What watch do you wear?

icG · 24 Jul 2019 at 20:55

I love my Citizen Eco-Drive; had it for 3 years now, no problems. Been checking forums from time to time and seen plenty of nice watches but won't spend more than 100GBP on a watch anytime soon.

Chucklevision · 27 Jul 2019 at 08:39

Cleisthenes said:
Looks great, I love a nato.

Thank you - I wasn’t sure on the colour at first but it’s definitely growing on me - I’m just glad to have it back and be able to wear it again. I like to think my old man would’ve approved.

Got my eye on a couple more straps at Watchgecko, so no doubt it'll change appearance soon!

BIGWEB · 29 Jul 2019 at 15:34

Got a SD50 Yesterday which means I now have a 3 Large diving watches.

I've already agreed a deal to sell the Deepsea this morning and now and I think I am also going to put the Blancpain up for sale, save up a little more and buy a Day-Date 40

Was cool to see them all together even for a short while.

lakitu · 29 Jul 2019 at 20:55

killsta said:
My first venture into the more expensive (well, for me ) watch world after losing my favourite Seiko:

Question however, does anyone know where you can get replacement (genuine) Tag straps? Wouldn't mind a backup for when this one gets worn

If you ever need a genuine TAG Heuer strap I can help you.

Ahleckz · 29 Jul 2019 at 21:03

BIGWEB said:
Got a SD50 Yesterday which means I now have a 3 Large diving watches.

I've already agreed a deal to sell the Deepsea this morning and now and I think I am also going to put the Blancpain up for sale, save up a little more and buy a Day-Date 40

Was cool to see them all together even for a short while.

That Blancpain is beautiful.

BIGWEB · 29 Jul 2019 at 22:28

Ahleckz said:
That Blancpain is beautiful.

It’s so weird isn’t it that it makes the other 2 look plain!

The finishing on it is incredible

randomshenans · 30 Jul 2019 at 09:25

I have this coming... was a real deal, so going to no doubt flip it when it arrives but it's a really nice piece! So, real question is, I'm looking to pick up something in the 800 euro range, once I flipped this, which I would like to trade up again... I'm challenging myself to trade up to something mega. So, around 800 that I could flip for about 1200

Around that mark I think I'm going to have to keep my eyes peeled on a Longines bargain to come up, maybe a Tag, but I dislike tag that much and there are so many around, not sure I could. Maybe I'll find a bargain Oris to flip.

Nice little piece on the Orient: https://twobrokewatchsnobs.com/orient-star-gmt-wz0071dj-review/

GSXRMovistar · 30 Jul 2019 at 10:11

Nice, I do like an Orient watch.

ash_scotland88 · 31 Jul 2019 at 10:26

Fallen in love with the Cosmograph Daytona osyter steel. Shame I can't justify 10k on a watch. Think I'm oggling pictures of it daily.

Pyr0m@nI@]{ · 31 Jul 2019 at 10:47

They're one of my grails
I wish it was readily availble for 10k

I'd be looking at paying more like 20k+ as I'm not a VIP with an AD

hughtrimble · 31 Jul 2019 at 10:51

ash_scotland88 said:
Fallen in love with the Cosmograph Daytona osyter steel. Shame I can't justify 10k on a watch. Think I'm oggling pictures of it daily.

If you can buy it at 10k you can sell it immediately for more...plenty more

ash_scotland88 · 31 Jul 2019 at 10:55

hughtrimble said:
If you can buy it at 10k you can sell it immediately for more...plenty more

Admittedly don't know if it's 10k for the exact model, it's what Google suggests it is when the list prices next to websites.

Conscript · 31 Jul 2019 at 11:02

A question for the watch experts on here....the clasp on my Citizen Eco Drive is broken. It keeps coming undone at the slightest pressure.

It's a metal bracelet style, which I've always worn, but I think that I would actually prefer a leather strap. I get annoyed with my metal strap resting on the desk and scratching when typing, and I just fancy a change - the watch is silver with a black face and gold details (bezel, hands and knobs), and I think a brown leather strap would suit it nicely, and make it look a little smarter.

Should swapping straps be fairly straightforward, even if moving to a different style of strap? I know how to remove and replace individual links, but to actually remove the bracelet looks like I'll need a special tool. Happy to give it a go myself if it's possible, but I'm not sure if it's something I should just leave to a jeweller.

Here's the watch in question. I'm guessing that I just need a tool to get at the shoulder of the lugs where the bracelet attaches to the watch body.

Wizardskills · 31 Jul 2019 at 11:06

ash_scotland88 said:
Admittedly don't know if it's 10k for the exact model, it's what Google suggests it is when the list prices next to websites.

The retail on the steel Daytona is £9550. However, good luck getting one at retail, they are one of the hardest watches in the world to get from an AD due to limited supply.

Wizardskills · 31 Jul 2019 at 11:19

Conscript said:
A question for the watch experts on here....the clasp on my Citizen Eco Drive is broken. It keeps coming undone at the slightest pressure.

It's a metal bracelet style, which I've always worn, but I think that I would actually prefer a leather strap. I get annoyed with my metal strap resting on the desk and scratching when typing, and I just fancy a change - the watch is silver with a black face and gold details (bezel, hands and knobs), and I think a brown leather strap would suit it nicely, and make it look a little smarter.

Should swapping straps be fairly straightforward, even if moving to a different style of strap? I know how to remove and replace individual links, but to actually remove the bracelet looks like I'll need a special tool. Happy to give it a go myself if it's possible, but I'm not sure if it's something I should just leave to a jeweller.

Here's the watch in question. I'm guessing that I just need a tool to get at the shoulder of the lugs where the bracelet attaches to the watch body.

You'll struggle to find a watch strap that will fit that as the straps end links are integrated into the watch head

However, you may be able to fix the clasp very easily if it is of a certain design. This video explains how.

Conscript · 31 Jul 2019 at 11:48

Wizardskills said:
You'll struggle to find a watch strap that will fit that as the straps end links are integrated into the watch head

However, you may be able to fix the clasp very easily if it is of a certain design. This video explains how.

That's a bugger. I fancied a new strap.

Never mind. I should be able to just replace the clasp - that should be fairly straight forward....I'd already removed it and taken it apart thinking it might just be some muck in the mechanism which was causing it not to close and lock properly, but it seems something has actually snapped inside.

It's slightly different to the clasp in that video, it has a link with a built in clip which locks the strap in place. There's a push tab release on each side, so you squeeze the link between thumb and forefinger, pressing in both tabs, to make it come undone. It's this link which has broken, in such a way that it comes undone if you squeeze just one side, rather than having to press in both tabs. Which is annoying, because if it gets caught on the cuff of my clothes, that's enough to undo it. But if I can find a replacement for just that section, I can replace just that. Cheers

Wizardskills · 31 Jul 2019 at 12:16

Conscript said:
That's a bugger. I fancied a new strap.

Never mind. I should be able to just replace the clasp - that should be fairly straight forward....I'd already removed it and taken it apart thinking it might just be some muck in the mechanism which was causing it not to close and lock properly, but it seems something has actually snapped inside.

It's slightly different to the clasp in that video, it has a link with a built in clip which locks the strap in place. There's a push tab release on each side, so you squeeze the link between thumb and forefinger, pressing in both tabs, to make it come undone. It's this link which has broken, in such a way that it comes undone if you squeeze just one side, rather than having to press in both tabs. Which is annoying, because if it gets caught on the cuff of my clothes, that's enough to undo it. But if I can find a replacement for just that section, I can replace just that. Cheers

Well you could always cut part of the strap out like this. It may look a little odd though and construction of the strap may be compromised if you have to cut through stitching.

There are plenty of claps for sale on ebay, you may even be able to get at Citizen one (just make sure you get the right size).....or you could get a new watch (any excuse etc...).

hughtrimble · 31 Jul 2019 at 13:13

Conscript said:
A question for the watch experts on here....the clasp on my Citizen Eco Drive is broken. It keeps coming undone at the slightest pressure.

It's a metal bracelet style, which I've always worn, but I think that I would actually prefer a leather strap. I get annoyed with my metal strap resting on the desk and scratching when typing, and I just fancy a change - the watch is silver with a black face and gold details (bezel, hands and knobs), and I think a brown leather strap would suit it nicely, and make it look a little smarter.

Should swapping straps be fairly straightforward, even if moving to a different style of strap? I know how to remove and replace individual links, but to actually remove the bracelet looks like I'll need a special tool. Happy to give it a go myself if it's possible, but I'm not sure if it's something I should just leave to a jeweller.

Here's the watch in question. I'm guessing that I just need a tool to get at the shoulder of the lugs where the bracelet attaches to the watch body.

As @Wizardskills noted, it may be a bit of a faff to find a strap that works because of the design. Whilst you can cut them down, I've never got it to work well at all as the ends of the strap show themselves when the strap bends. Decent makers can of course (or people with home skillzz) but I've not managed it.

If you find the clasp irritating in terms of how it scratches, you can put what is rather like a screen protector on the clasp's face, meaning it's plastic rubbing on your desk rather than the metal clasp. I've seen them made from the thicker screen protectors and they can work very well if cut to size properly. There may even be dedicated 'watch clasp protector films' for your clasp, so worth a hunt.

Crizzy · 31 Jul 2019 at 13:14

Quick question for the experts: How do you go about getting a valuation done and what would be a reasonable expectation of cost?

I'm interested in getting a bit of history on a vintage watch and to see if I need to get separate insurance on it..

hughtrimble · 31 Jul 2019 at 13:25

Crizzy said:
Quick question for the experts: How do you go about getting a valuation done and what would be a reasonable expectation of cost?

I'm interested in getting a bit of history on a vintage watch and to see if I need to get separate insurance on it..

Post it here and some may be able to advise what it is and then you can find real-world values online for it.