Watches N+1…

Today is Oris day. Bought this a good few years ago, this was my daily beater. I don’t normally wear my watches so low down on my wrist, but for photo purposes it’s easier…

Oris TT1 Chrono, when I bought this they were selling for £1900 RRP, I went in to the shop to buy a Aquis, but this was reduced by 50% so decided to buy it. I had been looking at Oris for a while so had seen the RRP and thought it was just too much, but the sale price tempted me.

(Hopefully the pic is nicely out of focus)

My daily a quartz Seiko Chronograph on a cork strap.

Unfortunately quite scratched and chipped- a proper beater!

Nice watch ctk. Didn’t RAF issue ones like that at one point?

photo needs to be more out of focus mind you

Cheers Kato, don’t know about the RAF connection. Not sure if the first photo passes muster focus wise tbh 😂

Ah similar but not quite the same.  Like this

https://corrvintagewatches.com/product/1988-seiko-gen-1-british-military-raf-helicopterjet-pilot-chronograph-broadarrow-correct-military-issue-numbers-6645-99-7683056-first-gulf-war/

Didn’t RAF issue ones like that at one point?

Not that model. Purely a chrono, no WR and flat (easily scratched) glass. They were Navigator issue; they then used a cheaper Pulsar equivalent, that fell apart, particularly annoying when flying and the crown got lost in the cockpit,  leading to a loose article check and grounding of the aircraft. I think they were all recalled/withdrawn at that point.

No Idea if they issue a watch any more. Just getting basic flying clothing is hard enough!

photo needs to be more out of focus mind you

Now you’re just being deliberately mean.

ctk
Full Member

My daily a quartz Seiko Chronograph on a cork strap.

It’s unusually legible for a chrono, they’re usually a bit more compromised than that. Looks like an excellent choice for a daily.
I like the strap, I’ll have to have a hunt for some cork

So I’m still wearing my Seiko ‘King’ Samurai which I’ve just swapped to an Orange Rubber & Sailcloth style of strap…

I like it and I shall probably be swapping backwards and forwards between this and the original bracelet.

Rubber sail cloths for the win!  I would post a photo but I’m a cheap skate member so it’s trickier

Sorry, nothing new to show but finally off on proper hols with the family (Dorset was… complicated). I have in my bag: one diving mask, two pairs of fins (scuba and freedive), three Speedos and four watches. Possibly five pairs of pants but not sure.

Garmin its the top!

@gaidong – the Oris is probably my favourite out of those four.  A real “does what it says on the tin” type of watch – tells time, very legible, elegantly attractive without being fussy.

Which is good as I have the GMT version of the same watch.
Happiness is enjoying what you have.

@gaidong  Theres no chronograph, what are you going to do if you need a chrono on holiday? 😀

Whats the Reverso update? I note its not in the travelling watch box…..  you throw it overboard in disgust?

Hello from the plane. I didn’t have time to take the Reverso to Paris for a battery/service, otherwise it’d have taken the place of the Explorer or VC. Chrono…. I know but I am super picky and can’t afford what I like, Sinn 103 variant would make sense but they feel a bit… under par. I will be diving so a proper dive was a ‘necessity’, as my dive computer is 25 years old and needs a weird SL-750 battery, and more importantly, the Pelagos needs a proper diving photo. The Oris is my daily. I would wish it a couple of millimetres smaller in diameter, 41 or 42mm. I do miss a rotating bezel to fiddle with though. I could get all this with a Blancpain Bathyscape Complete Calendar but don’t like their handset, and it’s too pricey to beat on…

Damasko DC86/2 is a beast chrono with a gnarly bezel but nigh on impossible to try in advance of purchase, which I’m not doing again.

Oh well, the fun is in the hunt!

 I will be diving so a proper dive was a ‘necessity’,

I’d probably go diving in the old gold one – don’t want to risk damaging that nice Tudor by bashing it on a rock or something! 😜

@JAG

So I’m still wearing my Seiko ‘King’ Samurai which I’ve just swapped to an Orange Rubber & Sailcloth style of strap…

Like that sailcloth esque strap – do you recall where you got that ?

At Athens Airport now. Just tried the Tag Hauer ‘glassbox’, gorgeous but a tad small.  Fitted my son like a glove though, but he’s 15 so F that! Longines Zulu 42 is massive, wears bigger than my Oris Propilot 44. No Zulu 39s to try. Did fit my son up for a Tudor BB36 though, that is envisagable for his Bacc., so in three years… Now studiously avoiding the gyros sellers…

I like the strap, I’ll have to have a hunt for some cork

I like the strap also but I wouldn’t get another. Its a super thin layer of cork on leather and the cork is peeling away. Wasn’t cheap either @ £50ish

Yes I know thats cheap compared to some straps!  Here’s a pic

It’s arrived. Meets the brief, super light, not too big for my skinny wrists, easy to read, no batteries to change. And about 2/3rd or a bit less of RRP. Not a great photo but IRL it’s nicely finished for the price. I even like the strap. Mostly tho I like how light it is.

Very nice @Alex!

@Alex that’s very nice, looks much better on than it does in the promo shots.

Liking the Citizen @alex!

re sailcloth / rubber straps, I bought this to replace the leather strap of the same colour and design, it may be of interest and it’s very good – https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/275558506774?var=576608777976

Thanks all. really happy with it. Glad I’ve learned my lesson (finally) and stopped buying massive watches! (my fenix gets a pass tho).  I do like simple things done well. I expect tho I’ll be around 198m under the waterproofing limit 🙂

@Krtyon57 – those straps look good. Like to try one, once I’ve worked out how to remove this one!

What diameter is it Alex?

ctk
Full Member
I like the strap, I’ll have to have a hunt for some cork

I like the strap also but I wouldn’t get another. Its a super thin layer of cork on leather and the cork is peeling away. Wasn’t cheap either @ £50ish

Thanks for the tip, something to keep an eye on!

ctk
Full Member
Yes I know thats cheap compared to some straps!

Not mine…

@johnners 44mm according to Citizen web site. My Fenix is 47 I think and I have a Torgeon that is 46, but this feels a lot smaller than both of those.

As promised, here is my ‘what I can find in the drawer’ collection. Pretty much in order of purchase. The Tag I bought in Canada and wore loads until I broke it (long story), got it fixed, hardly wore it again. Couple of pre-smartwatch MTB cheapies, sold all my g-shocks when I bought a fenix 3.

The massive Timex has a compass! I still have the instructions. Bought off here many years ago. Never used for navigation, could almost hang it on a wall as a clock 😉

I forgot I had the Boccia. That’s another really nice light Ti watch. And the Animal Ti was one of my favs, properly beaten up but deserves a new battery. I’d wear both of those again.

As for the rest – not sure how many of them will ever get worn again (apart from the Fenix which is a brilliant MTB watch), but nothing worth selling. They occupy the same drawer as old phone chargers 😉

Seeing Alex’s collection made me venture into the “Room of Doom” to try and find my old Animal watches (I saw them 5 years ago when I moved house so they must be in there somewhere!). Found the Titanium one after about an hour. Movement all appears to be free so hopefully battery hasn’t melted and corroded everything. Where to get the battery replaced? Try somewhere local or send it to someone who knows what they’re doing? Also, can you still get Animal velcro straps?

@walowiz

Thank you – it was a £19.95 Ebay purchase. Here: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/275565251856?var=576638566452

@everyone-else I’m loving the watch show :o)

Where to get the battery replaced?

Our local hardware shop does that kind of thing or Timpsons, even DIY if you’ve got a way of getting the back off without damaging it. Little smear of Silicon grease on the O ring when you put it back on would be a good idea.

Our local hardware shop does that kind of thing or Timpsons, even DIY if you’ve got a way of getting the back off without damaging it. Little smear of Silicon grease on the O ring when you put it back on would be a good idea

Be nice to have it pressure tested after battery replacement in case I ever take up surfing again, I doubt Timpsons can do this.

Seems that they do… from their website.

Pressure testing – Every Timpson shop has a pressure tester to ensure your watch is water-resistant. Every watch battery replacement includes a pressure test as standard, but this is also available as a separate while-you-wait service.

I know some might get a bit sniffy about Timpsons, but I like them as a company, the blokes in are local one are great.

Oh that’s good to know, cheers. I’ve happily used them for other stuff 🙂

What’s in the (blurry) watch roll… 😀.  That’s the holiday watches sorted.  The Seiko and Glycine as dailies, the Fenix for my runs/walks and HIIT, and the GW6400 for jungle Safari’s and beachwear.

Timpsons will also sell you a lifetime replacement deal – I need to dig mine out and get a new battery in the same ti version as in Alex’s photo.

I picked mine up and the strap fell off! So it’ll be ‘total refurb’ then. I might even wipe the case down to see the scratches better 🙂

@kryton57 – I cannot imagine taking more than one watch anywhere! This thread has been an education! I’m not mocking at all, I just didn’t know it was a thing.

Still I did take 2 bikes on a family holiday once 🙂

Alex, I did occur to me that you’d mentioned you kept your watches in a drawer,  so as a now regular visitor to this thread it’s incumbent upon you to upgrade to a watch box for home and a watch roll for travelling*  😉

*its a hobby that keeps on giving

I have a working watch again! Pleasantly surprised that after at least 15 years sat doing nowt that the battery hadn’t leaked everywhere 🙂