A
FRIEND RECENTLY ASKED me to go over and test a merchandise that he
received of late from his trading activities. This is a button
compass that used to be popular in the ‘80s and ‘90s as an
accessory for diver’s watches, notably a SEIKO Diver.
The
main body is made of plastic in black color which hold the bezel and
a floating dial that would rotate when the compass is moved clockwise
or counterclockwise and this act as the magnetic needle. The dial is
also in black which is housed inside a transparent plastic filled
with liquid.
The
cardinal direction symbols like N, E, S and W which are located on
the rotating dial are painted in luminous green as well as the
direction arrow located above the N. All other features are painted
white to include those found on the bezel. I test the compass in the
dark and it glowed. After about three hours it lost its luminosity.
The
bezel could be rotated by hand and you would hear a click each time
you move it left or right. The bezel is notched to accommodate easy
manipulation by thumb and forefinger. By the way, each click is
equivalent to 10-degrees according to its packaging literature.
However, I could not determine the accuracy of this information.
At
the back is a narrow slot which has a flexible cover that could
accommodate most wristwatch strap sizes not more than 1/8-inch thick
and not beyond 3/4-inch wide. It could be easily slipped on the
strap but I doubt if it could hold itself fast when it is
accidentally snagged.
A
small triangle jutting two millimeters on the housing beside the
bezel act as the orienteering arrow. Smart design for a directional
instrument whose function is limited due to its size. General
direction-wise, it could hold its own when placed side-by-side with a
standard compass but is accuracy is suspect when I used it for some
serious navigation exercises.
This
wrist-bound compass is made in China for use in the United States of
America. A health-hazard warning is attached at the back of the
package pursuant to California Health and Safety Code.
According
to its label, the compass is great for camping, hiking, hunting,
fishing, outdoor activities, travel, etc. Without a doubt, it could
be done but I believe it could not approximate the performance of
standard-sized compasses.
It
is just too small and lacked the handling capability that bigger
compasses possess. It is just too small to project its details to
one who is visually-impaired under dim-light conditions. It is just
too small to be noticed in your presence and would likely get
misplaced.
Its
lightness is its only advantage. Although, it accomplishes the
function of locating the cardinal directions but beyond that I would
rather trust a compass with base plates. This button compass would
never replace a standard-sized compass but this is a great backup
compass if in case you broke or lose the main one.
Document
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