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The Arnie is fine. Not enough watch to get mugged for, worry about a scratch at the beach or losing if the holiday place gets robbed, yet enough watch to be robust and give pleasure to the wearer.
I reckon you're concerned because you don't know the location. Just as you wouldn't wear your smp to a dodgy bit of London you are Vincent's m concerned as you don't know the dodgy bits of your holiday location. No shame in taking the Arnie into the unknown.
No shame in taking the Arnie into the unknown.
Surely you need an Explorer for the unknown?
It’s quiet in this topic lately….so some pics….Today is Panerai day, GMT, about 20 years old so almost a vintage watch….on black leather also have the standard rubber that I may swap to. It is quite chunky and a nice heft to it.
@w00dster: that's gorgeous.
That’s lovely Woodster and by coincidence I’m sitting across from a mate of mine in Spain, he’s wearing exactly the same watch.
Even better IRL, has a certain “shine” to it.
I give you a £600 Timex
I saw that yesterday and actually really like it, just not that bothered about paying the James Brand tax
I give you a £600 Timex
I like that too. And if it's not worth £600 because it's Timex, that surely proves that people are mainly paying (or not) for the name on watch though, right?
I don’t think it’s just about paying for the name, there is no doubt the luxury name tax. But there is genuine craftsmanship gone into making of expensive watches. I’m not going to go into a huge lecture here, but for me personally I’ll only wear certain brands and only those watches that I find interesting.
I do get the point you’re making though. Again for me personally I’d have no issue with buying a Timex for £600 if it was interesting enough. But £600 would put it up against other watches that at least for me would be my preference.
I have a fairly large collection of watches, I am just as happy with a really nice £150 watch as I am with my much more expensive watches.
But there is genuine craftsmanship gone into making of expensive watches
Well that's definitely what their brand marketing is built on.
But when you're making tens of thousands of watches (a quick Google finds that Panerai make 26000 watches every year), I think the line between craftsmanship and mass production has been pretty much crossed.
Nice choice Flying Potatoes. I do like that series of watches, love the colours.
What are people's opinions on Baltany? My son wants a watch for his 16th birthday, he likes the look of some Seiko 5s and also some Baltanys, Seestern also do some nice homages, it's more the case size that concerns me, the Seiko are 40mm and Baltany tend to be more like 36mm, which would suit his wrists a bit better.
Any feedback or other suggestions for brands to look at around the £200 mark that are solid and not too enormous would be most welcome.
the Seiko are 40mm and Baltany tend to be more like 36mm, which would suit his wrists a bit better.
Really depends on the wrist diameter. 36mm will look a bit small on anything bigger than average, about 7.5 inch dia. 40mm most people can get away with especially Seikos as they tend to have short lug to lug measurements.
There is a lot more said about watch size than it matters really. Ime you get used to a big or small watch very quickly and then forget the size.
I've a very average or smallish wrist at 6.75" and wear 42mm a lot, 45mm happily and 36mm is fine too.
Baltany are a good VFM brand. I have two and they have been very reliable. Build quality and specifications belie their pricing.
I changed the supplied straps for Hirsch.
The military field watch is manually wound.
Ime you get used to a big or small watch very quickly and then forget the size.
This. It just comes down to personal preference, I favour sub 39mm watches these days but I've still got a few around 42mm (including a couple of real chunkers like a Monster and a Khuraburi) which i'm perfectly happy to wear.
Baltany are a solid value brand, a Seiko around the same price still be a lower spec and no better made. It'd still have the Seiko name though, which may count for something.
′
Picked this up yesterday - Black Bay 41 Monocrome
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Thought I was sold on the five link jubilee style bracelet but after trying it on I just wasn’t convinced. Much preferred the three link. The new clasp is a marked improvement on the previous version.
I was indifferent about it when it was launched but after seeing it in the flesh I just really liked it.
I really like that Timex!
Very nice Robz. Whats different about the clasp? I have a BB58 from about 5 years ago, didn’t notice anything wrong with it….
(I do prefer the monochrome over mine)
Just that it’s got on the fly micro adjust that my Black Bay GMT doesn’t have, and that there’s a nice Tudor logo machined into it. Very much like a Rolex Sub clasp.
It’s also just a bit more dainty as the bracelet has more of taper than my GMT too so the whole clasp assembly is slimmer and more lightweight.
Lovely BB58! A classic.
w00dster
Full Member
It’s quiet in this topic lately….so some pics….Today is Panerai day, GMT, about 20 years old so almost a vintage watch….
That's lovely W00dster. And I believe the term you're looking for is "neo-vintage" (as used by the more w*nky watch websites... ;))
Anyone got a link / suggestion for a reputable person to mod my 5kx and Arnie with sapphire crystal please?
On a cruise at the moment. There’s a watch shop onboard. At one end of the spectrum they’re asking 13500 for a no date Sub which is ridiculous, but at the other end they are asking 157 for a Promaster Fugu which is less than half retail price.
was tempted to buy them all……
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@kato, that sounds like a bit of a steal to me. Quite a nice looking watch for the money
Anyone want my Baltany for £103? Comes with box and papers:
Request to make please, I remember they’re are a few folk on here with Seamaster Pro’s. Could I also for some pics with them being worn? I’m in the market for one, trying to decide on Green on Green Rubber, White face on Black Rubber, Black Dial with Sedna gold and Black Rubber (I’m leaning very heavily towards this, but it’s a fair bit more expensive)
https://www.goldsmiths.co.uk/Omega-Seamaster-300m-42mm-Mens-Watch-O21032422004001/p/17331585
https://www.goldsmiths.co.uk/Omega-Seamaster-Diver-300-Mens-Watch-O21022422001002/p/17331482
I'm obviously a bit biased, but I think the white is ace. On steel mind so not quite what youre after.
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Thanks @boblo. That is nice. I already have an old Seamaster Pro on steel (blue on steel) from about 2000 so fancy the rubber strap.
Aye, I have the old coax Jimmy Bond jobbie as well:
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White face on black rubber you say?
I’ll get a better photo in the morning if you want but I think the rubber strap is the winner, I really didn’t care for the bracelet at all, so didn’t buy it.
I love my white but the seaweed green on green looks killer to me as well.
Shit a brick! £260 for a rubber strap. I do like it but not that bloody much...
No the winner is a black sailcloth with white stitching.
Not mine as I can't be bothered to try and post my own photo but this does as good a job
https://images.app.goo.gl/fLX4eoypW7dNYcDd6
Aye Boblo, They’re obscene priced for sure. Doubt mine will be getting replaced with a genuine when it wears out! I’m not keen on sailcloth’s for some reason, maybe I’ve just had cheap ones, but I’d look for other high quality rubber straps when the time comes, this one is incredibly comfy though, much softer than other rubber bands I’ve got on other stuff.
Shit a brick! £260 for a rubber strap.
It's because of the genuine craftsmanship that went into it 😉
As if you needed another…. I’d comply with the white dial / black rubber:
And despite the lack of focus I’ll add a bit of lume too, becuase for some reason I really love the depth and colour of it and it make a difference for me:
As you can see, it also goes well with Birkenstocks 😉
Thanks Kryton. And yeah that Lume looks really nice. The choice of footwear less so!
Nice contribution @IH
I think I'm making a reasonable, if sarcastic, point. £260 for a rubber strap is, undeniably , taking the piss.
I love watches, always have, but what the high-end brands are really good at is marketing. They've built an image of craftsmanship and exclusivity for their products that is largely undeserved. They make tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of watches a year. That's mass production, pure and simple. They charge what they do for their watches because, simply, they can, as they've built a market that will sustain it.
Look, people have every right to spend their money on whatever they wish. If you want on Omega, buy an Omega and enjoy it (and I would love an old Speedmaster). But when they tell you you have to pay over two hundred quid for a rubber strap, admit to yourself that you have been suckered.
I dunno, decent rubber straps cost. I look at Zealande straps regularly, particularly their straps made for particular models - but even they're £180ish, more if you want a deployant with it. I'd say they're worth it though
Sorry, dint mean to set it off. I was looking at buying rubber as an occasional alternative to the steel one. I don't want an aftermarket one and I don't want to spend £260 on a 'real' one. I'll stick with steel then 🙃
If you think Omega rubber straps are taking the piss, check out their NATO’s!
Sometimes I think it depends on the use case but you can find plenty of good quality straps online aftermarket made for the Watch, just take care as the Seamaster is the last watch I’d want falling off my wrist due to cheap spring bars - although you can buy a pack of good quality bars for pennies. I found Omega fitting bracelets here for £165 although didn’t buy:
https://www.forstnerbands.co.uk/products/forstner-model-o-for-omega-seamaster
i have a £5 Aliexpress QR Tropic coming for a holiday beater, and a £58 Uncle Seiko BOR for the 5kx incoming. The Clockwork integrated strap for the Samurai was £50, an elastic strap for the 5kx was £7.50. You pays your money… etc.
Edit, and it’s new old watch day tomorrow, watch this space maybe for a re-purchase of a regretful sale.
My view of thinking is that 5% of the watch value isn't too bad for a second strap. I know it will be secure and will last a very long time. I'm wearing my Panarai at the moment on its original rubber strap (22 years old). It looks brand new. That isn't to say a £50 strap won't last as long or do as good a job, but if I'm going to spend £5300 on a watch, its not too far fetched to spend £260 a year or two later for a second strap. But equally, I have bought two straps that lasted only a few years. Not as expensive as Panerai or Omega, but still well north of a £100 - looking at you Bell & Ross and Brietling. My Bell & Ross used such a cheap pin that it would come completely underdone just by it knocking on my shirt cuff. The Brietling leather went hard and out of shape.
And to re-iterate, I do completely understand that we are paying the luxury tax. But that is the same for so many other parts of our life. I'm not convinced so much on the marketing though, I have two Panerai watches. My first one was purchased in 2002 and I had to save up for years to get it. I bought it second hand. Outside of watch collectors most people wouldn't have a clue that it was a "luxury watch". My second Panerai was purchased new. Even now the vast majority of people wouldn't know its a luxury watch - its very rarely advertised (at least in the media I consume). Panarai were a bit of a boutique brand back in the day, the watches were very well made. They did go through a few years of mass made watches were the quality and the workmandship definately dropped of from their usual high standards. Apartently they have moved back to the better made movements.
I guess I liken it to cars, some people can look at a Porsche 911 and think its a wonderfully looking, well made thing of beauty. To other people its just a means of getting from A to B. Or a high end mountain bike, if we were all the same we would all be riding mail order bikes from Canyon. (I ride a Planet X Tempest that I bought very cheap in the sale - too old and too far away from trails these days)
I could also bring up handbags.....now in my opinion that is nonsense prices. I have a friend in work who has bags way more expensive than my watches (including my Rolex). Each to their own. I wouldn't spend what they spend on a bag, it is purely luxury tax - but who am I to ridicule what they spend their money on.
Any/all discretionary spend can be reduced to the 'why on earth would he/she spend that on that?'...
If you don't need to sell a kidney or the significant other into ahem 'night work', who gives a shiny shit what other people think about what you spend your spare cash on? Presumably you work/worked hard to amass it, do as you like. I might not understand it but you definitely don't need to justify it to me or anybody else 🙃
Quite fancy an orange one of these for a fun summer watch. Normally don't look at San Martin as not that fussed about a homage watch but am quite liking their original design stuff at the moment
https://sanmartinwatches.com/shop/new-arrivals/sn0118-g/
Nice and colourful those San Martin. But everything is a homage to something else and those remind me of the Doxa Sub 200. They’re definitely different but with a similar feel. Might just be the fact that they’re colourful and the Doxa also stands out for being colourful.
But I’d have both the San Martin and the Doxa, my collection is very drab so a bit of colour would be nice!
My daughter has an orange Breitling and I’ve been tempted to “borrow” it a few times myself….the downside is that she might see it as being ok to borrow mine!
I get what you're saying, I guess I always used to associate San Martin with Sub or Black Bay homages which were slightly more obvious and not my thing
NWD (kinda) today a I embark upon a different and informed journey. I made some strict decisions re “keepers” and decided from 1st June I’ve to make more use of my nicer watches and only ever need two more watches to buy in my life*, a spring drive GS (or Patek Phillipe 5396G-017 should I ever win big on Premium Bonds) and a Grail Navitimer. I’ve lots of saving to do, and when I get to achieving a budget for the GS they’ll be a fire sale of Seikos and Citizens with the exception of the Arnie as a beater.
Ive compartmentalised my watch box accordingly and complete a range of straps for “options” for the low end stock should I use them for holidays/ on a whim in the interim.
Maybe sounds odd to some, but I need fewer watches to choose from and I’m fed up of agonising over value vs location with my watches with the exception of gardening / diy type stuff of which a 5610 remains on the “right” side of the box. Also through this thread and my personal journey I’ve achieved then lost the desire for lower end watches and realise any spend on those is less save for the grails. My desired exit collection will then be:
A Navitimer
A 3 hand spring drive GS
The CW c65 compressor
The SMP
The Arnie
The 5610
There i said it……
*definately maybe 😉😇
Bargain Apple watch strap. finance available
I’m about to buy a Suunto Core as I’ve fancied one for donkey’s years.
Before I do it are there any other “chunky” outdoors type watches that I should be looking at in the region of £130? I already have 4 G Shocks, so I don’t really need another one of them… unless it is a yellow digital one.
An orange Garmin Instinct 2 Solar IMO.
I'd second the Garmin, although I've no clue on cost. The app to sync to your phone/ Strava isn't great but it's been around a while - and is the same one as for Garmin bike computers. And the Suunto battery life is not great: 12 months in time mode (ie no GPS, altimeter etc) and not rechargeable.
Yeah right. …. I’m looking forward to the what watch to wear whilst scuba diving training in a quarry near Macclesfield but elegant enough to wear in town for a cheeky lamb kebab post over the summer..
Sssshhhhhh, don't discourage him, I'm waiting for the Seiko fire sale... 😉
I have an interest in watches that waxes and wanes as I realise that 99% of the time I just look at my phone but they are the only form of jewellery beyond a wedding ring that I'd wear.
Looking at Kryton's relationship with his collection it's like the abusive partner he can't live with but can't live without. Apologies if that's a bit flippant but it really doesn't seem to bring him any joy! 🤣
But is it kinda the same as some people's relationships with their bikes? Even if it's more enjoyable, there's still the "n-1, which one to get rid of", "OMG, turns out I got rid of the one bike I love most", "N+1, replace my long lost love", "what to replace my current bike with" narrative! 😉
Yeah, I'm sure it is the same, I suppose the difference stems from different bikes giving you tangible advantages. I.e. I can't go for a bike ride without a bike and an enduro bike can't replace a road bike and vice versa. Whereas any £25 casio can do any job a watch needs to in the modern day.
Watches are jewellery though, it's as much (in fact probably more) about form as function. I have a selection of watches to wear for the same reason that I have a selection of shirts/t-shirts/shorts/jumpers etc etc - because I want a choice of what to wear.
Looking at Kryton’s relationship with his collection it’s like the abusive partner he can’t live with but can’t live without. Apologies if that’s a bit flippant but it really doesn’t seem to bring him any joy!
Ha Ha you aren’t wrong! In truth I love wearing my Omega for example, and my Aquaracer when on suit duty, and the cocktail time during next weeks posh exec dinner, but when I’m faced with a choice it plays to my anxiety and angst. For all the reason above I really enjoy having a collection to chose from, yet at the same time don’t - the multiple divers are an issue for sure. Having one very nice watch in each genre that I appreciate will help.
In the interim I find it massively enjoyable to watch the variety, complication and mechanics of the horological industry here and on various media platforms. That leads me to want to reflect on my more random prior experience and patiently use my new found and increasing levels of knowledge to make more informed decisions.
I wish I was like that, I’m a classic overthinker. I’d be 100 times less stressed 😂
Kryton57Full Member
I wish I was like that, I’m a classic overthinker. I’d be 100 times less stressed 😂
But that would stress you for not being accurate enough 🙃
Maybe you need to frame things differently?
e.g. I've decided that my watch collection will have mean=6 with sigma=2.2
😂^^
Anyway, the last hurrah, an oldie returns as an office watch alongside the SMP when smart casual…
S'nice that
@Harry_the_Spider I'd echo the Garmin instinct/instinct 2/crossover suggestions. I'm another one with a couple of G-shocks my instinct solar has all but displaced the G-shocks, it's comparable as a watch (IMO) and a good (durable, with good battery life) sports tracking device (if you're not into bells and whistles)...
If only someone was selling a Garmin Instinct Solar in the classifieds...
in orange...
with a spare strap...
for £75.
😉
My SMP is on Omega deployant rubber. Only available aftermarket and that’s nearer £500
I’ve had plenty of 3rd party rubbers before from cheap Amazon ones to Vanguards and RubberB
Nothing comes close to OEM
Jeepers, £500 notes. I can understand the quality as the rubber on my SMP is leagues above anything else I have, but why are deployants so expensive?
im looking at a Hirsxh for the Hamilton - £34 or £82 with a deployant!
The deployant is £300
I’ve had snide ones before and “proper” copies like Artem. You can tell the difference. Not saying it’s worth 300 quid but there’s no hiding that it’s leagues better than a cheap one
Saying that I took the Omega deployant off my Speedy and replaced it with a Formex clasp. Not as nice but you can adjust it which makes loads of difference to the fit
Just read that back wondering how I can be trying to justify a £300 watch strap clasp
Then realised that there are people here that will spend 10 grand on a push bike and suddenly all was well in the world 😂
Tbf said bikes aren't *just* for pushing, you can also pedal some of them, which I believe justifies some of the cost 😉
I’m very fortunate that my lack of riding ability means I’m happy with gravel….so my expenditure on bikes these days is minimal….im very happy on my Planet X Tempest with no need to buy anything new for a while.
Which also means I can get away with spending more on my other hobby (watches!)
You need to discover guitars…
Straying from watches for a second, my elder son started to get decent on the guitar, which shamed me into getting some lessons to learn to play the Yamaha acoustic my wife bought me 23 years ago.
Somehow we now have three folk learning guitar and four guitars in the house, plus two DIY guitar build kits as something for me and the boys to do over our last school holidays together.
Watches are cheaper I think.
For full ridicule I play golf (badly)….equally expensive. The missus has just decided she wants to learn how to play. It’s her birthday in a week, she’s got clubs and lessons from me….which I’m now regretting!
I need to buy another watch this year before she gets into golf and diverts my spare money elsewhere!
Fortunately I’ll never be able to play guitar (very limited use of one arm) so that’s a bonus!
When learning, the best guitarist, violinist etc are one armed. Like having a mute switch...🙂
I've a banjo been sitting here for 15 years waiting for my attention. I'm not musical and tone deaf so that'll be a struggle. I've two arms tho so no real excuse.
