Incoming… what do you have? (Vol. 3)

Incoming… what do you have? (Vol. 3)

Author
Discussion

Complex

514 posts

175 months

Saturday 11th October 2014
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Just ordered a Steinhart Ocean 1 Vintage red. Was set on an Ocean 1 Black with ceramic bezel but decided to swap it for something (very very slightly) different as I already own a black Sub.

Almost purchased the Offshore Field Engineer posted above but just could not get over the cut-out style look on the face, otherwise it would have 100% been my new daily, even at 5x the cost of the Steinhart!

Blown2CV

28,812 posts

203 months

Saturday 11th October 2014
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I think this offshore field engineer thing is like the MX5 of watches on here!

rog007

5,759 posts

224 months

Saturday 11th October 2014
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Blown2CV said:
I think this offshore field engineer thing is like the MX5 of watches on here!
laugh

Lorneg

228 posts

179 months

Saturday 11th October 2014
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rog007 said:
Blown2CV said:
I think this offshore field engineer thing is like the MX5 of watches on here!
laugh
Can't it be the 911 of watches? I do like the MX5 for its purity of design and no nonsense ethos, but the 911 is the same but sexier. :-)

HereBeMonsters

14,180 posts

182 months

Sunday 12th October 2014
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Can I be the first to proclaim that I don't get this fad? They look like bad 90s Tags. Ew.

TimLambert7

642 posts

125 months

Sunday 12th October 2014
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HereBeMonsters said:
Can I be the first to proclaim that I don't get this fad? They look like bad 90s Tags. Ew.
Taste is subjective, the people who buy them quite like them!

Another thing, it's small production, individually numbered (80ish and counting), very good movement and made by a bloke in a shed (sorry, Lorne) in West London. I hope you'll agree it's a bit more interesting than a mass produced something-or-other.

I may be wrong but a huge amount of watch ownership is not necessarily the watch itself but what it means to the person wearing it. In my eyes a watch with a story to it is much more interesting than a ropey 2nd hand Omega for the same price.





Edited by TimLambert7 on Sunday 12th October 09:24

TheJimi

24,990 posts

243 months

Sunday 12th October 2014
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^^
Hard to argue with that rationale, and I totally *get* it.

Speed addicted

5,574 posts

227 months

Sunday 12th October 2014
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My only problem with the offshore watches is the fact that I work offshore and want no reminders of it while I'm home!

MarkJS

1,540 posts

147 months

Sunday 12th October 2014
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Lorneg

228 posts

179 months

Sunday 12th October 2014
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HereBeMonsters said:
Can I be the first to proclaim that I don't get this fad? They look like bad 90s Tags. Ew.
That's perfectly fine. Dislike shows there is something to dislike, which in turn means there is a strong identity, so I'm more than happy to hear people say yuck, eew, or not for me. (Un)fortunately no longer made in my shed though. Now the field engineer is being sold through jewelers they're assembled by the best watchmaker in West London: Darrius at the Ealing clock shop in his immaculate new workshop. He also repairs and services mechanical watches and I completely recommend him as a true one of a kind gentleman.

Blown2CV

28,812 posts

203 months

Sunday 12th October 2014
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can someone who knows please highlight to me what the offshore field engineer watch does for offshore field engineers? Is it anything specific or is it just a name?

Lorneg

228 posts

179 months

Sunday 12th October 2014
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Blown2CV said:
can someone who knows please highlight to me what the offshore field engineer watch does for offshore field engineers? Is it anything specific or is it just a name?
It's just a name. It comes from my day job and when thinking what to call my watches I didn't want to use my own name (not being an egotist) or something posh sounding (because I'm not). I wear mine everywhere so I figured if it can stand up to the abuse I give it then it's OK. Actually I do take it off if I go for a walk in Luanda because I'm also not stupid, so I wear it almost everywhere.

marcosgt

11,021 posts

176 months

Monday 13th October 2014
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Lorneg said:
rog007 said:
Blown2CV said:
I think this offshore field engineer thing is like the MX5 of watches on here!
laugh
Can't it be the 911 of watches? I do like the MX5 for its purity of design and no nonsense ethos, but the 911 is the same but sexier. :-)
It'd only be the 911 of watches if they put the dial on the back wouldn't it? wink

I like the Offshore Engineer, myself, especially the dial and chrono pushers, but I don't see a place for one in my collection.

M

Edited by marcosgt on Monday 13th October 09:49

dom9

8,078 posts

209 months

Monday 13th October 2014
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Lorneg said:
Can't it be the 911 of watches?
No.

HereBeMonsters said:
Can I be the first to proclaim that I don't get this fad? They look like bad 90s Tags. Ew.
You're not even the first on this thread!

TimLambert7 said:
Taste is subjective, the people who buy them quite like them!

Another thing, it's small production, individually numbered (80ish and counting), very good movement and made by a bloke in a shed (sorry, Lorne) in West London. I hope you'll agree it's a bit more interesting than a mass produced something-or-other.

I may be wrong but a huge amount of watch ownership is not necessarily the watch itself but what it means to the person wearing it. In my eyes a watch with a story to it is much more interesting than a ropey 2nd hand Omega for the same price.
But this is true... I must say; it has grown on me the last couple of months but I still don't see a time when I'd have one in the collection.

However, I am VERY pleased to see a British designed and manufactured (even though the movement is bought-in) watch doing so well and gaining a following. I suspect those of you who bought in early will never lose a penny and since you all seem so happy, it sounds like you have a bargain on your hands (well, writs). Good luck to Lorne and I hope the brand goes from strength to strength (though I'd have probably picked a diving watch to be called an Offshore Field Engineer as we've never timed anything to a higher degree of accuracy than seconds but there's a fair chance of getting properly wet).

TimLambert7

642 posts

125 months

Monday 13th October 2014
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dom9 said:
TimLambert7 said:
Taste is subjective, the people who buy them quite like them!

Another thing, it's small production, individually numbered (80ish and counting), very good movement and made by a bloke in a shed (sorry, Lorne) in West London. I hope you'll agree it's a bit more interesting than a mass produced something-or-other.

I may be wrong but a huge amount of watch ownership is not necessarily the watch itself but what it means to the person wearing it. In my eyes a watch with a story to it is much more interesting than a ropey 2nd hand Omega for the same price.
But this is true... I must say; it has grown on me the last couple of months but I still don't see a time when I'd have one in the collection.

However, I am VERY pleased to see a British designed and manufactured (even though the movement is bought-in) watch doing so well and gaining a following. I suspect those of you who bought in early will never lose a penny and since you all seem so happy, it sounds like you have a bargain on your hands (well, writs). Good luck to Lorne and I hope the brand goes from strength to strength (though I'd have probably picked a diving watch to be called an Offshore Field Engineer as we've never timed anything to a higher degree of accuracy than seconds but there's a fair chance of getting properly wet).
I think whether or not you want one in your collection falls under the same banner as 'taste'.

I think rather than perpetually attacking Lorne's work we should maybe celebrate having a successful British watch manufacturer in our ranks.

I wonder if there will be an Field Engineer Mk2...?

andy_s

19,400 posts

259 months

Monday 13th October 2014
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TimLambert7 said:
I think whether or not you want one in your collection falls under the same banner as 'taste'.

I think rather than perpetually attacking Lorne's work we should maybe celebrate having a successful British watch manufacturer in our ranks.
That's pretty much what his post alludes to. confused

Keep up the good work Lorne.

dom9

8,078 posts

209 months

Monday 13th October 2014
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andy_s said:
That's pretty much what his post alludes to. confused

Keep up the good work Lorne.
Thanks Andy - glad that wasn't lost!

TimLambert7

642 posts

125 months

Monday 13th October 2014
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andy_s said:
TimLambert7 said:
I think whether or not you want one in your collection falls under the same banner as 'taste'.

I think rather than perpetually attacking Lorne's work we should maybe celebrate having a successful British watch manufacturer in our ranks.
That's pretty much what his post alludes to. confused

Keep up the good work Lorne.
Yes it was an unusual post of agreement rather than contradiction. Maybe didn't make that very clear!

HereBeMonsters

14,180 posts

182 months

Monday 13th October 2014
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Do agree that it's great to have a British made watch doing so well - not to my taste, but who knows, maybe the 2nd model will be!

Are all the bits British, or it is just assembled here? I know a lot of us were taken in by the RLT fiasco...me included.

Lorneg

228 posts

179 months

Tuesday 14th October 2014
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Yes, there will be a new model available soon. But by new it's a bit like the 911, sorry MX5, in that it looks like the old model, is called the same and only has one extra gear. Serial numbers will continue from the existing and indeed most of the changes are already incorporated. Unlike the MX5 though I'll quite happily upgrade existing field engineers to the new specification. Oh and for clarity, no the bits are not all British. Some come from very unusual locations - the hands for example are now made in India on a machine from Switzerland (indian engineers are very good!). All the parts are assembled here in London - Ealing to be exact.

Edited by Lorneg on Tuesday 14th October 08:56