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Hello, and a bit of a review of the new Siduna M3440

  1. sweets Jan 25, 2019

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    Hello
    I have been active on a few forums for a while (notably TZ-UK in the same name and DaveS on the ATG Forums) and am branching out a little, so thought I would post this here as an intro, because a quick search reveals that the Omega ofrums have next to nothing on the Siduna, and I think it deserves a bit more coverage.

    So far I have only really posted about Lemania watches on this forum, and Lemania watches are my primary collecting focus. Although I also have a few others.

    I found Siduna by accident on a picture search last summer, and I got into conversation with them as they seemed to be re-creating an iconic Lemania design, the SwAF or Viggen, as issued to the Swedish Aor Force, and that interested me.
    They were kind enough to lend me their prototype to examine, and as a result I put a deposit down, and it was delivered to me recently.

    So how is it?

    It arrived in a simple, black card slip solding a flat box in a hard, man-made material reminiscent of bakelite with a dark wood veneer outside, signed Siduna. The flat box was chosen to avoid pre-shaping the strap. The box is quite aggressively sprung, ensuring it stays open or closed and moves between the two with a snap. All of this is pleasingly retro and understated. No massive cases, no drawers full of 300-page dealer network tomes and instructions in 50 languages. The watch is retained in clips, and that's it.

    [​IMG]


    It came the darker of the two brown calf leather options, called Havana, 20mm at the lugs and 18mm at the signed buckles, 2 keepers and of notable quality. So far I too have held off shaping the leather to my wrist, I have penty of nice 20mm leather straps to use first. I also have the default tropic-style, textured and vented nitrile rubber en route to me, but I put it straight onto a new Steveo canvas pull-through "zulu", which is very comfy.

    [​IMG]

    I am really pleased that the case finishing exceeds the high standards set by the prototype. The edges are crisp, the main surfaces finely brushed, the chamfers polished and the transitions are very clear.

    One change is that the sides of the bezel behind the grip are now polished, which makes sense, and avoids having 2 different directions of brushed finish on the case sides. Excuse the blue in this photo, that's my work sweatshirt.

    [​IMG]

    The stark white on black legibility of the dial and hands is essential on this military style of chronograph. Speedmaster Pro level clarity. It looks great.
    The dial is a very nice black, with a finish somewhere between matte and satin. The sub-dials are cut deep into the dial, and have the classic concentric ring finish, which somehow contrives to look more satin than the rest of the dial. The contrast is lovely.

    [​IMG]


    The bezel has definitely been improved, and being slightly glossier it appears blacker than the dial. The protoype suffered slightly from the use of a clear, but grey-looking binder for the luminous numerals and indices, and in daylight they looked dull. No such problem exists now, bezel pops just as clearly as the dial, and in daylight the lumed parts look identical to the un-lumed individual minute indices.
    The legibility does continue on into the night, as the lume is very effective. I like good lume, and this dioes not disappoint, with the bezel slightly greener, and the dial and hands in a more icey blue.

    I believe the profile of the crystal has changed ever so slightly from the prototype, with a narrower external curved section to the edges, and less distortion as a result.

    [​IMG]


    I admit that I am going to be pre-disposed to like this. The guys at Siduna have been nice to me, and trusted me with one of their valuable prototypes. Also, this is a re-creation of a very well-known and now highly-prized Lemania military watch.
    So you could argue that I am pre-programmed to find that attractive.
    But that also means I have some relatively well-tuned critical instincts in regard to reincarnating such a "grail".
    I feel there is a strong imperative to get such an hommage "Right" in order to respect the original version.

    Have they succeeded? Is this worthy to tread in the illustrious footsteps left by Lemania?
    Yes. Without doubt.
    This watch does everything that the original did. It is a legible, practical, waterproof (WR 100m) chronograph with bezel. The format is right, the sub-dials are the right ones in the right place, and the case has not grown a millimetre in diameter.
    But at the same time, the watch has been updated. The movement is automatic (a 7750 customised to their specification), the crystal sapphire, and the bezel unidirectional and 120-click. These are all new things compared to the original.
    I understand all these choices, and for an update I prefer them over the original specification. A manual movement would have made the case thinner, but not much, and it would undoubtedly have limited the potential audience for this watch. So automatic is a perfectly sensible choice.

    I am happy that the new generations of aspheric sapphire crystals offer a proportion fo the character of the original acryllic crystal, whilst massively increasing damage-resistance. That is a good trade-off, in my eyes. And the 100m WR makes sense of a uni-directional bezel.
    So I really do see this as a worthy successor to the Lemania. And with the modern WR, servicability and warranty, it makes a much more practical and affordable alternative to buying the original.
    Lemania themselves were definitely form-derived-from-function designers, and the specification changes from that to this really do add to the functionality, in keeping with the Lemania ethos.

    I applaud the fact that Francis and Peter have made affordability a key requisite in the design of the M3440 (it is €1860 plus taxes, or €2340 plus taxes if you want the addition of flyback).
    A tool watch should be affordable, otherwise it becomes too pricey to justify wearing it. The price of this watch puts it in line with the most notable purveyors of functional chronographs at the present moment - Sinn, Junghans, Damasko, Guinand and so forth. Put this watch in the mix with any of those brands and Siduna come out well in the comparison in terms of tech and in terms of value. I might add that, in my opinion, the Siduna is just better-looking than any of them.

    I also know that Siduna will not be standing still, and I look forward to seeing their next moves.

    [​IMG]

    Dave
     
  2. hmmmcamu Jul 16, 2020

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    SIDUNA M3440
     
    DSCN9982.jpg DSCN9983.jpg DSCN9975.jpg
    Edited Nov 4, 2020
    Lancaster and Stewart A like this.
  3. hmmmcamu Jul 16, 2020

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    SIDUNA M3440
     
    DSCN9962.jpg DSCN9965.jpg
  4. hmmmcamu Jul 16, 2020

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    SIDUNA M3440
    paired with
    20mm vintage SWISS TROPIC MOD DEP
     
    DSCN9990.jpg DSCN9994.jpg DSCN9996.jpg
    S.H. likes this.
  5. hmmmcamu Jul 16, 2020

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    VINTAGE 1970's Bund Strap
     
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    Edited Oct 20, 2020
  6. eugeneandresson 'I used a hammer, a chisel, and my fingers' Jul 16, 2020

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    While I like the Seduna, I’m more than happy with my Lemania :)

    D635F965-CD9D-40A4-AC27-CC7CFB41A9F8.jpeg
     
    STANDY, ghce, Foo2rama and 2 others like this.
  7. hmmmcamu Jul 16, 2020

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    well if i can get it with in my budget I would also love to get the LEMANIA 817 family of military watches,
     
    Edited Jul 16, 2020
  8. jud Jul 16, 2020

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    Nice review of a brand I never knew existed. Thank you.
     
    hmmmcamu likes this.
  9. eugeneandresson 'I used a hammer, a chisel, and my fingers' Jul 16, 2020

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    I meant no offense. I agree, they are hotly sought after ... I was lucky to find mine on eBay for a reasonable sum (i.e. within your budget, if you can afford a Seduna) ... they are out there. Happy hunting.

    PS: for folks that don't know where Seduna get their inspiration from...a picture is attached a few posts up :thumbsup:
     
  10. hmmmcamu Jul 16, 2020

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    SIDUNA M3440
    paired with Beads of Rice bracelet
     
    DSCN0009.jpg DSCN0018.jpg DSCN0020.jpg
    Lancaster likes this.
  11. hmmmcamu Aug 29, 2020

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    ...
     
    DSCN1155.jpg
  12. hmmmcamu Oct 31, 2020

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    SIDUNA M3440 Bi-Compax SELFWINDING CHRONOGRAPH

     
    DSCN1836.jpg DSCN1832.jpg DSCN1845.jpg DSCN1888.jpg DSCN1925.jpg
    Edited Oct 31, 2020
  13. hmmmcamu May 20, 2021

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    2021 SUMMER with the

    SIDUNA M-3440 Bi-Compax SELF-WINDING CHRONOGRAPH



     
    IMG_0893.jpg IMG_0906.jpg IMG_0907.jpg IMG_0918 (1).jpg IMG_0920.jpg IMG_0916.jpg IMG_0915.jpg
    Edited May 20, 2021
    machamp6650 likes this.
  14. machamp6650 May 20, 2021

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    A lot of nice shots of a nice watch @hmmmcamu!

    I've been looking at this Siduna more and more recently after missing a chance to bid on an OG Tissot 817. I'd give various body parts to get my hands on an original 817!

    What are your thoughts about the Siduna as a heritage version / reimagining of the 817? Does it give off vintage vibes like a 60s / 70s Lemania or Tissot? Is the vibe affected by things like the sapphire crystal and use of superluminova vs tritium? What are your thoughts about use of an automatic movement and the resulting height of the case?

    Personally I think if Siduna had gone for manual movement + hesalite crystal like the original I'd already have one on my wrist :thumbsup:
     
    hmmmcamu likes this.
  15. hmmmcamu May 21, 2021

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    I am happy with her, only wish I have is the bezel, I would rather have had the bezel insert designed using the bezel design used by the original " EPSA CASE REF# 817 " which was used on the LEMANIA, TISSOT, CHRONOGRAPH SWISS, ROMANIA, and PONTIAC watches .... BREITLING's version made for the Italian Military which uses the same EPSA case is slightly different in the fact that the BEZEL and handset they used were the same used on the HEUER BUND watch, though the SIDUNA dial layout is the SAME as the Breitlings [ look at the subdials positioning] .... that said the Siduna bezel was not a deal breaker ..



    here are some photos i patched up for reference / info of the original " 817 "
     
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    Edited May 21, 2021
    Fallout Boy and machamp6650 like this.
  16. hmmmcamu Sep 30, 2021

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    SIDUNA M-3440-051010 Bi-Compax SELFWINDING
    ISO rated: 100M/330ft.

    Based on the 1973 LEMANIA standard-issue military chronograph produced for the Swedish Air Force, or Svenska Flygvapnet, of which a CIVILIAN version was produced via their sister company TISSOT, that used a case design by Ervin Piquerez SA Ref# 817 that originated in 1968 which was used on Jack Heuer's 1968 Autavia and the Breguet Type 20.

     
    IMG_2159.jpg IMG_2150.jpg IMG_2153.jpg IMG_2154.jpg
    Edited Oct 2, 2021
  17. hmmmcamu Jan 14, 2024

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    A faithful recreation of the LEMANIA CHRONOGRAPHE ordinance number "# M3440-051010" issued to the Swedish Air Force ...

     
    414860496_10160006910089537_7852355442483475903_n.jpg 1061_002-300x234.jpg Saab_AJS-37_Viggen_37098_52_(SE-DXN)_(9256079273) (1).jpg Screenshot 2024-01-14 at 8.38.56 AM.png Screenshot 2024-01-14 at 8.45.05 AM.png
    machamp6650 likes this.
  18. Watch my Whisky Jan 14, 2024

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    This is definitely one of the watches ever made.
     
  19. Foo2rama Keeps his worms in a ball instead of a can. Jan 14, 2024

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    lol yes it is.

    have you not been watching your whisky?