Hi Everyone,
A few posts this week covering DLC and Ceramic finishes made me think about putting up this particular watch. It's my only DLC and I thought it might be of interest to you. I purchased this in 2010 as a remembrance to my father. It's a Charmex CX Swiss Military Hurricane released to commemorate the Hawker Hurricane. This is 141/200 in RAF Red. I wanted the RAF Blue version, but that was not going to be. It's also available in white and black and you occasionally see some listed for sale. It was fortuitous as a remembrance watch in some ways, as my father used to say that in his opinion the Hurricane was the undervalued workhorse of the RAF, especially when compared to the glamorous Spitfire. They were hugely useful though even if a little dated by 1939 and did more work than the Spit during the BoB. Ask people of that era and it seems they all remember the Spitfire before mentioning the Hurricane. Perhaps he was right.
He did fly with the RAF in WW2 and this was the closest thing I could find as a remembrance watch to him, as a man and as a great Father. He did not fly Hurricanes as the name here suggests, but Beufighters and Mosquitos. He volunteered in 1939 serving in the home counties initially, South Africa (?) and finally India/Burma. Having a good mathematical mind, he finished his tour in the AMES Radar Experimental Station. He never talked much about his experiences, which I think is the same for the majority of servicemen of that era. He never even applied for his campaign decorations nor wanted to be recognised for his efforts back home. He did not believe in that sort of thing. Burma was tough, that's all I could get out of him. Gone now and sadly missed but I have this watch to remember him by.
I am sure there is a Beu watch out there somewhere but as is my preference; it needed to be a SRW. I really like this watch, but am so totally physed out by the DLC coating that I have only worn it 4 times. I wished I could wrap it up in cotton wool while wearing it, but that's obviously too impractical and may show publicly the depth of my neurosis!
I purchased this from a US Agent, and being a long distance away here in Oz I needed a few assurances before purchasing. I could not have been happier with the service I received and the understanding of the salesperson I dealt with. He personally checked each watch for the best accuracy of the slide rule scales before making a final recommendation for me. He even photographed the dial beforehand so I could see that it was as he had indicated. He knew exactly what I wanted. Not many watch sales people take that time or care about one aspect of the watch that's not really watch related. But he definitely understood my concerns and treated me seriously and with respect. The best one was a red dial, not the blue.
The watch is a heavy weight but nicely balanced. The DLC coating feels deep and looks rich. I don't know if it's tough, as I have never banged into anything.
The pushers and the crown are excellent, with solid clunks and clicks when being adjusted. They are very tactile and practical. The slide rule is absolutely accurate and easy to rotate. The bezel is a matt finish as against the gloss of the case sets off the appearance nicely. No reflections or glare from the watch under lights or in bright sunlight as with the crystal. I like this as the bezel would be a bit of a mess in a thick rich coating I feel. The movement is COSC certified and although the propeller second counter is a little naf, the overall effect of the watch is great and keeps time beautifully.
Of course, like the new Omega DSM speedy, it came with a watch box the size of a planet. Huge, but beautifully made.
So, there you have it. A watch I really like but one I am too scared to wear. Go figure........
Thank you for looking and taking the time to read this.
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