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as i said above, i asked in bond street's watches of switzerland, they said, 'We will take your details, but tbh...you won't get one.'
Off to try Harrod's tomorrow night, if it doesn't snow.
oh my...IWC have managed to make something that probably appeals to 12 year olds...even the name seems to be aimed at that market!
For when your life isn't beige enough
@neilnevill Watchfinder have seven Hulk models in stock. One of which is less than a year old. Worth a look.
Following neilnevill’s suggestion on page 6 or so, I’ve just bought a Steinhart Ocean One 39. Very nice it is too.
That IWC is tragic.
How can they design and produce such an aberration from such a thoroughbred stable?
The mind truly does boggle. As for the name. Pfft.
Harris, ta but I'm only interested to flip and make some cash (flame away).
Good call watty.
@neilnevill, the Kermit models are going up in price every month. I bought my mine four years ago, now more than doubled in price. Could be a good investment while you're waiting for a Hulk.
Harris, ta but I’m only interested to flip and make some cash (flame away).
You won’t get the guarantee card for 12 months so you may as well buy second hand and wait abit. Or just not bother - not flaming but this is why they’re so expensive because they’re being bought to sell rather than be worn.
Really hankering after a hulk now 🙁 Must be all the talk on here ! Is there a special reason other than looking very pretty the hulk is more in demand ?
Trying to understand quite why these watches are so popular!
https://s7d9.scene7.com/is/image/BedBathandBeyond/63058944442040p?$478$
That is indeed a sought after hulk. However it’s this one everyone wants
[url= https://i.postimg.cc/d1KwTnmq/00831-A0-A-383-A-4799-A7-AD-73-EDE8118517.jp g" target="_blank">https://i.postimg.cc/d1KwTnmq/00831-A0-A-383-A-4799-A7-AD-73-EDE8118517.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
Well that was a fun chat with the rep in the Rolex bit of Harrods. We both wore omega po so hit or of, my mate was wearing c his Tissot Visio date and we chatted about that, Omega and Rolex. I was ' politely' steered but not told no, twice, when asking about Hulk waiting lists. Non. Green means Chinese lucky, gold bad for Islam, add together and.... No. Did get on the list for a straight sub though, and a Harrods black bay. Yay.
Checked iwc..... Thankfully no top gun movave! No omega on Harrods now either.... Not for a couple of years....ooops. really like the tresor, white dial.... Not the anniversary claret.
Hic. I'll be more legible tomorrow..... Beer night.
Ok, sober now.
The rapid growth of China has led to demand of luxury goods, the current young professionals are shunning their parents choices which tended to be more dressy and are now more European, green is seen as lucky. Combine that and the Chinese demand for the Hulk is high. Also growth in middle East and since gold is not allowed (?) In Islamic faith the demand their is strong for steel case Rolex too. The result, long waits in Europe and America. This is what I was told yesterday anyway.... As I was politely steered away from my question about going on the wait list.
I did put my name down for a standard sub, and for the Harrods black bay. I was told the wait on the black bay is currently a year.
The oyster perpetual looks as nice in the flesh as on the web, I like those.
Any hints as to the wait list length for a sub?
I got my bonus in a couple of months. It'll be sub or explorer 1 time for me then. I've put my name down at Watches Of Switzerland on Reagent street but got the impression she was just going to throw it in the bin when we walked out - they're not short of buyers in there.
Gold day dates though.... dime a dozen.
Had this arrive in the post Monday:
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Re-Issue of the [url= https://www.newmarkwatchcompany.com/ ]Newmark 6BB Chrono[/url], which now uses a Seiko mechaquartz movement.
Really well made a wears nicely.
Wasn't told how long for a sub....I was told 'it's an expression of interest only, wee don't promise you'll ever get one.
I think I've read on forums that it's 6 months to a year though, but highly variable. ADs don't really operate a chronological wait list, the customers they think are most valuable get the goods... Harrods noted down my ownership of a PO and I was asked about other watches I own. All a bit odd but that's how they all work AFAIK.
Was told that realistically it will be 12 months before even getting a sniff of the basic black Rolex Sub, with another jeweler saying that if your not an existing customer then (off the record) you simply wont get one.
Some decent (30%) discounts here on Omega:
https://wbruford.com/collections/the-big-w-bruford-sale?_=pf&pf_v_brand=Omega
I'm really liking the Newmark dirkpitt74.
It's true that you always want what you can't have. I never really fancied a Rolex but now I find Sub's are damn near impossible to get hold of I really want one!
This is what I was told yesterday anyway…. As I was politely steered away from my question about going on the wait list.
I notice they didn't tell you that Rolex actively seek out 'previously enjoyed' watches, largely through their AD network, which they then destroy to artificial limit supply, which artificially increases demand for new ones, the supply of which is artificially restricted, to make and keep the prices artificially high.
Used to want a Rolex, until I discovered their build quality was iffy and they are a bunch of a$$hats.
There are better choices imo.
Exactly lowey. If you really want one, buy a datejust or oysterperpetual, then ask about the sports watch, you have a chance then. My asking to go on the wait list is more an experiment than anyhting. I don't want a submariner. Well...I'd not say no to one, but I'm not going to drop 6 to 6.5 K on one. Its an experiment. IF I do get a call in a year or so, I'd pay and collect then flip it probably.
cromolyolly, Rolex do odd things to create and maintain the brand. Did you know Rolex is a charity? Odd sort of charity? I've no idea what charitable work they do, but the watches fund something. Seems weird to me.
I like the newmarkk too, that is smart!
Used to want a Rolex, until I discovered their build quality was iffy
Your opinion on asshatery is you're own but we both know that's not true.
but we both know that’s not true.
Your opinion and mine on that differ. Having handled and inspected a reasonably large number of rolexes I know for a fact that their movements are superb and their case/bracelet finishing isn't. I am not the only one who has that experience either. If you want the better part of a car for your watch you should probably not leave mill marks/burrs/sharp edges on them.
Rolex aren't a charity. Charities have rules governing their behaviour. Rolex clearly behave in an anti compettive way, which undermines the marketplace to their advantage.
It says they are owned by a foundation on the website but I wouldn't interpret that as them being a charity.
I've been offered a Chrono Colt Quartz for the money he has been offered by Watchfinder, £850, is it a good buy?
Its stainless with a blue dial and looks in good condition, comes in the box with papers, and he is a very genuine chap.
I literally know nothing of these things and clearly blame you lot.
I've been wearing this 24 hours a day for the last 12 years. I've had to replace the rubber components in the strap which is a fiddly job, but apart from that it's been perfect. Apart from not being able to cope with timezones that are not a full number of hours out of sync with Germany, which is a problem in India.
Rolex SA is owned by the private Hans Wilsdorf Foundation, which is registered as a charity and does not pay corporate income taxes.. So basically, Rolex pays their employees and give the rest of their profit to charity, that's why they are considered a 'non-profit company'.
mugboo, a Breitling? Hmmm. do you like it? if yes then get it if you can afford it. Breitling are not going forwards at the moment though ... but if you like it don't worry about that.
The Hans Wilsdorf Foundation is a trust, into which Hans Wilsdorfs shares went. It is a non profit private trust so no one knows anything about how much money it has or disburses. As of 2011 they declined to answer any queries regarding their charitable activities. Rolex SA also releases no financial information, all of which is perfectly legal.
No one has any idea how much money the business is retaining although informed estimates suggest they have cash reserves sufficient to operate for many years without any revenue whatsoever.
Paying no corporate taxes and being a charity are two different things. It is Switzerland, after all and our understanding of things like charity have different meanings there.
After all, Rolex were originally based in London but left for Geneva to avoid taxes. Make of the rest what you will.
as i said, its weird!
Thanks Neilnevill, I had skimmed the thread and noticed the lack of love for them.
I’ve had a colt Chrono automatic for about 20 years, nice watch, reliable and looks good on a blue leather strap, got it on this morning.
Brietling are a bit meh atm a watch dealer told me years ago it was because they kept chopping and changing designs and models and spoilt a sort of heritage building up and effected prices (mine was 40% off when I got it as it was last years model) Not sure if I’d buy a quartz for that money may be more inclined towards a Magrette for slightly less
Jesus Christ how difficult does it need to be to post a poxy image on this forum!
Jesus Christ how difficult does it need to be to post a poxy image on this forum!
https://postimages.org/ is your friend.
Is anyone going to buy a Hamtun H2 next month?
Post-pub bump
I'll pass. Doesn't do anything for me.
Re the tucked in NATO strap from a few pages back. I ordered one for the 007 and found this video which shows how to fit the strap using the normal method and also an alternative method that is a lot neater. I've tried both and the alternative looks better and is also more comfortable.
I have one of these ,(as well as the usual GShock)
https://www.bestqualitywatches.co.uk/seiko-mens-titanium-chronograph-snd419p1/?gclid=CjwKCAiAv9riBRANEiwA9Dqv1duXzX9zCT_3LaMb7Ficg16wL-rmWWXhsZeI7vIM2IgPDPM50hFmzxoC8EwQAvD_BwE
It's a few years old now, needs a good clean and a battery so taking it to a local watch repairer. It's a lovely watch to wear, lightweight and robust.
This video shows an interesting alternative way to wear a 5 ring nato. I've ot tried it as i don't have one, and to me it looks a bit bulky but, well, it might suit some. 8 minutes in
BTW, does anyone here use jumbo spring bars on their nato strapped watches? I don't but maybe i should, any recommended sources? Oh and on spring bars, who often do people change them? Think i ought to get some new ones for a couple of my watches.
That alternative NATO strap method is brill. I have one, and was thinking about swapping it as I have thin wrists leaving a massive flappy end which I don't like, but that's ace.
I’m going to alter how I wear the NATO strap on my TAG Heuer having watched the video shinton posted. That’s the exact Bond strap I have on the TAG, as Timothy Dalton wore one in his first film as 007.
Looks good on a black cased watch.
He makes a point about it balancing the watch better and I have to agree.
If anyone wants the correct nylon strap as used on the Rolex Connery wore, this is the one:
It has none of the hassle involved with tucking a load of excess away like the NATO strap has.
Cheaper, too.
https://www.esprit-nato.com/en/nylon-watch-straps/153-the-real-james-bond-sean-connery-in-goldfinger-black-military-green-red.html
ElShalimo
Member
Is anyone going to buy a Hamtun H2 next month?
Tempted. Early pricing is 199 quid and the white-dialled version looks purdy. I'm not sure you could get another diver so well spec'd for the money. Compare it to a Ti Seiko - probably double the priced.
New nato wearing option 🙂
I’m going to alter how I wear the NATO strap on my TAG Heuer having watched the video shinton posted.
I did it last night. My strap is still a bit new & stiff so maybe impacts the result but at least the bulk was under my wrist and hidden away which I liked. I'll leave it like that I think.
I'm tempted by the black face. Great spec for the money. I've never had a titanium watch either. Anything to be wary of?
Anything to be wary of?
I don't really know. Their H1 had a ti bracelet which had screws either side of the link which was an apparent ball ache to size. New strap is redesigned. At that price I'm prepared to take a chance!
Have you signed up to the email alerts for the launch?
Just spotted this thread and appears to be some expertise on here ( well more knowledgeable than me). I am looking for a new watch up to 3.3k and wondered what people recommend. I like the rugged divers style. I had a superocean a few years ago and liked that and have considered another or an avenger. Any others to consider avoid etc
Yep
Up to £3.3k then the obvious hard to beats are Tudor black bay or omega sea master professional. Maybe some Seiko stuff but I'm clueless there so will wait for others to chip in.
Tudor looks decent case maybe a little smaller than I was after, never that keen on omega but will have a look at them, are they a division of swatch ?
3.3 k <gulp>
I've got a long service award due (yay me!), with around £350 to spend on something. Quite fancy a nice watch (umm comparatively...) as something to keep rather than spend it on something that will be replaced sooner e.g. a TV.
Been looking at the Elliot Brown Canford watches and really like the styling, going to look at them and see how they look on my slim wrists before deciding. Is there anything else in that price range to consider? Also - am I foolish thinking that a quartz watch will last a while i.e. decades rather than years? Can't stretch to the Tyneham which is their automatic.
Been to the Rolex boutique in town and been told two years for a submariner date, still to talk about Explorer two yet.
But coming in much cheaper and caught my eye, have a look at Tudor Black Bay heritage - lovely.
Been looking at the Elliot Brown Canford watches and really like the styling, going to look at them and see how they look on my slim wrists before deciding. Is there anything else in that price range to consider?
I have the same watch (gunmetal grey case), given to me as a gift. It's a nice looking watch, just as well you have slim wrists though as the straps (leather and rubber ones anyway) are very short and didn't fit my wrist. I've got it on a Nato strap now. I probably wouldn't have bought one myself with it being a quartz and by a brand I have no history with, not really my thing, but can't complain about it. It seems a decent watch.
Omega are part of Swatch group, yes. Beyond the current ownership they are a brand with heritage. They are also a secure brand, and a brand on the up. They said, if your don't get excited by them then move on, a watch like that should be exciting!!
Tudor black bay come in numerous case size, 39mm and 42.... And some larger I think..43? Not sure. I'd say the recent trend for every larger peeked a couple of years ago....42 is big and bigger is uncomfortable for many wrists! It's personal though so if you like bigger well... Seamaster comes in 46mm
A good quartz will last many decades. It's perhaps not as long lived as a good mechanical.... But it'll last a lifetime.
At £350 there are lovely watches about from many places... Seiko for one but my usual answer is Steinhart. ETA movement in a quality German case... At £350 you must be close to peek vfm for a watch. (Cat shown the pigeons with that statement!)
At £350 there are lovely watches about from many places… Seiko for one
Yeah, for £350 I'd be searching "Seiko vintage" on eBay, setting the price band to £300 - £400, and seeing what beauties came up (in fact I just have, and I'm jealous I've not currently got £350 to spend on a watch, grr 🙂 )
I always wear my nato straps looked underneath, which I always think look neater.
Yeah, for £350 I’d be searching “Seiko vintage” on eBay, setting the price band to £300 – £400, and seeing what beauties came up
Would do this but I've got to purchase it from an actual shop off a list 🙁
Anyone have any experience of the Longines Legend Diver? I saw one today and like the look of it, if not the strap.
are they a division of swatch ?
Who isn’t, these days?
Sorry, slightly cynical, but Swatch do have a lot of brands under their banner.
Also – am I foolish thinking that a quartz watch will last a while i.e. decades rather than years?
I bought my TAG Series 1000 around 1985 - 34 years ago, give or take, it’s taken quite a beating over the years, had a new dial fitted roughly twenty - twenty-five years ago, after the locating pins detached. I can’t remember when the current battery was fitted, but it’s keeping excellent time, and I can see no reason why it shouldn’t keep going like it is for another 34 years.
Of course, as there are electronics involved, there’s always the possibility that components can break down, and manufacturers don’t keep spares forever.
A mechanical movement can be fixed by a good watchmaker, however, things like a mainspring can be replaced - my Yema, which is a fairy rare mechanical movement, and which is now around half a century old, has been repaired after its mainspring broke, and it had a service as well.
Cost a fair bit, but the watch is worth a lot more, so worth it.
Personally, if I was looking at buying a good watch that I wanted to keep for a good period of time, I’d be looking at an automatic mechanical, and Seiko are among the best for reasonably priced auto watches.
@stevet1 - £250-350 could get you a nice auto diver like this Seiko ‘Turtle’
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Seiko-Prospex-Turtle-Divers-Watch-SRP775K1/173726494010?hash=item2872e7ed3a:g:hSQAAOSwfTlcRIva
My Seiko SP045RK cost me £350, NOS; good examples are now fetching around £/$1000!
Fark now got suckered in to looking at those and fancy the "Save the Ocean" one-
https://www.seikowatches.com/global-en/products/prospex/srpc93k1
I prefer the Samurai case but like a rubber strap rather than a bracelet - what are my options? Will the retailer likely swap it FOC?
Just buy a rubber strap and fit it yourself - you can alternate straps that way.
Omega are a 'division' of Swatch in the same way Porchse are a division of Volkswagen.
That said, if you want a huge watch around £3k i'd be looking at Tudors. Lots of heritage in that brand and in the metal they are quite large.
Or some Bell&Ross models are also very large (up to 46mm!!). They offer divers around £3k as well as their 'BR' range which due to their square size wear very large. A friend has the 42mm BR-03 and it's massive.
https://www.bellross.com/our-collections#BR_03_42_MM
Here is a photo vs my 42mm speedy and his 42mm B&R
Also, how practical is a watch like the Seiko prospex for everyday use - in the office etc?
Not after anything really big but around 41, 42 as I have big wrists. Not really looked at bell and Ross , tried on a Tudor black bay today which I liked and an omega planet ocean which was really nice but a bit pricey.
Practical? It tells the time and date. 😀 I’m not sure what you mean, mine looks great with a suit and under a French cuff and IMO looks far more expensive in the flesh than it really is. Those Save the Ocean ones are likely destined to increase in value one day also.
I had a seiko save the ocean in a basket online. I was so close to pushing the button. I may regret it but I just didn’t have the spare dosh 🙁
Fell in love with one of these a mere £87 from creation and it’s a beautiful watch to me anyway !! 42mm it’s perfect size
[url= https://i.postimg.cc/vHCPR4DK/50-FD2-E3-B-E46-F-453-F-BF2-D-9-C81-AC9-B68-DE.jp g" target="_blank">https://i.postimg.cc/vHCPR4DK/50-FD2-E3-B-E46-F-453-F-BF2-D-9-C81-AC9-B68-DE.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
Got one of these last week. A Raketa Big Zero. Iconic piece of vintage soviet design, and cheap too. I put a nato strap on it and really like it.
Took delivery of a Pobeda like this today. I am liking Russian watches.
sprocker I have a PO (41.5mm) on my wrist now and 95% of the time. It wears big as its thick and its heavy, noticeably. I was looking at a standard steel black bay very recently(mentioned above in this thread) its noticeably lighter and although its a 41mm case I was confused...I compared to my PO and it seemed considerably smaller back to back...weird. The point is I guess, the measurements can be misleading as some are over the crown as well (tudor?) some aren't and cases are not all the same shape...then visually watches with bezels look smaller than those with big dials, and also thickness affects the stand off and hence how big it wears. So, glad you tried them, a watch of that value is not a triffling matter, try, take photos, walk out, consider, try again. If you want slightly bigger the black bay bronze is 43mm, I suspect that will look ever so slightly larger than the PO. The unknown with that for me, is how the bronze will patina with time, I assume it will lose its initial bling and slowly dull quite nicely brown, not sure though what that Aluminium bronze will do.
The seamaster professional/diver 300 is much closer to the budget and does come in 42mm, I just checked.
The PO is considerably more costly....but its a different league of watch ...but I'm bias maybe. Tudor watches are a lot of watch for the money.
Also, how practical is a watch like the Seiko prospex for everyday use – in the office etc?
Depends what you mean by practical. I've worn a version of the samurai and an orange monster (v similar size) as part of my regukar rotation for years for all sorts. I did keep knocking the samurai on one particular doorframe for the first couple of days but otherwise I barely notice them. There is a reason they are sold second had with "desk diver scratches"
Have you looked at the Seiko Turtles? I'm currently lusting after the "Save the Ocean" version.