Any watch guys here?

[alabbasi]

I go through phases where I get watch crazy. It's usually automatic dive watches, mostly Japanese or Swiss movements, but I recently bought a couple of Chinese (Seagull) watches and I quite like them.

I'm now toying with the idea of building my own as cases, dials and movements are readily available. Who else is into watches?

 

[036]

Me moe less ))
Friend of mine is crazy about Seiko, even builds his own models )))
I´m looking for good old Glashütte...... So your idea is nice, why not. Important is not to destroy value, rest is up to you.

 

[alabbasi]

That's what I'm thinking of doing. You can buy Seiko cases, dials , bezels and movements. It sounds like a lot of fun

 

[duuder]

I did get a rolex when I turned 40 but them got 2 plastic swatches and now I look like a millennial

edit: i meant gen z, theyre the younger ones right?

 

[Jlaa]

I never could get used to putting a metallic object on my wrist. I just use my phone, like a proper Gen Zer.

 

[duuder]

I didn't wear a watch until I was 40 so I'm making up for my lost youth

 

[036]

That's what I'm thinking of doing. You can buy Seiko cases, dials , bezels and movements. It sounds like a lot of fun

Sure. He offers such hybrids from 300 Euro up. Someone could say non original, yes, but it has something, get your own choice of colour and form.

 

[2phast]

I built a Seiko SNK to look like a SINN pilot watch and added a SS band. I also built a Rolex mid size DateJust out of parts and used a 10.5 ligne ETA movement. Actually built three of these, all identical but with different dials, sold two and still have one. Also have a 2000 Rolex Explorer 1 in SS with blue dial, Apple Watch and a bunch of others. I either wear the Apple watch, the Seiko or the Explorer

 

[albdentist]

39mm Rollie Explorer I
Blancpain Lemans Chronograph
Sinn 144 Diapal

Nothing compared to my .034

 

[TerryA]

I never could get used to putting a metallic object on my wrist. I just use my phone, like a proper Gen Zer.

+1 w/ Jlaa, My I-Phone 13 has all of the time that I need.

I wore a Seiko watch for decades. I got tired of the lack of tan on my wrist.

BTW: I have 2 Rolex’s BUT their both fakes that I bought in Turkey. One quit working before I got home.

 

[duuder]

and to be frank, i was using a blackberry up until 2019 before my swatches

 

[Jlaa]

+1 w/ Jlaa, My I-Phone 13 has all of the time that I need.

@TerryA! Look at you, you modern tech saavy sophisticate you with your fancy iphone t-h-i-r-t-e-e-n you! Please remember us mouth breathing poors laggards with our iphone XRs!

and to be frank, i was using a blackberry up until 2019 before my swatches

Never mind, @duuder needs your scraps more than I!

 

[duuder]

Some evidence

 

[alabbasi]

+1 w/ Jlaa, My I-Phone 13 has all of the time that I need.

I wore a Seiko watch for decades. I got tired of the lack of tan on my wrist.

BTW: I have 2 Rolex’s BUT their both fakes that I bought in Turkey. One quit working before I got home.

That means you have no Rolex Terry

 

[alabbasi]

Some evidence View attachment 155709

I just threw a bunch of those away.

I'm sitting here eyeballing this $4000 watch winder to store my mostly ~$200 Japanese automatic watch collection

Amazon.com

 

[TerryA]

Some evidence View attachment 155709

@duuder Wow! That’s a lot of Blackberries. I last had a Blackberry around 2008 when my company switched to Motorola? Phones.

@alabbasi, I had no problems w/o a real Rolex. I would rather have spent the $16K on the Mediterranean Cruise anyway. It stopped in Kusidasi, Turkey where they sell fake everything.

@Jlaa, I’m not really tech savvy enough to say trouble shoot computer problems. Thank God I’ve always had IT back up. I have worked on computer estimating programs of one design or another around 20 years. The last program I used for for about 15 years from On Center Software called On Screen Takeoff & Quick Bid. It was used for reading and quantity take off of construction blueprints and then to compile the estimates with the Quick Bid side of the program. Bids anywhere from $25K to $15mil. Enough were successful to keep me employed and in demand.

I think working with computers and young people has had a profound affect on my outlook on life and kept me more motivated and up to date than a lot of my piers.

I’ve only had 3 personal phone. A Windows Phone by Nokia, I-Phone 6+ and now the I-Phone 13. I was happy w/ the 6+ but the technology became to much for it.

lol

 

[alabbasi]

@alabbasi, I had no problems w/o a real Rolex. I would rather have spent the $16K on the Mediterranean Cruise anyway. It stopped in Kusidasi, Turkey where they sell fake everything.

It's fine. When you've hear all the time from W123 owners that your Mercedes Benz is not a real Mercedes, you become numb to it
There are some really high end replicas available these days. Like you, I'd rather spend my money on something else if I don't want the real thing.

 

[2phast]

I just threw a bunch of those away.

I'm sitting here eyeballing this $4000 watch winder to store my mostly ~$200 Japanese automatic watch collection

Amazon.com

The two hundred dollar watch winders on EBay work just fine. I have several.

 

[JC220]

I do have a number of watches but I am certainly no watch anorak! Most all of them are sub £100 watches that I like the appearance of, usually all stainless inc the bracelet & chronograph.

I did treat myself to a genuine new Tag Heuer about 10 years ago and it's a "garage queen" having never really left its case It's a Formula 1 model I liked the look, weight and feel of it and whilst the Germans make the best cars the Swiss do make the best watches ️

 

[RicardoD]

I went down the SeikoMods rabbit hole and bought some cheap watch tinkering tools and customized my own Seiko5 with a sapphire crystal, crown, and band. The Seiko Mods world is a lot of fun. It was a neat little project. My new Apple Watch Ultra is pretty neat too.

The cool thing about mechanical watches is they don't become obsolete and you can pass them on to loved ones. The photo below of my Titanium Apple Watch Ultra will become an archive photo of obsolete retro-tech in a few years.

 

[maw1124]

and to be frank, i was using a blackberry up until 2019 before my swatches

That’s got to be some sort of record. I’m not really all that into watches but I have a couple worth keeping. My timekeeping tends to be looking at the sun and season and guesstimating. If I really need to know, some Apple device tells me why (iCal much?).

Two of note to this conversation: (1) a Shinola watch, which is more a leather accessory than a watch, that my wife bought me for my 45th and which interestingly enough sports a Swatch movement underneath (little known fact); and (2) a IWC Ingenieur AMG Edition, that I bought to commemorate a deal closing, because IWC AMG. Both nice enough to be worthwhile but not nice enough to be precious.

I used to have a Victorinox I got from the CEO of a French conglomerate when I sold them a non-core company division (it was actually a bargaining tool I used to close the deal — “give us each one of those watches and you can have that provision; I’ll draft it myself”), but I gave that one to my son when he went to college.

maw

 

[alabbasi]

I did treat myself to a genuine new Tag Heuer about 10 years ago and it's a "garage queen" having never really left its case️

View attachment 155751

Best place for it if you live anywhere near London. But that's a different topic.

 

[duuder]

I do have a number of watches but I am certainly no watch anorak! Most all of them are sub £100 watches that I like the appearance of, usually all stainless inc the bracelet & chronograph.

I did treat myself to a genuine new Tag Heuer about 10 years ago and it's a "garage queen" having never really left its case It's a Formula 1 model I liked the look, weight and feel of it and whilst the Germans make the best cars the Swiss do make the best watches ️

View attachment 155751

i would wear this w/ a tuxedo! this is nice

 

[svhamelly]

Watches are one several obsessions I have
My collection includes:
Breitling Headwind
Omega Speedmaster 2001 Michael Schumacher Limited Edition
Omologato Virginia International Raceway Limited Edition
1947 Bulova Squadron which was my dad's high school graduation gift from his parents... note that in 1947 this watch cost $55, quite an expensive gift from my grandfather who was a Western Pennsylvania coal miner with 6 kids.

Also have various daily watches of which my favorite is a Pulsar (lower end of the Seiko brand).

I bought a very nice 3-watch Wolf Design winder for the automatics and it has storage for about 8 other watches.

 

[maw1124]

Funny, I gave my mechanics an enlarged copy of this same photo, framed and signed with a Thank You note from me.



I guess that’s how we find ourselves on a chat board talking about obscure cars and watches…

Carry on…

maw

 

[Allgonquin]

Sinn 857 here...and yes, my wrist is small. It also looks harrier than it is .

 

[alabbasi]

2008 Seiko Perpetual Calendar Titanium at my end. Great watch and the titanium goes well along with my profession.

View attachment 155909

That's a good looking watch! GMT's are on my list to buy. I usually travel with a Pulsar analog / digital watch or my G-Shock for that purpose but it would be nice to have a real GMT. The watch hobby has been pretty dormant for 10 years but a buddy recently stopped by and reignited it. Since then, I bought 5 watches in 3 months. Pace yourself Al.

 

[svhamelly]

Funny, I gave my mechanics an enlarged copy of this same photo, framed and signed with a Thank You note from me.

View attachment 155881

I guess that’s how we find ourselves on a chat board talking about obscure cars and watches…

Carry on…

maw

That picture is a large poster (24x36 inches) that I got at the NY International Auto Show preview night back in 2012... which was about the last time M-B did those kind of events. Got tickets to it through AMG Private Lounge! Got to meet Tommy Kendall and enjoy the show without all the huge crowds of "regular" people

 

[sheward]

I was able to attend the Detroit Auto Show preview in 2002/2003? where I saw the next MB SL. Great way to see the shows if you can find a way in.

 

[maw1124]

I was able to attend the Detroit Auto Show preview in 2002/2003? where I saw the next MB SL. Great way to see the shows if you can find a way in.

Yeah, I always got in on "supplier days" when I used to go. Basically no one in there on a mid-week morning. My office was a long Par 3 away back then.

The photos, I downloaded from the AMG PL (back when they were easily accessible), so when I need auto related prints, I just have FedEx Kinkos print and frame them (although, so far I've only done that for the guys at German Cars of Sarasota).

maw

 

[AMG5PT4]

Rolex Datejust 16220 with a tapestry dial. Love this watch. Really want a Rolex Sky Dweller, but they are just too big on the wrist and won't fit any of my dress shirt cuffs. Gave my son a Rolex Air King about 3 years ago and he has never worn it. Sigh. A stainless Daytona with a black dial would be nice to have.

All my ex's have Rolex's....mostly true.

 

[gerryvz]

I prefer to go old school, rather than wearing bling on my wrist.

On Mondays and Wednesdays, I alternate between these 18k gold watches. Other days I "slum" it with these two railroad watches (particularly on Fridays and weekends). All handed down in my family from 4-5 generations.

 

[alabbasi]

I prefer to go old school, rather than wearing bling on my wrist.

On Mondays and Wednesdays, I alternate between these 18k gold watches. Other days I "slum" it with these two railroad watches (particularly on Fridays and weekends). All handed down in my family from 4-5 generations.

@gerryvz - Those are just lovely. It probably makes a good talking point when you reach into your pocket to check the time and don't pull out a smart phone.

Rolex Datejust 16220 with a tapestry dial. Love this watch. Really want a Rolex Sky Dweller, but they are just too big on the wrist and won't fit any of my dress shirt cuffs. Gave my son a Rolex Air King about 3 years ago and he has never worn it. Sigh. A stainless Daytona with a black dial would be nice to have.

All my ex's have Rolex's....mostly true.

The friend that kicked this hobby back off recently purchased a Rolex, I'm not sure if it was a Sea Dweller or a Sub. It had a date cyclop which I recall them having when I was looking at mine (around 2005) but it looked huge compared to my old sub which has a pretty small case for a dive watch.

 

[AMG5PT4]

Very nice pocket watches, Gerry. Old school

 

[e500.org]

Few pieces in my modest collection, 80s Omega Speedmaster reduced, Rolex Sub Date, Rolex DJ 41mm bi metal rose and finally Rolex Explorer I no metal 36mm.

I’m in Singapore at the moment and I’ve managed to try on most models at the Rolex authorised dealer, big want for the GMT Master II…

 

[036]

Just got myself a working horse. Realy nice mechanical watch for the money, 260 Euro.

SRPH87K1

 

[Duh_Vinci]

I don't have any expensive watches, but when I was a kid, I saw the Orient with blue face in one of the local jewelry stores. That is the very first automatic watch I received, my parents gave me that as a gift. Still wear it, still love it.



I've wanted an every day "diver" watch that I didn't have to remove when we go to the lake or a pool, so this one



A gift from a friend, looooong time ago, "Amphibia", shock and drop proof too, with full screw down



And a basic mechanical "Pobeda" I've always liked as an every day, comfortable very wearable watch... I believe "Aviator" version?



Regards,
D

 

[ArauzMotoring]

Rolex Datejust 16220 with a tapestry dial. Love this watch. Really want a Rolex Sky Dweller, but they are just too big on the wrist and won't fit any of my dress shirt cuffs. Gave my son a Rolex Air King about 3 years ago and he has never worn it. Sigh. A stainless Daytona with a black dial would be nice to have.

All my ex's have Rolex's....mostly true.

Would he sell that air king lol

 

[036]

Gents, look at this.
In my family since new, 1982 or so.
Friend of mine just revived them by only cleaning it properly. It has a wolrd map, blinking segments, amazing stuff for the beginning of the 80s, specially in Soviet Union. Realy heavy watch for this kind. Good old japanese quality.
Maybe later i´ll make a video.

 

[alabbasi]

I love vintage watches, especially ones with a story. I have my fathers Omega Geneve and it has a great story.

 

[036]

Well, story of this Seiko is... My father got it as a present from very prominent person. In 1982. In Paris.
If kgb would know that they´ve meet, my father would go straight to jail. Solzhenitsin was there as my dad and this famous musician ( cant tell the name )

 

[alabbasi]

My father got it as a present from very prominent person. In 1982. In Paris.

The Omega has a similar story, except it was a head of state

 

[036]

The Omega has a similar story, except it was a head of state

Our dads were rock n roll

 

[Duh_Vinci]

Gents, look at this.
In my family since new, 1982 or so.
Friend of mine just revived them by only cleaning it properly. It has a wolrd map, blinking segments, amazing stuff for the beginning of the 80s, specially in Soviet Union. Realy heavy watch for this kind. Good old japanese quality.
Maybe later i´ll make a video.

Indeed! I've seen on of these in the mid 80's in "Комиссионном" ("Second Hand" store), along the side of the Cassio calculator watch, and a WOW factor it was, absolutely! All those common Mechanical watches stood no chance against these imported beauties in the eye of a kid!

Regards,
D

 

[Charlie075]

Well, story of this Seiko is... My father got it as a present from very prominent person. In 1982. In Paris.
If kgb would know that they´ve meet, my father would go straight to jail. Solzhenitsin was there as my dad and this famous musician ( cant tell the name )

Rostropovich?
I read that Rostropovich and Solzhenitsyn were close fiends…

 

[Charlie075]

I have a sweet spot for Omega, since I discovered after the death of my parents this old lady…

 

[Charlie075]

So I bought a second hand Speedmaster Moon in Japan with its red card. It said that the watch was bought in 1994 at Mitsukoshi Paris. I bought the little automatic sister later on.

I am not a Rolex guy. In France a well known publicist said in the 80s that « If you do not have a Rolex at the age of 50, you missed your life ». Well instead I had Omegas before Being 50 years old!

 

[036]

Rostropovich?
I read that Rostropovich and Solzhenitsyn were close fiends…

Yes.

 

[036]

Indeed! I've seen on of these in the mid 80's in "Комиссионном" ("Second Hand" store), along the side of the Cassio calculator watch, and a WOW factor it was, absolutely! All those common Mechanical watches stood no chance against these imported beauties in the eye of a kid!

Regards,
D

I do have a Casio calculator watch ..... Original, was wearing it in the school, was one of the coolest gadgets i´ve ever had.

 

[alabbasi]

I have a sweet spot for Omega, since I discovered after the death of my parents this old lady…

I bought my first and only rolex when I was about 32. It was the perfect time to buy it because I had a half decent job but lived in a one bedroom apartment and had no cars. They were a lot cheaper in 2005, I have an Omega from the same era and think that it's a more substantial watch. The newer Rolex that my friend got has definitely got some upgrades.