Cheap mechanical

[simonrockman]

I don't really 'get' watches, I'm certainly not interested in resale value or an investment.

But I do like the idea of a watch "all in hardware" as Fenchurch Dent put it.

What's a sensible pauper option for a mechanical watch? Self-wound or automatic.

Something akin to a Panda 100HP - basic, functional with a hint of desirability.

Beyond this some "nice to have" parameters:

• It would be good to have the movement showing through the back

• A very simple front - numbers would be nice

• Thin

• Not mainstream (ie Seiko)

Price, however, sub £80 is the ballpark, is more important than any of these

Simon

[Slagathore]

Shame bin Seiko already, they do some excellent watches for the money.

I'll go to the other default ph answer -Werners. On the phone, so don't have the website handy, but theyve been discussed plenty on here.

[ShadownINja]

http://www.wernersflyingwatches.com/

You may find one within budget but could probably sniff one out on ebay...

[Vespula]

Vostok Amphibia on ebay

Parnis on ebay

Alpha-Watch.com

Seiko 5 (can't ignore them).

[simonrockman]

Thanks for that

[Wild Rumpus]

Orient make some nice, cheap mechanical watches - similar to Seiko, but fewer people have heard of them.

[Frederick]

Thin, automatic and cheap don't really go together though...

Auto movements by their nature are pretty hefty ones, thin autos are usually £expensive.

Even my Seiko 5 cheapy is just under 1cm thick!!

[HereBeMonsters]

Got to be a Seiko 5. Other than that you're looking at Chinese, which, if you don't know what you're looking at, are a minefield at this price point.

[Frederick]

There's always Tao International - I've still got one of these in my watch list on ebay

Works out at £62 or so, not thin, but ticks the rest of the boxes...

Edited by Frederick on Friday 4th June 00:15

[simonrockman]

Frederick said:

There's always Tao International - I've still got one of these in my watch list on ebay

Works out at £62 or so, not thin, but ticks the rest of the boxes...

Edited by Frederick on Friday 4th June 00:15

Thanks, I like that a lot.

Simon

[Nolar Dog]

You need an Orient Mako in your life.
You just haven't realised it yet.

[Parsnip]

I would need to throw my hat in the Seiko 5 ring too - got one a few weeks ago and love it to bits - was supposed to be a daily wearer that I didn't care too much about - for taking to LM etc. But have found myself liking it more and more.

[simonrockman]

Frederick said:

There's always Tao International - I've still got one of these in my watch list on ebay

Works out at £62 or so, not thin, but ticks the rest of the boxes...

Edited by Frederick on Friday 4th June 00:15

Thanks for that. Just bought one.

Simon

[Frederick]

simonrockman said:

Frederick said:

There's always Tao International - I've still got one of these in my watch list on ebay

Works out at £62 or so, not thin, but ticks the rest of the boxes...

Edited by Frederick on Friday 4th June 00:15

Thanks for that. Just bought one.

Simon

Edited to add, I've decided now is the time too - but since I already have two PVD watches, I went for the Silver case / Black face combination instead.

Edited by Frederick on Saturday 5th June 13:00

[Frederick]

Have you heard anything about delivery yet Simon? Mine was sent on Tuesday, hopefully will be here sometime next week

Edited by Frederick on Friday 11th June 18:25

[simonrockman]

Arrived today. I'm going to have to wait until Fathers Day to open it.

Simon

[Frederick]

Mine too... I'm pretty impressed tbh!

The mech is a little graunchy while winding it on but it's not too bad, nothing a jeweller couldn't fix with a drop of oil in the right place.

When you get yours, don't make the same mistake I did - there is a button on the left side of the face, press that to advance the date... don't wind it on - it will take you a month to set it correctly!!

As most have said, the strap is where the money has been saved but it's decent enough, could do with being a bit longer though, I have pretty large wrists (as you can tell from the photo) and I'm on the 2nd from last hole, last hole if I wanted to be fully comfortable...

Pleased with the watch though, just have to start saving for the real deal Panerai now!

[simonrockman]

Thanks. I think that this is the most successful "what to buy" topic I've been in on PH.

I didn't even end up with an MX-5

[hilly10]

Have a look here british made as well


http://www.rltwatches.co.uk/