Watches

[Stealthlobo]

Any watch enthusiasts here? Im pretty new to the game and have a quartz Movado. Just purchased my first automatic, a Hamilton. And looking at a Tudor now.... Any connoisseurs advice?

[crixus]

I bought a cheap Casio watch (less than 20 bucks) that came with a five year battery. I've had it for fourteen years and haven't had to replace the battery yet. I'm not an enthusiast obviously, but I'm amazed that battery is still working. 

[TheSanDiegan]

Which Hammy did you buy?

I have about 36 watches spanning two boxes and a couple overflow lots.

I don't have anything special (none of the Holy Trinity, and not even a Rolex) but I do have a few decent watches, including several Omegas, a Concord chronograph with an El Primero, and others. Here's the shelf that has (most of) my 'nice' watches sans my Cocktail Time, a vintage Seamaster, and an Eternal manufacture big date:

Nothing especially interesting, though the Omega GMT at the top-right is a 1st gen Co-Axial and the Concord chronograph next to it (L) has an El Primero movement, which is a work of art. I've bought watches when they appeal to me, a bad habit going back approx. 30 years.

Which Tudor are you considering? I've almost pulled the trigger on a (red bezel) Black Bay more than once in the last few years (Aztec colors).

[TheSanDiegan]

I can speak to both the quality and especially the QPR of both Oris and Ball - both produce exceptional watches that punch way above their weight. 

[DoubleBlueGold]

Other than my wedding ring, the only other piece of jewelry I wear (occasionally) is a watch. I think it is the only masculine accessory.

Not, however, an enthusiast. All of mine have been around the $100 range. 

[TheSanDiegan]

Here are my favorite three beaters - a Seiko SKX007, a Citizen NY0040, and a Makara Sea Turtle. The Seiko is iconic, the Citizen was good enough to be standard issue for the Marina Militare, and the Sea Turtle is just a bitchin' chunk of bronze. Cannot recommend a good NATO, Zulu, or Perlon strap high enough for a watch you plan on subjecting to some abuse. 

[TheSanDiegan]

17 minutes ago, DoubleBlueGold said:

Other than my wedding ring, the only other piece of jewelry I wear (occasionally) is a watch. I think it is the only masculine accessory.

This is correct.

[DoubleBlueGold]

20 minutes ago, TheSanDiegan said:

Which Hammy did you buy?

I have about 36 watches spanning two boxes and a couple overflow lots.

I don't have anything special (none of the Holy Trinity, and not even a Rolex) but I do have a few decent watches, including several Omegas, a Concord chronograph with an El Primero, and others. Here's the shelf that has (most of) my 'nice' watches sans my Cocktail Time, a vintage Seamaster, and an Eternal manufacture big date:

Nothing especially interesting, though the Omega GMT at the top-right is a 1st gen Co-Axial and the Concord chronograph next to it (L) has an El Primero movement, which is a work of art. I've bought watches when they appeal to me, a bad habit going back approx. 30 years.

Which Tudor are you considering? I've almost pulled the trigger on a (red bezel) Black Bay more than once in the last few years (Aztec colors).

Mine started in the late 90s. Mom gave me a watch as a high school graduation gift. Fell in love with it. The style, the feel, the compliments from girls when I wore it on dates. 

It was nothing fancy either. It was a Guess watch. Couldn't have been more than $75, but such a nice modern yet classic design. Blue face, with stainless steel arms and link bands. Very stylish. And that's how I got started. 

I've considered spending $200+ on some Movado and Citizen models. 

[TheSanDiegan]

31 minutes ago, DoubleBlueGold said:

Mine started in the late 90s. Mom gave me a watch as a high school graduation gift. Fell in love with it. The style, the feel, the compliments from girls when I wore it on dates. 

It was nothing fancy either. It was a Guess watch. Couldn't have been more than $75, but such a nice modern yet classic design. Blue face, with stainless steel arms and link bands. Very stylish. And that's how I got started. 

I've considered spending $200+ on some Movado and Citizen models. 

There are some solid Citizens in the $200 price range. I paid less than that for my NY0041, and I think my atomic world timer was <$200 at Costco.

Never been stoked on Movado though. Their Museum watch - which is what most people think of when they picture a Movado - is worthless for telling time in the absence of indices. For anyone interested in a Movado, I wold humbly suggest saving a few more bones and buying another piece of wearable art - a Junghans Max Bill, an iconic Bauhaus design from one of the most famous artists of the school.

[thelawlorfaithful]

How good are Festina watches?

[sactowndog]

1 hour ago, TheSanDiegan said:

Here are my favorite three beaters - a Seiko SKX007, a Citizen NY0041, and a Makara Sea Turtle. The Seiko is iconic, the Citizen was good enough to be standard issue for the Marina Militare, and the Sea Turtle is just a bitchin' chunk of bronze. Cannot recommend a good NATO, Zulu, or Perlon strap high enough for a watch you plan on subjecting to some abuse. 

Do you have any Audemar-Piguet watches?  

[TheSanDiegan]

1 hour ago, sactowndog said:

Do you have any Audemar-Piguet watches?  

Negative.

2 hours ago, TheSanDiegan said:

I don't have anything special (none of the Holy Trinity, and not even a Rolex) but I do have a few decent watches, including several Omegas, a Concord chronograph with an El Primero, and others. Here's the shelf that has (most of) my 'nice' watches sans my Cocktail Time, a vintage Seamaster, and an Eternal manufacture big date:

I have had a chance to hold several in the hand tho, as a friend has what I would estimate to be a +/-$750K collection including 4-5 APROs. My honest impression? No way I'd pay what they command (YMMV of course). I do plan on adding a Patek Philippe Calatrava at some point, and if money was no object I'd add a PP perpetual calendar as well. 

Back to the APRO - here's my watch to fill that general space. Jean Richard is to Girard-Perregaux (an 18th C. haute horlogerie watchmaker) what Tudor is to Rolex. The casework is outstanding, with about 70 individual steps required in assembly. Each component is hand-brushed or polished.

Here's a diagram of the case construction:

[sactowndog]

15 minutes ago, TheSanDiegan said:

Negative.

I have had a chance to hold several in the hand tho, as a friend has what I would estimate to be a +/-$750K collection including 4-5 APROs. My honest impression? No way I'd pay what they command (YMMV of course). I do plan on adding a Patek Philippe Calatrava at some point, and if money was no object I'd add a PP perpetual calendar as well. 

Just a piece of trivia but my great-great grandfather was the Piguet in Audemar-Piguet.   He sold the business to the Audemar’s and bought a bunch of farmland on Long Island.   Unfortunately for my grandfather his father invested in 2nd Mortgages prior to the depression.   Lost everything.   
 

I have debated buying one to remind me of my Grandfather.  But ugh.  The price...

[TheSanDiegan]

9 minutes ago, sactowndog said:

Just a piece of trivia but my great-great grandfather was the Piguet in Audemar-Piguet.   He sold the business to the Audemar’s and bought a bunch of farmland on Long Island.   Unfortunately for my grandfather his father invested in 2nd Mortgages prior to the depression.   Lost everything.   

That is insanely, ridiculously, freakishly cool. And a shame - sorry to hear it man. Awesome story tho!

FWIW, I had a great-great-grandfather who invented a now-ubiquitous piece of harvesting equipment and ended up with nothing but a hot cup of coffee and a cool story to show for it.

[Mano]

I hear Patek Phillipe watches are nice.

[TheSanDiegan]

2 minutes ago, Mano said:

I hear Patek Phillipe watches are nice.

One of the Holy Trinity and the one I've always coveted. 2.55mm. That's not the movement height of the Calatrava; it's the case height. 

45 minutes ago, TheSanDiegan said:

I do plan on adding a Patek Philippe Calatrava at some point, and if money was no object I'd add a PP perpetual calendar as well. 

 

[East Coast Aztec]

I don't  have Patek money.  I recently bought a pair of watches that use wood and metal, but still have a perpetual motion swing for one, and a nautical setup on the other.  They look clean, and I only dropped $90 apiece.  I'll post a pic when I am back from vacation 

[retrofade]

The only watches I own are a Fitbit Versa 2 and Skagen Horizont.

[Stealthlobo]

12 hours ago, TheSanDiegan said:

Which Hammy did you buy?

I have about 36 watches spanning two boxes and a couple overflow lots.

I don't have anything special (none of the Holy Trinity, and not even a Rolex) but I do have a few decent watches, including several Omegas, a Concord chronograph with an El Primero, and others. Here's the shelf that has (most of) my 'nice' watches sans my Cocktail Time, a vintage Seamaster, and an Eternal manufacture big date:

Nothing especially interesting, though the Omega GMT at the top-right is a 1st gen Co-Axial and the Concord chronograph next to it (L) has an El Primero movement, which is a work of art. I've bought watches when they appeal to me, a bad habit going back approx. 30 years.

Which Tudor are you considering? I've almost pulled the trigger on a (red bezel) Black Bay more than once in the last few years (Aztec colors).

Wow! That awesome!  have the open heart jazz master hamilton. I would love to own an Omega.

I'm actually looking at the black bay bronze Tudor

[ridgeview2]

@TheSanDieganI've learned more about watches in the last 10 minutes than the previous 32 years.