Watch Thread

I have a mega watch obsession...

Some favorites of mine:



Wear this pretty much 24/7

My other DD



Most of the gang



Some that are missing from above




I definitely have a problem. Debatably worse than hifi problem.

 

I love it when I see an SKX in amongst a collection like that. and if your watch problem is "debataly worse" than hifi, then I shudder to think what your hifi system looks like. WOW

 

I was wearing my seiko yesterday! I love that watch. One really doesn’t need more than that. And maybe a Seiko Cocktail Time as a dress watch. Boom. All set for under $500.

Dollar for dollar the watch collection wins by a mile. Obsessiveness level is a toss up tho.

 

Even as someone who doesn't enjoy wearing watches - very nice collection sir. How do you like the last Blancpain? I've always really liked the look of the bathyscaphe vs most divers but it looks a tiny bit too big (43.5mm??) for comfort (and I have above average wrists) - granted I never understood the whole 46-50mm+ trend from a few years back.

 

Thank you!

I love the Bathyscape. I think it’s just about the coolest diver you can buy rn. I’m with you on the big watches. Don’t get it. I have absurdly small wrists which may make it look bigger. I don’t think it wears big at all, and my ideal size is 39mm.

Looking back through old pictures, the Blancpain nato strap (nicest nato ever btw) definitely helps with how it wears, I think bc it masks the over hang a bit.



I think I might wear this tomorrow!

 

@Zhanming057 ressence and Devon! Yes! Love it. I love boutique brands like those. Watchmaking can be so stodgy, I love these brands that try new stuff!

 

Affordable tourbillons are probably suspicious in general and they defeat the purpose of ownig such a watch, but this below haunts me all the time:

 

Affordable tourbillons are cool just bc they give you access to such a cool mechanical accomplishment!

 

Ah, thanks, that's a relief. For a sec there I thought that this could be seen as nothing short of blasphemy in the watch world.

 

It probably is, but people like that suck!

 

I have two quartz watches and three 2842's, and I think that anyone who is snobbish about Seagull tourbillons has their head so far up their ass that their opinions cease to be relevant to me Seagull is entirely capable of watchmaking at the highest levels. Here's Beijing Watch's Gyrotoubillon which is built in collaboration with Seagull:



I flirted with the idea of getting one of these (I could always visit the workshop and talk prices in person) but they weren't willing to do much about pricing with customizations. I wonder if it's such a PITA to build these that they don't even want to sell them.

On the note of tourbillon's, I just learned about Angelus, they're a sister company to Arnold & Son with a more modern take. Same "affordable Swiss horology" sales pitch, watches starts at under $20k street pricing. Really liking the design and the fact that it's a movement made specifically for a skeleton. Maybe my next watch?

 

Angelus is super cool. That a really pretty watch.
I always love the Arnold and Son designs, but never bought one Bc I think it’s kind of lame how they just bought that old trademark and brand rights and co-opt the history, but they’re really just some new, private equity owned company.

Great design, lame business plan. I could never get over that.

 

That's what I've heard as well.

Not a fan of this design, but what's inside is IMPRESSIVE.

 

So after obsessively looking at dive style watches trying to find my holy grail for under $300, I came to realize that I am really not that enthused with the looks (thanks for the suggestions, though). I'd prefer more of a military/field/pilot type watch. More Indiana Jones as opposed to James Bond if that makes any sense even though Indiana Jones didn't wear a watch. I still want sapphire crystals and at least 100M water resistance (snorkeling/swimming). Any suggestions? I like the looks of the Hamilton Khaki King, but the water resistance is low. This Marathon watch is really cool, but the water resistance is still not good enough. I have just over a 7" wrist and think 40-42mm watches look best on me depending on style. I am fine with quartz movement to keep prices down. Any other brands or specific watches to take a look at? $300 or less is preferred, but might stretch to $500 if it moves me and I can get some of my audio gear offloaded.

 

Tissot PR100. Look them up. They are nice.



You get a lot of watch for the money. Even the older PR100-series are pretty good value for money and you will not cross the 500 Dollars line.

 

Hamilton makes excellent watches. Can’t go wrong with those.

Weiss makes gorgeous field watches. I think they are about $1000 new, but you could maybe find a used one close to $500. If you wanted to stretch the budget for one of these it would definitely be worth it. They are really gorgeous in person and made to level way beyond their price point.

Tissot mentioned above also makes great watches. Can’t go wrong there either.

 

Of course, there are the obligatory (and numerous version) Seiko Flightmaster, Citizen Eco-Drive Aviator, Seiko 5 field, type suggestions (albeit, typically mineral glass)... venture out of the Japanese watches and 100M/10ATM can be difficult... most aviation and field watches are 5ATM.


pushes the price range, but a 10ATM Auto Steinhart (also in a black case version) for $440 - domed sapphire, swiss ETA 2824 mvmt. Not sure why it's priced under $500


Victorinox Fieldforce $350, Quartz, 10ATM, Sapphire, couple different colors


Hamilton Khaki Quartz Pilot Watch, $315, 200M, Sapphire



Something a little different - Yema Chrono Rallygraf (other colors available). Quartz, 10ATM, but mineral crystal for $299.

 

If you find a 42mm Weiss for $1k new, then please let me know (or buy it for me and I'll pay you back ). The least expensive I've seen is a handwound 38mm that was still north of $1k... great watch tho.

For another American made watch, check out RGM... I'd love to figure out a way to swing the 801COE, but its way out of my league... maybe someday I'll get a 151-PR instead...

 

If you’ve never really worn a watch (or haven’t in a while) maybe dip your toes in the water with one of the Timex expedition watches. They’re stupid cheap (like $50), water resistant to 100m and you can find out if you’ll really wear a watch enough to make it worth buying something nicer. If/when you get that something nicer then the Timex can be your beater watch you don’t need to worry about breaking. Obviously no sapphire at that price level though.

I have a Victorinox Airboss that I like that would mostly fit your criteria, it’s kind of a fashion brand (in the watch world vernacular) but has a decent eta movement. Amazon has the cheapest one at $499 (which is half the list) but I’ve seen other variations cheaper.

https://www.ablogtowatch.com/victorinox-swiss-army-airboss-ref-241720-watch-review/

 

RGM is great. Very nice people to deal with. The aesthetics doesn't quite agree with me...but the engineering is impressive and they fight the Swiss on their own turf (e.g. America made tourbillons).