Near misses - the thread of self control
Discussion
Was in New York last week and visited the diamond / jewellery district. We weren't looking for watches, but got chatting to a jeweller about watches while we were waiting for something and I mentioned that I'd like a nice square / rectangular watch. And he went and got this from the back :
They had already provided me with a complimentary large whisky - which definitely made it tempting to get the credit card out - but at $28k it wasn't too hard to resist. I did refuse the second whisky though!
They had already provided me with a complimentary large whisky - which definitely made it tempting to get the credit card out - but at $28k it wasn't too hard to resist. I did refuse the second whisky though!
redrabbit said:
BrokenSkunk said:
From a man who "doesn't do" quartz, I think I may have just been converted. Um, I've just had a 'moment'.
That is some seriously sexy seventies swagger. If it wasn't for the price tag, I'd have bought it by now.
Link to advert.
Edited by redrabbit on Friday 8th September 19:01
That's not a bad price, if anyone else fancies it, especially if you 'watch' it and get offered another 5% off after a day. Not sure my marriage would survive if that arrived in the next 6 months...dammit
Edited by redrabbit on Friday 13th October 19:34
redrabbit said:
Easy.
The Tissot PRX automatic. I know I should love it as the styling is right up my street and it gets a lot of love on review sites, but I just can't get over how unimpressed I am with it in the flesh, it just looks and feels cheap. I must have tried one on half a dozen times in the last four months, but I can't convince myself.
Funnily enough this is the one that might start my tissot journey off. They make some lovely watches and this is very near the top of the list of them. The Tissot PRX automatic. I know I should love it as the styling is right up my street and it gets a lot of love on review sites, but I just can't get over how unimpressed I am with it in the flesh, it just looks and feels cheap. I must have tried one on half a dozen times in the last four months, but I can't convince myself.
Mrs Broken and I found ourselves in Midhurst at the weekend. It's in Sussex, a few miles to the east of Petersfield. It's a lovely little village, with some fabulous old buildings. Within two minutes of stepping out of the car, we found ourselves peering through the window of a tiny clock maker.
(The clock maker himself was of fairly average size, it's his premesis that were tiny.)
Sadly there was a closed sign on the door, through which the through clockmaker appeared (as if by magic?). He asked if we were interested in clocks, to which I replied "Yes, but vintage watches are really my thing". He practically kidnapped us and marched us 100 yards around the corner to the owner's main premesis.
Talk about a kid in a candy shop!
They have an awesome collection of vintage watches. The prices are toppy, even for retail. But they give a years warranty and from what I could see, every watch on display was in very good to excellent original condition. I did not spot a single redial.
If you're looking for a vintage watch and don't have the expertise to pick a good one from t'internet, I recommend these guys. Let's face it, ebay, chrono-24 and the like are a crapshoot no matter how much expertise you have.
They have a website here:
https://littlecogs.com/
Anyway enough jibbering. This thread is about near misses. They basically had a shopfull.
Top of the list was a Hamilton PanEurop.
That photo is from their website, like most of their website photos it doesn't show the watch off very well. 30 seconds of searching the web found a much nicer image of a Pan Europe 701.
This mark III speedmaster was calling to me, but it was uncomfortably beyond what I'm comfortable spending on a whim. Again, the photo is from LittleCogs website, in reality the watch was beautiful.
Then there was a late 60's Seamaster 600 with a very unusual patterned dial:
This next one isn't really a near miss for me. If they knocked £10K off the price it would still be waaaay over double what I consider a ludicrous amount of money to blow on a trinket. However, even though I don't much like Rolex, there is no denying that the fading of the Pepsi insert is utterly charming:
I have a friend who owns one of these. Twenty years ago, when we were both twenty years younger and fitter this was his watch of choice for our frequent caving trips. His GMT is not quite as pretty as this one!
With all these watches you might be wondering if I put my hand in my pocket and failed to resist taking something home. Remarkably the answer is "No". I left the shop without spending a penny. But Mrs. Broken was there with me, lets just say I know what I'm getting for Christmas and it is not on this list. I'm a very lucky boy.
(The clock maker himself was of fairly average size, it's his premesis that were tiny.)
Sadly there was a closed sign on the door, through which the through clockmaker appeared (as if by magic?). He asked if we were interested in clocks, to which I replied "Yes, but vintage watches are really my thing". He practically kidnapped us and marched us 100 yards around the corner to the owner's main premesis.
Talk about a kid in a candy shop!
They have an awesome collection of vintage watches. The prices are toppy, even for retail. But they give a years warranty and from what I could see, every watch on display was in very good to excellent original condition. I did not spot a single redial.
If you're looking for a vintage watch and don't have the expertise to pick a good one from t'internet, I recommend these guys. Let's face it, ebay, chrono-24 and the like are a crapshoot no matter how much expertise you have.
They have a website here:
https://littlecogs.com/
Anyway enough jibbering. This thread is about near misses. They basically had a shopfull.
Top of the list was a Hamilton PanEurop.
That photo is from their website, like most of their website photos it doesn't show the watch off very well. 30 seconds of searching the web found a much nicer image of a Pan Europe 701.
This mark III speedmaster was calling to me, but it was uncomfortably beyond what I'm comfortable spending on a whim. Again, the photo is from LittleCogs website, in reality the watch was beautiful.
Then there was a late 60's Seamaster 600 with a very unusual patterned dial:
This next one isn't really a near miss for me. If they knocked £10K off the price it would still be waaaay over double what I consider a ludicrous amount of money to blow on a trinket. However, even though I don't much like Rolex, there is no denying that the fading of the Pepsi insert is utterly charming:
I have a friend who owns one of these. Twenty years ago, when we were both twenty years younger and fitter this was his watch of choice for our frequent caving trips. His GMT is not quite as pretty as this one!
With all these watches you might be wondering if I put my hand in my pocket and failed to resist taking something home. Remarkably the answer is "No". I left the shop without spending a penny. But Mrs. Broken was there with me, lets just say I know what I'm getting for Christmas and it is not on this list. I'm a very lucky boy.
marine boy said:
This Grand Seiko is stunning, I keeping coming back to it, more I think it would be a lovely watch to own, the harder I'm finding reasons not to buy one
Photos don't do the textured dial justice
I would love a GS Diver, but they are all too large/thick for my wrist. I wish they'd make a more compact one.Photos don't do the textured dial justice
Yet more from me. This morning has turned up some real lovlies, most in mint condition...
The seller says this Landeron 48 powered Edo is from about 1960. He wants €800.
Am I wrong to like this eary digital? The date code N4, dates it to 1974. €650 is the asking for this one. It has some battle scars, but it's still pretty cool:
Then there's a 1960's Stowa that is unworn for €150. It's gorgeous and a bargain.
But this is the one that is a really near miss for me. A 70's PR516. I've been after one of these for a while, but not in this case shape and I don't fancy the gold. The way the hour markers float over the second and minute hands is rather lovely. It's a pretty good buy for €250.
The seller says this Landeron 48 powered Edo is from about 1960. He wants €800.
Am I wrong to like this eary digital? The date code N4, dates it to 1974. €650 is the asking for this one. It has some battle scars, but it's still pretty cool:
Then there's a 1960's Stowa that is unworn for €150. It's gorgeous and a bargain.
But this is the one that is a really near miss for me. A 70's PR516. I've been after one of these for a while, but not in this case shape and I don't fancy the gold. The way the hour markers float over the second and minute hands is rather lovely. It's a pretty good buy for €250.
BrokenSkunk said:
I mean, just look at the hour markers! I need one of these:
I do not need to pay 900 Euros + VAT for it. (Also see my opener about sleeping in the hole in the ground where my shed will eventually be built. Yes, I am a coward.)
That’s a nice watch. What’s the details on it?I do not need to pay 900 Euros + VAT for it. (Also see my opener about sleeping in the hole in the ground where my shed will eventually be built. Yes, I am a coward.)
Edited by BrokenSkunk on Friday 21st October 15:09
Mr.Nobody said:
That’s a nice watch. What’s the details on it?
It was an early to mid 1970's Longines Admiral. The word "Ultronic" on the case tells you that it has a ESA / ETA 9162 (9160 = no date, 9162 = Date, 9164 = day and date).The 916x movements are tuning forks. They have a mesmirisingly smooth sweeping second hand and a gentle hum, which is why this type of movement is known as a hummer.
As beautiful as it is, it's 50 years old and has some obscure and archaic tech inside. In the UK, there is now only one place where you can get these serviced and repaired. So you need to be brave (or stupid, like me!)
I think that one may have had a redial though. I believe it should have a tuning fork logo printed or applied on the dial. This is the only example I've seen where the logo is missing. That said, the dial is very nicely done.
This one was for sale for €900. It sat around for ages. €500 would have been more relaistic.
EDIT:
Crown position points to an earlier Bulova 2182, not sure if Longones used that movement. It could have that, or a 9162 turned through 30 degrees.
Edited by BrokenSkunk on Thursday 18th January 16:11
Gassing Station | Watches | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff