Watch Thread

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

  1. fraggler

    fraggler A Happy & Busy Life

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 1, 2015
    Likes Received:
    5,084
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Chicago, IL
    Back in my corporate life, I wore a Victorinox Alliance Chronograph like this one daily for about 10 years:
    [​IMG]
    I still have it, but the polished surfaces are beat to hell. I don't really like the rubber straps anymore, but since it has extended lugs for the fitted strap, regular replacement straps look funny with too big a gap. NATO style is the alternative, but with such shiny surfaces, including the hands and numbers, it looks off to me. The sapphire crystal, while super reflective, looks mint. I stopped wearing watches several years ago when I started to work from home and on construction sites. This thread got me thinking about them again, with the Citizen Calibre 9000 I got from @spwath (who got it from @YMO) triggering the jonesing. The Citizen is a nice business/casual evenings watch and I wear it to meetings now, but I'd like to get something more rugged for travel/play. I definitely like that Airboss the stainless steel with leather strap. The Hamilton Quartz Pilot is pretty dope, too. I will take a look at the used market and see if anything comes up.

    Oh, and I'd love a Timex Expedition if I could replace the crystal with sapphire.
     
  2. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Apr 1, 2018
    Likes Received:
    10,517
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Palms Of The Coasts, FL
    Thanks nerds. I'm going to review and see which direction I will take. I do like the higher end G-Shock ones. Been a sucker for mines as of late.
     
  3. dasman66

    dasman66 Self proclaimed lazy ass - friend

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Mar 13, 2018
    Likes Received:
    2,461
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    NW Pennsylvania
    I grew up about 10 miles from where the RGM shop is now (back when Hamilton watches were still a US brand, headquartered in Lancaster PA) and stop regularly when I'm in the area to visit friends. In addition to making their own watches, RGM is the US authorized Sinn service center... they went above/beyond the call to make a quick fix late in the afternoon when I stopped unannounced with my SInn 104 I St Sa that had just suddenly stopped.

    I agree that many of the RGM designs are a little over the top (ie., their divers, dress and "themed" watches), but the simpler aviation and field watches are right up my alley.
     
  4. dasman66

    dasman66 Self proclaimed lazy ass - friend

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Mar 13, 2018
    Likes Received:
    2,461
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    NW Pennsylvania
    It won't make financial sense on a <$50 watch, but you might be able to replace with sapphire. Pop the existing crystal out, measure the thickness/diameter and check Essingler for a sapphire version. I $20 crystal press (and some time on youtube to figure out how to use it), and you're back in business.

    I've modded 10-15 watches (mostly seiko's and vostok's... no Timex's). It's not all that hard if you have a little patience.
     
  5. Partytime

    Partytime Facebook Friend

    Contributor
    Joined:
    Jul 28, 2019
    Likes Received:
    170
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Location:
    Los Angeles
    They have upped their prices since the last time I looked seriously!

    RGM is awesome. I talked to them a bit about doing a custom watch. Cool company. Cool guys.
     
  6. Zhanming057

    Zhanming057 Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Dec 13, 2018
    Likes Received:
    1,033
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    NYC
    Same feeling here. I really want to buy something from RGM, but the midtier pieces are a bit indistinctive, they look like they could come from any of 5-10 brands (but they do look great). The high end stuff is absolutely beautiful but I can't see myself wearing one.

    I'm curious about how deep they'd be willing to go on the customization side, but I suspect that my wallet won't support that option...
     
  7. Partytime

    Partytime Facebook Friend

    Contributor
    Joined:
    Jul 28, 2019
    Likes Received:
    170
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Location:
    Los Angeles
    When I spoke to them about it 5-6 years ago they pretty open to doing anything. But still constrained loosely to they’re general style. I don’t know if they will still do full custom work. This was a while ago. They’re nice folks tho, I’m sure they’ll happily take some time to talk through options if you call.
     
  8. Partytime

    Partytime Facebook Friend

    Contributor
    Joined:
    Jul 28, 2019
    Likes Received:
    170
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Location:
    Los Angeles
  9. Deep Funk

    Deep Funk Deep thoughts - Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    9,028
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Amsterdam
    Home Page:
    Not one watch in that collection exceeds 41mm. Timex gets it. Those Marlins are gorgeous.
     
  10. FlySweep

    FlySweep Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    1,412
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Portland, OR
  11. Partytime

    Partytime Facebook Friend

    Contributor
    Joined:
    Jul 28, 2019
    Likes Received:
    170
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Location:
    Los Angeles
    Ya they really nailed it.

    The 34mm marlins are gorgeous! I wish they did it in in a 36, 34 a little small for me. But at that size it is an authentic vintage look.

    @Deep Funk If you like those Marlins these Glashuttes are like the UBER version of them.

    https://www.glashuette-original.com/collection/vintage-collection

    Alos, at a more affordable point, Nomos has a similar vibe.

    https://nomos-glashuette.com/en

    This company is awesome. Read about them. Similar to Weiss, they are delivering on a level far beyond their price point
     
  12. dasman66

    dasman66 Self proclaimed lazy ass - friend

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Mar 13, 2018
    Likes Received:
    2,461
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    NW Pennsylvania
    I love the sunburst marlin look, just not the 34mm size. It would like like a dime on a piece of string on my wrist.
     
  13. iFi audio

    iFi audio MOT iFi Audio

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2017
    Likes Received:
    1,284
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Many places.
    Home Page:
  14. ergopower

    ergopower Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Mar 21, 2018
    Likes Received:
    815
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    South Central PA
    Yeah, I really like that as well. I already own a Timex MK1 from the Todd Snyder collaboration, wear it all the time. I'm looking for a white-faced watch to pair with a vintage-look medium brown leather strap. This Allied LT would work really well, and the Parnis Daytona 03 that someone earlier in this thread recommended is another. I'm sure both are made in China, so wouldn't decide based on that. Timex is a known quantity, but Parnis gets good reviews also.
     
  15. fraggler

    fraggler A Happy & Busy Life

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 1, 2015
    Likes Received:
    5,084
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Chicago, IL
    Maybe not vintage looking enough, but came across Tissot Quickster Chronographs that were NBA team branded: https://www.jomashop.com/tissot-watch-t095-417-17-037-16.html Looks to be a name brand watch with sapphire crystal for China-homage price. If a black faced one was available, I'd have bought one.
     
  16. Zhanming057

    Zhanming057 Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Dec 13, 2018
    Likes Received:
    1,033
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    NYC
    Not sure if this is the place to share this but I just want to post it somewhere.

    Today I was at an AD in Manhattan. This really swarthy guy came in, loudly told (in a heavy Italian accent) the salesperson that he worked at building management and "you guys pay me rent and owe me a favor" and requested to authenticate a gold Rolex Datejust. Sales guy took one look and said that it was a fake. He then turned to me and said "you're Chinese. You'd know. What do you think?" and handed the watch to me. It was super obvious, weight was completely wrong and it had a bunch of other problems. So I told him that it was 100% fake. He threw up his arms, cursed (in English and what I assume is Italian) and stormed out.

    I don't think I've experienced a more "Jersey Shore" moment in my life. NYC retail is just an endless source of entertainment.
     
  17. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Apr 1, 2018
    Likes Received:
    10,517
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Palms Of The Coasts, FL
    If I ever move back to the Northeast, it'll be Maine. No more Brooklyn for me, Mass is too rich for my blood, and I'll take the trees and moose any day. No more keeping a baseball bat in the case for me when I was a kid hanging out with my dad.
     
  18. Zhanming057

    Zhanming057 Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Dec 13, 2018
    Likes Received:
    1,033
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    NYC
    I'm going to Portland for a week in late Oct. Looking forward to trying my best to decimate the local lobster population.

    I've got so many NYC retail stories. There's the time when a Brooks Brothers manager scolded me for asking my girlfriend for fashion advice. And that time when a completely unarmed crazy guy tried to stick up a photo gallery in his pajamas. And that time I blew up an amp at In Living Stereo a couple years ago.
     
  19. fraggler

    fraggler A Happy & Busy Life

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 1, 2015
    Likes Received:
    5,084
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Chicago, IL
    Finally bought a new watch! Ended up going with the Seiko SNZG15J1. I decided on this one when I found out there was a readily available sapphire replacement crystal. Just about every other option I could find that had everything I wanted was either too big, too small, or $500 or more if I wanted an authorized dealer. So assuming I don't bork the crystal replacement and it doesn't break the water resistance, I can get what I wanted for about $200 all in. A much more palatable entry for me right now.

    As for the watch, I love the dial and the sand blasted case. I was ok with the strap, but put a military green NATO strap on it for now. The overall size is fine, though I still think 40mm is the magic number for my wrist. I'd rather go a touch bigger at 42 which this is, than down to 38 or 37 which is a touch too small and my girlfriend dislikes on me. The thickness is going to be something to get used to, as I have worn quartz watches most of my life. It is thick enough that I have ordered a new, standard style watch band in leather to get rid of the extra couple mm that a NATO band adds.

    Now I have a business watch and a casual watch that I am pleased with. Time to round it out with a nice dinner/dress watch (hello Bambino?).

    I really appreciate all the advice given.

    Citizen Calibre 9000 courtesy of SBAF:
    [​IMG]
    Seiko SNZG15J1:
    [​IMG]
    My old Victorinox Alliance Chronograph on a Bond inspired NATO for giggles:
    [​IMG]
     
  20. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Apr 1, 2018
    Likes Received:
    10,517
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Palms Of The Coasts, FL
    Looks carefully Hey did you get my old $50 watch from the Flea Market to work again?


    Old Port in Portland should still be rocking in late Oct. Things start to close down here and there by I guess Nov and Dec? If you are into drinking, you need to find the speak easy. Maybe see if you want to meet up with @JoshMorr, he lives in the area.

    I don't miss NYC except for the food. Too many crazies for my taste.
     

Share This Page