Tried On Some Watches Today....Tough Choice (Pics Inside)
Discussion
My fiancee and I walked from one half of the Argyle Arcade to the other today, looking at every gent's watch the jewellers had to offer.
I didn't pay much attention to anything over £3800 as this is my absolute limit (and I would prefer to pay a fair bit less if I'm honest).
Our first port of call was the Omega Boutique. I tried on the Seamaster professional Planet Ocean with orange strap (which I thought was leather but as it turns out, it's rubber (for diving of course!). Excuse the poor pics but they were taken on an iphone. My overall impressions were extremely positive - it felt special on my wrist and had a nice weight to it. Priced at £3720 I was told that they would do something on the price when I asked if there was room for negotiation. What can I or should I, expect to achieve in terms of a discount?
Next, the only other Omega that caught my eye was the Seamaster Aqua Terra XXL Small Seconds. I was informed that this would hold its value really well as it was being discontinued. Overall impressions were also positive - it didn't feel as special or as heavy as the professional but still very nice. I can't remember what the asking price was but I'm sure it was nearer £3450 or thereabouts.
I then tried on a rather different Omega - one which I loved the look of on-line and one which fits in a bit more with my love for gadgets...the Z33. This thing comes in a rather impressive box and I couldn't wait to get it on my wrist. Once it was on however, I was a bit underwhelmed. It was very light due to it's titanium construction and whilst it looked different, I really didn't see the 'value' in it compared to the seamaster pro. Unfortunately, I didn't ask the price but it's still one to consider if I could get a good deal on it.
I then tried something totally different - the Oris Pro-diver at £2750. The sales assistant didn't really sell it to me as I could tell she didn't know much about it. It's a huge watch and I thought it looked really good on my wrist (I like the chunky look). That said, I couldn't help but think that for £2750 I wanted it to feel better quality on my wrist. I can't put my finger on it as there was nothing wrong with it as such - the rotating bezel felt solid and precise and did the side buttons but overall, I left feeling that I wanted to feel something more when I wore it.
I also visited Laings where I tried on a Bell and Ross - not because I particularly like the designs but because I've read loads about them and I wanted to find out what they were like to wear. I couldn't tell you the model but this one had a grand or so off which obviously caught my eye. However, once I got it on I was completely underwhelmed - it felt very light, again, due to its titanium construction but it just didn't do anything for me. I was glad that I tried it on though.
My hunt isn't over although I'm going to have to find places to investigate outwith the Argyle Arcade...am I any clearer about what I'm looking for...kind of...but the fun is in the looking and finding new models that appeal!
Cheers,
Martin
I didn't pay much attention to anything over £3800 as this is my absolute limit (and I would prefer to pay a fair bit less if I'm honest).
Our first port of call was the Omega Boutique. I tried on the Seamaster professional Planet Ocean with orange strap (which I thought was leather but as it turns out, it's rubber (for diving of course!). Excuse the poor pics but they were taken on an iphone. My overall impressions were extremely positive - it felt special on my wrist and had a nice weight to it. Priced at £3720 I was told that they would do something on the price when I asked if there was room for negotiation. What can I or should I, expect to achieve in terms of a discount?
Next, the only other Omega that caught my eye was the Seamaster Aqua Terra XXL Small Seconds. I was informed that this would hold its value really well as it was being discontinued. Overall impressions were also positive - it didn't feel as special or as heavy as the professional but still very nice. I can't remember what the asking price was but I'm sure it was nearer £3450 or thereabouts.
I then tried on a rather different Omega - one which I loved the look of on-line and one which fits in a bit more with my love for gadgets...the Z33. This thing comes in a rather impressive box and I couldn't wait to get it on my wrist. Once it was on however, I was a bit underwhelmed. It was very light due to it's titanium construction and whilst it looked different, I really didn't see the 'value' in it compared to the seamaster pro. Unfortunately, I didn't ask the price but it's still one to consider if I could get a good deal on it.
I then tried something totally different - the Oris Pro-diver at £2750. The sales assistant didn't really sell it to me as I could tell she didn't know much about it. It's a huge watch and I thought it looked really good on my wrist (I like the chunky look). That said, I couldn't help but think that for £2750 I wanted it to feel better quality on my wrist. I can't put my finger on it as there was nothing wrong with it as such - the rotating bezel felt solid and precise and did the side buttons but overall, I left feeling that I wanted to feel something more when I wore it.
I also visited Laings where I tried on a Bell and Ross - not because I particularly like the designs but because I've read loads about them and I wanted to find out what they were like to wear. I couldn't tell you the model but this one had a grand or so off which obviously caught my eye. However, once I got it on I was completely underwhelmed - it felt very light, again, due to its titanium construction but it just didn't do anything for me. I was glad that I tried it on though.
My hunt isn't over although I'm going to have to find places to investigate outwith the Argyle Arcade...am I any clearer about what I'm looking for...kind of...but the fun is in the looking and finding new models that appeal!
Cheers,
Martin
Edited by Martin_M on Friday 3rd January 17:58
Edited by Martin_M on Friday 3rd January 18:18
Good on you for getting out there and trying a variation of watches on, when in doubt it's by far the best way of working out what you do and don't like. FWIW the Oris and the Planet Ocean look the best on the wrist IMO, though I wouldn't go for the all orange PO myself.
As for discount and based on my own experience aim for 10% minimum up to, if you're hard-nosed, 20% though this may depend on the watch and where you're buying it from.
As for discount and based on my own experience aim for 10% minimum up to, if you're hard-nosed, 20% though this may depend on the watch and where you're buying it from.
MrSimba said:
No contest for me it would be the beautiful orange Planet Ocean, see if they will do a deal on a SS strap as well as the orange rubber would be perfect then! 
I agree with this. Always buy it on the bracelet and add the strap later!The Planet Ocean is by far the nicest of those in my opinion.
hilly10 said:
The PO is the way to go. Now the best combo for a PO is Orange bezel with black leather and orange stitching strap with a SS bracelet as back up. Now why did I sell mine. I am a bloody idiot thats why
Not 100% sure of current options but large, bracelet with black bezel and orange numerals is the choice (wish I'd done that rather going for vanilla). Toshi strap can then be added to save the bracelet.
GC8 said:
Why is the Oris so expensive, I wonder? Oris aren't playing the price card like the majority of other manufacturers either.
I have an all titanium 1,000m Oris diver and it didn't cost anything like that amount.
I've got one of those. Nice but broken and would cost as much to repair as it is worth.I have an all titanium 1,000m Oris diver and it didn't cost anything like that amount.
I was oblivious to discounts at the time, so paid list. Chuck in real inflation, strength of the Swiss Franc, the impact of QE and some slightly aspirational pricing (probably driven from above) & I'm not that surprised by the price TBH.
OP -- Choose whatever floats your boat, accepting any minor financial limitations.
However, talk to Dom H from this locale and even if you don't, 20% discount on most things is the minimum asking at the moment.
GC8 said:
Its worth £500 no matter how well worn, so I doubt that it is uneconomical to repair. Try Ryte Time.
If my way, Ryte Time won't do the 1000m Oris (and not sure the official gaff are worth bothering with). Quite possibly better to go to a chain, even if it ends up with aforementioned slightly crappy service agent.Still, probably a drinking session watch, once strap adjusted accordingly, so as long as cheapish, not that fussed.
I was in the same store just under 4 years ago looking at Planet Oceans. Maybe it was my atire but the women was fairly off handish, and wouldn't even discuss a discount.
I contacted Dominic Hackett through here, and bought one from him with a 20% discount.
Big Orange with S/S strap.
One of these days im going to get a rubber strap for it (Black with orange stiching).
To be fair to the store, i was browsing there last year and the sales guy couldn't have been any nicer. Maybe it was because he was trying to get me to trade in my watch for the newer model.
I contacted Dominic Hackett through here, and bought one from him with a 20% discount.
Big Orange with S/S strap.
One of these days im going to get a rubber strap for it (Black with orange stiching).
To be fair to the store, i was browsing there last year and the sales guy couldn't have been any nicer. Maybe it was because he was trying to get me to trade in my watch for the newer model.
Edited by Terzo123 on Saturday 4th January 14:11
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