There Are Pandas, and Then There Are Pandas.
And this isn't either of them! The Pandas we're talking about here, are watches, not bears. And what got me thinking about them (again) was a link posted this morning by @cm.rook who pointed a few of us to the very attractive (and not terribly priced) Yema "Rallygraph" Panda which, in it's most traditional arrangement, looks like the one on the left, but can also be had in the version on the right: The model on the left is a true Panda, while the model on the right is called a reverse Panda. The reason for that distinction is clear--Panda bears, only come in the first arrangement. Now at this point, everyone should be thinking about the most well-know Panda, The Rolex Panda, which is actually a Daytona, and among Rolex Daytonas, the most famous of which is the Paul Newman Daytona, which was famous first, because it was Paul's, and second because it sold at auction for $17.8 million (US Dollars). The story of that auction is well-known so I'll only...
Nov 8, 2019
I've always taken a lot of heat for this by co-workers but I figure I would share it none the less. For the past several years I've been buying Casio watches exclusively to use at work.
Basically I buy a Casio diver as a work watch to be worn only at work for a year then replace it with a new one at the end of the year. Casio fits the bill because it can take a punch as well as the heat, cold, and rain with no issues. I really don't care if it gets scratched up because at the end of the day...it's a tool. Here's the lineup of my current and previous work watches.
1. Casio MDV102-1AV Sea "Marlin" Super Illuminator Diver Quartz w/custom leather strap
2. Casio MDV102-1AV Sea "Marlin" Super Illuminator Diver Quartz w/Bond-style NATO Strap
3. Invicta 8926OB Pro Diver Automatic (pending work watch for 2018)
4. Casio MDV106-1A "Marlin" Diver Quartz
5. Casio MTD-1010 Diver Quartz
6. Casio MTD-1079D-1AVCF Super Illuminator Diver Quartz (current work watch for 2017)
I'm in favor of the Super Illuminator line of Casio watches because the dual LED lamps are awesome, and work great! I own two identical Casio MDV102-1AV models. The 1st one (pictured w/leather strap) I bought new in 2009. I used it as a work watch for about 2-years before deciding it was too nice of a watch and retired it from work service….ha! The 2nd one (pictured w/Bond-style Nato strap) I picked up on eBay a few months ago specifically to use at work - it shipped with only a few scratches on the case, the crystal was super clean. I owned two other Casio divers (not pictured) that met an untimely demise while at work - I never got around to replacing them. They are both still for sale NEW on Amazon, perhaps I'll repurchase them one day.
The Invicta 8926OB Pro Diver is a recent purchase planned for use at work next year (2018) but it might get pulled from the tool bag in favor of another vintage Casio. I'm looking for a Casio MDV102-7A Sea "Marlin" Super Illuminator Diver with the all white dial (also released as the Duro 200). Kinda hard to find in acceptable condition at a fair price.