For those looking to enter the vintage arena at an affordable level without compromising on quality, this 6309 “Field Watch” from August of ‘80 is the perfect jumping off point. It boasts a matte black dial with subtle texture, and large luminous markers in bright white. The hour and minute hands are polished and beveled batons with white striping through the center, and the slender sweep has a luminous rectangular window near the tip. The shared day and date window in black is seamless and well balanced, and the day can be toggled between English and Spanish. The case is a classic affair at a comfortable 35mm, and features an “east to west” brushed finish. It’s topped with a polished bezel and a screw down case back. Sharing a movement with the venerable “Turtle” diver, this time piece utilizes the workhorse 6309 automatic with independent day/date quickset via the crown. A robust and reliable movement, it’s keeping near perfect time post service, and should offer many years of faithful service. It’s unpolished and completely original aside from a replacement crystal, and we’ve paired it with a striped olive drab single-pass elastic NATO for ultimate comfort on the wrist, and in keeping with its “field watch” aesthetic. A truly standout weekender that’s as ready for adventure as you are, this one is bound to be your new ‘go to.’

Cheapest NATO Straps Olive Drab/White Stripe Single Pass Elastic NATO (cheapestnatostraps.com)

Serviced 11/1/19

Diameter- 35mm

Lugs- 18mm