Watch Thread

Discussion in 'Geek Cave: Computers, Tablets, HT, Phones, Games' started by Shem, Sep 28, 2015.

  1. Deep Funk

    Deep Funk Deep thoughts - Friend

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    That is exactly why I bought my Seiko Solar Diver. Too bad that 7S26 movement is in the SKX series. Seiko makes good automatic movements.
     
  2. rott

    rott Secretly hates other millenials - Friend

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    Sure, would love something like that if it was 40-41mm.

    I don't have an issue with homages, can save a ton of cash yet still (usually) get a quality product with the design/look sought after. Much better than going the replica route.

    I'm also encouraged by what Oris is doing with their Divers Sixty-Five range.
     
  3. GoodEnoughGear

    GoodEnoughGear Evil Dr. Shultz‎

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    Seiko divers tend to wear smaller than their measurements FWIW.

    <Edit>Though on a quick look at reviews this one doesn't</Edit>
     
  4. nephilim

    nephilim Acquaintance

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    I have the same model, accompanied by an Erika strap (very comfortable). This is the only (sub clone) Steinhart I can (and want to) wear as I really dislike a) Mercedes hour hands and b) cyclops, However, my general concern with the Steinhart cases is the flat and wide design. The lugs are long and thin with little curvature. I wear a G-Shock Gulfmaster with pride but the Steinharts look odd on my wrist when viewed from the side.

    I wish I had bought the Helson Shark Diver 40 prior to this Steinhart - I might have spent 400 EUR on something else :) This is not meant to degrade the Steinhart but praise the SD40 (w/Miyota 9015)!
     
  5. rott

    rott Secretly hates other millenials - Friend

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    Thanks for the Helson tip.
     
  6. mitochondrium

    mitochondrium Friend

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    Summer watch:

    [​IMG]

    Winter watch:

    [​IMG]

    If I wore a leather strap in summer it would last just one summer, for me a reason good enough to get a watch with a rubber strap.
     
  7. Deep Funk

    Deep Funk Deep thoughts - Friend

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    @mitochondrium , try a leather nato-strap. It can have the softness of rubber but feel better and last longer dependent of the quality of the leather itself.

    My heavy Steinhart feels better on the leather nato-strap.
     
  8. Taverius

    Taverius Smells like sausages

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    I was unpacking and found my Seamaster.

    [​IMG]

    Its a 90s one iirc, should get it serviced one of these days.

    Edit: this was my uncles dive watch, and not only was he a trimix instructor, he played support for scuba depth record attempts. Better than even odds this thing has been past its rated depth a time or twelve.
     
    Last edited: May 22, 2018
  9. Skyline

    Skyline Double-blindly done with this hobby

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    Well, I stupidly wore my watch to the zoo (leather band + sweat + rain = stains and sadness).

    Here's the watch:

    [​IMG]

    Can you all recommend some replacement bands? I know NATO bands are popular...where do you like to buy them? I love the leather, but am open to anything.
     
  10. elguapo

    elguapo Gringos falling from the skys

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    I like Clockwork Synergy for NATO straps. I unfortunately can't help with leather straps.
     
  11. Kunlun

    Kunlun cat-alyzes cat-aclysmic cat-erwauling - Friend

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    Can't you buy some leather cleaner/conditioner and learn an important lesson about friendship and teamwork?

    That's what I did for my fiancee's leather strap this weekend. Got two products off amazon.

    Nato's are nice. I don't think one time wetting a leather band is fatal, though. Unless it rained monkey poo or something.
     
  12. Skyline

    Skyline Double-blindly done with this hobby

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    It may be worth a shot. I'm reading that sweat stains in leather bands are very difficult to remove, though.

    I'm eyeing this as a replacement. Pricey, but it seems very close to the original: https://www.crownandbuckle.com/harbor-22mm-brown-calf.html
     
  13. Stapsy

    Stapsy Friend

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    Venetian Shoe Cream is worth a shot. Does an excellent job restoring and conditioning leather. It might darken the strap a little bit, but will definitely even out any stains and help to prevent future ones.

    https://oakstreetbootmakers.com/venetian-shoe-cream
     
  14. Kunlun

    Kunlun cat-alyzes cat-aclysmic cat-erwauling - Friend

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    Two fun watches, one affordable, one not, I'd like to share.

    The first is a kickerstartery watch with an interesting way of displaying the time.
    https://www.ablogtowatch.com/xeric-halograph-ii-automatic-watch/
    The Xeric Halograph

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    Kinda novel, yet legible! With a number of dials. I like it.



    The next is a WTF variant of an awesomely fun high-end watch, Russian watchmaker Konstantin Chaykin's Joker, which looks like this:
    [​IMG]

    The eyes are the hours and the minutes, while the tongue is a moonphase, so as the day, and month, pass, the expression changes. It's pretty fantastic and has been popular. These aren't cheap, around $8,000 for the base model, with high enough finishing for the price.


    There's a new version which is over 12 times that. And what do you get for that?



    This:


    [​IMG]

    What the shit

    Yes, it's Dogs Playing Poker from Uncle Bill's yardsale, now cased in 18k rose gold and on your wrist.

    Oh, there's also this one:

    [​IMG]

    The collie is losing here, but considering his rivals, that's nothing to be ashsmed of.

    These are on the back of the watch.

    These cost so much because they are automatons, with some movement when you press a button, like super old timey mechanical robots.

    Yes, there are other watches that have this kind of thing with sex scenes where every hour or whatever there's some awkward thrusting, just like 8th grade.

    Fun stuff.
     
  15. rott

    rott Secretly hates other millenials - Friend

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    The Xeric is priced well but 46mm! Pretty cool regardless.
     
  16. iFi audio

    iFi audio MOT iFi Audio

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    What good people here think about affordable (sub $2'000) Tourbillons, i.e. Seagull?
     
  17. Kunlun

    Kunlun cat-alyzes cat-aclysmic cat-erwauling - Friend

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    They are shitty, of course.

    High end tourbillons are in the context of haute horology, so you have high level finishing by hand on the movement and everything is well crafted and well designed. The tourbillon itself is interesting yes, but it's all that went into the whole watch which makes it special. You end up learning more about horology because the watch inspires it.

    The problem with a garbage watch (which still costs a lot for garbage) is that, after the initial half hour of interest, you have a shitty watch. It misses everything that made the real deal special. It will end up in a drawer.

    For that money, you can either buy a well made lower cost mechanical watch such as the Sinns and Seikos which are popular, or save from that amount for a nice watch such as a Tudor or Nomos, or even buy a high quality quartz. Point being, you can spend that money much more wisely.
     
  18. Stapsy

    Stapsy Friend

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    No doubt a tourbillon is one of the most visually intriguing complications. I think it presents the beauty of mechanical precision in a way that very few watches can.

    That being said, it is essentially a pointless complication for wristwatches from a timekeeping perspective. I wouldnt want a watch with a tourbillon that cost less than $50k unless I was willing to sacrifice in timekeeping, finishing, and general precision. Doing the basics of timekeeping is hard enough at that price point. I don’t think it is worth it when there are so many other interesting options.

    For the record I also wouldn’t trust $2000 minute repeaters or perpetual calendars either.
     
  19. iFi audio

    iFi audio MOT iFi Audio

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    Yes, thought so. Just needed to reassure myself this is the case as early on I was very much looking forward to snatching one, but after several cool-headed posts here and there similar to yours this fixation passed.
     
  20. fraggler

    fraggler A Happy & Busy Life

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