Nope, chronographs just don't do it for me in general, zenith chronomaster sport aside that is.
I may have found a GMT that appeals though... Sbge277. I'm fixing up a after work trip to the seiko boutique in Knightsbridge with a work buddy, followed by a free beers. I shall wear my spb081j1 and see how many spring drive sports watches I can get out on the table at once!
How did that Longines designer look at that and think "that's beltin, I can go home early today!" and not get fired?
Thoughts on the new 5 GMT?
I’m thinking of getting the Batman/Blueberry instead after flipping 2 watches and selling my Vostok Batman and donating its funds to a Ukrainian charity.
Hmmm nice enough. The orange looks nice. Seiko seem to pull off orange sports watches while no one else really attempts the colour!
Reminder me of 1990s Animal watches that orange does.
Quite like the black, but it’s a pity the arm of the GMT hand couldn’t match the dial so all you saw of it at a glance was the arrow head.
Btw, am I the only one trying to work out how tthew and gaidong's polygomous wife is going to feel when one husband gives her a Cartier and the other like on jealously?
Orange one is lovely I've only got one Seiko now ummmmmmmm
I still don't really understand why cyclops magnifiers on dials remain an acceptable design choice.
Can anyone recommend a watch strap shop?
I want to get the 22mm rubber one on Time Factors but keep missing the 15secs window the shop is open per week
Watchgecko / Zuludiver would be worth a look.
https://www.yellowdogwatchstraps.com/
Can't be beat IMO for a tool watch.
Hello. I’m no watch expert but find myself in the market for a dive watch. I am after some watch wisdom from those more in the know please.
I was interested in a Tudor but when looking at a few today I found them a bit small on my wrist (even in 42mm). I don’t know if it’s just that I am used to wearing a Garmin/Apple watch or if I’m just a bit vulgar but I like a chunky watch.
I then tried on a Breitling Superocean Automatic 44 (previous model not the brand new one) and really liked it.
Is there any reason I shouldn’t get a Breitling or is there anything else I should consider at similar money?
No reason not to get a breitling. They do some nice watches. They haven't been known for pushing horology or outstanding design, navitimer aside, and their designs tend to be large and brash, but they are well respected. I rather like the latest super oceans.
Oh their are plenty of other quality watches, divers are popular and big of easy these days. So over 42mm... Tudor black berry bronze is 43. Christopher ward do 43mm divers, maybe bigger, Seiko excel at humongous yet wearable divers like the sumo, turtle, Willard and many many others. Omega planet Ocean comes in 45mm, Rado Captain Cook in 43, Rolex deep sea or sea dweller are err 45? And 43? In fact I'm fairly sure there's a 44 too. King of big is panerai officine,. Try one of the 47mm submersibles, or a fiddy cased luminor.
With all these though the dimensions can be misleading as some include the crown and the case size doesn't always translate too a big dial. It's a big dial that mainly makes a watch visually big, so a wider bezel among other things can make a watch look smaller. Wear ability also varies with case shape, weight and height/thickness so big watches demand trying on.
If you're looking at breitling gaudy styling, size and cost.... Have a look at Seiko and grand seiko... Oooo so many watches! I do like a big dive watch!
@Kryton57
Thoughts on the new 5 GMT?
https://monochrome-watches.com/seiko-5-sports-style-gmt-ssk001k1-ssk003k1-ssk005k1-introducing-live-pics-price/
/blockquote>Nice enough, blue one is great colour choice, interesting how the chapter ring looks so much narrower on the orange one. Not a huge fan of cyclops viewers on watches.
Btw, having said I don't really tend to like many chronographs I've just discovered Rado brought out a captain Cook chronograph in June, 3 even, 1 bronze and 2 steel. It looks very nice!
Oh and Oris aquis divers are quite large
Thanks very much! I shall take a look at those.
Just been pole axed on my next Seiko journey by going for a Dinner including a bloke wearing a Navitimer B01 ( https://www.beaverbrooks.co.uk/0130718/Breitling-Navitimer-B01-Chronograph-43-Mens-Watch/p) and another with the new Carrera, whilst I have my champagne Hamilton which I swapped from my Aquaracer which was worn in the office.
I think I’m aiming too low… and need to revert to the aforementioned 5 x quality watch plan.
Man after my own heart! Although perhaps with bigger wrists!
@robz - I have both the Super Oceon and also a Tudor Blackbay.
The Blackbay isn’t particularly bling. It’s quite small on my skinny wrists. I prefer the BB as my daily watch.
I also have an Oris, not a diver, mine is the TT F1, but same profile as the diver. It’s chunky, has been clunked into doors occasionally but no knicks on it.
I also have a Panerai, my favourite watch, but it’s big and noticeable. Whilst it’s far from being bling, it’s very noticeable.
I do like my Tudor, it can look ok dressed up / down.
The Breitling came on the rubber strap but I swapped it out for a leather strap, on my second genuine Breitling strap in about 4 years and the watch doesn’t get used too often and nor does it go in the shower.
My Super Oceon is quite busy in the face, and I can understand why folk aren’t too keen on them. The Tudor is a much cleaner look.
I have posted pics of them in this thread. I will try and figure out how I previously posted and put them up here for you to see both watches together on a fairly skinny wrist.
This is the Breitling I was looking at. Not too busy which is why I liked it.
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Thanks! Both lovely but the Tudor is very nice. Must be a different version of the Breitling.
Yeah your Breitling is much less busy than mine. Don’t think yours is too Bling.
I also have a Rolex Explorer II which I do think is a bit gaudy or tacky looking now, I think the BB is the nicer watch, it’s the 39mm that I think works best for us with skinny wrists.
Rubbish photo.
I think that Explorer on a good orange rubber strap would look great. There are a few examples I've seen of the white-faced Millgaus on orange rubber which look really fresh and sporty.
neilnevill
Free Member
Oh and Oris aquis divers are quite large
There's a version of the Oris Aquis with a 5-day movement inside if that's your kind of thing.
Otherwise, have you looked at Sinn - I guess specifically the U1 or other U-series? It's a stock Sellita movement inside, but submarine steel and you can dress it up (red silicone strap, NATO) or down (bracelet, aftermarket sailcloth) depending on the day. I'm loving my U50, it doesn't leave my wrist
Nice collection Woodster.
Thanks Kryton.
I may be adding to it in the new year…..depending on whether HMRC get into gear with their rebates….knowing them they’ll probably say I owe them!
Anyway, I have a lot of sporty watches, the dressiest watch being a Bell & Ross BRS something or another, similar to this…(really not a fan of it but was a gift so I felt compelled to like it….) - think it cost £2400, would be lucky to get a £1000 for it, but whatever I get would just go towards the Grand Seiko below….
And add this to the collection:
Yes I like woodsters collection too. I prefer the cleaner dial to the breitling robz is wearing though.
HMRC hmmm yes, I managed to get them round to my way of thinking on a chunk of tax least week.... Not enough to pay for a watch but it was going to make a very big dent in my fund if they hadn't come around!
Possibly contentious question but has anyone ever bought a fake (replica...) of a pricey watch in order to give it a long term test of the dimensions / overall look? I know the quality won't be there, but to see how wearable a watch is day to day? Any recommendations?
That's a perfectly sensible thing to do of considering a costly watch and you can get a h ok homage, replica, fake, super fake which is close on the dimensions or characteristics in question.
Any recommendations for a site? I've seen this one but not sure how to gauge what the quality would be like
https://www.moon-watch.co/
I reckon the images are of the genuine products not the replicas. It's still a chunk of change to spend on something that could turn out to be terrible - not sure what comeback I would have.
"it doesn't look like the original"
"It's a fake"
"yeah, fair enough"
I see Grand Seiko have the same strap problem that Seiko do @w00dster 😉
Apart from the strap that is a beautifully executed GMT. I do like GMTs.
A plain brown leather, possibly vintage, but not distressed, would be lovely on it.
They don't make bracelets that fit any better
Any recommendations for a site?
You could go to Aliexpress and pick from the Pagani official store list - when you find what you want see if its in the UK on Amazon or eBay first for a quicker delivery.
Sinn. Not a brand I've really ever or paid any attention to, other than the do a navitimer. I find myself looking at a U2 and cent decide if it's sublime engineering firm meets function, or bland design and engineered b******s. They seem to have as good reputation though when reviews plumbing for the former. Any experiences with them?
@creakingdoor if you're on an android phone hold your finger on the picture and search with Google lens.
I don't know the watch but if guess something late 50s early 60s
@neilnevill, I've had a Sinn UX and have a 3006 on order. The UX was extremely well built, amazing oil-filled case etc. I sold as I bought the black version and I now want metals to be the colour they're supposed to be! Yes, I work in metallurgy and understand alloys but, for example, if I wanted a precious white metal I'd go for platinum and not white gold. Not that either is likely to happen!
Edit, it will probably happen... but with a vintage piece as Pt is crazily overpriced in watches.
Thought I'd add to the thread that a work colleague has started Clemence Watches...
https://www.clemencewatches.com/
https://instagram.com/clemencewatches?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
I'll let him know I've posted to the thread 👍🏻
Any recommendations for a site? I’ve seen this one but not sure how to gauge what the quality would be like
https://www.moon-watch.co/
I reckon the images are of the genuine products not the replicas. It’s still a chunk of change to spend on something that could turn out to be terrible – not sure what comeback I would have.
“it doesn’t look like the original”
“It’s a fake”
“yeah, fair enough”
There are better sites for reps which I won't link to as probably illegal.
You generally choose what you want, pay (eg paypal f&f, bank xfer or crypto) and a few days later you get some "QC" photos to sign off on. The watch turns up in a month or so, if not seized by HM customs.
Some models are scarily close to Gen, and you'll pay 500$ and up. Others always look wrong. Speedy is a good example - there's no replica movement with the chrono dials the right spacing apart - the cheapo quartz ones from DH Gate are about the closest.
If you legit do want one just to try out, then you will recoup most of the cash when you sell it on in good nick on one of the enthusiast forums, as people would rather buy used rather than risk it.
I don't condone any of this, just find it fascinating.
Thanks for the replies re my dad's Longines above. All of the watches I've looked at on Google Lens appear to have the word Longines in a standard script, whereas this one has it in italics. Is this something significant? Is there are chance it may be a reproduction (fake)? He has been told it's gold (plated?) but I'm not convinced as there's no hallmark anywhere. He inherited it some years back and knows nothing of its history. Tia.
If you/your dad have had it a good while I doubt it's fake. I don't know the sure but I don't think fake was watches are such a big thing years ago and anyway, if it's lasted it most likely has a decent movement. Longine built and still build decent, quality watches, they are just but seen as a particularly high tier.... Medium high
... Similar to Hamilton perhaps. If it's in decent condition I'd guess (and it is largely a guess) a value of £300+/-£100.
My guess would be gold plated, that doesn't get a hallmark always. There may be a marking inside a lug or inside the case back which will give a clue. I'd definitely pop the back and photo and markings and the movement. You could get a model number, movement number, case maker, details of plating thickness, serial number and such like.
I've succumbed...n=n+1 again. Not even sure if I like it... But have to try it. Pics to follow when it arrives.