I like Watches (1 Viewer)

[Tringa45]

I couldn't sell anyhing that was a gift much less a gift from my parents!

Well, I still have the Rolex Oyster I received from my parents in 1966. It's in semi-retirement now as Rolex don't supply spares for the 1210 calibre and while not my favourite watch, it's the last one I would ever sell.

I recall travelling to Bond Street in London to make my decision and a salesman at Watches of Switzerland telling me that IWC was better than Rolex (which it probably was then) and that at Asprey's the "cheapest" Patek Philippe was 150 GBP, exactly four times as much as the Rolex. As the second cheapest was 250 GBP, I suspect the first one must have been stainless steel, a rarity for Patek then and worth a fortune today, certainly more than the same watch in precious metal. I fulfilled the dream of a Patek over ten years ago before the prices went exospheric.

Just to throw some controversy into the conversation, I don't like quartz, which has no soul and neither like nor can afford complications. I can admire the ingenuity of a minute repeater or a perpetual calendar, but a wristwatch really only needs three hands. Winding a fine watch can be an aesthetic experience, but, unfortunately handwound watches are becoming a rarity. An automatic is fully wound after two or three hours of wearing but after that you are just feeding it with unnecessary energy, which is dissipated in friction and wear.

John

PS:- John, You don't happen to have a handwound Vacheron & Constantin among those? I passed on one from the 50s a few years ago for comparatively cheap €2500 and regret that today.

 

[Alexis Powell]

...Just to throw some controversy into the conversation, I don't like quartz, which has no soul and neither like nor can afford complications. I can admire the ingenuity of a minute repeater or a perpetual calendar, but a wristwatch really only needs three hands. Winding a fine watch can be an aesthetic experience, but, unfortunately handwound watches are becoming a rarity. An automatic is fully wound after two or three hours of wearing but after that you are just feeding it with unnecessary energy, which is dissipated in friction and wear...

Agreed to all that except that I appreciate quartz for certain watches and purposes (e.g. Hamilton Khaki Quartz models are very nice thin reliable field watches) and I prefer a date with those 3 hands (preferably at 6 o'clock position). I consider it very unfortunate that handwinding is so rare these days. I find it more convenient than automatic, especially if I am rotating between watches, because with a tiny bit of attention once a day, it is easy to keep several watches properly wound and ready for use (without need for winders). Some autos shouldn't be hand-wound, making it tricky to be confident that they are getting reasonably well wound while in rotation, even if they have big power reserves. Also, handwinders can easily be made thin, and so fit under clothing layers better, which is good for field use in winter!

--AP

 

[Tringa45]

Agreed to all that except that I appreciate quartz for certain watches and purposes (e.g. Hamilton Khaki Quartz models are very nice thin reliable field watches) and I prefer a date with those 3 hands (preferably at 6 o'clock position). I consider it very unfortunate that handwinding is so rare these days. I find it more convenient than automatic, especially if I am rotating between watches, because with a tiny bit of attention once a day, it is easy to keep several watches properly wound and ready for use (without need for winders). Some autos shouldn't be hand-wound, making it tricky to be confident that they are getting reasonably well wound while in rotation, even if they have big power reserves. Also, handwinders can easily be made thin, and so fit under clothing layers better, which is good for field use in winter!

--AP

Alexis,

A three-hand watch only takes a few seconds to set, so I wouldn't want to accelerate wear by keeping anything running except my daily beater, a Nomos Club. I recall an ex-colleague had an Omega chronograph with full calendar and moonphase, which he only wore occasionally. He said it always took him about 10 mins to set. Conversely, another friend has a Patek Gondolo 8 Days and an Annual Calendar and only bothers to set the time!
I believe some of the older Seiko automatics couldn't be hand wound but the only one I've heard of where it was inadvisable is the Lemania 8810 (aka Longines 990).

John

 

[Torview]

Alexis,

A three-hand watch only takes a few seconds to set, so I wouldn't want to accelerate wear by keeping anything running except my daily beater, a Nomos Club. I recall an ex-colleague had an Omega chronograph with full calendar and moonphase, which he only wore occasionally. He said it always took him about 10 mins to set. Conversely, another friend has a Patek Gondolo 8 Days and an Annual Calendar and only bothers to set the time!
I believe some of the older Seiko automatics couldn't be hand wound but the only one I've heard of where it was inadvisable is the Lemania 8810 (aka Longines 990).

John

Hi John,

A Nomos is on my radar, they seem great value given the daft prices some brands are commanding these days.

A few years ago I would have agreed with you about quartz but getting the Omega has totally changed my mind.

I had the auto version as well which wore the same but preferred the quartz, also the cost of servicing is getting silly these days IMHO, 30-40 years ago I used to get my Bulova serviced every two years by a local watch maker who would strip the movement, clean and lubricate it for £10, still have it by the way but can`t find anywhere to service it in the same simple way, they all quote £3-400, mad.

 

[albie...]

I decided against getting the Timex automatic I mentioned earlier and bought another Seiko automatic field watch . This new Seiko can be hand wound and the second hand can be hacked . It has a domed crystal , I think they call it single dome . It also came with a nato strap that I replaced with a single pass nato . Couldn't stand the bundle of strap on the side of the watch from the original strap . The accuracy of this watch is way better than what's advertised , losing roughly 3-5 seconds a day .
A few pics. One is from an ad .

 

[albie...]

I was thinking of adding a solar watch to my collection and came across this one, a Junghans Force Mega Solar . It is radio controlled , has a ceramic case/strap , saphire crystal and has digital display for date function. A little bit pricey for me at close to $2000CA but I sure do like it .Perhaps I will save up for it , maybe .

​

 

[mummymonkey]

Started collecting just last year. This is one of my favourites.

 

[albie...]

Started collecting just last year. This is one of my favourites.

View attachment 1479785

Is that the Hamilton Khaki field automatic ? I was looking at them when I made my recent watch purchase . I wanted an auto that included hand winding and hacking .

 

[albie...]

Here is a lovely Hamilton remake of a watch from the 70's . I love the hybrid display . Would like to add that to my stable .

 

[mummymonkey]

Is that the Hamilton Khaki field automatic ? I was looking at them when I made my recent watch purchase . I wanted an auto that included hand winding and hacking .

Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical. It's a manual watch.

 

[gcole]

Lovely watches there :t:

I've been collecting watches for 45 years, This is around half of what I have but most of the rest are non runners that I used to scavenge parts from!

Also, I think i've bought another thirty or more since I took the pic |;|

John |=)|

WOW ……To say you have been collecting watches, is a understatement

 

[gcole]

Here is a Victorinox Swiss Army I.N.O.X Professional Diver I gave myself for xmas. For me this purchase was a splurge of me spending around $500 on sale , the dollar limit I have allowed myself to wear around my wrist.

 

[Trinovid]

…I don't like quartz, which has no soul…unfortunately handwound watches are becoming a rarity. An automatic is fully wound after two or three hours of wearing but after that you are just feeding it with unnecessary energy, which is dissipated in friction and wear.

Interesting conundrum, to not like the most accurate of timekeeping devices in preference to mechanical ones, but belabor the additional friction of a self wonder.

All watches are good as long as they do what the owner needs them to do and I have favorites in all varieties, mainly automatics and quartz though.

 

[Elpha8888]

I would like a Grand Seiko, beautiful watch.

 

[Elkhornsun]

The main watch I use is a digital with analog hands and an alarm function for travel use. The rest of the time the wall clocks, auto clocks, and smartphone are all I need. Best part of getting off the corporate treadmill was not needing to wear a watch.

 

[albie...]

I bought another new watch today , it's a Tissot Couturier Automatic . Uses the Powermatic 80 movement that has an 80 hour reserve . Got a great price on it although it is gray market . When it shows up I will post a pic of it on my wrist . In the meantime here's a couple pics of it .

 

[Trinovid]

I bought another new watch today , it's a Tissot Couturier Automatic . Uses the Powermatic 80 movement that has an 80 hour reserve . Got a great price on it although it is gray market . When it shows up I will post a pic of it on my wrist . In the meantime here's a couple pics of it .

Nice watch!! I just got a Tissot too, but it's a T Touch Solar, which means no batteries to change, ever! Here's a picture I was able to find online of my all black version.

 

[albie...]

Nice watch!! I just got a Tissot too, but it's a T Touch Solar, which means no batteries to change, ever! Here's a picture I was able to find online of my all black version.

Nice watch . Your T-touch (with different strap) is the same one I used to pine away for . It was borderline too big and too pricey for me .

 

[Trinovid]

Nice watch . Your T-touch (with different strap) is the same one I used to pine away for . It was borderline too big and too pricey for me .

That's a nice look and I was actually hoping to get one more like yours, but went with affordability, and essentially the same watch, finally in the end deciding that the all black might make it actually look a little smaller. I'd really like to have seen one in like 38mm, so it almost goes without saying, this is the first big watch I've ever had. Got mine for under 400 on an open box deal with stickers still on it.

When is your watch supposed to show up?

 

[albie...]

When is your watch supposed to show up?

I have no idea . I paid for dhl express shipping . Being that I bought it the day before the Easter long weekend I imagine that the earliest it will start moving will be Tuesday April 11 . Any time that I buy myself something like a new watch or a nice binocular or a new eyepiece for my scope , I go through extreme anxiety waiting for my new latest and greatest 😬. I am guessing that a lot of us share the same feelings while waiting for new toys to arrive .