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

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

Author
Discussion

r159

2,277 posts

75 months

Monday 27th March 2023
quotequote all
Bobberoo said:
r159 said:
Based on the popularity of the model in these parts and managing to get a near thread budget reduction… I hope for a bit of slack…
My new ‘posh’ watch to celebrate my half century. Box, papers and bag.

It’s a blue 44mm Hydroconquest, the saleswoman was very patient with me going between sizes and the colours. This is the first time I have ever been fortunate enough to be in the position to buy a watch like this, asked if there was anything they could do to help with the price and they were receptive. The staff were very nice to deal with.
Belated happy 50th, fabulous watch, congratulations!!
Many thanks to all, it was surprisingly hard to get hands on (am I allowed to say that?) Ernest Jones look like have stopped stocking Longines locally, Goldsmiths only have the ceramic ones, Beaverbrooks didn't have any non-ceramic in the window but did have a decent selection inside. I can see why the new one is 43mm, but as I have PH powerful director at the top of the stairs wrists (fat), I can get away with the 44mm.

SWoll

18,572 posts

259 months

Monday 27th March 2023
quotequote all
Wallace12R said:
CharlesdeGaulle said:
Wallace12R said:
I’ll make it simple for you, it’s fantastic.





Got a link chum? I'm currently searching for, well... 'stuff'.
This is where I got mine from, and I’ve ordered others from them too without any problems. Delivery to the UK in 9 days.

https://a.aliexpress.com/_mPJtTFg
Reminds me that I saw this on another thread and it made me smile. Pagani speedy case with the movement and face from a MoonSwatch transplanted in. Apparently a simple swap and everything works.




Should handle knocks a hell of a lot better than the plastic version. smile

r159

2,277 posts

75 months

Monday 27th March 2023
quotequote all
SWoll said:
Wallace12R said:
CharlesdeGaulle said:
Wallace12R said:
I’ll make it simple for you, it’s fantastic.





Got a link chum? I'm currently searching for, well... 'stuff'.
This is where I got mine from, and I’ve ordered others from them too without any problems. Delivery to the UK in 9 days.

https://a.aliexpress.com/_mPJtTFg
Reminds me that I saw this on another thread and it made me smile. Pagani speedy case with the movement and face from a MoonSwatch transplanted in. Apparently a simple swap and everything works.




Should handle knocks a hell of a lot better than the plastic version. smile
Looking at the sub dial hand positions the donor was not an original swatch...

poppopbangbang

1,879 posts

142 months

Monday 27th March 2023
quotequote all
r159 said:
Based on the popularity of the model in these parts and managing to get a near thread budget reduction… I hope for a bit of slack…
My new ‘posh’ watch to celebrate my half century.
That is absolutely lovely! Congratulations all round biggrin

poppopbangbang

1,879 posts

142 months

Monday 27th March 2023
quotequote all
Arrived earlier, stuck a Nato on it.... although I have to say the original bracelet is very nice indeed with solid end links and it's a real five link!





Amazing VFM on this one! Nicely finished, crystal is very good with a lovely dome to it, bezel very nice....... I've paid a whole lot more for a whole lot less in the past! Quite blown away by just how good it is for a sub 100 quid watch! biggrin

21st Century Man

41,031 posts

249 months

Monday 27th March 2023
quotequote all
It is amusing and heartening that the rip off replica homage mash ups etc are now generally well received. Not so long ago replicas were widely derided (and I was one of the detractors too). I like cheap watches from China, the stuff that's actually high quality punches well above the price imo, but I still prefer an original design though rather than a copy of something. I've got a Merkur incoming, but couldn't do a Pepsi/RootBeer/Speedy homage though.

poppopbangbang

1,879 posts

142 months

Monday 27th March 2023
quotequote all
21st Century Man said:
It is amusing and heartening that the rip off replica homage mash ups etc are now generally well received. Not so long ago replicas were widely derided (and I was one of the detractors too). I like cheap watches from China, the stuff that's actually high quality punches well above the price imo, but I still prefer an original design though rather than a copy of something. I've got a Merkur incoming, but couldn't do a Pepsi/RootBeer/Speedy homage though.
I think the reason is the Moonswatch.... when the group starts creating it's own replica/homage versions all bets are off and others homages to the same watch become far more acceptable. When you compare this Chinese homage to a Moonswatch you'd be mad to spend £200 on the plastic fantastic version regardless of what brand is on the face!

CharlesdeGaulle

26,446 posts

181 months

Monday 27th March 2023
quotequote all
Wallace12R said:
This is where I got mine from, and I’ve ordered others from them too without any problems. Delivery to the UK in 9 days.

https://a.aliexpress.com/_mPJtTFg
Thanks, I'll take a look.

bigandclever

13,823 posts

239 months

Monday 27th March 2023
quotequote all
1000 humble apologies if a repost, phone is rubbish for searching on.

Any love for Nordgreen watches? Got an email about their new outlet, 50% off so most seem to now be £100 or so. Thought it might be of interest to some.

https://nordgreen.co.uk/collections/_outlet

Oh, and free straps.

Barchettaman

6,341 posts

133 months

Monday 27th March 2023
quotequote all
Nordgreen: Scandinavian design so Bauhaus inspired, nicely done, made in China, should be reliable, if the design turns you on, go for it.

There’s likely to be something very similar on AliExpress for £15 rather than £100 at Nordgreen.

unrepentant

21,290 posts

257 months

Monday 27th March 2023
quotequote all
Inspired by posts on here (and a couple of large Ardbeg's) I purchased this on Ebay last night. $139 including shipping. What could go wrong? Interested to see how it stacks up against it's pricier brethren.



blue_haddock

3,299 posts

68 months

Tuesday 28th March 2023
quotequote all
bigandclever said:
1000 humble apologies if a repost, phone is rubbish for searching on.

Any love for Nordgreen watches? Got an email about their new outlet, 50% off so most seem to now be £100 or so. Thought it might be of interest to some.

https://nordgreen.co.uk/collections/_outlet

Oh, and free straps.
Most of them are pretty generic looking so yes likely to find something similar on Ali for a fraction of the price.

I do however like the look of the pioneer models but they are still too dressy for my style.

Bobberoo

Original Poster:

38,897 posts

99 months

Tuesday 28th March 2023
quotequote all
unrepentant said:
Inspired by posts on here (and a couple of large Ardbeg's) I purchased this on Ebay last night. $139 including shipping. What could go wrong? Interested to see how it stacks up against it's pricier brethren.


Welcome to our little corner of tinternet, once you start down thus route it's a slippery slope!!!

Mammasaid

3,902 posts

98 months

Tuesday 28th March 2023
quotequote all
blue_haddock said:
This is the tandorio



The pagani



And the megir

Damn you Haddock! biggrin


Kes Arevo

3,555 posts

40 months

Tuesday 28th March 2023
quotequote all
Sorry, £7!!

Kes Arevo

3,555 posts

40 months

Tuesday 28th March 2023
quotequote all
Oooh, a place sells Megir here!

https://www.donbaron.bg/megir

S600BSB

4,907 posts

107 months

Tuesday 28th March 2023
quotequote all
Just bought a cheap Hanowa to use while my old Seamaster is away being serviced. It has a plain black leather strap, but I am thinking about putting a NATO on it. Good idea?

classicaholic

1,750 posts

71 months

Tuesday 28th March 2023
quotequote all
unrepentant said:
Inspired by posts on here (and a couple of large Ardbeg's) I purchased this on Ebay last night. $139 including shipping. What could go wrong? Interested to see how it stacks up against it's pricier brethren.


I have that exact watch and its been very reliable although looses 15 secs a day but then my Rolex lost 7 secs a day!

Wallace12R

285 posts

191 months

Tuesday 28th March 2023
quotequote all
unrepentant said:
Inspired by posts on here (and a couple of large Ardbeg's) I purchased this on Ebay last night. $139 including shipping. What could go wrong? Interested to see how it stacks up against it's pricier brethren.


I’ve got one in black, and it’s great. Currently runs at -4 a day after I regulated it.



classicaholic

1,750 posts

71 months

Tuesday 28th March 2023
quotequote all
Wallace12R said:
I’ve got one in black, and it’s great. Currently runs at -4 a day after I regulated it.


How do you regulate them? Is something I could do or is it a specialist job?