Watches N+1…

Love that Ranger Kato, always wanted one but a little out of my price range.

Just picked up a Hamilton Khaki Field Auto, came on a bracelet but stuck it on a leather strap 🙂 –

Blazzin, I can’t remember which po the 2201.50 is.   Do you want to describe it?  Mine is the 42mm, second generation,  which was the first with the all new movement and display case back. The display case added alot to the thickness vs the generation 1 po, but I have always found it OK.  Your wrist is much bigger then my 18cm.

@craig24, I love that watch.

I got this for my daughter’s Xmas. A pseudo Murph to match my Coop as we loved the film so much.

Neil – It’s the 1st gen, with the 8500 and solid caseback. It’s a 2012 and supposedly has the 8500D, but no official confirmation of that, which is a bit of a worry as I’ve read about problems with the earlier movement. The asking price is a little high atm, as without history, I’m automatically assuming it’s going to need a service sooner, rather than later.

@nickfrog I wasn’t aware of just how nice some Hamilton models were until I watched the film and started looking into them. Great watches for the money.

^ true Craig. Same here. I wasn’t even into watches anymore having sold my 2 Rolexes 20 years ago as I thought they looked vulgar lol

I got this new for £275 a few weeks ago too.

(the strap has now shaped itself properly around my wrist btw).

Ah gotcha blazzin.   Yes some of that movement had trouble…iirc it was before they realised the coaxial escapement doesn’t run well at 8bps (it is slowed to 7bps in the later movements) and some just stopped.   On the plus side it’s thinner and easier to where. The other visual difference is the much thicker silver ring around the inner edge of the bezel.  To me that males the dial look a different size,  more then the 0.5mm case size would  (it’s 41.5mm vs 42mm)

Craig24 that Hamilton looks absolutely lush – great watch!

Just picked up a Hamilton Khaki Field Auto

That’s rather nice, some of the Hamilton watches just look so right. Though nickfrog’s pic reminds me that some of them don’t.*

*Sorry nick, purely subjective I know!

Yes sure totally subjective.

As subjective as calling your comment unnecessary I suppose.

@nickfrog – I like it.

Are the number indices printed on the underside of the crystal? The 6 looks like it on the photo, the 12 not so much.

No but it does overlap the seconds dial.

Cheers. ElShalimo.

@nickfrog lovely watch, looks like you got a great deal.

As subjective as calling your comment unnecessary I suppose

I’m sorry, i genuinely didn’t think you’d actually take offence at such a mild comment. TBF though, my opinion’s no more unnecessary than the subsequent ones liking the watch and you’re clearly ok with them.

Hang around long enough and I’m sure I’ll post a picture of one of my inexplicable watch choices you can lay into.

PSA- for those on a tighter budget, Baltany do a very Hamilton field watch for less than £200. The crown is screw down (not in this pic) and it’s an automatic. This is shown with a Hirsch strap I fitted. It has good lume and sapphire crystal. Case dia. 39mm.

Looking for some beginner watch collection advice for my 15yr old son. He’s recently shown interest starting a mini collection. He already owns an Armani AR5855. Problem is neither myself or him have much disposable money so he’d need to save his pocket money and/or wait for birthday or Xmas to have one as a gift. Other than just buying what he thinks looks nice do you lovely folks have any suggestions (new or used) for what he could look for to begin his collection, preferably under £300. Thanks in advance.

I’m sorry, i genuinely didn’t think you’d actually take offence at such a mild comment.

I didn’t. I didn’t think you would either though.

I wasn’t even into watches anymore having sold my 2 Rolexes 20 years ago as I thought they looked vulgar lol

Not as vulgar as the prices they go for these days!

Problem is neither myself or him have much disposable money so he’d need to save his pocket money and/or wait for birthday or Xmas to have one as a gift.

Honestly, those are the best watches, because they have a real history and meaning for the owner, rather than just scratching the acquisition itch. That’s why I spent £460-odd on having my Yema RallyGraf Super repaired and serviced, when I only paid £50 for it. It was my first ‘grown up’ watch, bought with my own money, a mixture of earned money and birthday/Christmas gifts. I was earning less than £10/week in the early 70’s when I bought it.
Choose wisely, that watch should be wearable for the rest of his life, something like one of those Hamilton field watches would be my choice – a lovely clear dial, and a movement that should be a good, reliable workhorse.

@stuhawk – it’s so difficult to recommend a watch to someone as we all have different tastes. It may be worth you having a look on YouTube at a hand of videos on watches sub $500 dollars. Maybe take a note of the ones you and your son like the look of. We can then give you some feedback and offer some advice or similar recommendations.

We also have our own favourite brands, I’m a fan of Nite Watches, others prefer their Seiko’s.

And Kryton purchased a nice watch recently, on page 239 I think. From the below…

ALL WATCHES

@stuhawk use eBay and also watch forums like tz-uk and pick up the preowned.  There are plenty of older seiko with cult status that still aren’t over budget.  Or there’s plenty of homage brands doing super watches in budget.  Then there’s older brands,  with a bit of patience and luck,  combined with research, he could pick up a good quality older watch from a brand less commonly known these days. There’s plenty to enjoy and learn at a more reasonable budget

Quite excited to have this on the way. Perpetual calendar, GMT complication, titanium body, quartz movement, comes boxed and not too big. From 2006.

yeah that Seiko GMT is nice. For some reason I really like the thought of the GMT movement, I have three watches with it. I travel all over Europe, US and Aus with work…and have never actually used the GMT function…..I just use my phone! (My laziness I know!)

Always a fancied a GMT – travel quite a bit too, usually take a watch and always reset it to local time when I’m underway. I think the process will be much the same so hope to use it; just a bit easier with the jumping hour hand. Red dial stays at home time so I don’t call my wife at 2 am (solution to a problem that never existed ?). Probably have to remember to take it off for a swim.

Question for the accumulated wisdom here. I have an original 2500-series Omega Aqua Terra (this one), which I’ve recently started wearing more. The bracelet is decent, but has no micro-adjustment, so my choices are to wear it just too tight or rattlingly loose.

Has anyone come across or heard of a solution that adds micro-adjustment – whether some after-market flip link, another clasp or any such?

Cheers

@stuhawk I paid £300 for my Hamilton Khaki Field Auto 38mm, used from eBay, in great condition. I don’t think you will get a better watch for the money personally.

@nicko74 could you purchase an extra half link? Like this –

Double Half Link Aqua Terra Bracelet | Omega Watch Forums

Or if there is space on the clasp, have a watch maker drill some micro adjustment holes?

@craig24 – that’s a really useful link, thanks! Between the spare whole and half links I have, I may be able to get a better fit.

Sadly the clasp on this original AT is dross, and really has no way to add micro-adjustment holes. I think back in the day I saw some people putting a Seamaster clasp onto it, but can’t now find those threads.