MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
Finally ordered a Speedy - have been looking for a while.
2019 Sapphire from Hackett watches - can't wait! Now to find a nice brown leather strap without paying silly money - any suggestions? Watchgecko a good starting point?
Hirsch straps and swap the hardware over - works for me on my breitling. Good quality leather straps.
For straps, if you want to spend the money, Bulang & Sons sell straps made by a fella called 'JPM' - he sells straps at a few places (Hodinkee, etc) - theyre expensive for what they are, but I own two and the leathers they use are second to none. I think a few other places in the UK stock JPM also.
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Here's another one on the theme of Speedmasters and aftermarket things.
I recently picked up a 1450 'Presidential' Homage by Forstner:
https://www.forstnerbands.co.uk/products/forstner-president-1450-bracelet-for-omega-speedmaster?variant=40862517919894
Read about the 1450 bracelet here (and be prepared to go down a rabbit hole of Speedmaster nerdyness:
https://www.fratellowatches.com/omega-speedmaster-376-0822-the-holy-grail/#gref
Some pics of mine:
I've absolutely fallen in love with this bracelet, it's incredibly comfortable and drapes perfectly over the wrist. It gives the Speedmaster a more of a utilitarian feel - one of the issues I always had with the 1861 Speedy was the bracelet, with the polished sections. Putting it on this bracelet has made me fall back in love with the Speedy on a bracelet.
The interesting thing about this bracelet is that it is entirely authentic to the original construction. It comes with solid links, but a pressed buckle. This means it's incredibly lightweight compared to a modern bracelet, which was jarring at first, but i've come to appreciate now I've worn it a bit more.
One day I think I'll try and get one of the current gen speedys, they come with a bracelet which pays homage itself to the 1450 presidential.
But for now, the Speedy is once again fighting the Explorer for wrist time!
Looks like a right rabbit hole! I think I'll be sticking with the Omega Bracelet - the brown strap is something I'd like just to have a change (and differentiate a little it from my 25 year old Seamaster) There are some lovely looking straps - I just need to understand the difference between a £30 strap and a £100 strap!
Will probably look to move on my Seiko Diver now - any suggestions as to a good site (this isn't mean't as a stealth ad!)
£8k sounds cheap now...
They make a good point, I love the current gen speedmasters and the details they have in the watches, but it is a massive shame they're now over £5k. The £3k pricepoint was perfect for your first luxury 'heavy hitter' watch with ultimate bang for buck.
Unsure thats as true at £5,000. Lots out there for that money.
SSS
Only ever seen one Tag Heuer Monaco on someones wrist.
You've seen two now, I bloody love my Monaco.
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£8k for a Speedy is quite expensive to be fair.... Id probably go for a used one about £2-3k myself.
On a completely different tangent... I have quite a few 70-80s casio modules.
Casio AE-21W TwinGraph II
Needs a battery tho.
Which was used by the 7th Doctor Who as a pocket watch 😀
My first 'luxury' watch, a 2013 Tudor BB, sold this morning, and my Sinn UX last week. I have reduced my collection by more than half, and am down to four 'serious' watches. I consider myself lucky to have surfed the lockdown overspending wave and, thanks to a few good buys, haven't lost my shirt. Onwards and upwards with, perhaps, more calmness. A JLC will follow; Atmos and/or Reverso!
I've been following this thread for ages but not posted. There are some beautiful watches and I like the mix from Casio through esoteric.
Mine are below:
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The Omega was my Father's.
The pre 'Tag' Heuer was bought for my 11th birthday 40 years ago. I've had a different mechanism fitted as Tag would not service it.
I think my Panerai is my favourite but enjoy wearing the Rolex and Sinn too.
Where best to sell watches, may I ask?
I have a Christopher Ward like this, but the quartz version to shift.
@howathp, a lovely miss there, of case shapes, sizes and provenance. I think your Heuer is very cool, 40 years on the wrist!
@sss, my boxes are in the safe to keep them looking good. The Tudor BB went out 'full set', receipts the lot.
@cha****ng, I've sold most of my watches (6 I think) on Chrono24. The escrow system is safe and reliable and they merit their 6% I feel.
Here's my collection:
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51818893619_02b4fe89e2.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51818893619_02b4fe89e2.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2mX4nJk ]2022-01-13_06-55-45[/url]
Its got a bit much during the Pandemic. The Depth Charge is up for sale, its great watch and a triggers broom of everything good, but well its a Depth Charge. His & Her's Tags are 2007 wedding presents, and everything else I want to keep, which with me being naturally indecisive is a pain in the arse...
Howarthp that's some nice watches! Tell use more about the luminor please.
Just noticed in amongst gaidong's VC, Rolex and Grand Seiko bling littered collection - a good old 60 quid Vostok Zissou. Nice. 😎
Theres lots of Vostok love as one appears in Kryton57s collection too! Vostoktastic.
@Kryton57 your watch box wins 😉
Theres lots of Vostok love as one appears in Kryton57s collection too! Vostoktastic.
Certainty is. I've got three of the things! Actually four if you include a spare Komanderskie I bought, they're so cheap you may as well buy a full set of spares, (fully assembled) as it adds nothing extra to the postage.
I'd missed Kryton's 'dude, the pic is a bit small.
And which collection is complete without the terrorists favourite (allegedly) the Casio F-91W.
I wear this if im doing a long mtb ride, as its not heavy, or wears away my wrist with a Nato.
The top and bottom of my collection. The PP next to it (and a few more PP pics) and yes, ive set the month wrongly ive just noticed (im going to wear it this weekend)
And the Buckle
@cha****ng, I’ve sold most of my watches (6 I think) on Chrono24. The escrow system is safe and reliable and they merit their 6% I feel.
I'll have a look, thanks.
🙂
That PP is stunning.
That PP is lovely- are the dates and moon phases changed by the winder or buttons?
Omg! The buckle is as nice as the watch!
Plyphon, I'd read on uncle Seiko that those speedy bracelets are very very comfortable. I'm considering one for my SMP (us does end links to fit the SMP). I think I'll go for a po bracelet though..... Still umming.
£8 k for a speedy, wow. It's a good watch and the history is amazing, but if I was spending 8k on a chronograph.... Zenith chronomaster sport white dial for me.
Thanks everyone, she is beautiful.
Id always wanted one and coveted the 5146r for years. I never had my name on a waiting list or anything. However one day, I walked into an AD to look at the Pateks and drool as usual, and by chance they had been delivered a 5146r that week. This was in January 2017.
White and Yellow Gold are more easily sourced and I could have picked up easily. The Rose Gold was quite scarce.
@kilo The day, date, month and moonphase are all changed by the recessed buttons. 2 on each side. The only thing you need the winder for is moving the time (and finding out if its am or pm for changeover).
Got this back from Tissot today - I'd sent it off as it was running really erratically and stopping, even with a new battery. They said they couldn't service it as it was obsolete... but it's arrived back in full working order (touch wood!), as well as a branded travel case and a £100 voucher off a new watch. Might see what the 35mm PRX looks like when it goes on sale.
My god, look at that PP!
This is all subjective so this is no biggie... but as much as I admire and respect Patek for what they are, and represent, and the awesome engineering of them, I've never actually seen one I like the look of. Same goes for the AP Royal Oak. I watched a Teddy Baldassarre vid the other day on YT with his girlfriend and she said an interesting thing. She said she was waiting to like the PP Nautilus but it hadn't happened yet... I'm the same.
I have the following gathering dust if anyone wants to make a sensible offer. PM direct.
They never get worn much and I find it a bit too gratuitous to have them and not wear them. I'm not too fussed about selling them as they have good inherent value currently and the Rolex are likely to continue to appreciate in value, but sensible offers considered regardless.
Rolex Daytona 116500LN Black Dial. 2011 I think.
Rolex GMT-Master II 116710 BLNR [2017]. [BLNR Blue Noir; Batman].
Rolex Explorer 2 216570 [2015] Black Dial
Omega Seamaster [2005]. Blue Dial.
Breitling Avenger Blackbird [2018].
@the_lecht_rocks some very nice watches listed there, I suspect they are all well out of my price range. Any pics ?
Love this thread, the diversity of watches is really interesting to see. The speedys are luverly.
I would be after a seiko diver (sumo ?), or the green seiko diver if there’s one going. I’m sure I did IM someone here about one, but then life overtook me.
If I was getting a Seiko Diver today as a daily I'd be getting one of the new Prospex Compact Divers. There is a green one.
Solar, domed sapphire & Seiko what's not to like.
The same site has some Sale Turtles if you want a bigger watch, I'd be tempted to get the Padi SE
Walowiz, me I think, I promised photos and... Life over took me ! I'll get some.
Anyone bought one? 😀
Am surprised no one’s mentioned the new garmin super watches, the fenix 7 and the epix.
Quite tempted with the epix to replace my Vivoactive 4, the amoled screen looks amazing, with great week long battery life. Not a budget watch though, not at 900 quid in black. Maybe I won’t go for it after all.
Am surprised no one’s mentioned the new garmin super watches
My personal opinion is that they are computers that tell the time, and a bit of a fringe at best for this thread and some of its mechanical marvels.
Not a budget watch though, not at 900 quid
The discussion in our cycling club was basically this. Loads of functionality and you were going on a world multi sports trip for a couple of years - for example - it'd be great, but the feeling is they've priced themselves out of the market fur the day to day every-person.
Hope is now that the new MIPS Instinct has enough functionality to fill the gap, or isn't still less capable but double the price of the current Solar.
As Kevin O'Leary says, posh watches aren't really for telling the time. They are jewellery for men (and women, naturally, but women have other options here). They are something that makes a statement about them (maybe wealth, maybe history, maybe love of engineering, maybe whatever).
I thought about getting a Garmin the other day actually (a Fenix 5 on offer) but I just thought, why? what for? I already have a bike computer. Maybe for mapping... but £400 for a mapping tool? Only a big trip would warrant it, as Kryton says. Maybe if you're a runner.. but I'm not running anywhere.
Anyway, I do like the look of them. But can't really see the point of them.
*expletives*
I won't go into detail but I've managed to ruin the crystal on my Seamaster 120m.
Any ideas how much it would cost to replace?
TiA.
May not be too bad. Omega may want to service it as well, fine if it needs it but otherwise try an Indy as they will do crystal and pressure check a bit cheaper. Duncan at genesis gets a lot of praise I believe.
Polywatch? , has removed a few scratches on my Rolex over the years
Just remembered that it's insured so just the excess to pay.
Duncan at Genesis would get my vote.
There are some lovely looking straps – I just need to understand the difference between a £30 strap and a £100 strap!
Good question, and with steel bracelets it’s usually the heft, or weight that gives a clue, along with general standard of finish, edges and the way that a taper follows through the length of the bracelet, as was shown earlier in the thread. I’ve very recently dug my Seiko SP043RK out of semi-retirement, and I’m enjoying wearing it again, and the stainless steel mesh bracelet that I fitted is a good example. I had an opportunity to do a direct comparison with a very similar Breitling bracelet when I was checking out a Tudor Pelageos as a possible purchase, even the woman in the shop was impressed by how well made and solid it is. The Breitling ones are around £600… mine was $19 from eBay! I have to say, though, that a couple of subsequent ones I bought from seemingly the same source aren’t a patch on it for quality. The mesh links are more widely spaced, the amount of play is very much greater in the later ones, and the outer edges are very badly finished with some very sharp edges.
When I took the photo earlier, it was difficult to get an angle to show how thick it is, but I love it to bits, it complements the watch really well, and it’s very, very comfortable - the original bracelet is a beauty, it’s very well finished and really quite heavy, as is the watch, but it never felt comfortable on my skinny wrist.
I think I was very lucky when I bought the bracelet, it may even have come from the same source as the Breitling mesh, but the sellers downgraded for later versions. I’ll never know.
Prices for the watch on the second-hand market seem to be creeping up, they’re relatively scarce now, Seiko only made them in limited numbers, and personally I think it’s one of the best looking divers watches Seiko have made, as much a pilot’s watch as a diver, and owing a fair bit to Sinn, which is fine in my book; I’m very taken with Sinn watches.
Seiko should start making the SPORK again - great watch
The Casio TwinGraph II lives. The downside is that the year only goes up to 2019 then cycles back round to 1986 😀
Next is a Citizen Ecodrive, one careful owner as can be seen 😀
agree, I'd love a new spork.
Spent much of today wandering around Bath, which I haven’t done for a while, thanks to a hospital eye examination. Had a look around Topping & Co’s new bookshop, just across the road from the Abbey, and it’s it’s mind-buggeringly huge! Went downstairs and couldn’t find my way back up, the shelves runn right up to the ceiling with those library ladders on rails. Anyway, I spotted a couple of books that might appeal to contributors to this thread:
Lovely staff, and they’ll make you a pot of tea while you sit and look at books, what’s not to like!
Seiko should start making the SPORK again – great watch
Can’t argue with that, having not worn it for several years, I’ve fallen in love with it all over again! It’s such a clear and uncomplicated design, and the lume is amazingly bright. All it needs is a better hackable movement, otherwise it’s faultless as far as I’m concerned. Pretty solid and heavy, mind, especially with the original bracelet.
Just a follow-up, here’s a link to Topping’s website for anyone interested who might be in the area. They’ve a couple of other shops as well.
https://www.toppingbooks.co.uk/
I loved my spork but the 20mm lug width was too small for the case in my opinion and the original bracelet was not the best.
Still my favourite Seiko though, the dial is a belter.
CZ - your earlier post about bracelet on your Seiko.
It looks identical to the one on my Breitling and the price you refer to is about +10% over what I paid about 3 years ago when replacing a strap.
CountZero
Full Member
"All it needs is a better hackable movement"
Realistically does anyone actually gaf about hacking movements? It's one of the those "features" which I don't see a need for on my watches which don't have it and wouldn't miss on those which do.
Next there'll be some bullshit about sapphire being better than acrylic and then we'll know someone's read too much W&W.
Realistically does anyone actually gaf about hacking movements?
I don't care much, the only watches I set to the second are quartz and tbh that's a bit ott for everyday purposes.
Next there’ll be some bullshit about sapphire being better than acrylic and then we’ll know someone’s read too much W&W.
Depends - I wouldn't want sapphire on my MRW-200, but I also wouldn't want acrylic on my Kamasu.
Rummaging through my "bits box" and found an unopened Renata 371 cell.
Scurfa Diver One fired up for minimal expense. This is on the silicon strap it comes with..
[img] 
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The light is extra!
EDIT:
Here's the lovely blue lume:
[img] 
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[img] 
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Crafter Blue strap arrived for my Turtle this morning. Love the ends moulded for the case so no more gap! Vulcanised rubber so it’s not stretchy like FKM or silicone and really nice quality for the money.
…. and yes the bezel doesn’t line up in standard Seiko poor QC
I have a CB strap on my Samurai Save the Ocean. Not cheap but bloody brilliant quality and fit.
Yeah I’ve bought loads of cheaper ones that weren’t quite right. Should’ve just spent the money on one of these in the first place!
I like these restoration videos. There are a few people who do them.
Ended up taking the crafter blue off my Samurai. It felt too stiff and always seemed to want to hover over the top of my wrist. I suspect with my wrist on the smaller side, the angle it left the case was a bit too steep.
+1 the restoration videos. Glass of wine, feet up, tiny cogs, all good.
I like the Scurfa watches, almost bought one 3yrs ago but bought a cheaper phoibos dive style watch which is perfectly ok, tells the time...shoulda bought a scurfa though.
oh my god, no idea how much patience you need for this restores - look like a few days work for each one - brilliant stuff
Has anyone got any experience getting valuations for their watches for insurance purposes?
Despite being insured for many years, my insurers are now asking for a valuation within 30 days. Nothing I enjoy more than being assigned work.
<img src="<img src="https://i.ibb.co/DkbKDKr/IMG-20220127-121035-Bokeh-01.jpg" alt="IMG-20220127-121035-Bokeh-01" border="0" />" alt="bb" />
A bit of a treat. Got a compensation payment for a cyclist v car that happened almost 4 years ago. Rest of it's going into savings, but couldn't resist something nice.
Edit: I'll never remember how to post images, but link at least seems to work.
Nice choice. Black Bay's are handsome watches. I still fancy the GMT I keep passing over
Very nice, best colour too
Edit: I’ll never remember how to post images, but link at least seems to work.
Just post the bit that starts https and ends Jpg into the image box. Easy.
😂 easy when you know how! Thanks tthew, you've saved me the job. I'll know for next time.
Nice Black Bay!
Loved that video, its also given me an insight to what's happening with mine at Calibre currently, I'm always amazed at all the workings.
Plyphon, ask the insurer what they accept, does it need to be an accredited assay office like Goldsmiths, Hatton garden, or something from an authorised dealer or an independent jeweller? B there's even an online service that I think ment insurers accept for lots of stuff (depending on the value.)
Lovely BB. The blue is definitely my favourite colour.
Last time I had my watch valued, I just took it into the AD and they looked up the model and gave me a mini certificate saying it's replacement value RRP. That was a tenner.
Thanks neilnevill, cb200 - I'll have to find out what they accept. I'll do that today.
Good tip going into the AD. A tenner is about what I'd expect to pay! I've seen some places quoting £60 per item or even some asking for a percentage of the items worth!
Getting temptations again... I feel like something flashy, ready for a much awaited summer. Looking at Rolex for a 2-3 year hold, and hesitate between the Milgauss 116400gv-0002, which must be discontinued soon as one of the last with a 3100-series movement. Or go full on 80s chest rug with the two-tone Bluesy 126613lb-0002? I think I prefer the latter on a RubberB, to save the excessive bracelet scratching.
the Milgauss has a lot going for it, in terms of the dial and use of colour, but that second hand is a munter.
That Milgaus is lovely. That'd be the Rolex I'd have or the boggo, (if any Rolex can be thought of as such) Oyster Perpetual. I seem to have settled on sports watches as my preferred style to divers.
I'm liking the Milgauss too. I pulled the trigger on this a couple of weeks ago.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/194662821@N02/51822419414/in/dateposted /" alt="GMT Master" />
Awaiting image post failure.