Fancy a Panda dial- £1000 max

[Vvroom]

Evening chaps,

Seeing an article on the forthcoming Tag Heuer CH80 got me thinking: "I want a panda dialled watch".

Criteria are:

1. New or used.
2. Sub dials: side by side or 3 register. No up/downs.
3. Black dial with White sub dials would be my preference though white/black will be considered.
4. £1000 max as a bit of fun.

Help me find one: any recommendations?

Vvroom

[BrassMan]

Chinese OK?

http://wornandwound.com/2013/06/12/seagull-1963-42...

[WelshChris]

[Vvroom]

BrassMan said:

Chinese OK?

http://wornandwound.com/2013/06/12/seagull-1963-42...

Chinese is fine.

that looks lovely- especially for the price.

[Vvroom]

WelshChris said:

and of course every panda-a-like watch needs a 1940s pilot sytle strap!

I have a mad-cap aunt that would pay good money for that watch.

[marcosgt]

How about an Alpha?

http://www.alpha-watch.com/details.php?myid=978

I had one briefly (was looking to sell a number of watches to buy one, but this was the only one that sold) and they're excellent for the money.

I'm thinking of getting another.

M

[AlexC1981]

I have a couple of cheap quartz pandas. Love pandas. The Tudor followed closely by the Speedmaster are probably my favourites.

[Vvroom]

^ that seiko looks great.

I'm enjoying shopping around. A couple nice Heuers on chronoaddict for c£1000 but there seems a lot of fun to be had at half that price.

[Dempsey1971]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ebel-1911-Discovery-Auto...

Yes, it's not £1000 max, but a little man maths..........

[Dempsey1971]

http://www.chrono24.com/en/longines/conquest-panda...

This looks great as well.

I need to stop this now or it could get expensive. Next Stop AP Silver Themes.......

[RobinBanks]

Dempsey1971 said:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ebel-1911-Discovery-Auto...

Yes, it's not £1000 max, but a little man maths..........

I really like this. Presumably it's a 7750?

[The Surveyor]

How about the Autodromo Prototipo, lovely looking classic panda dial chrono and well within budget:-

http://www.pageandcooper.com/autodromo-prototipo-c...

Paul

[waterjoke]

WelshChris said:

Lovely!

[madbadger]

Dempsey1971 said:

Yes, it's not £1000 max, but a little man maths..........

Likewise:

[Dempsey1971]

RobinBanks said:

I really like this. Presumably it's a 7750?

I looks like it with that layout. Should be pretty reliable and easy to service too.

[Dempsey1971]

Dempsey1971 said:

RobinBanks said:

I really like this. Presumably it's a 7750?

I looks like it with that layout. Should be pretty reliable and easy to service too.

Though maybe not...........

http://forums.watchuseek.com/f2/ebel-1911-chronogr...

[Ev_]

The Surveyor said:

How about the Autodromo Prototipo, lovely looking classic panda dial chrono and well within budget:-

http://www.pageandcooper.com/autodromo-prototipo-c...

Paul

Seconded, although I'd go for the white dial/blue hands/black strap combo:



http://www.pageandcooper.com/autodromo-prototipo-c...

[RobinBanks]

Dempsey1971 said:

Dempsey1971 said:

RobinBanks said:

I really like this. Presumably it's a 7750?

I looks like it with that layout. Should be pretty reliable and easy to service too.

Though maybe not...........

http://forums.watchuseek.com/f2/ebel-1911-chronogr...

Thanks. I think I'll put a bit of cash aside and get one!

[Vvroom]

Ev_ said:

The Surveyor said:

How about the Autodromo Prototipo, lovely looking classic panda dial chrono and well within budget:-

http://www.pageandcooper.com/autodromo-prototipo-c...

Paul

Seconded, although I'd go for the white dial/blue hands/black strap combo:



http://www.pageandcooper.com/autodromo-prototipo-c...

Head says:
Quartz. Hour hand too long.

Heart says:
Get it bought.

Great watch for the money. Would love to hear someone talk about the build quality. Anyone have one?

[Ev_]

Vvroom said:

Head says:
Quartz. Hour hand too long.

Heart says:
Get it bought.

Great watch for the money. Would love to hear someone talk about the build quality. Anyone have one?

I've got the black-dial version (hence the recommendation above) and can't fault the quality. The brushed/polished finish on the case is particularly impressive and there are loads of nice details: the shape of the crown/pushers (complete with Autodromo logo on the former), the funky caseback, the subtle size of the main logo on the dial, etc. Yes, the hour hand is too long, but you get used to it after a couple of days.

As for the quartz issue, I've found it really doesn't bother me, despite this being the only quartz watch I own. It probably helps that there are no outward signs of the watch being quartz: because the movement is a hybrid meca-quartz item (quite interesting in itself), the chrono sweeps and resets just like one on a mechanical watch. I guess the fact the Prototipo has such a vintage look to it probably helps, too.

Just noticed you said you'd prefer a black dial with white subdials in your original post, so maybe the black/silver combo would be worth considering too. Here's mine:


Autodromo Prototipo by Ian Eveleigh, on Flickr