Type I muscle fibers are sometimes called “slow twitch” muscles. They expand and contract more slowly and allow us to do mundane tasks such as standing and sitting. They are also required for long-distance runners or swimmers. They use less oxygen than the other muscle fibers, the Type II “fast twitch” muscle fibers. Fast twitch muscles help us do fast high intensity activities for shorter periods. These include weight-lifting and rapid eye movement. A marathon runner must develop their slow twitch muscles. The sprinter must rely on their fast twitch muscles.
Is there such a thing as a fast twitch or slow twitch watch consumer? Do you have specific requirements for a purchase, find a watch that meets those requirements, and then hunt for the best price? Does this process take time and patience? You may be a slow twitch watch consumer. On the other hand, are you a “see watch, buy watch” sort? You may be a fast twitch watch collector.
It is possible to be one and then transition to the other. It is possible to be both at the same time. I appear to sometimes represent the duality of the fast and slow twitch. When I buy a vintage watch I am often temporally limited by the buying experience. The auction may end soon. I may not be in this town any time in the near future to come back to this store. So, I must research, evaluate, and value the watch in a short time. If I can buy it for what I want to pay for it the time is short between seeing and buying.
New watch purchases are definitely a slow twitch process for me. I stalk a watch, often for nearly a year. I look at reviews and forums. I watch videos. I go to stores. I determine what exactly I want and where it fits into what I already own. I don’t buy just to buy. I may someday, but I am constrained by financial reality.
A couple of years ago I decided that I needed a real diver in my rotation. I had vintage divers, but I trusted them about as much as vintage chronographs to fulfill their stated function. If I wanted to wear my watch in a pool or at the ocean, I wanted modern gaskets and screw down crowns. I opted for a fun diver powered by an NH35. It is heavy and thick. I wear it more than you would think.
I live in a place with hot, humid summers. I had to laugh at the recent heat wave that troubled Europe. We call that weather by its proper name: April. When it gets truly hot I find that I am always fidgeting in my leather or silicone straps. The peak of summer is the only time that I prefer bracelets. My diver is really a weekend short sleeve watch. I wanted something that could be worn with my professional garb, something that would fit under a sleeve and would not look out of place when I wear a tie (which is most days).
So, I did what I also do for slow twitch decisions, I scoured forums and watched videos. I determined that I wanted the look of a watch that could be worn on a hike and in a courtroom. We had to be in GADA territory. I have enough purely dress watches. I wanted something more rough and tumble. What follows is a review of sorts.
Two watches began to emerge as front runners: the Lorier Falcon and the Nivada Grenchen Super Antarctic. Ultimately, what made the difference for me was the sapphire used by Nivada. I have scores of acrylic crystals on watches. I am not overly worried about damaging them. I have done some real injury in the past, but I am not too concerned. Sapphire won out. (It also helps that the Lorier was sold out one night when I needed to buy.)
What is interesting about these watches is how open they are about their influences. Lorier leans more into vintage Omega styling, but with the 3-6-9 configuration (Omega kept the 12). Nivada takes more directly from the Rolex Explorer. The Antarctic has its own pedigree, but it was never a 3-6-9. It either retained the 12 or went without Arabic numerals. The inclusion of the non-Mercedes Mercedes hour hand clearly places this watch into homage territory. A vintage Nivada will have dauphine hands. This watch more resembles a Explorer 6150 than a vintage Super Antarctic. Like any homage, it has me thinking of vintage Explorers. They are silly money right now. They may be silly money when I start looking for them in the future. That is the slow twitch search: a 6350 with a waffle dial (like the Lorier) or with pencil hands. The real question is how not to overpay.
The slow twitch process is no guarantee of success. Sure, I had researched the watch and tailored my selection to my predetermined criteria. The price was the price. I ordered one in May and waited.
I received the watch about a week later from Hong Kong. Watches are international now and have been for a long time. I am not hung up on “Swiss-ness”. I am sure that it meets those minimum requirements. The unboxing was unremarkable (I don’t care about packaging, even really clever packaging). I examined the watch to start sizing the bracelet and noticed a small sliver of the neoprene gasket loose on the dial. It resembled a white hair (I am familiar with those). I sent them pictures and they had me send the watch back. The emails were pleasant and prompt.
The watch made its way to Hong Kong. I never received the return shipment information. One day, about a month after the initial purchase, the replacement showed up. This time I managed to size the bracelet with all of the skill of a near sighted chimpanzee. It was then that I noticed gaps where the bracelet met the lugs. It was not flush as the first one had been.
The emails from Nivada this time were still polite, but I detected a note of panic. How unlucky was this transaction? A new bracelet is on its way to me now. It will magically arrive any day.
Buying experience aside, of course I like the watch. That is why I said it was a review of sorts. You have already decided your opinion on slow twitch purchases. You aren’t surprised by the power reserve or the lume. You already knew the pros and cons. I bought a watch that I knew that I would like. The only thing that I am surprised by is how I forget that I am wearing it on hot afternoons. The beads of rice bracelet is doing what I hoped that it would and is delivering comfort. Now apparently, I will have a spare one for another watch.
A fast twitch purchase is coming on Monday. More on that later.
The Escapement Room 
When I started, I set a price limit on a watch and bought everything under the sun to built a collection. Once I set the quantity limit and understood the difference in wear and functions, I then went about upgrading the collection slowly and methodacly. Brand name and models became important, type of movement and where a watch was assembled also contributed to the purchase and of course the price range increased as well.
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