Subscribe now and choose from over 30 free gifts worth up to £49 - Plus get £25 to spend in our shop
The trouble with a homage is you’ll wish it was the real thing every time you look at it.
I'm sure that must be true for some people. It's not true for me.
Rush into a homage purchase and that may be the case...I want a sub... Can't afford a sub...ooo a cheap lookalike, great! Followed by,. Hmm...I still want a sub. However, I want a sub, what is it about a sub I like? Research,ooo this homage gives what I like and Maybe more...I like this homage. That's possible too.
Buy a Steinhart, you won’t regret it.
neilnevill recommended the Ocean 39 ceramic when I was looking and I have no regrets, its lovely, beautifully made and under 400 quid!!
Rush into a homage purchase and that may be the case…I want a sub… Can’t afford a sub…ooo a cheap lookalike, great! Followed by,. Hmm…I still want a sub. However, I want a sub, what is it about a sub I like? Research,ooo this homage gives what I like and Maybe more…I like this homage. That’s possible too.
Are you in my house Neill? 😀
Mrs K caught me looking last night, she’s not happy.
neilnevill recommended the Ocean 39 ceramic when I was looking and I have no regrets, its lovely, beautifully made and under 400 quid!!
I must admit it’s swaying me away from the Ocean Red with its more simplistic look.
Always had an itch for an Omega, should be taking care of that soon.
In the mean time, I’ve been very satisfied with my ternion of Christopher Ward homages, and Seiko’s.
Once I work out how to post a pic from the iPad, I’ll do so.
Recently lost an old customised SKX007 daily beater, but have just sprung for one of the new range of successors, the SRPD63K1, muted Hulk style. Quite nice.
Just back from town and spent up nearly all of the money I got in Christmas cards from far away relatives.
https://imgur.com/gallery/MkFROw8
£34.99 fron Tkmaxx
[img] 
[/img]
Yep, it does look a bit tight, but it was packed flat rather than round a former, so it's just the leather trying to be straight. It'll look fine in an hour or two when it takes shape, next hole down and you could spin it on my wrist
[url= https://i.ibb.co/mJDqjMJ/B286463-A-8-EA6-4291-B984-2-C4-CAE2-F9748.jp g" target="_blank">https://i.ibb.co/mJDqjMJ/B286463-A-8-EA6-4291-B984-2-C4-CAE2-F9748.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= https://i.ibb.co/W6x6dN5/AE44-CDB0-6566-49-B2-A82-F-E82004499-E0-C.jp g" target="_blank">https://i.ibb.co/W6x6dN5/AE44-CDB0-6566-49-B2-A82-F-E82004499-E0-C.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= https://i.ibb.co/TmGzX1v/E29538-C2-93-AB-42-C4-BA28-13-D16-E76-FA3-A.jp g" target="_blank">https://i.ibb.co/TmGzX1v/E29538-C2-93-AB-42-C4-BA28-13-D16-E76-FA3-A.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
Then these oldies which I tinker with occasionally.
[url= https://i.ibb.co/sHhGzJX/37-B2-A007-14-AD-438-F-9168-5-E2-BB9-F70-D03.jp g" target="_blank">https://i.ibb.co/sHhGzJX/37-B2-A007-14-AD-438-F-9168-5-E2-BB9-F70-D03.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
Right, so as mentioned above I was looking for something with big numbers, won a Big Zero today on the Bay, and would like a nice 18mm NATO for it. Where to go for a good un?
I've had good ones from:
mksnatostraps.com
Georgesstraps.
Stratosphere have some really nice NATOs which are a bit different.
Excellent cheers. Bought a couple to see which one looks best
It arrived:
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49418363393_a8290944a4_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49418363393_a8290944a4_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2ihW2Ja ]2020-01-21_11-13-08[/url]
I'm pretty happy. 6 days HK to UK, its light and sit low on my wrist, nice leather strap with deployment class and looks good (IMO). The stitching on the strap is ivory to match the face not white which I think is nice touch.
Please to own a mechanical hand wind chrono.
Looks good, very classy! Is the strap a Hirsch one, by any chance? That’s what I’ve got on my Rallygraf, but with red stitching, which is an almost exact match to the red detail on the face. I really like having a deployment clasp on a leather strap, so much easier to take on and off.
This is the type of strap I’m going to have a go at for the Heimdallr that’s on its way. Dead easy to make, I’ve got some undyed tanned leather kicking around, along with some Sam Browne brass studs of various sizes, so it’s just doing a card mockup to get length and hole spacing sorted, I think I might get some dark blue dye, rather than black or brown.
Anyone have a recommendation where to get a movement upgrade to my SKX007 done? I can't easily find a 7S26 for a direct swap and the local bloke has told me it's not economical to repair the broken one.
Anyone have a recommendation where to get a movement upgrade to my SKX007 done? I can’t easily find a 7S26 for a direct swap and the local bloke has told me it’s not economical to repair the broken one.
You could try it yourself. I havent switched movements on a Seiko but have done it on a Russian watch before. There are videos of people changing movements on Seiko SKX's. Jody on Just One More Watch does it. He changes the movement to an NH36. You can pick up a general watch tool kit for around £20 and 'supposedly' an NH36 movement for around £30 from ebay.
Anyone have a recommendation where to get a movement upgrade to my SKX007 done? I can’t easily find a 7S26 for a direct swap
Your local bloke could surely quote for it, it's pretty straightforward, pulling and refitting the hands and (maybe) cutting the winder are about the only fiddly bits.
Failing that you could try This guy on ebay - I found him while looking for someone to swap out the 7s26 on my SKX779, but haven't got around to it yet.
You could try it yourself.
I've watched some of the YouTube videos, am tempted, but once I've bought the tools on top of the movement, stem and crown I suspect it'll not be much difference in price. Then I might break something, then the date wheel might not be the right one, (because apparently the A movement is a bit different from the B and C).....
If I supply the bits to the local bloke and they are wrong, that's more issue, plus I don't think he's the type to go on YouTube and research how to do it.
I'd seen the eBay bloke Jonners, that's looking favorite so far.
Cheers all.
very classy
Its slightly annoying that it looks better with a suit / shirt sleeve.
I've just bought one of these on Amazon:
NH36A Movement
It arrived from China the other day and it functions (i.e. it ticks...). The rotor isn't branded Seiko so I assume it's a Chinese clone. I'm waiting to speak to my local watch guy to find out how much he'll charge to change it over.
If it's too much I'll be watching YouTube again and getting some tools in.
As mentioned Just One More Watch on YouTube goes through it step by step and there are some good videos by LumeShot on how to take an SKX apart and replace different parts...
I’d seen the eBay bloke Jonners, that’s looking favorite so far
It looks like a reasonable enough price, given that he supplies the movement, and he has been on there a while. Let us know how you get on!
The rotor isn’t branded Seiko so I assume it’s a Chinese clone
Seiko don't brand their aftermarket movements since they're for non-Seiko use, that looks exactly like the stock Seiko NH35 rotor except it's missing the country of manufacture above the pivot. Kaemma stated as manufacturer might be more of a clue though.
Quite liking these...
[url= https://i.ibb.co/yP8vLZ1/20200123-103828.jp g" target="_blank">https://i.ibb.co/yP8vLZ1/20200123-103828.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
And this one from One Second Closer is floating my boat!
[url= https://i.ibb.co/pdk3LqN/20200123-103933.jp g" target="_blank">https://i.ibb.co/pdk3LqN/20200123-103933.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
And this one from One Second Closer is floating my boat!
It must be a big boat, that looks huge! Bit off-putting how that bloke's shaved his arm and hand too. The Seikos are nice enough in their Seiko-ish way but I've never been keen on PVD finishes.
Haha, I noticed the shave too!
Just thought I'd share my 60th birthday present to myself. I looked at a fair few with the Tudor Pelagos being the front runner for a while, but it just looked a bit big on my 17.5cm wrist. And as I already have a 42mm dive watch I thought something a bit smaller. I'd have liked to try on Black Bay 58 but couldn't find one in stock anywhere. Then I saw a Rado Captain Cook, again the 42mm seemed just a bit big but I managed to find a ltd edition 37mm and that's what I got 😁
[url= https://i.postimg.cc/1t2XKVcR/20200125-120508.jp g" target="_blank">https://i.postimg.cc/1t2XKVcR/20200125-120508.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
very nice looking watch, enjoy!
I just looked it up, that is lovely the Rado! I confess to dismissing Rado as nt much more than a fashion brand...wrongly. there's a great green option, a blue option, lovely domed sapphire crystal, ceramic bezel, damed and sunburst dial and good movement shared with Tissot, a modified ETA 2824-2 that has 80 hr power reserve! not sure exactly how its modified...slower beat of 3.5Hz will help but does it have a second barrel too? very very nice
Currently in Berlington Arcade. Shop at end is lovely, really nice old stock but £££££. Tried on an Omega Ranchero. 8.8k,oh my.
Will upload a pic or two when I learn how to.
The trouble with a homage is you’ll wish it was the real thing every time you look at it.
I've little interest in spending on watches- I'd typically wear a Casio F-91W but started a new job and wanted something more professional-looking for a 45yo.
Then I stumbled on Just One More Watch.
I spent £42-47 in the Ali sale on
Loreo Submariner, black with red highlight;
Loreo Daytona, pale blue;
Parnis Daytona, white.
All are lovely for the money and I enjoy looking at the time, no quality issues (well, the Parnis bracelet buckle is a poor design). And I never look at them wishing I'd spent £1,000s on a Rolex, which would be utterly beautiful but I simply wouldn't get the utility/vaue from it (even if it were a tenth of the price)
I was also on Ali express after watching JOMW today, after he recommended a Pagani for $74 above all others.
I the decided I already had a sub alike in my sea urchin, so maybe I should just add a bracelet to it. The bracelet costs more than the Pagani....
But then I found a Baby Turtle on a bracelet. If only it was Sapphire, sigh...
I really like that Rado. Tried one on in Amsterdam this summer, one to look out for second hand I think!
that's just what I was thinking,vi suspect you take a bath buying them new.
that’s just what I was thinking,vi suspect you take a bath buying them new.
Apart from a some Rolexes and Omegas, that's generally the case isn't it?
What a bonus today. Was having a clear out and stumbled across my old SKX009J which I thought I had long since lost!
The bezel and insert have a ding in them, so ordered new from Dagaz watches. Hopefully shipping doesn't take too long.
I like that Rado, and it's a brand I have never really liked as a rule. Looks good.
Nothing special, but my TomTom Spark gave up last week so upgraded to this:
[img] 
[/img]
[img] 
[/img]
Far to much functionality for me but gadgets innit 😁
I the decided I already had a sub alike in my sea urchin
You think? Not that similar IMO, starting with 42mm instead of 40, no Mercedes hands, a raised minute track and what I'd regard as a very different case shape. C'mon man, just drop the £60-odd quid on the Pagani (or other Chinese lookalike) FFS and if you're appalled by it when it arrives shove it on ebay and you'll probably end up £20 down on the deal at worst.
I like that Rado, it's a classic design and really suits the smaller size.
tthew, yes and no. very few watches hold their rrp or what you can get if you hunt a good discount, (rolex, Patek and such are the oddballs and that's only on some models). However some brands do worse than others. I've been reading various bits about the rado captain cook this evening though, it seems well received.
Have to agree with the comments about the Rado not holding its RRP value. But I very rarely sell watches, I buy one's I like and tend to keep them. I still have a Heur 2000 I bought in the early 80's. I'll wear it as it should be worn, and enjoy it. My son can worry about value if he wants to sell it when I'm gone 😉
Quite right taxi25! You wear it and enjoy it, and don't listen to idiots like me. 😁 Jelousy you see.
I’m really not sure what I think about this - Seiko have released a 5 Series tribute watch to Queen’s Brian May and his homemade Red Special guitar. 9000 run, and £500!
That’s a lot of money for a 5 Series, which no longer has dive watch classification.
https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/watches/article/seiko-5-sports-watch-brian-may
But I very rarely sell watches, I buy one’s I like and tend to keep them. I still have a Heur 2000 I bought in the early 80’s. I’ll wear it as it should be worn, and enjoy it. My son can worry about value if he wants to sell it when I’m gone
Agree, I’ve never sold a watch, I’m a bit of a magpie and hold onto stuff, so any appreciation in value of any watches I own is wonderful, but it’s purely academic because I’ve no plan to sell any, they’re mine, I like them, and I’d only feel a deep sense of regret if I did part with them. I don’t wear the valuable ones much now, certainly not to work, that’s what the Heimdallr’s are for!
Speaking of which, the new one has passed through UK customs at Heathrow and is with Royal Mail, on its way to Swindon, then on to me in Chippenham, so I’ll probably have it a bit later this week. 😎
It’s now in Swindon. 😁
That BM Seiko 5 is hilarious 🤩
I’m really not sure what I think about this – Seiko have released a 5 Series tribute watch to Queen’s Brian May and his homemade Red Special guitar. 9000 run, and £500!
The whole 5 Sports series launched last year was Seiko's attempt to widen their appeal as a fashion brand, there's a lot of money in that part of the market. The price hike in the 5 Sports range is galling if you view them (as I confess I do to an extent) as a down-specced SKX in fancy dress. But to someone new to Seiko who doesn't know you could until recently get a lot more watch for less money they're an attractive offering. I think that Brian May thing is ridiculously overpriced but Seiko have a history of doing OK with their limited editions.
I’ve never sold a watch, I’m a bit of a magpie and hold onto stuff
Same here, though I'm firmly at the budget end of the market where what I'd realise from a sale wouldn't be worth the hassle in most cases. Speaking of budget, and inspired by one of Jody's recent videos I've speculated £7.98 on one of SKMEI's Casio lookalikes. Not quite sure what Casio it's supposed to be but it's got big writing on the front saying it's "SLOAR POWERED" so I'll be looking to get my hands on some SLOARs when it arrives!
Speaking of which, the new one has passed through UK customs
Sorry CZ but I forget - was this the 62mas?
Sloar. That's awesome! 
As some have said above I've also never sold a watch, I've got a 1947 Omega sub second I'll never let go of but after having a couple of months off recovering from a hernia op and being self employed, the coffers are looking somewhat light, so I'm going to let my Tudor Ranger go, which saddens me greatly, pretty much the perfect every day watch for me too, grrr.
The back story behind the Brian May is that he’s always worn a Seiko since 1970 something. It comes in a miniature music instrument looking tour case with a commemorative six pence, which May uses as a pick.
I agree, buy watches to enjoy. only watch I've sold is the sub i bought last year, bought purely with the intention of flipping on for a few quid before christmas. I don't buy/own many watches, it was just one until last year, but 3 now, all regularly worn
the rado, it doesn't have a screw down crown!? that seems a flaw to me.
Sorry CZ but I forget – was this the 62mas?
It’s the SKX007/MM300 ‘sharkey’...
It’s what I was planning on converting an SKX007 to, then getting a Tiger shroud fitted, but the cost started to escalate, so when I discovered this watch, I abandoned the Seiko project, and ordered one of these, it’s got pretty much all I wanted, including an updated hackable movement.
Then the order got cancelled because they had run out of stock, so I bought the Tuna homage I’m wearing now.
But the lure of the MM300 just wouldn’t die, and when I found it was back in stock, magically my finger just, sort of, pressed buy me.
Just checked again, it’s been dispatched to Chippenham, so it may even arrive tomorrow! Whoop! 😬
It’s what I was planning on converting an SKX007
Don't worry about that dude, I'm all over mod'ing your SKX. NH36, stem and crown ordered, and the tools to do the work myself. What could possibly go wrong?
I spotted a discounted Seiko 55 fathoms yesterday. Am sorely tempted. Yet, those Heimdallr with Sapphire, AR and the NH36 look a great package.
It’s the SKX007/MM300 ‘sharkey’
Ah right, I forgot you were diverted Tuna-wards from your original Heimdallr 007.
I’m all over mod’ing your SKX. NH36, stem and crown ordered, and the tools to do the work myself
I'm disappointed*, I was counting on you to vet that ebay movement swapping dude! Mind you, I've been using my 779 for daily wear over the past week and the timekeeping's improved a fair bit in use so maybe it's not as in need of a service as I thought. It's now running at +21s per day from its initial +40 - not great, but well in spec for a (17 year old) 7s26.
*not really, be sure to let us know how you get on!
Oops, I've just taken a speculative punt on an old 4205 from fleabay to have a play at 'restoration', I'm now debating the virtues of original parts and 'patina' vs modz galore and whether to try and coax an old movement into reliability (potentially 30+ years old?) or just bunging a new one in...
Will report back once it's all (inevitably) gone tits up 🙂
Thought this was the best place to ask - I have a Seiko 5, about 6 years old. I don´t wear it every day so it often winds down. Once restarted, it can gain 5 mins a day (seems always to gain, never seen it run slow). It's easy enough to adjust but that's not normal, right?
Once restarted, it can gain 5 mins a day (seems always to gain, never seen it run slow). It’s easy enough to adjust but that’s not normal, right?
It's pretty poor for a 7S26 and well outside Seiko's pretty undemanding -20 to +40 seconds per day specified accuracy. Have you actually measured it over time though? Since you can't hand wind it you'll have to be using it or doing something to keep it more or less fully wound over a week or more to get a real idea of its performance, it won't be performing at its best if it's nearly run down much of the time. Use something like the Watchcheck app and take a daily reading over at least a week to get a better idea of consistent performance. I wouldn't adjust it before doing that.
Haven't measured but it's well out, five mins is probably underestimated as I've usually changed the time whenever I noticed it's off.
Didn't used to be bad at all. However I only wear a watch for work and I often run in these days so I'm wearing a Garmin and the Seiko gets a day or two's use per week.
I adjusted it once and it was blob-on first shot, but I think I got lucky!
I adjusted it once and it was blob-on first shot, but I think I got lucky!
You shouldn't need to adjust a mechanical watch repeatedly, and if it's gone from "blob-on" (I'm assuming that's good!) to +5 mins/day then I'd suspect it's had a whack or something quite drastic.
I adjusted it once and it was blob-on first shot, but I think I got lucky!
Yes!
Since you can’t hand wind it
Not by the crown, no. Hold it face up in your hand and swing it in a small arc (a bit like you are throwing a frisbee only smaller). A couple of minutes of that a day or day and a half should keep in going. Wearing it will give a much better idea of how it's running because of position differences.
That kind of change is often something like becoming magnetised.
May have had a whack, not ruling that out - just wondered if infrequently-worn automatics suffer from fast running. Can't see why they should, or why they'd be worse than hand-wound.
Damn this thread. Always liked the Mondaine Swiss Railway Watch and after checking in on this thread I thought “sod it” and bought one. £160 on a watch I didn’t need but heck, hardly a life changing sum.
Not a dive watch, but a design I’d like to own.
Utterly pissed of with Rolex
Am now looking for a Seiko SARB 017 Alpinist. 🙂
They can stick their 10k watch up their arse.
@tthew did you buy the NH36 off the bay?
I have pretty much everything here to get modding (just waiting on a Dagaz bezel insert). New hands, chapter ring, bezel and crystal. I suppose I'd be as well doing the movement and crown/stem at the same time. I'm going to end up with triggers broom!
Yes, from eBay, this is the one I bought and here is the crown and stem. From separate shops, I didn't see a combination of good prices for both from a single source. Got a ruck of cheap tools too, not normally a fan of cheap when it comes to tools but I hope not to be using them too often.
You're doing quite the job! I might do a ceramic bezel insert and sapphire crystal in future, but they'll definitely ape the original design rather than change the look so I may as well wait until they are looking a bit worn.
I'd get the Seiko BM watch.
I have a Seiko from the 80s and it works, also he will become leader of the known universe in time.
Oh and Kryton57 good to see you've stopped buying stuff you don't need 😄
Cheers tthew. That's the same sellers that I was looking at. Will purchase soon.
penguinni - I had a Nite diver a few years ago (was given it as a Corporate gift). It wasn't waterproof and it ended up full of condensation. Admittedly Nite were first class in dealing with it, but a non waterproof diver was a bit of a worry.
Well my Seiko 5 gained 7 mins in 24h so I´ll adjust it and try to keep it running to see if itˋs more accurate like that.
While it was on the naughty step, my new (to me) Big Zero arrived. Other than some light scratching on the bezel it's in very good nick, no brass showing, acrylic dome is clean, milled corners are sharp etc, so it may be a bit of a Trigger's broom.
I wasn't that fussed about getting a 100% original one (saw a NOS in packet but it was closer to 200€) but the various parts seem to be correct to the original, ie no funky hands.
If the pics work, maybe someone on here knows. Pleased with it either way.
There was a bit of a back story to the comically big numbers which is a page or two back on here. Just tried using Dadˋs glasses and I don't think he would have been able to tell the time on this either!
Seiko for size comparison (and showing the time it gained)
The Sharkey MM300 arrived on Monday! Not wearing it yet, the supplied steel bracelet is waaaaaay too long for my skinny little wrists, it’ll need four links removed at least, and I don’t have the specialist tools, and tbh I’m not too keen on the segmented bracelets, I can never get the fit just right. I’m not going to make a leather strap, when I took the steel bracelet off, the way the spring bars are set in the pillars leaves a smaller gap between the pillar and case than other watches, in fact a bit too narrow to fit the heavyweight ZULU Diver straps I have, so I’ve ordered a classic NATO James Bond strap, the three-colour dark blue/olive green/red style, but with matching nylon keepers instead of the alloy ones on later straps. Like the one in the photo above, in fact.
I’ve also found a rather tasty seatbelt weave NATO in blacks with thin scarlet edges, so I’ve got a couple of nice options to play with now.
Lovely watch, really well finished, the fit between the bracelet ends and the case is very fine, a friction fit, and it looks a lot more expensive than it actually is.
Should have one or both straps by the end of the week, so I’ll stick some photos up once it’s wearable.
Dead chuffed with it though.
That Big Zero is really nice. I like. A nice personal little back story too.
@brads ?? What steel sports watch are you after and unable to get on a wait list for then?
Just taken some photos with the bracelet off, and the bracelet itself.
The bracelet is easily as good quality as the one fitted to my SPORK, but I just don’t really get on with heavy bracelets like those, they’re just a bit too rigid, and either too tight or too loose, sadly.
Hey Neil
I gave them a choice of Daytona, GMT or Explorer 2.!
Bottom line is there is no waiting list it's a fallacy.
You spend loads with them or you are lucky, pure and simple.
Spending nearly 20k with them is obviously not enough. I refuse to pay the stupid prices that are created by Rolex themselves.
Buying a Seiko SARB 017 instead lol, el cheapo but gorgeous.
Buying a Seiko SARB 017 instead lol, el cheapo but gorgeous
My Alpinist is probably the most expensive watch I own.