Mechanical Watches up to £500
Discussion
Oris, Sinn, Glycine, quite a few options, depends what style you're after. Have a look on a site like Jura and you'll get a good idea, something like a Glycine Combat is within that budget http://www.jurawatches.co.uk/Glycine/Combat/Combat...
LordGrover said:
Not had a good look at their new range before, many of them are stepping into 'homage' territory, like this IWC Portugese rip off http://www.christopherward.co.uk/men/view-all/c9-c...I'd have a look at the Sinn 556.
l to r - 656, 556
556 has the display back
( http://forums.watchuseek.com/f24/sinn-556-656-a-43... )
It's £425 with a leather strap from Chronomaster.
The 656 is a bit more expensive (£625) as it is anti-magnetic, (plus other small differences). Both rated for 200m w/r.
The Glycine suggestion is also a good one, the Combat Sub is a good one, but is about £570:
'Nolar Dog' has one, or did 5 minutes ago - lord knows if she's still got it....
l to r - 656, 556
556 has the display back
( http://forums.watchuseek.com/f24/sinn-556-656-a-43... )
It's £425 with a leather strap from Chronomaster.
The 656 is a bit more expensive (£625) as it is anti-magnetic, (plus other small differences). Both rated for 200m w/r.
The Glycine suggestion is also a good one, the Combat Sub is a good one, but is about £570:
'Nolar Dog' has one, or did 5 minutes ago - lord knows if she's still got it....
Edited by andy_s on Tuesday 12th October 16:57
NeMiSiS said:
Have a look through theses Poljots, the Aviator range are nice, you can spec a glass back to most models.
Google Poljot for a bit of Russian watchmaking history, lots of watch for little money.
http://www.aviator-watch.com/
I'm swithering over getting a Sturmanskie - jonbaz has, er, a 'few' I think...Google Poljot for a bit of Russian watchmaking history, lots of watch for little money.
http://www.aviator-watch.com/
andy_s said:
I'm swithering over getting a Sturmanskie - jonbaz has, er, a 'few' I think...
Yeah I quite fancy one as well! 
I have a Poljot Cosmonaut and it is lovely!
Go Russian Andy, you'll love it!
Back on topic, you're suggestions are exactly what I would be thinking; I really want a 556.
SilverPhantom said:
Some good suggestions, spoilt for choice really.
Ill have to try and get an idea of style preferences tomorrow without giving the game away.
Keep them coming and Thanks.
I was just about to say exactly this, there's a VAST difference is styles posted in this thread alone.Ill have to try and get an idea of style preferences tomorrow without giving the game away.
Keep them coming and Thanks.
Do you need to buy a new watch?
Mechanical watches up to £500 brand new will mainly be uncomplicated ETA recased, any Seiko *except* the Spring Drive and Grand Seiko lines, any Japanese movement re-case, most Chinese non-tourbillon re-cases, Russian movements, and the dishonest 'Swiss' Chinese movements. And replicas.
I'd seriously be looking at vintage chronographs with lovely old hand-wind chrono movements. They're not all knackered! I've recently picked this up with an eye to putting it in a solid rose gold case - the movement looks lovely and deserves a nicer case than it's currently in, though it's a fine looking (and working) watch as it is:
That cost me £220. It is literally in as fine condition as it looks - brand new reasonable quality leather strap too. I want that nice movement souped up (a screwed balance would be nice, heh) and bunged in a rose gold case - this is Project Lator - and seems to be a fine case of nominative determinism since it's becoming a real 'mañana' project - but IMO as it is, it is a LOT more desirable than a Christopher Ward or Astroavia or any of the other 'new' mechanicals.
This particular watch has a rare movement (Landeron 189 - has a date complication, the VAST majority of old chronos don't) which is why I bought it, but there are absolutely LOADS of 50s-60s-70s mechanical chronos out there for a lot less than £500 - in many cases well less than £200. If you don't want to mess about yourself, find one with a *dial* in fine condition (many are corroded and gone beyond 'attractive vintage patina' into 'well knackered'
) because the movement can be serviced by any competent mechanical watchsmith and most watches at that price point will have steel cases with acrylic crystals - the work of an hour or so with Polywatch and metal polish to clean up to smart condition.
That's what a lot of these traders are doing - picking up old hand-wind chronos from boot sales etc. for nothing, polishing up the cases, showing pictures of the movements (which are often beautiful - as per the Lator), bunging on a new leather strap and putting them on eBay for a couple of hundred quid. I still think they're bargains, especially when the movement is in such good condition.
Mechanical watches up to £500 brand new will mainly be uncomplicated ETA recased, any Seiko *except* the Spring Drive and Grand Seiko lines, any Japanese movement re-case, most Chinese non-tourbillon re-cases, Russian movements, and the dishonest 'Swiss' Chinese movements. And replicas.
I'd seriously be looking at vintage chronographs with lovely old hand-wind chrono movements. They're not all knackered! I've recently picked this up with an eye to putting it in a solid rose gold case - the movement looks lovely and deserves a nicer case than it's currently in, though it's a fine looking (and working) watch as it is:
That cost me £220. It is literally in as fine condition as it looks - brand new reasonable quality leather strap too. I want that nice movement souped up (a screwed balance would be nice, heh) and bunged in a rose gold case - this is Project Lator - and seems to be a fine case of nominative determinism since it's becoming a real 'mañana' project - but IMO as it is, it is a LOT more desirable than a Christopher Ward or Astroavia or any of the other 'new' mechanicals.
This particular watch has a rare movement (Landeron 189 - has a date complication, the VAST majority of old chronos don't) which is why I bought it, but there are absolutely LOADS of 50s-60s-70s mechanical chronos out there for a lot less than £500 - in many cases well less than £200. If you don't want to mess about yourself, find one with a *dial* in fine condition (many are corroded and gone beyond 'attractive vintage patina' into 'well knackered'
) because the movement can be serviced by any competent mechanical watchsmith and most watches at that price point will have steel cases with acrylic crystals - the work of an hour or so with Polywatch and metal polish to clean up to smart condition.That's what a lot of these traders are doing - picking up old hand-wind chronos from boot sales etc. for nothing, polishing up the cases, showing pictures of the movements (which are often beautiful - as per the Lator), bunging on a new leather strap and putting them on eBay for a couple of hundred quid. I still think they're bargains, especially when the movement is in such good condition.
NeMiSiS said:
Have a look through theses Poljots, the Aviator range are nice, you can spec a glass back to most models.
Google Poljot for a bit of Russian watchmaking history, lots of watch for little money.
http://www.aviator-watch.com/
Hi Mate,Google Poljot for a bit of Russian watchmaking history, lots of watch for little money.
http://www.aviator-watch.com/
Is that a site you've used in the past?
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