Discussion
Saw one of these on these on the wrist check thread earlier. Really liked it. Nice n simple. Right price. Step up from my Casio.
Which is also a helluva watch.
Thing I don't like about it is this.
No particular reason, just not really my thing. I want simple. (I know it's a complex mechanism, but being able to see it just seems like a bit of a frivolity).
So, I'm looking for something with a similar simple look, for similar money, but just slightly different. But that's not the sort of query Google is much good at handling. What suggestions does PH have?
TIA
Edited by bitwrx on Sunday 18th October 19:54
If you really don't want to see that lovely movement (when it isn't pressed against your wrist of course) you could talk to Stowa and see if they'll do you a non display back.
As for alternatives:
Nomos do something similar with the Tangomat, but for a lot more money. I think it has a display back though, and a more decorated movement.
Mondaine's Swiss Railway Watch is a lot cheaper and a little less elegant, but the same clean style
Or you could look at the Max Bill by Junghans which is probably closest in price to the Stowa. Don't know what the back looks like, but this is on my list. I think that it looks beautiful in the flesh.
HTH
As for alternatives:
Nomos do something similar with the Tangomat, but for a lot more money. I think it has a display back though, and a more decorated movement.
Mondaine's Swiss Railway Watch is a lot cheaper and a little less elegant, but the same clean style
Or you could look at the Max Bill by Junghans which is probably closest in price to the Stowa. Don't know what the back looks like, but this is on my list. I think that it looks beautiful in the flesh.
HTH
A little unfair, but that's basically what Plexiglass is. Omega calls it Hesalite - much the same thing.
It will scratch, but the scratches can be removed with polywatch or a bit of brasso and polish. It will crack, but only with the same force that would make a sapphire face shatter, so the resilience is no different.
One of the reasons why the Omega Speedmaster Pro made it into space was because the Hesalite was felt to be a safer option; its propensity to crack but remain intact meant no small sharp shards floating around in zero gravity conditions.
It will scratch, but the scratches can be removed with polywatch or a bit of brasso and polish. It will crack, but only with the same force that would make a sapphire face shatter, so the resilience is no different.
One of the reasons why the Omega Speedmaster Pro made it into space was because the Hesalite was felt to be a safer option; its propensity to crack but remain intact meant no small sharp shards floating around in zero gravity conditions.
OK. Good to know. For me this will be a pretty big purchase (if indeed I have the courage to go through with it), so I may have a few more questions.
The Nomos with a date window would be worth the extra cash without the secondary dial.
Not quite simple enough for me, but near nigh perfect.
Thanks for the help.
ETA:
I was looking at the Tangente, not the Tangomat. Smaller = good. I have skinny arms. Cheaper = good. Mechanical = is this really a problem?
The Nomos with a date window would be worth the extra cash without the secondary dial.
Not quite simple enough for me, but near nigh perfect.
Thanks for the help.
ETA:
I was looking at the Tangente, not the Tangomat. Smaller = good. I have skinny arms. Cheaper = good. Mechanical = is this really a problem?
Edited by bitwrx on Sunday 18th October 22:05
If you don't want to see the movement, then surely you don't have the only reason anyone would want an automatic movement? If the intricacy of the mechanics doesn't bother you, then surely you'd prefer the massively-superior accuracy of a quartz movement?
Not caring about mechanical movements suddenly makes your watch purchase a LOT cheaper, since the high price of most of the expensive watches is predicated on those intricate mechanical movements. The quartz watches are a lot cheaper since they're also a lot simpler inside - but they also perform better. The only reason to choose a less accurate mechanical watch is because you love mechanical movements...
Which means you should be able to save a LOT of money and get a similarly styled watch with a quartz movement that not only doesn't have the complexity of the mechanics, but also is a hell of a lot more accurate to boot.
Re: the Max Bill chrono - I was seriously considering buying this, but whilst the design is fabulous, it uses a 7750 chrono movement which is *fat* and therefore whilst the watch looks ultra-thin from the top, it's quite bulky in height
Not caring about mechanical movements suddenly makes your watch purchase a LOT cheaper, since the high price of most of the expensive watches is predicated on those intricate mechanical movements. The quartz watches are a lot cheaper since they're also a lot simpler inside - but they also perform better. The only reason to choose a less accurate mechanical watch is because you love mechanical movements...
Which means you should be able to save a LOT of money and get a similarly styled watch with a quartz movement that not only doesn't have the complexity of the mechanics, but also is a hell of a lot more accurate to boot.
Re: the Max Bill chrono - I was seriously considering buying this, but whilst the design is fabulous, it uses a 7750 chrono movement which is *fat* and therefore whilst the watch looks ultra-thin from the top, it's quite bulky in height
Is mechanical a problem? Not sure if I really understand the question.
If you're asking if mechanical is better than quartz, well it will be less accurate but far more complex and with far, far more workmanship poured into it. Certainly more authentic.
If you're asking if mechanical (meaning wind up) is better than Automatic, well it just doesn't bother me at all. My Speedie Pro and Stowa MO are both wind up watches, and you just tend to get into the habit of winding them. For me, it is normally first thing in the morning as I'm conducting my *ahem* ablutions. I wind my watch without really thinking about it.
If you're asking if mechanical is better than quartz, well it will be less accurate but far more complex and with far, far more workmanship poured into it. Certainly more authentic.
If you're asking if mechanical (meaning wind up) is better than Automatic, well it just doesn't bother me at all. My Speedie Pro and Stowa MO are both wind up watches, and you just tend to get into the habit of winding them. For me, it is normally first thing in the morning as I'm conducting my *ahem* ablutions. I wind my watch without really thinking about it.
Ah. I was asking about the winding up mechanical, not the mechanical vs quartz mechanical. Understand about the relative accuracies, and difference in character. Just wondered if the practical drawbacks were significant. I guess I'd just have to spend less time scratching my balls in the morning.
Take cyber's point about not being able to see the mechanism though. Why have a product of inferior function when you don't have the benefit of the non-functional advantages? Well, I don't really have an answer for that. But then I also have trouble explaining why I commute to work in a car that predates me.
I think I'm going to sleep on it.
Thanks for the input.
Take cyber's point about not being able to see the mechanism though. Why have a product of inferior function when you don't have the benefit of the non-functional advantages? Well, I don't really have an answer for that. But then I also have trouble explaining why I commute to work in a car that predates me.
I think I'm going to sleep on it.
Thanks for the input.
Rotary are doing this Quartz one from Amazon for £83.95.
Amazon
Herc are doing this one with a Chinese Automatic movement and display back for $62.99
Herc
Junghans do these automatics without display backs for £229 and £249, I have a quartz version but I can see no mention of it on their website.
Rotary is 40mm, Herc is 37mm, Stowa is 36.5mm, Junghans is 40.4mm
Amazon
Herc are doing this one with a Chinese Automatic movement and display back for $62.99
Herc
Junghans do these automatics without display backs for £229 and £249, I have a quartz version but I can see no mention of it on their website.
Rotary is 40mm, Herc is 37mm, Stowa is 36.5mm, Junghans is 40.4mm
Edited by Vespula on Tuesday 20th October 09:20
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