MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
No trip to the French side of the Jura is complete without a few runs in Metabief too...:-)
There was a mention of an Oris watch a few posts back.
This was reviewed recently and I really like the case design. The green special edition is probably a step too far though... Kermit appears on the 1st of every month...:-)
Oris Propilot X
now, photos.....
did that work? Ah ha! Yes! Click to see large/full photo
Love that Oris Kermit edition- but holy fek £3700 !! Jaysus over £3k for a Swiss muppet-esqe watch.
@neilnevill that’s a very fine timepiece indeed sir, beautiful design, enjoy.
That Zenith is gorgeous, congrats on getting your hands on one finally.
Nice Zenith. Ive always admired the El Primero and recommended it on quite a few occasions. Enjoy and savour it.
Anyone got a Seiko 5 Submariner? Wassit like?
I like the Propilot, and as lovely as the dial colours are, I can't get past the fact you're paying serious watch prices for a dial that's just white printed.
walowiz
Full Member
Love that Oris Kermit edition- but holy fek £3700 !! Jaysus over £3k for a Swiss muppet-esqe watch.@neilnevill that’s a very fine timepiece indeed sir, beautiful design, enjoy.
It's an in-house automatic movement with 120hrs/ 5 days power reserve (which is rare even in high-end horology) - they've spent a good few years working on it, and are using that (and the limited edition models it's in) as a way to push their prices up. Much like Omega, tbh
It’s an in-house automatic movement with 120hrs/ 5 days power reserve (which is rare even in high-end horology) – they’ve spent a good few years working on it, and are using that (and the limited edition models it’s in) as a way to push their prices up. Much like Omega, tbh
When an Aqua-Terra is now ~£6k, these are positioned pretty well but all these rises push me ever more into the used market.
When an Aqua-Terra is now ~£6k,
Jeez, I'd missed that! They've improved the movement and build quality from the first AT, but even so, we're a long way from the £3800 or so I paid for mine 15 years ago!
Anyone got a Seiko 5 Submariner?
Anyone got a what now?
Lovely Zenith, the proportions are so much nicer than the new equivalent Rolex's.
I really like that Oris as well.
I think I prefer the older Propilot case though. They have a orange dialled carbon fibre one which is very swish and caught my eye
The Zenith is a lovely thing. Worth waiting for!
This one. Has the 5 day movement in it too, but 3700 is strong money for Oris
It's lush, but if/ when they put this movement into the 'regular' stainelss steel ProPilot case I'll be very tempted.
@neilnevill that's a cracker n'est ce pas? Is that new or 'preloved'? - ahem. £6k seems a good deal. 👍
Jeez, I’d missed that! They’ve improved the movement and build quality from the first AT, but even so, we’re a long way from the £3800 or so I paid for mine 15 years ago
there’s not much that hasn’t doubled in price in the last 15 years. Except wages obvs!
That Zenith is lovely, not keen on the Oris Kermit though.
I considered this for 5 mins, the Timex 1972 re-issue as a a birth year watch, except it isn't really, is it:
Its really a kinda expensive cheap quartz at 30m, mineral crystal and 30m when it comes down to it.
Thanks all, I am absolutely chuffed to bits with the zenith, it's absolutely stunning. I fell in love with it first time I saw it when it first came out, I just love the look. The 3 sub dials give a beautiful bit of colour and contrast against the bright white dial. At 41mm with a slender thin linked bracelet 20mm tapering to 16mm it is quite Slender and the black bezel adds to the visually not too big Ness. The quality of the el primero movement is well known, remember when rolex wanted an auto chrono movement for the daytona they chose the el primero. The chronomaster has the latest iteration, super quality at high beat. Normally I think high beat is actually just an easy way to up accuracy by averaging out beat errors and the higher beat leads to more wear and more frequent servicing so not actually a positive but this watch uses it for a pupose ....36000 vibrations per hour is 10Hz so this watch can measure to ¹/10 of a second, unusual and rather useful for a chrono. The central second hand is the chrono seconds sweeping a full circle in 10 seconds and the bezel is marked in tenths. The 9 o'clock sub dial is a hackable continuous running seconds, 3 o'clock chrono seconds, 6 o'clock chrono minutes. Auto of course and 60 hour power reserve. The quality is just phenomenal, the applied markers highly polished and multifaceted they catch the light loads, as do the hands. Along with the pcls this watch is very much at the blingy end of sports watches, but then a £9700 rrp watch would be.
Pre owned boblo. From a dealer in Japan via chrono24. Japan are one of the few countries not using interest rates to try to control inflation, combine with some incredibly creative economics from their central bank which the markets are uncertain about and the Yen is tanking, so I could buy from Japan, pay the £1100 vat to import it and still save about a grand on the price vs a preowned one here. I'm very pleased with how it's worked out and how smooth is been. I'm almost this m tempted to import a second and stick it on ebay if I used a 80% off fees offer I could make a good few hundred. This one isn't going anywhere though. Some watches are instant keepers, this is!
Rado captain Cook bronze and sbdc059 must go though now, in addition to the snr035 which I've already sold.
Feel ashamed to talk about this seeing as the Zenith is watch pornography to me but....
Somebody tell me a carbon fibre Tissot regatta timer with a yellow strap is disgusting because I keep looking at it
https://www.fratellowatches.com/meet-the-best-summer-watch-for-2023-the-new-tissot-sideral/#gref
I think those would work as a summer watch, the yellow especially given the tour starts soon...
Kato that is disgusting... but kinda nice!
I get 20% off at Goldsmiths too. Lots of exclusions obviously, but Tissot, Oris and Seiko are game on
Work vouchers? You may be able to use topcashback too.
New release from Chris Ward:
Interestingly priced, a simple attractive watch which - at least for me - questions whether I’d buy a Seiko in this price range now as this is higher quality assuming you weren’t interested in resale prices.
The blue one is nice. I had a C63 for a month or so, but just didn't love it enough to keep it. Fantastic build quality for the money though
Those Tissots look like the sort of thing Rod, Jane and Freddy from Rainbow would have worn with matching dungarees.
Change the strap on the yellow one and it would be nice.
I used to have a yellow Tag F1 and loved that and was great in the summer.
I'm not a huge watch wearer, but social meeja just started pinging me pics of the Swatch Moonswatch Moon and it is absolutely lovely!
I've rummaged around and I can see it's only available in stores. Typically nowhere near me!
Also saw them mentioned on here a year or so back. Does anyone know if they actually are in stock? How does one find out? Any pointers gladly accepted!
Yes, the Swatch x Omega watch does look ace, they have announced that down the line they will be available to purchase online, but it appears for now they are struggling to meet with demand in store
I was really keen to get one too, and look at it as either an expensive swatch, or a cheap way to obtain an omega looking watch
But realising the expense of the Swatch version, which has bioceramic plastic materials led me to another more interesting Moon watch for me
For around £400 you can get a stainless steel Bulova Lunar Pilot watch which is similar to the personal watch worn on the moon by astronaut Dave Scott when his NASA issued Omega Speedmaster developed a cracked lens
There is now an Updated version which is slightly smaller, a criticism of the earlier model
Perhaps ironically, I dislike the sound of ticking clocks and watches immensely, which is what initially put me off the Swatch moon watch
The Bulova Lunar Pilot is meant to have a smooth sweeping second hand, which I am very tempted with once I can try it on
I used to have a Lunar Pilot and got rid as it was a little too big. I liked the watch though. I see they've shaved a couple of mm off it and DOUBLED the price!
The second had doesn't sweep mind you. It's two ticks a second, the chrono hand does sweep though
Hmmm. Maybe I should just wait. I take your point about the Bulova, but it just doesn't grab my attention like the swatch does.
Seiko submariner?
Skx031 bitd.
It's nice, great dial compared to the 007/009 and slimmer.
Damn this thread!
The chronomaster has the latest iteration, super quality at high beat. Normally I think high beat is actually just an easy way to up accuracy by averaging out beat errors and the higher beat leads to more wear and more frequent servicing so not actually a positive but this watch uses it for a pupose ….36000 vibrations per hour is 10Hz so this watch can measure to ¹/10 of a second, unusual and rather useful for a chrono
There's going to be some highly accurately boiled eggs that's for sure 🙂 I jest of course, and it's the technical complexities of these that draws me in as well, still lusting after the non-sports version with the same mechanism.
Haha! I leave the boiled eggs to my wife, I am the poacher. Yes as an engineer I am intrigued and drawn in by some of the complexities. I've not, until now, been a big fan of chronographs though, just not liked how most looked. OK, I guess I've always admired the white dialled ceramic daytona but that is not obtainable, and I've always liked the history of the speedy but otherwise they leave me a bit flat. The zenith I just think is stunningly gorgeous though and the quality of the movement is a bonus.
I like the honesty and the story behind neillnevills watch, it adds to it IMO. Which is why I wouldnt buy that Chris Ward. It doesn’t elevate my collection horologically nor is there anything “special” for me in it, as good as it is. I have the c65 compressor as my 50th gift from my wife - the blue/orange which the don’t make any more - a lovely CW that doesn’t need another. Besides for exactly the same duties despite the lack of sapphire and maybe a difference inaccuracy, I have this on a clockwork republic strap, which feels it has more cache to me because well, “Samurai”:
I find my watches need a story, and my direction is a smaller more valuable collection.
I like the tissot with its history, but am put off by the price and that I found both the Tissot and Hamilton I owned a little bland tbh. All in the eye of the beholder I guess.
I've had ( and still have) some super watches but haven't quite felt the wow after the first few days. I've also found I got to a point where I just had too many and didn't wear them enough. So once I move the rado and the seikos I'll have 4 really nice watches and my steinhart as a beater. And I'm feeling very very happy with all of those. I'd consider a cw again if I got one really cheap, another c60 bronze but the smaller size, the 43mm I had was just to big and heavy when active. But otherwise I don't think I want any watch more than the ones I have. For now.... that can change.... but currently it's zenith, pelagos, seamaster, planet ocean, steinhart.
currently it’s zenith, pelagos, seamaster, planet ocean, steinhart.
That’s a nice and very respectable collection.
Posh even 😉
So my CW Trident 300 has arrived. Really pleased with the quality, look and feel. Strap is a bit large so will get a link or two removed at our local jewelers. Have set the time accurately and will monitor it for a few days to make it's in tolerance first though.
Overall it's a yes from me and the white face completes my collection (for now anyway 😉)
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Anyone got a Seiko 5 Submariner?Anyone got a what now?
I think he means one of the 'Seiko mods' that you can find on Ebay or Etsy, along with easily accessible user reviews on Etsy.
Like this for a Sub:
( https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1408244570/mens-automatic-seiko-mod-black-nh35a)
Or this for a Seamaster:
( https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1459658044/bb58-style-custom-built-homage-classic)
or this for a BB38:
( https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1459658044/bb58-style-custom-built-homage-classic)
Not recommending any of these or any seller as I have no experience of them.
@Bullet very nice! Needs to be at 10 past 10 and photo'd at a jaunty angle though! 😀
Nice @Bullet. I'd have one of those if I didn't already have a white face, black bezel diver
Yep, a Trident. From the side it has a bit of a Speedy vibe in profile when I compare it with my sapphire sandwich.
@Krtyon57 yes, I need to get more artistic. I must make time to do it 😀 I follow a photography website and a guy on there posts lovely pictures with settings of tools, cigar cutters and all manner of stuff that gives a brilliant image of the watches.
Not like me then 😆
@Gravedigger - Those 'Seiko mods' contain nothing made by Seiko apart from the movements which are made by a subsidiary of Seiko, yet they are branded with Seiko on the dial, so while some may see them as mods or Rolex or Omega homage's they're just fakes to my eyes.
@Fudd I don’t really know the answer to this, but are they not any more fake than any homage watch?
I have genuine expensive watches (Rolex, Breitling, Tudor etc); but I also have homage watches, Seiko, Smiths and a cracking watch I bought from Amazon called a San Martin, a fake/homage explorer.
At the end of the day, surely it’s just a case of what you like, willing to spend etc?
I personally don’t mind those Seiko mods. If that is what your budget is and you like the style then go for it. I’d have the sub one myself.
(I’m wearing my smiths homage now, and I have the Rolex it’s an homage to….for some reason I just have a personal gripe against Rolex so it doesn’t get worn!!)
Fake/Homage…..does it matter?
Homage is when you copy a design then put either your own name on it (Smiths, Steeldive etc) or leave it sterile, and fake is when you steal a brand name and try to fool the punters. Whoever put those 'mods' together has no connection to Seiko beyond buying a batch of movements from them, so that's where it crosses the line, for me at least.
I said it about the Smiths / Tudor comparison previously and I’ll say it in the context of the homage / fake conversation at the moment.
Two things matter to me in the non-Garmin, non-Apple watch space. The aesthetics and the movement - and on the later accuracy, curiosity or heritage are of interest. Ok and build quality / value.
I like my C60 Elite on that basis (silly accurate for a mechanical - 10sec or so after a month), and also my Geckota (nice aesthetic, accurate movement, cheap enough I could buy three to include my sons) - and the other watches I own.
I just don’t get the Rolex aesthetic though, there’s always either something stuffy or crass/bling about them, which means they are always coming from behind (Not true of the birth-year Rolex one of my ex-staff has strangely). Similarly Tudor. Omega are a like better.
But the problem is those brands just aren’t special. It’s like buying a Mercedes. They’re not special in the way that the watch I’m wearing now a Seiko Alpinist re-issue with a carefully chosen aftermarket strap, is.
But beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Others will see things differently.
Oris Pro Pilot GMT
Torgeon 7754 GMT
Seiko Alpinist 1959 re-issue
Geckota Sea Hunter PT5000
CW C60 Elite 1000
Also a Seiko SUN019P1 Kinetic GMT, but that’s getting moved on. It’s superb as a watch, but it doesn’t engage me.
100% agree with Fudd.
Those fakes have a Seiko badge slapped onto after market parts trying to con top doller.
That's a Seiko "submariner", quite a resemblance to a Rolex but an actual Seiko.
I’m with Fudd on those Etsy ‘Seiko’ watches; I wouldn’t trust the water resistance past swimming in 3m of water, and none of them are Seiko watches. I have two Heimdallr’s, one of which Fudd very kindly replaced the movement after I bolloxed it changing the date at the wrong time and he swapped the face and hands at the same time. It’s an homage, it’s a copy of an SKX007 with a MM300-style face and hands, but nowhere does it say Seiko, and the same with my ‘Tuna’ with a similar face and hands. Actually, I’m not sure now which one of the two that Fudd fixed for me, but it’s not really important, they’re from the same company.
I bought them precisely because they were ‘homages’, and nowhere at all does it say Seiko, they have Heimdallr on the face.
I also have a Yokobies Seiko 5 mod with an unbranded face, but it’s a Seiko 5, just with a different face.
My Seiko SP043RK, on the other hand, is absolutely 100% Seiko. It’s the watch I’m wearing all the time now, and frankly I’m reluctant to take it off - I’m not swapping it around with any of my other watches at the moment anyway, it’s pretty much the perfect watch for me, there really isn’t anything about it I don’t like; it’s very solid, the bracelet fits me now, I love the way it tapers away from the lugs, the face is very Sinn-like, the perfect blend of pilot and diver, and it has an unusually narrow bezel, which works well with the face.
It could easily be a rest of my life watch, tbh.
And with a week to go until it’s two months since setting it, it’s now only 25 seconds fast, from a high of 41 seconds. Not bad for a watch that’s nearly 12 years old, and was last adjusted that long ago.
My Seiko SP043RK, on the other hand, is absolutely 100% Seiko...
Ahem...
Soz CZ, that was a low blow, but at least Seiko put their own spin on it. They've been much more blatant in the past...
I quite like the ingenuity of some of those Seiko mods and the waterproofedness and accuracy is dependant on the person that built it up and how well equiped his workshop is.
I sold my Speedy moonphase on a while ago - I bought it for my 40th and because my father had an Omega, but always felt guilty for 1) succumbing to the massive marketing campaign of the watch industry that hypes the value of 'luxury' watches, and 2) succumbing to the typical male weakness to covet shiny, technical stuff for it's own sake, and for a mechanical watch with it's inherent inaccuracy this seemed particularly pathetic and pointless.
Look humans are a socio-technological species. Our ability to build ever more complex and tools and flexible social constructs is what sets us apart from other species (not saying many can do these things to some extent but we are unusual in degree - particularly on the tools side).
If we don’t covet shiny, technical stuff for it’s own sake we are denying our humanity.
And on the socio side - how much more human can you get than giving a shiny technical thing or buying a shiny technical thing to celebrate, commemorate or strengthen a social bond?
What do you lot think of this 1972 reissue?
eugh.
Vile. And I say that as someone who really liked the Chrono they did last year, even bought myself one briefly.
I sold my Speedy moonphase on a while ago – I bought it for my 40th and because my father had an Omega, but always felt guilty for 1) succumbing to the massive marketing campaign of the watch industry that hypes the value of ‘luxury’ watches, and 2) succumbing to the typical male weakness to covet shiny, technical stuff for it’s own sake, and for a mechanical watch with it’s inherent inaccuracy this seemed particularly pathetic and pointless.
Seems like a sound decision, it sounds like watches aren't for you.
What do you lot think of this 1972 reissue?>
I think it's horrible!
I think he means one of the ‘Seiko mods’ that you can find on Ebay or Etsy, along with easily accessible user reviews on Etsy.
No, I think I means this.
Are they fakes?
Not fake no. It's a standard Seiko 5.
Use of the term Submariner suggested something of an homage to the Rolex Submariner rather than a 'dive' watch which is the generic term for these sorts of styles.
OK, so novice question here. If you bought a lightly used Rolex off somewhere like Chrono24, would you take it to your local independent to get it checked over? I'm thinking for things like giving the movement a quick look over, spotting any issues etc?
Chrono24 give you a 2 week period to return a watch, but beyond that I'd guess you're somewhat on your own...
@nicko74, a highly trusted watchmaker, or ask an AD for a service estimate (which you can decline but you'll know for sure). There are innumerable fakes out there, most awful but some almost perfect and including fake box and papers...
I've been silent for a while, busy finishing my Habilitation à Diriger des Recherches (HDR, like a 2nd, mid-career, PhD). Successfully defended last Thursday and off to Paris for a meeting today.... Keen to try a Cartier Santos Dumont, the new TAG Hauer Carrera 'glassbox', Breguet and Vacheron for general perving, and, most likely, a Hanhart 417 ES Flyback. Might ask the AD if they have a Day-Date 40 in the safe just to see how it feels and whether I should aim at one long-term. No, not to be worn gangster style but platinum case with black dial, worn on a strap is what I'm thinking. Huzzah!!!
a highly trusted watchmaker, or ask an AD for a service estimate (which you can decline but you’ll know for sure). There are innumerable fakes out there, most awful but some almost perfect and including fake box and papers…
Thanks gaidong, that's what I wondered. Given their cost and high profile, it'd seem high-level fakes are most common around Rolex, and when you're stumping up a chunk of money on one peace of mind dictates you'd want to be sure.
Might ask the AD if they have a Day-Date 40 in the safe just to see how it feels and whether I should aim at one long-term. No, not to be worn gangster style but platinum case with black dial, worn on a strap is what I’m thinking. Huzzah!!!
Nice! I've seen a few pics recently on Insta/ wherever of dressed down watches - Panerai, Rolex, Grand Seiko etc on rubber and canvas and I'm getting quite into it tbh
AD says one platinum DD40 per year (I've known them a long time), and she was honest with me about there being far bigger beasts to feed first. Not about to drop 80Gs anyway! However....
No Hanharts in stock, and apparently there are 4-6th month wait, so sod that. Vacheron still don't have what I'm after. Breguet, I was running out of time. The Cartier Santos Dumont wore nicely but just wouldn't fit with my lifestyle. Arguably neither would the following but you can't second guess true love...
Jaquet Droz Astrale Eclipse Onyx. Out of production but I've wanted to see one for a while, and this is old stock in my usual AD. 45% off was their first offer, which mainly goes to show how insane the RRP is. 43mm in steel (rose gold available). She's a wide girl but not thick and wears nicely on my 7.25" wrist (I think). My Oris Propilot Day-Date 44mm doesn't feel special enough. However, could I cycle to work daily with a Jaquet Droz. 6 km, flat, not much traffic. But still..... What say you lot? I dress casually and this is a dressy watch but I'm hoping the size and intense blackness make it more wearable in hiking trousers and merino t-shirts... I can reserve it and pay off slowly (not getting watch until fully paid) and I'd push for the full 50% discount.
Not sure how much hand finish there is but it's an FP1150 base, twin barrels with 68 hours reserve and silicon balance.
@gaidong I like it.
Blacker than black..... but then again, the majority of my watches are black dial so maybe im biased...
More importantly though, everytime you go to Paris there are riots. Once is happenstance, twice is coincidence, thrice is.....
It is quite rare to go to Paris and for there not to be a riot 😀
Hmm. I don't see that as dressy g, it looks..... casual and non shouty. If its got the details and back story to give you're balls the fizz when you look at it then yes, it's an every day watch. If it hasn't, I'd pass.
I like it, as you say the black face almost makes it less dressy.
Morning all, after much deliberation, I decided against the JD. I continue to think the dial is fabulous but I'm less keen on the case at the back, and the movement is a bit under-sized as JD also used it in a 39mm version (which has an aventurine dial [swoon] but a diamond set bezel for the ladies and dandies). Last straw was my ride to work this morning. I don't wear a helmet in summer as I'm unlikely to crash on a dry cycle path but another cyclist came around a blind corner very wide, and I had to emergency brake. I can't be dealing with that with such a valuable watch on a wrist without even a shirt covering it. Boohoo and the hunt continues for a robust calendar watch!
Given their cost and high profile, it’d seem high-level fakes are most common around Rolex
If you uy from ebay nowadays the seller first has to send the watch to an ebay centre that verifies the authenticity of the watch. That happened with the sale of my speedy - I also had some spare fake straps and a book on the history of the Speedy and sent that direct, which ebay chased me up on.
Seems like a sound decision, it sounds like watches aren’t for you.
They are the male equivelent of women buying stupidly expensive handbags 🙂
Or buying a large, expensive 4x4 to drive round London.
Or loads of expensive camera gear when you have no artistic talent (I tried to placate this with some 4/3rds gear for a while before beating it and getting a Canon G7x ii).
Boohoo and the hunt continues for a robust calendar watch!
Just get yourself an SKX007 and don't worry about it getting a bit of patina.