What watch do you wear?

xb8browney · 29 Oct 2018 at 22:18

Can anyone recommend a good quality NATO straps for my seamaster? Don't fancy £120 for the genuine one.

hughtrimble · 29 Oct 2018 at 22:39

xb8browney said:
Can anyone recommend a good quality NATO straps for my seamaster? Don't fancy £120 for the genuine one.

Try Watchgecko and Time Factors, both do decent NATOs with quite a wide selection.
Watchgecko often has voucher codes too (I think watchuseek is a code...and maybe even watchgecko, at least was edit: yes both working).

Richdog · 30 Oct 2018 at 11:45

Ahleckz said:
Probably been asked a million times, but let's make it a million and one:

Thinking about buying a designer watch (IWC Portofino is very tempting but it's every last penny of my budget!). Would it be better to buy one online/in a shop in Glasgow/at Schipol (Amsterdam) airport or in Japan? By better, I clearly mean cheapest.

An IWC Portofino isn't a designer watch, it is a luxury watch. A Calvin Klein or Gucci is a designer watch.

What is your budget and do you really want to spend every last penny of it? It would help if yo ulink to which specific model you are interested in.

Basically, please provide all the info possible when asking questions and advice from people.

Ahleckz · 30 Oct 2018 at 18:18

Richdog said:
An IWC Portofino isn't a designer watch, it is a luxury watch. A Calvin Klein or Gucci is a designer watch.

What is your budget and do you really want to spend every last penny of it? It would help if yo ulink to which specific model you are interested in.

Basically, please provide all the info possible when asking questions and advice from people.

Valid point. It was a bit of a "I'm off to bed, so lets quickly post and see what advice I get tomorrow". But yea, on reflection it was a poor post.

So, it's my 30th at the end of November and I've never had a luxury watch and quite fancy one. Seems a good present to myself. I have a bonus coming in the new year which is essentially free money. I have, at the most, £4000 to spend. Realistically, I'd rather not spend that. The IWC would be amazing, but I think I should only really buy it if I know I really want it and I don't think I'm there. After thinking about it today, I think I'd like to keep it under £2000, with £2500 being the very max.

I want to avoid Rolex and Tag at all costs. I prefer the classic dress style watches, albeit with the face to have something a bit more going on.

I'm happy to go preowned, or new. I'm very much out of my depth.

From a quick browse, I like these:
https://www.goldsmiths.co.uk/IWC-Portofino-Automatic/p/17810324/
https://www.goldsmiths.co.uk/IWC-Portugieser-Chronograph/p/17810348/
Bit more modern:
https://www.goldsmiths.co.uk/Bell-and.-Ross-BR123-Golden-Heritage-Mens-Watch/p/17020256/
https://www.goldsmiths.co.uk/Bell-and.-Ross-BRV292-Mens-Watch/p/17020282/
https://www.goldsmiths.co.uk/IWC-Big-Pilot-quote.s-Heritage-Mens-Watch/p/17810586/ (miles out of budget, but hey)
https://www.watches-of-switzerland.....-Ross-Vintage-123-Mens-Watch/p/408021757249/

https://www.watches-of-switzerland....o+Axial-Mens-Watch-4614.30.02/p/408720999020/
Very classic:
https://www.watches-of-switzerland....restige-Mens-Watch-4600.31.02/p/408700852490/

This is stunning:
https://www.watches-of-switzerland.co.uk/Pre+Owned-Breitling-Transocean..-Circa-2011/p/40550130/
Good for the price:
https://www.watches-of-switzerland.co.uk/Pre+Owned-NOMOS-Glashutte-Club..-Circa-2017/p/406000032490/

Richdog · 30 Oct 2018 at 18:42

Ahleckz said:
Valid point. It was a bit of a "I'm off to bed, so lets quickly post and see what advice I get tomorrow". But yea, on reflection it was a poor post.

So, it's my 30th at the end of November and I've never had a luxury watch and quite fancy one. Seems a good present to myself. I have a bonus coming in the new year which is essentially free money. I have, at the most, £4000 to spend. Realistically, I'd rather not spend that. The IWC would be amazing, but I think I should only really buy it if I know I really want it and I don't think I'm there. After thinking about it today, I think I'd like to keep it under £2000, with £2500 being the very max.

I want to avoid Rolex and Tag at all costs. I prefer the classic dress style watches, albeit with the face to have something a bit more going on.

I'm happy to go preowned, or new. I'm very much out of my depth.

From a quick browse, I like these:
https://www.goldsmiths.co.uk/IWC-Portofino-Automatic/p/17810324/
https://www.goldsmiths.co.uk/IWC-Portugieser-Chronograph/p/17810348/
Bit more modern:
https://www.goldsmiths.co.uk/Bell-and.-Ross-BR123-Golden-Heritage-Mens-Watch/p/17020256/
https://www.goldsmiths.co.uk/Bell-and.-Ross-BRV292-Mens-Watch/p/17020282/
https://www.goldsmiths.co.uk/IWC-Big-Pilot-quote.s-Heritage-Mens-Watch/p/17810586/ (miles out of budget, but hey)
https://www.watches-of-switzerland.....-Ross-Vintage-123-Mens-Watch/p/408021757249/

https://www.watches-of-switzerland....o+Axial-Mens-Watch-4614.30.02/p/408720999020/
Very classic:
https://www.watches-of-switzerland....restige-Mens-Watch-4600.31.02/p/408700852490/

This is stunning:
https://www.watches-of-switzerland.co.uk/Pre+Owned-Breitling-Transocean..-Circa-2011/p/40550130/
Good for the price:
https://www.watches-of-switzerland.co.uk/Pre+Owned-NOMOS-Glashutte-Club..-Circa-2017/p/406000032490/

Look at Oris, they are one of the last independent watch makers left in Switzerland and have tons of great models in your budget https://www.goldsmiths.co.uk/c/Bran.../Recipient_For-Him/Show_Page/Sort_price+asc/¨

Also don't be afraid to look at grey market options, you can save a lot of money https://www.jomashop.com/watches.html

Don't rush, just do some research into the various brands, models and movements and learn a little about watches before buying anything.

danza · 30 Oct 2018 at 19:35

xb8browney said:
Can anyone recommend a good quality NATO straps for my seamaster? Don't fancy £120 for the genuine one.

Haglund's SVEA, far better quality than what Watch Gecko sells, although not much colour choice:

https://www.haglundstrapco.com/

SDK^ · 30 Oct 2018 at 20:42

Ahleckz said:
Valid point. It was a bit of a "I'm off to bed, so lets quickly post and see what advice I get tomorrow". But yea, on reflection it was a poor post.

So, it's my 30th at the end of November and I've never had a luxury watch and quite fancy one. Seems a good present to myself. I have a bonus coming in the new year which is essentially free money. I have, at the most, £4000 to spend. Realistically, I'd rather not spend that. The IWC would be amazing, but I think I should only really buy it if I know I really want it and I don't think I'm there. After thinking about it today, I think I'd like to keep it under £2000, with £2500 being the very max.

I want to avoid Rolex and Tag at all costs. I prefer the classic dress style watches, albeit with the face to have something a bit more going on.

I'm happy to go preowned, or new. I'm very much out of my depth.

From a quick browse, I like these:
https://www.goldsmiths.co.uk/IWC-Portofino-Automatic/p/17810324/
https://www.goldsmiths.co.uk/IWC-Portugieser-Chronograph/p/17810348/
Bit more modern:
https://www.goldsmiths.co.uk/Bell-and.-Ross-BR123-Golden-Heritage-Mens-Watch/p/17020256/
https://www.goldsmiths.co.uk/Bell-and.-Ross-BRV292-Mens-Watch/p/17020282/
https://www.goldsmiths.co.uk/IWC-Big-Pilot-quote.s-Heritage-Mens-Watch/p/17810586/ (miles out of budget, but hey)
https://www.watches-of-switzerland.....-Ross-Vintage-123-Mens-Watch/p/408021757249/

https://www.watches-of-switzerland....o+Axial-Mens-Watch-4614.30.02/p/408720999020/
Very classic:
https://www.watches-of-switzerland....restige-Mens-Watch-4600.31.02/p/408700852490/

This is stunning:
https://www.watches-of-switzerland.co.uk/Pre+Owned-Breitling-Transocean..-Circa-2011/p/40550130/
Good for the price:
https://www.watches-of-switzerland.co.uk/Pre+Owned-NOMOS-Glashutte-Club..-Circa-2017/p/406000032490/

Nomos make good, well respected dress style watches

https://www.watchfinder.co.uk/Nomos Glashutte/Club/774/19825/item/106900

pepp77 · 31 Oct 2018 at 12:30

Just bought myself a little Tissot Automatic

Rotty · 31 Oct 2018 at 13:38

Custom strap for the JLC just arrived from ABP in Paris, fantastic quality

Please excuse

1. Dirty watch
2. Crap photos
3. Hairy arms

Van Diemen · 31 Oct 2018 at 14:44

xb8browney said:
Can anyone recommend a good quality NATO straps for my seamaster? Don't fancy £120 for the genuine one.

Closest I've found to the OEM Omega nato in terms of feel & quality

https://phenomenato.com/

xb8browney · 31 Oct 2018 at 15:08

Van Diemen said:
Closest I've found to the OEM Omega nato in terms of feel & quality

https://phenomenato.com/

Thanks

Van Diemen · 31 Oct 2018 at 15:22

Rotty said:
Custom strap for the JLC just arrived from ABP in Paris, fantastic quality

Please excuse

1. Dirty watch
2. Crap photos
3. Hairy arms

looks really good, very nice combo

Rotty · 31 Oct 2018 at 17:08

Thanks, was fairly sure it would work but was all done over web so couldn't be 100%

Wizardskills · 2 Nov 2018 at 13:48

Rotty said:
Custom strap for the JLC just arrived from ABP in Paris, fantastic quality

The strap looks great @Rotty, really suits the watch.

This is my latest purchase off of eBay, a 70s Dugena chronograph with a pulsation and tachymeter scale all powered with a Valjoux 7733.

Rotty · 2 Nov 2018 at 16:31

very nice

Ryan-3 · 4 Nov 2018 at 14:19

Just bought my first automatic and as I'll not be wearing it for work (chemicals + watch = nope), I've been looking at winders.

Could anyone recommend something that isn't too big or too expensive? Don't mind paying a bit more if I have to, but if they're no better..

Rikki · 6 Nov 2018 at 03:06

Ryan-3 said:
Just bought my first automatic and as I'll not be wearing it for work (chemicals + watch = nope), I've been looking at winders.

Could anyone recommend something that isn't too big or too expensive? Don't mind paying a bit more if I have to, but if they're no better..

Avoid winders. Just reset it before wearing and enjoy the tactile and hands on approach.

Rikki · 6 Nov 2018 at 03:07

Gamefreak501 said:
Black edition sounds like it would be good - is that a PVD or resin case? I wonder when my G-Shock will break so I can get a black edition of your watch... haha

PVD I think fella

Rikki · 6 Nov 2018 at 03:07

Ahleckz said:
Probably been asked a million times, but let's make it a million and one:

Thinking about buying a designer watch (IWC Portofino is very tempting but it's every last penny of my budget!). Would it be better to buy one online/in a shop in Glasgow/at Schipol (Amsterdam) airport or in Japan? By better, I clearly mean cheapest.

If its in stock in Glasgow then go in and haggle probably.

Rikki · 6 Nov 2018 at 03:08

Ahleckz said:
Valid point. It was a bit of a "I'm off to bed, so lets quickly post and see what advice I get tomorrow". But yea, on reflection it was a poor post.

So, it's my 30th at the end of November and I've never had a luxury watch and quite fancy one. Seems a good present to myself. I have a bonus coming in the new year which is essentially free money. I have, at the most, £4000 to spend. Realistically, I'd rather not spend that. The IWC would be amazing, but I think I should only really buy it if I know I really want it and I don't think I'm there. After thinking about it today, I think I'd like to keep it under £2000, with £2500 being the very max.

I want to avoid Rolex and Tag at all costs. I prefer the classic dress style watches, albeit with the face to have something a bit more going on.

I'm happy to go preowned, or new. I'm very much out of my depth.

From a quick browse, I like these:
https://www.goldsmiths.co.uk/IWC-Portofino-Automatic/p/17810324/
https://www.goldsmiths.co.uk/IWC-Portugieser-Chronograph/p/17810348/
Bit more modern:
https://www.goldsmiths.co.uk/Bell-and.-Ross-BR123-Golden-Heritage-Mens-Watch/p/17020256/
https://www.goldsmiths.co.uk/Bell-and.-Ross-BRV292-Mens-Watch/p/17020282/
https://www.goldsmiths.co.uk/IWC-Big-Pilot-quote.s-Heritage-Mens-Watch/p/17810586/ (miles out of budget, but hey)
https://www.watches-of-switzerland.....-Ross-Vintage-123-Mens-Watch/p/408021757249/

https://www.watches-of-switzerland....o+Axial-Mens-Watch-4614.30.02/p/408720999020/
Very classic:
https://www.watches-of-switzerland....restige-Mens-Watch-4600.31.02/p/408700852490/

This is stunning:
https://www.watches-of-switzerland.co.uk/Pre+Owned-Breitling-Transocean..-Circa-2011/p/40550130/
Good for the price:
https://www.watches-of-switzerland.co.uk/Pre+Owned-NOMOS-Glashutte-Club..-Circa-2017/p/406000032490/

Just curious why the avoidance of two of the most well known brands?