So, I've got the itch...

[Stuart]

I've just worked out that it is just about a year since the last addition to my little collection, and I've got the itch again. It needs to be scratched.

What I'd really, really like is something vintage, ideally a birth year 5513 sub, a Heuer Bund, or even possibly a Siffert Autavia. Realistically most of those are out of reach for now, and so I have to set my sights a little lower.

Someone posted a Superocean Heritage on the 2010 thread, and whilst the price also rules it out for now, I do like the combination of diving bezel and dark face with white sub dials. So I'm starting to warm to another German, a Sinn 103.

Does anyone have one or has anyone handled one?

As I see it the pros are:

- Sinn is a brand I admire
- I think that the watch is beautiful. I already know it'll be well made.
- I love the matt black dial/white sub dial combo.
- Waterproof, sapphire face. Should be reasonably resistant to my clumsy oafishness.

Cons:

- Not keen on the metal bracelet, although I'd buy it with nonetheless.
- The dimensions make it a couple of mm bigger than my 856, but with a bezel might the face be quite small?
- I sort of have a gap for a divers watch, rather than another aviator style watch.

Does anyone have one on here or have any of you handled one in person?

So come on chaps, talk me out of it or into it, or suggest alternatives.

What do you reckon?

S

[Stuart]

Peter G said:

Whats you birth year???

1974

[Stuart]

Cheeky fecker.

Now, where's that "ban from watch forum" button the techs recently armed me with?

[Stuart]

andy_s said:

If you like the Heur Bunds you may like the Guinand chronos (40/41 models - they can do leftie models too), their Buren 12 is their best imo but the 40/41 model chronos are good value at E995, they do bi- and tri-compax layouts but no 'pandas' unfortunately. Certainly worth a look although the website is from the ark. The movements are 7750s as well. Old man Sinn himself resurrected the company.

Not a bad shout, although I think if I went for a Bund style watch I'd probably just get a Bund. Not a huge stretch, and I think values have softened slightly from where they were 18 months ago.

I like the Sinn 256, which also borrows heavily from the Bund design. Legitimately though, given that Sinn were one of the original bundeswehr suppliers

[Stuart]

jimothy said:

But if you want the superocean and get something else, won't you always wish you had the superocean?

Mine:


Stunning looking watch.

It isn't my first choice. Lovely, don't get me wrong, but I won't be looking at whatever else I want thinking that I wish I'd bought the Breitling. It is also a teensy bit too shiny for my tastes with the metal bracelet.

[Stuart]

NJH said:

http://www.gnomonwatches.com/Ollech&WajsMirage...

Now that is an interesting watch. I haven't looked at O&W for a while and thought that they just did cheap copies of Submariners. Chronomaster used to stock them but stopped, I believe, because of quality issues. These look pretty good, although £600 is a little more than I think an O&W is worth. Anyone seen one in the flesh?

[Stuart]

RLT have that Mirage at £495. I must admit, I'm very tempted at that price. It might temporarily itch the itch...

[Stuart]

NJH said:

The thing is Stuart it was more or less the same sort of price 2 years ago as I was looking back then and the same a year ago. I was really surprised by your claim of poor quality, I just did a search on TZ-UK, over 40 pages of hits for Ollech & Wajs and yet couldn't find a single post saying they are as a brand poor quality for the money.

Not based on personal experience I must say, but I do remember reading somewhere that Chronomaster stopped stocking their sub/explorer variants because of quality issues.

I've always been quite tempted, but didn't want to wear on overt sub-alike. The Mirage is lovely though. Have made enquiries..