What time is it? Watches and horology

the ones on the above site, you can see the seals.

anyways, I'm not endorsing so called moody watches.

where were we?

You mean the Accutron?

I love tuning fork movements. Partly because it is a complete technological blind alley. No sooner had Bulova perfected it than quartz movements came and blew it in to the weeds. But as a result there is something romantic about them, that quartz will never have, and despite the fact that it's electronic there is a human-made quality about the way the fork has to be tuned precisely for accurate timekeeping. They also make a lovely sound when you hold them up to your ear.

The thing to beware of with them is that the older ones may require a type of battery that is no longer available. Do a bit of research to find out what to avoid, or whether you can substitute another kind of battery in there.

The best tuning fork movements are the ESA 9162 / ESA 9184 ones that Omega put in the F300 line - these were based on the final generation of movements which had fine adjustment of the forks and were impervious to changes of position, angle, g force, etc. The real clincher is that they also take modern batteries, so there's no reason why you can't wear one as a daily. As well as Omegas they went in Longines and a few others.

If you're worried about a fake one don't be. Who would fake an obsolete movement that only a few people want? Who could? Not even Omega have all the parts for these anymore. Happily I have a guy who knows them like the back of his hand and can do all the servicing on them.

The real weak point of the movement is date wheels. They were plastic, and the teeth wear and break. It's rare to find one with day and date still working.
I have an exceptionally rare 1972 Constellation with a metal date wheel, so they do exist.
Amazingly, having never seen another in years there are two identical models on the Bay right now. This, which looks lovely:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Omega-F300-hz-Constellation-/290843491870?pt=UK_Jewelery_Watches_Watches_MensWatches_GL&hash=item43b79f7e1e
and this, which looks battered and is sold as "not working" but might just need a service and a battery.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/A-SUPERB-GENTS-VINTAGE-OMEGA-CONSTELLATION-ELECTRONIC-F300HZ-CHRONOMETER-/321055634512?pt=UK_Jewelery_Watches_Watches_MensWatches_GL&hash=item4ac0683450

See http://www.electric-watches.co.uk/make/omega/f300/f300.php for more info
wonderful information Niall! Thank you.

I'm watching the clean one. I have a fascination for Bulova cause of the fork.

As for fakes, I realise the dead end fork won't be imitated.

But what of the others like Tag and Omega and so on. If they have a lot of good feed back, is that enough?

try and get a watch with a tuning fork serviced :)

arm+leg.

Probably half of one of CB's arms.

try and get a watch with a tuning fork serviced :)

arm+leg.

Send it to my man Keith Tilley. A lot cheaper, and he's an expert on the things. I believe he has the Omega electronic timing equipment too.

This guy has good feedback too http://www.electric-watches.co.uk/repairs.php

But what of the others like Tag and Omega and so on. If they have a lot of good feed back, is that enough?

Well, they say "buy the seller, not the watch" meaning if you are absolutely sure that the seller is genuine then the watch probably is. Only buy from local buyers, obviously. Don't touch Indian, South American or other very far away sellers.

Even genuine TAGs are not really worth the money, and they are commonly faked. Having said that I have a Monaco (the 2nd reissue without TAG on the dial!) because one came up at a low enough price. And I do like the Silverstones. But then I'd rather have the original Heuer Leonidas one.

Omegas get faked a lot too, but if pick a model you want, and you do your internet research to the point of obsession, you will learn to spot a fake.

I just won an eBay Seiko RAF Gen 2.

Now i need a NATO strap

Still fake and worthless at the end of the day.

They still tell the time

There ain't a £400 level of moody, no matter what the seller says.

There is actually.

yup, when the movement used costs 300 alone, and the case is made of out parts of equal quality...or actually produced in the same factory....

yawn!!!

IWC Mark XV white dial

<3

I'd have sex on that watch. All over it.

I would too. In it and all around the edges.

I'd have sex on that watch. All over it.

Even with the nugget?

wouldn't - square end of the hour hand bothers me

Bastard! You've ruined that watch just like how my mate ruined cat deeley's nose.

Cat Deeley has a nose?!

^^^ the hour hand doesn't bother me but i really don't like the Arabic numerals. Why can't they at least make the font a little nicer or, better still, remove them all together!!

I like them. Nice and ordinary. They are perhaps a little small.

They still tell the time

That displays a level of optimism about the manufacturing quality of snide watches that I can only put down to inexperience.

I like them. Nice and ordinary. They are perhaps a little small.

They make it look a little like a Swatch (nothing wrong with swatches but, for the money...)

This is how to do numerals:

http://i.ebayimg.com/t/OMEGA-Seamaster-Rare-Large-Case-Automatic-344-Bumper-Sub-Seconds-Vintage-1954-/00/s/NjAwWDYwMA==/$T2eC16d,!yME9s5qIF2OBQfeGU(PLQ~~60_12.JPG

They still tell a time

They make it look a little like a Swatch

Exactly <3 <3 <3

This is how to do numerals:

http://i.ebayimg.com/t/OMEGA-Seamaster-Rare-Large-Case-Automatic-344-Bumper-Sub-Seconds-Vintage-1954-/00/s/NjAwWDYwMA==/$T2eC16d,%21yME9s5qIF2OBQfeGU%28PLQ%7E%7E60_12.JPG

http://smilepanic.com/wp-content/uploads/do_not_want8.jpg

Only joking I like it really, just not into the golden fanciness.

^ pffft. No class.