In hindsight, instead of posting that succession of blingy gold-plated Yema N8's, I probably should have been wearing my much-loved original Yema Spationaute III Aragatz 'bitza' - so 3 days late, on this bright sunny blue SATurday morning.
I say 'much loved' (and I still fondly remember building this watch from a cheap beater parts donor and a secondhand 'mission flags' dial, which cost me all of 5 Euros), but nowadays it tends to lead a sheltered life, rarely being taken out the collection box. When I did so earlier this morning, the date was showing as SAT / 30, which gives you some idea how long it had been since it last came out. Shame on me. In truth, I've taken it off straight after the wrist shot, because it looks like today is going to be warm (forecast high is 28°C) and I don't want to risk any sweat staining on the strap, which is still in 'as new' condition. It's not original, but it holds significant sentimental value and is irreplaceable. It's a long since discontinued* German made Colditz Pazifik 'Echt Haifisch'. Yes 'Colditz' - and according to their website the company still exists, but the 'shop' is password protected !
The watch has received a few upgrades over the years, including fitment of the correct original Yema double-domed crystal and original correct silver-painted hands (re-lumed by James Hyman to glow blue). Unlike my wardrobe, my preferred style of wrist shots has also evolved. Here's one from my photo archive, which was probably the first wrist shot I ever took of this watch on 24/01/2010. Pretty damned awful innit ?
*In fact, I scrolled through Colditz's online .pdf catalogue and on page 40 found that they still listed a 'Pazifik' strap:
Except it's 'Pazifik' in name only, evidently less padded with white stitching. The same 22mm generic blue shark strap could once easily be found on eBay Germany, listed as 'Bob' brand and by other vendors.