Interesting X-33 prototype on the 'bay...

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Got me interested and a quick bit of Googling came up with this. I can see a fair bit of Polaris DNA, especially in the prototypes.
 
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If that's legit it's an amazing watch.The X-33 is vastly under-rated. I just got a Gen 2 back from a battery change and re-seal. About the only thing it has in common with yours is the hands? The dial, bezel, case, pushers and crown on your one are a lot better looking.
Would have to disagree some on this, I like the look of the crown much more on the Gen2 and it is very functional as it is easier to pull out for the various settings. The other area I think are more subjective.
 
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Seeing member @gee_cee 's strap on the forum, I became intrigued by its appearance.


A web search located the strap as a " 21mm MiLTAT Military Green Washed Canvas" from StrapCode and available direct and through Amazon.

I liked the fact that this strap is set-up for deployant buckle (in fact it comes with a nice brushed deployant that matches the watch),
as I have an Omega Titanium deployant that I use with the watch.
You will notice that strap also has curved lug ends that add a nice touch.
I now have my X-33 set-up with the strap and the Omega deployant and I am ver pleased with the look and feel. Very easy and fast to wear and has a nice tool/service look.

 
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Seeing member @gee_cee 's strap on the forum, I became intrigued by its appearance.


A web search located the strap as a " 21mm MiLTAT Military Green Washed Canvas" from StrapCode and available direct and through Amazon.

I liked the fact that this strap is set-up for deployant buckle (in fact it comes with a nice brushed deployant that matches the watch),
as I have an Omega Titanium deployant that I use with the watch.
You will notice that strap also has curved lug ends that add a nice touch.
I now have my X-33 set-up with the strap and the Omega deployant and I am ver pleased with the look and feel. Very easy and fast to wear and has a nice tool/service look.

That does look very nice, to my chagrin I do not have a gen 2 in my collection, simply a first gen and the prototype. I do like the way with the gen 2 they took the shine off the bezel and the pushers. The first model is quite shiny looking, but I was an early adopter - the next model was years away at the time...
 
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Ok sorry this took a while, and I apologise in advance for the poor photographic skills displayed. Here's a side by side general shot. The red band on my gen 1 is one I found on Ebay, so aftermarket as they say. As you can see a few differences are immediately apparent. Chapter ring on the prototype has tritium inserts, second hand matches the other hands (grey on gen 1), and the case shape, bezel (steel) and pushers obviously.
Edited:
 
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Here are the differences in the crown guard geometry. I should put my seamaster 300 titanium in another shot as the X33 doesn't have just a standard seamaster case either (though it's pretty close).
Edited:
 
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This shot shows the differences in the lug contouring. The production model has an extra little ridge line, whereas the prototype is just a bit smoother, simply two surfaces meeting. The shape and length of the lugs is a little different too but this isn't really the angle for that. The Bezel too is much lower, doesn't rotate, and even though it's steel on titanium I think it's very cool. Also from this angle you can see the differences in the batons for each chapter ring, there are no insets on the prototype at all, they just run right up the side wall,
Edited:
 
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Another attempt to show the lug contour differences. Not a great shot sorry but you get some idea I hope.
 
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No comparison here, but this shows the square tritium batons quite well, they are more rounded on the gen 1 as you can see in the first shot. Also even though these are the original hands they have lume and it still works well, the tritium is as dead as a dodo. Guess these prototypes were still made as a slight mix of hodgepodge parts. Also note T Swiss Made T as opposed the other one's Swiss Made seen earlier with just the lume ring. Also the second markers are much longer than the gen 1.
 
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Finally another comparison shot to put it all together. The chapter rings really are quite different and I do like the prototype more, it looks cleaner somehow. You can also see the lugs and their divergences here, but I'm sure that's enough for now surely! Ok enjoy!
 
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Seeing member @gee_cee 's strap on the forum, I became intrigued by its appearance.


A web search located the strap as a " 21mm MiLTAT Military Green Washed Canvas" from StrapCode and available direct and through Amazon.

I liked the fact that this strap is set-up for deployant buckle (in fact it comes with a nice brushed deployant that matches the watch),
as I have an Omega Titanium deployant that I use with the watch.
You will notice that strap also has curved lug ends that add a nice touch.
I now have my X-33 set-up with the strap and the Omega deployant and I am ver pleased with the look and feel. Very easy and fast to wear and has a nice tool/service look.


Is that a 21 on curved 20mm?
 
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Is that a 21 on curved 20mm?
It is a curved 21. The lugs are 20mm. Snug but works fine
 
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It is a curved 21. The lugs are 20mm. Snug but works fine

Does it use curved or straight spring bars?
 
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Finally another comparison shot to put it all together. The chapter rings really are quite different and I do like the prototype more, it looks cleaner somehow. You can also see the lugs and their divergences here, but I'm sure that's enough for now surely! Ok enjoy!

Thanks for the comparison shot. Quite an interested prototype and I think its a collector piece for sure.
 
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There's another one for sale on Chrono24 if anyone's interested! Haven't seen a red hour hand version before either.

 
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Link is here for those who are interested to have a look. I've no affiliation with the seller or knowledge of this particular watch.

Edit: tidied up link
 
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very cool. i had the newer x33 skywalker for a bit, didn't bond with it although it was the most comfortable watch i have ever owned!
that is a great find! the provenance alone is worth a ton!
thanks for sharing!