What time is it? Watches and horology

@edscoble I can't deal with Steinhart because they make straight up homages and their own designs are shit.

I know Squale also make homages, but Squale also have genuine heritage as a case manufacturer for many mid-century dive watches and at least some of their own designs are nice.

I was very close to pulling the trigger on the one @regal linked but it seems like an incredibly superfluous purchase right now. Only thirty of them, though....

https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/blood-in-the-water-water-in-its-blood-a-brief-history-of-squale

I get you now, the Squale now does look very appealing now I know the history of it, having not heard of it, immediately I thought it sound like a Russian knock off (vostok), thanks for the link, made for good reading.

Weren't the initial Sellita models carbon copies of ETA movements? Certainly AIUI they're interchangeable dimension-wise, so some makers use either in a model, depending on which movements they can get for a particular batch.

Yeah, this is true, but you'd think if they're only making 30 of 'em, they'd use the same movement.

I personally would want an ETA over a Sellita based on what I've read about their accuracy. But then perhaps I am just being fickle in thinking one is superior to the other.

Having Google'd it appears as though Steinhart do this, also.

@Dammit I think pissing about with cheap watches will be the perfect anti-social hobby for us lot for next couple of years... I had some batteries arrive today for the Seiko I found but looks like when the previous one leaked it killed it, boo.

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Sellita are copies of ETA movements (ones that are out of patent/copyright), yes. I subscribe to the view that the ETAs are slightly better, eg a frequent criticism of the Sellitas is that their winding rotor bearing/mounting is inferior to the ETA and is more likely to give problems.

I expect they’re just using what they can get their hands on. Normally with Squale it’s a 2824-2 but I’ve been wondering how long it would be before they wouldn’t be able to get ETAs anymore.

Is this because ETA are no longer supplying some of these smaller brands or because costs are rising?

Anyone on here based in Japan??

Well, Swatch Group could remove access to ETA movements at any moment, whereas Sellita will sell them to anyone.

I had the steinhart before the squale , not much between them .. maybe squale edges the quality for me , and a history that sits better .
I’d still have it but it was ‘lost’ in an assault .
It’s a homage to watch most could never afford , and if they could , would never wear .
It looked good on most straps except this one

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Squale hopefully same page to compare

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I had the same Steinhart, sold it a while back and then immediately realised that I missed it.

I think it's a very handsome, simple watch.

I really like that daft shark logo.

Is the bezel insert on the Squale ceramic?

I concur. It looks terrible on that strap.

Would anyone be interested in a 70s Flightmaster?

They are cool watches, do you have some pictures?

There’s a really weird legal situation in Switzerland that centres around the Swatch group being in a position of monopoly. It’s not that Swatch wants to cut off supply to their competitors outside the group (not yet anyway), it’s that they’ve been forced not to sell to them so that other movement suppliers (Sellita have been the main beneficiary) are able to gain market share. They were expecting to have the restrictions lifted recently but the industry watchdog extended them.

https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/swatch-group-comco-analysis

Pics pls

It is on that version. I think there was an older version with an alu insert.

Thank you for this, your first photo is why I wanted the Steinhart, and now the Squale look equally good (but with a history).

Getting new jobs soon, abet still way too expensive and especially giving the current pandemic that could last years but would like a decent watch like the Squale.

edit; nearly half my monthly salary apparently! (I do like this one tho after @Regal show it earlier)

Do check out Page & Cooper's stock, they sometimes have sales, plus they're the UK dealer, plus right now I could see them being open to talking about a discount. Gnomon also are, usually, but if buying from Gnomon you're likely to end up paying import tax etc.

https://www.pageandcooper.com/watch-brands/squale-watches/

I'll get more later:

Beaut!