Any watch suggestions for around a grand?
Discussion
thehawkswoops said:
Hey Poosha, that Porsche Design one is bloody lovely and what a bargain. Do you know if these are still made by Eterna? This gets in my top 5 along with the Steinhart the Sinn and the gorgeous Stowa (or is that a little plain...just cant decide!)still like Omega's (second hand) and a Bell and Ross just to be different!
Cheers Mark
Yes there are still made by them - Porsche Design bought Eterna a few years ago.Cheers Mark
If you do nothing else, use wiki-itsu on 'Curta calculator'. This bit is particularly good:
"While only 3% of Curtas were returned to the factory because of repairs under warranty[1], a small, but significant stream returned the Curta in pieces. Many purchasers were the "nerds" of that era, and many were armed with a screwdriver and an insatiable curiosity. They quickly discovered the device was a lot harder to reassemble than to take apart, requiring precise jigs to hold scores of parts in place at the same time. One chagrined owner, on showing up to the dealer to retrieve his $600 Curta, now reassembled for an additional $300, was told, "don't feel bad. Curtas really cost $900. Everyone takes them apart."
Back -
Front:
Pics from WUS
As the website was made with quills, here's the points for it:
Movement
ETA / Valjoux 7750, size 13 1 / 4'''(30.4 mm), 25 jewels
Swiss anchor escapement, Incabloc-shock protection,
28,800 per hour (4 Hz),
Factory decorated, blued screws.
Case
Stainless steel satin finished, screwed crystal back, screwed crown, protected handle, domed sapphire crystal, dial indexes and hands covered with luminous material, water resistant to 20 bar (200m), Ø 40.6 mm, height 15.2 mm.
Features
Hours, minutes, seconds, chronograph with 30 minute and 12 hour counter, day and date display. In the work of integrated chronograph mechanism. Unidirectional automatic winding, ball bearing rotor inertia from heavy metal.
Power reserve 40 hours.
Extras
Bidirectional rotating bezel. ETA - I have read it's friction-fit, rather than a ratcheted or 'click' bezel.
Price
With leather strap 995.00 EUR,
with metal bracelet 1,045.00 EUR.
"While only 3% of Curtas were returned to the factory because of repairs under warranty[1], a small, but significant stream returned the Curta in pieces. Many purchasers were the "nerds" of that era, and many were armed with a screwdriver and an insatiable curiosity. They quickly discovered the device was a lot harder to reassemble than to take apart, requiring precise jigs to hold scores of parts in place at the same time. One chagrined owner, on showing up to the dealer to retrieve his $600 Curta, now reassembled for an additional $300, was told, "don't feel bad. Curtas really cost $900. Everyone takes them apart."
S Works said:
At a grand I'd be looking at a Sinn or a Glycine myself. Although there are some great suggestions above.
Both very good watch options though, and in similar vein, Guinand do some that might be interesting - Old Mr Sinn himself making his very own instant vintage watches, by which I mean he really is Pinocchio's dad. The 40. series is very good, if you like that sort of thing. The front is a classic tool/instrument, while the back is a sapphire crystal looking onto blued screws and a rose gold plated rotor, extremely nice, in matt or polished case finishes too.Back -
Front:
Pics from WUS
As the website was made with quills, here's the points for it:
Movement
ETA / Valjoux 7750, size 13 1 / 4'''(30.4 mm), 25 jewels
Swiss anchor escapement, Incabloc-shock protection,
28,800 per hour (4 Hz),
Factory decorated, blued screws.
Case
Stainless steel satin finished, screwed crystal back, screwed crown, protected handle, domed sapphire crystal, dial indexes and hands covered with luminous material, water resistant to 20 bar (200m), Ø 40.6 mm, height 15.2 mm.
Features
Hours, minutes, seconds, chronograph with 30 minute and 12 hour counter, day and date display. In the work of integrated chronograph mechanism. Unidirectional automatic winding, ball bearing rotor inertia from heavy metal.
Power reserve 40 hours.
Extras
Bidirectional rotating bezel. ETA - I have read it's friction-fit, rather than a ratcheted or 'click' bezel.
Price
With leather strap 995.00 EUR,
with metal bracelet 1,045.00 EUR.
Edited by andy_s on Sunday 25th April 23:26
Wow that GUINAND sure looks tasty, and love the detail. Been on the website, am I right in thinking you have to order from the old man himself? Does he make them to order or do they have them in stock? Sorry to ask so many questions, but is there anywhere you can see them and look at them in the UK?
Thanks Again Guys...now I'm really confused (in the nicest possible way!)
Mark
Thanks Again Guys...now I'm really confused (in the nicest possible way!)
Mark
It's a bit antiquated from what I hear, I think you order, pay by fax or bank transfer (?) and the watch you have ordered arrives a month later - that's my general impression.
Mr Sinn founded Sinn in '61 and and in '96 sold out. He then bought Guinand (after they'd supplied him for a while) and was still actively involved in the watchmaking till a few years ago when he announced a semi-retirement, so he's probably tinkering with something or other.
(The original Guinand name started in 1865, same time as IWC).
There's nowhere to see them in the UK unless I'm much mistaken. They use pretty much the same case/design style as on the Sinn 103 though (that Jura watches and Chronomaster may have) - a similar price and quality watch (the new Diapal one in titanium is a peach but a bit pricey).
Difficult choices anyway - enjoy sorting it out!
Mr Sinn founded Sinn in '61 and and in '96 sold out. He then bought Guinand (after they'd supplied him for a while) and was still actively involved in the watchmaking till a few years ago when he announced a semi-retirement, so he's probably tinkering with something or other.
(The original Guinand name started in 1865, same time as IWC).
There's nowhere to see them in the UK unless I'm much mistaken. They use pretty much the same case/design style as on the Sinn 103 though (that Jura watches and Chronomaster may have) - a similar price and quality watch (the new Diapal one in titanium is a peach but a bit pricey).
Difficult choices anyway - enjoy sorting it out!
Gassing Station | Watches | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff