Ah, seconds hand is a bit of fun. Milgauss is a bit much for an everyday watch. Doubtless I’ll get some gaudy orange strap and pretend I’m a real scientist now. That said, my badge access hasn’t been changed and I still can’t get through these doors!

Posted 2 months ago

I’m feeling a bit jealous! Enjoy your new watch. I just can’t get a sniff at a Rolex from an ad.

Posted 2 months ago

Nice one @gaidong, I’m not usually a Rolex fan, but that’s absolutely lovely, enjoy.

Posted 2 months ago

@gaidong happy new watch!

Posted 2 months ago

So what do we think of the new Timex Q Chronographs? I have to admit, at a similar price to a Moonswatch, I’m tempted..

Review here:

The Timex Q Timex Chronograph Watch Is The Q You’ve Been Waiting For

Posted 2 months ago

Nah, won’t replace the hand wound seagull Alpha Daytona homage…. 🧐

Posted 2 months ago

Have to say, those Timex chronographs are rather lovely! I’ve already got a chronograph, my Yema, and I almost never use the chronograph function, but those are very much a close nod to the Omega.

Looks like he might have a lot of incoming business, I want to replace the the crystal on my Arnie with Sapphire.

I’d very much like to get the Hardex crystal on my SPORK replaced with a good Sapphire crystal, it’s got several scratches across it, one fairly deep one that’s recent-ish, and I’ve no recollection of knocking it against anything that could scratch it so noticeably – I stopped wearing it to work ages ago for just that reason.
I’ve considered having the movement replaced for something hackable, and keeping the original 4R15 movement stashed away safely.

Posted 2 months ago

New watch day. Stunned at what £160 can buy you. Finishing  and build quality are amazing for the price. I’d definitely buy another San Martin. Only really bought it to see if I could get away with wearing a sub 40mm watch too

Posted 2 months ago

I’ve still not entirely gone off the idea of a Moonswatch, but that Timex could convince me otherwise.

Posted 2 months ago

Well I found the Timex on their website, I’m sure the product thumbnail said register interest, but in actuality it just took my money and it’s on the way. 🤦‍♂️

If I’m not sold on it, I can always send it back or flip it if the stock sells out quickly.

Posted 2 months ago

I’m after a particular watch that is no longer in production, anyone had experience of watchuseek? I’m keeping an eye on chrono24 as well – any other good sites to check? I’m not on tz-uk and can’t register and even if I did it would be ages before I could access the sales corner.

Posted 2 months ago

@Stevet1 yes to watchuseek and had no problems with the purchase. Was a good few years ago though.

Tz-uk not being able to register is a pita.

Posted 2 months ago

Well I found the Timex on their website

A small work bonus has me remaining intrigued about the Timex. I do really like a MoonWatch look, but with the Alpha chrono & Tissot Supersport in my box I can’t decide whether buying a Quartz Chrono from Timex supersedes a) owning an ST19 movement for historical reference purposes and b) a Swiss watch with an ETA quartz in it already.

I’ll likely never wear the Alpha as it feels like a cheap Chinese watch, and the Tissot is a big lump of a think and both are in the “for sale” category.

So er, maybe I’ll wait and see how yours looks.

P.S. oh and the Quanon implication. 😀

Posted 2 months ago

So er, maybe I’ll wait and see how yours looks 😀

I’ll bang a photo or two on when it arrives.

I worked out that the ‘register interest’ status was for the watch above on the webpage, which just wasn’t well spaced. 🤣

Posted 2 months ago

Stevet1, what’s the watch? It’s against tz-uk rules to buy or sell on behalf of another but depending on the watch I could take the risk, biy and then sell.

Posted 2 months ago

I know many on here like classic style watches that aren’t necessarily a dress watch, so this might be of interest. It certainly caught my eye, although the coin-edge bezel isn’t something I’m that fond of.

Introducing: The Oris Big Crown Waldenburgerbahn Limited Edition — My Kind Of Suave

Posted 2 months ago

@neilnevill – thanks for the offer, I’ll pm you, don’t want to clutter this thread up too much

Posted 2 months ago

Well the Timex arrived.

The bracelet is as gash as I expected, but it suits the leather band from my stash, if not the thread colour as there’s no red highlights on the dial. Sub dials are a nice vintage champagne colour. No hour sub-dial for the chronograph, that’s a 24 hours hand. I need to read the instructions to see if there’s a way to set that independently of the main time.

It’s an acrylic not mineral crystal as it says on the website, but that’s OK by me, I don’t have a habit of scratching them enough that a smear of Polywatch won’t fix.

Think I’ll keep it. And it’s definitely dissuaded me of getting a Moonswatch. Not getting a plastic one that’s more expensive than this! Apart from the lug shape this has a look of a Speedy I think.

Posted 2 months ago

Oh cack! A bit of (a lot of) a grail of mine had come up! I need to do a fire sale to raise the funds though, as well as raiding the piggy bank and kids college funds!

Shout if interested in a smiths Everest, Seiko spb081j1/sbdc059, or seiko snr035!

Posted 2 months ago

I’ve a friend who’s desparate for a Smiths Everest. Can you send me a PM and I’ll reply

Posted 2 months ago

Too slow. Not surprised, a zenith chronomaster very much priced to sell was not going to linger [slinks off kicking himself….]

Posted 2 months ago

@neilnevill probably something wrong with it if the price was almost too good, at least that’s what you can tell yourself 🙂

Posted 2 months ago

Got offered a great price on a Breitling Superocean UK edition similar to one that I was close to buying a few months ago.

The UK edition comes with a black dial with navy blue bezel

It came on a bracelet but I popped it on a rubber band for now.

Enjoying it very much. Wears smaller than a 44mm I think.

Posted 2 months ago

Pfff! It wasn’t on a bracelet…. I’m SOOO over it! [ Shuffles off sobbing]

Posted 2 months ago

Article I read yesterday about the rise of microbrands, and some insights into how they’re working.

https://www.esquire.com/uk/watches/a42163202/the-rise-of-watch-microbrands/

Posted 1 month ago

zenith chronomaster very much priced to sell

Mmm nice, was very much looking at these myself before deciding that a Fortis was more in my price range. Which version was it? The one with thw 1/10th second hand chrono sweep?

Posted 1 month ago

39mm Christopher Ward C63 in Lucerne Blue showed up this morning. Not sure whether to keep it. I like the colour just not sure when and where I’d wear it.  Getting bored of black or white dials though

Posted 1 month ago

Sorry if this has been discussed before, but…

As someone who really doesn’t give a toss about watches I keep seeing adverts on my social media for Seiko mods on Etsy, specifically this one

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1197146450/seiko-nh35-automatic-black-submariner?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=seiko+mod&ref=sc_gallery-1-1&bes=1&sts=1&plkey=57632b8f245017faabb815598dbabfd0a2eee1d3%3A1197146450

And it’s grown on me. Now certain personal events have made me want to get something special as a memory, this would be nice… How does it rate?

Posted 1 month ago

It’s likely worth the sum of its parts – historically reliable movement, sapphire crystal usually a Seiko cost cutting option, 316. The bracelet quality is an unknown but of course you can change that, and the cyclops is a matter of taste.

It’s not a marine master, it’s not a Rolex it’s a decent smart looking non original watch if you like it which will serve you well. It’ll have no historic basis or future rise in value if that’s what your after.

You can find better respected micro brand options for cheaper, but would need to know your onions / buy for you and not your audience to find the “right” one.

Posted 1 month ago

F it. You only live once. I realised the zenith didn’t get snapped up by a cash offer so I raided the savings account and have agreed to but it. Won’t collect for another 10 days though.

Posted 1 month ago

Kato that’s a nice smart casual / office watch. It keep that over the San Martin, although I’m kind of in the market for a non bezel watch and have been on the CW site recently myself.

Posted 1 month ago

this would be nice… How does it rate?

It does look nice but that’s because it’s a fairly generic sub-a-like and few would say Rolex had come up with a munter when they came up with the Submariner. It’s hard to say whether it’s good value without a really close look at the standard of finishing but IMO it’s a stretch to say it’s special. Of course special is in the eyes of the beholder and if it speaks to you then that’s really all that matters in the end.

If you want something with a bit more originality the as Kryton says a microbrand may be a good shout but if you really don’t give a toss about watches then that’s probably more of a faff than you can be arsed with.

If you particularly like the look of the one you posted and that’s what you’re after then consider one of these – same movement but it’ll be really well made and finished by one of the best regarded Chinese brands and will save you a few bob.

Posted 1 month ago

Sorry if this has been discussed before, but…

As someone who really doesn’t give a toss about watches I keep seeing adverts on my social media for Seiko mods on Etsy, specifically this one

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1197146450/seiko-nh35-automatic-black-submariner?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=seiko+mod&ref=sc_gallery-1-1&bes=1&sts=1&plkey=57632b8f245017faabb815598dbabfd0a2eee1d3%3A1197146450

And it’s grown on me. Now certain personal events have made me want to get something special as a memory, this would be nice… How does it rate?

The only part of that watch which is made by Seiko is the movement, and even that’s not certain as the NH35 is now being faked.

For the same money I’d be looking at genuine Seiko’s from a reputable dealer such as Creation Watches.

Posted 1 month ago

The only part of that watch which is made by Seiko is the movement

I’ve just had another look at the face of the watch in question, I obviously wasn’t paying enough attention before. As Fudd says, it’s not a Seiko and printing Seiko on the dial is very questionable. It’s not a Marinemaster, though they could split hairs and say it’s a Marine Master since they’ve inserted a space but it’s still well dodgy. You’d be unwise to believe the 300m depth rating but then that’s probably more to make the text block ape the real Marinemaster more closely than anything else. Finally the seller does claim elsewhere that the movement is an NH35 which is plausible, though in keeping with the rest of the Marinemaster bullshit the small text at the bottom of the dial looks like it’s claiming the movement is a 8L35 which is highly unlikely since that probably costs more than the entire watch.

I’d give it a wide berth and if you’re keen on the look pick up whatever Subby clone suits your budget.

Posted 1 month ago

@Houns – check out Heimdallr watches. Theirs aren’t fake attempts to look like a Rolex, although some do have the Rolex ‘Mercedes’ hand-set, Citizen and plenty of others do that, but that’s well overpriced anyway.
If you want something a bit more special, you could do worse than one of these:

A relatively unknown brand, designed by someone who is a saturation diver, who wanted a good reliable watch for his employees. You’re going to pay a bit less for something that isn’t a knock-off, and has real professional credentials. As soon as I can scrape together £250 or thereabouts, I’m after the all-black PVD coated version with orange hands.

Actually Affordable: Helium Escape Valve Watches

Posted 1 month ago

Nice looking watches those Scurfa, but very little stock…..couldn’t see any stock for the dice watch.

Posted 1 month ago

That is a good ahout

Posted 1 month ago

Agreed that Scurfa would make a great alternative.

Another question, does anyone known if buying from chrono24 is easy, reliable and fuss free?

Posted 1 month ago

Just had advert for Aera watches on facebook and now fancy their P-1 badly

Posted 1 month ago

Ok watch fondlers, here’s a man on twitter who needs help finding a very particular Seiko 5

Got burgled last week and there's one item I really want to replace – a watch an old friend bought me for about £20 – £30 from a shop in Brick Lane about 20 – 25 years ago https://t.co/tYQlXVBUuw

— Alom Shaha (@alomshaha) December 10, 2022

Posted 1 month ago