Watches - another OCD problem
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I'm sorry to hear the Fifty Fathoms isn't happening too. The B&R looks nice, but if you're after alternatives…
The Bell and Ross and Tudor are around £2000 to £3000. For that I'd buy one of the more basic Habring2 watches. Stewarts have the Jumping Second listed in that sort of price range.
Also take a look at the Nomos Ahoi. It's a swimming rather than diving watch, but is water resistant to 200 m.
If I was buying a new tool watch in that price bracket I'd also consider Bremont. They seem pretty tough, the Supermarine that I posted pics of the other day is shock proof, antimagnetic, and has a toughened case. The non-diving pieces have a similar aesthetic.
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Nomos makes an excellent watch an unlike the others mentioned above they use a manufacture movement. I have a Tangente Index Sport Datum and I love it. Smallish, simple, and yet I see it as rugged enough for daily abuse.
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Then there are vintage watches…
There's an original Fifty Fathoms No Radiation on eBay right now. The buy it now price is $6500, which is cheaper than the one I saw in the London Auction a few weeks back.
I also saw an Omega Seamaster 300. The winning bid, with a couple of hours left to run, is currently $2245. Omega have a vintage restoration service at Bienne, and could get it back to as new condition.
If that's too sedate, you could always get the Banana…
IWC are renowned for having an enormous spares department and offer factory restorations, so an old Aquatimer might be an option. The original model, the 812 / 1812 is seriously sought after - the only one I found is £8,350. The 1816 which followed it is less that half that. (1812 on the left, 1816 on the right.)
But what I'd be tempted by is a 1953 Omega RAF watch. I'd get one with the Broad Arrow dial for around £1000 to £1300, and ship it back to the factory for a restoration. That would cost about the same as the Bell and Ross, but be a far cooler piece to own.
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Nomos makes an excellent watch an unlike the others mentioned above they use a manufacture movement. I have a Tangente Index Sport Datum and I love it. Smallish, simple, and yet I see it as rugged enough for daily abuse.
A colleague I worked with in Holland was into Nomos watches, largely for the reasons you cited. But I think that I'd get a Habring2 Jumping Seconds instead. That has a heavily reworked calibre that is virtually a manufacture movement, and it's from a well regarded, independent watchmaker.
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G
another watch to consider, similar in style, quality and robustness when compared to the BR 123 you have spotted.
The Longines Legend Diver
http://www.monochrome-watches.com/longines-legend-diver/
I have one of these and it is has proved a great daily wear. I am led to believe that the 42mm case is the same case that Jaeger used for the much more expensive "Tribute to Polaris Memovox" range from a couple of years ago.
Full UK retail is a reasonable £1380. I have seen a pre owned one for as little as £750. In my humble opinion there are not too many other watches out there that offer as much "bang for your buck" as this piece, nice styling, robust, decent manufacturer etc.
I prefer the non date version ( pictured above ) but this is proving more difficult to find these days. The date complication is still a really nice piece.
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Another option for Giles, the Blancpain 7002 Chronometer.
It's the only chronometer rated Blancpain, and uses a tarted up ETA hand-wound movement. I like it, as it's an elegant piece, and they aren't too expensive. There's one advertised for $4600 on TimeZone.
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you sir have impeccable taste
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@graeme that blancpain is gorgeous. That's a lot of bang for the buck
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I was browsing watches in Selfridge's today, and one of the sales staff was wearing a Bremont on a strap made from an old firehose. It was pretty cool, having a certain amount of patina and diesel stains on it. Here's a photo I stole off another forum.
The Bell and Ross that Giles was looking at was on display. It's a nice looking piece, but the case isn't as nicely machined as something like a Bremont.
Incidentally, the Selfridge's and Harrod's watch rooms are a good place to go browsing as they tend to be larger and better stocked than most of the dealers.
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Yet another option for Giles, the Maurice Lacroix Pontos S Diver.
A Blog To Watch has an article shilling it.
http://www.ablogtowatch.com/maurice-lacroix-pontos-s-diver-watch-hands/
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Gorgeous watch.
Curious choice on the date indicator's font though. Super fugly serif font on an otherwise modern aesthetic. Take a look at one of the later images on the review where it changes from the "5".
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$3k is a bit steep for a base SW200 movement, in my opinion. I can't stand internal bezels, either. I do like that they decided to make the HRV internal, instead of the ugly lump that Omega decided to stick on the Seamaster series.
