Winfield Sky Lead Stainless: A Vintage Military Watch Design

A high-quality timepiece is more than just a simple watch. It can enhance your style for any event, serve as a symbol of status, and even be considered an investment.

If you choose to pass it down to future generations, it can become a part of your lasting legacy.

What constitutes a quality timepiece? Let’s break it down into three categories.

1. Weight – A watch with a decent weight or heft to it is like a good solid handshake. You can just tell that you’re dealing with something that is going to last.
2. Movement – Automatic movement all the way. Auto movements contain more moving parts, provide the sleek sweep movement of the second hand, and generally are more of an investment for the watchmaker. Although the ETA2824 and Citizen Caliber 9015 seem to be quality movements from my experience, a properly regulated NH35 will do the job just as well.
3. Lume – I’m a huge proponent of quality lume. The information a watch provides is absolutely useless if you cannot see it. It needs to be readable at all times in any condition. The dial design of the Sky Lead is clear, clean, and crisp. It has bright C3 Super Luminova on the dial and the hands to ensure readability in the darkest of dark. I have other watches that claim to have a ‘high quality’ lume, but cannot be easily read in the darkest of dark and fade quickly. This is one of the reasons that the Winfield Watch Sky Lead Stainless is now a go-to watch of mine.

Sky Lead Stainless Description

The standard load-out of the Winfield Sky Lead Stainless is a black two-piece nylon strap with brushed stainless hardware, a Winfield 1.4mm Cobalt nylon strap with brushed stainless hardware, and a heavy-duty microfiber cloth all enclosed in a 12-ounce waxed canvas watch roll.

A stainless steel warranty card will also be included.

Every Winfield watch movement is regulated in six positions, pressure tested to 200 meters, and receives a full quality check.

Winfield Watch Company offers a 2-year transferable warranty on its watches from the time of purchase.

Sky Lead Stainless Specs

• Case: Bead-blasted 316L surgical-grade stainless steel, drilled lugs, dual case back gaskets, metal movement holder
• Crown: Screw-down with double gaskets
• Crystal: Double domed sapphire with double anti-reflective coating
• Hands: Blacked out with Swiss Super-LumiNova C3
• Lume: Six layers of Swiss Super-LumiNova C3
• Water resistance: 200m / 660 feet, individually pressure tested
• Movement: Seiko (SII) Japanese NH35 Automatic, regulated in 6 positions
• Dimensions: 41mm diameter, 48.5mm lug to lug, 13mm thick, and a 20mm lug width

Let’s take a closer look at the NH35 movement, the screw-down crown design, and lume.

Is The NH35 movement any good?

The NH35 movement is a reliable workhorse movement that punches way above its price point. Its reliability, for such an affordable movement, is one of the reasons it is so highly regarded among watchmakers. Winfield watch company regulates the NH35 movement in 6 different positions. This enables the movement to hold its regulation longer, improves the performance of the movement, and maximizes the accuracy of the watch.

What is the beat rate of a NH35?

Due to the lower beat rate (6 beats per second) of the movement, it will also last longer before needing servicing. The NH35A automatic movement is also popular enough that spare parts will be available for years to come. Because of the inherent robustness and reliability of the NH35, it can hold its own against any entry-level Swiss mechanical movement.

Can You Overwind NH35A?

The NH35A movement cannot be overwound. There is a mechanism inside the movement that prevents this. Once it’s fully wound, it more or less disengages so you don’t damage the movement. if it’s your daily wear watch it should remain fully wound if you are actively moving throughout the day.

5 Benefits of Using The NH35 Movement

The Seiko NH35 is a popular automatic movement used in many micro brands. Here are some of the benefits of the Seiko NH35 movement:

Accuracy:

The Seiko NH35 movement is known for its high accuracy and reliability. It has a frequency of 21,600 beats per hour (3 Hz) and a power reserve of approximately 41 hours. This means that the watch will keep accurate time and require minimal adjustment. On top of that, Winfield Watches regulates the NH35 movement in 6 different positions resulting in a movement that has proven to be +/- 1 second of deviation per day. That’s better timekeeping than watches costing 10 times as much.

Durability:

The Seiko NH35 movement is also highly durable and robust, with shock resistance and a hacking feature (which allows for precise time-setting). It has 24 jewels and is designed to withstand the rigors of an everyday tool watch.

Versatility:

The Seiko NH35 movement is a versatile movement that can be used in a variety of watch styles and designs. It is often used in dive watches, pilot watches, and other sporty or rugged designs.

Cost-effective:

The Seiko NH35 movement is a cost-effective option for watchmakers, as it is relatively inexpensive compared to other high-end automatic movements. This movement punches way above its price point.

Easy to maintain:

The Seiko NH35 movement is easy to maintain and service, thanks to its simple design and widespread availability of replacement parts. This means that watchmakers can easily repair and service watches that use this movement, ensuring that they remain accurate and reliable for years to come.

Waterproof Screw Down Crown

Similar to the Rolex Twinlock system, the Winfield Sky Lead Stainless screw-down crown contains two rubber gaskets.

These two gaskets work together with the screw-down crown to lock in the 200-meter water resistance. In addition to maintaining the water resistance rating, the two gaskets also prevent moisture and dust from getting inside the watch when the crown is pulled out for date and time setting.

Many watch companies will stop at the screw-down crown to secure a 100-meter water resistance rating, but Winfield Watch took it a step further to ensure the longevity of their watches by incorporating the two rubber gaskets into the crown stem and at the same time achieving a 200-meter water resistance. That’s attention to detail.

6 Layers of Super LumiNova C3

What is C3 LumiNova?

Super-LumiNova has become a ubiquitous name in watch lume. If you see Super in front of the LumiNova, then you know it’s 100% Swiss-made.

The C3 is a lume that is used in most vintage-styled watches. C3 LumiNova gives an extraordinary look to your watch when you are in the dark. Hailed as one of the brightest lumes compared to other variations. The relative brightness of C3 LumiNova stands at an astonishing 100%.

C3 Super LumiNova will provide you with enough visibility to see the time in the darkest of dark for hours on end.

The Winfield Sky Lead uses 6 layers of the C3 Super-LumiNova! Protecting the dial and C3 LumiNova is a robust sapphire crystal.

Are Sapphire Crystal Watches Durable

A sapphire crystal is actually not glass at all. It is a very hard, transparent material made of crystallizing pure aluminium oxide at very high temperatures.

When it is heated, the synthetic sapphire forms round masses, that are then sliced into pieces with diamond-coated saws. These disks are then ground and polished into watch crystals.

One reason sapphire crystal watches are more expensive is that the tools required to cut and polish this extremely hard material are very costly.

Consequently, sapphire is one of the hardest substances on earth making it the perfect choice for my Winfield Sky Lead stainless watch.

5 Benefits of Having a Watch With Sapphire Crystal

Sapphire crystal is a popular material used in luxury watches due to its durability, scratch resistance, and overall aesthetic appeal. Here are some of the benefits of a sapphire crystal on a watch.

Scratch resistance:

Sapphire crystal is incredibly robust and long-lasting, making it resistant to scratches and abrasions. This means that even after years of use, your watch face will stay clear and easy to read.

Clarity:

Sapphire crystal is also extremely clear, allowing you to view the details on your watch face with ease. It offers a high level of transparency and a low level of distortion, allowing you to interpret your watch fast and correctly.

Aesthetics:

Sapphire crystal offers a distinct and attractive aspect that enhances the overall appearance and appeal of any it’s used on. It boasts a smooth and reflective surface that adds to the elegance and refinement of the watch.

Protection:

The sapphire crystal’s toughness and endurance also help to protect the inner workings of your watch. It can endure collisions and shocks, which is useful if you wear your watch while participating in sports or other outdoor activities.

Longevity:

Because sapphire crystal is extremely strong, it is less likely to be scratched or damaged over time. This means that your watch will retain that refined look and work properly for many years to come.

Conclusion

The Winfield Watch Sky Lead Stainless is stylish enough to pair with a suit in the boardroom yet rugged enough to tackle the toughest surf or extreme adventure.

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