Anyone know much about watches?

[rickf_uk]

Hi James,

I'm afraid that you've found my other weakness apart from V8s. Two things to remember when buying watches

1. Watches are like cars, they have a resale value and it varies depending on what you buy. so

a. Buy something with a mechanical action. Quartz watches are worth nothing (with one or two notable/historical exceptions) on the collectors market. So forget the RADO (for so many reasons).

b. Just because it's swiss doesn't mean its good. The Italians, the French and us Brits are cutting edge at the moment.

c. when choosing a brand remember the old adage about cowboy hats and hemorrhoids.


2. Buy something you like the look of, your going to be looking at it god knows how many times a day.


So, what could you get for £2k. Well you could go down the the Omgea or TAG route but for the money your talking about you'd get the equivalent of a Diesel 3 series beamer, and about as day to day.

Of the others you mention, the Ball has a nice story with it but quality not great - I know I have a Worldtimer in my collection.

Longines - simple and classic (plain if you like) but avoid their 'fake TAG' range

Lacroix - yes but...only if its from their masterpiece collection. These are genuinely hand made and the retrograde complications are quite sought after. If you shop around you will find them reduced by some jewelers as they are currently changing distributers. Haggle hard. The cheaper lacroix are really just shells for ETA movements.

What would I choose?

Bremont - Part of the British watch resurgence and a historic link to the aero industry

Breitling Superocean Heritage- Modern take on classic 1950s dive watch

Bell&Ross BR3-you need to be a bit of a gorilla to get away with this but top build quality.

IWC - Swiss, very swiss and in a good way.

Zenith - built stronger than a factory LSX and usually about the same price. However Ernest Jones are known to discount them heavily if you catch them at the right time.


My main advise though is but something very very heavy. I need a weight advantage for the next time we meet on 'The Road'.

[Tattooboy]

after_shock said:

Tattooboy said:

El Diablo said:

Tag or Omega for me. But buying a high end watch is all personal choice.

I always wanted a Breitling myself. Not as an investment just because I have always really liked the styling. Saw a really nice one last year and bought it.

If you want one to hold it's value tho get a classic style one not too in your face.

WHS, have got a Titanium Breitling myself and has been the best watch I have brought, have also got an Omega Seamaster, but the Breitling always wins IMO, plus you can get into the Breitling tent at Biggin Hill for free when you wear it there

What sort of money do the Breitlings start off at though? dont think they will fit in my budget!

I don't think buget will be your problem with Ernest Jones, not many of their stores appear to sell Beitling, but my second choice would be this
http://www.ernestjones.co.uk/webstore/d/5269946/om...

Very nice

[scarebus]

My Casio G-Shock rocks!!! A bit pricey though ~ £160, tells the time, date, has a stop watch, and has a really cool button that turns the whole watch Blue at night time.

[Tiger_kpt]

I have to admit - I don't think I could justify spending that much on a watch / time piece myself. I would end up either wearing it and messing it up or not wearing it and feel guilty spending all that money on it.

If you've got the funds in vouchers though, then I think a nice watch / time piece would be a good thing to spend or invest them on - or gold bullion bars!

The most expensive watch i've ever bought is a SEIKO ARCTURA KINETIC with time, date and day of the week, kinetic, 10BAR water resistant, stainless steel body, stainless steel strap and sapphire crystal glass. That was around £400 from a high street jeweller. I can safely say that I think it was worth every penny though. It looks and feels bulletproof. Being kinetic is a huge bonus. Two years on after wearing daily as an engineer, it has taken a hammering, it hasn't missed a beat, the glass isn't marked. The only signs of wear and tear are some mild scratches and scuffs on the stainless steel body and strap, which I assume a jeweller would be able to buff out completely for me every once in a while.

Edited by Tiger_kpt on Tuesday 25th May 08:59

[SimonV8ster]

Dear God - are you really going to spend 2k on a watch ??!!

See if the Fish will give you some credit notes - they might be into watches !!

[PaulHogan]

First and foremost buy the watch that you want; pay no heed to possible re-sale value - get the piece that YOU like best.

Secondly you are looking to spend a fair bit so remember that the shop (can't bring myself to call EJ a jewellers) will get you a watch that they don't have in stock. They might be (almost certainly are) restricted to certain brands but they won't by any means have every model in stock so search the manufacturers websites and if you see 'the one' ask the shop to get it in for you.

Finally, don't be afraid to haggle. You should be looking at quite a nice saving on a big purchase, and/or maybe get the first service thrown in for free (and if you do, then get it in writing). And don't mention until the very very end of such negotiations that you are making all/part of the purchase in vouchers.

[aeropilot]

after_shock said:

but I do have small wrists so getting something im comfortable with is not easy.

In that case, be careful with some of the bracelets and fine adjustment. I bought an Omega Seamaster Pro a few years back to be my everyday wearer, and the Omega bracelet doesn't have fine adjustment on it, and you are into link removal, which is fine, but I have slim wrists and sods law dictated that the half link adjustment is fine in summer when wrists but the watch became too loose for me when body temp dropped and the lack of fine adjustment just got too frustrating for me, so it's no longer my daily wearer.
Really hassle the assistants to make sure they adjust bracelets to suit your wrist when you try on.

[Brewsters]

Definitely an Omega Seamaster - had a quartz one for 12 years now and wear it everyday - still in amazing condition. Mine is the mid-size (better for smaller wrists!) with the blue face.

Let us know what you get. (Let me know if you want to sell the vouchers!)

[jimothy]

rickf_uk said:

Breitling Superocean Heritage- Modern take on classic 1950s dive watch

[Greedydog]

Personally I'd buy whichever has the best resale as BNIB, sell on at reputable watch site then buy a Damasko and pocket the difference... every bit as good as any brand mentioned but a little cheaper (and more exclusive)!

[aeropilot]

jimothy said:

rickf_uk said:

Breitling Superocean Heritage- Modern take on classic 1950s dive watch

And the only nice Breitling imho.

[BluePurpleRed]

I have this one...

http://www.ernestjones.co.uk/webstore/d/6501583/ta...



I used to lust over an Omega Seamaster, I have had a chance to do the direct comparison and this comes out ahed for me. The Seamaster is nice, don't get me wrong, I just see loads of them and prefer the Tag! Its also possible to get the leather strap (as I have too) so you have some more flexibility on looks / style.

[dozen]

I have a Omega Speedmaster Date which is amazingly similar to the Tag above!

http://www.ernestjones.co.uk/webstore/d/5735750/om...

[BluePurpleRed]

dozen said:

I have a Omega Speedmaster Date which is amazingly similar to the Tag above!

http://www.ernestjones.co.uk/webstore/d/5735750/om...

It probably has the same Valjoux 7750 movement?

http://www.timezone.com/library/horologium/horolog...

[DeadMeat_UK]

after_shock said:

Slinky said:

Post the same question here : http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/forum.asp?h=0&a... for a whole range of answers...

All the years ive been on here I never knew the site had a watch section! Shows how much I look around, or to the point dont just come straight on here!!

Cheers will post in that bit.

Don't go in there! You won't come out until you've spent a lot of money. Then you'll feel the need to go and buy even more !!

You have been warned.

[bikemonster]

Take your time with the decision. Read, listen to other peoples' opinions but remember that opinions are a lot like asreholes - everybody has one.

Have a feel of all sorts of watches that you think that you might like.

And don't "settle". Even if you have to add to the vouchers, get a watch that really talks to you.

Oh, and I second the mechanical over quartz idea. Mechanical watches are just somehow more special.

Have fun!

[Disco You]

At that price range with the brands on offer I would go for an omega every time.

BluePurpleRed said:

dozen said:

I have a Omega Speedmaster Date which is amazingly similar to the Tag above!

http://www.ernestjones.co.uk/webstore/d/5735750/om...

It probably has the same Valjoux 7750 movement?

http://www.timezone.com/library/horologium/horolog...

Yep, but the Omega has a much higher quality of finish.

[Pesty]

if you want something that other people will know get an Omega,

If you want a decent watch and don't care too much for Brand awareness

try these
http://www.ernestjones.co.uk/webstore/d/6908276/ba...

http://www.ernestjones.co.uk/webstore/d/6472761/ba...

[lowdrag]

I think that Rickf summed the situation up very well, and it has to be said that for a newcomer to watches he'll hear names mentioned he'll never have heard of. Ask a member of the general public what a Dornbleuth is and you'll get some rather interesting answers I reckon.

But, if we have a budget of £2,500 and are limited to shopping at EJ, then without doubt I'd go for this.



The only photo I could find at short notice but I'd go for it in black but with the bracelet which I find to be oh-so-class.

And to the OP, just because you have their vouchers doesn't exclude you from walking in and asking for a 20% discount and haggling before you pay the majority with your vouchers!

[Adrian W]

Pesty said:

http://www.ernestjones.co.uk/webstore/d/6472761/ba...

I went back to one of those three times last week, great looking watch, and built like a tank, but! it is very thick and in the end I decided it sits too high.