Shumate Dive Watch

[Basenshukai]

Gents,

I was not sure where to put this. On the request of a buddy involved in the production of these watches, I was asked if I could put this on here.

Essentially, NFW (watch company) made a number of watches and named the line after SGM Walt Shumate (with permission from the Shumate family, of course).

Most of you fellas are not into this kind of stuff. But, I figured I put this up for whomever might be in for one. I happen to own one and, when I'm not wearing my G-Shock, Rolex, or Omega, I'm wearing this.

You might have to click on the picture again just to get it too zoom.

[Peregrino]

Hmmmm - save for new pistol or new watch? Not that I really need either one but wants have their own urgencies.

BTW - does SFA7 have a reliable contact at NFW? They ignored my request for support when the buckle and one band retainer broke on my 7th Gp watch. Annoying.

[MtnGoat]

I feel they should make all models available with DOL chest. Nice looking watches. I'm not CDQC Qualed but I like them.

[The Reaper]

And the name should help with introductions.

"Hi, I'm Walt Shumate!"

TR

[Basenshukai]

Originally Posted by Peregrino

Hmmmm - save for new pistol or new watch? Not that I really need either one but wants have their own urgencies.

BTW - does SFA7 have a reliable contact at NFW? They ignored my request for support when the buckle and one band retainer broke on my 7th Gp watch. Annoying.

You can contact NFW directly and speak to the company founder and CEO, George Fox. Just go to the website (nfwonline.com) and click on the "contact NFW" link at the top right of the page.

If you guy are OK with it (Team Sergeant, and TR) I can have George join the forum and introduce himself. He's a nice guy who has worked to raise funds for SF once before. He also does work with the Wounded Warrior Project, as well as the Special Operations Warrior Foundation.

PS: I had the same issue with SFA7 when I wrote to buy one of these watches (Shumate Diver) back before Christmas. I didn't get a response for a long, long time. By then, I had already purchased it directly through George at NFW for the same SF discount rate. But, I believe that the SFA7 is under new leadership right now and they should be very responsive. But, for watch parts/service, I'd contact George.

The thing with NFW for us SF guys is that if anything goes wrong with your watch, just contact George, let him know and you just send it in and they take care of it. If its the watch failing in any way due to a manufacturing defect, or something of the sort (band breaking, movement loosing time beyond specs), they'll fix it at their cost.

You won't need to hold on to your receipt either. Just send the watch in. That's why I prefer to deal with him. I own seven of his watches, and my wife owns three.

[JJ_BPK]

Good look'n watch. I like the nato band and the hex head screws for the pins.

I'd like to see the DUI & SGM Shumate's name on the face..

http://nfwonline.com/store/catalogse...t=30&q=shumate

I also like the hat & T..

[Basenshukai]

Originally Posted by JJ_BPK

Good look'n watch. I like the nato band and the hex head screws for the pins.

I'd like to see the DUI & SGM Shumate's name on the face..

http://nfwonline.com/store/catalogse...t=30&q=shumate

I also like the hat & T..

I'll put more pictures later (have to re-size them). The box comes with a fold-out detailing SGM Shumate's career, as well as an additional band (NATO, or leather, depending on the model).

[Team Sergeant]

Originally Posted by Basenshukai

You can contact NFW directly and speak to the company founder and CEO, George Fox. Just go to the website (nfwonline.com) and click on the "contact NFW" link at the top right of the page.

If you guy are OK with it (Team Sergeant, and TR) I can have George join the forum and introduce himself. He's a nice guy who has worked to raise funds for SF once before. He also does work with the Wounded Warrior Project, as well as the Special Operations Warrior Foundation.

PS: I had the same issue with SFA7 when I wrote to buy one of these watches (Shumate Diver) back before Christmas. I didn't get a response for a long, long time. By then, I had already purchased it directly through George at NFW for the same SF discount rate. But, I believe that the SFA7 is under new leadership right now and they should be very responsive. But, for watch parts/service, I'd contact George.

The thing with NFW for us SF guys is that if anything goes wrong with your watch, just contact George, let him know and you just send it in and they take care of it. If its the watch failing in any way due to a manufacturing defect, or something of the sort (band breaking, movement loosing time beyond specs), they'll fix it at their cost.

You won't need to hold on to your receipt either. Just send the watch in. That's why I prefer to deal with him. I own seven of his watches, and my wife owns three.

That's fine. If they are actively involved in Special Operations charities they are welcome here.

I'm waiting for the HALO watch.....

[The Reaper]

Originally Posted by Team Sergeant

That's fine. If they are actively involved in Special Operations charities they are welcome here.

I'm waiting for the HALO watch.....

Matos? Powers? Waugh? Pickett?

Who would they put on that one?

Color the face like the altimeter? Maybe with a curfew for the red zone.

A buddy of mine was a naval aviator. The A-6 Intruder pilots got together and managed to get Breitling to duplicate the appearance of the Intruder instrument panel for their watches. Very nice.

TR

[PRB]

Where can you go to get the watch size stats....casing size 44mm or what?

[Basenshukai]

Ok, fellas. I resized the pictures of my own watch for this forum.

I have the "plain" Shumate. That is, I don't have the Shumate name on the dial. That was not intentional. I screwed up the model number on when I ordered it. So, I still have to get the "Shumate" one. Anyway, here is mine.

Pictures:

1) Dial Micro: This is the watch face. All Shumate Divers have the same number of Superluminova layers that you'd find in an Omega watch. The bezel insert is made of ceramic, so it does not scratch. The bezel outer ring is made out of steel, and the bezel rotates firmly. The crystal is sapphire, not mineral, and not plexi. The numbers on the bezel, as well as the dial, and hands are all coated in Superluminova (see below).

2) Shumate Lume: Superluminova glows like a torch when initially exposed to bright light. It is not meant to stay that way, and it does not. What Superluminova accomplishes is that it makes it possible for your natural night vision to read the dial throughout the night. However, for up to 20 minutes after exposed to light, Superluminova will be easily discernible with your regular low light vision.

3) Shumate Crown: This is a screw down crown. The watch is water resistant to 500 meters. The crown is protected, on either side, by rounded crown guards. This has been designed to be such that it does not hurt the wrist.

4) He Valve: Though only of real practical use for deep sea divers, the He release valve is a common item in most dive watches.

5) Shumate Case Back: The movement is the newer Miyota 9115. This is a high-beat movement with a sweeping hand. The 9115 beats at 28,800 vph, which is the same as the Rolex caliber 3135 movement found in the Submariner. The case back has a sapphire crystal window that shows the bottom of the movement.

6) Shumate Size Comparison: The Shumate Diver is a conservative 44mm watch. I put it next to my Rolex Yachtmaster Rolessium (40mm).

To be continued...

[Basenshukai]

More features of a Shumate Diver:

1) Shumate Diver Leather Band: This is a high quality Italian leather band. Some Shumate models have brown leather bands. Others come with NATO nylon, and the leather band. Others have leather and steel. In either case, they all come with two bands. You can buy additional ones. There is no rubber bracelet for the Shumate.

2) Shumate Leather Reverse: Self-explanatory.

3) Shumate Steel Extended: If you ever need to extend your watch, or resize it, there is no need to get a pin and push those annoying spring bars (that usually jump all over the place). Like the new Rolex Deep Sea Diver extender, you just extend the steel bracelet by pressing firmly on two buttons and pushing it the number of "clicks" required. This also works well when you are needing to extend the bracelet because of a dive suit. For me, sometimes my wrist is just bigger sometimes, so I can adjust it on the spot.

4) Shumate Extender Reverse: Self-Explanatory

[Basenshukai]

1) Box: The box is aluminum and large enough to hold the watch, the strap change tools, and the watch materials (booklets, instructions, etc.).

2) Shumate Materials: The usual, plus a small booklet with a short history of SGM Shumate's accomplishments in SOF. This was authored by his son, COL Alan Shumate.

3) Strap change tools: The Shumate diver does NOT use spring bars anywhere, not even on the strap. Spring bars are the weakest part of most watches. Because of that, George Fox decided on using hex bolts for the job (see the bracelet pictures in other post).

Well, that's it. It's a heck of a watch for less than $800. But, if you are SF, you can get three of the models from SFA7. If you want the other ones, contact NFW and place your order. Let George know you are SF, by the way.

[Basenshukai]

Originally Posted by PRB

Where can you go to get the watch size stats....casing size 44mm or what?

Here you go:

Dial: Matte Black (some models come in other colors), with applied C3 Green SuperLuminova markers
Hands: Broadsword hands with C3 Green Superluminova, and Orange Lume Trident second hand
Case Finish: Stealth Black
Case Finish full description: Bead-blasted Black DLC 316L Stainless Steel, ceramic bezel insert with SuperLuminova bezel markings
Movement: Automatic Self-Winding
Movement full description: Precision Miyota Calibre 9015 with signed NFW rotor, 24 Jewels
Water Resistance: 500 Meters / 1650 Feet
Case Size: 44mm
Case Thickness: 15.4mm
Case Material: Impact-Forged, Surgical-Grade 316L Stainless Steel with Ceramic bezel
Caseback: Screw-In with Sapphire Exhibition Window
Crown: Screw-Down, Double-Gasket, with NFW Trident insignia
Crystal: Domed Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating

[Beef]

It's a great deal price wise for a great watch. If the Superluminova is the same thickness as an Omega, then it is visibly super to the amount of SL on Rolexes made between 1999-2012, as far as lowlight readability and duration of "glow." On newer models, Rolex has addressed that with blue Chromalight, an SL product.

The movement as you described it is the best bargain. It should keep time pretty close to COSC specs, even if its not COSC certified.

The ceramic bezel is an upgrade that Rolex introduced on its GMT IIs, Subs and Deep Sea SeaDwellers over the last few years.

You can get a Rolex Deep Sea SeaDweller for a little under $10, 000. It also has a HEV.

NFW did a great job on these. For me, the only deal-killer is the 44mm case and its case height. It appears to be almost, not quite, as tall as the Rolex Deep Sea. My little chicken wrists are swallowed by the DSSD. I am a 40mm case guy. My new Explorer II gets little wrist time due to the 42mm case and its thickness. But I'll probably get one of these because I'm an addict and they honor one of our greatest brothers. Great job, Basenshukai and NFW!