Watches N+1...

@Futureboy77

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 😄

Im tempted by one of these

https://imgur.com/Q9S29Tq

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.

Yep Rolex continues to be weird. Umm surprised a spend history like that doesn't get a watch though, I thought explorersc were still available after a shortish wait. Of dear

@countzero did it come with that text or did you specify it? And how quick was the delivery time?

Johnners

Yeh sorry about that , that made me sound like a right ****er.
The Alpinist is not a cheap watch really, but is amazing value when you hold it up against watches over 10 times the price.

Dear watch experts, does anyone have views/own the
q timex reissue? I appreciate that this is more budget than most discussed here.

I know nothing about anything but what I can gather it is probably overpriced / underspeced. However, it just speaks to me, which I guess is a good reason to own one.

The only other I know of that is budget and is broadly similar-ish is a
Seiko SKX009K2 but 42mm is probably too big for my 40mm max child-sized wrist

Or maybe I should get a Vostok Amphibia and tinker with that for fun. Maybe that is a separate question.

I quite like the Timex, and to be frank it's a more individual choice than an SKX. You could get an Amphibia too, second hand ones are buttons on eBay.

Johnners

Yeh sorry about that , that made me sound like a right ****.

Not at all brads, I should have included a smiley to make my post a little less forlorn sounding! The SARB017 is a nice watch for sure, but tbh I'd prefer it without the second crown unbalancing the look. After all, it's not as if the manual compass bezel is a genuinely useful feature, it just adds the illusion of precision to a pretty rough and ready way of finding North.

does anyone have views/own the
q timex reissue?

I like it, it's got a real 70s vibe to it but I'd say you're right about it maybe being overpriced and underspecced. There's nothing quite like it though and if it still speaks to you even knowing it's not big on absolute value then I say crack on.

Dear watch experts, does anyone have views/own the q timex reissue?

I have to say, it's not my cup of tea but that's more on how it looks than any spec or value issues. For me, the SKX is a much better spec and a better looking watch, but the latter is clearly personal preference.

The Seiko is much better and nicer but it is too big for me. I still think the Timex is overpriced. So I've just ordered a Vostok Amphibian Scuba Dude for £50 for a laugh and a bit of 1970's-esk uglyness

Don't diss the Vostocks jamiep, my Komandirskie has been doing stirling service as a daily beater while the Seiko is broken! 😁

Dasvidaniya.

My Citizen Eco-drive diver is playing up. It's just under a year old.

Has anyone got any happy stories dealing with Citizen customer services?

I treated the Speedmaster to a new bracelet today -

It's an 1173 with 633 end links as fitted to Speedmaster's from the early 70's but still produced today. It certainly feels like a product from the early 70's with folded end and centre links so pretty lightweight and plenty of jangle, but much more comfortable than the chunky modern offering which I couldn't get on with.

Where did you get the bracelet Fudd? I'm considering something for my Aqua Terra (the clasp on the original AT is flimsy and pretty shonky), but didn't know where to look

My local Omega AD. It probably helps if you're wearing the watch you want the new bracelet for when enquiring.

@countzero did it come with that text or did you specify it? And how quick was the delivery time?

Hi, I ordered it on the 11th, it was delivered on Monday morning, so sixteen days, which isn’t bad from China.
The engraving on the case-back is standard, my Tuna has the same engraving.
Both my new nylon straps arrived today, the seatbelt weave one is still a bit too thick to fit through the space on the MM300, the WatchGecko Vintage Bond fits perfectly, the Seatbelt one goes really well with the Tuna, looks better than the orange Diver ZULU that I’d fitted, but that was only because I don’t like the rubber strap supplied, and it was the only 22mm nylon strap I had available.
I’ll take a couple of photos later.

Seiko SARB 017

Couldn’t think what that was like, so just did a quick image search. That’s a really stylish watch, smart enough to be a dress watch, while still ‘sporty’.
The hands are lovely. Honestly, I’d take one of those over a Rolex any day.

Dear watch experts, does anyone have views/own the q timex reissue?

They're doing what lots of mainstream watch manufacturers with a bit of a history are doing these days and playing on people's nostalgia for their old products, I have to say I quite like the idea, and if you're not a quartz snob they're quite a practical choice. I do think the reissues are a tad pricey for what they are, but it simply prompted me to go looking for the originals, which can still be found in running condition for more affordable prices...

If it appeals and you can afford it, how can it possibly be wrong?

On the subject of Seiko, I've realised my sumo runs fast as it winds down....or it runs fast while sat on the bedside drawers at least, could be an orientation thing, but does seem to go faster if off for a day or 2. I've been wearing the pelagos and sumo in rotation but sumo much less. both have 70 hr power reserve so can sit for a couple of days and still be running. doing this the sumo seems to be average only about -1 sec/day more than the pelagos (which runs about -1 or -1.5). seems weird to me that it rns faster as it loses power but well, wearing like this, or with my PO in a 3 watch rotation (also 60 hr reserve and goes 2 days sat) it can be pretty accurate

My "vintage" (old) seiko 4205 just turned up:

I was expecting it to be dead but its a runner, and after a quick winding it's been keeping pretty good time for the last four hours.

Needs general cosmetic work, I think I'll keep the hands and dial as they seem to be nicely faded originals but I will probably change the movement just for peace of mind...

I have to say its a more comfortable weight and shape to wear than my slightly bulkier amphibia, comparison:

Here’s the MM300 and the Tuna with their new straps fitted:

I think I’ll keep the MM300 for evenings/weekends and the Tuna for work; the shroud gives the Tuna a lot more protection when banging around in cars all day.

They look nice.

Anyone have an opinion on the Spinniker Fluess?   A bit like a BlancPain 50 fathoms with modern reliable bits...

https://www.spinnaker-watches.com/collections/fleuss/products/sp-5055-44

I'm trying to decide between that and a an RLG Odyssea as a day to day watch.  I like the RLG in tune blue fade and the fact it comes also with a tropical strap:

https://www.richardlegrand.com/product-page/odyssea-mark-iii-oceanfarer-fume-blue

@cookeaa It definitely looks like it's seem some use but I like it like that. The dial looks like a very dark olive green, is it like that in life or just a quirk of the photo? I don't think I've seen that asymmetric design on a NATO before, where's it from?

I think I’ll keep the MM300 for evenings/weekends and the Tuna for work; the shroud gives the Tuna a lot more protection when banging around in cars all day

TBH my money would be on the Tuna vs a car any day, it's a beast of a thing.

It definitely looks like it’s seem some use but I like it like that.

Me too, I find myself sort of liking the look of something with some mileage, depending on how I get on with this one I might source another one at a later date and try out aftermarket dials/hands/bezel inserts just to see how a sharper looking one contrasts, but that's for later.

The dial looks like a very dark olive green, is it like that in life or just a quirk of the photo?

Quirk I expect, it's dark blue almost black, the lume has faded to the point that it's a sort of salmon pink, hand lume is faded but not the same so it's still a light green.

I don’t think I’ve seen that asymmetric design on a NATO before, where’s it from?

I'm not entirely sure where I got it (probably ebay or aliexpress), it's a cheapy single pass job (it's actually a tad short even for my girly wrists, so I am thinking I might get a seatbelt job from Georges, they apparently also do those as single pass too to help keep the bulk minimal.

TBH my money would be on the Tuna vs a car any day, it’s a beast of a thing.

Yeah, it’s not too bad at the moment ‘cos I’m wearing cold weather gear, but in the warmer weather when I’m wearing tee shirts and squeezing between the cars I’ll have to be careful of the paintwork!
The shroud is sandblasted stainless steel with a PVD coating, so quite capable of leaving dents if I’m not careful.
Having said that, the cars are mostly ex-Motability, and the really good condition ones are the rare ones - I doubt anyone would notice an extra dent!

Well my Mondaine turned up today.
Loving the looks and the light weight. Its the vegan edition with a latex strap and a case made using castor oil amongst other things so it is light and a lot thinner than my trusty Garmin.
V Happy.
Now I want the Stop2Go version....

https://flic.kr/p/2insXPd

Vegan edition! Is that for real?

Sadly it is.

Trying to think what would make it vegan over vegetarian (ie non-leather). Some latex uses casein iirc, hence vegan johnnies. Anyway it's to be applauded, I realise most of the target demographic won't care but it just makes things miles easier for the likes of me who won't even buy non vegan bike tyres.

https://wornandwound.com/review/review-blast-from-the-past-with-the-new-q-timex/

Re Timex Q - I really like how it looks. I have a 1984 Timex quartz which I wear every day and is fab apart from the lume has gone. Not sure I'd want to spend £200ish on a new un though.

That does look an alternative to all the Seiko Pepsies.

If you want all the hairs pulled off your arm it is.

My titanium Humtun H2 Kraken (dark blue face and Swiss automatic movement) arrived yesterday. My first dive watch and seems nicely made for the money.

https://hamtun.co/collections/dive-watches

Was that from the original kickstarter? That's taken a while to come! Nice to hear they are landing now, because I have a eBay search set up, I might get a hit soon.

Yes that was from the Kickstarter

I put  bracelet on my Sea Urchin beater today, which has kind of elevated it a bit IMO:

Before:

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After:

[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49478721408_9351fb6a1f_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49478721408_9351fb6a1f_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2iogo4A ]2020-02-02_07-38-20[/url]

Yes I know I've scratched it 🙁

That looks way better on the SS bracelet.

That bracelet on your Sea Urchin is pretty much identical to the one that came with the MM300, mine needs a bunch of links taken out, ‘cos there was so much slack I could get two fingers into the gap! 😳
Plus I find steel bracelets are either a bit tight or a bit loose, so I prefer nylon straps for comfort.
I will get the strap shortened at some point, just so’s I’ve got the option if I want it. I do like the look with the steel bracelet though.
There’s also the added weight, with the nylon NATO I barely notice it while wearing it, it feels really light.

Yes I know I’ve scratched it

Well, "Hardlex", innit? Orient would have done you sapphire and 200m WR with a screw down crown and bracelet for less money but that's your Seiko tax right there.

Couple of Tuna’s for £209 from Amj watches if anybody is interested
Save the ocean and pepsi

@tonyg2003 - how do you like the colour?

Hi. I like it - its the darker blue. Not quite navy blue (a shade lighter) but fine. I'm happy with it. Ands of course being titanium its light for a divers watch.

Any have one of the Omega Museum Collection; specifically the Petrograd?