MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
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After much tooing and frowing, I ended up getting a Rolex Datejust with the blue face and smooth bezel. Love it. Very understated.
Nice choice... (another owner of the exact same model here). I do like the blue face.
[subjective]nicko74. That Tudor deserves to be on a quality bracelet.
There's a time and a place for NATO - and that is not it.
[/subjective]
I kiiiiindddd of disagree, a watch with racing pedigree can work on a NATO!
Snobbery reaches the world of watches too 😉
replacements are available, the other thing to try is 'polywatch' you might be able to tidy up the old acrylic crystal that way...
derek_starship
Member
[subjective]nicko74. That Tudor deserves to be on a quality bracelet.
There’s a time and a place for NATO – and that is not it.
[/subjective]
It actually comes with the NATO and a bracelet

But yes, time to swap and see how it feels/ looks. Sadly it's edging out the Omega for regular wrist wear.
On which note, anyone have a watch winder?
Wow that Tudor does nowt for me but each to their own. I'm sure it's a great watch
For those of you with multiple automatic watches, how do you keep them all wound up and set to the correct time?
If it lies in the cupboard for a month then surely it needs faffing with before wearing?
For those of you with multiple automatic watches, how do you keep them all wound up and set to the correct time?
Personally, I don't. Give them a shake or a wind in the morning when I put them on, set the time and I'm sorted. All part of my morning routine, takes 30 seconds or so I reckon.
For those of you with multiple automatic watches, how do you keep them all wound up and set to the correct time?
If it lies in the cupboard for a month then surely it needs faffing with before wearing?
I was talking with a mate about this - he has various beater automatics and can't keep more than 2 wound at any one time. The ideal solution is really a winder attached to a Raspberry Pi and a decent app. So you specify that you want to wear watch #2 next Monday, and it'll start winding it Sunday night. That way you just have to set it to the right time, and you're good to go.
I have an Aevitas watch winder. It's a little noisy at night (in the bedroom) so it's on a timer. Works fine.
That Tudor looks nicer on the nato imo. Maybe I’ve hairier arms than some I find the bracelets can pull hairs !
Any recomendations for new leather strap suppliers?
Plus one, bracelets with solid links don't tend to pull hairs. I'd the links a folded then they do..... And they stretch, take a look at older Rolex straps!
My planet Ocean is 6 years old and had only stopped half a dozen times, it's worn must I'd the time and with a 60 hour power reserve it goes a weekend of non wear. My steinhart is my beater, put on for DIY it's picked up, have wound and set, put on. I can keep it running I'd I wear it a few hours deck evening though. I'm currently juggling watches having just got the SMP. It hasn't run for a while so the lube isn't round the whole mechanism. I'm giving it enough wrist time to keep it running.... It's probably going to mean the steinhart stops tomorrow. The SMP has sped up lots since Saturday so it's nearly there, then I can get it reregulated.
With an auto it's best to hand wind if it's stopped. The auto mechanism can often struggle to get a stopped watch up to fully wound.
I have also never found the need for a watch winder. I tend to wear a beaten up quartz watch at the weekend and then put on a nicer watch during the week. If I put an automatic on in the morning I just wear it for ten minutes or so and then set the time and date when I get chance - only takes a few seconds to set. I have never been convinced that watch winders are actually good for watches, or whether they cause the watch internals to wear quicker.
Any recomendations for new leather strap suppliers?
Hirsch are the go-to mass market leather strap suppliers. They make straps for the big boys, and sell under their own label for much less.
I'm looking for a nice 18mm wide NATO in a tan leather, possibly a distressed look for my SMP. I'll likely go cheap as I'm not too sure how I'll like the look, note how much wear it will get. Any suggestions?
Any recommendations for a watch roll?
No. You're getting silly now.
Any recomendations for new leather strap suppliers?
Watch Gecko are pretty good. If you want something a little more homemade and rustic there’s a seller on eBay called lawr389 who makes some lovely straps.
Any Good recommendations for Rolex servicing? Mine's coming up to 10 years and is well overdue. Strap is pretty worn too. I know it's going to hurt 😥
Cheap leather Nato-esque straps
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F113203065498
Good news!
I'm not sure how worried you lot were but I found the Speedmaster! it was in a safe place as I thought
Date says June 12th so i last wore this June 2017!!
Still my favourite, Mo is less than impressed
(Edit: Hmmm, seems flickr is borked)
Have a look at Hamtun Watches. They had a watch called the H1 which sold really well and was very keenly priced. In March the H2 is released. 41mm.sapphire glass. Amazing lume. Ti with anti scratch coating on the bracelet. Choice of nh35 or sellita movement. UK company. Nice looking too.

Any recomendations for new leather strap suppliers?
I've had a couple from steveostraps which I've been pleased with.
I posted back on page 3 of this thread about an Omega Speedmaster Automatic Reduced that I have. After some soul searching I have decided that it is time to sell the watch (and pay off part of the cost of a recent foray into the land that is SRAM Etap).
The watch was bought by me in 2000 and still has it's original presentation box and cardboard sleeve as well as all papers and purchase receipt. Admittedly, the watch is now in need of a service as it hasn't been worn for over 5 years now. I'll try to get serial number and photos, but in the meantime is anyone able to give an idea as to possible value. Condition-wise, I'd say 7.5 out of 10 pending the service if that helps.
Ebikegum,
I did show some interest when you first mentioned you might sell it - I’m afraid I didn’t read your post properly - I’m after a full size, not reduced Speedmaster
Cheers
I’ll try to get serial number and photos, but in the meantime is anyone able to give an idea as to possible value. Condition-wise, I’d say 7.5 out of 10 pending the service if that helps.
Watchfinder buy in prices are a good indicator for a private sale price, if you send them pics and all the info they usually email you back with a guide price.
You will not get retail prices selling privately (or only if your buyer knows very little)
If you can’t sell it privately then at least you can go to them.
Thanks for the suggestion @cookeaa, but those crystals are the original plastic ones too, I'll try some of that polish suggested.
£1700 for a 38mm speedy (is that the reduced one?). Year 2000. Case refurbished and movement recalibrated (just means regulated I think so f'all.... And a case polish isn't much either). That's sale price though.
@Tiger6791 - you’ve got the same G-Shock as me, although I’ve got adaptors fitted to allow a NATO strap to be fitted, ‘cos the plastic strap makes my wrist sore. I like it as a watch, although I find the red hour hand makes it tricky to tell the time in poor light, and the lume is a joke. The other issue is it’s timekeeping - it’s gained two minutes in nearly two months, much worse than my mechanical watches. I’m not sure if there’s any way to regulate it or not, I’ll do a search in a minute.
It seems there is, but it’s a bit of a phaff to get it really accurate:
https://forums.watchuseek.com/f43/how-adjust-accuracy-g-shock-83153.html
A few people have mentioned inaccuracies with quartz. I didn't know it was a "thing" - thought they were meant to be very accurate?
If anyone is hanging out for a Helm - the actual watches are ready but there's been a delay with the bracelets and they're now looking optimistically at March for sales. I'm torn between a Hamtun H2 (as I have a weakness for anything ti) or holding out for the Helm. I'd try and sneak both but my wife has a knack of spotting new wrist-bling when I've forgotten to take off a sneaky new purchase. "Is that a new watch?" umm........
Mikertroid Alsal on the strand if in London, done mine and my brietling, good value, proper shop
A few people have mentioned inaccuracies with quartz. I didn’t know it was a “thing” – thought they were meant to be very accurate?
Same as anything - high quality and low quality quartz out there. Japanese and Swiss quartz tend to be very accurate. Bulova offers a 262 kHz caliber quartz in their moonwatch - it is a high-frequency quartz movement that Bulova calls “High Performance Quartz" - very accurate.
Chinese quartz tend to be pretty shoddy, though.
Think nato straps are my new thing 😉
[url= https://i.postimg.cc/ZK0TkbQx/0-DB23-FB1-ACA6-4-E6-E-A5-FA-D9-A595-A8-CD24.jp g" target="_blank">https://i.postimg.cc/ZK0TkbQx/0-DB23-FB1-ACA6-4-E6-E-A5-FA-D9-A595-A8-CD24.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
This might be of interest to some on here looking for a sports watch that doesn’t have a bezel, a more military/pilot style with a nice clear dial, and a Swiss movement:
https://www.massdrop.com/buy/armourlite-officer-series-tritium-watch-kit?utm_placement=0&referer=3CSML3&mode=guest_open&utm_campaign=Automated%20Daily%20Promotional%202019-01-09&utm_source=SparkPost&utm_medium=email&utm_term=Daily%20Promotional&utm_content=1547022019850.917566548550359548008059
@countzero any chance of a price so I don't have to give away my details for nowt?
Jeez how many watch companies are there !!
These look ok for €99
https://myaeroluft.com/en/inicio/14-pilot-watch-billy-bishop.html
Elshalimo/ Cookeaa
$214 but bare in mind you will possibly incur customs fees, Massdrop will deliver outside the States
Jeez how many watch companies are there !!
A lot of the cheaper end simply rebrand Chinese catalogue watches with their logo and call it a day (the same as some cheaper end bike parts do). Even mechanical watches can be found for pennies on Aliexpress. Daniel Wellington are most famous for turning that into a massive industry.
Yay! Its weekend watch time with a curry and a glass of Malbec.
What have you rotated to? myself a 1962 Seamaster. Going to hit the old watch guy in Truro (Truro goldsmiths) hard this summer when I go down to him. Saving pennies...
Hmm. I think I may need to get the SMP serviced. It's showing variation on its time keeping, worn today and lost 26 seconds over 24 hours. yesterday not worn it gained 2.5 seconds. I'll get it on the clever machine in the shop, try a few orientations, and see how much Daryll's Omega trained guy might charge.
Going (used) watch shopping tomorrow for something nice for my 30th!
Well?
@ElShalamo - Massdrop will send to the UK, the only issue involves knives, because of local laws and customs. I’ve bought a bunch of things via Massdrop, MeeAudio IEM’s, torches, a variety of things, in fact I’ve just joined a drop for a Lumintop titanium penlight, to replace a rather crappy alloy one I got from Amazon.
@cookeaa - it’s $214.99
Re: weekend watch - I’ve been wearing the Casio G-101 for some time, it’s a practical work watch that can take being banged about, and I generally forget to take it off at the weekend, but I’ve swapped over to the Rallygraf, just for a change, and being completely mechanical, and not an auto, it has to be wound every 12 hours or so.

With what looks like a 2 year waitlist for Rolex Subs... There seems to be a fair few on eBay around the $8k mark. Dubious? Risky? Worth a shot if you're in the market for one?
I’ve been doing some thinking for a while. When this thread starting I would have loved a Rolex Sub. The style is something I really like, and Rolex has the brand justification. BUT my Seiko Samurai is soooo lovely its really taken the shine of paying that kind of price for a similar looking watch.
BUT, I went on to read about the Citizen Chronomaster and I’ve falling for it. I got enthralled by Citizen back story, the 100% made in Japan and with the Chronomaster build - the dial made of the thinnest hand crafted paper in the world and of course each piece is unique, the titanium numerals/ case etc hand polished using the same precise and skilled Japanese method developed in the past for Samurai Katana and the fact each one is hand built by one of only 4-5 skilled craftsman that exist to do so. All of that Far Eastern mythology entrals me.
So, I’m saving for my 50th - 3 years - and it may be difficult to get but that’s now what I’m aiming for as my dream watch.
https://gearpatrol.com/2018/08/20/watches-you-should-know-citizen-chronomaster/
That's what it's about, falling for a watch for it's back story and details. Not just for a coronet on the crown.
And mine appears to have packed up!
Put it on yesterday after a few days not wearing, set the time and carried on with my day. Normally this would charge it up from the off.
An hour later, time hadn't changed.
Wiggled it around for about a minute - about 30 seconds of movement.
Wound the crown manually - nothing.
Carried on wearing for rest of the afternoon - nothing.
Thankfully, still under guarantee - but that's a real surprise. 2 years old, worn daily, never wet, never bashed - hey ho 🙂
@bearnecessities - that sounds like a mainspring issue. The Yema in the photo above did that about 18 months or so ago, it’s not an auto, you just have to wind it by hand, but one day I started to wind it and it just kept on winding with no gradual tension, which was a bit of a giveaway. Cost me £400-odd to get it fixed! It’s over forty years old, so a bit out of warranty...
This might be of interest to the serious watch fans on here, Omega are starting production of the Calibre 321 movement as used in all the watches worn by NASA astronauts, they’ve set up a dedicated production shop and team specifically for that movement. No news yet on what the watch that carries it will be.
https://newatlas.com/omega-reintroduces-moon-watch-movement/58014/
Never got watch shopping this weekend, life gets in the way unfortunately. Current frontrunners are these though if anyone is interested?
https://www.chrono24.co.uk/rolex/rolex-submariner-date---black---rare-t25-dial--id8653836.htm
https://www.chrono24.co.uk/rolex/submariner-16610---black-dial---1989--id6777010.htm
Both of the above would be 'birthyear' watches, which is appealing, but the lack of box & papers is worrying me slightly..
Also, whilst dithering, I've really warmed to this - https://www.chrono24.co.uk/rolex/explorer-ii-orange-hand--id9865508.htm which is nearly new, but would mean a trip down to the big smoke to try it on. I've got a 42mm Seiko diver which suits my wrist size slightly better, over the older 40mm Subs.
Any thoughts?
None of those links work bennn 🙁
Right I'd love to know more about this little Omega, where shall I go to find out about it?
It's tiny (it's a pocket watch but smaller than a wris****ch) it still works, I don't really have a use for it but every now and again I wind it up and I like it for no reason.
Movement.
Next to Great...great....great...great..Grandson..(I think there's 111 years between them)
Hmm strange, copy and pasted them from my browser, will try again.
Edit: god knows how to make links work, damnit!
Edit: nope, still struggling! Try these -
1.) https://www.chrono24.co.uk/watch/55HCC4
2.) https://www.chrono24.co.uk/watch/4196A7
3.) https://www.chrono24.co.uk/watch/5VG9W5
All lovely watches I’d love to have to choose between them 🙂 The explorer 2 would be my choice.
oh dear Bear! Aquaterra isn't it? same 8500 calibre coaxial as my PO? With any auto you should always start by fully winding them at the crown, picking up and shaking is not a good way to start them, its asking for them to stop again....but won't damage them. I've no idea what is wring if it won't start when the crown is given 30 turns or so.
Well my (new to me)2 year old SMP.... I expected it to speed up over 3 or 4 days as it had sat in a cold cold shop window for a month or 2 and the oil would be cld, thick and not spread around. It did speed up and when left dial up it was not far out, gaining 6 seconds a day. Trouble is, dial down it loses 15 seconds a day and on the wrist it can lose 15 to 30 seconds a day. All those amounts are easily regulated, but the variability says to me it needs a service as that can't be regulated. Need to make the time to talk to Daryll and see what he reckons. I suspect I'll get his guy to do it though rather than sending it off to Switzerland. we'll see.
buying from a reputable shop do you really need the papers? If you ever send it off to Rolex for a service that would 'authenticate' it with paper work adding some of the value lost from the missing papers back...kind of making the service cost less.
I don't like the expolorer so much...just personal, it doesn't do it for me. Being newer though its got better bits...I don't know the detail but i bet the movement is a little better and isn't it a glidelock strap? the older sub straps aren't
as to which sub, do you prefer the T25 dial or the other, is the other the maxi? So the difference is the size of the dots? its personal preference ...I go for the non t25 i think but not much in it.
Think both of the Subs are the same. The Explorer grows on me more the more I look at it though.
Neil, yes an 8500 AT.
I've just picked it up to and wound it first, and blow me it set off just fine. Still baffled as I've never had to wind it before to get it going after going 'flat', but as you seem to suggest - from the moment it didn't yesterday, I did everything wrong - clearly wearing/twiddling it and then winding it sent it into a sulk. (Would love an explanation why that happens if you happen to know?)
Feeling a bit silly, but saved me from a trip to the AD where I would have looked even sillier. Ta 🙂
I'm not sure why it is but it is very well known to be best to wind a flat auto on the crown, and FULLY too. If just shaken and wound on the rotor they don't tend to get fully wound and tend to go into a slk and stop after an hour or 6. Its one of those things like, only adjust the time going forwards, never back...no real reasoning to it except the movement is designed to go forwards. Oh and you do know with quickset date, never adjust the date when the time is close to midnight right? by close I mean within say 6 hours either side. That one can BREAK the mechanism.
Tiger, I think based on size that was a very early wrist watch. WHen they were first coming about they were often small pocket watches worn in little wrist strap/pounchy things i think.
Completely anecdotal but on other forums people are saying they are getting calls for Subs within 2 months or less currently, in various places around the world.
Chisholm Hunter at south gyle shopping Centre in Edinburgh have a lovely collection of pre-owned rolex’s
What’s the consensus on this ?
https://bestreplica.sr/product/rolex-submariner-ss-green-ceramic-bezel/
Blurb reckon it will fool any jeweler even taking back off ?
Good call or fools errand ?
It may be within ng/nm tolerance but it's not a Rolex.
It's a step up from the wares of the lucky-lucky man.
And over $1200! Delusional buyers only.
What’s the consensus on this ?
it’s a fake watch.
not much more to be said.
$1200 for a counterfeit watch just screams sad wannabe. You could pick up 2 or 3 genuine good quality watches for that.
Any suggestions for the best place to sell my Yobokies SNK809 orange 656? Bought it just before Christmas and love the look of it but have decided it's a little too small on my wrist and it's too nice not to use
Ok no love for fakes on here I understand.
But with waiting list to spunk £7k^ on a submariner 🙁 £800 on a watch made with same metals(mostly) made in Switzerland and easily passing the(I’m considerably richer than you) test ! Worth consideration?
I wouldn't spend £7k on a real one as I've better things to do with that kind of cash, I wouldn't spend £800 on fake one either when there are dozens of genuine quality watches out there for that money.
What do you think you will get out of owning a fake rolex? Kudos from idiots? Admiration from lovely young ladies looking to bag a rich man? It matches one of your knock off suits? I don't get it I'm afraid.
Blurb reckon it will fool any jeweler even taking back off ?
The watch battery guy at the market might be fooled. A rolex dealer I very much doubt it.
I can't comment on that rolex fake but i know some fakes are very very good visually , even the movement. I remember Daryll at Crystal Palace Jewelers telling me of a Panerai luminor case he had (genuine) that he'd got his repar guy to fit a chinese fake movement into (for his own use, not to sell). it was such a close match the original OEM screws all fitted the movement.
Will the materials be as good? will it stand the test of time? I should ask him...must have been 5 years ago he told me about the PAM.
PlusOne
I'd look at the Phoibos 007 in green which is very very similar but a fraction of the price. Great lume, very good reviews.
230 quid or thereabouts.
https://phoiboswatch.com/products/phoibos-py007a-300m-automatic-diver-watch-green.html
I don’t get it I’m afraid.
Fake watches are for fake people.
and easily passing the(I’m considerably richer than you) test !
You're meant to laugh at them, not with them.
YOu would have to be pretty desperate to deliberately buy a fake Rolex. Makes me wonder about all the used Rolex on ebay etc though.



