What time is it? Watches and horology

I'll set myself a challenge to post a sub-£200 watch.

There's a bunch of F300s in the Ebay completed listings for less than £200, the odd DeVille and a fair few Geneves.

not for me, no idea if genuine, not 100%, but omega sub £200

You cannot get a decent used Heuer or Omega for £250 any more. Those days are also long gone.

^ This, sorry BQ you're deluded if you think you can get a half decent automatic vintage Omega for less than £300 and to be on the safe side you're better off pitching in at around £400.

CB, that thing looks massive on your slender wrist.

For example, very pretty but no idea when it was last serviced, bung in an extra 200 notes for a decent service (including not just a strip and clean but replacement of any worn parts - this is a watch over 40 years old):

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Omega-seamaster-Geneve-Automatic-quick-set-date-34-5-mm-1960s-565-/130934503299?pt=UK_Jewelery_Watches_Watches_MensWatches_GL&hash=item1e7c4df783

So, roughly £275 plus £200 for a decent service - just shy of 500 notes.

^ This, sorry BQ you're deluded if you think you can get a half decent automatic vintage Omega for less than £300 and to be on the safe side you're better off pitching in at around £400.

ahem:

not for me, no idea if genuine, not 100%, but omega sub £200

You might be right though.
I paid less than £200 for 3 of mine, however it was up to 6 years ago.

BQ - ahem - listing says the hands are loose (probably hence such a low price) also no date and probably mechanical rather than automatic, plus no service history. Buy it for £145 then spend 200 on making it half decent and it'll still only ever be a dateless mechanical...

Regardless of all above , servicing is to be expected on a " luxury " watch so yes every 3 to 5 years you have to accept a large bill . But something like a speedmaster professional is a classic that will hold its value over time and is a watch for life , and an heirloom for the generation to come . I have a 1966 IWC calibre 89 that has been looked after methodically and is as good as new . According to its extract from factory archives , was made in april 1966 .

which seikos are you comparing to anyways?
the £47 ones?

Really liking the look of this:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-Breitling-Superocean-A17364-Automatic-Watch/190859078459?_trksid=p5197.m1992&_trkparms=aid%3D111000%26algo%3DREC.CURRENT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D14%26meid%3D8655416822407737323%26pid%3D100015%26prg%3D1006%26rk%3D1%26sd%3D190859078459%26

Thoughts? May just save up for a 42mm Planet Ocean...

Better watches about for less money . But. If you do want one new give me a shout as we sell Breitling in two of our stores and " will look after you " !

And also sell , Omega , Tag Heuer , Bentley Breitling , Chopard , Longines , Cartier , Tissot , Victorinox , and we also have the largest Rolex store outside London . Small family run business .....

CB, that thing looks massive on your slender wrist.
didn't you know photos take about 10lbs off a wrist???

And also sell , Omega , Tag Heuer , Bentley Breitling , Chopard , Longines , Cartier , Tissot , Victorinox , and we also have the largest Rolex store outside London . Small family run business .....

How much for a midsize ladies oyster rolex?

£125 for a serviced Omega Geneve Automatic. It's not that hard to find a good price if you wait for the right item.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mens-Omega-Geneve-Automatic-Mechanical-Movement-Watch-/261236743236

V-l , which one mate ?

Just going to throw this out there on the off chance but I'm in the market for a decent specimen of a Air King Date 5700. I bought one a while back but it turned out to be a bit of a lemon although I did manage to make most of my money back selling it on honestly with a full description of the negatives.

Anyway, if anybody sees a 5700 on its original bracelet please give me a shout.

V-l , which one mate ?

Not sure actually :P ill ask the missus and pm you tomorrow!

^^^^ Personally unless a decent watch has been serviced by a decent watchmaker, say someone like Robert Reeves for an Omega for example I'd always factor that cost into buying a watch on eBay. Parts get worn when a watch is 30 or 40 years old that your average jeweller simply wouldn't pick up on.

V-l , get me the reference number off the website / a brochure and let me know .

Very true vanuden , when people come in and say " oh ive had it twenty years and has never needed a service " you know thats when its gonna be more than a standard service . Get it done regularly and you are maintaining it . Leave it beyond reasonable time and you are repairing it . Big difference .

Very true vanuden , when people come in and say " oh ive had it twenty years and has never needed a service "

Apply to every fucking thing.

Most especially bicycle.

A work mate of mine has just bought a Rolex GMT 2. He loves it. Personally I think it'd nothing special at all. Looks and feels cheap. I was surprised that the case back is completely blank - no engraving or anything. Comparing it to a nice Omega, for example, I honestly can't see where the five grand he paid for it goes? Probably just the name. Anyway he likes it which is the main thing I suppose. But it leads me to question what's so special about Rolex's?

In other news, that James Bond Thunderball watch that was found at a car boot sale for £25 I posted earlier in this thread has sold at auction for over £100k!!

http://www.scotsman.com/news/arts/james-bond-s-thunderball-watch-fetches-100k-1-2976928

Apply to every fucking thing.

Most especially bicycle.

Nah you can find loads of bikes on ebay that have barely been ridden, apart from tyres, tubes and maybe bartape, what needs changing? it's not like the internals (ball bearings, bearing faces, etc) have rotten away.

Better watches about for less money . But. If you do want one new give me a shout as we sell Breitling in two of our stores and " will look after you " !

What sort of price are you talking?

What is your business called? I will google it!