Watch dilemma

[fivesixseven8]

I want to step up and actually buy my first 'proper' watch, I'm justifying it as a birthday present for myself to try and get it past SWMBO.

My dilemma is really which watch to go for, cost is also a big factor though, with one being pretty much twice the cost of the other.

My choice is between a Sinn 856 (on a bracelet but with a brown/tan leather strap too) or an Omega PO 42mm (bracelet & black/orange rubber strap, Black bezel, orange numbers)

The Sinn seems to go for £900 list and I've been offered a new PO for £1720.

I really like the Sinn, but my initial choice was the PO. Therefore, I worry that I'd never be quite happy with the Sinn?
On the other hand though, I want something that I can wear everyday. I'm sure both would be fine for this but I wonder if the Sinn may be that bit better suited?
There is also cost to consider. Both are affordable, it's just do I really want to spend twice the amount!?

I have looked for used PO's but they seem few and far between. I'm not going to ebay for something like this either.

I want to try and get over to Jura to try a Sinn on (Chronomaster is too far from me) asap. I guess I might not actually like it!

Help!

[okgo]

Can't comment on the Sinn.

But in terms of everyday watch, (I have the same PO you speak of, just in 45m)I can't see an issue. I have had this one a year now, still looks good, despite me knocking it about. Qaulity thing all round, not to mention the bracelet, great bit of kit.

[Maxf]

I had a 42mm PO for a while - paid £1100 for it, new, from Ernest Jones in their sale. It was on a leather strap though.

To be honest, I didn't rate it (and I'm a huge Omega fan). The anti reflective layer on the crystal scratched very easily, which made the point of the sapphire crystal kind of redundant. The bezel felt light and cheap when compared to other divers watches. It kept very good time though, and the orange tipped seconds hand looked great.

I sold it and only managed to get my money back even at that price - so buy carefully (although I swapped the omega deployant out, so gained that I suppose).

Definitely dont buy on ebay - there are more PO fakes than real!

[fivesixseven8]

Thanks. I do really like the PO, it's the only watch (in my budget!) that really catches my eye and that I keep coming back to.
I just worry that it's a little too 'of the moment' and won't age well? I thought that by going for the black bezel this may help though.

Is £1720 about as good as I can expect (20% off)? I've seen a few people mention getting as much as 25/26% off.
If I could find one in the £1100-1200 range (new or used) then it would make my decision easier as I wouldn't feel I was 'settling' for the Sinn.

[okgo]

In regards to the scratching. I must admit a year on in certain lights you can make out 'tiny' scratches, but from anything further 6 inches you cannot see these.

And bezel, I have only really played with a couple of other rolex's, mine feels fine, for something you're never going to use, who cares, I guess.

I would reccomend PM'ing Dominic H off here, he is a watch dealer, and I got a great price, however as you know the list price of the PO went up about £150-200 quid so I would think your deal would be different to mine.

[Maxf]

fivesixseven8 said:

I just worry that it's a little too 'of the moment' and won't age well? I thought that by going for the black bezel this may help though.

The black one will age just fine. Look at photos of vintage seamasters (seamaster 300 from the 1960s is a good example) and the similarities between them and the 42mm PO are quite obvious - so they havent changed massively over 40 years!

[fivesixseven8]

okgo said:

In regards to the scratching. I must admit a year on in certain lights you can make out 'tiny' scratches, but from anything further 6 inches you cannot see these.

And bezel, I have only really played with a couple of other rolex's, mine feels fine, for something you're never going to use, who cares, I guess.

I would reccomend PM'ing Dominic H off here, he is a watch dealer, and I got a great price, however as you know the list price of the PO went up about £150-200 quid so I would think your deal would be different to mine.

I had a good look at them in the Omega shop Westfield the other week and the bezels felt fine to me too. Not much reference to go on though!

I've already PM'd Dominic H thanks, his was the best price so far. PM me what you paid if you don't mind?

[toohuge]

If you like the look of the PO then get the PO. It is a great watch and the last thing you want to happen is to be thinking 'I should have got the PO'. The Sinn is a great watch but it sounds like you want the PO. Check out blowers-jewellers.co.uk for some excellent used watches.

[andy_s]

I'd get both on the wrist before you decide - the Sinn is fantastic (and more so when you dig into the detail) but the PO is also a decidedly good watch - whichever floats your boat should be the one to go for really and at that price it's worth seeing them both in the flesh.

[okgo]

fivesixseven8 said:

okgo said:

In regards to the scratching. I must admit a year on in certain lights you can make out 'tiny' scratches, but from anything further 6 inches you cannot see these.

And bezel, I have only really played with a couple of other rolex's, mine feels fine, for something you're never going to use, who cares, I guess.

I would reccomend PM'ing Dominic H off here, he is a watch dealer, and I got a great price, however as you know the list price of the PO went up about £150-200 quid so I would think your deal would be different to mine.

I had a good look at them in the Omega shop Westfield the other week and the bezels felt fine to me too. Not much reference to go on though!

I've already PM'd Dominic H thanks, his was the best price so far. PM me what you paid if you don't mind?

I can't remember tbh.

£1550 or thereabouts.

[fivesixseven8]

toohuge said:

If you like the look of the PO then get the PO. It is a great watch and the last thing you want to happen is to be thinking 'I should have got the PO'. The Sinn is a great watch but it sounds like you want the PO. Check out blowers-jewellers.co.uk for some excellent used watches.

Just had a look on blowers and the prices are not much lower than I've been offered a new one for.

andy_s said:

I'd get both on the wrist before you decide - the Sinn is fantastic (and more so when you dig into the detail) but the PO is also a decidedly good watch - whichever floats your boat should be the one to go for really and at that price it's worth seeing them both in the flesh.

I've made a start on this with the PO variants already. The salesman was pushing for the 45mm but it did feel decidedly big and the 42mm was more than enough for my 7.5" wrist.
Trying the Sinn won't be so easy. Jura is the only place I can get to to try them and they seem to keep minimal stock.

okgo, cheers.

[Soft Top]

You need to buy whatever you are happiest with...

...but my 2 cents worth is this: If you can justify the extra cost for the PO now then I don't think you'll be disappointed. The bonus is that in 12 months when you get "the itch" you only have to find £900 to buy the Sinn!

[fivesixseven8]

riwiho said:

To balance the argument out a little I would highly recommend the Sinn.

I love my 656 S however I am very bias: Clicky Clicky

The Sinn is straight forward, very well built and not your normal cup of tea. You will probably find that it does not attract the attention of the PO however this is not the point of the Sinn, what you are buying is a well made, high quality watch that few people will know about but when ever you look at it you will be happy as larry.

If you can look out for the 856 UTC ( Clicky Clicky), very good looking watch IMHO.

Edited by riwiho on Wednesday 9th September 22:27

Thanks riwiho, it was your post that really confirmed my liking of the Sinn watches.
Trying a few more people for prices on the PO for now though.

[Dr G]

I have a Sinn 857 UTC on a tan leather Toshi if you'd like to try it on? I'm in Bucks

[fivesixseven8]

Dr G said:

I have a Sinn 857 UTC on a tan leather Toshi if you'd like to try it on? I'm in Bucks

May take you up on that Dr G. I'm just waiting to hear back on some PO prices before I do anything else though.

Do you have any pictures of it?

[Stuart]

I've got an 856 which you're willing to come and try on. I'm in Teddington/Kingston.

I love mine. It feels indestructible without being too big, very well made and finished, and it is the watch I wear increasingly as my daily driver. It lives on a NATO in my hands, although I'm tempted to try it on a tan strap after what you've said as I think it could look good.

The PO is a great watch with many fans here, although an entirely different proposition to the Sinn. I suspect that you will be surprised at how small the Sinn feels in the flesh, particularly compared to the PO. It isn't a big watch (although the chrono is a lot deeper) and the style means that the face in particular is quite compact. It was a shock initially for me, but now I love it as I think that it adds to the subtle, workmanlike, quality allure of the watch. A big part of the appeal is that few people really know what it is, but that it is in high demand amongst people who do.

I'm not around this weekend too much, but PM me if you want to come and see it.

Pics of it with some of my other watches for scale

http://pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f...

Edited by Stuart on Thursday 10th September 14:54

[fivesixseven8]

Thanks Stuart. I work in White City/Wood Lane so could probably sort something out. I'm away this weekend and out of the country for a week after that so it wouldn't be before October now anyway.

I'll keep the offer in mind though. Cheers.