Watches N+1...

Stunning

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It’s a 40mm case and short in the lugs so wears noticeably smaller than my Seamaster which is 42mm and 50mm lug to lug

not sure if it’s too small which is why the plastic isn’t off

I'm not saying they're not nice, (although tbh I don't actually like them that much) but **** me, being a designer in the Speedmaster dept at Omega is an easy gig isn't it!? I swear they've got 2 or designs they just rotate through as new releases and people just haven't noticed yet.

Like the Atoll a lot Kato, can we see it on wrist?   What size wrist do you have?

Okay so I have a 7in wrist

Atoll 40mm
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Seamaster 42mm
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The watches I’m used to wearing are a Seamaster and a Speedmaster both 42mm. A Tissot Visodate at 40mm but it’s all dial and a frankly gigantic Garmin Epix which is 47mm

maybe I just need to get used to the smaller case

I feel the same every time I wear my Sinn 556.  It’s 38.5mm which isn’t that small, but looks tiny compared to the normal wrist ornaments.  You get used to it soon enough though.

Merci. That's the new Speedy and a Zenith El Primero Ti jobbie added to the list of 'MUST NOT BUY!'...

Interesting Kato, your watches look like they wear bigger than mine and my wrist is 6 3/4.    I don’t think the Atoll looks small at all.

It’ll look great in a pool with a blue sky and palm tree backdrop 😁

Atoll looks a good size - not small at all

It looks great. I think any bigger with that striking dial colour might be a bit much.

Yeah also agree re the Atoll, looks much better on as well.

Quite taken by this from Christopher Ward…..need to sell a couple of watches before I buy another one….

https://www.christopherward.com/watches/c60-pro-300-bronze/C60-42ADC31B0BB0-HB.html

I had a cw bronze much like that.   An earlier one,  or had a flat blue dial and a bronze bezel insert like the yacht master.  Great watch,  really liked it and the sw200 was very very accurate.   Just big and heavy,  it was errr  45mm? And bronze is heavy.  Mainly though it went to make room for.. errr.... the captain Cook which I didn't gel with.   I should have kept the cw.

There's one on tzuk currently.... same guy a bought from last time.... and sold our back to.... not the same one though,  smaller this time.  I need to out a couple though.

This one is a look I wanted to try as well, love the colours in this leather.

Good God! That atol is a lovely colour. Great for the summer!

£7600 for a speedy.  Nice watch but that's ridiculous.  [I admit I've not looked up see what modern features they've added.... so it may not be ridiculous at all.... I'm just doing the usual 'speedies aren't worth more than.....' chant]

I was inspired by Kato to be a bit more colorful today.  I’d added a beads of rice to the 5kx;

Ooooooo I do like that Atoll. Size looks perfect - same size wrist as me which makes it more tempting...

Last mortgage payment this month...

Last mortgage payment this month…

Congrats!

Been toying with the idea of getting a Seiko, but I don't know the intricacies so I thought I'd ask you lot...

Seiko 5

https://www.watchnation.com/product/seiko-5-sports-pepsi-bezel-automatic-mens-watch-srpd53k1/?gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMInK2d_abnhgMVMYhQBh03kQz_EAQYCCABEgLLEPD_BwE

Seiko SKX009

https://www.creationwatches.com/products/seiko-mens-watches-208/seiko-automatic-divers-200m-made-in-japan-skx009-skx009j1-skx009j-mens-watch-1452.html?currency=GBP&feedsrc=uk-feed&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMImMbmu6fnhgMVbZhQBh2iBQZDEAQYASABEgLk7vD_BwE

The face is very similar. Is there a noticeable difference in the movement?

Obviously the strap is different.

The differences in the movement are kinda equivalent to the differences in suspension designs between, I dunno, Specialized and Trek. Are they different? Yes? Will some people obsess over the difference? Yes. Will most people actually notice the difference in use? No.

As with the bikes, you're buying a quality brand anyway, so unless you want to obsess over the differences, just buy the one you like the look of most at the price you want to pay.

The only caveat to that is that a Seiko Diver is a bit of a design 'classic', so if that kind of thing appeals then that might swing it (it did to me, so I bought one).

Thanks. I like the Diver a bit more too.

I bought the diver maybe 35 years ago and, GASP!, used it for diving. It's my oldest watch that I still wear. It must have had half a dozen straps and reseals in that time but no services. It's fine and still a favourite.

As the owner of several Citizens and Seikos at that price range I think the Citizen divers are better value for money. Being eco-drive they're also more accurate and no fuss maintenance wise

Ah... and now I'm going to have a look at them too!

The Seiko 5 only has 100m water resistance and isn't actually a 'diver's' watch, but the movement does hacking and handwinding. Horses for courses really. I prefer the SKX too.

100m or 200m?

Wettest it will get is if I forget to take it off on holiday and I jump off a harbour wall. So... 2m.

I like them both, but I like the Diver just a tiny bit more.

Like comparing a Kit Kat, to a Kit Kat Chunky.

Like comparing a Kit Kat, to a Kit Kat Chunky.

There's your problem. Shirley you should be looking at a Boost...? 🙃

There’s your problem. Shirley you should be looking at a Boost…? 🙃

Already got one of them.

The SKX has historic value but is a crappy proposition compared to a modern diver - old albeit reliable movement and no hacking - at that cost.  A citizen promaster, Seiko Turtle, Sumo or Samurai are “better” at that price point.  Try to find a version on Sale that has Sapphire Crystal, like those with a “King” prefix e.g. my King Samurai is ISO rated, Sapphire and ceramic bezel and was £380 on sale.

Not withstanding Seiko are about to launch the new SKX in a month or so.

The 5 will do everything you need, but isn’t an ISO diver and is a “cheaper” proposition - and entry level ish watch if you like.  That said, you’ll get many design variants to chose from and strap swaps are easy with drilled lugs.  It’s all worth bearing in mind that Seiko have a tendancy to understate specifications, many have been taken deeper with now issues but that’s at your risk of course.

Unless you're in a scene from a WW2 film where you're coordinating an attack on a bridge, the lack of hacking makes bugger all difference really.

I didn't even know what hacking was!

If I'm going to blow up a bridge I'll wear a G Shock.

Unless you’re in a scene from a WW2 film where you’re coordinating an attack on a bridge, the lack of hacking makes bugger all difference really

Now ya see - I blow up very few bridges, these days, but I wouldn't buy another watch without hacking functionality.

I have a Seiko 5 Sports, it's a great watch, but I prefer my Seiko King Samurai because the movement has hacking seconds.

@ Harry - PADI edition Sapphire King Sam in budget: https://www.beaverbrooks.co.uk/0125561/Seiko-Prospex-Save-The-Ocean-King-Samurai-Special-Edition-Automatic-Mens-Watch/p?gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIlOGZla_ohgMVWYpQBh1EZQ8rEAQYBCABEgLSFfD_BwE

Lovely watch, is it you that has the G Shock metal collection?   If so the shape of the King Sam should appeal to you.

Or if you want a standard one for £312 - proprietary Hardlex mineral Crystal no Sapphire: https://www.francisandgaye.co.uk/seiko-prospex-mens-prospex-44mm-divers-watch-black-dial-SRPF03K1-p33699/s40701?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=seiko-prospex-men-apos-s-prospex-44mm-divers-watch-black-dial-srpf03k1&utm_campaign=product%2Blisting%2Bads&cid=GBP&glCurrency=GBP&glCountry=GB&vs_vat=inc&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI1ZPZ9q_ohgMVUZdoCR2k6giVEAQYAyABEgLKFfD_BwE

If you fancy a cushion case shape, there's a £335 King Turtle here: https://www.ernestjones.co.uk/seiko-prospex-save-the-ocean-king-turtle-blue-strap-watch/p/V-1663577?wgu=287575_196673_17188246146842_baaf72f2ba&wgexpiry=1750360614&cm_mmc=WG-_-Affiliate-_-RedBrain%20Ltd&utm_source=webgains&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=91999

Fill your (watch box) boots.

Or I bought a red Promaster tax free on a cruise about a month ago which realistically I’m never going to wear 😂

https://www.hsamuel.co.uk/citizen-promaster-diver-mens-black-polyurethane-strap-watch/p/V-5090814

this one.  Retail is £350.  I’ve tried it on once and then it’s sat in the box.  I can do it for my STW chums for what I paid plus RMSD so around £170.  It’s unmarked and as new.

Inspiration is welcome. I have a big birthday coming up and a gap in my collection for a quality mechanical diver. Budget up to £1200. My preferences are as follows:

- At least 300m

- At least 43mm

-  Black dial and bezel

- Steel Case

- Centre Seconds

I'm not a bracelet fan, but could always swap it out. A splash of colour is nice. Second-hand is fine.

I like simple and tool-like without being macho (I dive more often than I sit at a desk)

Any suggestions welcome!

I like these examples as well as the black Pelagos

@pisco, you’d get a nice Squale for that.  These at Jura are possible with 10-20% off the price you see:

https://www.jurawatches.co.uk//collections/squale-watches?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwg8qzBhAoEiwAWagLrOdg2PMci5bhNgdunP1zjhNJJHeQaMU2akfI61I_XxSKDyEeo1LoeRoC9AgQAvD_BwE

Italian, great history and very well respected divers. Lots of choice.

Or a limited edition Certina PH1000, numbered again with history: https://www.jurawatches.co.uk/products/certina-watch-ds-ph1000m-orange-limited-edition-c024-907-17-281-10

https://www.seikowatches.com/uk-en/products/prospex/spb383j1

these Seiko GMT divers are nice at £1400.  Although only 200m and 42mm. Can get you 20% off at Goldsmiths if you’re ordering online too.

Thanks folks. The Squale Matic is firmly on my radar. Will check out the others too, ta

Under budget, a Magrette Moana Pacific Professional Titanium.

https://magrette.com/shop/moana-pacific-professional-titanium-black-3?in=370040261

That's a good shout thanks @kilo

That Magrette is an awesome thing.  Not common over here either I suspect.

After all that talk I’ve gone from SMP to Samurai today.  Watches are funny things, I was ready to sell it in lieu for the turtle two weeks ago, but this morning I’m loving it.   I’m so guilty of fretting over “which watch” and the ones I’m leaving in the box “oh but I paid for an Omega therefore I should wear it” but I watched this and am now training myself to enjoy the watch du jour and get over myself;

Handy tips   🙂

Yes, they are not that common. I have the tenth anniversary version they mention in the blurb and it’s a nice watch. It has a glass back with fancy engraving which the black version moved away from. The black one also has quite a discreet date aperture which I quite like.

They are quite a big watch but not particularly heavy on the wrist .

Below it’s on a sailcloth strap (which I didn’t really get one with), usually it’s on an orange zulu nowadays.

After seeing the same in YouTube I ordered a grey ribbed Nato for the Turtle.

I’ve got to say, never is a strap/colour/design so suited to a watch.  It’s screams “tool”.  This slim turtle is a light watch so it works well and differentiates from my other mo’ glamorous divers nicely.

Can I ask, how many folk on here have dived with a watch on as opposed to a dive computer?

I did a dive course, did a 30m dive and got very very silly. It took me 5 min to write my name backward, mostly due to laughing so much.

The idea of diving past 20m behaving like I'm drunk and doing something stupid makes me wonder how many people actually get any depth under the water.

Do non professional hoby divers actually get to 100m? 200m? 300m?

Do professional divers?

Or his it like having a 150moh sports car that never goes on track in the UK. Nice, but risky/ impossible to use to full potential?

Currently I'm wearing a gshock rated to 200m. It might get into a swimming pool, It might get dived with on holiday once or twice in it's (my ) life time.

The one I'm currently wearing is apparently good for 20 bar / 200m.

I may wear it in the rain, but that is about it.

Looks very rugged and "Grrr" though.

It’s screams “tool”.

I get that too.

I took an Animal watch to 6m in 2007 🙂

There was a YouTube video about this recently, on the basis “just have a think about how deep 50m underwater is” when your buying a watch.  Of course you need to remember it isn’t about depth, it’s about pressure on the watches gaskets/compressors, hence rather than depth you’ll see the rating as Bar.     Added to that, the warmth of the water / environment can expand the gaskets and reduce the resistance to pressure, hence not recommended to be wearing a watch below 20bar in a hot shower and 50bar in Steam room / hot pool.    You can hit .5 bar or 50m pretty quickly spraying a watch crown with a non pressurised garden hose for example….

I get that too.

😂😟

No steam rooms for me

No showers with watches on for me.

I don't spray my watch with hoses.

Should the 200m water resistance be shower, hoses and steam rooms 😃

You can hit .5 bar or 50m pretty quickly spraying a watch crown with a non pressurised garden hose for example….

Thanks to our water coming out of a shared borehole and having to be pumped uphill to a neighbour, our water pressure is 5Bar...

Of course my >300m stipulation is not based on logic, but such is the way of the watch fan.

I do dive with a watch as well as a computer, just because I can. I've never actually been deeper than 40m.

I've dived with an Orient Ray mk1, it was absolutely fine.

I'll probably be diving with an Elliot Brown Canford later in the year, I expect that'll also be fine despite not having screw-down crowns.

Kryton57Full Member
I took an Animal watch to 6m in 2007 🙂

There was a YouTube video about this recently, on the basis “just have a think about how deep 50m underwater is” when your buying a watch.  Of course you need to remember it isn’t about depth, it’s about pressure on the watches gaskets/compressors, hence rather than depth you’ll see the rating as Bar.     Added to that, the warmth of the water / environment can expand the gaskets and reduce the resistance to pressure, hence not recommended to be wearing a watch below 20bar in a hot shower and 50bar in Steam room / hot pool.    You can hit .5 bar or 50m pretty quickly spraying a watch crown with a non pressurised garden hose for example….

0.5 bar = 5m, and you need to move at 32mph to generate an extra 1 bar of dynamic pressure underwater.

As for heat expanding the gaskets, that'll increase the water resistance, not compromise it.

There's a lot of hearsay that gets given as fact when this discussion pops up, not helped by the manufacturers covering their arses by telling you things like 30m is only splash proof and shouldn't be worn in a pool. These two articles should hopefully answer all questions and clear up any myths -

https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/tale-of-two-isos-what-water-resistance-ratings-really-mean

https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/seven-dive-watch-myths-deep-sixed

Thanks for that fudd, counters my marketed bro science 🫤 and is an excellent read.

isnt it the crown o-ring that expands to leave a gap in the tube though?   I get the case L gaskets wouldn’t.

isnt it the crown o-ring that expands to leave a gap in the tube though?

It's tight around the outside of the tube but it's also tight against the inside of the crown and has nowhere to go, so if it does expand then it's only going to fill the gap even tighter.

Going from extreme heat to extreme cold could in theory pose a problem as then the gasket shrinks and it could let in water between the crown and gasket, but the gasket is already in compression from both sides so in all likelihood it's never going to shrink enough to become a concern.

I took an Animal watch to 6m in 2007

I took a Swatch about that deep in 1990, it didn't end well

Thanks Fudd, very interesting articles 👍🏻

Thought I would share you all some of my (mostly) vintage Japanese Casio collection so far.  The oldest one dating back to 1976.  Some of these are very rare to find still in good condition and highly sought after

[img] [/img]

Pantsman - your collection is by no means pants. Very impressive.

Any chance of some more detailed pic's perhaps one row at a time.

And tell which is the rarest and what's your favourite and why.

What kind of price would you expect to pay for a second hand Tudor BB58? Preferably on something other than a steel bracelet. Getting married in September so we're looking at gifts for eachother.

Alternatively, where would your money go for something of that value? BB58 is my benchmark as I keep coming back to it / comparing everything against it.

(ex) diver here, in practice no one dives with a watch anymore because the manual depth gauges just aren't that accurate and the time limits are easily missed on just a watch if you are experiencing nitrogen narcosis (when it's mild it's easy to not realise you are addled and that's when errors occur). Proper dive computers are just so much better because they do a calculation of the dive time and depth to give you how long you have at depth and what decompression stops you need to do.

You could take a watch as a backup but it's not a scenario that I'd be concerned about tbh. Best place for your watch is in the bag with your dry clothes

No steam rooms for me

No showers with watches on for me.

I don’t spray my watch with hoses.

Should the 200m water resistance be shower, hoses and steam rooms 😃

Really? What's the point of buying a water resistant watch if you don't trust the water resistance?

Even my least 'waterproof' watch can come with the bottom of our local pool, a splash in the shower and a hosing...

Are people actually that precious over their desk divers?

@alpineharry I was offered £1750 for my BB58 in a part ex deal. Most seem to seek for about £2100 to £2300 second hand.

Mine is 5 years old. I think it’s just a touch dated now. I’d keep thinking about your options. I have quite a few watches, difficult to say what else to look at really. I always default to my favourites, so a Speedmaster, Seamaster (black rubber white face) or a Heuer Autavia (the Chrono on black leather)

@cookeaa nope. I have a few and I’m more than happy to wear mine for pretty much anything I’m doing. Shower, swimming, beach, cleaning bikes etc. I’ve always presumed that my divers are genuinely rated to 200 or 300 metres that they would be fine in the pool, shower or splashing about in the sea.

I have two watches over 20 years old, both still going strong.

Wow - this is horrible and expensive...

https://williamwoodwatches.com/collections/dunkirk

Despite the tagline it's really not their finest hour

Toned the Atoll down a bit with the bracelet.  Smaller clasp and single side screws now so loads better than the last CW bracelet I had to size!!

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I think I prefer the Atol on the Blue Rubber…..but I’m not a fan of bracelet straps so what do I know!

Getting very close to deciding on what Seamaster I want. Tried this on yesterday……but as I was leaving the shop I noticed a Sedna Gold Aqua Tera and that might fit the brief better. The watch is to be worn with a suit, so possibly think the Seamaster is a bit too relaxed.

Seamaster is capable smart. The sedna gold stuff is very attractive but think carefully, it's too much for many.

I’d wear the SMP on a bracelet with a suit, but not a rubber strap.  Personally I’d buy with a rubber strap and buy a good quality and tapered aftermarket bracelet.

And I wouldn’t go gold or rose gold, a bit too crass.

No steam rooms for me

No showers with watches on for me.

I don’t spray my watch with hoses.

Should the 200m water resistance be shower, hoses and steam rooms 😃

Really? What’s the point of buying a water resistant watch if you don’t trust the water resistance?

Even my least ‘waterproof’ watch can come with the bottom of our local pool, a splash in the shower and a hosing…

Are people actually that precious over their desk divers?

I did go for a swim in a very warm pool with a diver watch on this week 😃

I'm not particulah precious about it. Falling off a climbing wall and dragging it down some grip tape in the the first week of ownership put paid the the pristine look.

I hate steam rooms and saunas. I'm sweaty enough with out getting hot for no good reason.

I take my watches off at night and shower in the morning before putting them on. Having a watch with a hole in the plastic front for a year made me careful.

I don't generally hose myself down. If it's that muddy on the trails I'll have a waterproof jacket on.

One of my watches wasn't waterproof in the 1970's when it was made.

One is a Chinese eBay special. Is it waterproof, I don't care to find out!

Both the g shocks and Seiko have 200m water depth ratings, but I changed the batteries and capacitors.

I bought a "waterproof" phone, got it wet and it died. I had an argument with a shop assistant about it being a warranty jobs- with an enormous photo of someone jumping in a pool with the same phone directly behind me.

Also to answer the question about depth, most divers don't do anything more than 30m or so. I once did 50m with just air to breathe and narcosis was strong and that's with preparation dives so I knew what I was doing. Anything more than that needs a mixture of air and helium and it gets very expensive and dangerous if you don't know what you are doing. Doing 100m is a very rare occurrence.

That Omega with the 300m rating? (Nice watch btw) There's probably about 20 or so divers who have ever done that kind of depth - regardless of whether standard scuba or rebreather

Surely only saturation divers "need" a 300 m watch?

I'm saturated just sitting in the bath... IGMC

dunno about depth, but SMP300 certified falling off a paddle board proof…

I’ve had my first foray into “expensive” leather straps. I think I’ve luckily chosen the colour, taper and fit perfectly:

I feel it’s really elevates the overall watch looking much more expensive than it really is and giving more presence to the actual head of the watch.  Taper is 20 down to 16.  It’s quite bizarre how a relatively small set of changes have such an impact.

 I think I’ve luckily chosen the colour, taper and fit perfectly:

Tomorrow is another day....😆

@pantsman - your two briefcases look great. Not sure if I love the cases more than the watches!

Just received my Seeker British sky today and yes, it matches the current over cast sky pretty well.

does seem to look brighter in the pic than on the arm though

New watch, a quartz snowflake.

I wanted something that isn’t too big, or too flashy but which has a bit more depth (the dial and overall finishing) for me to enjoy. Think they are very overpriced at UK retail, thankfully big discounts are available on the grey market.