The Watch Discussion Thread

[MidnightRider]

Wear it in good health. I love the Seiko's military style watches.

Do you have one mate?

 

[MarcoM]

Yes:
https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/showthread.php?p=8112541#post8112541

pics are broken though Will fix that later

 

[MidnightRider]

What does it mean when the pics are broken, because when I click on it it just says connection error?

 

[Joey D]

What is up with NATO straps? The Internet is obsessed with them and I didn't even know what they were until I started browsing /r/watches in-depth. The people on that sub-reddit put them on everything, even really nice looking vintage watches.

And I'm really close to saying screw it and buying the Hamilton Ventura. I figure with the gift cars I have through Amazon it'll offset the price. I'd prefer a vintage one but I've lost the auction on four of those that showed up on eBay. I'm also actively bidding on a few 1960's Omega Seamaster DeVille's because they're awesome and Don Draper wears one, and if it's good enough for the coolest man on TV, it's good enough for me

 

[Mike Rotch]

What is up with NATO straps? The Internet is obsessed with them and I didn't even know what they were until I started browsing /r/watches in-depth. The people on that sub-reddit put them on everything, even really nice looking vintage watches.

They are ridiculously comfortable, but some watches should not have them, I would agree. 👍

I'm also actively bidding on a few 1960's Omega Seamaster DeVille's because they're awesome and Don Draper wears one, and if it's good enough for the coolest man on TV, it's good enough for me

You need to know what you are getting into here - there are a gazillion franken-watches out there, i.e. they have been restored using not authentic parts or parts from other Omega models or just show terrible workmanship (misaligned Omega lettering/ misaligned cross hairs on the dial/ pool dial refinishing) and thus are not 'authentic'. Depends if you are ok with that; some people are, some people aren't.

Also bare in mind that you if you are not looking to get one that is not professionally restored, it is likely you will end up with a wide margin of accuracy, which means taking it to a watch maker and Omega servicing and part replacement has the potential to make one cry....

Just go into any vintage Omega purchase eyes open and know what is a good deal versus a heap of trouble waiting to find a new home...

Incidentally, nobody has been able to conclusively work out what Draper was wearing in season 1 of Madmen. Shame really, as it was a good looking watch.

 

[MarcoM]

What does it mean when the pics are broken, because when I click on it it just says connection error?

Here are new pictures:

 

[Mike Rotch]

Very cool watch. It fits your wrist perfecly 👍 I love Seiko's, they are brilliant watches. I am a bit sad I gave my only one away a year or two back as I wasnt wearing it at all .

I am busy deciding what my new watch will be. I had had my heart set on the Fortis B-42 of a page or two back, but now I have been looking about and a few others have my attention now.

I absolutely love this Oris Raid Limited Edition Chronograph:

However it will be the most I have ever spent on a watch by some distance, so I am a bit reluctant.

This Perrelet has also caught my attention, which would look dynamite on a leather strap:

And lastly this Alpina Startimer Chronograph, which I am drawn to:

I would love the Oris, but I could get the Startimer and start the next watch fund with what it costs .

 

[Shaun]

The Oris is my pick there mate, just jumps out at me.
Lovely watch. 👍

Cheers Shaun.

 

[Joey D]

You need to know what you are getting into here - there are a gazillion franken-watches out there, i.e. they have been restored using not authentic parts or parts from other Omega models or just show terrible workmanship (misaligned Omega lettering/ misaligned cross hairs on the dial/ pool dial refinishing) and thus are not 'authentic'. Depends if you are ok with that; some people are, some people aren't.

Also bare in mind that you if you are not looking to get one that is not professionally restored, it is likely you will end up with a wide margin of accuracy, which means taking it to a watch maker and Omega servicing and part replacement has the potential to make one cry....

Just go into any vintage Omega purchase eyes open and know what is a good deal versus a heap of trouble waiting to find a new home...

Incidentally, nobody has been able to conclusively work out what Draper was wearing in season 1 of Madmen. Shame really, as it was a good looking watch.

I've been pretty much told to avoid any Omega's coming out of the Philippines, India, Mexico, or any other place that's hot and humid. I figured the climate would affect the watch negatively, but apparently mostly junk watches come out of these country that are, as you put, it franken-watches.

But that is good advice to consider, reading through /r/watches you'd get the impression that all vintage Omega's can be had for next to nothing and they are the best intro into vintage watches. Maybe I'll look around some more and see what other vintage watches can be had that look nice and won't break the bank. I figured I probably need a dress watch and there's just something about a vintage watch that's cool.

 

[Stotty]

Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust... SS, blue face, plain bezzel.

An engagement present from my wife

I'd like to p/x it against a Submariner, but doubt my wife would be very happy!

 

[xStretch-]

Not really pretty but it was passed down from a uncle.

I love TAG though as the whole relation to F1 does it for me

 

[zedextreme8177]

Very cool watch. It fits your wrist perfecly 👍 I love Seiko's, they are brilliant watches. I am a bit sad I gave my only one away a year or two back as I wasnt wearing it at all .

I am busy deciding what my new watch will be. I had had my heart set on the Fortis B-42 of a page or two back, but now I have been looking about and a few others have my attention now.

I absolutely love this Oris Raid Limited Edition Chronograph:

However it will be the most I have ever spent on a watch by some distance, so I am a bit reluctant.

This Perrelet has also caught my attention, which would look dynamite on a leather strap:

And lastly this Alpina Startimer Chronograph, which I am drawn to:

I would love the Oris, but I could get the Startimer and start the next watch fund with what it costs .

Another vote for the Oris, those triple dials and the colours look really stunning! I'd wager it's worth the price on looks alone

 

[MidnightRider]

Here are new pictures:

Nice, looks similar but I think mines a bit smaller.

 

[MarcoM]

That's what your gf also said. #bad joke

It is indeed the smaller model that you have. Today I bought some nice leather straps for it. Will arive in a month from the US.


Mike, I'd stick to the Fortis B-42. I really really , I mean really think that is very awesome.

 

[MidnightRider]

That's what your gf also said.

Kinda set myself up there didn't I.

 

[MarcoM]

Kinda set myself up there didn't I.

 

[ChromeLEDS]

Rotary..

 

[photonrider]

I was getting a bit miffed at my Bulovas getting paint-spattered - and since we have been jawing away recently about Seikos (and since I was hungry for the latest black-faced Seiko) I was keeping an eye out for the various deals the dealers were throwing around; quite often it's easy enough to pick a good Seiko auto for a little under $100.00
Well, the other day I spied this shop getting rid of the last few B.U.M.s they had; clearing them out at $20.00 apiece. So I grab one with a face I like (after all paint on a $20.00 watch . . . no big deal) but when I got it home my youngest kid took one look at it and started wailing.



Yeah. He's got it on his wrist now. Won't take it off even when sleeping.
"What about the other watches you have?" I asked him, "How come you're not wearing them?'
"Ah! They are all boring. This one's just beautiful. I can live with this."

Yeah, yeah.

I'm hoping this principle doesn't apply to the other stuff (people included) in his life.

As for me . . . back to the drawing board. I wanted a Seiko black-face, anyway. Have to beat Zero's blue-faced one.

 

[Monatsende]

My "little" CK watch K2111 - daily use, postminimal design.
About from 1997/1998 when The Swatch Group licensed the brand Calvin Klein for mid-range price segment watches. EDIT: Jewlery as well.

 

[Mike Rotch]

So a bit of an update to an old story.

In late 2011 I took my Speedmaster to a watchmaker for a regular service. After a lot of disappointment and arguments, I got it back after 9 months with a stutter in the second hand and a shrug from the watchmaker. He washed his hands of it, leaving me with an irritating condition that really diluted my enjoyment of wearing the watch.

Fastforward to today; I stopped in at another watchmaker who I had some recommendations on to get his opinion on the watch. He reckons its a very easy fix, just correcting the tensioning of a spring that meshes the subdial gears, which is great. Unfortunately to access the spring, the entire chronograph module needs disassemly, so will cost a few hundred bucks just on that. I am not too fussed about that, rather am just wary of a repeat of the first experience. I think I'll wait till the next service to fix it, but I am happy it's not a complex issue beyond the disassembly.

Anyway, whilst I was there I tried on the B-42 Titanium (Mack Daddy of B-42s). It looks great and the price is in budget (just) but I don't know, but it's just not speaking to me like it did a couple of months ago. And given the budget includes a LOT of other interesting watches now (prices seemed to have come down on many Tag Grand Carreras and Longines), I am having a hard time reasoning it still fits the bill at the moment.

So for the moment, the money stays firmly in the wallet .

tl; dr: Here is a picture of my Speedy:

 

[Monatsende]

So back to the moon, Mr. Rotch.

EDIT: Hairy arms!

 

[Joey D]

Got 2 out of the 3 watches I bought on eBay this weekend and I'm fairly pleased with them.

First up is the Seiko Kinetic Sport 50 with the LumiBrite dial. I need to readjust the bracelet before I really get to wear it since it's huge on me. I've never had an automatic watch before so I'm not entirely sure how it works, when I move it the second hand moves, but if I let it sit for a few minutes it stops. I guess I need to look into it, I'm guess it needs a new rechargeable battery.

The second one is a Raketa Perpetual Calendar Soviet Air Force watch, circa 1990. It looks like it's an Sukhoi Su-33 on the dial, although I'm not real familiar with Soviet planes. I'm still trying to find more information out about it, and I really want to find out if it's the original band or not. I suspect it's been replaced, but I'm entirely sure.

 

[photonrider]

Wow. Good scores, Joey. Those have real sweet faces - bet they run like clockwork, too.

Keep wearing the Kinetic for several hours and see what happens.

 

[Joel]

Some really nice watches in this thread, all I have is a decent looking Swatch, and a knock off Hugo Boss something or other I got for $20 at Chinatown in NYC

Those, and a super lame sport watch I got when I was 8.

 

[Mike Rotch]

Nice new arrivals there Joey- not my cup of tea (two tone) but I can appreciate them 👍. The perpetual calendar is an interesting one for sure.

I am not that familiar with Kinetics, you probably need to wear it for a good few days to get it close to full charged up. Once charged, it should keep time even when you are no wearing it.

 

[Joey D]

Nice new arrivals there Joey- not my cup of tea (two tone) but I can appreciate them 👍. The perpetual calendar is an interesting one for sure.

I am not that familiar with Kinetics, you probably need to wear it for a good few days to get it close to full charged up. Once charged, it should keep time even when you are no wearing it.

👍 Thanks.

From what I can tell I probably need to replace the capacitor in the watch, apparently it's a pretty common thing to go bad. I'll probably fool around with it this weekend when I get a chance, I need to find my watch tools since they got lost when I moved.

==============

And the Ventura has arrived! I couldn't be more excited for some stainless steel and a piece of leather.

The guy sent me the original box with the watch, which was a nice touch.

I'm not used to wearing leather bands so it's going to take a little bit for it to feel right on my wrist, but I suppose if I can't get used to it I can just replace it with the stainless steel band that comes on the Elvis Edition of the watch.

====

Next up on the list is a Raketa Copernic and a Bulova Spaceview. Guess I better get hunting on eBay.

 

[Mike Rotch]

The Hamilton fits your wrist perfectly 👍. I love it on the leather, it really makes the black dial jump out at you.

I am generally a big fan of leather straps - if you plan on keeping it on the watch, look to invest in a deployment buckle to save the bending of the strap end usually associated with tang buckles 👍

 

[Joey D]

👍 Thanks! And this model of the Ventura already has a deployment clasp on it, I believe only the "Registered Edition" had the tang buckle on it (at least the modern ones).

 

[Bigtheo]

Found the watch on the beech a few years ago, didn't even have to take any links out, and I'm still loving it.

 

[Theace37]

Found the watch on the beech a few years ago, didn't even have to take any links out, and I'm still loving it.

Wow....