Okay, so today I’m gonna ramble about my little project with the Speedmaster Apollo 8. Been wanting to do this for ages, finally got around to messing with it.
First things first, I unboxed the thing. Yeah, sounds dumb, but you gotta start somewhere, right? Took it out, gave it a good once-over. The ceramic case is killer, feels solid. The dial, that’s where the magic’s at. That detailed lunar surface? Mesmerizing.
Next, I decided to swap out the strap. The original one is fine, but I wanted something a bit more…me. So, I dug through my strap collection (yeah, I’m that guy) and found a rally strap that I thought would look pretty damn cool. Getting the spring bars out was a pain in the butt, as always. Almost launched one across the room. But I managed it without scratching the case – always a win.
With the new strap on, it was time to play around with the chronograph. Just timing random stuff around the house – boiling water for tea, how long it takes the dog to finish his food (surprisingly quick). The chronograph pushers feel nice and clicky. It’s satisfying, you know?
Then, I wanted to actually see how accurate this thing is. I mean, it’s a mechanical watch, so I wasn’t expecting atomic clock precision, but still. I used a time-tracking app on my phone and synced it up. I set the watch and then checked back every day for like, a week. It was gaining a few seconds a day, which is totally within spec. Honestly, I was expecting worse.
After that, I figured, why not try taking some decent photos? This watch deserves it. So, I busted out my (very amateur) photography gear – a light box, a couple of lamps, and my phone camera. Spent a solid hour trying to get some good shots of the dial, the movement (through the caseback), and the overall look on my wrist. Lighting is everything, man. Still not a pro, but got some shots I was happy enough with.
Finally, I just wore it. Everywhere. Grocery store, dog walks, even to a (casual) dinner. Just soaking it in. This watch isn’t just a time-telling device; it’s a piece of history, a conversation starter. And it looks freakin’ awesome on the wrist.
So, yeah, that’s pretty much it. A simple project, but a really enjoyable one. This Speedmaster Apollo 8 is a keeper.