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The mighty DW-270, accessorised today with the 1996 Mountain Biking UK velcro band, which will be roughly when the original strap broke.
On a slightly more serious note, I was considering buying a new dressy watch as I have nothing all steel on a steel bracelet. My checklist of features is:
Swiss made
Household name brand
Eterna 2824-2 movement
42mm without crown
Sapphire crystal
Rear sapphire crystal so you can watch the rotor do it’s thing
All polished stainless on a reasonably chunky bracelet
I’ll be spending about £300. Can you guess what it might be?
A Swatch System51 ??
Thank you for reminding me of those, I like the “arrow” design with black dial, but no, they would have the sistem51 movement. As my first automatic, I think I’ll go for 2824 so I can get a service locally at a sensible price.
I’ll be spending about £300. Can you guess what it might be?
A Bulova?
Mondaine ?
Modded Seiko 5?
Not if it's Swiss. Does £300 get you into a discounted Tissot?
What’s the point in the guessing game. It’s not going to be an ETA sapphire sandwich at that price unless heavily discounted or second hand.
In other news, I’ve been wowed by Breitling. I think my Tudor days are over. Pics later.
Not if it’s Swiss. Does £300 get you into a discounted Tissot?
Depends how heavily modified. I’m sure you can shoehorn an ETA of some description in there.
Looking forward to the pics Kryton. Which one are you being drawn towards?
I’m currently wearing my Tudor BB 58, does go well with a suit. I’m not a fan of metal bracelets, but I quite like the BB on a metal bracelet. I don’t like my Rolex on metal, but think that’s because it’s a bit old (circa 2004).
Do tell Kryton…
I’ve got a real itch for this currently 
Time to start saving!
In other news, I’ve been wowed by Breitling.
I can super close to buying a Navitimer a couple of years ago, like, it was in the bag and the dealers and I was about to insert my card into the reader close.
Still not sure why I didn't go through with it as I still look at them...
So here’s the thing; both the Superocean and the Superocean heritage had a fair amount of back play in the bezel, that was really disappointing and then I found out the movement in the Superocean is an ETA 2824 clone. So, probably sub standard for £4k tbh. As you’ll see tonight in the wrist shots though, the Superocean is SO much better looking IRL and really screams “Breitling!” Like a Navi would.
The Tudors looked a bit dull in comparison. The Pelagos was just “flat”, and the bB58 in black/Guilt looked no more impressive than my black/guilt Gecko. I suspect the sun
Of parts thought it “more” than the Brietling. And I think it’s been said before, none of the Tudor models stand out against each other in the display cabinet, it’s a common look too far and has become a bit everyday. It’s not special.
IMO, I wouldn’t pay RRP for either watch. I wonder whether the Brands are making shortcuts to convince the upper working class they have a cool watch, whereas the coolness is probably in a well made £1k with some history behind it, or a properly expensive and exclusive watch like a fifty fathoms.
It’s a bit like in prior years buying that Hyundai that looked like a Ferrari from certain angles or a diesel Alfa 159; a moment of oh look! Followed by oh right 🙁
I can’t help thinking there’s be buyers remorse, and you’d spend all time hoping someone comments on the watch having seen the logo but isn’t expert enough to know you haven’t reallllly bought anything remarkable.
Or it could be me.
Edit: it didn’t help that as I took the orange SKK GMT off to try on the Brietling the AD went “ooooh what’s that!?” 😂
The Breitling isn’t an ETA clone, as I understand it it’s a high-grade ETA 2824 ébauche that has been assembled and tuned by Breitling to chronometer standard.
I’m wearing the older model Superocean today. It’s a 44mm so as big as I would go (not as large as the photo makes it look). It’s great quality and I enjoy wearing it.
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And the heritage has the excellent tudor movement that is in the pelagos etc.
Personally I don't see a problem with a 2824, or sw200, it's a super movement serviceable everywhere. A good in house like the tudor is fine too, and thankfully tudor servicing prices are reasonable, but I don't discount a watch for using an eta/sellita movement.
Krypton have you gone left field? If bezel play on so and soh annoys and an in-house bicentenary movement matters....navitimer?
Yes tudor dials are flat. The pelagos sums up 'tool watch'.
Blazin saddles, grand Seiko loveliness! Although I would want a spring drive. The Hotaka peaks is my favourite.
well, its an an ETA 2824 though isn't is, with spending £3k more that a 2824 adorned watch for? Is "tuned by Brietling" going to make an awful lot of difference to my life? I guess its COSC, and all that said they still felt more substantial and a level up on the Tudors.
Some uncropped/edited images:
The Superocean Heritage 42 - they didnt have the green so I used this for size. Wears big and the lug to lug is slightly too long for me:
...and it's quite thick:
The non-Heritage wears smaller and it thinner and is more glamourous IMO, does it scream "baby Navitimer" to anyone? Certainly says more from a distance:
and finally the Heritage 46 in the actual colour I wanted in 42 for IRL comparison:
Maybe I'm an ungrateful see you next Tuesday and am expecting too much for my money! IMO though the backpay in the bezel isn't forgivable at this price.
The Tudors looked a bit dull in comparison. The Pelagos was just “flat”, and the bB58 in black/Guilt looked no more impressive than my black/guilt Gecko.
It's an interesting point. The watch press will not shut the hell up about Tudor - ooh Pelagos, yet another black bay variant, etc - but for some reason it makes me think of Audi, something about being well made, but maybe not as much soul as you might hope for, or doesn't really speak to your irrational brain as much as it should. The plethora of models that look very similar doesn't help; and maybe it feels like the heritage of the brand isn't really very prominent, making Tudor not dissimilar to Hublot as a modern-ish/ reinvented brand whose watches are impressive but not really emotive.
No Tudor's really wowed me; if I had to have one, the Pelagos 39mm would be the most tempting, but frankly my Sinn U50 feels like a better watch all round
Krypton have you gone left field? If bezel play on so and soh annoys and an in-house bicentenary movement matters….navitimer
A Navitimer is one of two
Grails theynotjer being a Fifty Fathoms. Sorry to sound fussy, I appreciate the movement is higher grade. Maybe I just don’t value spending 4k on a watch after all, I need to sleep on it.
Brietling are ordering a green Heritage 42 from another store so I can sit with the Superocean and that directly. Let’s see how that feels in a week or two.
Definitely best to consider carefully! If the thought of pulling the trigger doesn't give you a twirly stomach then something is wrong.
grand Seiko loveliness! Although I would want a spring drive. The Hotaka peaks is my favourite.
agreed the Hotaka is handsome watch. Spring drive would be ideal but there’s something about the green face and orange hands combo I’m liking. I’m going through Heathrow next week and in LA so might do some window shopping.
The heritage is a much nicer looking watch in my book.
The 2824 and SW200 are solid movements that any watchmaker can service, so there are positives. I have both and a Powermatic which are running to COSC. Would I spend £4k on a watch with that movement? 🤔
IMO, I wouldn’t pay RRP for either watch. I wonder whether the Brands are making shortcuts to convince the upper working class they have a cool watch, whereas the coolness is probably in a well made £1k with some history behind it, or a properly expensive and exclusive watch like a fifty fathoms.
It’s a bit like in prior years buying that Hyundai that looked like a Ferrari from certain angles or a diesel Alfa 159; a moment of oh look! Followed by oh right 🙁
The upper working class 🤣
Everyone is being ripped off with premium brand watches. An ETA 2824 or equivalent movement costs pennies. A sapphire crystal costs pennies. A 316L case costs pennies. It's all a law of diminishing returns.
I can’t help thinking there’s be buyers remorse, and you’d spend all time hoping someone comments on the watch having seen the logo but isn’t expert enough to know you haven’t reallllly bought anything remarkable
I have no idea why you'd care what someone else thought about your watch. It's for you to tell the time with. "isn't expert enough"? WTF?
I think the Baltic Aquascaphe is nicer than those Breitlings
https://baltic-watches.com/en/products/aquascaphe-blue-gilt
https://baltic-watches.com/en/products/aquascaphe-dual-crown-blue
I have no idea why you’d care what someone else thought about your watch
In the main I don't. But a lot of people appreciate other peoples appreciation of things that they own. I wouldn't be unique in that.
I find myself in the odd position - for STW - of un-justifying an expensive purchase and being slated for it rather than the other way around 😀
I'm just not feeling it - yet. Take my trusty 320d, I love it. I know its not the best, most expensive, or the most bling and it's germanic box type diesel estate type bores a lot of people, but I get a buzz when I'm using it, I enjoy it a lot and refuse to part with it. I don't think it's an issue to want to feel like that about a watch, regardless of price. I was wrong to slate the movement and would probably be wise to avoid a Breitling engineer for a while.
I guess part of me wanted to walk in and wanted the immediate urge to walk out with it in hand immediately, I just didnt get that feeling and I'm not sure if that's because the blue Superocean surprised me.
@Ktyton57 if you want a true dive watch and aren't concerned about retail/resale value, Squale made the case for the original Blancpain FF, Certina were chosen over Rolex for the Tektite missions on the basis of legibility. All available for less £. It's a watch which tells the time. You are over thinking it.
You are over thinking it.
Thats not a surprise, its what I do 😀
Squale made the case for the original Blancpain FF, Certina were chosen over Rolex for the Tektite missions on the basis of legibility
Thanks for this info, its some history/stories for me to google & learn.
Those Breitlings are lush.
Sorry to have left the guessing game hanging, we got burgled last night and today has been too much of a faff to get a minute on here. It's a Calvin Klein, so I'd guess the Swissness would be the minimum assembly to qualify for the name. Here it is from another supplier because the pics are clearer.
https://conteenium.com/product/calvin-klein-infinite-k5s3414y/
I've had a 2824 Ernst ran very reliably at +6spd (my steinhart ocean 1). I've had an sw200 run at cost ( christopher ward c60 pro bronze) and the power powermatic in my rado captain Cook can run at cost ( is sensitive to how much its worn and position when off, if worn all day and left crown up its very very accurate. Not ideal though I think... I'd probably trade the powerreserve for the extra solidity of the sw200)
I've a metas (orv is it cosc ? I can't remember)tudor in my pelagos, and two metas coaxial omega, all 3 of those are utterly solid.
The spring drive Seiko beats them all.
The other seikos I've got or had.....mleh, not so great.
Wow kryton that soh is big isn't it! And that's only the 42? Cripes! I like the ff- esque look a lot though and yes the green ! Wow ! I like the so too. To me it says fun, playful, and it looks like the case wears much better. I'd have a hard job choosing but suspect the looks would make me try the heritage. If it doesn't give you ball fizz though, keep looking.
Hmmm.
I just acquired a C60 elite 1000.
Titanium, COSC, sapphire, more atmospheres of pressure than I’ll ever need, He value, quick adjust strap, and very comfortable to wear.
The tolerances on the bezel etc on this one seem spot on at the moment.
Not cheap but not Tudor / Breitling prices.
To some degree it’s male orientated jewellery, and I’ll choose the aesthetics and specification of the watch over the brand every time.
I think I’ll definitely take my (largish) microbrand over a Tudor / Breitling this time though.
The bezel action on my c60 was stunningly positive, its was a meaty and crisp click click click. Maybe I've never felt a bad bezel, but it seems an odd thing to judge a watch on to me. However yes, CW do, these days, make stunning, high quality watches and sell them at a very reasonable price. I'd have one again. I flipped the c60 back to the guy they sold it to me as he wanted it, I had the opportunity to get a captain Cook which I wanted to try, and I had to admit I disliked 3 small things with the c60. 1st I disliked the cathedral handset, second I disliked the faux patina lume and 3rd, despite liking big watches, it was a bit too big and being bronze it was heavy. I have an ability to ignore 'too big' and 'heavy' I wear a planet ocean and love it, my favourite, but something about the shape of the cw lug made it dig in to me if it rolled round my wrist. Anyway, my point is, cw are very good and we're in not for an opportunity to flip and buy something else I'd still have it.
That said, omega, rolex, tudor etc are not competing with them, a lot is just the brand name yes, but my omegas feel very special to me. Stupid. Completely stupid. But they make me feel good.
I’ve never felt a bad bezel, but it seems an odd thing to judge a watch on to me.
I guess to me it speaks of the quality of the build, and when you have two much more cheaply priced Seikos (Arnie, Samurai) with a more solid action and no back play I start questioning what I’m paying for*.
However yes, CW do, these days, make stunning, high quality watches
My c65 compressor is a wonderful thing, it feels very well put together.
*yes I have read up on the movement some more, my apologies for my prior comments.
@kryton57 I came back this morning in the vain hope you'd ordered - something. Anything 😊
I do love a solid bezel action - who doesn't? It's the closest tactile thing you get to try and guess the quality - the equivalent of spinning the freehub on a wheel or spinning some cranks on a BB. @igm - Love the C60 Elite, I'm a sucker for a Ti dive watch. Love this bit on their site 'This video explains how a unidirectional bezel should be used correctly during a dive. Don’t forget: it can also be used for other timing needs.' Lol Know your audience. At least they aren't pretending, I know mine get used for everything but actual dive timing.
Most regular divers use computers now so the watch thing is a bit redundant. I can't see mega ££,£££'s watches even going in the shower.
Don’t forget: it can also be used for other timing needs
The most I've used the bezel on my Citizen diver was to time colleagues presentations to keep them on track at our 2 day conference.
This could be an interesting diversion - what do you use your dive watch countdown bezel for... I've used it for cooking (natch), car parks, interval training and timing stuff like how long it takes to walk somewhere so I know what time to set off next time.
what do you use your dive watch countdown bezel
Making satisfying high quality clicky noises
Cooking and carparks, check. When the wash or dryer or dishwasher went on.... Twiddling when bored... I don't use mine that much.
what do you use your dive watch countdown bezel for
As an expensive, clicky, fidget spinner.
I dont use mine. Anything other than pointer at 12 triggers my OCD.....
OCD - o’clock demarcation
boblo
Free Member
@kryton57 I came back this morning in the vain hope you’d ordered – something. Anything 😊
You’ve been around here long enough to know better….
Is anyone tempted by the 10th anniversary Scurfa watches released tomorrow night?
I quite like the look of the green Diver One. Though lume on the bezel?
I have some good watches, nothing too expensive-ish, one watch from WWII, one from my first ever proper wage, few very nice dive watches, but I now have a hankering for one from the year I was born, somewhere in the 60’s.
Apart from a fleabay saved search, which is proving bloody useless, any pointers from the watch experts here on where else I should be looking / asking ?
No budget in mind, no style apart from maybe a diver, maybe a dress watch, automatic is a given, don’t give a hoot about what strap.
Finally, a week after the 48hr delivery was placed RM turned up with the Sailcloth strap, I get my 100% waterproof Tudor/FF lovechild of a Gecko back:
I love this look, and it completes the watch for me, to the point I'm doubting I need a Brietling 😀
...but I've noticed a theme!
any pointers from the watch experts here on where else I should be looking / asking ?
I'm by no means and expert but this is the kind of googling & research I like to do!
I now have a hankering for one from the year I was born, somewhere in the 60’s.
Apart from a fleabay saved search, which is proving bloody useless, any pointers from the watch experts here on where else I should be looking / asking ?
It'll be on your birth certificate mate.
😂
I'd try and narrow down the type of watch a bit, then search for xx watch 196x. Vintage searching is a different game. If you don't decide what watch you want it's very hard to research what a good example is. Without knowing that you risk buying a lemon.
Kryton that white faced thing looks like it has no hands! It's not very legible is it.
Kryton that white faced thing looks like it has no hands! It’s not very legible is it.
That'll be my Hamilton, of which my iPhone has issues due to its lack of AR. How's this:
Better but no, I couldn't be doing with that.
Better but no, I couldn’t be doing with that.
Its on the Sell list. I have a love / hate thing with it. I think it looks good sitting there like that, but I put it on and feel very flat about it, to the point it gets removed an hour later.
To save me trawling back, can you tell us where the sailcloth strap is from please. I think that would suit my last purchase nicely.
Geckota direct: https://www.geckota.com/products/phalanx-padded-sailcloth-qr-water-resistant-watch-strap?variant=43314575343850
Cheers Kryton. 👍
If you’re into Bond, the classic Connery years of the sixties had some great watches, a vintage Rolex from then would be super spendy but the dress watches much cheaper. Here’s a breakdown.
https://manofmany.com/fashion/watches/a-complete-list-of-all-the-james-bond-watches
A left field option would be to avoid Japan and Switzerland and try something very sixties and German, a Junghans Max Bill or one of their others.
Hello all. I'm still here but am resisting watches purchases at present. Partly contentment with what I have, partly lack of dosh (mainly lack of dosh). That said, I still enjoy a good perv and I'm heading to Paris today on other business. I'll drop by to see the first TAG Heuer I've ever been interested in. I might pop by JLC too, to pleasure myself (yes, that) at the boutique window. Maybe VC also, if I need a coffee and biscuit!
Enjoy yourself in Paris! Have a riot.....
Likewise! Genuine Q: are watches cheaper in Paris e.g. no UK taxes?
I like those Carrerra's. When I was out an about on Monday I looked at the three hander, they look very shiny & expensive in the flesh.
Ha, I sold my Carrera just last week. It was a GMT, nice enough and my first dabble into proper watches. Just nit quite to my taste any longer.
Thanks SSS. I live 30 km SW, in the relative peace and quiet of the Versailles forests. My wife has an interview for a promotion, so I offered to accompany her, thus gaining husband points, which I will then splurge against the JLC boutique window! I don't dress like your average French rioter, simultaneously more scruffy and conservative, but I won't be surprised to see some of my colleagues in the scrum!
Here is my Carrera
Purchased in the sale for £2,600 from the Tag shop at Cheshire Oaks. Currently thinking of chopping it in for a Speedmaster.
I can highly recommend a Speedy
There is a new watch shop in Cheshire Oaks, Hour Passion, which I belive is part of the swatch group (they have Longines, Certina, Rado, Tissot, Hamilton etc). Was looking at a Longines Heritage Skin Diver the other week and then today I see that Goldsmiths have a half price offer on them, very tempting at that price, although its on the leather rather than the rubber strap.
@dark-side You need a bigger wrist. As an amateur Dr, I prescribe more wa**king. That should sort it 🙃
As it appears to be Chronograph day, this is my latest purchase. Something about the Seitona appealed more that the Timex Q Chrono I posted a few months back, so that got flipped in its favour. Love it, the only thing I'm not massively keen on is the handset. Doesn't look like there are any options for Quartz movements on the modders websites. Anyone ever enquired with Seiko about official mods?
What don't you like about the handset? I think pencil hands are quite handsome
Just a preference thing. Dauphine type hands are my favourites although I'm not sure they'd suit this too well. The new larger version of this has a broader handset that I like.
New repro bezel arrived, pretty tidy tbf
I like that Seiko very nice
I had a thought of these today. for no other reason than its a cheap solar recycled Timex:
I have a 20% discount making it £88 and I have a £300 cycle insurance refund burning whole in my pocket 😀
But its a 46.
Tthew, that seiko is rather smart.
I'll not comment on the careers beyond its not to my taste!
I'm back from Paris. Not rioted to death or nuffink! I also didn't go to a single watch shop - even when my wife offered :O. I stayed with her, doing quickfire questions, right up to her interview. That, gentlemen, is playing the long game!
That, gentlemen, is playing the long game!
Ha Ha Ha, excellent.
Looks like CW are jumping on the prx bandwagon, looks slim though tbf...
[url] https://imgur.com/a/o3Dy4od [/url]
Crooked edge on the bevelling in the promo shot. Nice...
Aren't most watches are clones/homage to earlier designs anyway? Very few are ground breaking or new. I'm sure the PRX itself is an homage to a 60s design classic
A PRX style watch with CW quality can only be a good thing and provide more choice to people with deeper pockets.
The prx is a watch that follows thy design cues of many Gerald Genta watches. They tend to be the expensive stuff, the pp nautilus, the ap roo the vc whatsadoodle. There are others that have the integrated bracelet look, iwc ingeneur, some omega constellations, etc, and lots with the octagonal bezelly look too, piaget polo, bvgari octisimo, and and and and.