superquartz and it’s made of titanium. So far so good. Good beater qualities. But don’t be mistaken, this is no Breitling Aerospace. I don’t know, it just gave of a crappy vibe. The bracelet rattled and the finish of the beat up titanium just looked terrible. Ugly hands as well. If you’re looking for a multifunction watch I’d pay up a little more and try to find a used Aerospace instead. Much cooler. I’ve tried Certina’s newer Multi-8 as well but they are just too big.

#163 - The Certina DS Podium Titanium Multifunction, ref. C193.7129.12.66.

© All pictures by a Watch Flipper's Diary unless noted.

No 158 - Certina DS Podium Titanium Chronograph

This is really not my kind of watch. Or at least it didn’t used to be. Found this one really cheap and just had to see what quality it represented. Titanium watches really doesn’t age well and neither had this one. But it was a totally fine quartz beater. Didn’t pay more than $100. Newer Certina’s is nothing that turns me on. They express nothing about its wearer. Still, the brand has got a lot of history and has a whole line of sought-after vintage dive watches. Even though Certina are mass-produced by the millions today they still uphold a high quality in their segment of watches. Hadn’t this one been made of titanium it’s most likely I wouldn’t have bothered giving it a try and even though titanium looks terrible it still is a cool material that suits a tool watch. 

#158 - The Certina DS Podium Titanium Chronograph. Not sure about the ref. but I think it's a C536.7129.12.66. Please let me know if this is wrong.

© All pictures by a Watch Flipper's Diary unless noted.

No 93 - IWC Aquatimer 3538

I’ve been in love with the IWC Aquatimer ever since I had the 3548 and one day in August 2011 when a full set 3538 showed up in the for-sale section (which is the place where I usually hang around) at my favorite watch forum I just decided to get it because there was nothing else more fun available at the time. The 3538 and the 3548 looks pretty much the same except for the color scheme but the two biggest differences are that the 3538 is in titanium instead of steel and also has a thicker case back since it is rated to a 2000m instead of 1000m. 

The watch was located in Copenhagen, Denmark, and was sold by the well-known watch profile Kristian Haagen. When I received it I discovered Kristian had sent me the wrong certificate. The serial number didn’t match. It was for another IWC watch. I told him this and a couple of days later the correct certificate showed up and everything was fine. The watch was in nice condition but it had some signs of wear. Titanium isn’t the most forgiving material and it really is easily scratched and doesn’t age nicely.

#93 - The IWC Aquatimer 3538.

  

I wore it for a while but still couldn’t stop thinking about the blue and orange IWC 3548 Cousteau edition. That was the one I really wanted. Looking back, I really should have gotten my hands on a Cousteau back in 2011 instead of the 3538. The price on the Cousteau edition has pretty much gone up with 100% since then which sucks. I still want one but I ain’t going to pay $5000 for a used one. If I have to choose between the 3538 and the 3548 and say which one of them I like the most I would say the 3548. I prefer steel rather than titanium and I think it wears a little better due to the thinner case back. 

Blurry picture taken by my wife with an old cellphone but you can still identify the Aquatimer.

© All pictures by a Watch Flipper's Diary unless noted.