New to this watch business.
Discussion
Hi
I am hoping you gents might be able to help me out. I am very new to the watch thing, and up until a couple of years ago didn't wear a watch at all.
I've a few quid rattling about in my paypal account and have been looking at very cheap automatic stuff that catches my eye, as I don't have anything approaching close to my dream watch budget, but do fancy a bit of variation from my Apeks branded Seiko quartz movement diver.
Anyway, aside from a couple of Seiko 5 that I've seen I am looking for a little advise for some others.
HMT Rajat - from India, all seem to be refurbished old watches, all very cheap but look rather nice to my eye.
Enicar Universe Jet - I know nothing about these at all, but immediately fell in love with the look.
Slava - 1960's USSR made, again the look just jumped out at me.
West End SOWAR Prima
Camy Royal White? Not even sure this is the correct name.
Vostok Amphibian KGB again, just caught my eye. Seems that I like a lot of eastern bloc sounding stuff, please bear with me. (ETA There are a large number of Vostok/Wostok/Boctok that look interesting, more than this one actually)
Lucerne divers - model unknown.
Finally, is there a general consensus on the relative quality of Alpha watches? They are all clearly 'homages' to other popular and well respected watches, at approximately 1% of the price! I'm assuming that they will be largely nasty tat, would I be wrong in this? For a giggle, I quite fancy one of their Planet Ocean looky likeys and have seen one going for about £25
Thanks so much for your help, I am sure what I have seen is mainly tat, but hopefully there will be a little gem in there somewhere. Failing that, I'll have a few watches that look nice to my eye, and for me, that's what's important.
I am hoping you gents might be able to help me out. I am very new to the watch thing, and up until a couple of years ago didn't wear a watch at all.
I've a few quid rattling about in my paypal account and have been looking at very cheap automatic stuff that catches my eye, as I don't have anything approaching close to my dream watch budget, but do fancy a bit of variation from my Apeks branded Seiko quartz movement diver.
Anyway, aside from a couple of Seiko 5 that I've seen I am looking for a little advise for some others.
HMT Rajat - from India, all seem to be refurbished old watches, all very cheap but look rather nice to my eye.
Enicar Universe Jet - I know nothing about these at all, but immediately fell in love with the look.
Slava - 1960's USSR made, again the look just jumped out at me.
West End SOWAR Prima
Camy Royal White? Not even sure this is the correct name.
Vostok Amphibian KGB again, just caught my eye. Seems that I like a lot of eastern bloc sounding stuff, please bear with me. (ETA There are a large number of Vostok/Wostok/Boctok that look interesting, more than this one actually)
Lucerne divers - model unknown.
Finally, is there a general consensus on the relative quality of Alpha watches? They are all clearly 'homages' to other popular and well respected watches, at approximately 1% of the price! I'm assuming that they will be largely nasty tat, would I be wrong in this? For a giggle, I quite fancy one of their Planet Ocean looky likeys and have seen one going for about £25
Thanks so much for your help, I am sure what I have seen is mainly tat, but hopefully there will be a little gem in there somewhere. Failing that, I'll have a few watches that look nice to my eye, and for me, that's what's important.
Edited by themanwithnoname on Tuesday 10th September 12:14
I don't know anything about Alpha watches, but my (real) Omega Speedmaster is on an Alpha 'Speedmaster-style' bracelet and the quality is amazing for £25!
Some of the Soviet watches are horribly cheap and nasty. I bought a Vostok Scuba Dude (very like that KGB) recently - They look pretty good in photos, but the quality is horrendous.
M.
Some of the Soviet watches are horribly cheap and nasty. I bought a Vostok Scuba Dude (very like that KGB) recently - They look pretty good in photos, but the quality is horrendous.
M.
Thanks for the info so far. Really handy.
Shame that the soviet stuff is poor quality. Really liked the look of some of them!
Thanks for the tip on the HMT ones.
I'll keep the Alpha in mind. Again its just a giggle really. In part because my wife knows less than nothing about watches, does know that the 'orange and black one' is a few K. She'll hit the roof for a couple of moments if I have one of them delivered, and partly because I have been known to go out of my way to obtain outrageous fakes from markets and souks when I'm on holiday (though my father's Tunisian quartz 'Rollex Submariner' (as spelt on the watch!) still works some 6 years down the line).
Does anyone know about the others? Particularly the Enicar? I am stupidly drawn to it, and I think I need it in my life, provided it isn't utter garbage.
Shame that the soviet stuff is poor quality. Really liked the look of some of them!
Thanks for the tip on the HMT ones.
I'll keep the Alpha in mind. Again its just a giggle really. In part because my wife knows less than nothing about watches, does know that the 'orange and black one' is a few K. She'll hit the roof for a couple of moments if I have one of them delivered, and partly because I have been known to go out of my way to obtain outrageous fakes from markets and souks when I'm on holiday (though my father's Tunisian quartz 'Rollex Submariner' (as spelt on the watch!) still works some 6 years down the line).
Does anyone know about the others? Particularly the Enicar? I am stupidly drawn to it, and I think I need it in my life, provided it isn't utter garbage.
marcosgt said:
I don't know anything about Alpha watches, but my (real) Omega Speedmaster is on an Alpha 'Speedmaster-style' bracelet and the quality is amazing for £25!
Some of the Soviet watches are horribly cheap and nasty. I bought a Vostok Scuba Dude (very like that KGB) recently - They look pretty good in photos, but the quality is horrendous.
M.
I think the quality of the Amphibia's is pretty good. Just make sure you throw away the bracelet and don't expect to be able to read them in the dark. Some of the Soviet watches are horribly cheap and nasty. I bought a Vostok Scuba Dude (very like that KGB) recently - They look pretty good in photos, but the quality is horrendous.
M.
A couple of mine.
Great tips, thanks. This vostoks look great. Must admit I looked the idea of one of them on a NATO strap. But then I like almost anything on a NATO strap.
I've seen a couple of poljots about. I'll have a closer look. I've a couple of Seiko 5 coming my way in the next week or so. Time for something potentially less reliable but loads of fun.
I've seen a couple of poljots about. I'll have a closer look. I've a couple of Seiko 5 coming my way in the next week or so. Time for something potentially less reliable but loads of fun.
t so I spent £20 on a new one.I wouldn't say that the HMT's are rubbish, they are very cheap so you can't expect perfection. I have a few Russian watches, & all bought for knocking around in & for work. The straps & bracelets are generally crap though.
Sorry for the rubbish photography, just fired the snaps off the post in the thread.
This is a newish Vostok, cost around £40 I think, plus the nato strap.
These three are all HMT, & cost less than £10 each delivered.
This last one is a Slava, £7 delivered.
Sorry for the rubbish photography, just fired the snaps off the post in the thread.
This is a newish Vostok, cost around £40 I think, plus the nato strap.
These three are all HMT, & cost less than £10 each delivered.
This last one is a Slava, £7 delivered.
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