What watch do you wear?

Guest2 said:
All you need to do is look at a Omega / Breitling / Rolex service video to see the workmanship that goes into just cleaning and maintenance.
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Must admit, very disappointed with my Rolex. I had grown up seeing my fathers and always thought of it as a rugged adventurous watch, pricey but quality. When I finally got one I wore it most days, nothing overly exciting happened to it but after a year and a half the thing stopped. Sending it away I was told that the internal wheels had come loose from regular wear. Now use it as a show watch. I appreciate the benefits of fine craftsmanship, but I didnt necessarily equate that with fragility. Shame because I love wearing that thing.
 
Devlish said:
Must admit, very disappointed with my Rolex. I had grown up seeing my fathers and always thought of it as a rugged adventurous watch, pricey but quality. When I finally got one I wore it most days, nothing overly exciting happened to it but after a year and a half the thing stopped. Sending it away I was told that the internal wheels had come loose from regular wear. Now use it as a show watch. I appreciate the benefits of fine craftsmanship, but I didnt necessarily equate that with fragility. Shame because I love wearing that thing.
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presume it was repaired under warranty? every company has some qc issues, dealing with them properly is the key
 
Devlish said:
Must admit, very disappointed with my Rolex. I had grown up seeing my fathers and always thought of it as a rugged adventurous watch, pricey but quality. When I finally got one I wore it most days, nothing overly exciting happened to it but after a year and a half the thing stopped. Sending it away I was told that the internal wheels had come loose from regular wear. Now use it as a show watch. I appreciate the benefits of fine craftsmanship, but I didnt necessarily equate that with fragility. Shame because I love wearing that thing.
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And someone else has a sub with a broken rotating bezel mechanism – At those prices you have every right to expect a certain amount of longevity but I guess anything with moving parts could fail at any moment however expensive (look at cars :p)

Did a lot of research before getting the HydroConquest as I liked its styling a lot compared to other divers and was happy enough with the very few negative remarks people were making about it which all seemed to be stuff like not enough bracelet adjustment for certain wrist sizes and so on. The movement is found on many other watches and is known to be robust and accurate and the watch itself looks and feels as classy as its bigger and pricier counterparts so what was there to lose!
 
Devlish said:
Must admit, very disappointed with my Rolex. I had grown up seeing my fathers and always thought of it as a rugged adventurous watch, pricey but quality. When I finally got one I wore it most days, nothing overly exciting happened to it but after a year and a half the thing stopped. Sending it away I was told that the internal wheels had come loose from regular wear. Now use it as a show watch. I appreciate the benefits of fine craftsmanship, but I didnt necessarily equate that with fragility. Shame because I love wearing that thing.
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I was in a similar situation when I picked up my Explorer II 42mm. I got home and noticed a pretty big black spec of dust/grit under the crystal, so had to send it back to Rolex for cleaning :( Very disappointing but did not put me off completely. No company is perfect.
 
Raymond Lin said:
You can get a Platinum Seiko for about £800, automatic too.

http://www.creationwatches.com/prod...r15-titanium-automatic-sbdc007-200m-1742.html

As I said, the truth is the brand name and heritage play a BIG part. A Rolex at £23,000 isn't 30 times better built than a £700 Seiko (await someone point out it is Hardex Crystal or it goes deeper underwater), it isn't 30 times more accurate. One might argue the Rolex will hold its value or go up (as with any investment, it's a risk), but with the same argument the most you will lose with a Seiko is £700, which is pittance in comparison and who cares if you lose £700 when you have another £22,300 left in the bank for some other proper investment? :p I mean if people want to use invesetment as a reason to buy a watch, there are much better things to invest than watches.

I am willing to openly admit that if I ever buy a Omega and Rolex, it is because of bragging rights and nothing else. Because any other reason I am lying to myself. Lets face it, if I want accuracy I buy a Quartz. If I want to invest my money, it certainly won't be in watches.

I like to think buying these watches at thounsands is akin to buying designer handbags at £5,000. Do they hold the purse any secure? Did the cow it come from have better DNA? A £5,000 handbag is more expensive because it is made in Italy as opposed to China. It is also because of the logo glued/stitched to the front of it.

It's a fashion accessory.

We can all have the Swiss thanked for this really (SWATCH Group), because before Quartz came along, watches were seen as an object for its function, not as an object for its desirability. Quartz when it first came out was expensive, the first ever Seiko Quartz costs in thousands in today's money, it wasn't until Casio's mass market penatration that drove the price down (as with all electronic, prices will come down). A Quartz is more accurate than your automatic (more accurate is better) and because it was new to the market people wanted it because of the novelty, a new way to tell time, and in the 70's and 80's, digital was cool (even in music, remember that sound?), digital front watches was everywhere, old mechanical watches was dead in the water and the Swiss had to do something to save its industry. So the only way was to market it as a lifestyle object, an object of desire, a move away from an object of function. It can do that because it is mechanical and that is its marketing starting point. So once it moved to that platform, you can basically charge for what you want since people will pay for nicer things, luxury objects. People would pay stupid amount for a antique china bowl because it is old. The only difference is that said bowl would be one of a kind and 2,000 years old but you can't say the same about a £20,000 Rolex, there is many of them around and nothing to stop the company knocking out many more, time after time.

That's how I see the whole watch thing.
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They are status symbols. A statement that says 'look at me, I can afford a watch worth £5k'. Like every other status symbol it offers no extra functionality over a normal priced equivalent.

Does that make me want an Omega/Rolex any less, no chance!
 
shez said:
They are status symbols. A statement that says 'look at me, I can afford a watch worth £5k'. Like every other status symbol it offers no extra functionality over a normal priced equivalent.

Does that make me want an Omega/Rolex any less, no chance!
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Haha, there is nothing wrong with that. We all have our vanity and it's okay, I would be lying to say I am not the same.
 
shez said:
They are status symbols. A statement that says 'look at me, I can afford a watch worth £5k'. Like every other status symbol it offers no extra functionality over a normal priced equivalent.

Does that make me want an Omega/Rolex any less, no chance!
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So is a better computer, car, phone etc etc a status symbol?

Sure, a Lada get you from A to B, so why spend 10k, 100k, 1mil on a better made, better looking car?
 
Two of my orders arrived today to kick start my automatic side of the collection. :D :)

I fancied something different looking, Tango like. :cool:

Orient Mako

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Excuse the purple shirt. You can rest assured that this combo is a one off. :p

Seiko SKX007J1

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I seriously love this watch, there's something about it. I wasn't too happy about the rubber strap when I placed the order but it's actually not bad at all. I'd be happier with a bracelet though so I've ordered a 22mm Oyster bracelet strap from the states, it should be with me in a little over a week.
 
Couple of nice choices there, would recommend you replace the bracelet spring bars on the Mako as the standard ones are a little weak (as the end links are hollow they have space to bend).
 
Thanks, I took some time making my decision. I also wanted two very different looking watches. A Mako in black was my first preference, but second thoughts made me realise that I fancied something a little more adventurous. Before that I was eyeing up the Seiko Orange Monster but there's something about its style that I'm not keen on, mostly the choice of hands.

Thanks for the tip with the Mako, any recommendations for the spring bar?
 
Hello guys,

Here is a tough one for you. My mum wants to buy me a watch - I don't particularly want a watch, but she is insisting for sentimental / family reasons. Basically 5 years ago I inherited my fathers Rolex Datejust - http://www.bernardwatch.com/Rolex/Datejust/RLX5906 - I've worn it on a handful of special occasions - my wedding, my first childs christening, etc - but it means far too much to me to wear as an everyday watch.

Until very recently I had an Adidas watch - I can't even find a picture of it as its not sold anymore. I've had it 18 years or so since school, but its finally packed up, it had a good innings. Anyway, since I'm now without a watch for the first time in god knows how long, and because my dad always insisted I had a nice watch, and as a late Chrsitmas / Birthday present she is insistent I pick out a watch in the region of £250.

Heres the problem, I'm really struggling to find something I like. My goal watch has always been a Navitimer - http://www.beaverbrooks.co.uk/0001151/Breitling-Navitimer-World-Chronograph-Mens-Watch/p - but lets face it thats a little out of the price range. I've seen similar looking watches, but I wouldn't know a good watch brand if it smacked me in the face... help me OcUK, you're my only hope.
 
I'm tempted by a MVMT, and then maybe get a nato strap for it. Thoughts?

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I didn't even know such things existed? I imagined all "replica" watches to be plastic Chinese knock offs? (Sorry if I'm showing a profound ignorance here, no offence meant)

Erm, I don't know how I would feel about it. On one hand I'd like to get a watch that will last me years, that I can pass on, something for the children etc - but then again I don't think I'm going to get that for £250 - I suppose I would consider a replica.
 
Was seriously looking at the ball worldtime watch but ive just seen so many owners having problems with them its put me off; basically what some of you said at the time!

So what else should i be looking at? thinking upto 2k, but id go higher for the right time peice, maybe even double.

Im after something dive/sports style, steel bracelet, GMT function, date window, moderate size, black faced and obviously automatic. preowned would be fine also.
 
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