What watch do you wear?

They do a 40mm version too :p
40mm seems to be about the smallest I feel 'comfortable' wearing, hell I tried on a 45mm oris pro pilot and that didn't feel overly big, although I preferred the 40mm so bought that size lol.

Mind you Hamilton caused me issues by not even giving me 'normal' length straps.... my Jazzmaster Thinline (40mm case) couldn't even fit round my wrist (8 inches) because they stuck stupidly short straps on it, 110/70 maybe even less iirc, meaning I had to buy new a strap before I could even wear it :mad:

I am still wowed by the Laco Aachen 39 with Type-B dial. It has C3 lume but it is said Stowa has heavier layered C3 so to expect it to be even brighter/longer lasting. Cannot wait!

But for £460 I feel the Aachen is incredible value for the quality you are getting along with a decorated 60hr movement.

I thought laco was pretty well regarded, especially with flieger style watches.... I can't say I've seen any negative reviews etc, but to be fair I've not looked into them that much as I'm not a huge flieger fan, although they do look to have expanded a bit style wise.


Picked up the new Tudor Blackbay Chrono during the week. Only thing I'm not 100% on, is the strap.

https://imgur.com/a/n9dJ9EJ
I'm on the 'like' side too, although my preference is more the white, even though I suspect black is a better choice for versatility overall. Personally I don't mind the metal strap although I will usually, where possible, grab a watch with a metal strap anyway, swapping to a strap is far easier/cheaper than grabbing an oem bracelet afterwards
 
110/70 is my exact strap size! One of the reasons why I like the Hirsch Pure rubber so much because their M size is exactly those dimensions and it fits absolutely perfectly with just the right amount of slack but not loose. I like that strap so much I bought another to go on the Stowa lol. I did initially buy a green one from Watch Band Specialist in Germany but they sent me the L size (120/80) which doesn't suit me so I am awaiting to see if they will refund me whilst I just ordered a black one in correct size from Watchobsession instead. If they can't do anything the I will just sell it online I guess.

Yeah both Laco and Stowa have expanded their ranges over the years by offering sports geared watches as well as the classic marine/dress style pieces too. I'm personally not a fan of their dive/sports watches as the styling doesn't do it for me. It's funny how my preferences have changed toward Fliegers and vintage designs but with modern materials and movements. I only have 3 analogue watches now, two of which are hand wind. Maybe it will stay that was for quite some time.

Edit* I also learned that Laco watches are handmade too, that explains the fit and finish and details even on the cheaper models. Germans eh :D
 
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Yeah both Laco and Stowa have expanded their ranges over the years by offering sports geared watches as well as the classic marine/dress style pieces too. I'm personally not a fan of their dive/sports watches as the styling doesn't do it for me. It's funny how my preferences have changed toward Fliegers and vintage designs but with modern materials and movements. I only have 3 analogue watches now, two of which are hand wind. Maybe it will stay that was for quite some time.
I'd say watch companies are going one of two ways, diversifying to have as many items as possible or condensing down to their 'best sellers'.

Some are also consolidating manufacturing, one of the things I noticed with the new Rolex's (not that I'm a fan) is that they all basically use the same base oyster case and then have different bits added to it.
Then you've got others like Citizen (who I like a lot) who seem to have lost their way a little with their 'consumer' designs and Seiko trying to go up market while still having quality control issues....

As to personal tastes, I'd say most of us will go through at least one 'change of taste' phase, something as simple as going from a suited job to a more casual job can diversify your tastes when you think about it. I'm more about 'casual' wear with my watches because I don't wear suits that often but still felt I needed at least one 'dress watch'. I decided I didn't need to be so 'black and white' as I'm not corporate and because I work in design I felt I could get away with a bit of colour, so my jazzmaster has the red dial (well reddish, it's got a purple/pinkness to it too in real life)


Edit* I also learned that Laco watches are handmade too, that explains the fit and finish and details even on the cheaper models. Germans eh :D
If I'm honest I'd maybe question that on their cheaper models, hand finished (ie putting it all together with a ready made, or mostly finished, movement/parts) I could see but I doubt there'd be any money in making a movement too, let alone 'hand made' which in my eyes (companies might disagree lol) means in house manufacturer/construction of movement etc.
 
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I'd say watch companies are going one of two ways, diversifying to have as many items as possible or condensing down to their 'best sellers'.

Some are also consolidating manufacturing, one of the things I noticed with the new Rolex's (not that I'm a fan) is that they all basically use the same base oyster case and then have different bits added to it.
Then you've got others like Citizen (who I like a lot) who seem to have lost their way a little with their 'consumer' designs and Seiko trying to go up market while still having quality control issues....

As to personal tastes, I'd say most of us will go through at least one 'change of taste' phase, something as simple as going from a suited job to a more casual job can diversify your tastes when you think about it. I'm more about 'casual' wear with my watches because I don't wear suits that often but still felt I needed at least one 'dress watch'. I decided I didn't need to be so 'black and white' as I'm not corporate and because I work in design I felt I could get away with a bit of colour, so my jazzmaster has the red dial (well reddish, it's got a purple/pinkness to it too in real life)



If I'm honest I'd maybe question that on their cheaper models, hand finished (ie putting it all together with a ready made, or mostly finished, movement/parts) I could see but I doubt there'd be any money in making a movement too, let alone 'hand made' which in my eyes (companies might disagree lol) means in house manufacturer/construction of movement etc.

Ah yes I mean in the sense that the movements are already supplied by ETA/Miyota etc and Laco/Stowa simply just make the cases / straps by hand and depending on the model variation, that hand crafting is standard or extensive, like Laco have their pre-beaten up vintage models that cost ££££ where someone over there beats the living **** out of it so it looks like it came out of WWII :D - Some people like that!

Going back to the Aachen, for this price take a look at even the crown (pulled out here) how nicely finished and robust it looks:There also sin't a single spec of dust under the crystal or mark on the dial finish or hands, these are things that are often overlooked because similarly priced watches inc Seiko don't go through a human process from start to finish AND such things slip by QC.

crown_pos2.jpg


What is a bonus is that even on the basic movements are tightly regulated and decorated so they do seem to spend some time on them even though they arrive from somewhere else assembled in the base config.

Agreed on the changing taste, that Jazzmaster is excellent looking but a couple years ago I'd not have looked twice at it!
 
Ah yes I mean in the sense that the movements are already supplied by ETA/Miyota etc and Laco/Stowa simply just make the cases / straps by hand and depending on the model variation, that hand crafting is standard or extensive, like Laco have their pre-beaten up vintage models that cost ££££ where someone over there beats the living **** out of it so it looks like it came out of WWII :D - Some people like that!
yeah can't say I'm a huge fan of the 'beaten up' look, besides if I did I'm pretty sure I'd just do it myself.... it's a bit like buying jeans with holes in them....

Going back to the Aachen, for this price take a look at even the crown (pulled out here) how nicely finished and robust it looks:There also sin't a single spec of dust under the crystal or mark on the dial finish or hands, these are things that are often overlooked because similarly priced watches inc Seiko don't go through a human process from start to finish AND such things slip by QC.
I dare say what you're getting for the price would be something nearly double the cost if it was in a store and had all the other overheads added on so like you say for the money you can't really fault it.
Seiko is one of those weird brands, they seem to be absolutely adored on most forums or by reviews but everytime I've considered one I've rejected it for some reason (the lume not being centred in the white circle on a dive watch for example) and at least in my case it kind of puts me off grand seiko even though I know the grand seiko should be a LOT better etc.

What is a bonus is that even on the basic movements are tightly regulated and decorated so they do seem to spend some time on them even though they arrive from somewhere else assembled in the base config.
I'm a bit weird with movements, I kind of like the 'industrial' look of the unfinished movements but at the same time there are some watches (like jlc) I would expect to be fully finished etc

Agreed on the changing taste, that Jazzmaster is excellent looking but a couple years ago I'd not have looked twice at it!
To be fair a few years back I wouldn't have been looking at the style of watches I am these days.... I'm a huge fan of the jlc shown by illuz for example (and the reverso obviously) but in the past I was (and to a point still am) more about the more chunky 'sports' watches (not invicta/hublot level) like dive watches etc while now I'm edging more towards a 'cleaner' overall look.
 
New Baltic fully unveiled. I like it a lot but it is a marked shift from their vintage geared styling of the rest of the line. Maybe this is a sign of the new direction for 2021?


Certainly looks the [art and the finishing looks good. Great price too.

That is a lovely looking watch - and the preorder price looks tempting too....

How would the 2nd crown control the bezel though - would it still be (say) 120 clicks to move it 360 or is the crown just quite stiff? If not - what's to stop the bezel being nudged round if you catch the crown on something....
 
That is a lovely looking watch - and the preorder price looks tempting too....

How would the 2nd crown control the bezel though - would it still be (say) 120 clicks to move it 360 or is the crown just quite stiff? If not - what's to stop the bezel being nudged round if you catch the crown on something....
Looks a bit like my SARB017, where you just come to turns* with constantly lining it up :(

*Genuine typo but leaving it for lols
 
what's to stop the bezel being nudged round if you catch the crown on something....
They comment in the video (about 3:10) that it doesn't screw down and if you knock it it might change so basically nothing lol
To be fair I'd say most people won't be using it for diving so I doubt that it's a major issue.
 
It's the same as all other compressor case divers with internal bezels, there is no internal ratchet so if you nudge the crown you will move the bezel so it's not really useful for timing much over a length of time where you are doing other things. I found this to be the case with the Spinnaker Bradner too, the bezel crown was nice and smooth, but even a jumper sleeve could turn the crown!
 
Took some proper pictures as I picked up the watch today. Oh it's nice. Master Control Calendar from Jaeger Le-Coultre.




I'll get some in the daylight tomorrow :)
 
JLC movements sure are nicely done :cool:

I've now exhausted youtube and websites for reviews of the Stowa Bronze. Only one Japanese vlog seems to have covered it in detail but I don't speak Japanese and there are no subs so can't gauge what they are saying. Sure does look pretty though and has made me even more impatient as still not had a shipment email :o

 
JLC movements sure are nicely done :cool:

I've now exhausted youtube and websites for reviews of the Stowa Bronze. Only one Japanese vlog seems to have covered it in detail but I don't speak Japanese and there are no subs so can't gauge what they are saying. Sure does look pretty though and has made me even more impatient as still not had a shipment email :o

pretty sure that video is in korean not japanese, not that it makes much difference without subs lol


This is for the 40mm but should give you an idea if you haven't watched it
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYNjWia511w
 
Yeah seen that, he doesn't really have the watch in hand and merely uses the stock photos which I've already analysed in greater detail than in an episode of CSI :D
 
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