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    Iron Heart Fall/Winter 2025 Collection Preview - Now Live

    Watches - another OCD problem

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    • GraemeG
      Graeme
      啓蒙家
      Joined:

      I'd agree with @Giles certainly about the IWC pilot watches. The current Mark XVII retails for £3600, and is an ETA movement wrapped up in an IWC case.

      If I was @tmg then I'd go along to the next Watches of Knightsbridge auction, and pick up an early 1950s Mark XI. The first run lacked shock protection, since there were concerns that it would affect accuracy, but it was fitted to later models. The last one they sold went for £2500. Then I'd post it back to IWC's service department, and get it restored to an as-new condition. Total cost would probably be somewhere in the ballpark of a current Mark XVII, and it would hold its value better.

      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • tigerpacT
        tigerpac
        Joined:

        @Graeme "Thanks. I'm not looking for a free service, or anything like that. I just want Breitling to have a look into the problem and fix it properly for once."

        And you deserve that!  Service isn't cheap but even outside of that, it isn't too much to expect a problem getting fixed.  Good luck!

        And about IWC, I echo the general sentiment.  I wouldn't turn down a free one but I don't get the pricing or the love.

        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • mclaincauseyM
          mclaincausey
          見習いボス
          Joined:

          I really like Glashutte Original. In house movements and a lot of them are cool designs and seem a decent value.

          Think it, be it.

          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • GraemeG
            Graeme
            啓蒙家
            Joined:

            I really like the Glashütte Original PanoInverse and PanoMaticInverse.

            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • GraemeG
              Graeme
              啓蒙家
              Joined:

              For @Megatron1505 there's always the new Romain Jerome Batman DNA watch. Unfortunately it's $18,000, so I don't think that he'll buy it. 😞

              The dial glows blue in the dark though. That makes it worth the entry price.

              Of course the watch snobs amongst us will moan that it's just got an ETA clone movement, so nothing to see here. 😉

              last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • Megatron1505M
                Megatron1505
                見習いボス
                Joined:

                Honestly, it looks like something you'd find on toycollector.com for £20.

                Made in England, clothed in Japan, fed in America and drunk in Belgium !

                last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • CutlasshoundC
                  Cutlasshound
                  見習いボス
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                  Yep! :-).

                  Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

                  I ain't got time to bleed.

                  last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • mclaincauseyM
                    mclaincausey
                    見習いボス
                    Joined:

                    While we're on the topic of hideous watches, I find most of Richard Mille's designs to be as obnoxious as the man himself.

                    Think it, be it.

                    last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • GraemeG
                      Graeme
                      啓蒙家
                      Joined:

                      There are a couple of Richard Mille pieces that I like, the RM053 polo watch being my favourite, and the concession in Harrods is an worth a browse, but most really don't appeal to me.

                      The case materials they use are interesting from a technical standpoint, but there's this whole toubillion fixation which I don't really get. It doesn't really help with timekeeping, in fact I'd suggest that a chronometer grade ETA movement is probably more accurate than most. (The one in my Breitling is an exception. 😞 ) But it adds needless complexity and fragility.

                      Then again, I'm not a plutocrat who needs to demonstrate his alpha male status with a wristwatch that costs more than an average house. :p

                      I'd go for a Jaeger LeCoultre Extreme Lab 2 over anything in the Richard Mille catalogue. It's got the same sort of look, the case and movement are engineered way in excess of anything else, and it's about a tenth of the price.

                      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • ben2tB
                        ben2t
                        Joined:

                        I guess this is my lucky day, drop by a pawn shop to have my wife's necklace shortened and i found this for cheap.  😃 😃 😃 😃 😃

                        MY DENIM MY RULES!
                        Noypits…

                        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • mclaincauseyM
                          mclaincausey
                          見習いボス
                          Joined:

                          Nice ben2t!

                          How about this trainwreck Graeme?
                          http://www.ablogtowatch.com/richard-mille-rm-032-automatic-chronograph-dive-watch/

                          Think it, be it.

                          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • bagley920B
                            bagley920
                            Joined:

                            Can anyone recommend me a good place to purchase leather watch straps, NATO preferred but standard may be fine as well. Haven't been able to find anything that doesn't look cheap as hell

                            If I am not I, who will be? -Henry David Thoreau

                            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • CutlasshoundC
                              Cutlasshound
                              見習いボス
                              Joined:

                              My friend and I both had custom horween shell cordovan ones made in oxblood by this chap. They cost close to hundred euros each but the quality was excellent. He is based in Europe but if that doesn't suit then searching some watch forums will help! Alternatively you could always contact some of the leather workers on the forum who all do some beautiful work!

                              http://www.jankoxxx.eu

                              Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

                              I ain't got time to bleed.

                              last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • jock1624J
                                jock1624
                                Raw and Unwashed
                                Joined:

                                Since I need to feed my family and put one of our kids through some sort of school later , I got the lower end of the watch scale .  Changed the horrible rubber strap to a thicker decent leather one . Supposedly (I know very little about watches , leave it to you chaps to fill me in ) modeled after the Omega Speedmaster model .

                                Still very happy with it .

                                Mirthing my way through life.

                                last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • bagley920B
                                  bagley920
                                  Joined:

                                  Fossils are solid. I've had many through the years. Never had one fail. Only problem is when you have to replace the battery

                                  If I am not I, who will be? -Henry David Thoreau

                                  last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • GilesG
                                    Giles
                                    IHUK Crew
                                    Joined:

                                    @bagley920:

                                    Fossils are solid.

                                    Go to the top of the class….. 😃 😃 😃 😃

                                    "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

                                    last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • veloaudioV
                                      veloaudio
                                      Raw and Unwashed
                                      Joined:

                                      @bagley920:

                                      Can anyone recommend me a good place to purchase leather watch straps, NATO preferred but standard may be fine as well. Haven't been able to find anything that doesn't look cheap as hell

                                      Check out Wood and Faulk. He offers chromexcel and cardovan versions:

                                      http://shop.woodandfaulk.com/collections/leather-goods/products/chromexcel-passthrough-watch-strap

                                      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • GraemeG
                                        Graeme
                                        啓蒙家
                                        Joined:

                                        At the other end of the spectrum to the Fossil that @jock1624 is wearing…

                                        F.P. Journe Chronomètre Bleu. This has a tantalum case, which is very unusual. But if you're getting one then go for the limited edition, boutique only Byblos.

                                        Vacheron Constantin 1972. Probably the coolest dress watch you can buy!

                                        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                        • jock1624J
                                          jock1624
                                          Raw and Unwashed
                                          Joined:

                                          Quite an education in watches ,  just by browsing through this thread .

                                          Mirthing my way through life.

                                          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                          • GraemeG
                                            Graeme
                                            啓蒙家
                                            Joined:

                                            Something else for you to look at in that case, the Fiona Krüger skull watch.

                                            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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