Watch review: Praesidus A11 Tom Rice - very good but with a few odd choices
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- Опубліковано 27 тра 2022
- Today we're doing something different; a watch review! On the bench we have the A11 Tom Rice from Praesidus. Praesidus is a micro-brand focused on military watches, specifically the iconic A11 that was issued to US and allied military offices in the Second World War. This is the Tom Rice edition, named after an airborne soldier who lost his Hamilton A11 as he was jumping out of his plane on D-Day.
Join us for a review of this watch with some discussion about the original watch and the history behind it.
See the full interview with Tom Rice here: • 101st Airborne Paratro...
See the A11 watches at Praesidus' site here: praesidus.com
The Vince Speranza edition Kickstarter campaign here: www.kickstarter.com/projects/...
The A11 combat version (32mm) here: projects.praesidus.com/a-11-c...
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I'm have a great appreciation for A-11 and A-17 watches from US military history, and I have a special love for field watches and aviator watches in general, as I feel they have a special utilitarian presence and kind of a stark beauty. The legibility and "read at a glance" nature of these watches makes them perfect "blue collar" tool watches, and few things are as innately pleasing to me visually as a cream dial on a brown leather strap. Thanks for the review.
I absolutely agree with you Kerry. Field & Aviator watches look so beautiful.
It does look good, but I think it really needs a nice hand-wind movement, and the requisite dust cover like most of that type had. The sterile dial also works well. There's no need for any clutter on it, even a name.
Love the homage at the end, Stian.
Good timing on this review for us Americans. Nice review thanks.
I was impressed enough with your review of this watch that I bought one. It's quite nice and very wearable, light and small. It keeps good time and proves comfortable in the recent hot weather. The simple face is a big win for me.
A timely video Stian, what with this being Memorial Day weekend here in the US. It brings back a few memories too as I spent my early years in the Army jumping out of airplanes with the 82nd Airborne Division at Ft. Bragg, N.C.. We were never issued military watches however and had buy our own at the PX or bookstore, usually Seiko’s. Interesting that you were in the Norwegian Army, should have guessed ;-) I had several Norwegian colleagues at the NATO HQ in Sarajevo on my last tour, great guys ( they let me use their sauna) but not as strong as watchmakers (of course).
Thanks for the video and have a good weekend! Oh yes, nice watch and a good alternative to the current Hamilton, especially for the money. I don’t mind the sterile dial but have gotten used to it from the fliegers built to the RLM standard.
Very cool to hear, Randy, thanks for sharing! One of my friends from the military academy is now the Chief of Defense in Norway and another is the Army Chief. Very good guys. I decided to leave after my duty service to pursue other things but I have a lot of respect for the military still.
Great review, Stian! Loved your zebra shorts!
If it is of note, Tom Rice, whom this watch is named after passed away a couple days ago at age 101. RIP
Thanks for sharing your thoughts about the watch with us.
Dial without any branding is a great feature! Best one!
Really good review Stian. I live very close to Fort Campbell, the home of the 101st. During the Vietnam War helicopter training flights were a common occurrence around the farmland surrounding my house. As a young teenager I would stand in the yard and wave and yell at them and they would do the same back at me. And it’s sad that this many years later, the training has become so evident once again; only this time it’s not helicopter related. Okay, thanks again for your content and BTW, the yak didn’t make the team but he did get a spot in crowd control 😎😎. Cheers
My respect to you Stian for taking the time to review the watch and to post it on your channel. Regardless of my interest and impressions, well done ... Kudos!!! BTW: I do like the watch. I am a fan of military watches and have restored my fair share of them over the years. Some of the most cherished memories (and friendships) have come from restoring veteran's, or family members of veteran's service watches. The stories that go along with the timepieces are invaluable. I live 90 minutes from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA and find the Hamilton Watch Complex to be a talisman of sorts. Thanks again for all you do.
Thanks for sharing that, Rick!
@@VintageWatchServices my pleasure.
The ghost calendar setting would really bug me. Water killed a lot of A-11s. It did in my Benrus DTU. I know that it wasn't part of the specs for the A-11, but I think that a modern field watch should have a screw down crown to enhance its durability in wet conditions. Glad to see that you remembered to take out the trash bin, Stian.
Great this new kind of video Stian 😘
Another Stian gem. 👍🏻
Nice balanced review. The only thing I use new watches for is sleeping and showering; I find this inevitably lends to it breaking and I don’t want to break (or trust the water resistance of) a vintage watch. I used to use Vostok Amphibias for this purpose entirely for the low price, but I’ve been using an Islander Orange Monster.
About the assembly lettering; declaring something to be made or assembled in the US requires either something approaching 100% domestic content, or the disclaimer of imported parts. They need it for legal reasons. Btw, I liked the review but I prefer your other videos.
As always thank you for sharing
My pleasure!
Very moving, nice touch my man
Beautiful watch, incredible story.
*You are right Stian, the US Dept of Commerce requires a seller to identify imported components, parts & ingredients above a certain % for many products (I don’t know how much or for which products)*
That slogan is probably shortened from, "Made by imported people with imported parts". Both of my parents volunteered for military service in WWII and their grand parents "imported" from Germany and Scotland to the US. Quite an attractive watch to my eyes. I like the satin finish, cream dial, large lumed hands, seconds numbering, band choices and no company identification.
D day is the day of humanity. That was it, if it instead had turned out to be a failure, maybe we wouldn't be here...Anyway, quite a nice watch, maybe not my taste but the look is Okey and the movement is nice. Started to think of a Oris big crown now, "kinda" this style. 🤔 Good review Stian, calm tempo, straight on info.
I'm glad they didn't put a brand name on the dial, just like the original, wish they would have made it with a 36mm case.
Same here Jeff, super glad that they didn't put a brand name. They have in 38mm but not in 36mm
I absolutely love this watch
Grate job sir, something different from you and I liked it 🙌 really liked the dial but would of liked a nicer movement, maybe hand wound? 👌🏻🤙🏻
I'm very impressed with this watch. Its beautiful simplicity. That's what I find so appealing about vintage watches and new watches like this one .How being understated actually creates the opposite reaction to the eye. They look so good you can't help but notice. Many of the watches I see today have more in common with a wall clock than a wrist watch.
A watch should not have more charisma than the person wearing it.
Very good review. Especially because the veteran are involved. Good job Stian. Besides the watch looks very wary…. And I like it. And I believe it fits well also with suit and tie . Thanks
I have purchased their Leather strap & it's so perfect. I have worn them with a suit & tie, they look stunning.
@@henrythomas5209 i have no doubts 😃😃
I think these retro watches scratch an itch in the marketplace. I confess I seek the real deal rather than the ersatz version. I was just gifted a Marine Corp Gruen Veri-Thin military watch from the Pacific Theater of Operations in WWII. He also had a NOS USMC nylon strap still on it's display card. The watch runs, but the crown is stuck and you can't adjust the time. I have gone back and forth whether to have it serviced or leave it a relic. It seems small to me, and the gray dial shows patina from age and the elements. It's amazing it survived as nicely as it has! I enjoy your videos very much! Thank you!!
I have a 1940s Soviet military watch that had the same issue with the crown I got it serviced and now it runs like a charm only cost me 200$ i think it's worth it
I'm a Military watch lover and I support watch brands who pay tribute to the WWII heroes. The best thing about Praesidus is that their watches are affordable & are of very good quality. They also share their profits with veterans & veteran org. which is amazing.
👍
A good, honest review Stian. Like you, I served my country for more than a decade. I think it's important to contribute to the safety & well being of any free & democratic system.
I like the style of the A11 but i have 7 field/ trench/ military watches already & there are a couple of things that would bother me about this one. Mostly the ghost position, the lume & no certainty about the water resistance. An NH38 or a Myota 9 series would have negated the first problem. Also, if you add $50 for Sapphire. (which i would have to do), it is not as great a value as it seems. There are others on the market with better specs for similar outlay like the Smiths Everest in cream dial & the Expedition.
Just got the 32 mm Origin variant, which apparently was the original. Quartz - seems they don't offer mechanical in that size. Lovely watch, and looks and feels good on my thin wrist. (Only issues are weak lume, and slightly misaligned second hand to marks on one side - which I read signifies the hands were placed by hand and not robot, like perfectly-aligned Casios).
Thanks from a Veteran!
I'm a sucker for old war stories that relates to any watch. That's why I love Zero West watches too.
Great review, Stian. I couldn't quite figure out if you thought it should have the brand name on the dial or not. That just wasn't clear from your review. :) I think also that putting an automatic movement in a A11 spec watch is a bit inauthentic. As well, a Japanese movement might be a bit ... er... um... not in keeping with whom the Allies were fighting at the time. Although, it does show the power of Japanese engineering and Japan's reconstruction after the war. Thank you for your service.
I agree. I found it really interesting that the company has opted not to include the brand name on the dial, It's shows that they want to be authentic & be one of the best A-11 watch launchers.
Thanks for sharing another video, Stian. FWIW, I like everything about this watch except the ghost crown position, inscription on the caseback and the size. I know they also offer a 32mm version (perfect for my delicate, lady-like wrist) but they're sold out and it has an unspecified "ultra precise Swiss Ronda Movement". Is that a quartz movement? Regarding the ghost crown position, can a 2-position setting lever spring be sourced (thereby skipping the date position)? That's probably a chore, huh? What about somehow modifying the existing spring to fill in the date notch? Thanks again!
I'm also interested in purchasing their 32mm version. I mailed them & pinged them on their Instagram channel & they will be in stock very soon. I suppose we both can make a purchase then.
Yes, it's a quartz movement, it was mentioned on their pre-launch page.
@@henrythomas5209 Thanks for the information! Knowing the 32mm version has a quartz movement, I won't be ordering one. But, I hope you enjoy yours. Cheers!
@@jwoodyr1 I think it's a quartz, I'll confirm with them again. btw, they would be in stock soon. You can also check their Tom Rice & Vince Speranza edition both are available in automatic movements
Hmmm, a seemingly okay watch, but not really my cup of tea, even if the price is quite attractive.
Good review.
Thank you for this review! I really would love to have one of these as the real thing tends to go for four times as much. Unfortunately, my wife has told me I can’t get one. I really don’t like the ghost date either, and I’d be looking for another movement.
But, I think we’re going to see more and more of the ghost date as more microbrands come out as the NH35 is a very inexpensive movement (though the NH38 is out there for about the same price).
Your wife told you you can't get one? I mean, we're all under our wives' thumbs, but rarely do they play the power card that openly! 😁The NH38 might indeed be another option, but it's mostly used for open heart dials and probably wasn't on Praesidus' radar for that reason.
Is the ghost position the extra position of the crown that doesn't have any function--closed position, ghost position, and the hack and set function position? You mentioned the ghost position was a result of the watch mechanism selected for this watch. In other watches, what function would the ghost position perform--something like a date or day adjustment?
Date setting
Hello Paul, it's the date setting indeed. I should probably have been a bit clearer on that, but it's typically called a ghost setting since it doesn't do anything when there is no date disc.
Is it common to have a ghost setting? I have never seen it before.
this watch reminded me of the Russian soldier's watch Vostok Komandirskie K-34. the only difference is that it has a 24-hour time zone and a calendar. its price is about 150 US dollars. Such watches are both solid and beautiful watches with stories.
Stian, you said that the A11 made the US manufacturers less competitive after the war. Could you expand on that, please?
My only problem.. (and I do have th Tom Rice edition and I love it) is the Tom Rice edition from Praesidus looks identical to the Hamilton 2987, which was a Naval model.. the Army models didn't have (as far as I can fine online) the round dots on the dial. They usually had the train track style dials and coin notched bezels. So did Tom Rice actually purchase that Hamilton 2987, or was it actually issued? Did Praesidus do this by mistake? I'm very curious. Just about anything I can find on A-11s and Army issued models specifically, look like Praesidus' Type 44 model. And the Tom Rice dials look like the Navy models. I must know more.
🤔 Interesting. I'll send your question to the Praesidus guys and see if I can find out for you.
Here the response from Praesidus:
"The Tom Rice is a re-edition of the original A-11's Naval Aviator version (in this case Hamilton's edition). We decided to call it A-11 as the documents relating to the spec mentioned "A-11" as well and we felt it would better convey the message & stories to use the more well-known A-11 designation on our Tom Rice edition.
Tom Rice purchased the Hamilton 2987 with his first paycheck from his enlistment; before leaving for the UK to prepare for D-Day. As far as we were told, it was not an operational requirement for him to have such a watch on his wrist - indeed, the Naval Aviator spec required radium to be used on the indexes and on the track (explaining the dots on the dial) - most useful for naval aviators navigating in pitch black over the ocean. On the other hand, it did make sense for him to have such a watch because he was the lead Jumpman on his C-47 Skytrain for D-Day and as such, probably needed to time the jump more than anyone else on the plane."
I was eagerly waiting to see some beautiful swiss movement; but alas! I was a bit disappointed to see a standard Seiko movement. Nevertheless, the dial and hands look beautiful. I felt the balance wheel was not oscillating properly when you opened the back case. Maybe the watch was not wound.
Sharp eyes, K! I actually had to reuse a small piece of footage run in a loop as I needed to explain something and it doesn't quite look right. You're the only one who noticed though :)
Salute Sir
Why was that third wheel on the top of the bridge on all those old army movements?
It was a common way in the old days to drive the pinion for the sweep seconds hand. Before the war, most watches had small seconds, thus a subdial with the seconds hand. It's much easier to read the seconds on a watch with a sweep central hand than with a small subdial especially given the small sizes of the watches back then. Thus part of the A11 specification was that the watches needed a sweep seconds hand.
A very nice simple looking watch, but I think a polished case would look better still.
I always liked the A11's, but the price of originals is up there. This watch would be a wearable tribute. A coin edged bezel option would be nice.
Maybe you should saddle up your watch-finding moose and go find the original watch that was lost all those years ago. It would make a fine adventure video.
😂
seiko (japan) movement for the watch A11 historic wwII recreation.
I would like to take up watchmaking. Is there any way I can get into it without first spending decades in the gym?
No.
You might try those bulking powders /drinks as a shortcut
@@nicklapietra3890 Does beer count?
Nice video,,you just sold another watch
sir sir super watch 👍👍
Totally disagree about the name on the dial. If you’re buying something billed as a replica, it should resemble the original. I could be wrong, but I think the guys this is marketed to don’t want the name on the dial. To me, putting the name on the dial would seem crass. You could argue that they change the size, too, but nobody would buy this watch if it was only 32 mm.
Also, I think they are required to say the part about “with imported parts“ if they say “made in America.” I could be wrong. Shinola watches, which are assembled in Detroit, say “Built in Detroit. Swiss movement with imported parts.”
That phrase might indeed be a regulatory thing. And Praesidus are actually making a 32mm version of the watch :)
I'd rather use a movement WITH a date.
No date, no deal, for me.
What an irony! Calibre made by the archenemy in the anniversary WWII watch.
*Yes, Japan was an archenemy BUT paid a horrific price for their aggressions. Fortunately history unlikely to repeat.*
I don't think they had to put a country of origin on the watch. But I suspect for marketing purposes they wanted to say it was made in the US. But they can only do that without qualification if virtually all the parts are made in the US. If made with imported parts, they have to say so by regulation.
Yep, exactly my thinking. I have seen other products saying "Designed and assembled in the USA", which would seem a better option imo.
I thought that the A-11 was a manual wind watch 3 hand with hacking.
Yep, it was. Nowadays people generally do not want to endure the suffering of having to wind their watches every couple of days, however... so I understand the decision to make it automatic.
Wow!...$285 in 1944 would be nearly $5000 today
Reminds me too much of the lancet watch.
The body metal parts are reminiscent of disney watches.
I agree, seeing combat is terrible. The worst for a parent is losing a child in combat, like now in Ukraine. War is a disgrace for humanity.
😔 Absolutely agree.
On your advice I ordered this watch. The first watch they sent me was a quartz watch where the order they enclosed said mechanical and the second watch was sent back to themselves. I gave up and asked for a refund.
Sorry to hear that, Glenn. The watch is good, but apparently their customer service not so much then?
@@VintageWatchServices Good news in that the watch showed up today. I appreciate all you do with your UA-cam videos. Love the humor. i've learned so much about the watch industry as well.
BTW I have a Norwegian joke - You can always tell a Norwegian but you can't tell them much.
Have a great weekend and thank you!
“Assembled in the US” is necessary because in the past some micro brands would say “Made in the US” but what they would do is order parts from China and just put it together in the US. They got in trouble for doing stuff like that. And they would lose the trust of their consumers. So this makes it clear to everyone that these are not US made.
There’s no way the makers of this particular watch would be allowed to legally sell it here in the United States without the “with foreign parts” language. A U.S. government agency called the Federal Trade Commission is charged with preventing deception and unfairness in the marketplace to protect consumers. It has the power to take legal action against companies making false or misleading claims about a product being of domestic origin. The FTC has laid out very specific rules about the language that can be used on a product to describe the degree to which it was manufactured in the U.S. If a pre-assembled watch movement, which is a somewhat complex device as you well know, is imported from another country and placed into a watch housing by a worker in the U.S., then the FTC is likely to determine that it would be deceptive to simply claim the watch was “Assembled in the U.S.A.“ without further explanation.
I think I've seen products saying simply "Designed and assembled in the USA"?
i like A11 military issue watch like elgin waltham
War is still in fashion. So, it makes all sense keeping making field watches😅...
Unfortunately, yes...
I'm fine with no branding on the dial. Especially in this blatantly homage to a wearer/owner
Most Norwegians and English are Hobbit size as I remember from my travels :) Maybe they kicked you out because you were too tall :)
😂
Nice review but you can’t buy one as they are sold out… oh well.
They're available on the website. I think they restocked it.
I just don’t like their decision to put one soldier’s name on the back
I'm also a bit ambivalent about that. I can see that from a marketing point of view as it is a good story, but it also doesn't quite sit right.
232 Thumbs uP
Isn't it ironic that a watch made to commemorate an American event in the war has a Japanese movement in it?
It absolutely is!
I rather like sterile dials,especially when the brand name doesn't appeal to me,In the past i've bought quite a few watches from China and if they gave a choice of sterile I would normally take it.I stopped buying from them when I developed the suspicion that the Chinese government are financing Putin's catastrophic adventure....................................
I'm really against this sort of watch. Reissue of an old design, brought up to date is fine. But selling it on the back of a brave guy's near death... Not on. Sorry Stian, but commercialising that is not on.
I think that's a bit glass half empty thinking, Kev? Tom Rice did indeed not die, he survived many campaigns and the entire war. I see this watch more as a celebration of that.
@@VintageWatchServices That's the sales pitch that offends me, sorry.
Yes it is ridiculous and useless, but also required, to say where assembled and if parts are domestic or imported.
Great to know, thanks!
Yes, but they're excellent toilet seats.
*Excellent and shitty both.*
😂
I am not convinced that promoting military watches is a good thing in general. In times of war it is just tasteless. Please, give us more of your deeper knowledge and stay away from promoting watches like this. It is just ugly. I have already stopped my subscription to Richard Perrett Watchmaker, because he has decided to promote his own military watch brand. I would hate to have to drop you, too.
C’mon man, give Stian a break and consider your statement. He is in no way promoting war, just sharing it’s history. There are three things in this world we will never change and that’s history, the weather, and death. However, we can’t overlook any of the three, but just try and learn from them. I agree that the state of the world is piss poor at the present and could it just be that we’ve given up on the three previous mentioned things. Just an old boy from Tennessee who had relatives on Normandy, Korea , and Vietnam.
*That’s a bit touchy, don’t you think? If it were a Russian watch, maybe.*
Good bye.
@@ericdouglas9804 Thank you for your comment. "History is a nightmare from which I am trying to awake" (a quote from James Joyce's Ulysses) is what I think of when people try to peddle "history". While many advancements were made in technology during the second world war, watchmaking only profited from it after the war. Watch collectors and sellers keep telling me that watches made in the 50s are of the the best quality because of machines and available materials. In the war, watches were made to specs, but in no way innovated. So, Stian peddling these watches IS a low for me. However, I respect your comment and see your points. And I have always loved and commented favorably on Stian's videos.
@@joeskeptical4762 Here is what I wrote to Eric Douglas and I feel that it applies to your - very thoughtful - comment as well: Thank you for your comment. "History is a nightmare from which I am trying to awake" (a quote from James Joyce's Ulysses) is what I think of when people try to peddle "history". While many advancements were made in technology during the second world war, watchmaking only profited from it after the war. Watch collectors and sellers keep telling me that watches made in the 50s are of the the best quality because of better machines and available materials. In the war, watches were made to specs, but in no way innovated. So, Stian peddling these watches IS a low for me. However, I respect your comment and see your points. And I have always loved and commented favorably on Stian's videos.