The cyan-faced SO 44 grew on me in picoseconds!
Just gorgeous.
Hahahaha Count, nuts is the one way to describe it! Or absurd...or ridiculous. Or... Yes nuts 🤣. Sometimes it's just good to be silly.
Sometimes it’s just good to be silly
Indeed it is! My Bronze Swordfish is pretty subtle and restrained compared to your Abyss. My silliest watch is (currently!) my gold Armitron Griffy, which makes me smile and ranks among the most pointlessly daft things I've ever bought. And I'm a bloke who bought a Roadrat.
I know Rolex demand seems to be on the wane but I made enquires about a black OP41 and was told a straight no, but I could have a Datejust 41. Have asked about the new Air King so we shall see, don't want to play the grey market game mind you. Was trying to avoid Rolex too but it's an itch I need to scratch I think
Howdy folks, I've a milestone birthday coming up (50...) and have been thinking about getting a proper chronometer watch with a chronograph. I have fairly slim wrists so am looking at 40mm or below really and am looking for something that appeals to the heart rather than my head. My budget is 3k or around about max - this is waaay more than I've ever paid for a watch before and is likely to be the last time as well! I think I've settled on a Zenith El Primero of some kind, albeit second hand as new are more and I like some of the older styles better anyway. On my search I've come across this watch from Concord which has a modified El Primero movement to show the full date. I must admit I really like it but I'm concerned that I may regret not getting a true 'Zenith', and that possibly the date complications may turn out to be too small to be legible anyway given the case size is 38mm. Any thoughts on it anyone?
Concord Impresario
@neilnevill, thanks but not symmetrical enough! Girard Perregaux has some nice options in its 1966 line. Could be a decent 2nd hand pick up.
@Stevet1, that's a pretty watch but I would be slightly wary of vintage pieces with complications. Chronograph servicing can be a bit spicy, plus calendar modules... Can you buy it with a one year warranty or anything?
Doubt I'd get a years guarantee, not sure if 30 days or similar would be within my rights to return. There are a lot of vintage speedies around, do they have issues as well or is it all a bit of a gamble and I should stick to new?
Steve1, are these a bit obvious for a 50th?
https://www.junghans.de/en/collection/watches/1972/
If it's your 50th birthday next year* then Tissot have a 1973 chrono.
* It's mine btw if anyone is wondering.
There are a lot of vintage speedies around, do they have issues as well or is it all a bit of a gamble and I should stick to new?
£3k puts you firmly in Speedmaster Racing territory - there's a brand new one on Chrono24 for $3000. 40mm case, automatic chronograph movement, certainly ticks your boxes.
Not symmetrical enough?! But it's bloody gorgeous
!!
Some people. Tut tut 😆
Count you'd be surprised, my wrist is a flat 6.75" at it's biggest but the zelos actually feels wearable! The grand seiko sbga031 I fancy is still available and although the zelos and sbdc059 would only cover a third of the cost of it, it's lovely so I'd part with the two even though I like them both a lot. Gov on... Have you looked down the sides of the did sofa? You might find it less costly than you think.
@Stevet1 - £3k would get you a Tudor Pelagos fxd? Titanium, very waterproof and easy to change NATO straps on it. Very different from a chronograph though.
A nice Seiko chronograph?
https://www.jurawatches.co.uk/products/seiko-watch-presage-limited-edition-srq031j1
With money left over for something else.
Steve1, are these a bit obvious for a 50th?
https://www.junghans.de/en/collection/watches/1972/
/blockquote>Like but look a bit big, may see if I can try them on somewhere. Although... it's actually my 50th is still 2 years off but if I have an idea of what I want I can look out for a good example and buy in advance.
£3k puts you firmly in Speedmaster Racing territory – there’s a brand new one on Chrono24 for $3000. 40mm case, automatic chronograph movement, certainly ticks your boxes.
Hmm, a few there that look tasty enough, the blue dial one is lovely.
@Stevet1 – £3k would get you a Tudor Pelagos fxd? Titanium, very waterproof and easy to change NATO straps on it.
Thanks for the suggestion, already got a nice Seiko Ti air diver - I know it's not in the same league but it fulfils the same purpose.
A nice Seiko chronograph?
Seiko Presage Watch Chronograph Limited Edition D
Like that as well but again, maybe too big. I really need to go and try a few on.
For 3k you could get a nice Sinn, say;
https://www.sinn.de/en/Modell/356_Sa_PILOT_III.htm
Or maybe a bit more left field but we’ll respected
https://www.junghans.de/en/collection/watches/junghans-max-bill/max-bill-chronoscope/27780002?c=16
chrisbill
Full Member@Stevet1 – £3k would get you a Tudor Pelagos fxd? Titanium, very waterproof and easy to change NATO straps on it. Very different from a chronograph though
This has piqued my interest for my 50th for the fact it's titanium as I'm hard on watches and also for it being available in left handed version. However one thing that puts me off a little is that is quite thick and might look a bit chunky on my wrist and it's going to get bashed more when pipe fitting/heavy engineering. Does anyone have one for comment?
Is the fxd available as a destro, or just the standard/original pelagos?
I've an original, it's a tool watch and as durable as and other. Ti doesn't really show scratches, especially a brushed finish, so it's not a bad choice for you.
New Superocean 3 available at Jura:
I like it.
I *really* want to like Breitling’s offerings, especially since they returned to in-house movements. They strike just the right balance between luxury and utility for me, but I really don’t gel with any of their designs. I guess there’s a reason people call them Bright Bling. The Superocean Heritage is almost right for me but I’m paranoid that I’d do a serious damage to the domed crystal.
OK, a challenge for you. I'd like a budget holiday GMT to replace my Batman Vostock that for obvious reasons isn't being worn at the moment.
Budget £200 max, ideally it needs to not be on a bracelet, a dive watch (pool diver), look smart at the dining table, be able to take a whack and of course have at least a GMT hand not necessary "true" GMT and 40-42mm max with a short-mid lug to lug.
Watcha got?
Quartz GMT, 200m, but on a bracelet.
£199, other disks/bezels available
https://www.watchgecko.com/geckota-gmt-sand-steel
Momentum GMT Diver on black rubber strap, £199
https://momentumwatch.com/products/m20-diver-gmt-42mm?variant=41118579687602
Oh that’s nice. I have a Geckota already albeit an auto PT 500 so I know the quality will be good, and perhaps the domed sapphire offsets the cheap Rhonda…
…but a Batman option with no date complication and and easy swap to several straps I already have… I’m tempted!
Edit: just seen that Momentum and read up about it. Links to Vancouver have a story for me which is something I value for a watch, and it’s an auto… could get stung on import duty though.
That Geckota with the steel bezel is nice, I'm less keen on the other bezel/dial options. I don't see how the Momentum makes the cut for dining table smart but obviously tastes vary.
Links to Vancouver have a story for me which is something I value for a watch, and it’s an auto
It is? It says Swiss quartz on the page I'm looking at so probably the same Ronda module as the Geckota. I'd expect you to have to go full Chinese to get a mechanical movement in budget, something like this
Unfortunately that'll reduce your story to "I bought an inexpensive watch from China"!
I am leaning toward the Gecko, maybe the Pepsi bezel as I’ve never owned a Pepsi and therefore don’t have one.
I was concerned about them being quartz with no battery low indication, but some research reveals that Ronda hacks the second hand to set the GMT therefore can be used as a power saver. Now to decide, steel or Pepsi bezel…
P.s. I don’t want a Chinese watch…
Just received, No.68 of 80. Special edition Tudor Peleagos still to take of the protective wrap and get the bracket sized correctly.
Need to get proper pic to add at a later date.
I'm just going to put these here....
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Nt1aJYxkanyu9CnoLBr0gAO4pMjb0SVgnCYMyux8UIBdeZbBLMwwdAPSQRAl-xCjnyG2YjUB3sTdIYPC-asLIFSjyjZVdv7rwskUwKlUm8erFDe5PcqavgaLfLIMkm0xHaXrkA9zaMI=w2400
love them both but man maths dictates both need to go to make a contribution to the SBGA031 I rather like
Damn, still can't get the hang of the picture posting on here.....it's worked😁
What's the emblem at 9oclock inbred?
Nice!
@neilnevil, Parachute Regiment, 80 watches commissioned for the Regiments 80th Birthday. I was fortunate to be able to get one.
P.s. I don’t want a Chinese watch…
Well, that'll rule out the Geckota and the Momentum.
Try Scuba Leeds for momentum watches in the UK
@Kryton57 What do you think of the Gekota with the PT5000 movement?
I’m looking at this one and quite liking it on paper.
https://www.watchgecko.com/geckota-g-02-black-bezel
Which is also why I was quite so fast with the Gekota GMT suggestion this morning.
@igm, I have that exact watch when it was first issued - No 86 - before it was called the Sea Hunter. I asked for the bracelet to be changed to the same style but two-tone.
It’s a lovely piece, has a lovely piece of sapphire with much anti reflection, sits low on your wrist and the lugs / bracelet have a great downturn to them. The PT5000 has been reliable and accurate. In fact if you Google it it’s allegedly Chronometer accurate but won’t be officially measured because it’s not Swiss.
It feels great quality and the Warrington bracelet is the proper five pieces and a milled clasp - the only issue is that it comes with the cheaper one that has 2 holes of micro adjust - you can call them and asked for the next version up which has 5 holes and costs about an extra £20.
And because of my experience with this watch after I saw your recommendation came with a hackable power saving movement I didn’t hesitate to order the pepsi… 🙂
If you want any pics let me know and I’ll be happy to oblige.
Thanks.
And they do a couple of nice black ‘n’ beige NATOs too as an alternative strap.
Nice.
I agree, I was looking at the black and beige for my current watch (same as the one you are looking at ) and thinking of putting the two tone on the GMT.
Going to try a waffle strap I already have first.
Decided to mod my seiko, wanted a new stealth bezel and insert but with a red crown and second hand, could not find any red crown so send it off to get the stock one cerakoted.
Quite pleased with the result and cant wait to pick it up at post office tomorrow. Paul that did the work have build some amazing looking watches.
This is mine.
Jodie of JOMW has made me make my first AliExpress purchase. I await the taxes and QC lottery. Will post up when it arrives.
Discretion is certainly order of the day.
That Tempus mod is outstanding.
I have buyers remorse this morning 😔
What did you get Kryton?