Birthday watch - alternatives to Damasko DA44

Birthday watch - alternatives to Damasko DA44

Author
Discussion

dxbtiger

Original Poster:

4,389 posts

172 months

Monday 18th November 2019
quotequote all
I have a significant (number wise) birthday just before Christmas.

Current daily beater is a PAM 320, I have various others in the watch box, G Shocks, Kickstarter buys, fashion watches etc but after a more sturdy daily to keep the Panerai off the wrist 7 days a week.

Inspired by the wrist check thread, close to getting a DA44 on a bracelet (non pvd) delivered to me, can buy it online and sent here minus VAT with a further 10% for online buy.

Am I missing anything similar and obvious before I do?

andy tims

5,571 posts

245 months

Tuesday 19th November 2019
quotequote all
Go for it

Hoofy

76,253 posts

281 months

Tuesday 19th November 2019
quotequote all
Sinn something?

dxbtiger

Original Poster:

4,389 posts

172 months

Tuesday 19th November 2019
quotequote all
andy tims said:
Go for it
Is probably the right answer smile

Hoofy said:
Sinn something?
Have already had a browse, I've self capped myself at 2k spend wise.

Quite like the U1 on a bracelet, EZM 3F is also quite nice, not sold on the left hand crown.

Neither grab my eye like the Damasko however.

AmosMoses

4,039 posts

164 months

Tuesday 19th November 2019
quotequote all
The DA44 is a lovely watch, I find myself really being drawn to Damaskos. With that in mind, get it done!

marcosgt

11,011 posts

175 months

Tuesday 19th November 2019
quotequote all
Damasko is a good choice, if you like it, I can't see any reason to look elsewhere.

Me, I like Sinns - If you can get past the left hand crown on the EZM3 it's a great watch.

I never even really notice the crown is on the left, to be honest - One of my other Sinns - An EZM7S - has a left hand crown too.

M

Dolf Stoppard

1,318 posts

121 months

Tuesday 19th November 2019
quotequote all
How about:

https://www.firstclasswatches.co.uk/muhle-glashutt...

Can't recommend this brand enough. If you buy it and don't get on with it, you can just sell it to me!

WhiskyDisco

796 posts

73 months

Tuesday 19th November 2019
quotequote all

dxbtiger

Original Poster:

4,389 posts

172 months

Tuesday 19th November 2019
quotequote all
The Muhle (?) does nothing for me, the Damasko isn't on a bracelet, appreciate the links though!

Barchettaman

6,280 posts

131 months

Tuesday 19th November 2019
quotequote all
Save £1700 and get a Helm Vanuatu?

https://helmwatches.com/vanuatu1.html

dxbtiger

Original Poster:

4,389 posts

172 months

Wednesday 20th November 2019
quotequote all
Barchettaman said:
Save £1700 and get a Helm Vanuatu?

https://helmwatches.com/vanuatu1.html
That's actually quite nice, not available until May though, the want is too strong to wait hehe

andy tims

5,571 posts

245 months

Wednesday 20th November 2019
quotequote all
WhiskyDisco said:
Likely to be clobbered for VAT on that though.

CardShark

4,190 posts

178 months

Thursday 21st November 2019
quotequote all
I've a DA44 on the Damasko bracelet and there's no doubting the quality of the engineering behind both the watch head and the bracelet itself. I'll mention a few points ref the bracelet though, just to inform you as to what you get for the money.

Firstly, the links are made from the same proprietary hardened steel that's used for all* Damasko cases and bezels, this makes them extremely scratch resistant though the downside is that where you have hardened steel rubbing up against hardened steel you do start to get marks where the two surfaces rub together. It's a minor point compared to how relatively easily a regular steel bracelet would scuff up however and the marks that my bracelet has picked up are minimal and barely visible when worn.

The links are an easy DIY job to replace/remove, Damasko supply the tool to do the job with the watch and each screw feels super secure and well machined. There isn't any micro-adjustment on the clasp however Damasko will supply 10mm links (the regular links are 8mm) for a reasonable cost, I bought two pairs of links for about £55 IIRC with more than half that cost being the signed-for postage from Germany. You can see the slightly longer links in my 'photo one link from either side of the clasp.

The clasp closes either side with a very secure feeling snick as the bearings drop into their respective recesses with zero slack, again demonstrating the engineering quality and tolerances of each individual part. There is one particular negative with this type of clasp though, unlike a divers clasp where you have a smaller folder-over piece that prevents the clasp accidentally popping open this bracelet goes without. It hasn't happened often and it may, in part, be due to the fact that the bracelet is slightly tighter than on my other watches however I have found that if the watch slips down towards my wrist and i then flex it the clasp pops open. As I said, this may be a simple fix by extending the bracelet a little however I thought I'd mention it all the same, as it is I don't think that I've ever worn the watch on anything other than the bracelet so it can't be all that bad smile

DA44 bracelet

As for alternatives then Sinn, as already suggested, are probably the closest comparator however, unlike Damasko, only a few of their range have hardened cases/bezels if that's important to you. Both Citizen and Seiko offer watches with surface hardening - look for Duratect and DiaShield - though if you're looking to keep to a tool-watch style then Archimede may provide an alternative -

https://www.archimede-watches.com/outdoor/outdoor-...

Edit to add Tutima as another option, no surface hardening IIRC however they're another brand to sit alongside Sinn in terms of reputability.

  • not quite all, the Damasko divers use submarine steel instead.
Edited by CardShark on Thursday 21st November 18:45

dxbtiger

Original Poster:

4,389 posts

172 months

Monday 25th November 2019
quotequote all
CardShark said:
I've a DA44 on the Damasko bracelet and there's no doubting the quality of the engineering behind both the watch head and the bracelet itself. I'll mention a few points ref the bracelet though, just to inform you as to what you get for the money.

Firstly, the links are made from the same proprietary hardened steel that's used for all* Damasko cases and bezels, this makes them extremely scratch resistant though the downside is that where you have hardened steel rubbing up against hardened steel you do start to get marks where the two surfaces rub together. It's a minor point compared to how relatively easily a regular steel bracelet would scuff up however and the marks that my bracelet has picked up are minimal and barely visible when worn.

The links are an easy DIY job to replace/remove, Damasko supply the tool to do the job with the watch and each screw feels super secure and well machined. There isn't any micro-adjustment on the clasp however Damasko will supply 10mm links (the regular links are 8mm) for a reasonable cost, I bought two pairs of links for about £55 IIRC with more than half that cost being the signed-for postage from Germany. You can see the slightly longer links in my 'photo one link from either side of the clasp.

The clasp closes either side with a very secure feeling snick as the bearings drop into their respective recesses with zero slack, again demonstrating the engineering quality and tolerances of each individual part. There is one particular negative with this type of clasp though, unlike a divers clasp where you have a smaller folder-over piece that prevents the clasp accidentally popping open this bracelet goes without. It hasn't happened often and it may, in part, be due to the fact that the bracelet is slightly tighter than on my other watches however I have found that if the watch slips down towards my wrist and i then flex it the clasp pops open. As I said, this may be a simple fix by extending the bracelet a little however I thought I'd mention it all the same, as it is I don't think that I've ever worn the watch on anything other than the bracelet so it can't be all that bad smile

DA44 bracelet

As for alternatives then Sinn, as already suggested, are probably the closest comparator however, unlike Damasko, only a few of their range have hardened cases/bezels if that's important to you. Both Citizen and Seiko offer watches with surface hardening - look for Duratect and DiaShield - though if you're looking to keep to a tool-watch style then Archimede may provide an alternative -

https://www.archimede-watches.com/outdoor/outdoor-...

Edit to add Tutima as another option, no surface hardening IIRC however they're another brand to sit alongside Sinn in terms of reputability.

  • not quite all, the Damasko divers use submarine steel instead.
Edited by CardShark on Thursday 21st November 18:45
Top info, thanks!

Mind is made up, will add to the 'incoming' thread once I've actually ordered.

Thanks to all for the input.