£500 Keeper : Recommendations please

[Slinky]

Folks,

Have a small inheritance inbound and want to buy a time piece that I can hang onto and potentially pass onto my son when he's 18/21..

Looking to spend about £500, open to suggestions..

Cheers..

[andy_s]

Have a look at Stowa if you want something from new.

[andy tims]

When was your son born - Something made in his birth year perhaps? His taste may be completely different to what you think now, so unless it has some special relevance he may not want to wear or even keep what you buy.

[Slinky]

He was born 19/10/10.. So birth year watches should be quite easy..

[Adrian W]

Easy Dornbluth seriously though the best value would be used, have a troll on tz-uk

[LukeBird]

Sinn 556.



Job done.

[andy tims]

Slinky said:

He was born 19/10/10.. So birth year watches should be quite easy..

OK, but now I'm struggling to think of something for only £500 new that's going to be sufficiently timeless in 18 years.

Adrian W said:

Easy Dornbluth seriously though the best value would be used, have a troll on tz-uk

Excellent choice of course, just seriously wide of the mark given the financial constraints.

[SimonMaidenhead]

Christopher Ward C70 Brooklands, bang on the money, limited to 200 pieces, C.O.S.C certified
Job done.


Sorry, but can't do a link from the phone

[James_N]

Adrian W said:

Easy Dornbluth seriously though the best value would be used, have a troll on tz-uk

for £500? christ show me where, NOW!!

[Vespula]

Some very nice high-end, Japanese market only, Seiko automatics here for about 500USD, much better movements than your average Seiko.

They export to Europe but allow for import duty.

http://c-watch.co.jp/ww/index.html

SARB023 $578 shipped.

[AlexC1981]

andy tims said:

OK, but now I'm struggling to think of something for only £500 new that's going to be sufficiently timeless in 18 years.

Thought I'd seen your name on here and thewatchforum.

I'm still thinking about a CWC auto diver. They'll probably still be making them the same in 18 years

Did your quartz version arrive? What's the quality like? I've not had a chance to handle one yet.



£395 new. Should be durable as they get issued to our lads in the navy.

[andy tims]

The CWC got snagged by customs. It's being delivered Wednesday, but yes, they are likely to remain in production for many years.

[TheCoolerKing]

AlexC1981 said:

andy tims said:

OK, but now I'm struggling to think of something for only £500 new that's going to be sufficiently timeless in 18 years.

Thought I'd seen your name on here and thewatchforum.

I'm still thinking about a CWC auto diver. They'll probably still be making them the same in 18 years

Did your quartz version arrive? What's the quality like? I've not had a chance to handle one yet.



£395 new. Should be durable as they get issued to our lads in the navy.

Thats a terrible watch, but the face looks like a carbon copy of an Omega SM. A fake Omeaga, I'm surprised Omega haven't taken an interest.

[TheCoolerKing]

£500 is nothing if you want a decent branded watch that will go the distance. If you've not got the £1k plus needed, I would seriously checkout the 2nd hand market. You could pick up a entry level Omega SM or some TAG models in near mint condition for your budget.

Don't waste your money on any tat that will be worthless in a few years.

Edited by TheCoolerKing on Thursday 18th November 14:16

[LukeBird]

Are you kidding?!

[Slinky]

I'm just going to put the money in a biscuit tin and bury it in the garden..

[TheCoolerKing]

Slinky said:

I'm just going to put the money in a biscuit tin and bury it in the garden..

Just make sure you convert it into Euro's first

[AlexC1981]

TheCoolerKing said:

Thats a terrible watch, but the face looks like a carbon copy of an Omega SM. A fake Omeaga, I'm surprised Omega haven't taken an interest.

Yes, I think it was based on the Seamaster 300 as they were already compliant to MoD specifications. CWC have been making the same design for 30 years, so I'd be surprised if Omega take an interest now. Isnt that long enough to be a considered a watch in its own right? The case is quite different from the Omega.

I thought CWC auto movements were well respected? I really would appreciate some information on these from someone who has had experienced them first hand.

[Bohemianesque]

If you want European, I think Stowa or one of the smaller Germans would be good. Sinn is well respected. Personally I'd steer clear of the obvious 'brands', by that I mean Omega, Tag etc. They are ok, but you value wise, you pay for an ok (ETA or Valjoux) movement in a case, where you are paying for marketing, product placement, celebrity endorsement etc.

If you're thinking Japanese, some of the Seiko SARB models (I've just bought a Seiko SARB033) are lovely, high quality and a good price (Seiya san in Japan is your man). A left field choice could be an Orient Star, with power reserve. Both have in-house movements and are well respected in watch circles.

[andy_s]

AlexC1981 said:

TheCoolerKing said:

Thats a terrible watch, but the face looks like a carbon copy of an Omega SM. A fake Omeaga, I'm surprised Omega haven't taken an interest.

Yes, I think it was based on the Seamaster 300 as they were already compliant to MoD specifications. CWC have been making the same design for 30 years, so I'd be surprised if Omega take an interest now. Isnt that long enough to be a considered a watch in its own right? The case is quite different from the Omega.

I thought CWC auto movements were well respected? I really would appreciate some information on these from someone who has had experienced them first hand.

The basic design is based on post-war military specs so has been around for about sixty years in one form or another. This isn't copying, it's complience to milspec. As this actually is an issued watch then it's form is even more genuine/valid, like Precista etc.
Look at the 12 issue WWW watches from WWII then the change in the early fifties to approximately what we still have today. Go via Rolex, Blancpain, Tudor, Tounek, Benrus, Precista, Omega, CWC and you'll see where that look comes from.
It's also far from being a copy of an Omega SM300, the case is completely different for a start.
Perhaps Andy_Tims can comment, as he's had a few SM300's, ancient and modern.