What time is it? Watches and horology

^^ However, vintage GS (some models) command an absolute premium and as investment pieces make good sense.

A while ago I bought a Swatch Star Chief from someone here. It arrived in a damaged box and with a link like pictured below. Never got around to do anything about it, but now seems to be the time. The pins seem intact and the bit slides on fine. How are they supposed to be attached? Glue? Should I do some sort of repair myself or is it best left to a shop?

1 Attachment

That's lovely. What size though? I guess being a vintage it's 35mm.

I like the Longines as well. Not quite perfect but not far off.

I'd be very interested in the 39mm Explorer if you could share the link

£2,343 delivered to an address in the US of A from Japan - plus import duties on that figure.

I'm not that concerned about resale - I would not be intending on ever selling it, maintenance costs would be something I'd like to understand however.

Beyond that, if it's possible to make a direct judgement and leaving brand out of it, which is the better watch - the Rolex Explorer or the GS GMT that has been pictured a few times now?

I've always thought that Seikos looked a bit like Rolexes, so that's always put me off a bit. For the cheaper end of the market, I think they are great though.

^^I suspect they both tell the time.

My Seiko 5 does that pretty well, and to be fair it might last the next 60 years.

I can't make a logical case for this possible purchase, but I would like to have some vague reasons for which particular man-bracelet I choose.

Choose the Seiko.

Im waiting on a King Seiko revival

Buy a Rollie and be done with it.

Take it to the swatch shop - say you got it as a present and that just happened to the bracelet as you were wearing it.

Also who sold it to you like that?!

@Dammit do what @Señor_Bear says. Get rollied up

yeh it's 36 which in a nice size on my wrist but would like a 42 too

I prefer the Rolex and dare I say it probably easier to service? but my knowledge of springs drives is poor so just a guess

Just buy the Rollie and be done with it, but beware - watches can be addictive.

No Swatch shop in Copenhagen, unfortunately, but I'll see if I can find a retailer.
I should have done something about it, when it (finally) arrived, so I'll just leave it and get it sorted at my own cost, since I didn't tell him and give him the chance to sort it.

What Rolex started, Seiko perfected

Here is a beautiful utilitarian hard working watch

Can't see it with these Seiko's. Snobbery aside, couldn;t see myself picking this:

over this:

#etc

You did just say that didn't you...

'What Rolex started, Seiko perfected'

Can't believe they are discussed on the same page personally.

(Yet to see an attractive Seiko)

To be honest, I'm a Rolex fanboy, have a GMT and will be getting a DJ shortly. But, I think the comparison you've made is probably the worst you could have picked. The EXPII is so clunky, inelegant, oversized and crude. IMO it looks like a Lego watch in comparison, and even worse in real life.

Well yes, Explorer 1 obvs. Still.

You may just need a watch link tool to re-insert the strap pin. The photo does not show its construction clearly enough.

Regarding the Rolex versus argument, I don't really see much attraction in buying any new watches. There are so many other older watches that you can buy, some Rolex, some not. It's a slightly risky business, but worth it if you are going to take the gamble more than once (more often than not you won't get stung).