What watch do you wear?

Kamakazie! · 2 Mar 2021 at 22:47

Wizardskills said:
Talking of vintage Zenith, my latest purchase turned up today. A Zenith Surf ref 01-1431-380. A classic blue dial, integrated bracelet sports watch from the 70s.

Nice buy, looks immaculate. Is it NOS?
I've been looking at the Zenith Diver but there are not a lot around in good condition that don't seem a bit optimistically priced.

mrk · 2 Mar 2021 at 22:50

I like that but the date window (like pretty much every date window ever

) just breaks the otherwise moment of zen(ith) with that dial!

Wizardskills · 2 Mar 2021 at 23:42

Kamakazie! said:
Nice buy, looks immaculate. Is it NOS?
I've been looking at the Zenith Diver but there are not a lot around in good condition that don't seem a bit optimistically priced.

I wouldn't class it as NOS as there are a couple of little nicks in it here are there. That said it can't have been worn very much as it is pretty much mint. Which ones are you looking at? The 70's Defy ones?

mrk said:
I like that but the date window (like pretty much every date window ever ) just breaks the otherwise moment of zen(ith) with that dial!

Yes, I must admit I'm not a huge date window fan either. If there has to be one, I think it always looks best when it is at 6. However, given the condition of this one, I just couldn't pass on it.

hughtrimble · 3 Mar 2021 at 00:04

Lovely Zenith.

I'm very pro date function, in fact I don't buy any watch without one now, having owned a few dateless watches. There are pointer dates etc. but I've yet to try one of those, mainly because I've never seen one that quite gels with me.
Grand Seiko can blend them in very well with the dial sometimes, but other times they seem to intentionally choose a contrasting date wheel (like on my GS SBGE001) when they have other models with the exact same dial tone and a matched date window (like on my GS SBGA041). Irritating!

mrk · 3 Mar 2021 at 07:24

Just came across this, actually been enjoying Nico's videos as of late. Not a Rolex fan myself but man's got points even though Michael is a great guy and only buys watches he enjoys the style of.

Scania · 3 Mar 2021 at 09:47

Not worn a watch for years, am I weird?

Kamakazie! · 3 Mar 2021 at 10:12

Wizardskills said:
I wouldn't class it as NOS as there are a couple of little nicks in it here are there. That said it can't have been worn very much as it is pretty much mint. Which ones are you looking at? The 70's Defy ones?

Mainly the Sub Sea A3630 but I'm partial to coloured dials where available so there may be other models that I'd take. Also really like the A3635 super compressor that pops up now and again.
Something from mid 80s would be the ultimate find bit it gets harder around then due to quartz crisis.
I know decent examples are around but they are pretty pricey so I'd need to mull it over a fair bit.

Scania said:
Not worn a watch for years, am I weird?

That's not unusual. I didn't wear one for years and know many that never really have.

Kamakazie! · 3 Mar 2021 at 12:03

My other option which definitely hits the 80s button is a Doxa Sub 250T Searambler or Professional colour dial. Although cheaper than the Zenith they are rare as hen's teeth in good nic.

hughtrimble · 3 Mar 2021 at 12:19

Anyone who has bought from Barton Watch Bands - are these shipped from within the UK, or do they arrive from the US and thus you need to pay VAT and import fees etc.?

mrk · 3 Mar 2021 at 12:26

USA shipping via USPS. I've bought multiple times. I have only been charged import fees when combining 2 orders that exceeded £15 or so. All single strap orders around £15/$20 have arrived without any fees or VAT attached.

Who knows what it's like now after Brexit though!

hughtrimble · 3 Mar 2021 at 14:11

mrk said:
USA shipping via USPS. I've bought multiple times. I have only been charged import fees when combining 2 orders that exceeded £15 or so. All single strap orders around £15/$20 have arrived without any fees or VAT attached.

Who knows what it's like now after Brexit though!

Cheers for this mrk - I'll keep hunting as the VAT and other charges make them substantially more expensive. Brexit naturally shouldn't make any difference given it's the US, but you're right that the customs procedures could well have changed to have to deal with the massively increased package flow that needs charge scrutiny (not to mention processing time!).

Kamakazie! · 3 Mar 2021 at 15:17

Historically they may have come in under the low value threshold (£15) but now that's abolished I think it's meant to be collected via the retailer anyway for anything under £38, so don't think you'd be liable in import either way.
I've got a strap coming from Nick Mankey in a few weeks though so well see, though that one might to the value threshold.

mrk · 4 Mar 2021 at 00:50

Still can't get enough of this dial texture...

Have to say the H-50 movement has surpassed expectations. I read in the past that some high power reserve movements can compromise on accuracy in favour of long reserve but not so here. I believe this movement has to be serviced by Hamilton though as it is regulated/adjusted by laser. Nevertheless, this is running +0.97s a day which is funnily the exact same average as the Miyota 9039 in the Aquascaphe SB01 whereas the 9039 in the Bronze is at +5s a day... (still way more accurate than Miyota's official specs lol).

IvanDobskey · 5 Mar 2021 at 09:26

Still hunting for an automatic chronograph. I'm liking these, listed in order of price :

Tissot prc 200 - lovely watch but bit on the thick side
Hamilton jazzmaster - ticks a lot of boxes but maybe a little plain
Rado hyperchrome - really love the look of this, but probably too big
Longines master collection - seems a good all rounder
Tag carrera - love the style of this, but get the feeling tags aren't worth what they cost
Omega speedmaster - dream watch, but not sure I can justify what it would cost, even though I can afford one

Any thoughts on my list? Or maybe something I haven't thought of?

mrk · 5 Mar 2021 at 11:08

Longines would probably be my pick although as usual an awkwardly placed date window lol.

This is stunning, not for me, also has cyclops which is ugly but... it is stunning and that dial...
https://www.gnomonwatches.com/products/prospex-save-the-ocean-king-samurai-200m-ref-sbdy081

hughtrimble · 5 Mar 2021 at 11:08

@IvanDobskey Something from Zenith? Your price range would incorporate some of their creations, if second hand market.

There's also a wealth of vintage 7750 movement watches which have a vast array of styling. Just Googling 'Valjoux 7750 chronograph' will give you hours of window shopping. Readily serviced movement and very reliable.

IvanDobskey · 5 Mar 2021 at 11:16

mrk said:
Longines would probably be my pick although as usual an awkwardly placed date window lol.

This is stunning, not for me, also has cyclops which is ugly but... it is stunning and that dial...
https://www.gnomonwatches.com/products/prospex-save-the-ocean-king-samurai-200m-ref-sbdy081

I tend to lean away from the diver type watches, not so keen on the thick bezel look. Although I do quite like the Oris aquis whale shark edition.

IvanDobskey · 5 Mar 2021 at 11:26

hughtrimble said:
@IvanDobskey Something from Zenith? Your price range would incorporate some of their creations, if second hand market.

There's also a wealth of vintage 7750 movement watches which have a vast array of styling. Just Googling 'Valjoux 7750 chronograph' will give you hours of window shopping. Readily serviced movement and very reliable.

Nearly every watch I look at seems to have the 7750 movement in it

Which makes me wonder why such price variance? The £700 tissot and the £4000 tag have the same guts. Makes me think the tag is way overpriced.

mrk · 5 Mar 2021 at 11:30

The badge on the dial. Tag are unnecesarily expensive because of the name I really don't see their appeal in the vast majority of their watches. The Monaco in Steve McQueen blue is the only exception for my own preferences however lol. It's the same with other brands too, Tudor's Pelagos OG model had an ETA 2824-2, the watch was £2800 when I bought it new. At the time I had a Longines HydroConquest with the exact same movement and same regulation so +1s~ a day, the Longines was under £700. Granted one was Titanium but that doesn't suddenly increase the price by not far off £2000!

IvanDobskey · 5 Mar 2021 at 12:01

mrk said:
The badge on the dial. Tag are unnecesarily expensive because of the name I really don't see their appeal in the vast majority of their watches. The Monaco in Steve McQueen blue is the only exception for my own preferences however lol. It's the same with other brands too, Tudor's Pelagos OG model had an ETA 2824-2, the watch was £2800 when I bought it new. At the time I had a Longines HydroConquest with the exact same movement and same regulation so +1s~ a day, the Longines was under £700. Granted one was Titanium but that doesn't suddenly increase the price by not far off £2000!

Yep, trying to get my head around the whole pricing of different models and brands at the moment. Not keen on many of the tags, but the carrera is nice. But 4k for a 7750 powered watch? No thanks.

Are there any watches below 4k that use an in-house movement? I think maybe the longines? Seems to be a column wheel system rather than the 7750 cam system?

Maybe I just have to stump up the cash for a speedmaster.