olliecampbell

iTrader: (3)

Hi all,

I'm after a bit of advice, im looking for a new (well new to me) watch. Not after spending huge amounts but would like something quite classy. Liking the look of this Mont Blanc:




Doesnt have to be new, quite happy with a 'classic', what recommendations have you got?

ps would prefer something real as opposed to a replica!

bighead

iTrader: (1)

Rolex ......real of cause

Fuzz

Dam, I thought it was going to be a **** video..

finalzero

Karl Breitner watch, great looks and quality watches.

There are a fair few knock offs going about (very good ones at that) but I think there are a few retailers dotted about in the UK.

I got mine from Australia for a nudge under $500 dollars but not sure what the going rate is over here.

Website: Luxury watch manufacturer. Luxury chronographs and automatics for men and women (I have the Swiss Royal in white)

olliecampbell

iTrader: (3)

Thanks chaps,

Been having a random peruse and quite like the (vintage) Omega Seamasters too...

keep the suggestions coming

v8voodoo

Omega all the way.

GC8

Mont Blanc? Please..... Theyre jumping on a bandwagon. Do these have ETA calibres?

I have other watches (and some use ETA ebauches too...) but my favourites are old (pre-1980 collapse) Omegas.

Turbohot

PMSL!

yoza

Dont buy a replica watch.

End of.

Find something here....Poljot Watches. The very original Russian wrist and deck watch manufacture.

Find out what Poljots are all about, and what machines they are made on.

fatscoobfella1

iTrader: (1)

Another vote for Omega...Old seamasters and speedmasters still look uber..

If funds allow i would also look at IWC's..

Jamo

iTrader: (23)

bvlgari carbon is nice and of course different

Jamo

iTrader: (23)

also consider A Langhe & Sohne, 1815 chronograph, also zenith make some very nice watches.

James Neill

iTrader: (1)

Agree. This is mine - a Šturmanskie Gagarin. Really nice watch, properly made. Basically, the Russians bought a number of machine tools from the Swiss to set up their own watch making industry.

[Davey]

If you are going to buy a chrono replica make sure you get one with a working chrono movement (Lemina/Valjoux) dont get one of the Faux chrono's because they are so obvious to anyone who knows about watches..

GOLDMAN 555

These are cool...

Sinn Watches

pnbond007

iTrader: (1)

Brietling or Tag for me

Gav1

this is a very nice watch.

I looked at one when i was after anew watch last year.

I ended up with a breitling special edition chronograph.

Gav.

olliecampbell

iTrader: (3)

Well I got dragged out shopping today, joy of joys, but managed to sneak through a couple of jewellers without her wanting anything

So far have seen, but are very much out of my current price range, Tag Carrera and of course the Omega Speedmaster which does look very nice.

Can someone explain the ETA/ebauches things to me?

[Davey]

High end Chronographs will use either in-house movements (such as Rolex) or they will use high end factory chronographs from ETA/Valjoux/Lemina (many are slighty modified though).. You can get cheapo Quartz chrono's (which are more accurate and very reliable) and uber cheap Faux Chrono's (mechnical movement with day/date/hour displayed on sub dials).. But for reliability and function you really want a proper quality movement..

No you could go Quartz and you'll find most high end chrono watches have quartz movements (because they are accurate) but to look the part you really want a Nice 28,800bph 7750 or even a Lamina.. The movements alone cost around £200 and have some steep servicing costs but you will appriciate the watch so much more!

GC8

I'll try. In 1980 or thereabouts Omega became insolvent and they were bought out by the ETA group of companies. Until this time Omega had manufactured its own calibres. From this point onwards, Omega used ETA (the group includes Valjoux and Lemania, as well as Swatch whose name it now takes) ebauches (a part finished watch calibre) in its time pieces.

This article will answer most of your questions, but I will add one further thing. Its common for the same nonsense to be trotted out here (quality replicas being one, a fake is a fake and the 'ETA calibres' are almost always Chinese fake ETA movements). Another is that TAG-Heuer are in some way inferior to other manufacturers using similar ebauches and another still, is that the ETA actions can be found in Swatch watches or that they can be bought 'particularly for TAG-Heuer watches, for a few pounds, both rubbish.

KJD Mk1

iTrader: (3)

The Tag Carrera is a very nice classic style that is easy on the eye IMO thats what i'll be getting at some point

Watches can be a bit like cars, something nice for the weekend and a runabout for work But I guess it depends what you do.
What ever happens keep it real, its the only way.

kev

olliecampbell

iTrader: (3)

Yeah I think thats the way to go ....another item to add to the list of 'things that need servicing'

Are there any good 'how to spot a fake watch' websites out there?

Shark Man

That just reminded me: I have an old Orion Skeleton loitering in the drawer somewhere.



Obviously nothing special (movement is Chinese IIRC), but an interesting watch non-the less. Cheap as chips too. (and its seems to be more reliable that the my Omegas....tyically ).

Hoppy

Here you go. A real Big Ben on your wrist. Best to check prices first

Dent - Luxury Watches - Collection

Richard.

Tiggs

I though the fact every IT geek on the planet managed to buy themselves a Tag during the millenium bug panic killed the brand off!

ChefDude

rolex don't always use rolex movements.

the early daytonas used a zenith movement.

GC8

Are you sure? Rolex Tudors have used 3rd party ebauches for years and they now use ETAs, but Rolex have always made marketing capital about their movements..

Perhaps this was the movement used in the Tudor Daytona equivalent (which uses the original Rolex Daytona case, but with a different back inscribed 'Rolex', which Rolex watches do not have)?

GC8

Id disagree. The first watch that I bought was an automatic TAG-Heuer (long before they were well-known or faked), but I were buying new now then Id look at an Omega every time...

ChefDude

Absolutely certain.

I've had 2 explorer IIs and was going to upgrade to a daytona and had it explained to me with 2 examples too - the earlier zenith movement daytona had slightly different mini dial placement to the later rolex movement daytonas. this was in 2000 (when i was asking, not when the change occurred)

ChefDude

from secondtimeround.com

"Rolex finally released the new version of the Daytona in 1991. They had abandoned the workhorse Valjoux movement in favour of the Zenith movement. The new dials featured large subsidiary dials and had an inner track in a contrasting colour. Dial colours included black, white, champagne and each watch had "Daytona" in red on the dial and they all had screw-down pushers.

The stainless steel Daytona has become one of the most sought after watches of all time. Because there were higher profit margins in the gold and mixed metal watches there was a shortage of the steel one as there just were not enough being produced.

Rolex's latest addition to the Daytona hysteria was launched at the end of 2000. The 116520 which like the rest of Rolex's models has an extra 1 prefix to differentiate it from the others. There have been a few dial refinements but the main difference is the fact that Rolex are now using an in house movement instead of the old Zenith one."

and...
Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 18ct (Zenith) - 16518 Watch - Watches.co.uk