The Under £200ish Watch and occasional Opera Thread! Vol2

[21st Century Man]

I do like that all these cheap Chinese homages (the word homage is UTTER bks, they're replicas) are sort of acceptable now. That wasn't the case a few years ago. Probably because you could buy a real one if you had the money, but that's not the case now. If something is unobtainable, even to those with a few quid, you might as well buy something for £36 and have a laugh.

[Alex_225]

SWoll said:

It's a straight copy of a limited edition Patek Phillipe Aquanaut Chronograph. A tad cheaper though.

I assumed it probably was based on something else, the shape led me to think Patek but I wouldn't know for sure.

I like the fact that it's about £114,950 cheaper than the real thing! haha

[CharlesdeGaulle]

Alex_225 said:

I assumed it probably was based on something else, the shape led me to think Patek but I wouldn't know for sure.

I like the fact that it's about £114,950 cheaper than the real thing! haha

Agreed. The 114 grand I've saved will go towards a retirement villa in Portugal.

[SWoll]

Funnily enough the watch currently at the top of my "next buy" list is the Mido Mutliforte TV which is a very similar piece of design that actually goes back further than the PP.



Rather more expensive than the AliEx watch still, but a handy £114k less than the Patek.

[Alex_225]

That is very lovely. I cant say I've looked at this brand but perhaps I should, just in case! haha

[blue_haddock]

Alex_225 said:

^^ that's a lovely looking watch!!

I had another AliExpress arrival today. Came across this brand, Specht&Sohne via a review video on Youtube. Thought this was quite a tidy looking thing and at £39 it's always worth a shot.





50m water resistant, stainless steel and a push button hidden clasp on the strap.

I had one of these a couple of years ago.

Was a really nice thing but just wasn't my style so sold it on.

[carlo996]

SWoll said:

Helm do some lovely looking dive watches. I'm a big fan of the Miyako, will have to get myself on the list at some point.

That's lovely.

[carlo996]

21st Century Man said:

I spent 5x the price on a San Martin on a Jubilee and I absolutely love it. It was a protest purchase, I could just about run to a real one but they just aren't sold to the likes of me and 3x the price for grey is nuts.

Just looked at those after your comments. Looks great, it would be perfect with the NH35 movement. As soon as that happens I'd buy one.

[gregs656]

carlo996 said:

That's lovely.

I got to the top of the list for one of these but left it in the end. Decided it was a bit too busy.

[Wallace12R]

21st Century Man said:

WayOutWest said:

Wallace12R said:

This was delivered last night. It’s nice, the NH-34 is buttery smooth and really nice to set. The bezel action is very positive with 0 back play or bounce, however it does not quite line up 100% and is ever so slightly out which is an easy fix. The finish on the case is good, and as usual the bracelet is ok and the clasp pretty rattly and could be improved upon. I’ll report back on accuracy, it appears to be running + at the moment but I’ll keep an eye on it over the next month to let it ‘settle in’ before I stick it on my timegrapher and begin thinking about regulating etc

Now lume, hhhmmm the Pagani lume………

What’s to say? The lume on the bezel is actually very good for Pagani but the dial itself is not great. It’s better and is a definite improvement upon my other PDs, but still has a LONG way to go to be on par with the likes of Steeldive / Addiesdive.

Am I happy? Yes. 100% for the money this cannot be beaten, a ‘normal’ 3 hander with these specs would be an absolute bargain for the price I paid but to get an NH-34 powered 4 hander is just insane value.

I paid £57.59.

That is nice, you can't grumble can you for that price!

I spent 5x the price on a San Martin on a Jubilee and I absolutely love it. It was a protest purchase, I could just about run to a real one but they just aren't sold to the likes of me and 3x the price for grey is nuts.

Haha exactly, protest purchase. I like that

[Wallace12R]

Alex_225 said:

^^ that's a lovely looking watch!!

I had another AliExpress arrival today. Came across this brand, Specht&Sohne via a review video on Youtube. Thought this was quite a tidy looking thing and at £39 it's always worth a shot.





50m water resistant, stainless steel and a push button hidden clasp on the strap.

This is one that I really like and have been uhming and aching over for a long time now, for some reason I’ve just never bought one. I’d definitely be interested in a small review in another week or 2 to see how you’ve got on with it.

[Alex_225]

Wallace12R said:

This is one that I really like and have been uhming and aching over for a long time now, for some reason I’ve just never bought one. I’d definitely be interested in a small review in another week or 2 to see how you’ve got on with it.

To be honest for the money, just go for it haha. I've been wearing it since I got it and it's very nice so far. Keeping good time (as you'd hope for a quartz) but nice on the wrist, light enough but you know it's there. Very comfy too. So far so good anyway.

[105.4]

Alex_225 said:

^^ that's a lovely looking watch!!

I had another AliExpress arrival today. Came across this brand, Specht&Sohne via a review video on Youtube. Thought this was quite a tidy looking thing and at £39 it's always worth a shot.





50m water resistant, stainless steel and a push button hidden clasp on the strap.

Bloody hell. That’s quite nice. I like that

[105.4]

Alex_225 said:

Here you go mate. Hope that does the trick.

https://a.aliexpress.com/_m0NEYk4

Ohhh you bd. Are you purposely trying to get me in trouble with the Wife?

[klootzak]

I know that Fossil doesn’t get a lot of love among watch people, and I’m not sure the cheaper Brauns fare much better, but here are my two (very) recent acquisitions.

Weird thing is, I haven’t possessed or worn a watch for over 30 years. I stopped for work-related mental health reasons and never bothered again even after I retired a couple of years ago.

Then, within the space of a few weeks I received two watches as gifts. The Fossil from my wife because I’m coming up to my PPL flight test and need to have a watch for that. The Braun as a welcome to a very occasional part-time job.

Trouble is, now I keep looking at other watches. And that could be a whole new mental health issue

k

[RSTurboPaul]

klootzak said:

I know that Fossil doesn’t get a lot of love among watch people, and I’m not sure the cheaper Brauns fare much better, but here are my two (very) recent acquisitions.

Weird thing is, I haven’t possessed or worn a watch for over 30 years. I stopped for work-related mental health reasons and never bothered again even after I retired a couple of years ago.

Then, within the space of a few weeks I received two watches as gifts. The Fossil from my wife because I’m coming up to my PPL flight test and need to have a watch for that. The Braun as a welcome to a very occasional part-time job.

Trouble is, now I keep looking at other watches. And that could be a whole new mental health issue

k

Fear not, we are here to enable support you lol

If you are starting out on the slippery slope, take time to identify what really draws you to the watches that appeal most, and what is 'nice' but not 'must have' - save yourself a lot of time and money if you can mentally rule things out that you sort of fancy but don't really love

e.g. three-hand? GMT? Chrono? Smaller size? Larger size? 'Clean' or minimalist dial (e.g. Bell & Ross BR01) or more cluttered dial (e.g. pick any of the 'aviation' Breitlings )? Dress watches or Divers? Metal bracelets or leather/rubber straps? Auto or handwind? Under cuffs or just out on show? etc. etc.

[Barchettaman]

klootzak said:

Then, within the space of a few weeks I received two watches as gifts.

Add a nice automatic dive watch on a bracelet, and that’s the perfect three watch collection right there.

Am I doing this right?

[Bobberoo]

RSTurboPaul said:

klootzak said:

I know that Fossil doesn’t get a lot of love among watch people, and I’m not sure the cheaper Brauns fare much better, but here are my two (very) recent acquisitions.

Weird thing is, I haven’t possessed or worn a watch for over 30 years. I stopped for work-related mental health reasons and never bothered again even after I retired a couple of years ago.

Then, within the space of a few weeks I received two watches as gifts. The Fossil from my wife because I’m coming up to my PPL flight test and need to have a watch for that. The Braun as a welcome to a very occasional part-time job.

Trouble is, now I keep looking at other watches. And that could be a whole new mental health issue

k

Fear not, we are here to enable support you lol

If you are starting out on the slippery slope, take time to identify what really draws you to the watches that appeal most, and what is 'nice' but not 'must have' - save yourself a lot of time and money if you can mentally rule things out that you sort of fancy but don't really love

e.g. three-hand? GMT? Chrono? Smaller size? Larger size? 'Clean' or minimalist dial (e.g. Bell & Ross BR01) or more cluttered dial (e.g. pick any of the 'aviation' Breitlings )? Dress watches or Divers? Metal bracelets or leather/rubber straps? Auto or handwind? Under cuffs or just out on show? etc. etc.

^^^What he said^^^
Welcome to the thread, we don't judge here no matter what you buy, we will try to be honest and open.

[CharlesdeGaulle]

RSTurboPaul said:

Fear not, we are here to enable support you lol

If you are starting out on the slippery slope, take time to identify what really draws you to the watches that appeal most, and what is 'nice' but not 'must have' - save yourself a lot of time and money if you can mentally rule things out that you sort of fancy but don't really love

e.g. three-hand? GMT? Chrono? Smaller size? Larger size? 'Clean' or minimalist dial (e.g. Bell & Ross BR01) or more cluttered dial (e.g. pick any of the 'aviation' Breitlings )? Dress watches or Divers? Metal bracelets or leather/rubber straps? Auto or handwind? Under cuffs or just out on show? etc. etc.

You seem to be suggesting that it's an either/or dynamic, whereas we all know that he needs all of the above, plus some others we haven't thought of yet.

[105.4]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

You seem to be suggesting that it's an either/or dynamic, whereas we all know that he needs all of the above, plus some others we haven't thought of yet.