Wristwatches.

streethawk

I've decided (over a very short period of time) that I am a watch enthusiast.

It's good because it helps stave off GAS.

Turns out there's all this micro companies dishing out nice gear at pretty reasonable prices. 

Any watch fans on here?

richardhomer

Yes - although I only have one (a Rolex I bought in 1987).

There's something very appealing about beautifully engineered watches. A genuine 'joy of possession' from owning one, for me.

joneve

Yes, love a watch or 7. 

My prize possession is my Omega Seamaster that my wife bought me for my 30th Birthday, but I also have another handful of "lower end" Swiss watches (3 Frederique Constant and an ESQ) and a Seiko. 

stickyfiddle

I like a nice watch. Haven't got anything super-posh yet; my regular rotation is a Hamilton Khaki and a Seiko SNZF17 Submariner-alike. 

I love the look of Autodromos but I think they'd look a bit odd with everything else I wear. 

streethawk

richardhomer said:

Yes - although I only have one (a Rolex I bought in 1987).

There's something very appealing about beautifully engineered watches. A genuine 'joy of possession' from owning one, for me.

80's? Rolex?

What model is this trinket of social injustice. (sorry, I'm northern).

streethawk

stickyfiddle said:

I like a nice watch. Haven't got anything super-posh yet; my regular rotation is a Hamilton Khaki and a Seiko SNZF17 Submariner-alike. 

I love the look of Autodromos but I think they'd look a bit odd with everything else I wear. 

http://www.gnomonwatches.com/watches/squale-watches/20-atmos-militaire-1545-sel-bracelet-mk2

I would like this submariner tribute. Sort of dig the cheesy fish logo.

WezV

I like watches, but don't have any of the massively priced stuff many collectors go in for.

I think my most expensive is a £300 pocket watch which sits in its box 99.9% of the time.  I have a few £150 ish wristwatches, and a lot of relatively cheap, but interesting stuff... I have quite a few vintage watches that were under £50 and more interesting than anything new, to me at least. 

The main watch at the moment is a wooden one from wewood, I was worried about its longevity but its surviving pretty well and developing a nice patina

John_P

A bit like having a Les Paul, strat, tele and 335 I have a Hamilton jazzmaster for work,  a G shock ga1000 and Seiko diver for outdoorsy everyday stuff and an Omega planet ocean for going out.  

i haven't bought a new watch for ages but unless I break one or they start look old and worn I've probably got all I need.    If only it was that simple with guitars.  

lloyd

I'm in the market for an automatic watch, I've recently re-started wearing a watch (cheap quartz) which is essentially just a bracelet with a clock on it.

I love the engineering of the proper ones.

axisus

I didn't get on with my watch. People said Give it time, but I'm a hands on guy and she was digital. Our days were numbered, but I preferred them spelled out. She offered to change, I thought it was a wind-up but no, the batteries were still there. Could I start again with a new watch? I don't know, time will tell.

thisisguitar

Check out Autodromo if you like cars too, their watches are reasonably priced:

http://www.autodromo.com/watches/stradale-automatic/

joneve

lloyd said:

I'm in the market for an automatic watch, I've recently re-started wearing a watch (cheap quartz) which is essentially just a bracelet with a clock on it.

I love the engineering of the proper ones.

What's your budget?

Haych

I have a nice Rotary that my father bought for me.  It's not super expensive or anything (about £150 I reckon) but it's tidy looking and I love it just because it was from Dad - he could've given me a Mickey Mouse watch and I'd still wear it with pride.

I've always wanted an Omega Seamaster simply for the James Bond connection, and because they look amazing.  My chances of ever owning one are slim to none though.

Top tip that I recently learned the hard way - don't take your watch to H.Samuel if it needs the battery replacing.  They made a right cock up of mine!

lloyd

joneve said:

lloyd said:

I'm in the market for an automatic watch, I've recently re-started wearing a watch (cheap quartz) which is essentially just a bracelet with a clock on it.

I love the engineering of the proper ones.

What's your budget?

Probably a few hundred, £250-300 maybe. Can I get anything decent for that?

Something simple, white faced and not too bulky (I'm assuming you pay more for slimmer ones?)

rlw

I have a Seamaster with the smaller face, bought by my wife for my 50th (I think).  Nearly 14 years on. it still loses about a second between the clocks changing backwards and forwards and scrubs up a treat under the warm tap....bloody brilliant.

And I have a very elegant, very thin gold Longines with absolutely no embellishment for smarter occasions.

edbolivar

I love automatic watches, especially Grand complications.

For years I have thought I might do a horology course when I retire (a while yet) as I quite fancy the idea of making a watch/clock.

Before I got back into music and guitars, I had a few years where I bought a few nice pieces.

Like with guitars, don't rule out a good used one, if you can get good provenance.

stickyfiddle

lloyd said:

joneve said:

lloyd said:

I'm in the market for an automatic watch, I've recently re-started wearing a watch (cheap quartz) which is essentially just a bracelet with a clock on it.

I love the engineering of the proper ones.

What's your budget?

Probably a few hundred, £250-300 maybe. Can I get anything decent for that?

Something simple, white faced and not too bulky (I'm assuming you pay more for slimmer ones?)

God yes. That's plenty to get something nice. My Seiko was a hair over 100 iirc.

How big a watch do you want? How dressy? Simple and formal or lots of dials? Metal, leather or nylon strap?

lloyd

stickyfiddle said:

lloyd said:

joneve said:

lloyd said:

I'm in the market for an automatic watch, I've recently re-started wearing a watch (cheap quartz) which is essentially just a bracelet with a clock on it.

I love the engineering of the proper ones.

What's your budget?

Probably a few hundred, £250-300 maybe. Can I get anything decent for that?

Something simple, white faced and not too bulky (I'm assuming you pay more for slimmer ones?)

God yes. That's plenty to get something nice. My Seiko was a hair over 100 iirc.

How big a watch do you want? How dressy? Simple and formal or lots of dials? Metal, leather or nylon strap?

Smart casual basically, as small as possible, leather strap and white face-no gubbins, time and date, perhaps a wire garrote like what James Bond has got to stealthily kill my enemies.

I want something for every day rather than a metal bracelet that's a huge cock extension, like some of the Omega's....

lloyd

lloyd said:

stickyfiddle said:

lloyd said:

joneve said:

lloyd said:

I'm in the market for an automatic watch, I've recently re-started wearing a watch (cheap quartz) which is essentially just a bracelet with a clock on it.

I love the engineering of the proper ones.

What's your budget?

Probably a few hundred, £250-300 maybe. Can I get anything decent for that?

Something simple, white faced and not too bulky (I'm assuming you pay more for slimmer ones?)

God yes. That's plenty to get something nice. My Seiko was a hair over 100 iirc.

How big a watch do you want? How dressy? Simple and formal or lots of dials? Metal, leather or nylon strap?

Smart casual basically, as small as possible, leather strap and white face-no gubbins, time and date, perhaps a wire garrote like what James Bond has got to stealthily kill my enemies.

I want something for every day rather than a metal bracelet that's a huge cock extension, like some of the Omega's....

Also, more than happy to have something second hand, old fashioned.

What are the makes to avoid and consider (quality wise, I'm not a snob).

viz

I'm so happy with this one from China - it's an automatic, keeps really good time, and only has a few minor spelling mistakes. 

http://i865.photobucket.com/albums/ab217/Vizzage/Mobile Uploads/image_zpsipe3nqdy.jpeg

John_P

lloyd said:

joneve said:

lloyd said:

I'm in the market for an automatic watch, I've recently re-started wearing a watch (cheap quartz) which is essentially just a bracelet with a clock on it.

I love the engineering of the proper ones.

What's your budget?

Probably a few hundred, £250-300 maybe. Can I get anything decent for that?

Something simple, white faced and not too bulky (I'm assuming you pay more for slimmer ones?)

The sort of budget would let you get a hamilton from creation - 
http://www.creationwatches.com/products/hamilton-watches-250/hamilton-american-classic-valiant-automatic-h39515753-mens-watch-8514.html ;
or
http://www.creationwatches.com/products/hamilton-watches-250/hamilton-khaki-king-automatic-h64455523-mens-watch-2323.html

you could easily get something from seiko or orient for a bit less that fits that description as well but I like the look of the hamiltons (I wear a jazz viewmatic for work everyday and it's great)