sub £500 chronograph

[egoold]

been looking at swapping a few watches around and fancy a nice looking chronograph in a omega speedster style

like the Steinhart flightier elegance black but its out of budget,https://www.steinhartwatches.de/en/chronographs/flighttimer-elegance-black.html



its just for a bit of fun so can be second hand, a seiko or similar, or. microbrand and realise it will probably be a quartz or mega quartz

any suggestions?

[lostkiwi]

Tissot do something very similar.
Also used TAG perhaps?
Or something more skin to the Speedmaster how about Bulova Lunar Pilot?

[egoold]

Bulova Lunar Pilot looks great, also found a nice citizen and seiko recraft

[Greendubber]

I have these two.

Tissot Chrono XL, came on a bracelet but I've got a couple of leather straps that suit it better I think. Got mine in New York but I'm sure they're about £300. The face is lovely when the sun catches it.



I've also got a Bulova Lunar Pilot, great watch, picked up for under £300 brand new in a sale. Really nicely made, feels bomb proof. The silver version is also nice but little bit more money and has a date window.



Both of those would leave you with change for something else

[lostkiwi]

How about Dan Henry (I'm super impressed with my 1970s diver)

https://danhenrywatches.com/collections/vintage-wa...

[Barchettaman]

Bulova Lunar Pilot, but try it on!!



Newmark 6BB (fantastic back story)

https://newmarkwatchcompany.com/

Left field choice: the Parnis Daytona homage with the Seiko Mecaquartz movement. Well under budget!

https://youtu.be/yK8ZLh_6ht4


If you can push your budget (a LOT) then look at any of the Longines range. Their HydroConquest Chronograph has a column wheel automatic movement.

http://en.worldtempus.com/article/longines-the-lon...

Edited by Barchettaman on Saturday 18th April 23:06

[mnaylor]

Check out the Seiko SNA411. I have one and love it, you will find quite a few positive reviews on youtube, and you will have quite a bit of change from your budget

[Stunters]

These quartz split-second flyback chronographs are pretty interesting, nicely made and only a little over budget. I have an Ainsdale:

https://farer.com/collections/all-watches/movement...

[seefarr]

Loads of vintage Seiko 6139s under budget. You get (probably) the first production automatic chronograph in the world, loads of different styles and a big slice of 70s style. Stay away from Pogues (yellow dial, pepsi bezel) as they are often overpriced and chopped together.

https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/in-depth-your-vi...



I've got one and I love it!

[vixen1700]

Quite like Brew:

https://www.brew-watches.com/

Another good little microbrand, Stratton.

https://www.stratonwc.com/collections/all

[AlexC1981]

Russian hand wound chronograph. A remake of the first watch worn in the vacuum of open space and standard issue to Soviet Air Force pilots and cosmonauts from 1959 to around 1979.

Most of the versions on sale now use a Chinese Sea-Gull ST-19 movement, but you can still find them with a Russian 3133 movement.

[Dermot O'Logical]

seefarr said:

Loads of vintage Seiko 6139s under budget. You get (probably) the first production automatic chronograph in the world, loads of different styles and a big slice of 70s style. Stay away from Pogues (yellow dial, pepsi bezel) as they are often overpriced and chopped together.

https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/in-depth-your-vi...



I've got one and I love it!

Only the top two in the picture are 6139's, the other three are 6138's, and prices for those tend to start at £500 - £600 nowadays. Most 6138's will have problems with the centre chrono wheel, the giveaway being the large seconds hand not resetting to zero when the chrono is reset. NOS centre chrono wheels are unobtainable unless you get very lucky, in which case they are stupidly expensive, and there are no pattern parts available, because it's such a tiny, complex part to make.

There is another underlying issue with Seiko chronographs from the 1970's, which is that many of them have been cobbled together in backstreet sweatshops in the Philippines, where they ended up after the unpleasantness in Vietnam. They're great watches if you can find a good one, but it's the finding of a good one that's the problem - there used to be an eBay seller based in Bristol or Bath with a seemingly unending supply of the things, which turned out to have come directly from the Philippines. I don't know if he's still active, and I can't remember his eBay user name, but I bought a 6138 from him, and wished that I hadn't. They aren't for the unwary.

[kuro]

AlexC1981 said:

Russian hand wound chronograph. A remake of the first watch worn in the vacuum of open space and standard issue to Soviet Air Force pilots and cosmonauts from 1959 to around 1979.

Most of the versions on sale now use a Chinese Sea-Gull ST-19 movement, but you can still find them with a Russian 3133 movement.

I have a Poljot Aviator with the 31681 movement, (3133 with a 24 hour complication) These are still available from Poljot24 at £100 over budget but they do have other designs that use the same movement under £500.

[egoold]

Barchettaman said:

Bulova Lunar Pilot, but try it on!!



Newmark 6BB (fantastic back story)

https://newmarkwatchcompany.com/

Left field choice: the Parnis Daytona homage with the Seiko Mecaquartz movement. Well under budget!

https://youtu.be/yK8ZLh_6ht4


If you can push your budget (a LOT) then look at any of the Longines range. Their HydroConquest Chronograph has a column wheel automatic movement.

http://en.worldtempus.com/article/longines-the-lon...

Edited by Barchettaman on Saturday 18th April 23:06

I think I am leaning towards the Bulova, think I prefer the silver version . I already have a normal Longine HydroConquest so wasn't really looking to get a chrono version .

some great other suggestions and watches though, those Brew watches look nice . I do also like the Straton Daily Driver

Edited by egoold on Sunday 19th April 14:45

[r159]

Swatch Night Flight

[Barchettaman]

egoold said:

I think I am leaning towards the Bulova, think I prefer the silver version.

Edited by egoold on Sunday 19th April 14:45

Yep, solid choice at well done below budget

Mine was £336 at H Samuel, better prices are available.

[egoold]

Well managed to buy a Bulova Lunar Pilot brand New for under £300 and delighted with it

[300sl-24]

Congratulations looks a cracking buy


Do you have a link or was it a one off? Quite fancy one myself

[AmitG]

AlexC1981 said:

Russian hand wound chronograph. A remake of the first watch worn in the vacuum of open space and standard issue to Soviet Air Force pilots and cosmonauts from 1959 to around 1979.

Most of the versions on sale now use a Chinese Sea-Gull ST-19 movement, but you can still find them with a Russian 3133 movement.

That is lovely. If you don't mind me asking - where does one buy them from?

[Barchettaman]

egoold said:

Well managed to buy a Bulova Lunar Pilot brand New for under £300 and delighted with it

Great watch, great price!

Probably the most interesting budget watch out there. More info here:

https://www.ablogtowatch.com/bulova-moon-watch/

Edited by Barchettaman on Sunday 14th June 17:51