Philip Attaway

What are your thoughts on the Tag Heuer Calibre 36 movement?

Simon 69

Id be interested to know which of the four grades Rolex use in their Tudor watches.

I agree, I dont think that TAG-Heuer domuch with their ebauches at all. I believe that they are supplied form ETA with thier name on the rotor too. What really matters is which grade of ebauche they use..... I believe that it is 'top' in mine (3 of 4), although it might be an 'elaborated'; how would I know, after all? The SEL (now re-named Link?) chronometers use the 'chrono' grades, as do Breitling and IWC (in watches that cost far more). Im digressing, but if you accept that TAG-Heuer arent up to much in terms of market position, quality and value; then you have to wonder where Breitling and IWC fit into the market, with pieces using the same action at many times the price of a TAG-Heuer chrono...

NACRO

It's a great high beat movement and is what I had in mind by 'high end' TAG. I'd own one if I liked the design of the watches they went into more.

Godspeed Brakes

iTrader: (259)

I have just had mine and my wifes Tag's serviced with new batteries and resealed by these Watchdoctors - About the Company only took a few days , they charged £18 per watch plus £6 P&P

Philip Attaway

I have a Monza Calibre 36 as I love the classic look.

Just cost me £200 for another Croc strap!

Simon 69

Its a Valjoux 7750, now renamed ETA 7750. Breitling used it, along with Heuer (I think?) and many other manufacturers during the 1970s (before all of the firms floudered in the early eighties recession and turned to ETA calibres). This calibre is still used in the Omega Speedmaster 'Moonwatch' (the actual watch that landed on the moon had an Omega 861 though).

Dont be too impressed though, Im familiar with the Valjoux 7750 but I found out which ebauche it was with a bit of cunning googling...

Simon 69

The Valjoux 7750 is described well in the Wikipedia link that I posted earlier.

NACRO

I'd like to know more about Tudors as well sadly I don't.

As far as IWC go they stopped making 'proper' IWC's back in the early 80's although there are still a few I'd own despite them not making their own movements. They have an integrity of design (thinking of the MK series particularly) that I like a lot. As far as Breitling go I dislike their design and see little to redeem them other than the fact they do innovate although some people would call them gimmicky I guess.

Ultimately I guess it comes down to what you like and your personal agenda. Some people only care about brand, being basically ignorant about watches. Therefore they tend to pick on a name they know.

My own agenda is more to do with fitness for purpose, design, value and likelyhood of that increasing and heritage of the brand at the bottom of the list.

Probably the best all round watches in terms of my values are 'Grand Seikos' but I've never bought one. Certainly other companies like Sinn come close to this but again after one or 2 pieces I get bored and move on.

Sorry to drag this off topic but I love watch nerd talk

Simon 69

As well as my TAG-Heuer 4000 automatic, Ive got a 15053 Date (S&G) and a 16234 DateJust (S with WG bezel). I really like old manual wind 1960s Seamasters though. I currently have three, which have been serviced and had new (original NOS) hands, crowns, crystals and straps fitted. Ive also bought original NOS boxes.....

Ive recently bought a couple of Seikos to wear every day: an SKX007 and an SKX009 (the same watch, one with a R&B 'Pepsi' bezel instert, the other with a black insert). One 'oyster' bracelet and one 'jubilee' bracelet. How they get away with using the names Im not sure: I have a pair of original ruber straps to fit at some time too.

[Davey]

Most of the ETA's ive seen in recent Tags have been the 'gold' loose pack chinese assembled versions anyway... If you want a decent built movement you go for a proper high end brand like Rolex, all of their auto movements are bespoke and hand built.

[Davey]

Simon, as for your question about Tudors.. Most use ETA movements, the divers watches use 2824-2..

richardg

...and obviously you're not alone. some very interesting stuff here - various people have answered my question and i now know a little more about the components in my watch and their heritage

Simon 69

Sorry: I know that they use ETA 2824-2 movements. What I meant was what grade ebauche do Rolex choose to put in the Tudor Oysters. ETA supply four grades of 2824-2 ebauche (as described in the Wikipedia article and discussed in this thread). Its more of a curiosity anyway, because I really only like the older 'Rose' (both large & small) Tudors...

[Davey]

I would guess they are fully swiss factory assembled and nickel finished.

Simon 69

NorthDave

I wouldn't profess to know much about watches but I am learning and taking more of an active interest of late - mainly due to an upcoming 30th present to self!

What would you buy then? You dont seem to like IWC which was my preferred brand (maybe a Portugese) and my other option was a Rolex Sea Dweller (but I have image issues!).

I am really looking to buy something which is a genuinely good watch and which might appreciate in the future - a future classic I guess. I would probably want to buy second hand and aim for between 2 and 5k. Maybe more if I was bowled over and I could get the figures to add up.

Simon 69

Further to post that youve quoted above most companies stopped making movements in the early nineteen eighties. If I was in your position, then Id be looking at a Rolex Submariner Date (or a Sea Dweller), a GMT2 or an Explorer 2. Personally, if I was looking for a new Omega, then Id be looking at a Speedmaster (or even a Seamaster Aqua Terra Railmaster) which has a Valjoux/ETA 770 hand-wound action.

NACRO

NorthDave, I still like IWC's but they went downhill when they started using generic movements in my opinion.

However they do offer great value secondhand and the Portuguese is an all time design classic although not an IWC I like myself. I prefer the Ingenieur and 'MK' series pilot watches.

The Rolex although predictable and gauche is a classic watch, a true design classic and as I own a Seadweller and a couple of Submariners myself I'm bound to be a bit biased. Get a used Sub or SD in as new condition with all the papers from a trusted seller and you won't go far wrong. If you're worried about the image you can tell people it's a cheap *** fake in the unlikely event they ask about it. That's what I do