Awesome pics and right-up Fudd, a very enjoyable read over a post-work Friday beer. I'm going to swap to my Arnie* in tribute.
*yes I know its not the same.
Yes awesome! I shan't be dismantling my own watches, but it's interesting to see what you have done.
Dismantling is the easy bit.
@fudd - nice buy, and a nice, classic Seiko. Always rather fancied a proper Tuna, but I’d rather it was a mechanical than a quartz.
Your tear-downs and photos are amazing, rather easier to see details than with a video. 😎
Bravo Fudd, quality in every aspect.
Thanks chaps.
igm
Full Member
Dismantling is the easy bit.
100%. The hardest part is working out where all the left over screws are supposed to go.
CountZero
Full Member
@fudd – nice buy, and a nice, classic Seiko. Always rather fancied a proper Tuna, but I’d rather it was a mechanical than a quartz.
The only mechanical Tunas are in 600m or 1000m cases and they're just a step too far for my wrists unfortunately. There's a number of other Seiko's with shrouds and auto movements but they're not the same, even though they've all got that X on the dial these days (mutter, grumble etc).
Orient M-Force auto, the other shrouded diver...
Today's ebay delivery.
A no name watch with Seiko VH31 movement and a sapphire crystal.
Not sure the lume is up to much, but less than £50 to my door.
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New watch day.
SPB255J1 Black Series.
That looks nice, I thought it was my snr035 for a moment. What's the strap and lug width? The strap might find its way here.
New watch day. SPB255J1 Black Series.
That’s very nice, really like the strap - it’s a seichu strap IIRC, did look at buying it separately for one of my divers but it’s quite expensive.
Full disclosure I do have one of the previous run of seiko black edition diver specials and whilst I do love mine, I do really like the new run.
I keep looking longingly at the captain Willard one.
Anyone got any idea of how durable the dark coating on the Seiko cases is? Been eyeing one up but it would have a rough n tumble life, so maybe plain stainless would be better....
My Seiko is my mountain biking watch, been absolutely fine. I posted it a couple of pages back. It’s used extensively for day to day duties and it’s not overly noticeable. I have a lot of posher watches that get used a lot less looking a fair bit more neaten up.
(Not sure if mine is the type you are thinking of so apologies if it’s now)
Thts exactly whats I wanted to hear! Cheers.
@neilnevill
Lug and strap width is 20mm.
As mentioned above the strap material is Seichu which is a traditional Japanese weave used on belts for kimonos.
Apparently the strap by itself retails north of $200!!!!!
Nice that twohats
The only mechanical Tunas are in 600m or 1000m cases and they’re just a step too far for my wrists unfortunately. There’s a number of other Seiko’s with shrouds and auto movements but they’re not the same, even though they’ve all got that X on the dial these days (mutter, grumble etc).
🤣 Yes, the Prospex thing annoys me, too. I think I could live with the hefty monocoque case on the mechanical Tunas, in fact I would, just to have what are pretty much a Grand Seiko movement in a tool watch! I might even go as far as the gold TiN coating, for the subtle added bling…
@richpips - that’s a nice looking field watch you’ve got there, very much a Sinn-styled face, like my SP043RK1, yours has the military 12 o’clock marker with the triangle and two dots, though. For £50 that’s a daily beater of a watch, it looks great and a lot more expensive than it has any right to.
Mine for comparison of the face:
Just tried to get a shot of the lume, this is the best I could get, in full dark I couldn’t get a good focus:
I just climbed Mount Taygetos but forgot the obligatory wrist shot at summit. Should I climb again? Sat at Xirocambi plateia with a frappé now...
Well.... I did not climb again but I did visit two archaeological sites (that's my job). And am now back in plateia, really quite missed. Oh, and the Oris Propilot performed admirably
Enjoyed this vid...
WoW!
an interesting story BUT £80,000 - for a watch, even one that unusual? That's a very different reality to the one in which I live :o)
I get the 'investment' angle but even so...
...I'm struggling to spend £1500 on something as frivolous as a watch.
He has a few others aswell 😂
How does this work? I'm thinking of using chrono24 to buy a watch from Japan, so I am watching the pound to yen exchange rate. Boe increase rates today and give a positive forecast that recession will be avoided. The pound drops 2 yen. Wtaf!
After setting the SPORK two weeks ago, I’ve just checked it, and it’s running 28 seconds fast, which I think is fairly respectable.
Latest (and last for a while) addition to the fleet! Window shopping in US turned to eBay browsing too… you know the rest.
Need some suggestions for alternative straps for it please, I love the bracelet with the t-link adjustment, but something a bit less ‘scratchy’ is needed, I’m thinking maybe black sailcloth or canvass with yellow detail to pick out the GMT hand maybe?
Love it Blazin. Tried one on a while back in the factory sailcloth type strap which looked good to me. I'm not a fan of strap accents - let the dial/GMT do the talking!
I think black sail cloth with yellow stitching would suit well. Definitely wants a strap of assume kind with that bezel or it seems 'too metal '
Ah a BB Pro. Lovely
I've no regrets selling my GMT as it was a chunky monkey but I do like the dial and handset on these much better. Was pretty much decided on a Ranger for my next watch but I might have to have a closer look at these now
A little splash of colour for the summer just arrived in the post. A dinky 40.5mm says 90s and in lovely nick on the original brushed/polished stainless bracelet.
@midlife 👍
I have a Tissot SeaStar that I’m generally very happy with. But I’ve always liked the Pepsi look. Does anyone know if getting a customised two colour replacement bezel is a ‘thing’? Any recommendations about where to source such a thing. And any idea of the ball-park cost?
https://imgur.com/gallery/Xen4nEU
Has anyone experience with Ochs und Junior watches, quite tempted by a moon phase.
Longtime lurker, infrequent poster on here... 😉
OK, so I've just sold my house in Todmorden and before the cash gets put into something sensible, like savings or kitchens (don't worry, there's at least one bike on the shopping list...) I was wondering about a new watch while I have the daydreaming space...
I have several nice (but not mega expensive) watches: a Stowa Verus, Archimede Pilot 39, an old Seiko diver, couple of Seiko 5s, a Singletrack Elliot Brown, a Mondaine and a '60s Tudor dress watch that was my grandad's.
Requirements - not massive or mega heavy. I have tiny wrists and 40mm is about as big as I go. Something legible, with good lume. I appear to like Pilot style watches, though I've had a couple of Steinhart Submariner styles. It'll get used as a daily wearer, though probably not taken mountain biking...
<span style="font-size: 0.8rem;">I think I've missed the boat on getting an IWC MK XVIII or Tag Monaco as a posh watch, as they seem to be silly money.</span>
Some on my list:
Steinhart Ocean 39 GMT , Archimede Pilot 200 Tudor Ranger Sinn 856...
Suggestions, and I know that this is asking for trouble, welcome! 🙂
Traska or Damasko?
The 39mm tudor pelagos is easily available now, excellent serious tool watch
Just coming up on a month since I set the SPORK, and it’s currently 42 seconds fast; I think I can live with that… 😉
@Fudd - thinking about Tunas, tbh, a MarineMaster 300 is probably my preferred choice, I’m not bothered about the shroud, but I really like the handset on the MM300, I’ve never really liked the arrowhead handset on most of the Seiko sports watches. I’ve got my eye on one at the moment - it’d make quite a nice birthday present for me…
Requirements – not massive or mega heavy. I have tiny wrists and 40mm is about as big as I go. Something legible, with good lume. I appear to like Pilot style watches, though I’ve had a couple of Steinhart Submariner styles. It’ll get used as a daily wearer, though probably not taken mountain biking…
<span style=”font-size: 0.8rem;”>I think I’ve missed the boat on getting an IWC MK XVIII or Tag Monaco as a posh watch, as they seem to be silly money.</span>
Some on my list:
Steinhart Ocean 39 GMT , Archimede Pilot 200 Tudor Ranger Sinn 856…Suggestions, and I know that this is asking for trouble, welcome! 🙂
😀 even Chipps can't get the formatting on this forum to work properly! 😉
Obviously I can only suggest things I've actually looked at or worn, but those are some quite different watches.
Personally of those the Sinn speaks to me most, as it's a classic Sinn design that could feasibly be both daily 'go anywhere/ do anything' and slightly more formal shirt/ collar type watch. Sinn's build quality and customer service are both excellent; it has 200mm WR and so on. I have a U50 SDR (black bezel) that's Tegimented and after a year of daily wear it's absolutely unmarked. The big challenge is not being able to try it on because they're online only!
I've never really felt inspired by the Tudor Ranger, but I'm sure you've checked out things like the Hamilton Khaki which are somewhat similar in the field watch kinda space. Tudor definitely has the brand cachet, and a decent enough movement too, with enough power reserve to take it off Friday and put it back on Monday morning.
The Steinhart looks like it's a bit chunkier - specs say 13mm, compared to the 11mm of the Sinn, which doesn't sound like much but will probably feel different on the wrist.
Oris ProPilot X Calibre in Ti ?
https://www.oris.ch/en-GB/watch/big-crown-propilot-x-calibre-115/01-115-7759-7153-set5-22-04tlc
I'm looking for a similar field/tool watch. A couple that are on my short list are
Oris Propilot date (day and date is a bit bigger)
Fortis F39 or F41 (size in mm) - available in nice colour highlights or plain.
Almost as long time a lurker as Chipps and definitely less frequent poster here!
Out of your current list, I’d be very tempted by the Sinn. It’s an absolute classic.
As a bit of a Tudor fanboy, I’d recommend trying on the Ranger. We have the same wrist size and a similar taste in watches. I found it pretty uninspiring in the flesh and to me it just didn’t sit quite right. You’d be better off with a Timefactors Everest, if you could actually buy one! The 39mm Pelegos and new BB54 are lovely though. In fact, had the 54 been available when I got my 58, I’d have struggled to choose between them.
I really like what Fortis are doing, the F39 is a lovely modern take on the pilot / field watch.
Don't see many about which is unfortunate for someone that likes to purchase second hand 🙁
I have a lot of love for the Tudor Ranger, keep looking at other things but keep going back to it. Might have to buy one....
Now is probably the time, this is probably the lowest Tudor prices will be going forward I can only see them going up by a few hundred per model every year...
In other words do it!
