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@walowiz Jura have the Arnie on sale at £303 currently, discount plus a 10% code shown at the top of the page.
You’d be welcome to my Samuarai for £250, it’s for sale and I have the links I removed plus box. For £275 I’ll thrown in the Clockwork integrated rubber strap (rrp £55).
@Stevet1 that timex looks great, £320 with 15% off is still way over budget, very nice looking watch from Timex. Weirdly very nice from them, unexpected. Any sales on that and I’d go for that,
@Kryton57 thanks for the offer, but I think I sold one of those last year or the year before. Great watch, but not one I favoured over my other seiko divers, esp the green one I snagged from @neilnevill.
Budget wise, I’m looking to keep this under 100 or so. Quite liked the look of a balthany a few pages back, probably way more than a few pages now tbf
If it came back with a new COSC certificate isn’t that either a full new movement or a trip to Switzerland post repair for re-testing?
I have a Citizen Promaster Tough (BN0211-50E) that ticks all those boxes (for me at least). They don't seem to be available now but it looks like the green one on a strap is: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Citizen-Eco-Drive-BN0211-09X-Promaster-Tough/dp/B07W4K7HB4 (although I remember mine being ~£200)
edit - just seen your budget is £100 so this one is out (new at least)
Quite liked the look of a balthany
They are very good and exceptionally clear, I really like my pilot chrono - definitely very good value. Quartz though.
not all baltany are quartz; shame not many available secondhand, but this would do, if it cost a bit less 🙂
https://baltany.co.uk/product/automatic-military-field-watch/
@CountZero – what do you think of the MWC?<br /><br />
I’ve had one and it was a bit….meh🤷♂️<br />The crystal scratched easily and quite badly, the PVD coating wore through fairly easily on the contact points.<br />I’m am engineer though and am hard on watches, Seiko5 Sports are stronger / harder wearing.
This, basically. I found it too small, the Tritium markers didn’t show up very well, and it just wasn’t all that, tbh. I’m not sure about Tritium tubes as watch markers generally - the modern lume that the likes of Seiko apply is insanely bright, and will last right through the night given a decent dose of illumination first, the SPORK is dazzling to start with, and several hours later is perfectly legible.
The G-Shock on the left still annoys me, it’s a great, hard-wearing cheap watch, but not being able to wind the hands back, because it gains at least a minute a week, just really pisses me off! <br />If I was traveling abroad, it would be ideal, it wouldn’t attract attention, and the gaining wouldn’t be an issue for a week or two, and as that’s something I’m hoping to do in the not too distant future, that’s what it will do.
That Balthany field watch is rather nice, I do like the cathedral hand-set, very appropriate for a watch like that, and £180 doesn’t seem too much. A bit small, though I do prefer larger watches, even on my scrawny wrists!
Anyone bought a Casio 5x00 and also bought one of the AliExpress titanium band/case upgrades? I feel a mini project coming on. Looks dead simple, as long as I can get a case/strap for whichever 5x00 has solar option.
Pics of yours would be lovely... It's what we come here for 😉
That Balthany field watch is rather nice, I do like the cathedral hand-set, very appropriate for a watch like that, and £180 doesn’t seem too much. A bit small, though I do prefer larger watches, even on my scrawny wrists!
Thanks, I hadn’t clocked that it’s only 36mm width, damn. Too small for me.
3 years ago(!) I bought a vintage Seamaster from @Wally from this thread (sorry, real name lost in the mist of time) and a couple of weeks before Christmas it came to a dead stop. Worked beautifully before that, so a bit disappointing. Fear not though because Fudd, (Dave) has fixed it! The setting lever spring had broken, and the loose part got stuck in the movement. I know you've always like the posts that Fudd writes, so here's a few of the photo's that he sent me back. I did ask if he was OK with me posting this beforehand.
Not bad for a 63 year old movement! Face down is +11, still more accurate than many a modern Seiko.
The culprit - also explains why pulling the crown out to set the time never had a nice positive click action.
Hello Wally here, lovely to see the old Seamaster still ticking. Got to love STW sometimes. Quality always prevails. Chapeau!
Tthew - you might be the third owner, I bought it in Cornwall from a small shop and they said it came in locally from a widow. Fudd - master at your craft.
Always give us first refusal Tthew 🙂
That’s lovely tthew, and nice to be able to see the pics. I’ve been looking at birth year Geneve’s and I’m quite taken by the idea owning a vintage omega 50yrs older than my modern one.
Glad you're still here to see my post Wally. I don't think it will be coming back to you any time soon sorry, I'm too fond of it!
Kryton, mine's not a birth year watch - it's considerably older than me! I'd call you a cheeky bugger, but I'm not actually sure you were insinuating that. 🤣
I wasn’t, just commenting on what I’m doing.
I like these how does a movement work animations:
Thanks, I really liked that! (Started to glaze over by the time it was on to the winding/date changing mechanism though...)
I'm trying to have a break from buying watches as for now I've got most bases covered in my collection. A selection of rufty tufty watches, some dress watches and some in betweeners.
This one caught my eye though and at a price not to be refused.
A 1978 Grand Quartz Seiko with a Silver Snow dial. It has a twin quartz movement to compensate for temperature variances and was advertised with an accuracy of +/- 10 seconds a year.
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Twin movement hence the double cockandballs emblem I think you explained before? That is accurate, even for a quartz!
Twin movement hence the double cockandballs emblem I think you explained before? That is accurate, even for a quartz!
They are nice watches, especially for the money today. They were 100,000 yem back in the 70s
Proper quality.
Yes I know, grand seiko are superb now and their are a few I 'd love (slga023 or 015, sbge277, snga461 or 463 ) but since I've a seiko snr035 I can't justify one.... can't afford one either currently!
I don't know very much about their vintage stuff though, other than the lion has always made good watches.
For anyone interested in the old Seiko Quartz watches, this link illustrates just how much work went into the making of these watches.
[url] https://adventuresinamateurwatchfettling.com/2021/09/26/twin-quartz-a-seiko-grand-quartz-9943-8000-from-june-1978/ [/url]
I was in town yesterday, and I thought ‘sod it’, and bought a replacement for the G-Shock, a GA-2100-1AER ‘CasiOak.
It’s the cheapest of the range, and nicely monochrome and clear to read, which many G-Shocks aren’t. Most importantly, it can be easily adjusted, and it can be set to different cities globally, so different time zones and daylight saving time is easy.
Something else as well, it can be modded, and the Seiko SKX crowd have got in on the act; it’s easy to take the back off, take the movement out, and there are different colour handsets available, and the ‘bezel’, or chapter ring will just drop out and can be replaced with all sorts of different colours, and even fully-lumed ones. I’m going to do my own, getting a plain black one, and I’m getting a proper Lumibrite touch-up kit and do the markings in white, as most are blue or green, and where the strap attaches the plastic mounting can be replaced with an alloy version that’ll take a range of 22mm straps, including ones that are replicas of the nylon ‘Alpine’ straps for the Apple Watch Ultra, which don’t use Velcro, instead alloy hooks that slide through nylon loops, so nice and secure. Because those straps attach at each end, there isn’t the double-thickness that you get with NATO straps and the added bulkiness. <br />It’s nice wearing a watch that’s a fraction of the weight of the SPORK, for a change, but that’s about the same size and legibility. <br />And won’t attract unwanted attention.
That’s interesting, I was looking at the solar version a couple of days ago. I’m struggling with “what watch for airports” now that I’ve narrowed the collection to expensive enough or cherished Watches to worry about then as they disappear and hopefully reappear on the security tray.
it’s what I bought the Baltany for, but I put that on a cheap tropic strap for without-a-care water proofnesss and am not feeling it.
I’d quite like a GM2100 for a tiny bit of up market, but there isn’t a solar one that isn’t expensive.
I’d be amazed if your spork attracts unwanted attention.
You can get metal kits for the Casioak that closely resemble the AP Royal Oak after which it was named. Something I’ve wanted to do, but haven’t got around to yet.
I’m struggling with “what watch for airports”
I'm struggling with that concept, do you take it once you've boarded?
🙃
I have the black on black GA2100 (I don't know ow to post images)
I got an SKXMods Casioak kit for it (Black with dark blue FM strap on deployant clasp). It's class. comes with the tools to change it, a glass protector for the ... err glass. and looks great. I get more "Nice watch" comments from that than I ever did from my Rolex SeaDweller (which I had for 20 years).
Can recommend. He does all the bits and bobs to really go to town. Easy to get in contact with him too.
Thought I'd wear this G-Shock today for all the heaters 😊
Are you part way through a transition to lycanthrope?
I like the watch.
… to worry about then as they disappear and hopefully reappear on the security tray.<br /><br />
WTAF? That thought has never crossed my mind.
My old friend Tris has started a watch company.
Some nice Seiko based watches for £100
For all you G-Shock groovers...
I give you a very spendy one..
I got a GW-5000U-1JF a few years ago and thought that was a push for a square, but this really takes the biscuit.
You don't have to take a watch off when passing airport security.
I never have and it's never been asked to be taken off.
Passed through Manchester airport this morning and overheard security telling a passenger that you don't have to remove your watch.
Any love for the seiko monsters?
I’m considering buying one, specifically the srpg57, which has a 4r36 movement.
@martymac yes, lots of love here for the Orange monster, have had one for - well a very long time now.
IMVHO they are a great watch, best one to get is the orange option though, obviously.
I was looking at the Heimdllar homage just today as they are reduced to $129 pre tax. it’s not a Seiko though for good or for bad….
Any of you guys have experience of Jura Watches? Are they ok to deal with?
Yes, I’ve had several from Jura with a good service. Here’s a tip; go all the way through the buying process with contact details entered, progress but don’t take the final step of payment, then abandon. They’ll call or email you within 24hrs and make you a better offer. Or a least they were doing so before Xmas.
I have noticed the orange one, not sure if it’s a little bold for me tbh.
however, I’m going on holiday next week, so may have to try one on in the shop. <br />initially i was thinking more along the lines of the antarctica one, with the light blue fade dial.
Any of you guys have experience of Jura Watches? Are they ok to deal with?
Watch offshoot of CW Sellors jewellers, that have a few shops dotted round the country. Have a friend that works in the one in Matlock.
I've ordered from Jura before and all good
Yes. I’ve bought plenty from Jura/CW Sellors. Infact just bought and picked up a baby blue PRX 80 for the Mrs from their Ashbourne branch. Did as Kryton suggests, put it all in the basket then wait, they normally call and offer an incentive. Only got a cleaning cloth this time as watch was already 30% off.
I'd steer WELL CLEAR of jura/ cw sellers. Currently a long thread on tzuk. A guy has been shafted on a return, they Are refusing saying he damaged it, he says he didn't even take it out the box. The thread is then full of similar stories plus watches sent without papers, watches not sent out at all, and refunds taking months and lots of chasing. I'd stay away, even of the bricks and mortar shops as they seem involved in some of this.
yes, lots of love here for the Orange monster, have had one for – well a very long time now.
IMVHO they are a great watch, best one to get is the orange option though, obviously.
Nonsense, the best one is the black SKX779, like what I have!
Love mine, haven't worn it in a while as the 2003 vintage 7s26 is in dire need of service or replacement and the timekeeping is rather whimsical. Not huge at 42mm but it's got bags of wrist presence. I've not kept up with all the options since the move up to Prosper but the SRPG57 has Gen 1 type indices and a rather nice dial.
The Heimdaller is a Gen 2 copy which I'm less keen on but they do have some very pretty dial options and they're a bit of a bargain at $129.
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The mk2's are "silly" money so thought I'd try a cheap one, wear everything lines up correctly 😜
Ugly, but kinda fun. Also bought a tuna to try (in more obvious homage green), which has convinced me I want a proper one at some point.
@saccades That does look cool, I shall report back in a few weeks . . .
Still waiting on the adapter for the strap for my CasiOak, and I’m now waiting for a lumed hour marker insert to arrive from SKXMods as well. That way if anything happens to the watch while it’s under warranty, it’s easy to just swap the bits back to the originals.
Had the adapter for my CasiOak turn up a short while ago and fitted it, pretty easy really, it just fits into the space where the original strap went with a couple of springbars, with a couple more 22mm ones which the strap has as captive fittings. It’s a lot softer than the plastic one, and it’s going to be a lot less sweaty in warmer weather. The strap’s a cheap version of the Apple Watch Ultimate Alpine one.
Looks good on that strap Countzero. Orange is always a good colour on watches….says the man wearing this today….
Ha! Nice one, recognised that straight away, before I spotted the ‘Nite…’ on the strap. Having worn the CasiOak with that strap on all afternoon, gotta say it’s brilliant! It’s barely noticeable on my arm, the watch is very light obviously, and that strap is also very light and soft and barely noticeable, I think it’s going to be my everyday watch, tbh.
There’s one more mod on its way, it’s possible to take the back off and swap the hour marker ring for different coloured ones, and I’ve got a fully lumed one coming from SKXMods, so I can change it over and not worry about the guarantee. 😁
I elevated my collection a tad after I spotted a bargain King Samurai…
Shown with my prior / sized bracelet and the Clockwork Republic integrated FKM strap. The “new” unsized bracelet is on the prior Samurai shortly to be in the classifieds.
Not 100% on the cyclops, I might remove it in the future.
I'd keep the original bracelet with it's watch. The proper set will be worth more if you come to sell that in future. Tend to agree with you about cyclops' - but that would also hit the resale if you're bothered. The circular cyclops on my mini-turtle offends me less than the squircle ones though.
Nice watch BTW.
Thanks tthew. The extra “shiny” or dial pattern doesn’t come across in the photos well. The two bracelets are the same btw, so as far as the new owner is concerned the older Watch will come with an unsized bracelet, which I felt added to saleability.
The Samuarai is now in the classifieds 🥺
Mrs Scape has booked a trip to the sort of destination where I wouldn't want to wear too flash a watch, so it was the ideal opportunity to treat myself to a budget beater, Kryton's Baltany caught my eye but I fancied the quartz "Dirty Dozen" homage
Strap it came with was a lurid tan thing, so a quick eBay purchase sees it looking a bit more wearable
Looks well. I use the Sinn 556i for the same purpose as you’ve just picked that up for, flies well under the radar. Fancied it on a dark brown leather as well, will give one a go.
Good to see Baltany gaining a few fans.
I replaced the original strap on mine for a Hirsch Kent in deep blue. Sets the face off nicely.
This is the automatic retro military:
Got a bit of a steal on eBay, you don’t see many of these in the UK.
It’s a bit battered and will need new glass, a service and some delicate touching up on the bezel damage.
Finally got round to cracking it open to give the glass a clean, then a little polish to the face of the glass.
Awaiting quotes for glass replacement, but pretty happy it's cleaned up well.
This I like....
Very nice!
This turned up on my Twitter feed on the wrist of @ChowdahHill - he's got a large boat with a lot of aircraft on it so this chunky watch is definitely appropriate.
@TheArtistFormerlyKnownAsSTR I've just bought one of those. Not sure why. I don't need yet another Seiko but I haven't had a watch for a bit and still can't get my grail watch for sensible £'s.
@Scapegoat - I really like the Balthany ‘Dirty Dozen’ especially with that strap on, that should wear in and develop a very nice patina, and become nice and soft as well. I also like the modified ‘sword’ hands and the style of the numerals, nicely 20/30’s-style retro.
A very simple and elegant design. 👌🏻
A very simple and elegant design.
It is nice and simple. I like what Baltany are doing. I was also smitten with the one derek_starship posted above, but as I already have a Hamilton Khaki Field.........
Mine is the 39mm quartz with the blue face. It is very much a blue/black rather than anything shimmery, and only really looks blue in certain lights. The overall effect is that it's muted but the yellow hands make it pop. I thought it looked OK in the photos with the standard tan brown strap, but in the flesh it just looked tacky. I'm tempted to try a canvas nato on it, but can't decide what colour.
Scapegoet you’ve seen mine above with the olive nato. I tried a black one but it didnt look quite right, but also a black sailcloth/fkm hybrid with cream stitching that looks good.
Countzeros words pain me, mine came with a dark brown leather strap which I really like on it it, but becuase in my head it’s not for water and therefore doesn’t represent true grab & go utility I don’t use it. Maybe I’m bit a bit soft in the head.
Totally with you there Kryton! I have a big thing about divers with leather straps. It's like seeing a Land Rover with huge low profile wheels - oxymoronic*
*totally a personal hangup
I picked up one of SPB255 black series back in spring last year.
Its currently in major rotation, love it.
What all photos and reviews fail to mention is that whilst the dial appears satin/matt black, it's actually has a dark bronze sunburst effect on it in the right light.
Here it is on a Wolbrook tropic strap.
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I've never really been onboard with the leather isn't for water thing, it's not like it's not used in other products which are designed for harsh treatment in wet conditions - walking boots etc.
It looks a bit weird but only because it's not the norm and the only reason it's not the norm is because... reasons?
@relapsed_mandalorian I have a couple of nixon watches that need new glass...wondered where you were getting your nixon done?
That looks nice. Reasonably glad I bought one now. We'll see on Saturday when I get to mug the Postman...
They do seem quite pricey for a not very accurate auto but what do I know...?
Equally I'm not at home with leather straps and divers but I think a thick rugged, beat up looking leather strap really suits visually.. . Its also comfy..... its just the nob waterproofness. However all leather straps need care, sweat and dirt will kill a leather strap, a cheaper one in no time. Look after it with some leather conditioner after every sweaty wear, shower wear, pool wear, and it will last a lot lot longer.
I never use to like dlc/ black finish on watches but softened that view and then got my snr035 and blue really like it. Twohats' watch looks great.
Bringing those two comments together, my snr035, in the wrist since Christmas, is worn on a £20-30 thick and rugged looking brown leather and condition the strap regularly. So far so good. Although..... I do tend to take it off to shower at work unlike any other watch and that's me babying the strap.
I’ve never really been onboard with the leather isn’t for water thing, it’s not like it’s not used in other products which are designed for harsh treatment in wet conditions – walking boots etc.
It looks a bit weird but only because it’s not the norm and the only reason it’s not the norm is because… reasons?
I really don't like Divers on leather because it isn't the best product for the job on a tool watch. Using the leather boots analogy, they generally need a lot of work to keep them fit for purpose. Synthetic not so much.
A tropic on a diver always looks good.
That said, it's a free world and I don't get hung up on whatever others happen to like.
"sweat and dirt will kill a leather strap"
It might kill a shitty "genuine leather" dress watch strap, realistically it'll do next to nothing to a decent piece of leather, even with no/minimal care.
Look at all the other rugged applications leather is used for and then consider whether a watch strap is subject to harder use - leather motorbike kit, horse "stuff", military boots etc etc don't just fall apart.
I think this is another watch thing that a lot of people repeat but don't actually think through.
Better leather is... better of course! It all needs care though, neglect or abuse your horween leather product and see how it the goes.
It'll go fine, for years.