Help needed!!!!
Discussion
Looking to buy a special watch in memory of my Dad who passed away last November. I have decided on a 'special everyday' watch to wear during the week (I have an MTM Special Ops for knocking about at the weekend) rather than just put away for special occasions.
Was originally looking at a budget < £1000 as he wouldn't have wanted me to spend too much 'spons', but may have a little flexibility.
Would prefer an automatic and nothing too showy. Always wanted an Omega Seamaster Professional but my brother-in-law has recently bought one so I'm ruling that one out.
Also thought about a vintage watch - would this be reliable for everyday use?
Came very close to buying a Raymond Weil Nabucco RW-005 this afternoon that I had bartered down from £1325 to £1190 (Dad would have been proud!!) - very nice and weighty (not keen on light watches which feel a little girlie after the MTM) but couldn't quite commit.
Any advice very gratefully received as this will be a one-off purchase I don't want to rush and get wrong.
Was originally looking at a budget < £1000 as he wouldn't have wanted me to spend too much 'spons', but may have a little flexibility.
Would prefer an automatic and nothing too showy. Always wanted an Omega Seamaster Professional but my brother-in-law has recently bought one so I'm ruling that one out.
Also thought about a vintage watch - would this be reliable for everyday use?
Came very close to buying a Raymond Weil Nabucco RW-005 this afternoon that I had bartered down from £1325 to £1190 (Dad would have been proud!!) - very nice and weighty (not keen on light watches which feel a little girlie after the MTM) but couldn't quite commit.
Any advice very gratefully received as this will be a one-off purchase I don't want to rush and get wrong.
buster44,
Firstly, I am sorry to hear about your father.
As far as a watch is concerned, something that will hold as much sentimental value as this watch should only be chosen by yourself. There is no right or wrong choice, it must the watch that speaks most to you.
If the watch that you have chosen is the right one for you then you will never think that you made a bad choice.
That's my 2p worth
Firstly, I am sorry to hear about your father.
As far as a watch is concerned, something that will hold as much sentimental value as this watch should only be chosen by yourself. There is no right or wrong choice, it must the watch that speaks most to you.
If the watch that you have chosen is the right one for you then you will never think that you made a bad choice.
That's my 2p worth
Buster44
Sorry to hear about your dad
Dont have any specific suggestions for a watch, might be nice if you could find something that has link to him, e.g. Omega if he was a Bond fan, etc.
Hope this helps, I am sure that whatever watch you decide on, it will be the right choice.
Regards
Simon
Sorry to hear about your dad
Dont have any specific suggestions for a watch, might be nice if you could find something that has link to him, e.g. Omega if he was a Bond fan, etc.
Hope this helps, I am sure that whatever watch you decide on, it will be the right choice.
Regards
Simon
Thanks all for your kind comments and suggestions.
Dad wore a gold watch bought for him by a group of close friends, which while he could easily pull it off just makes me look like Del-boy Trotter! (mind you one of his favourite TV characters!).
Sooooo much choice out there. Liked the Bond reference - has anyone any experience with older Omegas etc as far as reliability? Thinking an older/vintage/pre-owned watch may offer something a bit more unusual/individual.
Dad wore a gold watch bought for him by a group of close friends, which while he could easily pull it off just makes me look like Del-boy Trotter! (mind you one of his favourite TV characters!).
Sooooo much choice out there. Liked the Bond reference - has anyone any experience with older Omegas etc as far as reliability? Thinking an older/vintage/pre-owned watch may offer something a bit more unusual/individual.
There are ann excellent selection here http://www.europeanwatch.com/index.htm you may not want to buy from the states but they have a lot of older and unusual watches
Check out Werners Flying Watches, found these a few days ago and they appear to have a pretty big following on ph, not a lot of money and some really nice looking retro watches. how about buying less expensive watch and a tree/sturdy shrub for the garden that continues to grow,mature and bloom afresh each spring, have bought several trees/shrubs for friends and relatives to in memory of loved ones
Hmmm some interesting watches from both suggestions thanks.
Steve, do you have any experience dealing with the European Watch Company? Quite like the look of the Tag Monaco on the blue strap. Steve McQueen reference also a good one as both Dad and I liked his films.
Simon, tree suggestion a good one which my partner has also put forward.
Are Tag, Omega, Raymond Weil, Sinn etc all much the same quality around this price? Would rather pay for quality engineering and heritage over name status.
Thanks very much for some valuable pointers.
Steve, do you have any experience dealing with the European Watch Company? Quite like the look of the Tag Monaco on the blue strap. Steve McQueen reference also a good one as both Dad and I liked his films.
Simon, tree suggestion a good one which my partner has also put forward.
Are Tag, Omega, Raymond Weil, Sinn etc all much the same quality around this price? Would rather pay for quality engineering and heritage over name status.
Thanks very much for some valuable pointers.
Buster
I have a Steve McQueen Tag Monaco (blue face & strap)and love it, works really well as both a smart watch when wearing a suit also works equally well when slopping around in jeans
Bought mine from a chap in Northen Ireland, years ago, at the time he was much cheaper then anyone else, have since bought several other "quality" watches for myself and friends/family. brill service and a realy nice chap (got to know him when i was in the jewellery trade many years ago)
Let me know if you want his details
I have a Steve McQueen Tag Monaco (blue face & strap)and love it, works really well as both a smart watch when wearing a suit also works equally well when slopping around in jeans
Bought mine from a chap in Northen Ireland, years ago, at the time he was much cheaper then anyone else, have since bought several other "quality" watches for myself and friends/family. brill service and a realy nice chap (got to know him when i was in the jewellery trade many years ago)
Let me know if you want his details
I have not bought a watch from European Watch co yet, I am keeping an aye on their stock. They always reply to my emails quickly even outside of working hours and their Ebay page has excellent feedback http://feedback.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFe...
Buster44 said:
...Liked the Bond reference - has anyone any experience with older Omegas etc as far as reliability? ...
As I type, I am wearing the 1960's Omega Constellation automatic that used to belong to my grandfather, and was given to me on my 21st birthday. After my grandfather died, the watch sat in my dad's safe for about 6 years or so without being worn. I got the watch in 1986 and apart from wearing it regularly until 2000 it did not get any servicing or special treatment.Within a few years of receiving the watch, it survived a bicycle crash fierce enough to bend one of the spring bars into a right angle. I only had the thing serviced when it dropped out of my hands and stopped.
Nowadays I wear it approx a day a week. It lies in my cupboard, when its turn comes around I put it on and set the time and date, give it a shake to wake it up and off we go.
Lovely watch and seems to be way tougher than it looks.
James
Think I've discounted the Monaco due to the 'plastic' face.
Thanks for the replies.
Interesting comments on the 60's Omega - are the Vintage Omega's better made or is the quality still as high now?
So far I like the look of the following brands - Sinn, Hamilton, Omega, and Ball. Are they all similar quality? Anything that particularly makes one better engineered?
I keep leaning towards simple day/date or basic chronograph rather than some of the fussier aviator style watches.
Thanks for the replies.
Interesting comments on the 60's Omega - are the Vintage Omega's better made or is the quality still as high now?
So far I like the look of the following brands - Sinn, Hamilton, Omega, and Ball. Are they all similar quality? Anything that particularly makes one better engineered?
I keep leaning towards simple day/date or basic chronograph rather than some of the fussier aviator style watches.
Think I'm leaning towards a Sinn - have been browsing on Chronomaster reading the technical content for each watch. Only problem is, the more I read, the more I get sucked in to increasing the specification and subsequently blowing the budget!!!
Like the clean look of the chronographs without divers bezel and interested by the diapar movement (which is where it gets expensive!!!)
Like the clean look of the chronographs without divers bezel and interested by the diapar movement (which is where it gets expensive!!!)
Buster44 said:
Think I'm leaning towards a Sinn - have been browsing on Chronomaster reading the technical content for each watch. Only problem is, the more I read, the more I get sucked in to increasing the specification and subsequently blowing the budget!!!
Like the clean look of the chronographs without divers bezel and interested by the diapar movement (which is where it gets expensive!!!)
Tell me about it. The technical section in the catalogue is about 17 pages long for goodness sake. I'm waiting for a potential EZM1 which is a generation away from the modern stuff but still has more about it than most other current watches. Like the clean look of the chronographs without divers bezel and interested by the diapar movement (which is where it gets expensive!!!)
After taking my time with the decision, (very unlike me!!!), I have bought an Omega Speedmaster Pro Moonwatch on the basis of being a classic watch that won't date and also like the moon landing reference with it being my 40th next month.
Will be a daily wearer during the week. Awaiting delivery this morning!
Whilst loitering in this section over the last few months I have gained considerably more watch knowledge and also an Seiko Orange Monster!
Many thanks to all those who offered kind comments and advice - it was very much appreciated.
Will be a daily wearer during the week. Awaiting delivery this morning!
Whilst loitering in this section over the last few months I have gained considerably more watch knowledge and also an Seiko Orange Monster!
Many thanks to all those who offered kind comments and advice - it was very much appreciated.
Edited by Buster44 on Wednesday 14th October 10:02
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