The Under £200ish Watch and occasional Opera Thread! Vol2

[SWoll]

Barchettaman said:

Oh dear. Apologies for leading you astray.

In my defence, I have slightly unusual requirements in a diver’s or a dive-style watch, and it’s just that the GCS meets them.

I really hope you enjoy wearing it.

Anyway, another successful show tonight (the run has basically sold out, which is terrific for the company) and I’m wearing my 50th birthday watch, the amazing-value Laco Type A Flieger:




When these come back in stock, everyone should get one. I mean everyone. They’re the absolute Holy Grail of budget watches for the discerning threadist (although those Alpinas run it close)

-one of the original 5 Luftwaffe Beobachtung-Uhren manufacturers
-in house movement (ok, so, it’s a Miyota with a custom rotor, but watcha want? It looks the part)
-sapphire
-display caseback
-great finishing
-a proper riveted Flieger strap, which is softening up beautifully on mine
-ok, it doesn’t have the b-Uhr onion crown, but it’s nice anyway
-perfect size
-wears like an absolute dream
-will hold its value


And the best bit, it’s not a £4K IWC or a £1k Stowa, these come in at about £150!!

Hell, mine even sits at -1 seconds a day.

Edited by Barchettaman on Thursday 2nd March 00:01

Edited by Barchettaman on Thursday 2nd March 00:03

For anyone tempted (and I would be, but need a break from watch buying)

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/314424619946?hash=item4...

Both brown and black Laco straps into the bargain.

[Ninjin]

BrokenSkunk said:

Congratulations and damn, I've not booked yet. In my defense I have been a little distracted.
But before I get into that, I have not forgotten that I owe you a trip in the Skunk. If you find yourself heading Westward from London & with time on your hands, ping me.

And now a little unfinished shed news for general consumption.
The Shed now has a roof, and the roof has a three layer torched on felt covering. It has four complete walls, the door and window are fitted and glazed. I just have insulation, interior panelling and electrics to go. I have made astounding progress over the last few weeks and there's a very good reason for that, which will also explain why I've been a little quiet here recently.

My employers went into liquidation at the beginning of February. Everyone in the UK was made redundant. I was almost immediately offered work in the pheonix that is arising from the ashes, but I opted to take a couple of weeks to work on the shed. Life is back to normal now and I'm back driving a desk, doing pretty much the same job as I was in January.

Don't feel sorry for me, it's been refreshing to have a break and who knew being made redundant was so lucrative? Statutory redundancy may be capped, but twelve weeks at the capped rate is a nice handout. If I hadn't walked into another job I'd also be eligable for another 12 weeks loss of notice pay. Kerching.

Edit: Because I hate staying on topic, here's an unfinished shed pic:

Edited by BrokenSkunk on Thursday 2nd March 10:45

Wow thats a big shed if the council needed to re-route the road to make way for it!

Congrats on a good outcome for you job wise!

[Bobberoo]

SWoll said:

For anyone tempted (and I would be, but need a break from watch buying)

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/314424619946?hash=item4...

Both brown and black Laco straps into the bargain.

If I didn't already have my Christopher Ward C8 Pilot I'd be very tempted by that!!!

[Wallace12R]

I present to you, especially to Barchettaman, the long awaited Steeldive GMT complete with NH-34. Batman, Pepsi, and Coke versions. No idea on price at the moment though as I’ve only just seen this.




I’m sure you’ll be able to expect all the usual gubbins associated with Steeldive, and one thing I know for sure is the lume will be amazing!

I’ll definitely be getting one to go alongside my Pagani Batman.

[Barchettaman]

I was just thinking about this earlier today, funnily enough. Are you going to do the decent thing, get one and report back?

[Wallace12R]

Barchettaman said:

I was just thinking about this earlier today, funnily enough. Are you going to do the decent thing, get one and report back?

Price dependant I will be, yes.

[Barchettaman]

Wallace12R said:

Price dependant I will be, yes.

£111 apparently, although no idea if it will incur landing fees from HMC.

I would imagine the uk Steeldive store in Cardiff will get them in at some point.

[Wallace12R]

Barchettaman said:

£111 apparently, although no idea if it will incur landing fees from HMC.

I would imagine the uk Steeldive store in Cardiff will get them in at some point.

If they are £111, then they will sell them by the bucket load. The Pagani GMT with NH34 is around £140-£150, and if the 1953 is anything to go by then the Steeldive will be a much better watch in every aspect.

[Wallace12R]

Barchettaman said:

£111 apparently, although no idea if it will incur landing fees from HMC.

I would imagine the uk Steeldive store in Cardiff will get them in at some point.

According to Steeldives.com the Black bezel version is listed at $169, the Pepsi and Coke at $219 and Batman at $209 all with $5 shipping. That works out at around £145.30 - £187 depending on which colour way you choose. I’ll hang fire for now and wait for some YouTube reviews.

[TonyTony]

Barchettaman said:

Oh dear. Apologies for leading you astray.

In my defence, I have slightly unusual requirements in a diver’s or a dive-style watch, and it’s just that the GCS meets them.

I really hope you enjoy wearing it.

Anyway, another successful show tonight (the run has basically sold out, which is terrific for the company) and I’m wearing my 50th birthday watch, the amazing-value Laco Type A Flieger:




When these come back in stock, everyone should get one. I mean everyone. They’re the absolute Holy Grail of budget watches for the discerning threadist (although those Alpinas run it close)

-one of the original 5 Luftwaffe Beobachtung-Uhren manufacturers
-in house movement (ok, so, it’s a Miyota with a custom rotor, but watcha want? It looks the part)
-sapphire
-display caseback
-great finishing
-a proper riveted Flieger strap, which is softening up beautifully on mine
-ok, it doesn’t have the b-Uhr onion crown, but it’s nice anyway
-perfect size
-wears like an absolute dream
-will hold its value


And the best bit, it’s not a £4K IWC or a £1k Stowa, these come in at about £150!!

Hell, mine even sits at -1 seconds a day.

Edited by Barchettaman on Thursday 2nd March 00:01

Edited by Barchettaman on Thursday 2nd March 00:03

Can't go wrong with a Laco.

I have the 'Blaue Stunde' one that comes on a grey nato but bought the brown pilot strap with it. But now they've released the matching bead blasted bracelet. I want it, but with shipping from Germany they want £110 for it.

[Barchettaman]

TonyTony said:

Can't go wrong with a Laco.

I have the 'Blaue Stunde' one that comes on a grey nato but bought the brown pilot strap with it. But now they've released the matching bead blasted bracelet. I want it, but with shipping from Germany they want £110 for it.

Let me know if I can help with shipping. I’m based in Frankfurt.

[redrabbit]

Wallace12R said:

I present to you, especially to Barchettaman, the long awaited Steeldive GMT complete with NH-34. Batman, Pepsi, and Coke versions. No idea on price at the moment though as I’ve only just seen this.




I’m sure you’ll be able to expect all the usual gubbins associated with Steeldive, and one thing I know for sure is the lume will be amazing!

I’ll definitely be getting one to go alongside my Pagani Batman.

I'll be on that in a flash when it's available via Cardiff.

Unless I get the Pagani V3 first. Anyone well versed enough to advise if this is the Seiko movement (which they are purported to use in the latest model) ?



Eta... Probably not if this is the NH34 Gmt...

Edited by redrabbit on Friday 3rd March 22:17

[SWoll]

Bobberoo said:

SWoll said:

For anyone tempted (and I would be, but need a break from watch buying)

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/314424619946?hash=item4...

Both brown and black Laco straps into the bargain.

If I didn't already have my Christopher Ward C8 Pilot I'd be very tempted by that!!!

An to add more temptation, a brand new one for £169.99 Buy it Now.

[url]https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/334773313170?hash=item4df20b5e92:g:zZYAAOSwqhpkAcOL&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAAoCe%2Fx8mGMt0J%2BErypNACiI5IvAdL8FvxUcDn8RgDzzx54ErPuPmkHScgK9xI%2B0C1mdGQ8S%2B7X074JmzZVrt5sMmkyUzAq2EpHp8iiufhVSypmKZMWKaySyOA5M5hNj9qTtPffjAkcqyG1XAUjsCNVIoyWdUa8d7n4ggMM9ok0eDjXx8KPeXsbJ1xg650YiqKTJrmpE6EABakZzwEmf3gxrE%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR_LjqJrVYQ[url]

TonyTony said:

Can't go wrong with a Laco.

I have the 'Blaue Stunde' one that comes on a grey nato but bought the brown pilot strap with it. But now they've released the matching bead blasted bracelet. I want it, but with shipping from Germany they want £110 for it.

That's the one I'm keeping an eye out for. Great looking watch.

Edited by SWoll on Friday 3rd March 22:49

[Wallace12R]

redrabbit said:

Wallace12R said:

I present to you, especially to Barchettaman, the long awaited Steeldive GMT complete with NH-34. Batman, Pepsi, and Coke versions. No idea on price at the moment though as I’ve only just seen this.




I’m sure you’ll be able to expect all the usual gubbins associated with Steeldive, and one thing I know for sure is the lume will be amazing!

I’ll definitely be getting one to go alongside my Pagani Batman.

I'll be on that in a flash when it's available via Cardiff.

Unless I get the Pagani V3 first. Anyone well versed enough to advise if this is the Seiko movement (which they are purported to use in the latest model) ?



Eta... Probably not if this is the NH34 Gmt...

Edited by redrabbit on Friday 3rd March 22:17

I’ve seen that they are a lot cheaper via Ali Express but the Pepsi is already sold out.

That movement you asked about is the Pearl DG movement, not the NH in your second pic.

[TonyTony]

Barchettaman said:

Let me know if I can help with shipping. I’m based in Frankfurt.

Ahh thanks, I'll get in mind if I decide to bite the bullet.

[TonyTony]

SWoll said:

That's the one I'm keeping an eye out for. Great looking watch.

Edited by SWoll on Friday 3rd March 22:49

I have the type A plain dial version, on the brown laco pilot strap it looks even better!

The 39 model is the right size for my skinny wrist, but the strap is only 18mm across so it can look a little slinky.

I bought one of these as well but it was the bigger version and the leather seems to be alot thicker, it was hugely too big!
https://www.secretsales.com/6244396bbce3a-victoria...

[Quags]

SWoll said:

That's the one I'm keeping an eye out for. Great looking watch.

Edited by SWoll on Friday 3rd March 22:49

Been after a Laco Flieger Type B dial for ages.

[eskidavies]

Belated valentine gift off missus ,not the one I mentioned a while back
£35 came with a little turny tool thing to shorten strap

[Barchettaman]

Quags said:

Been after a Laco Flieger Type B dial for ages.

I know none of us actually buy a mechanical watch for its accuracy, but it isn’t half nice when a cheap(er) automatic movement performs well.

My Laco, with a basic non-hacking Miyota 8000 movement, is sat resolutely at +1 seconds per 24 hrs. I’ll take that!

[Mutts]

Barchettaman said:

Oh dear. Apologies for leading you astray.

In my defence, I have slightly unusual requirements in a diver’s or a dive-style watch, and it’s just that the GCS meets them.

I really hope you enjoy wearing it.

Anyway, another successful show tonight (the run has basically sold out, which is terrific for the company) and I’m wearing my 50th birthday watch, the amazing-value Laco Type A Flieger:




When these come back in stock, everyone should get one. I mean everyone. They’re the absolute Holy Grail of budget watches for the discerning threadist (although those Alpinas run it close)

-one of the original 5 Luftwaffe Beobachtung-Uhren manufacturers
-in house movement (ok, so, it’s a Miyota with a custom rotor, but watcha want? It looks the part)
-sapphire
-display caseback
-great finishing
-a proper riveted Flieger strap, which is softening up beautifully on mine
-ok, it doesn’t have the b-Uhr onion crown, but it’s nice anyway
-perfect size
-wears like an absolute dream
-will hold its value


And the best bit, it’s not a £4K IWC or a £1k Stowa, these come in at about £150!!

Hell, mine even sits at -1 seconds a day.

Edited by Barchettaman on Thursday 2nd March 00:01

Edited by Barchettaman on Thursday 2nd March 00:03

I've got a Laco Model B Aachen. Had it a few years & love it. Took me ages to find a mechanical watch i liked to replace my elderly TAG F1.
Pretty good on timekeeping too.