Further to Invicta - haven't owned one, but have read up on them a lot. They USED TO BE a fairly solid brand, going back ~10+ years. But, as Thrax has indicated, they are a cheap mass market make-em-cheap-and-blingy-and-blow-em-out house now. Lots of QC complaints if you visit the watch boards.
Found a better pic of the KQ. The dial is cool. I changed out the bracelet, it's a bit stretched and feels fragile.
I found this Seiko looking for models with leather wristbands. It's got pretty much hugely positive reviews from what I can see.
Unless I hear that it's crap I may very well grab it.
Do it. Nice looking watch, will last you a lifetime with just battery changes. Seiko has an extremely solid rep.
Ebay is fine, look for a seller with a good feedback quantity and quality. I've bought many on ebay with zero issues. I'm also in Canada, usually Canada Post doesn't bother with duty + GST - not guaranteed though, about 1 parcel in 4 gets 'administered'.
From Thrax' list, I have bought 3 from Long Island Watch. The proprietor is Marc, he is a solid guy to deal with and communicates well. Just understand that (at least most of) his stuff is grey market, so doesn't qualify for direct manufacture warranty. But he offers (a year?) in house warranty, and is good about fixing unexpected problems.
I'm going to shoot for the Princeton Watches offer, for $117 I'm getting free shipping, and a 3 year warranty. From my searching the site also has an excellent reputation with their customers. (Seiko also has them listed as an authorized retailer so that's cool) http://www.princetonwatches.com/shop/SNN241.asp
This is a fascinating thread. although I don't think I'll every buy an expensive watch, it's fun to read everything you guys write and see how in to it you are getting.
^
I've drifted away from using a wristwatch (especially since you can't wear 'em on ward) but I've got to admit, after reading through this thread I'm tempted to grab one.
@Keto, LOVE that Bulova and Tissot on the top row. I'm a pretty big fan of anything Bulova (their mantle clocks especially, some of the nices Westminster chimes I've heard).
Any chance you could shoot a close-up of that Bulova?
After all this watch talk, I decided to switch up and wear my black band Caravelle to work today. Might even bust out the Eternamatic tomorrow (it's typically my dress watch)
Funny you guys pick out the Tissot and the Bulova. When I got the watch bug, about 2 years ago, they were the first ones I acquired - I hadn't worn a watch in years, but did own the gold tone Seiko (gift from father) and the black Kenneth Cole (gift from wife some years ago). I picked out the Tissot and my wife bought it as my Christmas present. It can be a little hard to read in bright light, and I don't love it as much as I did when I first got it, so it doesn't get worn much.
Then, I got some Christmas money at essentially the same time and picked out the Bulova. The BVA ( I forget, it's either a BVA96 or BVA100) is an AWESOME piece for the money. I love the look, the bracelet, the heft of it (it's quite heavy). And it has a display back (as do several of my watches), I can lose time just watching the workings.
I had another Tissot that I got just after my first one. Believed to be a 1971 model, I only sold it because someone wanted it much more badly than I did $$$. It was a cool watch, I love the 60's-into-the-early-70's style, with the raised markers and etc.
I went through quite a few watches flipping them as I decided what I liked and didn't like in that first year of 'hobbying'. Another VERY GOOD brand is Swiss Army (NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH SWISS LEGEND!!). I had this Air Boss auto chrono with the Valjoux movement, cool watch but it was just too big for me so I sold it.
Related to yesterday's events, here's the Zenith El Primero Stratos Flyback Striking 10th chronograph.
Pretty cool to know this watch can go supersonic and deal with crazy pressure changes. I know it's not as historically significant as the Omega Speedmaster, but whatevs.
I don't see the attraction of the Speedmaster, frankly. or the Rolex Submariner. These are some of the most popular high-end watches in history, and they rather look like they were designed by someone with no taste.
I know form follows function on these models, but the gaudy bezel rings and the tachymetre gauges just really push me away.
El Primero...my dream watch. Not that model, but definitely that dial. A 'basic' striking 10th, if you please.
Rob - I get why you don't like Seamasters (EDIT: I know you said Speedmaster, I re-read) and Submariners. I always liked the 60's style Seamasters (no timing bezel, classic features) but not so much the Submariners. The more I looked at them, the more they grew on me. Now I wouldn't mind getting an early 60's Submariner, if it ever fell into my lap for the right deal/right model/right condition etc.
If you like that style, there are many clones in the marketplace, at many price points. I can highly recommend Steinhart watches, I had this one for a while and the build quality is 100% stellar - assembled in Germany, from Swiss pieces. About $350-400 landed. I will say that there is one feature about this style I don't like...I HATE HATE HATE the mercedes hour hand. So I sold it. I'm also not a big fan of the cyclops (date magnifier) but that can be removed, with a razor blade and some care or by a competent watchmaker.
Timex makes an incredible line of mechanical watches based on the SeaGull ST-25 movement called the "Luxury Series." It has one if those damn heavy Bezels, a cheap metal clone of the submariner. I wish upon wish that there were a model without it.
I am a boring person wearing a boring watch: I wear a Traser H3 navigator watch (P6500.400.33.01). I wear mine on a NATO band and keep the outer bezel set to UTC with the inner digits on local time. The hour marks and hour/minute hands are filled with tritium gas and phosphor for nuclear glow-in-the-dark action. I like this watch because it's comfortable, keeps excellent time, and is nearly indestructible (MIL-W-463745 rated). My requirements when buying a watch were that it look nice, have a 24-hr dial, have a chronograph, and have a highly precise movement. I figure, if it keeps good time on a battlefield it'll do just fine in any other application. It's held up pretty well over the past several years.
I am a boring person wearing a boring watch: I wear a Traser H3 navigator watch (P6500.400.33.01). I wear mine on a NATO band and keep the outer bezel set to UTC with the inner digits on local time. The hour marks and hour/minute hands are filled with tritium gas and phosphor for nuclear glow-in-the-dark action. I like this watch because it's comfortable, keeps excellent time, and is nearly indestructible (MIL-W-463745 rated). My requirements when buying a watch were that it look nice, have a 24-hr dial, have a chronograph, and have a highly precise movement. I figure, if it keeps good time on a battlefield it'll do just fine in any other application. It's held up pretty well over the past several years.
With all due respect, that is very far from boring. Love the classic layout and easy to read numbering. I'd love to have one of those in my collection.
//EDIT: Chiefly because pocket watches present the same issue as cellphones, in that you need to retrieve something from your pocket to tell the time. It is also my personal belief that they fall dangerously close to the "dork" end of the classic/ironic spectrum.
//EDIT: Chiefly because pocket watches present the same issue as cellphones, in that you need to retrieve something from your pocket to tell the time. It is also my personal belief that they fall dangerously close to the "dork" end of the classic/ironic spectrum.
... I have three of them.
And that is fine. Thrax's personal fashion sense is not law.
Comments
Found a better pic of the KQ. The dial is cool. I changed out the bracelet, it's a bit stretched and feels fragile.
Ebay is fine, look for a seller with a good feedback quantity and quality. I've bought many on ebay with zero issues. I'm also in Canada, usually Canada Post doesn't bother with duty + GST - not guaranteed though, about 1 parcel in 4 gets 'administered'.
From Thrax' list, I have bought 3 from Long Island Watch. The proprietor is Marc, he is a solid guy to deal with and communicates well. Just understand that (at least most of) his stuff is grey market, so doesn't qualify for direct manufacture warranty. But he offers (a year?) in house warranty, and is good about fixing unexpected problems.
http://www.princetonwatches.com/shop/SNN241.asp
(First legitimate watch EVER!)
Thanks for the brand recommendation and all the extra help guys.
Someday when I have extra cash to throw around I'm seriously considering this.
Oris Classic
^
I've drifted away from using a wristwatch (especially since you can't wear 'em on ward) but I've got to admit, after reading through this thread I'm tempted to grab one.
Any chance you could shoot a close-up of that Bulova?
After all this watch talk, I decided to switch up and wear my black band Caravelle to work today. Might even bust out the Eternamatic tomorrow (it's typically my dress watch)
Really digging the open heart on that Bulova, too.
Then, I got some Christmas money at essentially the same time and picked out the Bulova. The BVA ( I forget, it's either a BVA96 or BVA100) is an AWESOME piece for the money. I love the look, the bracelet, the heft of it (it's quite heavy). And it has a display back (as do several of my watches), I can lose time just watching the workings.
I had another Tissot that I got just after my first one. Believed to be a 1971 model, I only sold it because someone wanted it much more badly than I did $$$. It was a cool watch, I love the 60's-into-the-early-70's style, with the raised markers and etc.
I went through quite a few watches flipping them as I decided what I liked and didn't like in that first year of 'hobbying'. Another VERY GOOD brand is Swiss Army (NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH SWISS LEGEND!!). I had this Air Boss auto chrono with the Valjoux movement, cool watch but it was just too big for me so I sold it.
Pretty cool to know this watch can go supersonic and deal with crazy pressure changes. I know it's not as historically significant as the Omega Speedmaster, but whatevs.
I know form follows function on these models, but the gaudy bezel rings and the tachymetre gauges just really push me away.
Now I'm eyeballing that BVA for a purchase of my own. I really dig it.
Rob - I get why you don't like Seamasters (EDIT: I know you said Speedmaster, I re-read) and Submariners. I always liked the 60's style Seamasters (no timing bezel, classic features) but not so much the Submariners. The more I looked at them, the more they grew on me. Now I wouldn't mind getting an early 60's Submariner, if it ever fell into my lap for the right deal/right model/right condition etc.
If you like that style, there are many clones in the marketplace, at many price points. I can highly recommend Steinhart watches, I had this one for a while and the build quality is 100% stellar - assembled in Germany, from Swiss pieces. About $350-400 landed. I will say that there is one feature about this style I don't like...I HATE HATE HATE the mercedes hour hand. So I sold it. I'm also not a big fan of the cyclops (date magnifier) but that can be removed, with a razor blade and some care or by a competent watchmaker.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000H7G3NO
I wear a Traser H3 navigator watch (P6500.400.33.01). I wear mine on a NATO band and keep the outer bezel set to UTC with the inner digits on local time. The hour marks and hour/minute hands are filled with tritium gas and phosphor for nuclear glow-in-the-dark action. I like this watch because it's comfortable, keeps excellent time, and is nearly indestructible (MIL-W-463745 rated). My requirements when buying a watch were that it look nice, have a 24-hr dial, have a chronograph, and have a highly precise movement. I figure, if it keeps good time on a battlefield it'll do just fine in any other application. It's held up pretty well over the past several years.
Hey, it's a Seiko... May the quartz be with you.
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