The Watch Discussion Thread

[AlvaroF]

My watch says hi! Some new setbacks. The flat sapphire glass hit the hands, so I had to use a domed one and it's now in plastic, which is a shame. And the upper bezel has to be resized because of the domed glass.

 

[AlvaroF]

Me thinks this update is worthy enough for the double post. Once I get the time I'll flood this post with pics. But for now, this is watch in it's final form on my wrist

 

[novcze]

I don't know if digital watches are look upon as not "worthy" but I curently want to buy Casio GW5035A-1 with solar charging and atomic timekeeping via radio, but this particular model is out of stock everywhere and it's overpriced when compared to regular model with the same module (but my colleague already have the regular model so that's no go).

update:
since anniversary model is still unavailable everywhere, I bought Japanese model GW-M5610-1BJF it have similar look and same function (and it's imported so it's kind of rare in the EU).

Bought it via https://shoppinginjapan.net/gw-m5610-1bjf and I have $20 gift certificate which expires on 8th Oct. 2018 so if anyone is interested let me know.

 

[Stotty]

Always wanted a Panerai since I first saw one about 20 years ago, but got pulled in to the Rolex trend (have an old dateadjust, a seadweller and a Daytona.

Finally bit the bullet and bought one today. It’s a PAM00320... 44mm, sandwich dial, GMT function, 3 day power reserve, display case back.

Feels very high quality and it’s built like a tank. Lume is amazing. Will take a bit of getting used to as it’s quite big, and quite heavy, plus I haven’t worn a leather strap for many years.

Happy

 

[Bram Turismo]

Having owned an AVI-8 Supermarine Seafire for 2 years now, I'm very happy with it. The NATO strap really needs a replacement now, though. While looking at AVI-8 straps, I was looking at some of their models to add to my collection:

Certainly not everyone's cup of tea, they tend to make very busy watches. But for some reason I love all of them. Partly because I love aviation in general, but I do like the vintage look to them. I personally think the blue Centenary looks stunning, I'm currently going back and forth between that and the Hawker Harrier Turbine (last image).

 

[88GTA]

That blue Centenary really is stunning.

 

[Nico_Ble99]

So my new Nixon Tangent arrived today, and I have to say I'm really impressed. It's kind of a hefty watch, but I like these kind of watches. My other Nixon watch, the Coroporal is also a farily big watch, but it's way more subtle. I especially dig the G10 segments on the watch.

 

[MarcoM]

My latest Seiko, I sold the others, is a blue Sumo, or Blumo

I do have the excellent metal bracelet as well, but during the colder months I prefer a leather strap. Not easy to find a nice one. The lugs of the Sumo are long, resulting in a large gap. I Dutch watch band maker makes custom leather straps that fill the gap nicely.

During holiday in Mallorca. Great watch, girlfriend not too bad either.

 

[Omnis]

Got my $50 black friday watch. Of course, the leather strap doesn't fit so my chinese NATO straps finally arrived.

I think it looks snazzy

 

[MarcoM]

@Omnis , I have had that one a couple of years ago. It had a brown leather strap. Is it too small for you?

At 50 dollar, you have a Great deal

 

[Omnis]

Yep, sure was. My wrist is about 8.5 inches in circumference, so I'm pretty limited. I've never really worn bracelets or watches because of it.

 

[Beeblebrox237]

I considered getting one of those Citizens for a while since I really like the look of them, but at 45mm it's just too big to look good on my wrist. I'd say it's the perfect size for you @Omnis, and I love the strap!

 

[rono_thomas]

Having owned an AVI-8 Supermarine Seafire for 2 years now, I'm very happy with it. The NATO strap really needs a replacement now, though. While looking at AVI-8 straps, I was looking at some of their models to add to my collection:

Certainly not everyone's cup of tea, they tend to make very busy watches. But for some reason I love all of them. Partly because I love aviation in general, but I do like the vintage look to them. I personally think the blue Centenary looks stunning, I'm currently going back and forth between that and the Hawker Harrier Turbine (last image).

This post actually got me a new watch for crimbo, the wife has wrapped it and put it teasingly under the tree,

 

[giallofly]

I love this watch but I rarely ever wear it.

 

[Brett]

For a while now, I have been considering buying a Seiko 007 or Orient Ray II. I have gone back and forth between the two and have not been able to decide on one or the other. Does anyone here have either or both and what are your impressions if so?

 

[Beeblebrox237]

For a while now, I have been considering buying a Seiko 007 or Orient Ray II. I have gone back and forth between the two and have not been able to decide on one or the other. Does anyone here have either or both and what are your impressions if so?

I don't have any experience with the Ray but I'd say that it's a little dressier and more versatile, for a diver. It also hand winds and hacks, which are two features which I value and which drove me to buy a Turtle (SRPA21K1) instead of an SKX. The SKX is arguably better from a design standpoint, though, in that it's quite original and very iconic, whereas the Ray is a little bit Submariner-esque. The hand winding on the Orient means it's easier to wear in rotation with your other pieces, but the Seiko's bolder and more classic style might draw you to wear it more. The aftermarket is also better for the SKX if you decide you want to mod it later on.

 

[MarcoM]

Having owned a 007 and a 009, I can say they are value for money. Manly, although my girlfriend wears the pepsi now, toolish and cheap.

Leather, rubber, nato, or metal bracelets all work well on the 007.

 

[MarcoM]

I made my first leather strap , rally style

 

[MarcoM]

And another selfmade strap for the small Seiko flieger.

 

[Brett]

For a while now, I have been considering buying a Seiko 007 or Orient Ray II. I have gone back and forth between the two and have not been able to decide on one or the other. Does anyone here have either or both and what are your impressions if so?

I don't have any experience with the Ray but I'd say that it's a little dressier and more versatile, for a diver. It also hand winds and hacks, which are two features which I value and which drove me to buy a Turtle (SRPA21K1) instead of an SKX. The SKX is arguably better from a design standpoint, though, in that it's quite original and very iconic, whereas the Ray is a little bit Submariner-esque. The hand winding on the Orient means it's easier to wear in rotation with your other pieces, but the Seiko's bolder and more classic style might draw you to wear it more. The aftermarket is also better for the SKX if you decide you want to mod it later on.

Having owned a 007 and a 009, I can say they are value for money. Manly, although my girlfriend wears the pepsi now, toolish and cheap.

Leather, rubber, nato, or metal bracelets all work well on the 007.

I think I am leaning towards the Orient. I really like my Orient Bambino.

 

[MarcoM]

So the original strap of my Hamilton Khaki broke way too soon. Bad construction really.

So I made one myself of 4,5 mm leather.

 

[Nico_Ble99]

Thought I'd give you guys an update about my most recent addition from November last year. Been a pleasure wearing it ever since I got it, and for the price of just 100 bucks I couldn't be more happy with it. A tough and well made watch, although I'm very cautious when it comes to handling things in tight spaces, sincs I don't want to damage the carbon bits. Can't wait to add a third watch to my collection, but for now, this one is definitely my favourite one to wear of the two I already have.

 

[JohnBM01]

When I was looking around on skins for Assetto Corsa, I noted Porsche Design. And so last night, I saw what Porsche Design is about. I must say... those Porsche Design timepieces are pretty handsome and pretty sporty.

 

[Beeblebrox237]

When I was looking around on skins for Assetto Corsa, I noted Porsche Design. And so last night, I saw what Porsche Design is about. I must say... those Porsche Design timepieces are pretty handsome and pretty sporty.

Porsche Design is funny, because even though most would instinctively dismiss them as expensive branded tat, they've actually got a pretty decent horological history and were pioneering in several different areas including materials. They even made watches for the German military at one point. They're not the best value for money nor are they necessarily a brand which most people would find cool, but the designs are genuinely original and there's some great history behind them. The Nixon @Nico_Ble99 posted owes its colour scheme to Porsche design, who were the first to ever introduce an all black wristwatch.

 

[a6m5]

I believe it’s been 4 years since I bought my last watch. I got myself another Luminox.

I’d been eyeing this one for awhile, and couldn’t pass it up when eBay discount came along, which made it $131. I was paranoid about fakes, so did some verification check, even if the seller claimed to be authorized seller. I think I’m good.

 

[Populuxe]

Sotheby's just finished a week-long online auction of vintage and modern timepieces. Follow that link and you can see all the watches and what they sold for (if they did sell.) No surprise, but it's an impressive display of horology. 114 pieces (not all watches). Most seemed to exceed their pre-auction estimates. Here are a few highlights:

2018 Patek Philippe Nautilus Ref 5990-1A sold for $87,500 on $40k-60k estimate.


2012 Audemars Piguet Jules Audemars Equation du Temps Jerusalem sold for $30k on $20k-$30k estimate.


2007 Omega Speedmaster 50th Anniversary Limited Edition sold for $8,125 on $3k-5k estimate.


2008 Patek Phillippe Twenty-4 was a no sale on $10k-15k estimate.


There were bargains, too, like this 1940 Movado that sold for $875 on $1k-2k estimate.

 

[SlipZtrEm]

Having owned an AVI-8 Supermarine Seafire for 2 years now, I'm very happy with it. The NATO strap really needs a replacement now, though. While looking at AVI-8 straps, I was looking at some of their models to add to my collection:

Certainly not everyone's cup of tea, they tend to make very busy watches. But for some reason I love all of them. Partly because I love aviation in general, but I do like the vintage look to them. I personally think the blue Centenary looks stunning, I'm currently going back and forth between that and the Hawker Harrier Turbine (last image).

This post actually got me a new watch for crimbo, the wife has wrapped it and put it teasingly under the tree,

Oh, I like that green one quite a bit. And the Centenary is stunning!

I joined the Hawker club earlier this year:

Really like it. The strap thickness is a bit much, but I'm really enjoying the design. It's also borderline too big for my skinny little wrist, but oh well.

 

[JohnBM01]

When I looked up the latest DuPont Registry, I saw a bunch of watches that retailed for some fairly exorbitant prices. For one, there was a Richard Mille watch I saw retail for about $828K USD. This watch cost about as much as a lot of high-end supercars or fairly low-priced hypercars! It didn't look like a watch I'd own if I was looking for a super-high end watch, but that's some crazy coin to pay for certain luxury watches.

 

[AlvaroF]

When I looked up the latest DuPont Registry, I saw a bunch of watches that retailed for some fairly exorbitant prices. For one, there was a Richard Mille watch I saw retail for about $828K USD. This watch cost about as much as a lot of high-end supercars or fairly low-priced hypercars! It didn't look like a watch I'd own if I was looking for a super-high end watch, but that's some crazy coin to pay for certain luxury watches.

And I've heard reports that buying a watch from Richard Mille is a nightmare. You supposedly have to beg them for one and their customer service is crap. And I've seen some close shots of the watch and their quality is a bit hit or miss, but hey, what do you expect when the tooling is pretty much all built from scratch. Also, that one must be a pretty special one because most RM's hover between the $100k to $250k USD mark

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After making my own watch earlier this summer, I'm contemplating doing my second one. I'm still sketching something, until I reach what I want, a modern, more original design so I can toy around 3D printing.

 

[JohnBM01]

I'm sorry... if you're going to spend upwards of $800K USD on anything, you'd better get your money's worth. I would feel ridiculously cheated if what you said about Richard Mille were true and if I were to buy that $800K+ USD watch from them that I saw in the DuPont Registry. $800K+ USD is a whole lot of money to invest in and spend to come up short in the end. I never realized watches could cost THAT much. A long time ago, I blogged about watches and saw one watch on Amazon retail for about $11K USD or $15K USD. I, meanwhile, am still pretty happy with my $23 USD watch from an Academy store.