Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Well as we close the evening before Christmas I wanted to wish anyone who reads my blog 

The year has been interesting, with some injury early on that took until even now to become better. I've been focused on some home renovations and construction projects (namely my shed / workshop).

So while there has been a few posts I've not really given time to the blog in these last few months.

Anyway, just for the interested, the picture above was taken on my Gen 1 Sony A7, with the Canon FD 300f4 lens I bought to use on the GH-1 .. its nice that the same lenses can be used (with different effect) in multiple cameras.

Anyway, with my storage and workshop shed made I can hopefully sort out my house better and work on some other projects (like the floor heating).

Happy New Year

down to Mt Alford

 While it may seem paradoxical to say down to a place that's North of here it happens to be a lower altitude.

The township of Mt Alford hosts a great little micro-brewery called Senic Rim Brewery (facebook link) 

So if you feel like it, join 15minutes of my ride down there (something I do a bit) from here in Killarney

on my trusty 500cc Yamaha T-Max for a beer with a mate...

... a lovely Belgian "Trappist" style.

Their German style sausage is fantastic too.

Help me in identifying my Seiko ...

People often come to the internet asking for help identifying a Seiko watch, sometimes they know that the important data is on the face of the watch around the 6 O'clock position, other times they don't.

The core information is in two places, on the dial and on the back plate. Some people at least provide pictures but are unable to (bother?) taking the time to take a picture of the face of their watch that can show details and then (apparently) can't be bothered to check that picture is clear before they post it online.

So here's a quick guide. Don't send a picture like this, which while sharp isn't helpful.

its not helpful because the information is around the 6 O'clock marker and can't be seen.

Worse don't send a blurry picture.

Since the "how to do this" isn't (apparently) obvious, I've made this video to show how to make a good basic image with your phone:

The as taken image is like this:

which I've even down-sized to save upload time / space. When you rotate it, then crop it and then maybe downsize it (cropping results in a smaller file anyway) you can get something nice and clear like this

Looking at that number the first part (4R36) is the movement reference number. that'll feed in to the next bit.

I strongly recommend you look at the back of the watch as identified by this great site retroseiko.

That site will give you the lowdown with the movement and the serial number to work out how to date your watch.

If you still can't work it out then take a few decent clear pictures like I have shown and ask on an internet group you might (at best) not get much help. However, if you help us to help you, we can, if you don't ... well, just don't expect answers you'll enjoy reading.

buckle down

For some time now I've been wearing my watch strap with the buckle down as you hold the watch, some people would call this at the 6 o'clock position.

A bit of searching found this well written and succinct article, which I will quote here (but here is the URL to go to the authors page):

So I write this, both as a stylist and a professional photographer. One of my sponsors asked me why I'm constantly switching my straps around in my photos, repositioning the buckled strap on the bottom of the watch, rather than at the top. 

For as long as I can remember, my super stylish grandfather did this and one time I asked him why, this is a paraphrasing of what he said to me. Let me know if you agree and if not, why not! 

The correct orientation for the buckle of a strapped watch is hanging from the '6-Oclock' or 'lower' lugs . 99% of makers incorrectly position the buckle at the '12-Oclock' lugs so when worn, the 'tag' end protrudes towards the "audience" . This is as rude as showing someone the sole of your shoe, and is incorrect form for strap watches in addition to actually contributing to tag- end snagging on all manner of impediments. 

Furthermore, when positioned with the buckle trailing the '6-Oclock' (as shown) the buckle is properly 'presented' to the admiring audience as the wearer twists his wrist to read the time, and if present, a signed buckle is displayed for all to see, as a measure of prideful branding. 

I wear ALL my strapped watches, other than deployment buckled ones this way. How or why on earth so many makers mount the buckles on the wrong end is beyond me.

I guess you can see what he means ... 

using my SRPE62K1 on its original NATO to demonstrate the point, (which I never wear because I now far prefer the pointless short strap cut off and leather straps made from NATO) shows he was correct on every point.

I wear it this way on all my watches NATO or not.