The Watch Discussion Thread

[a6m5]

FAST.

That's fast.

 

[Small_Fryz]

Bought myself a new Tag today.

I have always wanted to own one and my old Buler Sea Quest was looking very tired. Got a half decent price and they offered some of it on an easy 0% finance plan which was nice too. As always I could have picked it up cheaper online but would have needed all cash and I prefer to shop locally if possible as nothing 🤬 me more as a salesman then customers who expect all the help of a local dealer but buy the product online .

Its a Tag Heuer Aquaracer Automatic CAP2120

 

[Mike Rotch]

Its a Tag Heuer Aquaracer Automatic CAP2120

Congrats mate, wear it in good health 👍 .

Not my cuppa style wise, but it doesn't have to be .

I prefer to shop locally if possible

I guess we're a bit different here too - my loyalty is to my hard earned buck, not a dealer trying to skin me .

Tag (and other Swatch brands) have pretty high (and in my opinion, unjustified) markups domestically so I am happy to forgo 'dealer service' for watches. I wouldn't take my Tag to them anyway, as their costs of servicing are eyewatering and they chop and change components without quoting. There are some horror stories on watch forums, but some people like only the dealer doing the work, that is their call.

FWIW, a half decent watch maker could service your watch given it has a standard Valjoux 7750 movement, rather than their inhouse calibres.

 

[Monatsende]

Tag (and other Swatch brands)

As far as I know Tag Heuer is a brand of the LVMH group.

 

[Mike Rotch]

As far as I know Tag Heuer is a brand of the LVMH group.

Most true . Swatch = Omega et al.

 

[Kamuifanboy]

Most true . Swatch = Omega et al.

So should I be worried when I send my Omega in for service in 6 years?

 

[Monatsende]

So should I be worried when I send my Omega in for service in 6 years?

No, but you can start to save some money.

 

[Mike Rotch]

So should I be worried when I send my Omega in for service in 6 years?

I am not sure what the situation is in Japan, but here getting inhouse movements (i.e. Speedy, Zenith, Tag inhouse calibres) serviced is tricky if you don't want to be fleeced here.

If you take it to the Omega service centre for example, they send it away for work and will perform repairs as they 'see fit'. So even if its for a regular service, they may decide to change the hands if they don't want to try remove the existing ones without damaging them for example. There are stories on watch forums of services being north of $1,000 without prior quoting, as a result.

If you don't want to go that route here, you have to find a reputable watchmaker, which is fine. The problem though - and a widely lobbied one here - is that ETA, Swatch and LVMH are stopping the supply of components to 'non' official service centres. So watchmakers can wait for months for parts, if they get them at all. My Speedy was at a watch maker for 13 months all up waiting for various parts to arrive from Omega.

If your independent watchmaker has a good supply, you're sweet, but it can be a nightmare, here at least.

Did you manage to pick up a Certina....?

 

[MarcoM]

Sold the SKX007 and some others. And got the new orange/black Monster.

It's a lot more acurate than my SKX007

 

[Kamuifanboy]

I am not sure what the situation is in Japan, but here getting inhouse movements (i.e. Speedy, Zenith, Tag inhouse calibres) serviced is tricky if you don't want to be fleeced here.

If you take it to the Omega service centre for example, they send it away for work and will perform repairs as they 'see fit'. So even if its for a regular service, they may decide to change the hands if they don't want to try remove the existing ones without damaging them for example. There are stories on watch forums of services being north of $1,000 without prior quoting, as a result.

If you don't want to go that route here, you have to find a reputable watchmaker, which is fine. The problem though - and a widely lobbied one here - is that ETA, Swatch and LVMH are stopping the supply of components to 'non' official service centres. So watchmakers can wait for months for parts, if they get them at all. My Speedy was at a watch maker for 13 months all up waiting for various parts to arrive from Omega.

If your independent watchmaker has a good supply, you're sweet, but it can be a nightmare, here at least.

Did you manage to pick up a Certina....?

Thanks for the info.

I really want to look at some Certina's in person before getting one. Unfortunately, as a racing driver, Switzerland isn't really a place that I go so, I haven't seen any being sold anywhere yet when I travel to Europe.

 

[photonrider]

http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/General_Counter-Spell
Finite Incantatem!

 

[Mike Rotch]

So anyway, as mentioned in the SUYLP thread, new watch time!

It is funny how things pan out. I had collectively spent hours looking online a) for something on my A-list or b) something unique that jumped out. Budget creep seemed like it was on the cards as all the stuff I was looking at was a bit up there, but I figured what-the-heck, this is going to be a special watch, so make it count.

After coming up dry online, I settled on a Seiko Ananta Chronograph (such as this second one down); I loved the look, knew it would be pretty exclusive and it looks fantastic; plus the craftmanship and wrist presence is right up there. I was tempted to get a Speedmaster Professional but I have the automatic and love it and having two variants make no sense whatsoever. I thought about a Planet Ocean too, but they just don't do it for me.

The issue was that I was limited to instore purchases for Seiko as I was not going to go down the leather-strap debacle of last year on this size of purchase; this meant using the official retailers stocked by Seiko, of which there are two in my state. The first was as dodgy as a brothel, so didn't even consider it and the second had the last one in the country in stock at a nearby branch. So I resolved to go there, investigate and probably walk away with it.

Before I hopped in the car on the respective Saturday morning, I did one last look online over breakfast and bazinga! I stumbled upon a deal almost too good to believe. A LNIB example with a OEM metal strap, with papers, in mint condition from a reputable seller - going for a bit, but what would be considered an extremely reasonable price given it comes with everything. There are examples missing papers and boxes going for heaps more than this was listed at; so that kiboshed the Seiko plans and I spent the rest of the morning satisfying myself it was not a fake and researching the seller and bam-o, pulled the trigger on this :
















Stoked with it .
I've ordered a leather strap, which should arrive Monday/ Tuesday, after fitting, expect the obligatory hairy arm photo .

 

[a6m5]

That is cool. Other watches you were looking at were nice too, but I like this. 👍

 

[Shaun]

Awesome mate. 👍
It's what you were always after so the fact that some luck is involved in the purchase makes it even better. As nice as the Seiko's look (and they are very nice looking) I'm sure that you're glad you had that one last look before heading out and looking at the Seiko.

Nice it arrived early too, only downfall it beat the strap in arriving. Looking forward to seeing it with the new strap.

 

[Kent]

Thanks for pointing me towards this thread @Mike Rotch 👍

I've gone through pretty much all of it just catching up on some of the purchases and collections. Some of you guys have really great stuff.
Inspiration hit me and I pulled together my wrist watches (pocket watches are different, I have tons of those). Snapped a photo or two but nothing came out well being so late at night and being that I have to hook up the iphone to get the pics on my PC I figure I will wait till later.
That said, I noticed my vintage wrist watches still outweigh my newer stuff pretty strongly.
Tag 6000 Series, Movado, Swiss Army (Victorinox)... Then all vintage, hamilton, longiness, jules jurgensen, bulova, waltham. Not as many Hamiltons as I thought but more diverse than I remembered (the Bulova even has the band on the wrong way lol).

Btw, I really want a Rolex.
Something simple and classic like a datejust. 👍

 

[Mike Rotch]

Thanks guys

Thanks for pointing me towards this thread @Mike Rotch 👍

So my strap arrived! For my Hamilton.

About two months ago I played a round of golf with it on (was running late and forgot to take it off before I left home) and it happened that the humidity that particular day was torturous....the result being the strap got thoroughly soaked and looks a bit worse for wear now. After 5 years, its showing some signs of fatigue, so just before the Monaco came about I bought a new Hirsch Principal for it....which arrived this morning .

Sorry for the sucky pics, light is not so good and I dont have the skills you guys have!.....and this new strap was an absolute bitch to put on, so there is no way I am doing it all again

Before

After

 

[Kent]

Thanks guys




So my strap arrived! For my Hamilton.

About two months ago I played a round of golf with it on (was running late and forgot to take it off before I left home) and it happened that the humidity that particular day was torturous....the result being the strap got thoroughly soaked and looks a bit worse for wear now. After 5 years, its showing some signs of fatigue, so just before the Monaco came about I bought a new Hirsch Principal for it....which arrived this morning .

Sorry for the sucky pics, light is not so good and I dont have the skills you guys have!.....and this new strap was an absolute bitch to put on, so there is no way I am doing it all again

Before

After

I like the black on black more than the black on brown. 👍

While I'm here I figure I should elaborate on my last post and talk about some of the stuff I like in a watch (v. that which I don't)...

First off, I don't care for numbers too much, I like a mark or indicator of some kind more than a number written out in any form (numerals or anything else). Simple designs are great and I can't say I'm much a fan of the Tachymeter. I'm also very much the fan of contrast and so I like black faces with silver/white markings or vice versa. No preference on bands, considering a canvas/nylon for my last purchase just to keep the OEM band in good condition. I love automatics, quartz is fine as well but having to keep up by hand can be a pain (part of why I didn't by the Hamilton Field Khaki mechanical when shopping sub-$500).

The one thing I really don't like... HUGE cases. I don't know when 50mm became acceptable (probably mid-2000s) but I really don't like huge watches and at this point my latest purchase at 40mm seems just about as big as I'm willing to go. 👍

 

[Mike Rotch]

Now that's more like it

 

[terminator363]

Now that's more like it

Are you poor yet?

 

[Shaun]

Ah yes, much much nicer than the Ron Jeremy signature series bracelet.

Looks great mate. 👍

 

[Mike Rotch]

Are you poor yet?

Nope, this was from my fun-fund

Ah yes, much much nicer than the Ron Jeremy signature series bracelet.

Looks great mate. 👍

- harsh but fair 👍

 

[Kamuifanboy]

@Mike Rotch She's a beauty!

Hoping that I can look at some Certina watches when I am in Austria. I think I saw a few shops on their shops that sell us map.

 

[MarcoM]

Back to radio controlled, solar powered, 20G resist Casio G-Shock

 

[Mike Rotch]

So anyway, the strap I got for the Monaco is awesome, but the Tag buckle is **** and really uncomfortable, so I ordered a Hirsch Grand Duke from the UK, and a normal butterfly deployment to replace it.

It all arrived on Monday and alas, the seller sent me the wrong one . I ordered black stitching on black and he sent me red/ black. I got in touch with him and to his credit admitted it was their error and sent me a black/ black and asked that I keep the red/black anyway. Super win. These G Dukes are not what that cheap so two for the price of one works.

So I figured I'd fit the red/black until the new one arrived.....and it's freakin awesome! I should have ordered it in the first place .

 

[Shaun]

Have to agree the black with red stitching looks great. 👍
Just enough red to not be over the top but to match the hands of the watch.

Bonus on getting to keep it, will the strap that's coming match one of your other watches well. You may as well keep it and use it now or save it for later rather than flogging it off.

Edit: Bronny wants to know if that's a cashmere jumper?

 

[a6m5]

I liked the black/black strap. Too bad about the buckle. I do like the red/black strap, but probably on something else for my personal taste(not that good lol). I do like how the red breaks it up a little bit. Congrats on the two-for-one. :tup:

Awesome G-Shock, @MarcoM 👍

 

[Joey D]

Picked up another watch the other day from Finland, it's a Raketa Hammer & Sickle watch. I really like old Soviet propaganda and this is probably one of the best pieces of propaganda I've been able to get. I don't think I'll wear it all that much, but it will look good in my watch box.

 

[Mike Rotch]

it's a Raketa Hammer & Sickle watch.

Certainly a conversation starter. Your crazy circular hand watch is still my favourite.

 

[dxm8975]

Picked up another watch the other day from Finland, it's a Raketa Hammer & Sickle watch. I really like old Soviet propaganda and this is probably one of the best pieces of propaganda I've been able to get. I don't think I'll wear it all that much, but it will look good in my watch box.

Awesome watch that you got from Finland, I never imagined there was that kind of watches designed based on the design of the national flag of the former Soviet Union. I wouldn't think of actually wearing that outside to draw people's attentions if I kept one like this, but I really am fond of the elaborate design that your watch has. 👍

 

[Monatsende]

Just bought another Swatch.

It`s the limited Shaq 34 Gold Diaphane Chrono.

Yes, in collaboration with THE Shaquille O`Neal.

Watch came out in 2003. Dial with Swarovski stones. I guess it can be called "Bling Bling Swatch", too.

Retailer ask for 250 Euro and more in mint condition. Bought mine at a fractional amount.

This is original. There are many, many fake Shaq 34 known. Mostly in poor quality...