Subscribe now and choose from over 30 free gifts worth up to £49 - Plus get £25 to spend in our shop
Watch out for the clasp, there has been a change there. The previous version required the strap to be doubled back, which will obviously cause faster wear. Also, the previous version was a 45mm, mine is a 44mm - model 7760 4164-07 3 22 02lc 01 752.
So those negotiating a discount on new Omega’s, what’s the best tack? Just to walk in, get friendly then hit them with a request for 20% discount, or is there an element of ‘fluffing’ required? I can’t generally be arsed with haggling, my norm is pay the price advertised or ask for the price you want to pay, 1 shot deal, yes or no. Then either buy it or walk.
You'll probably 7% or maybe 10% if you ask. If you ask in enough places you'll get more, but it's not common to get more currently.
Decide your payment method, walk in, after a polite hello ask the best price for the watch you want when paying by such and such. Then thank them. Simple.
I’ve bought three new Seamasters at Ernest Jones. They have the RRP and I simply asked the first time if there was any discretion in the price. My Aqua Terra should have been £3800 and I paid £3200 in 2016.
A couple of years later my lad wanted one for his 21st. I simply said”you did me a great deal last time, what is the cash price? “ so got it for 380o instead of something like £4500.
Third time lucky and the same question netted a Planet Ocean RRP £5560 for £4800 in 2021.
A couple of months ago I was putting my old Constellation in for a service at an independent AD and he offered the £750 discount without even being promoted.
Pretty much what I thought. 5-10% isn’t going to swing it at current rrp. I’ll be paying by cash money, no finance etc. Where’s the lowest hanging fruit usually? I thought the like of major chains have the least to lose and margins to hit so more likely to do a deal, boutiques and small AD’s less so? Is there an equivalent of Carwow for eg. where you can put in what you’re after and let the sellers come to you with their best offers?
https://www.mvswatches.com/product-page/omega-seamaster-300-white-dial-210-30-42-20-04-001
you might want to do the usual due diligence but thought you might want to look at this one.
Pic of my 1976 Seiko Bullhead whilst I await delivery of a 1973 Seiko!
Now that I like. Nice time machine dude. 🤘
Thekingisdead 👍
KingIsDead, that’s exactly my dad’s best watch! My brother and I are constantly winding each other up about who’s going to get it!! tbh I think my daughter will put play the pair of us!
It’s a lovely thing.
Got a new in box unworn 2022 model for £3750 on a bracelet
Sounds like a great deal. Can’t wait to see the pics!
Definitely! Excited for you
So, there’s been a development. Whilst looking at the photos of my recent purchase I noticed a discrepancy between the warranty card and the info provided. Turns out it wasn’t a ‘22 model, it was a ‘20! Now, I’ve bought this to wear not keep as a safe queen, so nearly 3 years less warranty/service interval is worth more than the fact it’s BNIB to me. I’ve decided to cancel that sale and move with another one I was considering instead at the same time, this one is on a rubber strap (which I preferred anyway) is a Nov ‘22 and with negotiation has cost £3,370. So on balance I think all has worked out ok.
Pic of my 1976 Seiko Bullhead whilst I await delivery of a 1973 Seiko!
Now that's a piece with a bit of character, I like it a lot!
And double bonus points because it isn't yet another Omega.
is a Nov ‘22 and with negotiation has cost £3,370.
I'm really wishing the best for you, but at nearly 40% RRP, I'd have questions.
It’s used obviously at that price and coming from a bricks and mortar, so hopefully good. If not I’m covered by buyer protection so I’m not worried.
Ah used, makes more sense. Exciting times! I'm interested to know if its bizarrely well balanced and wearable like mine is, or I just got lucky with wrist/size ratio.
Seems a worthy change and a decent price. We need to see it on your wrist now, I'm excited for you! I feel we need a stw seamaster meetup!
another oddball from me, this time Louis Erard:
Very difficult to photograph as the whole point of the dial is that it catches the light like mad. It’s also another watch that it’s very hard to tell the time on. Minutes are easy, but I quite often get the hour wrong.
You can’t see the blue hands in this photo either, but they match the colour of the strap I bought from the strap tailor.
Thats bonkers! I love it!
Omega boutique did me 9% when I bought my SMP. Also supplied the rubber strap and deployant for cost which was £220 ish
i used to work with the manager though
@Sanername love it but I’d never be able to read it, I struggle enough with a 3 hander on plain black dial!
It is very slightly pointless… has crossed the line from functional jewellery into dysfunctional mechanicalism.
Thanks for the admiration for the Bullhead!
im a big fan of Seiko’s, especially the older ones. Will post my new one next week.
if anyone is after one, I can recommend a guy who sources them. I trust him to weed out the Franken watches, or at least tell you where aftermarket parts are used. Just gets in touch.
Support Gaidong's Blancpain Fund!
Is anyone interested in my 'homemade' deck watch? The main component you'd be buying is a genuine decorated (élaboré) ETA/Unitas 6498-1 movement, bought in December 2021. Consider the rest 'free': case, dial, hands etc were from an Ebay shop, who is actually based really near me in France, but of course they're Chinese-made (I do think he blue'd his own hands though). They were all nicely made. The dial is silvery white, not ivory as it looks in the photos? I can't remember where I got the 22mm strap from but it's real leather. It is a 18000 bph ticker, with 56 hour reserve, a nice clicky wind and big balance wheel to goggle at. My wrist is 7.25" for a 42mm diameter case, sapphire back and front, with gaskets. I'm looking for £300 o.n.o. Obviously I live in France and posting it is likely to attract attention, so I could make an arrangement to send it the next time I'm over etc.






My wrist is 7.25″ for a 42mm diameter case
I think that looks rather nice, whatever the movement. Can you get your shrink ray* on it and take it down to about 39mm? 42's a bit big for my current taste.
*because I bet you've at least got access to one!
Ha ha :D. Look at the movement, it fills the case! I'll just check the case size, got to search down the shoppee.
Hmmmm, actually it is a 41mm case - https://www.ebay.fr/itm/114923996164. I'd forgotten how much I paid for it! Same for the dial and blued hands - https://www.ebay.fr/itm/114923996503. Oh well, I gave a price now 😀 !
Completely unrelated to current comments but I drove past the Junghans factory in Schramberg in the Black Forest last week. I wanted to go in and have a look but I was vetoed as getting to the campsite was more important.
The building on the webpage is that factory (Manufacturing link)
Got my Reverso back. Battery was fine. It was oxidisation in the battery cell holder.... They seemed to have given it a bit of a scrape and it works now but a full service will be needed to get everything tickety boo.
I popped by Blancpain to see the Beast again. Chatted with their watchmaker about the movement architecture etc. They know I'm keen but that I also need to raise a lot of funds to make it happen. I brought up the issue of price and it seems some negotiation is possible. However, seeing as I can see them new online with 30% off, I doubt a boutique on Place Vendôme can match that. No hurry....

green corduroy!?
I have chestnut brown or bottle green, but the true crime was mismatching shoe and watch strap leather!
green corduroy!?
i’m enjoying the clothes on this page.
sanername’s work particularly well with the watch.
I must say it does look lovely. 😀
Nice one! And I like the way you've highlighted the clarity of the crystal in your photo - it looks non-existent. Very nice.
How does it "feel" on wrist for you?
They are so common now. Might have to sell mine... 😜
Good choice as sycophants say in nice restaurants.... 👍
Ha, sorry boblo. I tried to like other things first. Imitation is the finest form of flattery and all that…
Kryton, to be honest I was just aiming for mainly in focus to avoid having the piss ripped out of me. To answer your question, I’m surprised at how light it feels on wrist, especially compared to the Oris Aquis. I’m very happy with it, although I can feel it being a gateway drug.
How many of us have a white SMP now? 😂
An excellent choice!
I don’t really like the wavy dial on those SMPs.
I may be the only one though.
Nice blazin, very nice!
We did a roll call a page or 3 back, you, me, boblo, now blazin, and... sorry I forget, my excuse is a stinking cough thing has brain in a fug. I seem to think at least one more white and someone with a blue. We need a gtg.
Igm no that's common. Wavy dial, skeleton hands, hev. These three features are classic smp but are marmite, loved and hated in equal measure.
Have any of you lot got, had or experienced a CWC RN or SF300? The Royal Navy or SBS issue diver? A quartz with fixed lug and day-date may keep me off the FXD list!
I wasn’t particularly drawn to the SMP until it got the wavy dial and the 8800 movement. My PO has the same hev and I’ve never given it a second thought. The skeleton hands are a slight disappointment, but not a dealbreaker. Oh, and I love the blue more…..!

I agree 'goat, I don't notice the hev... although I do remember to check it's screwed in before getting in the pool or shower.
I looked at the blue but decided it was a little too dark and got the blue pelagos instead. I then had a good excuse to get the white 😁. Yours looks good on the bracelet, maybe I ought to try it on mine.
@saccades is it difficult to keep dust out of the case and off the inside of the crystal
With a reduced collection I’m finding a lot of love for the Aquaracer which has returned to its place as the work / under shirt cuff watch:

I wouldn’t consider this on a strap because the watch is so damn heavy!
Has anyone got a blue Seamaster (Pierce Brosnan stylie) on a tan leather NATO? Wondering what it will look like.
Mine is on a black and grey striped NATO that is looking a bit tatty.
At a different price point, I've just ordered my first G-Shock !
I'm quite excited
Excellent! Which one?
GBD200 black - the one with the MIPS screen

Nice. I keep looking at 5610u. Everyone needs a G-Shock right?
I offered it up a few pages back, but if anyone wants one of them GBD 200's second hand, I'd let my blue one go for a fair price. It's complicated in use and the companion app/smart functions are absolutely shite. Sorry ElShalimo, I hope you like it more than I do!
@tthew - I got a gift voucher that needs using so I bought it. I just want to use the standard watch & step tracker functions
Fair enough - those 2 functions are OK and just a button press away from each other. The GPS time function synch's with the app, but being digital it's accurate enough to not need to correct often so I don't even have the app loaded on my phone any longer.
Nice. I keep looking at 5610u. Everyone needs a G-Shock right
If only you knew someone who’s selling one Kato…. 😉
🤔🤔🤔
My view is that if you are wearing white shirt then yes if it’s a black strap.
Elshalimo, my point alludes to the fact I’m selling a worn 3 times 5610u for £80 posted.
@Saccades - black leather yes, Seiko black leather maybe not.
Was the original Seiko’s normal slightly dodgy quality?
I’ve had some nice simple black leather stuff from WatchGecko - including the £12 on sale strap I’m wearing now (sadly out of stock now I think).
Leather strap - the metal straps draw attention away from the lovely Cocktail Time dials
Talking of straps I have one of these unused which Zuludiver seem reluctant to process a return for:
Happy to send it for £20 posted which less the shipping ZD would charge.
Which width?
Good question 😀 22mm...
@Saccades IMHO on the right arm which is the left arm and keep the bracelet strap 😀
Pic of my 1976 Seiko Bullhead whilst I await delivery of a 1973 Seiko!
That owes an awful lot to the Yema RallyGraf! The two companies were closely linked for a time, and then Seiko took over Yema which became little more than a fashion brand. Yema use Seiko movements in some of their current models, notably a re-issue of the RallyGraf.
There’s enough photos of my Yema here already, I won’t bother putting another up.
This one I haven’t worn in ages, I dug it out of my box of watches and other items of male jewellery, and the battery was practically dead, the second hand was moving once every ten seconds or so. My goldsmith mate has just put a new battery in, and re-lubed the O-ring, but he didn’t bother doing a pressure test; it isn’t going in the water. That cost me nothing, would have cost £20 if he’d done a pressure test. I went into the TAG Heuer shop in Bath and asked them what it would cost; £150…

I have to say it feels and looks tiny compared to the Seiko I’ve been wearing for the last five, going on six months, I barely notice I’ve got it on.
The James Bond strap is appropriate, Timothy Dalton wore one in his first 007 film, and a stainless steel version later in the same film, at a s****y do with a suit.
I had the battery replaced in my old TAG this week. I think it’s about thirty-five years old now and worth more than I paid for it, it was £180 new. It was my first decent watch but seldom worn these days.

Right, looking at alternatives to the BB FF as a daily, how about this Glashutte Original Senator Perp Cal?

Photo is swiped from t'internet. It has some of the Pequignet charm (or rather Pequignet inspired by GO/ALS), but for less money I can get a perpetual calendar in a discreet package. 42 mm case, don't know the wrist size in the piccy.
God no. I mean, it's a nice watch but... well... as a daily? Really? It doesn't look daily, no. No, not for me. Stick to a FF.
Or....I just saw this on the back of a telegraph magazine and thought it nice, Breguet type xx 2057. Too rich for me but, well, it looked nice.
Did they just chuck darts at a mock-up of that dial and where they hit they chucked on a complication?
Everyone's taste is different but you definitely have a knack for choosing things which look like they've fallen from a Christmas cracker.
Another no, all of the complications are randomly way too far from the centre and into the indices, looks wrong.
Why not to daily? Surely a perpetual is exactly the watch to daily! Point in hand, I forgot to advance the date on my Oris ProHarbourPilot this morning!

Because its trying too hard.
Did anyone see antiques roadshow last night? My other half was watching and at the end there was a bloke with a Rolex that was worth £35 k : she was amazed and I wasn't because I've seen the amounts spent on stuff on this thread
Am I prepared to defend my tastes, hell yeah! :😁
Firstly, I am not trying to get one watch to do everything. I have reduced my collection to about eight pieces, and I can cut a few more such that each gets regular, if unequal use. I am looking for a daily watch, with a (at a minimum) day-date function, that is adapted to my needs. Specifically, I am not in a suit and cycle to work etc but want something with a bit of horological interest, dial AND movement side. My Oris serves my practical needs but that red-rotor'd SW200 makes me grimace. I want a 'nicer' watch but it is extremely difficult to fulfil my criteria (I have been looking for well over a year!). There are no end of day-date, or more, complications, but typically in dress watches and/or from extremely expensive houses. The obvious alternative is a chronograph with a 7750 derived movement but... I don't like the feeling of those chronos, as in the actuation sensation. All things being equal, I'd rather have the calendar without the chrono, hence doubts on the BP FF (even if that chrono is very nice but we're talking €2k service costs!). Now, as to dial spacing....

I like a pointer date but I have a very very very strong preference for aperture day and date. For apertures, remember that the read outs typically line up horizontally (there are exceptions, like BP annual calendars). To do that, they either have to match outer edge, like the VC dark dial, or inner edge, like the VC salmon dial. Apertures can be very easily anthropomorphised into eyes, and one wants balanced spacing. As it happens, I find the GO more balanced that the VC dark dial, but also, I cannot afford a €50k white gold trinity dress watch, and wouldn't fancy cycling to work with it in the rain!
Asymmetry... Breguet are the kings of this, and while in most watches my brain naturally searches for symmetry, hence not favouring date-only complications, that 3673 is a symphony of organised chaos (although less keen on pointer day and leap year, obvs). A Lange & Söhne (re)built their name with Lange 1, to near universal acclaim. The double date disk (panoramodatum) is an added complication, especially if the two discs rotate at the same level. I cannot afford an ALS, I do I not like their lugs tbh, nor want precious metals. However, the GO is in steel, shares that same design heritage (being the actual legal successor to the historical ALS), is in a masculine, tough and water resistant package. Is it perfect? Probably not, and I haven't even tried one on (next week for replacement model as this reference is discontinued), but there are not many options for what I am trying to achieve. And I would get to look at this movement, 100-02, during the frequent periods I am bored at work!

The bevels are still mostly machined but there is double-solarisation and crisp Glashütte stripes. I could probably live with that, for a while!
The BP FF is stunning dial side but the movement is a little undersized and dated (mid80s base calibre). The 1315 series from BP are much sexier but they don't have the complications I want. Decisions decisions!!! 🤣
@gaidong Blimey! That list of stuff is a bit more complicated than my 'I quite like that' selection criteria 😁

Pic of my 1976 Seiko Bullhead whilst I await delivery of a 1973 Seiko!


