Timefactors - Smiths NATO PRS-40 (Automatic)
At nearly 55mm across it spans my 18.5cm wrist, but still sits nicely thanks to the downturned lugs.
This watch first popped up on my radar some time ago while looking for alternative types of NATO strap, which I’m not really a fan of as the well made ones are generally far too thick to have two layers of material underneath the watch head and I find the fact that the buckle and excess strap always end up on the side of the wrist looks rather ugly. So although I liked the watch from a design point of view, the fact that it had fixed lugs seemed a rather big negative, but I did keep coming back to the design again and again, so decided as I had nothing like it, to buy one.
Timefactors operate a different sales process from most other sellers insomuch as ordering only opens on a specified day & time and closes when a week’s worth of shipping has been received, then repeated for another date/time. Anyway and order was successfully placed and quickly received – packaging was for a change just about perfect, with no oversize box to take up loads of storage space, but a simple card outer covering a zipped travel case which can hold two watches.
Now as for the watch itself, although the width of the watch is only 40mm the overall length is stated as being 54.8mm, which certainly long for a relatively small watch width and would I expect put some people off. Indeed it does look long spanning the wrist, but my Geckota K-01 comes in at 54.4mm and it is just the ratio between the width and length that makes it look overly long – if it was a 45mm diameter watch, or had a bigger face it would look more proportional. Anyway, you either like it or you don’t and I certainly do, feeling that it sits nicely on my wrist; however, this isn’t with the supplied NATO strap! Initially when the watch arrived I fitted a 24mm Perlon, the woven nature of the strap means it will easily pass through the 22mm lug opening of the watch, but unlike a 22mm single pass strap, this would keep the watch head in place so it wouldn’t slip off the strap, the wrist shot below shows this strap. Perlon straps seem to be even more 'Marmite' than NATO's and it is easy to see why; whilst they are super comfortable, infinitely adjustable as they have no holes, you just push the buckle tang through the strap weave, they usually look rather cheap with press stamped thread on buckles & their general overall appearance they do work very well and it is a good ideal to have a few (neutral colour & size) available for emergency use.
Timefactors operate a different sales process from most other sellers insomuch as ordering only opens on a specified day & time and closes when a week’s worth of shipping has been received, then repeated for another date/time. Anyway and order was successfully placed and quickly received – packaging was for a change just about perfect, with no oversize box to take up loads of storage space, but a simple card outer covering a zipped travel case which can hold two watches.
Now as for the watch itself, although the width of the watch is only 40mm the overall length is stated as being 54.8mm, which certainly long for a relatively small watch width and would I expect put some people off. Indeed it does look long spanning the wrist, but my Geckota K-01 comes in at 54.4mm and it is just the ratio between the width and length that makes it look overly long – if it was a 45mm diameter watch, or had a bigger face it would look more proportional. Anyway, you either like it or you don’t and I certainly do, feeling that it sits nicely on my wrist; however, this isn’t with the supplied NATO strap! Initially when the watch arrived I fitted a 24mm Perlon, the woven nature of the strap means it will easily pass through the 22mm lug opening of the watch, but unlike a 22mm single pass strap, this would keep the watch head in place so it wouldn’t slip off the strap, the wrist shot below shows this strap. Perlon straps seem to be even more 'Marmite' than NATO's and it is easy to see why; whilst they are super comfortable, infinitely adjustable as they have no holes, you just push the buckle tang through the strap weave, they usually look rather cheap with press stamped thread on buckles & their general overall appearance they do work very well and it is a good ideal to have a few (neutral colour & size) available for emergency use.
A great match, the Geckota ZULUDIVER 328 Italian Rubber NATO
Next though I went for a different NATO and probably the only one I’ve so far come to really like, the Geckota (WatchGecko) supplied ZULUDIVER 328 Italian Rubber NATO. Now given the style of the watch I bought a Camouflage Grey and whilst even in the sale it is the most expensive NATO strap I’ve ever bought I’m really impressed; light, super flexible & versatile as the hardware is all held on by spring bars you can convert this to a single pass strap in seconds – though I wouldn’t do it with this watch as the low lug position means it could very easily slide off unless you take care when putting on/taking off the watch.
Lume is very good, even when not in the dark.
The first thing you have to contend with when the watch arrives is setting the time; it was already ticking away nicely. Now the crown is as can be seen at the 12 o’clock position and partially ensconced within the downward sloping lug – if you bite your nails, this isn’t the watch for you – the only way to pull out the crown is by inserting a finger nail between the bottom edge of the crown and case. You could of course use the edge of a credit card or some other implement, but I found my thumb nail to be perfect. Winding should the watch stop is simply a matter of rubbing your thumb across the crown from right to left as it has a nice light winding action. Over the first week of constant wrist time it averaged +15 seconds a day, which is perhaps a little too much for my liking, but still within the movements (Seiko NE15c -15/+25 seconds per day) specification. It is a24 jewel hacking & hand winding movement with a 50 hr power reserve, but is also a date wheel movement so has a phantom date position when you pull the crown out as there is no date widow on the dial. Now talking of the dial this is for a change an absolute ‘plain jane’ with only the word ‘SMITHS’ below the 12. Lumed dots with thin printed batons at each hour, with the 12 o’clock on differentiated with a lume dot at each end of the baton and printed minute markers between each hour baton. Hands are fully lumed fence post style, with the minute hand reaching out to the minute markers, the hour hand is quite a bit shorter, so easily differentiated with a quick glance. The second hand is an elegantly slim with a lumed arrowed head and elongated pointer which goes right out to the outer edge of the dial. This watch dial and hands set is easily rated as one of the most legible combinations I’ve come across.
Overall I feel very enthusiastic about this watch, with many positive aspects and as far as I’m concerned only one negative – the need to use a NATO Strap, but then again that is one of its Unique Selling Points (USP). Given its robust Military style, mat sandblasted(?) finish, with that very 70’s case shape, married to the wonderful clear dial & handset it did actually turn out to be a joy to wear and I look forward to wearing this watch for many years to come.
Overall I feel very enthusiastic about this watch, with many positive aspects and as far as I’m concerned only one negative – the need to use a NATO Strap, but then again that is one of its Unique Selling Points (USP). Given its robust Military style, mat sandblasted(?) finish, with that very 70’s case shape, married to the wonderful clear dial & handset it did actually turn out to be a joy to wear and I look forward to wearing this watch for many years to come.
Click on images below to enlarge
