The Watch Discussion Thread
- Thread starter Silverzone
- 1,458 comments
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- 7,436
- Canada
- photonrider
I'm going to throw this up as a straw poll:
I think - yeah, JMHO - that every 'compleat' watch collection should have at least one G Shock in the collection.
Right?
I just find the G Shock (apart from its legendary ruggedness) a sort of iconic watch - a watch that represented a certain time in mankind's history - at least in terms of the transition in horology. It beats out the other Casio watches too that were iconic in their own way - so much so that if you had one of those instantly recogonizable retro Casios on your wrist you get looks. And questions. And "Let's see"s
The G Shock is instantly recognizable that way - but apart from that uniqueness there is also that rugged, macho, indestructible look to it that is reassuring - as if it's the one watch in the collection that might survive anything life can throw at it.
Bowies optional.
I think - yeah, JMHO - that every 'compleat' watch collection should have at least one G Shock in the collection.
Right?
I just find the G Shock (apart from its legendary ruggedness) a sort of iconic watch - a watch that represented a certain time in mankind's history - at least in terms of the transition in horology. It beats out the other Casio watches too that were iconic in their own way - so much so that if you had one of those instantly recogonizable retro Casios on your wrist you get looks. And questions. And "Let's see"s
The G Shock is instantly recognizable that way - but apart from that uniqueness there is also that rugged, macho, indestructible look to it that is reassuring - as if it's the one watch in the collection that might survive anything life can throw at it.
Bowies optional.
- 13,140
- Seattle-ish
That's actually a pretty good question. What are the watches that are timeless? Excluding luxury watches, the G-Shock definitely is a classic. I'd also say the Timex Marlin, a classic design of the '60s. In fact Timex just reissued it last year, their first spring-wound watch since 1982.
- 29,983
- Cuddington, Cheshire
- JDA1982
I'm considering a new watch, I'm confident I'm getting a bonus from work in April/May, I've got my eye on one of these:
http://www.ernestjones.co.uk/websto...+hyperchrome+blue+chronograph+bracelet+watch/
http://www.ernestjones.co.uk/websto...ainless+steel+&+black+ceramic+bracelet+watch/
http://www.ernestjones.co.uk/webstore/d/5009529/tag+heuer+f1+men's+two+colour+bracelet+watch/
http://www.ernestjones.co.uk/webstore/d/4797582/tag+heuer+f1+men's+stainless+steel+bracelet+watch/
I know Rado and Tag Heuer aren't in the same luxury braket as Omega but I'm looking at £3,000+ for an Omega I like. One day, but not this year.
Anyone have any experiences with these watches/brands or recommendations?
http://www.ernestjones.co.uk/websto...+hyperchrome+blue+chronograph+bracelet+watch/
http://www.ernestjones.co.uk/websto...ainless+steel+&+black+ceramic+bracelet+watch/
http://www.ernestjones.co.uk/webstore/d/5009529/tag+heuer+f1+men's+two+colour+bracelet+watch/
http://www.ernestjones.co.uk/webstore/d/4797582/tag+heuer+f1+men's+stainless+steel+bracelet+watch/
I know Rado and Tag Heuer aren't in the same luxury braket as Omega but I'm looking at £3,000+ for an Omega I like. One day, but not this year.
Anyone have any experiences with these watches/brands or recommendations?
- 12,389
- Betelgeuse
- Beeblebrox_237
First off, I'd recommend deciding whether you want a mechanical watch or if you're happy with quartz. Quartz is cheaper and more accurate, but it's generally not well regarded by watch enthusiasts simply because it isn't as interesting or technically impressive as a purely mechanical movement.
Rado do some interesting stuff, as do Tag, but neither are as well regarded by enthusiasts as Hamilton and Tissot in that price bracket. I'd also have a look at secondhand Tudors as at around £2k you can get things like a Black Bay, which is an awesome watch and can be had with a terrific in house movement. On the other hand you could easily get an automatic chronograph from Tissot or Hamilton, so I recommend having a look at their websites.
I don't know which Omega you were looking at but I'd wager that you can get a version of it secondhand for within your budget, so that's definitely worth looking into as well.
- 7,436
- Canada
- photonrider
It is a question I've asked myself many a time
I had a gold-plated Texas Instruments digital watch once - in the very early days of digital watches - it actually had red digits on a black background. Misplaced it and was lost forever. I still think about that watch and wished I had it my collection; it was an utterly unique-looking watch - for its time, and for ever after.
But thinking about a selection that would typify a good collection?
If one were limited to ten watches and banished to a deserted island? (Branson sends over food and drink. And Valentine cards.)
I would start with:
1) A G Shock
2) The Bulova Accutron
3) An Omega Speedmaster
4) A Rolex Sky-Dweller
5) A classic rectangular, red-alligator strap Cartier
6) An orange-faced Orient
7) ?
8) ?
9) ?
10) ?
There must be some icons I'm missing.. . .
I need to tap Mike Rotch's brains for this.
- 12,389
- Betelgeuse
- Beeblebrox_237
There are so many famous watch designs of history that it's rather difficult to make a list of all that fit a certain adjective. I also think that timelessness is different from iconism, which I would argue is more appropriate a qualifier. For instance, the Reverso is very much of its time; it would never be designed today. It is, however, very iconic. The same is true of the Monaco - it's clearly a product of the '60s/'70s, but it's still an icon.
Hodinkee had an interesting theory on this which is that every great collection should have a unifying theme, otherwise it's not really a collection, just a bunch of watches.
- 13,140
- Seattle-ish
When I look at the scene early in the Doctor Strange movie when Stephen Strange opens a drawer and several very expensive watches are rotating in their own cubby holes waiting for him to make his selection, I think the unifying theme is "I am very rich." (Also, someone from the prop department got to decide which watches to put in that scene. That must have been fun.)
- 7,436
- Canada
- photonrider
Was I the only kid that had one of these? I wish I could find it...
I had that as a kid. Broke my heart when it broke down. Always wanted to replace it but never did so because I felt replacing it would be a betrayal to the original watch.
I placed the Orient in there instead - but the Seiko in my collection would be a classic black-faced Seiko 5.
The Submariner is an iconic watch - maybe Bond had something to do with it? When it came to picking a Rolex for my collection, though, I selected a Sky-Dweller because of its very unusual mechanism.
Jaeger-Lecoulter, Patek Philippe, Constantin Vacheron, Audermars Piguet . . . some watches are all about value, and not so much about memorable form or unusual function or timeless uniqueness. And not wanting to put together a collection that is more about money than about Horology I avoided looking at that level of rarified possessiveness - only making an exemption for the Cartier which would symbolize that entire genre.
So . . . brave enough to make a list, here goes:
1) A G Shock
2) The Bulova Accutron
3) An Omega Speedmaster
4) A Rolex Sky-Dweller
5) A classic rectangular, red-alligator strap Cartier
6) An orange-faced Orient
7) A black-faced Seiko 5
8) The Lorus Mickey Mouse watch
9) A Swatch watch
10) ?
IRL, however, as Mike Rotch would have noticed already, my actual collection is all Bulovas. I gave everything else away deciding that I had to live my life according to a theme.
- 3,835
- Leiria
When I look at the scene early in the Doctor Strange movie when Stephen Strange opens a drawer and several very expensive watches are rotating in their own cubby holes waiting for him to make his selection, I think the unifying theme is "I am very rich." (Also, someone from the prop department got to decide which watches to put in that scene. That must have been fun.)
He picked a Audemars Piguet if I recall correctly, right? I can't remember the specifics of that, only that it was my wet dream
- 7,436
- Canada
- photonrider
…..XsnipX…..I think the unifying theme is "I am very rich." (Also, someone from the prop department got to decide which watches to put in that scene. That must have been fun.)
And then there's the kick-backs, and the marketing, and the agenda driving the writing.. . .
________________________
This thought process of 10 watches as a sort of ultimately utilitarian selection, that was however timeless (even cliche,) as being representative of a watch piece that blended form and function perfectly aligned with when (or for what) the wearer was using it sprang from the talk about the G Shock. It wound me up to think of a collection that would serve every occasion perfectly.
Going Diving? A particular watch. Black tie event? The perfect watch. NASCAR race? Survival course? Got a watch for it. Motorbike trip? Yup, ready. The kid's Christmas concert? Got you covered like a glove.
Watch Collectors Convention?
Are you kidding?
Think about it.. . .
- 7,436
- Canada
- photonrider
Not on my list but made it into my collection:
The white flecks on the band? Paint, of course. The boss is a hands-on personality - even when sporting bling.
- 13,140
- Seattle-ish
Isn't that the Harley-Davidson bar and shield on it?Not on my list but made it into my collection:
- 7,436
- Canada
- photonrider
Yup. Good eye, man, that quick.
It's the Harley Bulova.
Posted before, years back, (some other Bulovas, too.)
It's the Harley Bulova.
Posted before, years back, (some other Bulovas, too.)
- 3,835
- Leiria
I wonder how hard it is to build a wrist watch. I had this (probably) stupid idea, because I have a subject that implies creating and executing a CNC program, therefore I can mill a case and a bezel. What about the rest? How hard is it to source a movement, glass, dial and that stuff alike?
- 7,436
- Canada
- photonrider
There is a huge custom watch cult out there. I stumbled upon it on the web a couple of years ago and I kept following the trail before I realized I would be up all night getting to the end of it. Do some web surfing, and as Shaun said - parts are plentiful if you know where to look. Not only will the watch be cheaper to build you'll have one no one else on Earth has.
- 7,436
- Canada
- photonrider
- 35,235
- Downtown North Dakota
- Cy-Fi
Not sure if a legitimate concern or a clock joke...
- 3,835
- Leiria
I've now finished the first case. It's one of the three possibilities that I'll consider
It'll be inspired by the Hublot, like I said, with a 38mm diameter and a whoping 10mm tall, will have a Miyota 8N24 mechanical movement (skeleton). It won't have a dial, I will laser engrave the markings of the dial where the sapphire glass will settle. The glass itself will be locked in place with a bronze bezel screwed to the case. The back lid will be in bronze as well with a polycarbonate window integrated. The case will be milled from titanium (at least ideally, if not possible, steel it will be). The bracelet will be screwed onto the case from below, it'll probably be a rubber bracelet. Another thing is to actually figure out how to put the stem through the respective hole
The most impressive in this is that my parents are really supportive of this project and encouraging me to do it
It'll be inspired by the Hublot, like I said, with a 38mm diameter and a whoping 10mm tall, will have a Miyota 8N24 mechanical movement (skeleton). It won't have a dial, I will laser engrave the markings of the dial where the sapphire glass will settle. The glass itself will be locked in place with a bronze bezel screwed to the case. The back lid will be in bronze as well with a polycarbonate window integrated. The case will be milled from titanium (at least ideally, if not possible, steel it will be). The bracelet will be screwed onto the case from below, it'll probably be a rubber bracelet. Another thing is to actually figure out how to put the stem through the respective hole
The most impressive in this is that my parents are really supportive of this project and encouraging me to do it
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