I wonder what impact smart/activity watches will have on the nice watch market. Having just the other week got a Garmin Instinct my daily wear for the past 15 years Seamaster has hardly been on my wrist.
I bought a Garmin about 2 years ago at the same time I put my Speedmaster somewhere safe! I can’t remember where I put it but I know it’s safe. Not worn it since though
This is a great thread. Makes a pleasant change from previous watch discussions. I rotate my watches week to week. Hopefully this will help to keep the movements in good order but either way they'll all need a service a some point.
Mine are: Rolex Sub (Kermit), Rolex Cellini, IWC Pilot XVI, Omega Seamaster.
Rotation is good.
I wonder what impact smart/activity watches will have on the nice watch market.
Not much, really. I’m pretty sure anyone buying a smar****ch knows it’s going to be obsolete within a few years, once the battery dies and software updates are no longer available, probably five years at most. A decent analogue watch from a good maker will still be usable a century on. My mechanical Yema Rallygraf is now around fifty years old, and works fine after a new mainspring and service. My TAG Heuer Series 1000 ‘Nightdiver’ is getting on for thirty-five years old, is working just fine, hasn’t needed a battery for some years, had a redial around twenty years ago after the retaining pins on the back of the original face fell off.
I cannot imagine any smar****ch lasting even ten years.
I’ve just had an email from Huckberry in the States, they gather all sorts of outdoor gear, and they have limited numbers of an Italian watch brand that might be of interest:
https://huckberry.com/store/unimatic?utm_campaign=01.01+Unimatic+%28NPFNJj%29&utm_medium=email&_ke=eyJrbF9lbWFpbCI6ICJhZHJpYW4uaGlsbGllckBtZS5jb20iLCAia2xfY29tcGFueV9pZCI6ICJiVnZ2QmUifQ%3D%3D&utm_source=Newsletter+-+International
I'm selling a BNIB Edifice Toro Rosso if anyone likes them, drop me a message
Plus one, not sure, I'll try and go past and look, it was in the window so if it's still there I'll let you know the asking price.
Wysiwyg - ygm.
This thread has made me want a new watch.......
Really like the look of the STW favourite Seiko SNDA57 but can I find them for sale, no, no I can't!
Neilnevill thanks.. I’ve never looked at as many watches in my life !! See my current collection swelling 🙂
Anyone have any opinions on the Orient Ray II? Just as an everyday watch, would more than likely change to a leather strap of some sort also.
https://www.orien****chusa.com/products/ray-ii-faa02005d9
What about...
Not saying Orient aren't OK.... They're good watches. But I think a few quid more gets you better. In terms of movement, build, glass, lume. Newer models of Phoibos seem to be getting pricey. 250 ish dollars gets you quite a nice deal thoigh at the moment.
Just as an everyday watch, would more than likely change to a leather strap of some sort also.
A diver on leather?
Outrageous behaviour.
I think likely i’ll be saving up to get the 12yo Tag Serviced and cleaned
I had my WAJ1110 2009 serviced/refurbished/polished by these guys: http://www.watchrepairuk.com/
Did a great job and looked good as new (apart from a big dent in the clasp which wouldn't come out) and cost me a little over £300 (back in Sept '18)
Tropic ftw
I've got that exact Orient Ray II and like it a lot. Keeps good time, robust and looks a lot more expensive than it is, the blue on the face is really good. The bracelet it comes on is OK, but I prefer it on either a NATO or a brown leather strap.
You'll not go far wrong with it at all.
Orient I believe are ok. Steinhart are only a few quid more and come with eta movements, some elabore, and rest of the build quality is very good, so you should consider those too.
I bought a phoibas as shown ^ by aphex_2k, PX002Aas shown here with quartz movement and it has only lost 11 seconds over the last 8weeks since setting the exact time - that's a helluva lot better than the seiko automatic (yobokies) it replaced, I changed the strap for a Zulu Diver 300 rubberstrap from watch gecko (smells of vanilla for some reason).
It's obviously outclassed by just about every other watch on this thread but it tells the same time as any other watch so i'm perfectly happy with it
with quartz movement and it has only lost 11 seconds over the last 8weeks
Joking aside, that’s not great for a quartz movement. It’s not bad for an auto but I’d expect a quartz to be a little better than that.
Steinhart are only a few quid more and come with eta movements
Orient are in house movements (well, that or Seiko movements), which, if they were Swiss, you’d pay a big premium for. The movements are not particularly pretty but they are solid, reliable and accurate and certainly no worse than a generic ETA movement.
Thanks lunge. I know little about Orient, just by reputation they are ok.
It seems a bit odd to me to prize in house movements in lower to mid end watches, the makers aren't investing heavily and driving development forward.... The recent restrictions in ETA ebouchments has driven many to their own movements, which although I've not read into I suspect most are cloned Seiko or ETA. High end brands do develop clever bits and generate sales from their development... But lower down I'm not convinced it's a selling point. If it's got an ETA, it's easily serviced.... That is a selling point to me.... Although I'm not saying Orient movement isn't good, just it's worth considering a known good movement.
Just bought a 009 jubilee and a sea urchin. Great
Whilst visiting I took a trip into London today. I am not normally into expensive baubles, cars or other extravagant items with fashionable labels.
I did however pass pleny of jewellers with loads of vintage men's Rolex watches. I found myself quite smitten. I like a leather strap. If I wished to get a decent vintage watch without spending silly money, where might be a good place to look or a manufacturer to look out for?
If I wished to get a decent vintage watch without spending silly money, where might be a good place to look or a manufacturer to look out for?
The classics, like Rolex, Breitling, etc, are all fetching high prices, you need to look for early models of less well-known watches, which is where the collectors are starting to look. One example is my TAG Heuer Series 1000 ‘Night Diver’ - I paid £250 for it around 1985-ish. It was one of the first sports watches Heuer produced with TAG’s involvement, and came in a variety of models, all black finish with luminous face, stainless with luminous face, plus a couple of other variations.
Up until very recently, nobody was paying much attention to them, until collectors obsessed with the watches worn by James Bond checked the first Timothy Dalton film, and realised he’s wearing the TAG ‘Night Diver’ in the first scenes, set on Gibraltar, and the stainless version in the rest of the film. Prices are nw starting to go up as a result, I’ve seen examples of mine starting to go for £1000 or more. Maybe older Citizen watches, or similar might be worth looking at, I don’t know, I’m not someone who collects watches for any monetary reasons, I’ve just bought mine years apart because I like them. Just by chance my old Yema is worth getting on or £4000, I paid £50 for it!
Really, just find something you like the look of, and if the price is doable, buy it.
CWC G10 arrived this morning it’s 1990
Navy issue. Bar a tiny graze on crystal(hard to see) I looks as new 🙂
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[url= https://i.postimg.cc/bdqkrd8t/7-D551-B67-FE67-471-D-B136-F0684-FE742-B5.jp g" target="_blank">https://i.postimg.cc/bdqkrd8t/7-D551-B67-FE67-471-D-B136-F0684-FE742-B5.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
For the love of god tuck that Nato in...
This might be of interest to everyone on this thread, I’ve just watched (ha!) it through and it’s fascinating. It’s a watchmaker taking apart two movements, one Japanese, one Swiss, both used by the same watch brand:
I had the black face version of the Orient watch shown in the picture above. I used it for a year or so and then sold it to an Egyptian guy who worked in a dive shop in Eugpt while I was on holiday there. I went back a year later and the watch was still working perfectly and looked to be in pretty good condition, although I think he had changed it to a rubber strap. Given they are not that expensive and it had probably had a hard 12 months after I sold it in Eygpt I was genuinely impressed in how it had stood up to the use.
I would happily buy another one.
This might be of interest to everyone on this thread
I found that fascinating, thanks for posting.
However, $300 difference for essentially 2 plastic cogs and a the addition of a lever to stop the clock on adjustment? I was kind of hoping for a "and this is why..." lightbulb moment.
I’m new to Nato straps I had tucked it in as it was annoying me !! 🙂
Don't worry - I needed this also!
pics? I was tempted with the quartz version in black... Great price huh? I just can't stand the cyclops! Does it not protrude and catch on things? Is it the same sapphire as the main glass? $119 is bloody tempting though.
This on the auto 007 Phoibos
Current want
[url= https://i.postimg.cc/KYwHtjTC/8-BC30-DAE-BC0-B-42-DD-B396-EF86-A34-EFC2-B.jp g" target="_blank">https://i.postimg.cc/KYwHtjTC/8-BC30-DAE-BC0-B-42-DD-B396-EF86-A34-EFC2-B.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
Nice vid kryton 🙂
Prefer the SARB017
That sarb is lovely 🙂 I don’t think an auto is for me I know(had auto Seiko years ago) I got fed up having to wind it up 🙁
After my post about vintage watches, I have been doing a bit of research. Do any vintage experts, have any opinions on Russian watches? It seems there are a few variants of Sekonda watches and they are cheap.
I am not looking at it as an investment.
The poster who asked about future collectible watches, or at least quality watches that aren’t fetching stupid prices might like to look through this site, there are some Tudor and Omega watches going for significantly less than the Rolex watches, and there’s a nice TAG Heuer Monaco with the square case made famous by Steve McQueen for reasonable money...
https://www.watchmaster.com/en/shop?mid=EN_GB_DIS_1-1-1_0-0-0_0-0-0_0-0-0_0-0-0_0-0-0&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-qjTxeHT3wIVSuLVCh2VJAgrEAEYASAAEgLkj_D_BwE&page=3
Do any vintage experts, have any opinions on Russian watches?
My horologist friends daughter bought him this for Christmas - I can't tell you anything about it, maybe someone else can help:
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This is the cheapo Russian watch I bought off e-bay just before Christmas. It's a Vostock from the '80's, (probably) like one I bought half a lifetime ago on an Interrailing trip through Prague.
It's got a plastic dome, which is a bit bloody scratchy, but can cleaned up with mobile phone screen polish and I'm pretty sure a NATO strap's not really suitable 😄 but that's not the reason I purchased it.
edit - blimey, resizing that on imgur made it look terrible, sorry about that.
Dashing past Goldsmiths on Victoria yesterday I paused for 30 seconds to peer at the Tudor display. Other than thinking, 'Wow how many variants of the Black Bay now!?' and alo, 'How big? has it grown?' I find I do rather like the black bay. Even the bimetal S&G looks sort of ...vintage and not bling. I think its the gilt dial and the gold looks brushed not polished. Still favour the orignal with the Claret bezel, or possibly the 58 (smaller 39mm case, yippee...it does appear possibly the trend for ever bigger has possibly topped out).
Anyway, Tudor, nice watches... popping on to Hodinkee just now I see the vintage Tudor subs are getting to some insane prices now, not just the Rolex ones, £350k asking price for one recently!
I've posted 2 g-shocks for sale on classifieds. Shameless plug sorry 🙁
One as new boxed(Rasta) one vintage g-lide
@Kryton57 - I like that Russian watch you posted, really nice styling. The case is reminiscent of something, possibly an Omega, but the hands and numerals are very Art Deco. Looks good with the Sharkskin mesh strap. I could really live with one of those.
Any idea what the make is? I can’t read the Cyrillic script.
@Kryton57 - that watch is a Vostok Amphibia - I cant find the exact model at the mo’, but it’s something like this 1967 reissue, certainly the case has that look about it...
I think I’ve found it, it’s the Amphibian Classic 960...
https://meranom.com/en/amphibian-classic/960/vostok-watch-amphibian-classic-960760pu.html
Plus one, the CWC g10 is £125 in crystal palace jewelers. I didn't ask Daryll about it, or get it out the window but it looked perfect.
I ended up going +1.... 36mm blue auto bond seamaster 300m. As always, Daryll did a good price, great service and...I spent ages just chatting watches!
Having mentioned Tudor.... Daryll has a 39mm black bay in, brand new/unworn.
I have a Tudor from the 90’s, hoping it’ll be worth something one day.
Anyway great thread
CountZero i checked - hes says its a Vostock Amphibia Neptune & Bezel on a 110 case.
£125 seems reasonable from a shop 🙂
Anyone ordered from creation lately?
The Amphibian looks great. I used to have a Soviet pocket patch bought in the hard currency shop when I was in Moscow in 1989. Sadly I left it in Australia.
This thread makes me happy for the watches I get to see and sad for an obvious reason. Keep Theo the links a pics coming please.
plus one
Member
£125 seems reasonable from a shop 🙂
Daryll 's prices are very keen. as shops go i guess its small and for a jewellers it doesn't look s****y! so i guess he keeps overheads lowish and hence prices keen. he knows his regulars too and will often knock a bit off the window price. i got about 12% off the stickered price on the seamaster today, and he knocked 10% off the price he was asking on the black bay too, offered to sell it for the price he said he paid for it even though he knows he will shift it quickly....he's bought it, sold it and bought it back from a regular in the last month. made it hard to leave!
Sounds like a great shop.
@Kryton57 - thanks for the update, looking at the case of the 960 the strap attatchment is different, so it did have me wondering. Nice looking watch, the Art Deco hands and dial are just really appealing. Your friends watch may be a bit of a Frankenwatch, but it works really well, I’d be really happy to own one like it.
Thanks for the advice on the Orient earlier, think I'll take the advice and save a wee bit more and get something else that may not necessarily be a daily.
@wysiwyg - how recently are we talking? I bought something in September I think? Also have my eye on something else on there but a bit worried about the price of import duties. The watch I bought in September was £110 and the duties were about £30 on top (after delivery oddly)
Anyone done a big purchase on Creation?, If so, how much and what were the import duties?
Just as I imagined it. Looks a great wee place 🙂
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That's the shop and yep it's not s****y and not in a s****y spot on the street. Just a nice little place with a nice proprietor.
Perhaps what I enjoyed most about hour or more in there yesterday, wasn't buying the seamaster, or looking over a fine black bay, but just chatting watches with Daryll and another customer that came in considering a first 'posh watch' as a 50th birthday present for himself. We talked brands, which are more affordable, which hold value, new Vs pre owned and Imv Daryll gave great advice/offered thoughts with zero attempt to sell anything in particular. It was fun. A steady stream of regular customers popping in to flip a watch or just chat or after a battery or bracelet resizing or such all say to me Daryll is very well thought of.
Regarding Tudor watches, I think its a shame Beckham became their face recently. It devalued the brand IMHO.
Lady ga ga and the all blacks even it out 🙂
^ I totally misread the order of those words at first..
I was wondering if anyone had swung under the radar with the duty?
Regarding Tudor watches, I think its a shame Beckham became their face recently. It devalued the brand IMHO.
Why? For a great many people, Beckham is something of a rôle model. At least he’s not the sort of footballer who gets his mugshot in the meeja for drunken behaviour in public...
Anyway, it’s the long-term value of such watches that’s important, over decades, where such associations become irrelevant.
From what I've read, if you choose the royal mail delivery option you pay £6-9 for delivery but you don't pay customs, although it doesn't come with a box I'm sure you could pick something up for less than 20% + £10 of the value of the watch
Can anyone recommend a reputable watch repairer in Edinburgh?
I have a Tag Formula 1 series 1 that I have had 30years since new, needs a new battery and a hand re-set. Not wholly convinced I need to be paying the full Tag service charge!
ta
@alpineharry, I recently purchased from creation and paid for the special delivery option as I had read I wouldn’t be charged customs on another forum. I also purchased a watch box separately (£3 I believe) to see if this arrived, i’m Happy to report no customs were charged (they couldn’t be as it must of been sent from within the UK??) and the watch arrived in the purchased box.
@demonracer. I wonder if it was the same forum we read but I believe via royal mail they go to Ireland first and then to the UK so no customs charges as it looks like it's shipped from there instead.
Interesting that it came inside the box,did you purchase the box off of creation? I've never really looked for the option
@alpineharry i’m Pretty sure I read it on TZ-UK. It did indeed come from Ireland. I’ve just had a look and it seems they only have Seiko boxes, they are £4 extra.
@Vadar, I have used Brendan Haddock in Murrayfield. Seems very good, deals with all sorts of watches.
Yes, thats what I read, but recent threads lead me to believe they no longer ship at "measuring instrument" @ $20.
Well i'll find out when my Seikos arrive
I've got a Red Black Bay, love it, wear it daily. Have a rubber strap from RubberB if I fancy something different to the metal/NATO.
Robowns, that's my favourite I think. Lube the bezel and also the gilt coloured markings on the dial. The smaller (39mm) 58 model which is gilt too is up there for me. The one I was looking at must have been a 42mm. The version with silver coloured dial markings and blue bezel. It's nice, just not my favourite. Still at £1800 for an unworn one with the in house movement, leather strap and midnight blue fabric.... I'm tempted to get it and put it away for a few years. Doubt it would make much but should hold its value in real terms I think, maybe slightly more.
I'm doing to try the SMP on a blue NATO and a tan leather NATO I think.
I got a Black Bay 58 on the Nato strap back in July last year, lovely watch wear it almost every day. It is literally the only Tudor watch I like - the size is just right. I believe there is still quite a waiting list for this model from AD's?
I also have a 2017 Rolex Sub 16610ln for special occasions 🙂
I'm a recent Vostok Noob, I've been reading up on them and decided to go looking for a cheap used one to play with rather than buying (another) seiko...
I finally managed to score a used Amphibia (automatic) in what I think is an '090' case from fleabay over the weekend.
It's got a slightly gopping 'KGB' dial with a sort of worn looking champaign sunburst finish, and I don't much like the bezel (from the photos) but then that was the point, to get a stainless case and an Automatic movement for ~£27 that I can mod...
I've been eyeing up various possible mods; Bezels, dials possibly some new hands and I've happened upon "Dr. Seikostein" (ebay shop) and I could easily spend a bit on Bezels and hands for the Vostok with him...
I think once I'm done with this automatic I'll go looking for a hand wound one in a different case shape to play with possibly a "komandirskie" to see what can be done with a brass case.
But they're basically an ideal (beginner) modder/tinkerer's watch; cheap, lot's about, various case shapes available but with almost universally interchangable parts that can produce very different looking pieces, and they can go to 200m (amphibia)...
And even if you don't want to fiddle with them, as an N+1 they're interesting with a bit of a coldwar backstory and a 50 year old utilitarian design...
Pro trek my favorite. Atomic time keeping and solar. Wear and forget 🙂
Got a nato strap to fit.
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@cookeaa Do you know if you can get some kind of crystal some for the older Vostock's? The plastic one really does scuff up easily.
Since everyone's talking Tudor, it's been 4 years and I still like my Heritage Chrono. I keep thinking I'll change it to the bracelet for a change, but haven't got round to it.
I have a Tag Formula 1 series 1 that I have had 30years since new, needs a new battery and a hand re-set. Not wholly convinced I need to be paying the full Tag service charge!
Any decent watch dealer ought to be able to do that, the Formula 1 isn’t a serious dive watch, so long as the O-rings are replaced and lubed to maintain a reasonable water resistance it ought to be fine. My best mate is a goldsmith, but he gets asked to replace watch batteries in all sorts of watches, up to and including Rolex, Breitling, etc, and has no problem with them, other than certain case backs need a specific tool - he’d have no problem with your Formula 1.
The last time my TAG Heuer Series 1000 needed a battery it got sent back to TAG, and cost me £30, that was years ago - next one will probably cost me a fiver!
tthew
Subscriber
@cookeaa Do you know if you can get some kind of crystal some for the older Vostock’s? The plastic one really does scuff up easily.
Try here:
http://chistopolcity.com/6-spare-watch-parts
Nicko74 they strap suits that chrono. Nice watch.