What’s your reason for buying a watch?
Discussion
To tell the time right? Perhaps once, but I think these days that’s no longer the top of the list, because if it were then we’d all still wear the £10 Casio digitals we bought as kids.
Time for a poll I think; what’s the reason you bought, are buying or are looking at watches?
Here's my reason - because I could, and here's my photographic evidence:
Time for a poll I think; what’s the reason you bought, are buying or are looking at watches?
Here's my reason - because I could, and here's my photographic evidence:
O/T: Lorneg, I love your watches and the really specific brief behind them - designed for a job - but they're too big for many. Have you ever considered a thinner 40mm version, similar dimensions to a Sub or Seamaster?
Why get a watch? In short, they're useful, make me look better, make me happy, give me something to read up on/talk about with similarly afflicted friends, and give me something to look at in a spare moment. Also, given the fact I respect but cannot be satisfied with the Seiko/G-Shock stuff, they also give me an incentive to work! Lange Datographs, rare vintage Day Dates, and Gallet Dato-Compax's aren't cheap. (Be a long time before I buy any of them.)
Why get a watch? In short, they're useful, make me look better, make me happy, give me something to read up on/talk about with similarly afflicted friends, and give me something to look at in a spare moment. Also, given the fact I respect but cannot be satisfied with the Seiko/G-Shock stuff, they also give me an incentive to work! Lange Datographs, rare vintage Day Dates, and Gallet Dato-Compax's aren't cheap. (Be a long time before I buy any of them.)
Aesthetics and functionality . I purchased a Traser last year because I needed a work watch as the SKX wasn't playing ball. Looks good, does as it should and is pretty tough. My SKX was a gift and it also ticked the boxes and actually turned me off G Shocks style and onto that style of watch.
I almost bought an Anniversary Sub the other year for the same reasons, but more of a "special occasion" watch, but couldn't stretch to the 6 /7 grand the model I wanted was fetching (engraved rehaut, late 07).
I almost bought an Anniversary Sub the other year for the same reasons, but more of a "special occasion" watch, but couldn't stretch to the 6 /7 grand the model I wanted was fetching (engraved rehaut, late 07).
Days Like These said:
O/T: Lorneg, I love your watches and the really specific brief behind them - designed for a job - but they're too big for many. Have you ever considered a thinner 40mm version, similar dimensions to a Sub or Seamaster?
Why get a watch? In short, they're useful, make me look better, make me happy, give me something to read up on/talk about with similarly afflicted friends, and give me something to look at in a spare moment. Also, given the fact I respect but cannot be satisfied with the Seiko/G-Shock stuff, they also give me an incentive to work! Lange Datographs, rare vintage Day Dates, and Gallet Dato-Compax's aren't cheap. (Be a long time before I buy any of them.)
Good reply, reminds me of why I bought my car instead of buying one of those 'white goods' cars. 7750 movement won't fit into a smaller case and retain the shock absorbing capability. My wife has a Bulgari diagono chronograph which uses the same 775x family of movements but puts it in a small case. it's the most rubbish bit of constantly dented, falling apart aluminium I ever spend several thousand pounds of hard earned money on. Got a nice strap though, combination of hard rubber and aluminium, hinges.Why get a watch? In short, they're useful, make me look better, make me happy, give me something to read up on/talk about with similarly afflicted friends, and give me something to look at in a spare moment. Also, given the fact I respect but cannot be satisfied with the Seiko/G-Shock stuff, they also give me an incentive to work! Lange Datographs, rare vintage Day Dates, and Gallet Dato-Compax's aren't cheap. (Be a long time before I buy any of them.)
Fair enough Lorneg, so a different size case would require a different movement and so on, it would be a lot of work.
I love the idea of having a watch made by someone on PH though, looks much better than some attempts by companies with 1000s of employees...
Also, a watch is still useful as a functional item, as if phone runs out of battery, isn't with you, is buried with other stuff in pockets or a bag...
I love the idea of having a watch made by someone on PH though, looks much better than some attempts by companies with 1000s of employees...
Also, a watch is still useful as a functional item, as if phone runs out of battery, isn't with you, is buried with other stuff in pockets or a bag...
Lorneg said:
Days Like These said:
O/T: Lorneg, I love your watches and the really specific brief behind them - designed for a job - but they're too big for many. Have you ever considered a thinner 40mm version, similar dimensions to a Sub or Seamaster?
Why get a watch? In short, they're useful, make me look better, make me happy, give me something to read up on/talk about with similarly afflicted friends, and give me something to look at in a spare moment. Also, given the fact I respect but cannot be satisfied with the Seiko/G-Shock stuff, they also give me an incentive to work! Lange Datographs, rare vintage Day Dates, and Gallet Dato-Compax's aren't cheap. (Be a long time before I buy any of them.)
Good reply, reminds me of why I bought my car instead of buying one of those 'white goods' cars. 7750 movement won't fit into a smaller case and retain the shock absorbing capability. My wife has a Bulgari diagono chronograph which uses the same 775x family of movements but puts it in a small case. it's the most rubbish bit of constantly dented, falling apart aluminium I ever spend several thousand pounds of hard earned money on. Got a nice strap though, combination of hard rubber and aluminium, hinges.Why get a watch? In short, they're useful, make me look better, make me happy, give me something to read up on/talk about with similarly afflicted friends, and give me something to look at in a spare moment. Also, given the fact I respect but cannot be satisfied with the Seiko/G-Shock stuff, they also give me an incentive to work! Lange Datographs, rare vintage Day Dates, and Gallet Dato-Compax's aren't cheap. (Be a long time before I buy any of them.)
Days Like These said:
Fair enough Lorneg, so a different size case would require a different movement and so on, it would be a lot of work.
I love the idea of having a watch made by someone on PH though, looks much better than some attempts by companies with 1000s of employees...
Also, a watch is still useful as a functional item, as if phone runs out of battery, isn't with you, is buried with other stuff in pockets or a bag...
I solved the smart phone always having a flat battery with a £15 pay-as-you go from tesco. I walk around with two phones as a result, but at least I know one of them has a battery that runs for 30 days between chargesI love the idea of having a watch made by someone on PH though, looks much better than some attempts by companies with 1000s of employees...
Also, a watch is still useful as a functional item, as if phone runs out of battery, isn't with you, is buried with other stuff in pockets or a bag...
Cause I like the design, wether it's a £10 HMT or something abit more exotic. I don't care for brands or the image they have, if I like the watch I like it. Really want to buy my first expensive watch but am torn between a Speedmaster Moonwatch or a Tudor pelagos, do I really need one? No, but I like them!
SirSquidalot said:
Cause I like the design, wether it's a £10 HMT or something abit more exotic. I don't care for brands or the image they have, if I like the watch I like it. Really want to buy my first expensive watch but am torn between a Speedmaster Moonwatch or a Tudor pelagos, do I really need one? No, but I like them!
I'd go with the Tudor, it has a certain overall coherence that is just about perfect. As much as I like the Speedmaster I think it's in danger of being overbranded. To me the Tudor is a royal blue Aston DB9 and the Speedmaster a white DBS; both are ideal, but the DB9 carries a little more 'I bought it for myself and not the image' style.With a modern watch it's usually just because I like how it looks, but with a vintage it's often because I want to take the movement apart, or appreciate something rare about it. I find that I'm really more into the watchmaking than I am watches themselves.
The Longines Cal 340 for instance isn't the greatest movement in the world and they aren't particularly valuable. But it has a rocking bar in the keyless works, a barrel arbor that's hollow with a milled out square to recieve the male piece riveted to the ratchet wheel and an eccentrically mounted automatic rotor with a planetary gear to run the thing. What were they smoking when they came up with that design?
It's like the designers fancied a completely clean break from anything anyone else was doing and just had a blue-sky drunken brainstorming session before handing it to their engineers for a laugh.
I'm continually amazed by the variety of designs in vintage stuff, and there's a pleasant honesty to something that's a good honest solid watch like an IWC 89, or seeing the extra effort they put into polishing non-essential surfaces on an old English pocketwatch.
The Longines Cal 340 for instance isn't the greatest movement in the world and they aren't particularly valuable. But it has a rocking bar in the keyless works, a barrel arbor that's hollow with a milled out square to recieve the male piece riveted to the ratchet wheel and an eccentrically mounted automatic rotor with a planetary gear to run the thing. What were they smoking when they came up with that design?
It's like the designers fancied a completely clean break from anything anyone else was doing and just had a blue-sky drunken brainstorming session before handing it to their engineers for a laugh.
I'm continually amazed by the variety of designs in vintage stuff, and there's a pleasant honesty to something that's a good honest solid watch like an IWC 89, or seeing the extra effort they put into polishing non-essential surfaces on an old English pocketwatch.
Edited by glazbagun on Sunday 13th September 13:49
Lorneg said:
Good reply, reminds me of why I bought my car instead of buying one of those 'white goods' cars. 7750 movement won't fit into a smaller case and retain the shock absorbing capability. My wife has a Bulgari diagono chronograph which uses the same 775x family of movements but puts it in a small case. it's the most rubbish bit of constantly dented, falling apart aluminium I ever spend several thousand pounds of hard earned money on. Got a nice strap though, combination of hard rubber and aluminium, hinges.
The aluminium (and titanium) diagono's are actually 2894 modular chronographs unless there's one I havent seen, but yeah the coated aluminium cases really are a bad idea from a case-longevity point of view, you can't do anything with them except replace them! On the plus side, they do wear quite light an flat on the wrist.glazbagun said:
Lorneg said:
Good reply, reminds me of why I bought my car instead of buying one of those 'white goods' cars. 7750 movement won't fit into a smaller case and retain the shock absorbing capability. My wife has a Bulgari diagono chronograph which uses the same 775x family of movements but puts it in a small case. it's the most rubbish bit of constantly dented, falling apart aluminium I ever spend several thousand pounds of hard earned money on. Got a nice strap though, combination of hard rubber and aluminium, hinges.
The aluminium (and titanium) diagono's are actually 2894 modular chronographs unless there's one I havent seen, but yeah the coated aluminium cases really are a bad idea from a case-longevity point of view, you can't do anything with them except replace them! On the plus side, they do wear quite light an flat on the wrist.Aesthetics. On the inside of the watch as well as the outside.
I mostly buy vintage, 60's and 70's although I do have modern stuff and my oldest piece hails from 1911.
A lot of the fun for me is in the chase. Learning how to distinguish an original watch from a touched up Frankenwatch. Each one I buy, I research. Then I hunt for an as new example at a decent price. Some of my watches have a patina, but most are in originals as new condition. It can take eighteen months to find a 60's watch in decent nick at a decent price, especially if you're chasing a rare or unusual piece.
I mostly buy vintage, 60's and 70's although I do have modern stuff and my oldest piece hails from 1911.
A lot of the fun for me is in the chase. Learning how to distinguish an original watch from a touched up Frankenwatch. Each one I buy, I research. Then I hunt for an as new example at a decent price. Some of my watches have a patina, but most are in originals as new condition. It can take eighteen months to find a 60's watch in decent nick at a decent price, especially if you're chasing a rare or unusual piece.
SirSquidalot said:
Cause I like the design, wether it's a £10 HMT or something abit more exotic. I don't care for brands or the image they have, if I like the watch I like it. Really want to buy my first expensive watch but am torn between a Speedmaster Moonwatch or a Tudor pelagos, do I really need one? No, but I like them!
You paid a full £10 for an HMT 
thats going to be my watch for tomorrow now!Can I make a suggestion, I think you have missed the obvious conclusion you need to draw, you don't need a speedy or a Pelagos... You need both.
It's easier when you admit your problem to yourself
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