Watches N+1…

Neilneville thanks for response, I nearly went for the black bay but like you suggest am going to give it some time to decide. That bronze version does look good and did not realise the case was bigger.

Practical? It tells the time and date. I’m not sure what you mean

Depends what you mean by practical

Yeah I mean, how wearable is it everyday, y’know – when I’m not diving down to 200m which I do every weekend obvs. Is it the equivalent of buying an intense M1 to commute on because it looks great?

Have you looked at the Seiko Turtles? I’m currently lusting after the “Save the Ocean” version.

Indeed I have, and initially I liked the samurai version but now the Turtle has grown on me and I actually prefer it. Going to have to look at one in the metal I think. I’ve narrowed it down to either that, or this Hamilton which is at the other end of the spectrum as far as ‘look at me!’ watches go but I think it looks great, expecially on a Nato strap
https://www.hamiltonwatch.com/en-gb/h70455733-khaki-field-auto.html

the number of people who have actually been 200m deep are in the hundreds at most, I’d bet less than 200 people and I would also hazard a guess that not a single one of them was relying on a watch 🙂

from what I can remember the limits are reference to the destruction test that they do on the watch case and 200m means anything to 20m is rock solid for water ingress, 1000m means solid to 100m.

🙂

Unless an heirloom or a gift, it’s a piece of male jewellery, designed to project an image or reassure the owner.

Nothing wrong with that, obviously, but at least be honest.

Just a piece of jewellery, I agree.

Men only really get to universally wear one piece of jewelry. Some dudes can rock wrist bands or necklackes but most of us, watches are all we got.

So take it seriously

Sprocker, I just found this read about the bronze bay patina…. And answered my own question

https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/the-patina-diaries-living-with-the-tudor-black-bay-bronze

Btw, if the bronze interests you, Bucherer have a limited edition with a blue bezel not brown, it’s got a waiting list though I think.

Just went past a shop in Kingston’s shopping centre – 3 second hand subs in the window at £8k each…

Men only really get to universally wear one piece of jewelry. Some dudes can rock wrist bands or necklackes but most of us, watches are all we got.

So take it seriously

This is my take. A wedding ring and a watch is all the jewelry I wear. So there is nothing at all wrong with wearing something a bit indulgent.

I have an old G-Shock which gets used a beater
My grandfather’s Pocket watch – never used, but has pride of place in my watch box
Vintage Pulsar Solar Titanium
Elliot Brown Tyneham
Stowa Verus Hand wind
Looking for a nice auto/hand wind Chrono to add. A few I like, but all out budget 🙁

£8000! I sold my Submariner about 5 years ago for £2000.

neilnevill

Member
Anybody got experience or views on Stowa or Laco? Flieger model A in particular.

Posted 2 weeks ago

Ive had an ikarus, and currently have a Verus Hand wind. Quality is excellent. Extremely pleased and would love to add more Stowa’s to my collection

So question to Rusty…
I have a Rolex, Panerai, Breitling, Bell & Ross, Omega and Oris. (Sorry for the willy waving, but I wanted to make a point)
My Oris was £1800, I paid £800 for it new / old stock. I generally only wear the Oris. What image would I be projecting or what re-assurance do I need when I wear my cheapest watch on a day to day basis?
Surely if I needed re-assuring I would wear my Rolex? Or if I wanted to project an image of myself as some sort of watch connoisseur then it would be the Panerai?
I do accept that all they do is tell the time, but the same can be said for most expensive things. People who drive a Range Rover, probably only need a Clio, who needs a Santa Cruz when a Boardman will do etc etc. (I drive a Berlingo and ride a Trek – they lose money as soon as used – my watches whilst not purchased as investments will retain most of their value (apart from the Bell & Ross and Breitling but in my defence they were gifts from the wife)
I’m also about to buy a Seiko Divers watch (SKX007J1), this will probably become my day to day watch. Does that say my image is I pretend to be a diver? (I’m not a diver, the deepest water the watch will see is the swimming pool on holiday)

I deliberately said there’s nothing wrong with it!
We all indulge ourselves to a certain degree with our choices.

As to what image you wish to project or how your watches make you feel, that’s a matter only you can answer.

I do accept that all they do is tell the time, but the same can be said for most expensive things. People who drive a Range Rover, probably only need a Clio, who needs a Santa Cruz when a Boardman will do etc etc. (I drive a Berlingo and ride a Trek – they lose money as soon as used – my watches whilst not purchased as investments will retain most of their value (apart from the Bell & Ross and Breitling but in my defence they were gifts from the wife)

I agree about the car/bike thing, a Range Rover is jewellery, a Berlingo is a tool.
I have a Doblo. I also have a nice Surly, which is a useful tool but also a beautiful thing to own.

I’m also about to buy a Seiko Divers watch (SKX007J1), this will probably become my day to day watch.

I like watches and love 007’s. the J1 happens to be my favourite too. 🙂 I’d absolutely love an Alpiniste, but they don’t make them anymore. I’ll probably not buy either and spend the money on a guitar instead. Choices, innit?

I wasn’t decrying other’s choices, merely pointing out something that seems to get overlooked by those who value image above all else.

Or if I wanted to project an image of myself as some sort of watch connoisseur then it would be the Panerai?

Everyone knows the only watch that does that is the Seiko 5 on a NATO.

Yeah I mean, how wearable is it everyday,

Absolutely fine. I wear mine because they are comfy, I like the way they look and most of them are not so expensive that I worry about wearing them (I do now make sure to take them of before sticking my hand down into an engine compartment, you have now idea how hard it is to get your watch off and your hand out when it gets stuck.)

Apparently 200m isn’t a lot when you factor in the momentary pressures associated with moving your hand in water.
People who actually dive wear wrist computers because they recalculate on the fly allowing you to stay down longer

The Hamilton is nice.
Try the turtle in for a while – cushion cases aren’t for everyone, I’m a bit torn on them.

I’m also about to buy a Seiko Divers watch (SKX007J1)

New or used? Rumours come every year that it is about to be discontinued but it seems it actually might be now.

Everyone knows the only watch that does that is the Seiko 5 on a NATO.

Result! 😉

bloke jewellery, yes it is. I’m cool with a Seiko or a casio or a Patek Phillipe, whatever works for you.

Glasses are bloke jewellery as well I suppose

I’m currently struggling to chose between these at the moment, Nato strap is currently the favourite: –
https://www.creationwatches.com/products/seiko-prospex-299/seiko-prospex-solar-divers-200m-sne441-sne441p1-sne441p-mens-watch-10422.html
https://www.creationwatches.com/products/seiko-mens-208/seiko-automatic-divers-200m-nato-strap-skx007j1-nato4-mens-watch-7362.html
https://www.creationwatches.com/products/seiko-divers-automatic-90/seiko-automatic-divers-japan-made-skx007-skx007j1-skx007j-200m-mens-watch-837.html

@w00dster 007 on a black nato. The rubber strap is horrible, you’ll end up swapping it out very quickly anyway. And personally, i don’t like that model of Prospex.

@wOOdster I’d go first option on a nato 🙂

Yeah I mean, how wearable is it everyday, y’know – when I’m not diving down to 200m which I do every weekend obvs. Is it the equivalent of buying an intense M1 to commute on because it looks great?

No. A Breitling with emergency beacon, yes. A watch like the Seiko is a tool watch, it’s simple, pretty hard-wearing and tells the time. There are watches with a whole shitload of supplementary dials and whatnot that are hugely expensive, and are so complicated and difficult to read that their function as a watch has become secondary to their function as a way of showing off your immense wealth and lack of taste.
I’ve been wearing my SPORK everyday for the last three weeks or so, having not worn it for months, and it’s like having an old friend back after a long absence, it’s so comfy to wear with the sharkskin mesh bracelet.
It’s nice to have a number of watches to swap around on a whim, the only one I don’t wear on a regular basis is my Yema, only because it’s now quite a valuable watch, and almost irreplaceable, at least at a price I could actually afford, and it’s got real sentimental value as well.
I might stop wearing the Seiko regularly, or at least to work, once the weather gets to shorts and tee temperatures, just because it’s more likely to get banged around and damaged, which I’d rather regret.

As the result of someone mentioning Vostoks etc earlier on, this just arrived today. I’m staying out of here now before it gets any more expensive!

I like that Vostok everyone. I am enjoying wearing my newly purchased Pobeda. I was surprised at the diminutive size of the dial compared to modern watches. Not being a deep sea diver or a pilot It does all I ask of a watch.

Yea I was really surprised at how small it is. I quite like it though makes a nice change from my Seiko 6309 (not that that’s particularly big!)

I definitely think watches got too large. I wear a 42mm but it took a long long time for me to decide i could pull it off before buying it. had they made a 40 I’d have had it. Having recently got a 36mm, which these days is called a unisex size, it is sooooo comfortable! I may have slimish wrists, but for everyday use big watches can be a pain and look a bit silly. 34, 36, 38, 40 are all good sizes for men in my mind.

40mm as a dress watch on my 8″ wrists looks about the right size, not too small not too big. 42-44mm for everyday wear. I don’t like the oversize look.

Nice vostok…

Sprocker if you are still looking how about a Schofield. A favourite brand of mine and British. They have a very cool bronze beater watch. If I knew how to post pictures of it I would!

I’ve been wearing this old, hammered, but just about dressy enough Vostok to work more than anything else lately, cost me a tenner, keeps pretty good time and looks OK on a cheap Milanese strap…

Good old soviets eh…

Looking at the omega seamaster 300, is there a big difference between the master and standard version. Price wise it’s a jump of £680

Link the 2 you mean, I’m not sure which. It maybe a movement tweak?

https://www.goldsmiths.co.uk/Omega-Seamaster-300M-41mm-Mens-Divers-Watch-Blue-Dial/p/17330823/?lsft=utm_content:shopping___adty__pla___prch__online___stco_____prid__17330823,utm_medium:cpc&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI_JjV16Ks4AIVhYXVCh2exQPcEAQYASABEgKlv_D_BwE

https://www.goldsmiths.co.uk/Omega-Seamaster-Diver-300-Co+Axial-Mens-Watch-O21030422001001/p/17331437/?lsft=utm_content:shopping___adty__pla___prch__online___stco_____prid__17331437,utm_medium:cpc&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI2cOzm6Os4AIVbwHTCh2c9gmiEAQYASABEgKGzvD_BwE

Hope I have managed that correctly can’t do anything on this forum since it changed

That Smiths Everest from Timefactors looks good for £330.

The black faced 210.30.42.20.01.001 Seamaster is the newer version with the Omega Master Chronometer Calibre 8800 movement, which is arguably one of the most advanced (mass-produced) movements on the market right now, competing with (and arguable beating) Rolex and the like. The blue dial version has the older version of this movement.

It also has the much lauded return of the wave pattern on the dial

Totally worth it to me, but you might not care about such things.

The other change is an overhaul to the He escape valve

I’d need to check the spec on the omega site but the 8800 in the black one is the latest version of the in-house movements designed ground up around the coaxial escapement that started with the 8500 in my PO. Awesome movement. Been around for about 8 years now. The blue one may have the previous movement, basically an ETA movement modified to put a coaxial escapement in. A solid movement, easier to deal with by repair guys, but not as good.

right I’m back. just managed to post the brief words before while commuting home on the bus, then phone battery died.

As plyphon says, the wave patter on the dial is a marmite thing. On the ‘original’ of this style seamaster, the one I bought recently, the brosnan bond one, the lines were printed (the indices were also printed not applied) and close together. lots liked the pattern, others thought it made the dial too busy, especially with the skeleton hands (nother marmite, many prefer the older/authentic sword hands). later models the dial goe clean again, now its wavey again. current dial is new tech, ceramic, laser cut the waves have depth. i read its good
this model discussed on hodinkee is a leap on agan with the case but the rest is the same
https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/omega-seamaster-diver-300m-ceramic-titanium-introducing
Anyway…dial is personal choice, you like it or not.

the He escape valve got overhauled….you aren’t doing diving in bells and full He/O2 atmosphere? no? ignore that then…just make sure its screwed down and check occassionally. the old one shouldn’t …but did leak water if it got unscrewed…the newer one shouldn’t even more.

the big change is the movement. I’m bias but as plyphon suggests, the 8500 movement is incredible, the 8800 is the latest version. the main points…coaxial escapement means it’ll live longer and needs far less services, silicon main spring and a few other bits make it quite resistant to magnetism. this is important, magnetism kills a lot of watches. I’d have to check the specs but I think the 8800 is far more resistant than the rolex milgaus and that was built specifically for the physicians at Cern. 8800 also has a ..err…80 hour power reserve. Now a standard ETA 2824, a good, very good but work horse movement, has a reserve of 38-40 hours. so you can take the watch off as you go to bed, not wear it the next day, pick it up the day after and put it on and its still going (just). a longer power reserve does little for you until its ~24 hours longer and then you can go the whole weekend with another watch. Guess what the 8500 got? yep, at 60 hours it makes the weekend. 80 hours? hmm it is likely not quite enough to do a bank holiday weekend…it needs another 5 or so, but its darn close. Now I can’t be bothered to check what movement the blue one has. it used to be an ETA 2824, then it got modified to get a coaxial escapement…still a darn good movement, solid, but not in the same league. I’d pay the extra, but if you like the blue one that is good too

Thanks for detailed responses I think will go for the latest movement in black, going to go and try one on along with a Tudor again and decide.

(the indices were also printed not applied) and close together.

The major indices 12 5,10 etc should be applied. Are you talking about the 1 second/minute markers?