What time is it? Watches and horology

Smiths Everest

Yeah I'm pretty happy, deffo value for money and my daily wearer when I'm not in work wear. I think I panic PM'd @Stonehedge about the noisy rotor, changing gear in the van makes it spin for ages but it's strangely reassuring and reminds me I'm wearing an auto. Good power reserve, clear dial, I miss having a date window because I'm a forgetful sod but that's not the watch's fault.

Edit: I'd agree that it does wear quite large, where do you live, try one of ours on...?

I can only think they're trying to boost the value of an original cause the new version is fugly.

On the Helson Shark Diver, I didn't get any customs charge from FedEx (or haven't yet). Looking at the documents whilst I was clearing my desk today I noticed that it was down as a sample at a price of $50 ...

I suppose they're a bit normal, that's all.

Edit: also, the old charity shop Citizen7 runs near silent and perfect, the Seiko5 from India is noisy and horrible. I suppose it's not fair, but the Seiko runs fast no matter what so puts me off them a bit.

Brakin the loar brakin the loar

I'd like a vintage chronograph, circa 1950s/60s. They tend to have nice faces, two horizontal sub dials, square pushers, Landeron movements in the affordable versions, Valjoux in the pricey ones. Any tips on not buying a lemon? Budget sub £300

Someone here posted a lovely Lemania a while back that planted a seed.

Still can't find a nice automatic diver in my budget (~1% the cost of the majority of watches you're posting)

Seiko and Citizen are the go to brands. What's your criteria/wish-list?

@inchpincher - cheers. So do you find it too chunky to wear under a work shirt?

luck

I've got a SKX009 and it keeps good time.
The 5 I have (my wife now has) runs a little fast.
Both run a 7S26 movement IIRC

If looks put you off they are readily moddable for the less hamfisted amongst us.
Plenty of bezel / insert options to jazz it up (I have a green insert) that cost pennies and require little to no skill.

Not ideal, but if you are keen on an auto diver there is a reason for SKX ubiquity.

I still have mine, although I don't wear it as much as I did, I still love it.

Well made, hugely flexible, clear dial. Looks good on a massive variety of straps, and the bracelet is astonishingly good for the money.

Occasional rotor noise, but you get used to it. The Miyota 9015 movement is otherwise a good one.

It can wear reasonably big on the bracelet, because of the 50mm lug-lug dimension and the raised centre sections of the solid end links, but doesn't look out of proportion on an average wrist size as the lugs curve and hug the wrist. If this is an issue, it can be improved by changing to a strap (which makes the watch look even prettier by accentuating the long lugs).

Overall, probably the most watch you can buy for £245.

aces

Sold out :(

Part of that is because Rolex are doing a much better job of protecting their brand. There are few discounts available, they're limiting their product range to watches with a long design life, keeping supply relatively well aligned with demand, allowing hardly any grey market stock and constantly raising prices. As a result most Rolex's change hands for not much less than their sale price. Compare that with heavy depreciations for Omega where the grey market means you can automatically get a heavy discount even on new so used prices are weak. Don't get me wrong, I love my Omega (pre '75 when they made good quality watches and before they had to be bailed out). They're losing money year on year, it wouldn't surprise me if another bailout was on the cards.

Are you sure, I've just gone on there to buy some straps and they're showing as still in stock on the website.

Omega aren't loosing money with us, sales are very strong as is demand.
And I certainly don't agree with the post 1975 statement where they don't make good quality watches.
But then you picked on the wrong person to argue with about Omega as it is the brand I collect, so I may be a bit biased.
We certainly don't see any more Omega back under warranty than Rolex, probably the other way around .

Anyone got any recommendations for this style of strap and a rough idea of how much I should look to part with?

EDIT: This looks good - https://www.watchgecko.com/vintage-winchester-leather-watch-strap.php?source=googleps&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIqueXtr2k1QIVy1YNCh1u2gZeEAkYGyABEgJcPfD_BwE

You have good taste in watches :-) the speed bird GMT was on my list when I bought the Everest too.

I don't really have anything to add that hasn't already been said...

The rotor is a little bit noisy and I can occasionally feel it spinning on my wrist but I actually like that.

It wears a little bit big on my dainty wrists and if I won the lottery I'd prefer the size of the original explorers (36mm?) but larger sized watches seem to be the current fashion and the Everest certainly isn't overtly oversized, it's just a fraction bigger than I might personally choose in a perfect world. I've worn mine almost every day for a year and I occasionally still notice the weight but then again I hadn't worn anything on my wrist for the previous 4 years and I like the reminder that I'm wearing a watch.

My biggest concern when I took it out of the box was the domed glass sits a little proud (especially compared to my history of Casio F91 watches) and I was worried it would scratch easily but again I've come to really like it.

As I say, I've worn it basically every day for a year. I wanted a single watch to do everything... something I thought looked good but that I also didn't need to be overly precious about. I take it off for cycling/running/swimming/showering and I switch it to the inside of my wrist for commuting but I've worn it hiking, gardening and with a suit etc. It's showing a few marks and scratches but that's life.

I really like it.

Rolex's greatest achievement is selling over one million watches a year and maintaining some level of perceived exclusivity.

apologies for crappy phone pics.

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Cheers.

@J0nathan - if you want to distress a leather strap a good route is to shake the strap in a sandwich bag with coins. You can also rub the edges and surfaces with alcohol or make-up remover to strip the moisture, dry and then condition.

you're right - my mistake - I misread their report, profits almost halved in 2016 but the group is still profitable. I do know they're closing some of the boutique stores right now including Stratford, which should be profitable but isn't.

What's a warranty? ;)

I've heard good things about @31trum starps.
I still want one but timing has always been out.
Actually now might be a good time for me, are you still making them, Murts?

murtz straps are the tits. I've had one on my jetsons limited edish Neptune speedy for two years. it gets better as it ages.

Just to be clear, you want a new strap that looks like it's really old? Like... faux patina?

I'm now 5 years into the ownership of this card wallet from @31trum and it's a proper part of my life. I'd be distraught if I ever lost it.

#csgrupetto colours of course.

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