Easy Question? Dress Watch? Simple but elegant

[s3pc1989]

Budget - £400 - £1000 tops

Likes = manual wind. Simple elegant faces. Display back if poss. Ideally looking for a brand with a bit of integrity (but fair enough, that is subjective of course....)

Leather Strap.

Short List currently:

Junghans Max Bill
Nomos Orion (but I can't really afford it...)
Hamilton Intramatic
Tissot Visodate
Frederique Constant ultra thin or similar
Stowa Antea
Mondaine ....something or other - but not sure about this
Christopher Ward Malvern
Longines Silver Arrows or similar (but again prob can't afford...)
Some kind of second hand / classic Omega or similar - ideally from 30's - 50's

What have I missed? Thoughts?

[Rulle7]

Have you considered vintage?
Lots of classy watches from times gone by ...
Here's a Blancpain that would be well within your budget:

Edited by Rulle7 on Saturday 30th November 03:45

[yeti]

As above, vintage - although they are often 33-34mm which is pushing it even for a dress watch these days

Add anything from the Longines Heritage collection to your list as well.

Cracking value for a real watch.

[PlayersNo6]

yeti said:

As above, vintage - although they are often 33-34mm which is pushing it even for a dress watch these days

Add anything from the Longines Heritage collection to your list as well.

Cracking value for a real watch.

+1. Here's my daily :

[Athlon]

I was looking for the same thing recently, I wanted something different from my Omega divers etc and ended up with a Visodate, it really is a nice piece, a bit of attention has been spent on the movement so it is nice to look at through the display back and the rest of the watch is a pleasure to look at.

If I had to knock it I would say the strap is a bit cheap feeling but it has a deployment clasp so a nice Hirsch strap and it wiil be spot on, for the money it will is hard to beat IMVHO.

[Revs_Addiction]

Just picked up a 2nd hand Antea KS41 from TZ, and I'm VERY happy with it. Lovely piece, with a very nicely decorated movement and huge display back.

Was a little nervous about buying a watch without being able to try it on 1st, but I absolutely can't fault it!

[yeti]

Pics then! Let's see it

[Revs_Addiction]

yeti said:

Pics then! Let's see it

Of the Antea?

Unfortunately not taken any of my own yet, but have posted the sellers pic in the incoming thread here:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

It's very Bauhaus/Art Deco. Completely different from my usual divers, and all the better for it. What makes a dress watch is very subjective, but in my opinion it's smart enough for black tie, but versatile enough to be worn with a shirt and jeans.

[marcelg]

It would have to be the Junghans Max Bill for me

[Hoofy]

Sinn.

[s3pc1989]

thanks for the suggestions - must admit I had 'forgotten' Sinn. Also like the idea of an older 'vintage' watch - but I would like to see and try on any watch I'm considering buying. Anyone recommend a vintage watch dealer - who is based in the South East of England who I can visit and have a look at some of their stock. thanks

[dom9]

Cracking value if you can stretch the budget a bit: http://www.ashford.com/us/watches/zenith/port-roya...

[Pesty]

Baum et merrier do some very nice classy watches that you can pic up in your price range.

Sinn 556 would be first choice but as you requested manual wind how about one of these as an oddball suggestion

I have a silver face one with blue hands on bracelet with view back.



http://www.poljot24.de/en/poljot-chronograph-journ...

I think it's classy. Of all my watches always gets the most comments. Chrono though.

Edited by Pesty on Monday 2nd December 20:02

[JRewing]

http://www.poljot24.de/en/poljot-international-ins...

This is well under budget and looks quite nice.

But my two experiences with that movement are negative.....

[s3pc1989]

Like that Zenith - hadn't really heard much about them before - but a bit too much for my budget.
Regarding the Russian watch - rather like the style - something of Dornbluth about it - now if only I could afford a Dornbluth......!!! For some reason, Russian just doesn't shout quality like German or Swiss. I know, that's a simplistic and probably rather ignorant point of view but can't help it.....
Off to look at more Sinn....... and Junghans again - likewise Baume and Mercier....

[dom9]

s3pc1989 said:

Like that Zenith - hadn't really heard much about them before - but a bit too much for my budget.

Keep an eye on eBay and see what comes up (or any of the 2nd hand outlets)...

Zenith make fantastic movements and are really 'coming back' as brand. Might be a nice investment!

[Pesty]

s3pc1989 said:

Like that Zenith - hadn't really heard much about them before - but a bit too much for my budget.
Regarding the Russian watch - rather like the style - something of Dornbluth about it - now if only I could afford a Dornbluth......!!! For some reason, Russian just doesn't shout quality like German or Swiss. I know, that's a simplistic and probably rather ignorant point of view but can't help it.....
Off to look at more Sinn....... and Junghans again - likewise Baume and Mercier....

Yep I wouldn't argue on the Russian thing. For me zenith are right up there at the top.

As for baume et mercier this kind of thing kind find the exact model but these are similar

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BAUME-ET-MERCIER-CLASSIM...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Baume-et-Mercier-Classim...

[Miguel Alvarez]

Someone linked to a very nice Hamilton watch that was very cheap for what it is. I'd be looking at Zenith, Longines and possibly this Hamilton.

Pic from google.