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

[irc]

I used two of these.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B07DNCKSC2?psc=1&...



While I'm here - my current collection.



Rotary Super 7
Orient Kano
Invicta
Alkin Model 2
Alkin Model 1
Cadisen






[url]

Vostok K43
Parnis
Timex
Citizen Eco-Drive

All under budget except the Alkins.

Edited by irc on Thursday 23 May 12:13

[Pebbles167]

Some nice watches there, particularly like the red on the orient. I've got one of those boxes too, can't fo wrong for the price.

[Pebbles167]

Thought my dad could do with something nicer than the Lorus lume dial quartz I gave him back in Feb, so with his birthday coming up I've got him a Longines Spirit homage by Pagani design since I like the pilot style.



Think I paid around £65 from Ali Express and as usual, the quality is surprisingly decent for the price. Obviously the finish isn't quite up there with the Spirit, but considering they are about 30 times the price, it's closer than you might expect.



The Pagani lume isn't nearly as good, but it has a screw down crown and case back, neither of which the Longines has. It also has a higher water resistance at 200m vs 100m, 38mm vs 37mm, and no date either, which i consider a plus. Since it uses an NH35 it's power reserve obviously won't be as long nor the movement as accurate, but he doesnt care overly about watches and the main thing is it should prove to be tough and reliable.

Edited by Pebbles167 on Thursday 23 May 15:34

[21st Century Man]

Ref the watch boxes, Amazon is cheap enough and convenient, but these exact same boxes are on AliExpress at around a third or half the price. OK not next day, but usually 7-10 day delivery.

Whenever I'm shopping on Amazon I'll generally check AliExpress too if I'm in no rush.

[RSTurboPaul]

Pebbles167 said:

Thought my dad could do with something nicer than the Lorus lume dial quartz I gave him back in Feb, so with his birthday coming up I've got him a Longines Spirit homage by Pagani design since I like the pilot style.



Think I paid around £65 from Ali Express and as usual, the quality is surprisingly decent for the price. Obviously the finish isn't quite up there with the Spirit, but considering they are about 30 times the price, it's closer than you might expect.



The Pagani lume isn't nearly as good, but it has a screw down crown and case back, neither of which the Longines has. It also has a higher water resistance at 200m vs 100m, 38mm vs 37mm, and no date either, which i consider a plus. Since it uses an NH35 it's power reserve obviously won't be as long nor the movement as accurate, but he doesnt care overly about watches and the main thing is it should prove to be tough and reliable.

Edited by Pebbles167 on Thursday 23 May 15:34

Nice, a great choice - I think I prefer the homage dial lol

[Bobberoo]

irc said:

I used two of these.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B07DNCKSC2?psc=1&...



While I'm here - my current collection.



Rotary Super 7
Orient Kano
Invicta
Alkin Model 2
Alkin Model 1
Cadisen






[url]

Vostok K43
Parnis
Timex
Citizen Eco-Drive

All under budget except the Alkins.

Edited by irc on Thursday 23 May 12:13

That's a great little collection irc!!!

[Bobberoo]

Pebbles167 said:

Thought my dad could do with something nicer than the Lorus lume dial quartz I gave him back in Feb, so with his birthday coming up I've got him a Longines Spirit homage by Pagani design since I like the pilot style.



Think I paid around £65 from Ali Express and as usual, the quality is surprisingly decent for the price. Obviously the finish isn't quite up there with the Spirit, but considering they are about 30 times the price, it's closer than you might expect.



The Pagani lume isn't nearly as good, but it has a screw down crown and case back, neither of which the Longines has. It also has a higher water resistance at 200m vs 100m, 38mm vs 37mm, and no date either, which i consider a plus. Since it uses an NH35 it's power reserve obviously won't be as long nor the movement as accurate, but he doesnt care overly about watches and the main thing is it should prove to be tough and reliable.

Edited by Pebbles167 on Thursday 23 May 15:34

Love the colour of that face Pebbles167, I would think your dad will love it!!!

[Pebbles167]

Pebbles167 said:

RSTurboPaul said:

Nice, a great choice - I think I prefer the homage dial lol

Bobberoo said:

Love the colour of that face Pebbles167, I would think your dad will love it!!!

Thanks both!

Yes I'm very pleased for the price, and amused to admit that I too prefer the colour or the Pagani dial.

If I was a more generous son, I'd give him the Longines

[irc]

Pebbles167 said:

Thanks both!

Yes I'm very pleased for the price, and amused to admit that I too prefer the colour or the Pagani dial.

If I was a more generous son, I'd give him the Longines

No date dials are the biz. Unless you wear the same watch for days in a row it is a bit of hassle setting day/date. Usually I don't bother but every so often my OCD makes me.

As for OCD - as I only tend to wear the same watch 2 or 3 days at a time accuracy isn't important. As a matter of interest I checked my Rotary Super 7 and my Alkin Model 2 this week. Both under 2s a day. Impressive. A Miyota 9039 movement in the Alkin Miyota 8205 in the Rotary.

[warp9]

So after the parcel service that's united stopped fannying around all week, I am finally in receipt on the 1970 Dan Henry for my friends upcoming birthday.

It's a lovely watch, has a nice clean retro design, feels well made and a quality bit of kit. The packaging is different, the watch is in a faux leather rolled wallet then stuffed in a cheap plastic tube, but then at this price it probably doesn't justify more.

Overall I'm very happy with it, just hope my friend is also!

[irc]

warp9 said:

I really like the look of that. Enough that I may make a request at Christmas.

[irc]

Perhaps this one



Does Dan Henry ever have any sales?

[105.4]

I’ve been a naughty boy again


I’ve fancied a Dunhil watch since the early 90’s when a customer of a bar I used to work in had one, (he also drove a TVR 400SE). I just never got round to buying one. I liked them, I just didn’t love them.

Idly browsing eBay this morning whilst sitting on the throne, an auction for one that was ending soon popped up. As seen as I wasn’t even looking for one, and the bids were still low, I decided fate was calling and took a low-ball punt on it.

Imagine my surprise when a few hours later I had won the auction for the princely sum of………



£12.50




Ok, so it’s hardly what you’d call ‘pristine’ condition, but it’s a classic Dunhill watch, it works, (allegedly), and it cost the same as a couple of sausage & egg butties.

[105.4]

irc said:

warp9 said:

I really like the look of that. Enough that I may make a request at Christmas.

Yep. Nice looking watch. Very nice actually.

[CharlesdeGaulle]

105.4 said:

I’ve been a naughty boy again


I’ve fancied a Dunhil watch since the early 90’s when a customer of a bar I used to work in had one, (he also drove a TVR 400SE). I just never got round to buying one. I liked them, I just didn’t love them.

Idly browsing eBay this morning whilst sitting on the throne, an auction for one that was ending soon popped up. As seen as I wasn’t even looking for one, and the bids were still low, I decided fate was calling and took a low-ball punt on it.

Imagine my surprise when a few hours later I had won the auction for the princely sum of………



£12.50




Ok, so it’s hardly what you’d call ‘pristine’ condition, but it’s a classic Dunhill watch, it works, (allegedly), and it cost the same as a couple of sausage & egg butties.

Great work, and for less than the cost of a couple of City pints! Nice work.

[105.4]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

Great work, and for less than the cost of a couple of City pints! Nice work.

Thanks Charles

[carlo996]

105.4 said:

I’ve been a naughty boy again


I’ve fancied a Dunhil watch since the early 90’s when a customer of a bar I used to work in had one, (he also drove a TVR 400SE). I just never got round to buying one. I liked them, I just didn’t love them.

Idly browsing eBay this morning whilst sitting on the throne, an auction for one that was ending soon popped up. As seen as I wasn’t even looking for one, and the bids were still low, I decided fate was calling and took a low-ball punt on it.

Imagine my surprise when a few hours later I had won the auction for the princely sum of………



£12.50




Ok, so it’s hardly what you’d call ‘pristine’ condition, but it’s a classic Dunhill watch, it works, (allegedly), and it cost the same as a couple of sausage & egg butties.

That's deeply cool.

Imagine the stories it could tell

[summit7]

Alot of love for Dan Henry in my house. Have owned this 1975 for 16 months, solid three hand no date watch with real retro vibe, what is there not to like. Yeah it's an Omega Admiralty homage but no main stream watch maker is offering anything like it, without DH you couldn't buy a watch like this anymore.

[RSTurboPaul]

summit7 said:

Alot of love for Dan Henry in my house. Have owned this 1975 for 16 months, solid three hand no date watch with real retro vibe, what is there not to like. Yeah it's an Omega Admiralty homage but no main stream watch maker is offering anything like it, without DH you couldn't buy a watch like this anymore.

I do not need more watches.

I do not need more watches.

I do not need more watches.

[105.4]

carlo996 said:

That's deeply cool.

Imagine the stories it could tell

It’s likely not as old as you think, (mid 80’s - early 90’s). It’s just that like it’s new owner, it looks older than it actually is

However, I do own four other watches that could likely tell some fantastic stories.


One is a 30 jewel MuDu purchased by my Grandfather in August 1947 on the day that my Mother, (his first child), was born. My Grandfather became very wealthy very quickly in construction after WW2. Even when he was in his 70’s I remember CID taking him away for a couple of days at a time for a ‘chat’, on several occasions, so he was likely a bit dodgy.


I bought a verified late 1970’s Sturmanskie 3133 from Italy, off of an old lady who claimed to be a descendant of Italian nobility. The story with that one is that her Husband, (an Italian diplomat), swapped his watch at a party for the Sturmanskie with what was then the Soviet Navel Attaché to Italy, (3133 were only issued to Soviet Navel Captains and Soviet Navel Navigators). Even if the Italian nobility part is a fable, that watch was still owned by a high ranking Soviet Officer during the height of the Cold War.


I have a ladies Breguet. Transcribed on the back is “To Mary. New York. 1938”.
Who was Mary? Who bought her the watch? (likely someone wealthy). What happened to Mary and the guy who bought her the watch in the following ten years? How did the watch get from New York to the U.K?


And I also own a 1946 American manufactured Hamilton Boulton dress watch. I’d love to know the story and the history of that watch as well.



For me, these are the sort of things that make older watches so special. A watch is a very personal piece of jewellery. Worn every day on the wrist, feeling every pulse, every beat of the heart. As you have rightly pointed out, if old watches could talk, they could tell some amazing stories having witnessed so much personal history and world events.



edited to add;
Whilst there are some really nice new watches posted on this thread, I’m actually quite surprised how few older watches make an appearance on here. The used market can offer a huge amount of variety at some incredible prices, with the added benefit of buying a unique piece of history.

Edited by 105.4 on Saturday 25th May 08:16