The Under £200ish Watch and occasional Opera Thread! Vol2
Discussion
blue_haddock said:
I'm a big duro fan and have a couple, there is a bracelet on aliexpress for £13 and its fits brilliantly.
Yep, I’ve (unsurprisingly) been looking at the bracelets on AliExpress, whilst thoughtfully stroking my operatic beard. I’ll get the scratch out on the crystal first then see what I’m going to do with it.
Bag ‘o straps and bracelet arrived today. Really pleased with the Jubilee, hollow end links and all pressed clasp, but I think it goes with the budget of the watch.
This was a surprise (might have missed it on the description)
The waffle strap for the Steeldive was really dark blue not black not fitted it yet..the end link are putting up a fight…
Isofrane style strap for my posh watch
This was a surprise (might have missed it on the description)
The waffle strap for the Steeldive was really dark blue not black not fitted it yet..the end link are putting up a fight…
Isofrane style strap for my posh watch
The more I learn about watches, the more I realize that the only sane area of the watch-related Internet is the sub-£200 thread.
Anyway, in the spirit of the thread and with apologies for those who’ve seen it before, here’s my €60 Citizen Promaster Automatik, spruced up with a bit of Polywatch on the mineral crystal and ready for summer on a cheap NATO strap.
These should really be a thread favourite, if they’re not already.
-in house movement
-applied indices
-quirky crown at the 8
-solid bezel action
-short L2L so they wear really well
-cheap as chips S/H
-genuine diver’s watch, and actually issued to the Italian marines
-excellent lume
-the 12:00 marker looks like a pair of Y-fronts
-20mm lug width, so easy to swap straps around
-cool and slightly weird hour/minute hands
-the movement is likely to outperform specs (mine sits at -2 secs a day)
-date AND day function
Bad bits:
-only a mineral crystal, but scratches polish out ok
-original bracelet is a bit crap apparently
-at RRP (£250?) there are better options
I had wanted one for a while. I’ve been more than pleasantly surprised with this one, and it’s a keeper.
The blue sunburst dial is one that’d get the Rolex/Omega fanboys in a tizzy if it was on a new Swiss release. Sometimes it’s black, sometimes it pops. It’s always gorgeous.
Anyway, in the spirit of the thread and with apologies for those who’ve seen it before, here’s my €60 Citizen Promaster Automatik, spruced up with a bit of Polywatch on the mineral crystal and ready for summer on a cheap NATO strap.
These should really be a thread favourite, if they’re not already.
-in house movement
-applied indices
-quirky crown at the 8
-solid bezel action
-short L2L so they wear really well
-cheap as chips S/H
-genuine diver’s watch, and actually issued to the Italian marines
-excellent lume
-the 12:00 marker looks like a pair of Y-fronts
-20mm lug width, so easy to swap straps around
-cool and slightly weird hour/minute hands
-the movement is likely to outperform specs (mine sits at -2 secs a day)
-date AND day function
Bad bits:
-only a mineral crystal, but scratches polish out ok
-original bracelet is a bit crap apparently
-at RRP (£250?) there are better options
I had wanted one for a while. I’ve been more than pleasantly surprised with this one, and it’s a keeper.
The blue sunburst dial is one that’d get the Rolex/Omega fanboys in a tizzy if it was on a new Swiss release. Sometimes it’s black, sometimes it pops. It’s always gorgeous.
Edited by Barchettaman on Wednesday 28th June 22:04
I have a couple of Duros, great watches for the price.
The jubilee bracelet for the Duro looks decent, hollow links and a pressed clasp so if that bothers you you'll have to swap them out. I put up with the end links as they are a good fit but changed the clasp for a milled one for my black one.
I have had my bluro on a vintage brown leather from Watch Gecko for a while now, I think it suits it.
The jubilee bracelet for the Duro looks decent, hollow links and a pressed clasp so if that bothers you you'll have to swap them out. I put up with the end links as they are a good fit but changed the clasp for a milled one for my black one.
I have had my bluro on a vintage brown leather from Watch Gecko for a while now, I think it suits it.
Barchettaman said:
The more I learn about watches, the more I realize that the only sane area of the watch-related Internet is the sub-£200 thread.
Anyway, in the spirit of the thread and with apologies for those who’ve seen it before, here’s my €60 Citizen Promaster Automatik, spruced up with a bit of Polywatch on the mineral crystal and ready for summer on a cheap NATO strap.
These should really be a thread favourite, if they’re not already.
-in house movement
-applied indices
-quirky crown at the 8
-solid bezel action
-short L2L so they wear really well
-cheap as chips S/H
-genuine diver’s watch, and actually issued to the Italian marines
-excellent lume
-the 12:00 marker looks like a pair of Y-fronts
-20mm lug width, so easy to swap straps around
-cool and slightly weird hour/minute hands
-the movement is likely to outperform specs (mine sits at -2 secs a day)
-date AND day function
Bad bits:
-only a mineral crystal, but scratches polish out ok
-original bracelet is a bit crap apparently
-at RRP (£250?) there are better options
I had wanted one for a while. I’ve been more than pleasantly surprised with this one, and it’s a keeper.
The blue sunburst dial is one that’d get the Rolex/Omega fanboys in a tizzy if it was on a new Swiss release. Sometimes it’s black, sometimes it pops. It’s always gorgeous.
If you fancy a bracelet go for Long Island watches, the OE one is not great, the only good part about it is the extension system. No aftermarket ceramic bezel which is a shame. Mine is 100% staying, it was my first automatic and a birthday present. Anyway, in the spirit of the thread and with apologies for those who’ve seen it before, here’s my €60 Citizen Promaster Automatik, spruced up with a bit of Polywatch on the mineral crystal and ready for summer on a cheap NATO strap.
These should really be a thread favourite, if they’re not already.
-in house movement
-applied indices
-quirky crown at the 8
-solid bezel action
-short L2L so they wear really well
-cheap as chips S/H
-genuine diver’s watch, and actually issued to the Italian marines
-excellent lume
-the 12:00 marker looks like a pair of Y-fronts
-20mm lug width, so easy to swap straps around
-cool and slightly weird hour/minute hands
-the movement is likely to outperform specs (mine sits at -2 secs a day)
-date AND day function
Bad bits:
-only a mineral crystal, but scratches polish out ok
-original bracelet is a bit crap apparently
-at RRP (£250?) there are better options
I had wanted one for a while. I’ve been more than pleasantly surprised with this one, and it’s a keeper.
The blue sunburst dial is one that’d get the Rolex/Omega fanboys in a tizzy if it was on a new Swiss release. Sometimes it’s black, sometimes it pops. It’s always gorgeous.
Edited by Barchettaman on Wednesday 28th June 22:04
tedmus said:
I have a couple of Duros, great watches for the price.
The jubilee bracelet for the Duro looks decent, hollow links and a pressed clasp so if that bothers you you'll have to swap them out. I put up with the end links as they are a good fit but changed the clasp for a milled one for my black one.
I have had my bluro on a vintage brown leather from Watch Gecko for a while now, I think it suits it.
I’m well chuffed with the bracelet, the engraving on the clasp really makes it. Which having checked, was on the listing The jubilee bracelet for the Duro looks decent, hollow links and a pressed clasp so if that bothers you you'll have to swap them out. I put up with the end links as they are a good fit but changed the clasp for a milled one for my black one.
I have had my bluro on a vintage brown leather from Watch Gecko for a while now, I think it suits it.
Edited by r159 on Wednesday 28th June 22:38
r159 said:
If you fancy a bracelet go for Long Island watches, the OE one is not great, the only good part about it is the extension system. No aftermarket ceramic bezel which is a shame. Mine is 100% staying, it was my first automatic and a birthday present.
I don’t think the OE bracelet is that bad. OK it uses folded links, but it's quite well made. I wouldn't change it. r159 said:
I’m well chuffed with the bracelet, the engraving on the clasp really makes it. Which having checked, was on the listing
I think I have a different one to yours, mine didn't come with the branding on the clasp. Edited by r159 on Wednesday 28th June 22:38
It's a really comfortable bracelet to wear though, I do like a jubilee
Agreed, I really like that Farer have done their own thing with regards to design, indices, faces and colourways whilst keeping it straightforward and not fussy. When that Flash Harry posts pictures of his Farer's I always think what fantastic watches. Thumbs up from me CdeG.
So moving back into thread budget as I posted before I wanted a "plastic" watch for cycling as my "steel sports watches" were uncomfortable for me whilst cycling. I have two, one at 36mm and one at 37mm but both where too heavy, move around on my wrist and rub only whilst cycling. As said before I had had quite a few Swatch's for this job but got fed up at them breaking.
The result is the picture below and so far so good. Really light and small, 35mm case, 8mm thickness, water resistant enough to keep the sweat out (no misted crystal yet), doesn't move on my wrist whilst cycling, doesn't rub (see the grey steel rub marks on my tan leather mitt from my other watches) and really easy to read at a glance whilst on the bike with white face and black markers. Plastic strap so better than leather or steel when sweating and to boot a Casio like the recently posted watches so should be more robust than a plastic Swatch.
Princely sum of £9.90 off Amazon.
I am very pleased so far and have even worn it out a couple of times whilst not cycling!!!
(You don't know what is like to have tiny wrists and how limiting it is within the horological options available, I still haven't found a green dive watch that will fit me!)
So moving back into thread budget as I posted before I wanted a "plastic" watch for cycling as my "steel sports watches" were uncomfortable for me whilst cycling. I have two, one at 36mm and one at 37mm but both where too heavy, move around on my wrist and rub only whilst cycling. As said before I had had quite a few Swatch's for this job but got fed up at them breaking.
The result is the picture below and so far so good. Really light and small, 35mm case, 8mm thickness, water resistant enough to keep the sweat out (no misted crystal yet), doesn't move on my wrist whilst cycling, doesn't rub (see the grey steel rub marks on my tan leather mitt from my other watches) and really easy to read at a glance whilst on the bike with white face and black markers. Plastic strap so better than leather or steel when sweating and to boot a Casio like the recently posted watches so should be more robust than a plastic Swatch.
Princely sum of £9.90 off Amazon.
I am very pleased so far and have even worn it out a couple of times whilst not cycling!!!
(You don't know what is like to have tiny wrists and how limiting it is within the horological options available, I still haven't found a green dive watch that will fit me!)
Bobberoo said:
Poppopbangbang, I really like the look of the True, and the thread title says £200ish as we're all buying watches that are over thread budget, so don't worry about it, if you like that watch, and the fact that you wear it so much says you do, then it's a keeper!!
Daytonavrs, happy significant birthday, cracking watch for £65, lot of love for Orient watches here!!
Thanks for this it arrived today and I'm easily pleased, doesn't take a £3k+ Rolex lolDaytonavrs, happy significant birthday, cracking watch for £65, lot of love for Orient watches here!!
My new favourite watch and first automatic I think....my others aren't quite legal lol my dad gave me free his fake Rolex submariner 2 dozen years ago....recently gave me x2 more that he kept which aren't in quite as good fare as this one lol
This has "Upgrade Seraphine Glass" what does that mean ?
The Orient keeping company these pages with so many other good looking quality watches for reasonable money on here so in good company, glad all are getting nice watches without having to spend a lot
Edited by daytonavrs on Thursday 29th June 19:37
daytonavrs said:
This has "Upgrade Seraphine Glass" what does that mean ?
Erm, are you sure that’s not a typo? “Upgrade[d] Sapphire Glass” would make sense. Sapphire is what you want for a watch crystal, really, it’s the 2nd hardest substance known (apparently) and is what comes on the posh watches (apart from the Omega Moon Speedmaster). Edited by daytonavrs on Thursday 29th June 19:37
Anyway, Orient make really lovely stuff and get a lot of appreciation on here. Their ‘Bambino’ dress watch is an absolute winner and coincidentally they’ve just launched a new dive watch with a steel bezel, it’s over thread budget but is a banger.
unrepentant said:
The Tandorio Monster arrived. I like the look and it feels very substantial. I set the time and date last night and it was accurate to 2 seconds this morning. Seiko NH36A movement. $65. Not sure how they can do that!
Thanks for the heads up although your post didn't seem to get much admiration, I liked it. Ordered and arrived today, very pleased. Cheers Barchettaman said:
Erm, are you sure that’s not a typo? “Upgrade[d] Sapphire Glass” would make sense. Sapphire is what you want for a watch crystal, really, it’s the 2nd hardest substance known (apparently) and is what comes on the posh watches (apart from the Omega Moon Speedmaster).
Anyway, Orient make really lovely stuff and get a lot of appreciation on here. Their ‘Bambino’ dress watch is an absolute winner and coincidentally they’ve just launched a new dive watch with a steel bezel, it’s over thread budget but is a banger.
Thanks, its a direct copy from the ad, so I can only presume you are right is that its supposed to be a Sapphire glass is what they meant to type. So I guess that was a result !Anyway, Orient make really lovely stuff and get a lot of appreciation on here. Their ‘Bambino’ dress watch is an absolute winner and coincidentally they’ve just launched a new dive watch with a steel bezel, it’s over thread budget but is a banger.
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