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Iron Heart Fall/Winter 2025 Collection Preview - Now Live

The (Less intimidating) Watch Thread

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  • G
    Graeme
    啓蒙家
    Joined: 30 Mar 2012

    @DougNg:

    That Grand Seiko has an aluminum bezel, doesn't it?

    I've been Googling, and found this post on Watchuseek by someone from a Seiko boutique in Miami:

    _I've mentioned before that ceramic bezel inserts are considered to be a risk in divers watches as a thin insert can break. A full ceramic bezel seems like it could be an option, but GS wants these to have the best functionality possible. Ceramic bezels are great for desk diving, but in the water will pose a risk. If it breaks from shock, you will no longer have your elapsed time bezel.

    I understand you may prefer the ceramic, but it does make perfect sense why the stainless steel black hard coated bezel is chosen for all GS._

    The product spec page doesn't actually say!

    last edited by 12 Jan 2018, 13:42 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
    • C
      Chris
      Raw and Unwashed
      Joined: 28 Jun 2010

      @UnTucked, I bought a replacement bracelet from watchadoo on eBay, and it's built very well.  Strapcode is also well regarded, and even makes end links, so that your replacement bracelet integrates nicely into the case.

      Here's the one I bought:

      last edited by 12 Jan 2018, 13:56 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • D
        DougNg
        Joined: 24 Sept 2009

        That argument makes sense, however

        1. how many people still use mechanical watches for real scuba diving?
        2. don't you think if you whacked your arm against something that your bezel broke, it's time to get the fuck out of the water?

        I think this plays off suckers who think that they can buy something super tough and it makes them a badass.

        I know violence is not the answer, I got it wrong on purpose

        last edited by 12 Jan 2018, 13:58 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • D
          DougNg
          Joined: 24 Sept 2009

          Entry level Seikos look best on NATO straps IMO

          I forgot to add: the hands on my SKX007J were not aligned right and I had to send it off to service. It was really evident at the top of the hour when the minute hand was at the 12 and the hour hand was not at the hour marker properly. Really irritating for a watch that has the hype surrounding it.

          For a little more money, you can get a lot of bang for your buck from Seiko, but the SKX is not one of them. I swear up and down that the SARG011 is a great deal, and I got that for $250.

          I know violence is not the answer, I got it wrong on purpose

          last edited by 12 Jan 2018, 14:02 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • U
            UnTucked
            Joined: 16 Nov 2014

            @DougNg:

            That argument makes sense, however

            1. how many people still use mechanical watches for real scuba diving?
            2. don't you think if you whacked your arm against something that your bezel broke, it's time to get the fuck out of the water?

            I think this plays off suckers who think that they can buy something super tough and it makes them a badass.

            Your inferences are comparable to denim snobs who only buy selvedge denim… Even though the 2 experts I've personally met (Giles and Haraki) agree that:

            1. There are some phenomenal non-selvedge denims out there, and there are some very shit selvedge denims as well

            2. You can make a far better cut from non-selvedge denim. (Not limited by the selvedge line)

            In spite of those 2 pieces of information, the "marketing" in the denim world for the past however many years will ensure that selvedge reigns supreme, because it's a "premium feature that all quality jeans should have".

            Based on the (alleged) comment from the boutique salesman, I think it's MORE than plausible, and in my mind makes Seiko seems "better" in a sense if they are indeed making a "beautiful tool", rather than "something more beautiful, that's kinda tool-ish".

            In search of:
            IHV-04, med.
            IHSH-185, large
            IHSH-186, large (khaki, and green)

            last edited by 12 Jan 2018, 14:10 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • C
              Chris
              Raw and Unwashed
              Joined: 28 Jun 2010

              @Graeme:

              Ceramic bezels are great for desk diving, but in the water will pose a risk. If it breaks from shock, you will no longer have your elapsed time bezel.

              And yet the crystal is sapphire.  If impact resistance was the primary concern, it should be Hardlex, or even acrylic.

              last edited by 12 Jan 2018, 14:14 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • D
                DougNg
                Joined: 24 Sept 2009

                I still maintain that if you really are going to be that rough on your watch, you should own a G-Shock.

                I've been told that they have no soul, but seriously, if I'm going to beat on something (anything) to death, I don't want it to talk back to me.

                I know violence is not the answer, I got it wrong on purpose

                last edited by 12 Jan 2018, 14:20 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • J
                  JDelage
                  啓蒙家
                  Joined: 13 Jan 2012

                  How useful a good watch is for diving is questionable at best. The dive computer is infinitely more useful and accurate, and in case of failure, you need to ascend anyways, preferably with a buddy. In fact, having a cheap dive computer as a back up is probably not a bad option.

                  I've seen plenty of aluminum bezels dinged up, but I have never seen a broken ceramic bezel. I'm sure it happens but can't be that often.

                  That SKX007 cannot be hand wound. To me this is an insta-killer on a watch that isn't worn every day.

                  last edited by 12 Jan 2018, 14:20 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • J
                    JDelage
                    啓蒙家
                    Joined: 13 Jan 2012

                    @DougNg:

                    I still maintain that if you really are going to be that rough on your watch, you should own a G-Shock.

                    Yes, from a purely utilitarian stand point, they're hard to beat.

                    last edited by 12 Jan 2018, 14:23 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • D
                      DougNg
                      Joined: 24 Sept 2009

                      I vaguely remember that there have been one or two posted in Rolexforums.

                      I don't know if they were broken out of negligence or someone was out to prove something.

                      If you can afford a Sub, you can afford a clue. It's a mechanical device with close to 200 parts…

                      My Glock has less than 40...

                      I know violence is not the answer, I got it wrong on purpose

                      last edited by 12 Jan 2018, 14:24 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • C
                        Chris
                        Raw and Unwashed
                        Joined: 28 Jun 2010

                        I thought the lack of hand winding would bother me, but it's actually not that bad.  If you wear it daily, it's never an issue. If you don't, then you just have to swirl it around (a bit like a glass of wine) for a minute or so to get it up and running. Not appreciably different than the effort of hand winding.  I was more put off by the fact that it didn't hack (for the less nerdy readers, hacking just means the second hand stops while you're setting the time).

                        last edited by 12 Jan 2018, 14:30 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • D
                          DougNg
                          Joined: 24 Sept 2009

                          The SKX is durable enough that you can just shake it up and down like you're jerking off and it'll be fine.

                          It's not a great watch, but it's relative resistance to abuse is notable.

                          I know violence is not the answer, I got it wrong on purpose

                          last edited by 12 Jan 2018, 14:35 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • C
                            Chris
                            Raw and Unwashed
                            Joined: 28 Jun 2010

                            The nice thing about aluminum bezel inserts compared to ceramic is that they're cheap and easy to replace. So go ahead and scratch it to hell and back, then pop it out with a knife tip and stick a new one in. Five minutes and twenty bucks later, it looks brand new.  Ok, maybe a little longer, if you have to do some adhesive replacement, but still…

                            last edited by 12 Jan 2018, 14:35 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • D
                              DougNg
                              Joined: 24 Sept 2009

                              Something about replacing an aluminum insert to a $4k Grand Seiko with a dental pick and Loctite just doesn't sit right with me.

                              I know violence is not the answer, I got it wrong on purpose

                              last edited by 12 Jan 2018, 14:38 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • J
                                JDelage
                                啓蒙家
                                Joined: 13 Jan 2012

                                Does anyone have any strong opinion about (1) Christopher Ward or (2) Dievas? The Dievas would only be a consideration 2nd hand, but they have impressive specs, especially the Maya Mk2:

                                http://www.dievaswatches.com/maya2.html

                                https://www.christopherward.com/watches/dive

                                last edited by 12 Jan 2018, 15:15 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • U
                                  UnTucked
                                  Joined: 16 Nov 2014

                                  The CW C65 Trident Vintage is nice!

                                  https://www.christopherward.com/watches/dress/c65-trident-vintage

                                  In search of:
                                  IHV-04, med.
                                  IHSH-185, large
                                  IHSH-186, large (khaki, and green)

                                  last edited by 12 Jan 2018, 16:04 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • C
                                    Chris
                                    Raw and Unwashed
                                    Joined: 28 Jun 2010

                                    I have a Dievas Vortex and Vortex Professional and like them a lot.  I had some modifications done, and the guy who did the work, Jay of MotorCity WatchWorks, said he considered them well made.

                                    No experience with the Maya, though.

                                    last edited by 12 Jan 2018, 17:08 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • J
                                      JDelage
                                      啓蒙家
                                      Joined: 13 Jan 2012

                                      Chris - what mods did you have made?

                                      last edited by 12 Jan 2018, 17:22 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • N
                                        neph93
                                        見習いボス
                                        Joined: 18 Aug 2014

                                        @UnTucked:

                                        The CW C65 Trident Vintage is nice!

                                        https://www.christopherward.com/watches/dress/c65-trident-vintage

                                        Oh helllllloooooo [emoji7]

                                        About the same price as the Pinion Atom which is different but also nice.

                                        “Some of those that work forces
                                        Are the same that burn crosses”

                                        • Virginia Woolf
                                        last edited by 1 Dec 2018, 17:29 12 Jan 2018, 17:23 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                        • U
                                          UnTucked
                                          Joined: 16 Nov 2014

                                          @neph93:

                                          @UnTucked:

                                          The CW C65 Trident Vintage is nice!

                                          https://www.christopherward.com/watches/dress/c65-trident-vintage

                                          Oh helllllloooooo [emoji7]

                                          About the same price as the Pinion Atom which is different but also nice.

                                          Exactly…

                                          When I think of a "watch", this is what is pictured in my mind..... Something along the lines of the Pinion Atom, CW C65, or Hamilton Khaki Field.

                                          In search of:
                                          IHV-04, med.
                                          IHSH-185, large
                                          IHSH-186, large (khaki, and green)

                                          last edited by 12 Jan 2018, 17:35 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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