Watches - another OCD problem
-
I took a look in the watch room at Harrods at a few pieces this weekend. I'm fairly certain that staring at this post too long will result in blindness due to excessive amounts of horological erotica.
Don't say I didn't warn you!
I'd gone along to see when the Zenith El Primero Lightweight would be turning up, and found one on display. I'm in two minds about this, but it looks really cool in this photo, and it weighs next to nothing.
Zenith also do the El Primero Chronomaster Bullit, which is aluminium and ceramic. I took a look at one of these at another shop later on, and think that the Lightweight is far nicer.
This is the Audermars Piguet Millenary 4101. It's almost certainly outside of my price bracket, but it doesn't hurt to look, right? I think that it's a fantastic piece.
The Jaeger LeCoultre Deep Sea Chronograph Cermet is a new piece, again very light, but much more stealthy than than the Zenith.
But it's quite a lot more than the standard, steel versions. The Jaeger LeCoultre Deep Sea Vintage Chronograph costs less than two thirds of the above, and strikes me as a better value proposition.
I'm not sure if I'd buy any of the above. I really like the Zenith, but it's an awful lot of money, and there are some very interesting alternatives at a lower price point, for example the vintage Omega or Habring2 watches I suggested to Giles.
Incidentally, Salon QP is on in a fortnight. I'm thinking of going along on the Saturday. Anyone else planning on attending?
-
okay. any opinions on this badboy right here?
Luminox EVO Navy Seal Colormark 3050 Series 44mm
here some more infos and details:
http://www.keepthetime.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=657…thinking about copping :-\
-
It's a fun watch!
-
Seiko IMO is the best bang for your buck!
-
Luminox makes solid watches for a good price and it's probably the lowest price option for a watch with tritium tube illumination. If I remember correctly, Beatle has one and likes it a lot. Some people don't really like the non-metal case models, and I personally won't buy a watch with a mineral crystal, since I always, always scratch them up. If neither of those things are a concern for you, then go ahead and get one. If you're not in a hurry and willing to hunt around, you can probably find one for less on the secondhand market. Seems like they're always for sale on the watch forums. Easiest place to check for used models is WatchRecon.
EDIT: I wouldn't really consider a Luminox the best option for better dressed occasions. I'd either search for something less clunky, or just get two watches- a beater for the job site, a dress watch for the office.
-
Seiko IMO is the best bang for your buck!
gonna look into that one then…let's start the hunt!
Luminox makes solid watches for a good price and it's probably the lowest price option for a watch with tritium tube illumination. If I remember correctly, Beatle has one and likes it a lot. Some people don't really like the non-metal case models, and I personally won't buy a watch with a mineral crystal, since I always, always scratch them up. If neither of those things are a concern for you, then go ahead and get one. If you're not in a hurry and willing to hunt around, you can probably find one for less on the secondhand market. Seems like they're always for sale on the watch forums. Easiest place to check for used models is WatchRecon.
EDIT: I wouldn't really consider a Luminox the best option for better dressed occasions. I'd either search for something less clunky, or just get two watches- a beater for the job site, a dress watch for the office.
same happens to me, so i think i'll pass…thanks for the feedback chris!
-
I went along to Salon QP yesterday, and got to look at way too many stupidly expensive timepieces. Here are some of the highlights.
Habring2 are a small, independent watchmaker in Austria. They've mainly used heavily modified variants of ETA and other movements in the past, but have their own calibre coming next year. That's probably down to the Swatch group restricting supplies to their competitors. One of my favourite pieces was their dead seconds Pilot Watch. I shot a short video of it in action.
I got a chance to speak to Richard Habring, the founder, who showed off the watches, and there are some cool options available. The chronograph that's controlled by twisting the crown was particularly cool.
They retail for about the same price as something like a Bell and Ross. I know which I'd buy.
Speaking of them, here's the watch that Giles is looking at. Looks good on the wrist.
At the other end of their range is the World War 2 Tourbillion. It uses some highly authentic vintage materials in its construction, such as carbon fibre and titanium. But I was rather taken by it.
Also for Giles, there's a very tasty 1970s Blancpain Aqua Lung in the upcoming Watches of Knightsbridge auction. The estimate is around £5,000.
The Schofield Watch Company Black Lamp. It's got one of the nicest carbon cases that I've seen, and there's a glowing ring around the dial.
Giles Ellis, the company's founder, has a gnarly beard and a taste for workwear. He spotted the cuff of my IHSH-62, and asked me what it was. He runs a blog about the scene, but I didn't catch its name.
I'm sure that the denim scene is like the Masons, only with cooler clothes.
This is the Urwerk EMC. The crank on the right side of the case is used to charge up a capacitor that powers an electronic circuit that measure's the watch's accuracy. You can then adjust the timing with a screw on the back. It was my favourite high-end piece.
Konstantin Chaykin Lunokhod. The case is made from Wootz steel.
The HYT H1. The green ring around the bezel is a liquid that indicates minutes.
The Ressence Type 3. The dial rotates as the minutes change.
And lastly the Hoptroff No. 10 pocket watch, which is driven by an atomic clock. It's still under development, and the back will have an equal number of dials when it's done!
-
After much deliberation, a year of saving and multiple other watches sold I finally managed to pick up a new Patek Aquanaut.
Picked it up yesterday from one of the UK main dealers who had it in stock.
I went for the basic entry level Aquanaut on a rubber strap. I am not keen on the bracelet that goes with this watch and reckon it suits the rubber much better. It is light and very comfortable to wear.
I had considered the nautilus also as they are closely related. The Nautilus is still on the wish list but this time the Aquanaut won due to its rubber strap being more durable and less prone to showing wear.
The movement is stunning and makes a nice whirring sound when the automatic winding rotor is whizzing round.
All in all pretty pleased with it and just glad to have finally managed to scratch that Patek itch that I have had for a couple of years now
-
Davito
thanks for the kind comments. Currently mesmerised by the subtle colours on the dial that change from black through to greens and blues depending on the light.
May be that or just one too many drinks before heading back offshore to work tomorrow!!
-
Gorgeous!
-
amazing piece right there!
-
Lovely watch there Ddtrash.
Incidentally, for all you Tudor fans, the Heritage Black Bay won the Revival Prize in the 2013 Grand Prix d'Horologerie de Geneve. That puts it in amongst some pretty exalted company. Oh, and the Habring2 Pilot's Watch I posted above got the Petite Aiguille gong.
More over at Hodinkee.
