Help - vintage or roman face watch recommendations please

[Flip Martian]

Hi all

We were burgled recently and I had 3 watches stolen - none of which were more than a hundred quid when new but some were fairly old and the insurance company have been fairly generous (at least until the premium needs renewing!) so I have about 700-800 to spend and I'd like a couple of watches I think - unless there's a real benefit in buying just one? I am rather tied to Ernest Jones and H Samuel though - the insurance have paid up with a store card that can be used in either, rather than cash.

I've done a bit of reading up in here and narrowed down the kind of watch I like to a couple of styles (links are just to examples of the ball park style).

This kind of old fashioned look:
http://www.ernestjones.co.uk/webstore/d/8419264/ti...

and the roman face like this:
http://www.ernestjones.co.uk/webstore/d/4728173/ro...

Or at least in those styles - am open regarding metal bracelets vs leather straps and silver vs gold but I do want something that isn't big and showy, or a chronograph. And really nothing over 42mm face as watches seem to have grown in size since I last bought one!

So far I've been thinking Rotary or Tissot as they are all I've seen so far but would anyone throw any other recommended makes in in that price bracket? I did see someone on an old thread mention a Hamilton instead of that Tissot above, for example.

Or should I just buy one "really good" watch and forget having 2? All opinions welcome. Thanks in advance.

Edited to add - I really would like a date indicator if possible but could be persuaded against I suppose!

Edited by Flip Martian on Sunday 5th March 16:50

[Flip Martian]

AlexC1981 said:

This is the ideal excuse to spend more on a watch than you could usually justify

I would go for an automatic rather than quartz at this price level as I prefer a proper ticking watch.

l think the Certina DS-1 Powermatic 80 is really nice. Vintage style and a good size. May wear a little large owing to the size of the crystal in proportion to the case.

http://www.ernestjones.co.uk/webstore/d/6197302/ce...

Or this variant is also nice albeit a little more cluttered.

http://www.ernestjones.co.uk/webstore/d/2353091/ce...

Certina, Tissot, Hamilton, Rado, Longines are all decent.

In your shoes would probably buy this retro 70s style Hamilton, but it's not the vintage look you wanted.

http://www.ernestjones.co.uk/webstore/d/2287137/ha...

Thanks, you're absolutely right - I've never spent more than a hundred on a watch before - but with this storecard I am rather forced to...

I'll have a look at those brands you mention, ta. That first Certina you linked to is rather nice; hadn't heard of them at all.

[Flip Martian]

Never occurred to me there would be videos... Good point, will look!

I do like the Visodate but it was only an example of the type of thing I like. I could get that and still have money for another...or just use all the money on one.

[Flip Martian]

mikeveal said:

Take a look at the Hamilton Intra-matic or Thin-o-matic.

Or hang around afore mentioned jewellers and sell the vouchers (say 90% face value) to one of their customers for cash. Then take your pick of these. Some of these fit the original request, others are just me getting distracted.

http://www.chrono24.com/longines/admiral-vintage--...
http://www.chrono24.com/all/trumpf-extrem-rare-chr...
http://www.chrono24.com/frederiqueconstant/classic...
http://www.chrono24.com/zenith/port-royal-day-date...
http://www.chrono24.com/all/egona-chronographe-sui...
http://www.chrono24.com/junghans/meister-handaufzu...
http://www.chrono24.com/movado/triple-calendar-gol...
http://www.chrono24.com/all/vintage-chronograph--i...
http://www.chrono24.com/eberhardco/extra-fort--id5...
http://www.chrono24.com/dugena/chronograph--1970-o...
http://www.chrono24.com/all/c-berthet-herrenarmban...
http://www.chrono24.com/omega/constellation--id495...
http://www.chrono24.com/omega/ranchero--id5270656....

yes well, some nice watches there. But I can't justify spending all that on an old watch, as lovely as they are. The Intra-matic is 1 possibility - does look a bit big compared to the original its based on and I'm not a fan of big watches generally. But its on the shortlist of ones to look at in the flesh so far.

Just been checking youtube as suggested. That "urban gentry" youtube chap is rather enthusiastic about his watches, isn't he?!

[Flip Martian]

lostkiwi said:

I'm a fan of Longines and Bulova.
The Longines may be pushing the budget slightly but they are well made quality watches for not a lot of money.
This is in a classic style that may fit your tastes?
http://www.ernestjones.co.uk/webstore/d/2162377/lo...


Bulova do a great range of 'Precisionist' (aka Accutron II and 262kHz) watches that whilst quartz do away with the ticking second hand with a hand thats eerily smooth in its sweep (far smoother than anything else you'll find). Great value for money but not sure if you'll find the style you like.
Personally I quite like this one:
http://www.ernestjones.co.uk/webstore/d/3542521/bu...

I already have this one but I think it may not be to your tastes (it looks great in the flesh so to speak):
http://www.ernestjones.co.uk/webstore/d/2293129/bu...

Edited by lostkiwi on Monday 6th March 09:10

Edited by lostkiwi on Monday 6th March 09:10

Thanks for those. Hadn't thought of Bulova but will have a look at that range, ta. That Longines is very nice but will be way out of budget. There's a possibility I may be out of a job shortly so will need to stick to my budget pretty much.

[Flip Martian]

Voldemort said:

Make sure you haggle and bargain and get the best deal you can before you pass the sales assistant your voucher.

/voe

Really? Are they open to that then? I just assumed the price is what you pay with high street jewellers? No?

[Flip Martian]

Voldemort said:

You are not guaranteed a discount. But if you don't ask, they won't offer. You might get a free service (if you go for a manual/automatic), a spare strap, a travelling case, you might get 25% off...

However sort all this out and get a final 'to pay' figure before whipping out your credit note.

Fair enough, ta. Hadn't really occurred there might be stuff on offer like that.

[Flip Martian]

johnfm said:

Breguet.

Lovely watches. Nowhere near my universe price wise.

[Flip Martian]

Always better to see watches in person I think. I ruled out the Hamilton Intramatic in the end just for not having a second hand. It just bothers me for some silly reason that there isn't one. But I am tempted by the Jazzmaster Viewmatic:

http://www.ernestjones.co.uk/webstore/d/6209971/ha...

That and the Tissot Visodate are up there at the moment. My local store doesn't stock the Certinas unfortunately, so I might go further afield. Although I'm also currently thinking a quartz for daily wear and an automatic for going out.

[Flip Martian]

johnfm said:

Apologies.

I was being flippant!

Quite all right, I do that too...

[Flip Martian]

Squadrone Rosso said:

I have a Visodate (centre) Very nice.



This however, bought on the weekend is in a different league:-

[url]

Edited by Squadrone Rosso on Monday 13th March 22:06

Edited by Squadrone Rosso on Monday 13th March 22:11

Very nice... Yes the Tissot is up there at the moment, with the Hamilton... I could just get both I suppose..

[Flip Martian]

Orients look great, just haven't found one in the flesh yet

[Flip Martian]

Plenty of time to look now - watch arm is out of action for a couple of weeks following an op. So plenty more research I can do - just not trying anything on.

Thanks for all the suggestions anyway, I'll post up what I get (when I can finally get them).

[Flip Martian]

Restarted the search and found something completely "not what I was looking for" but attractive nonetheless. And quite cheap, so this will be a daily wear, while I can still seek out the more expensive non quartz alternative for dress wear and "best".

I think it was the blue face and grey numerals that made me think "that's different" - and that its fairly small and slim. And it has a vaguely "1960s" look to it, for me.

http://www.ernestjones.co.uk/webstore/d/1476505/sk...

Reviews around the web seem positive in the main, so worth a go.

Edited by Flip Martian on Friday 14th April 13:36

[Flip Martian]

Took me a while - 1 or 2 other things occupying my time but given the insurance card was in danger of running out soon, I refocused on the watch search. Thanks for all the suggestions - finally pulled the trigger on the Certina DS1 Powermatic 80. Just beat a Tissot Visodate in the end...and to be honest, I might still get that at some point. As my wife said, its very "like ones you had before" (which were what got nicked).

The Certina was probably not a design in my original thinking when I started - but neither was the Skagen. And I've been wearing roman face for years so perhaps time for a change, of sorts. Learned a lot during this (had never even heard of Certina, after all), so thanks all.