Cool retro TVs from Spinnaker Hull
Spinnaker Hull Watch
Friends, hello everyone. You are on the channel about Feeltime watches, Stanislav is in touch as always. And today there will most likely be a long review, since I have prepared for you a fairly large number of watches from the Spinnaker microbrand from the Hull collection.
Almost all versions of this model have returned to my Feeltime store in Ukraine. And in addition to different colors, it also has different versions of filling. There are classical mechanics and meka quartz, which I have not imported for about 2 years.
So I’ll tell you everything in detail and show you.
I would like to start with the quartz versions. They haven't been around for a very long time.
To begin with, I will say that this is homage. Not straight, not traced, but the Spinnaker brand obviously borrowed the design from the Panerai Radiomir California.
Why do I say that this is still homage and not a tracing paper. The guys took a retro TV-shaped case as a basis, and filled it with their own design.
I am quite calm about such homages, since famous Swiss people do similar things. I don't see anything wrong with this.
In the end, everything cool has long been invented, and many people simply spy on each other’s tricks somewhere.
I absolutely sincerely believe that this model looks and feels more expensive than its price.
And this model is extremely successful, since Spinnaker has not removed it from the start of production for 3-4 years. That says a lot. Many watches come and go, but this one is constantly coming off the assembly line.
The body is made of 316l stainless steel. I really like their shape and design. Simply retro yummy with wonderful dimensions.
Almost the entire body is mirror polished. Except for the top of the ears and the welt.
The finishing quality of the watch is excellent. I am reflected in the body as in a mirror.
By the way, what is unusual is that the back of the case is satin-finished. Also good quality. Usually in these places they save money on inexpensive watches.
The characteristics are also listed here. Let me voice it.
100 meters water resistance - all buttons are screwed down for better sealing and Japanese mechanism.
And in this case we have Meka quartz from the Japanese Seiko VK73.
Meka quartz is a special type of quartz where the chronograph second hand runs as smoothly as a mechanical one. Typically, such watches do not display a lower dial with a main second hand, which moves in a clockwise manner and indicates that this is, after all, a quartz watch.
But this model has such a dial. You can see what the versions without this dial look like using the Hemel watch as an example in my reviews.
The watch sizes are as follows. Diameter - 42 mm, from lug to lug - 47 mm, thickness - 15 mm, weight - 86 grams.
On my hand it is 18 cm. The girth of the watch fits perfectly. The thickness may confuse you, but in fact I would not say that the watch looks thick. The size feels smaller than stated.
There is a tachymeter scale along the circumference of the welt. I find its function in a wristwatch to be useless, but it does add a nice style boost. Still, these watches can also be classified as retro sports chronographs. Put it on a strap with round cutouts and it will be a pure racing watch.
In this case, we have a genuine leather strap. The inside is smooth and is embossed to say that the leather is moisture resistant. The outer part is beige with a suede surface.
The quality of the leather is good at first impressions.
Sandwich dial.
The top plate has a grainy surface and a very nice gradient from yellow to grey.
Well, Spinnaker knows how to play with flowers. Sometimes you won’t immediately understand what color is in front of you.
The hands and hour markers are clearly highlighted, and the chronograph windows are well defined.
I really like the large date at the top of the dial. It's both beautiful and convenient. Below it is an applied Spinnaker logo.
And of course, the branded Swiss Super Luminova on the hands and markers.
And the dial, alas, is covered by mineral glass with an anti-reflective coating. The glass is beautifully shaped, which clearly follows and continues the shape of the welt.
What about the prices?
10900 UAH is their price today in my Feeltime online store.
I think this model is extremely successful.
Beautiful design, beautiful colors, rich dials. Wonderful quality finish, interesting quartz.
I would like to find fault with the mineral water, but the glass is beautifully shaped and anti-reflective, so I can’t criticize it too much. Doesn't confuse or irritate.
Let me tell you that these watches look much more presentable than any Japanese or Swiss in this segment.
And the fact that Spinnaker has not removed them from sale for many years only indicates that demand has not subsided.
I personally recommend it. Next we will talk about the mechanical version of this watch.
But I will show you the mechanics using the example of a model that has never been in my store before. There were other versions, we'll look at them later.
Let's immediately go over the external differences from the quartz version, so that I don't repeat some things several times.
The cases are the same, the straps are the same, the dimensions are the same.
The main difference is that it is a self-winding mechanical watch from the Japanese Seiko NH35A. A working, easy-to-maintain horse. 42 hours running, there is a STOP second.
Accordingly, the filling also changes depending on the mechanism. Clean dials without chronographs.
This model also has sapphire crystal, although the watch itself is only slightly more expensive than the quartz version.
This version has a stainless steel case with PVD, black coating.
Please note that the welt was no longer loaded with a tachymeter scale. It is not needed here, since the chronograph was removed and this watch ceased to be a motorsport watch. Everything is done wisely.
But the dial is cool with an unusual texture, as if it were a stone from some other planet.
Plus the branded “California” markings. This is when one half of the hour markers is made in Arabic numerals, and the other in Roman numerals.
Overall, the readability of the dial is excellent. Nothing extra.
The date is on a black background so it doesn't distract attention. Detailed minute markings in the form of a railway around the circumference of the dial.
The prices of mechanical versions differ little from quartz. Without PVD coating today it’s 11,550 UAH, with it the version costs 12,500 UAH.
And I’ll tell you that this is the case when visually I like quartz more than mechanics. Although this is a matter of taste in its purest form.
But the presence of a chronograph and its absence radically changes the appearance of the watch.
I repeat that the model is extremely successful. It looks great, is well made, has great features, and is absolutely inexpensive.
At this price, a microbrand will always stand out among the popular Japanese and Swiss brands, which look very simple in the low price segment.
Even a person who does not understand watches will understand this after holding one and the other.
You can buy each of the models shown in my Feeltime online store with an official 2-year warranty. I am the official distributor of the brand in Ukraine.
How do you like the watch? Which ones did you like best? Write your opinion. Let's discuss. Don’t forget to subscribe, and that’s all for me, Stanislav was with you as always. Until next time. Bye
