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    Iron Heart Fall/Winter 2025 Collection Preview - Now Live

    The (Less intimidating) Watch Thread

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    • JDelageJ
      JDelage
      啓蒙家
      Joined:

      @neph93:

      THese last few posts have turned me on to bronze wathces… I need to make a purchase soon  ::)

      This Gruppo Gamma caught my eye on Instagram (although I'm not sold on the Cal dial, but I understand there will be other options):

      https://www.gruppogammawatches.com/collections.html#!/Vanguard-Retro-Bronze/p/105666273/category=25527850

      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • ChrisC
        Chris
        Raw and Unwashed
        Joined:

        That is nice, though like you, I'm not sold on the Cali dial.  Makes my low level OCD crank up unpleasantly.  I'll have to keep an eye out for the other dial options.

        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • UnTuckedU
          UnTucked
          Joined:

          I think it looks nice also, but isn't +/-30sec per day a bit much for $850?

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

          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • neph93N
            neph93
            見習いボス
            Joined:

            If Cali dial means the mixed roman and arabic numerals then I could not deal with that either. In fact, roman numerals are a deal breaker on their own. The rest of it is pretty sexy though.

            «Stevie Heighway on the wing!
            We had dreams, and songs to sing…»

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

              https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_dial

              I dislike it too…...

              "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
              • ChrisC
                Chris
                Raw and Unwashed
                Joined:

                @UnTucked:

                isn't +/-30sec per day a bit much for $850?

                Yeah, that's so bad I thought it must be a typo.  The ETA 2824 is capable of much, much better accuracy.  I'd expect closer to +/-10 seconds, and wouldn't be surprised at +/-5.

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

                  The Californian dial doesn't bother my OCD. I quite like this Panerai that I saw a few weeks ago.

                  My OCD would be more affected by the accuracy, and the sharp looking corners on the case.

                  Personally, I'd either get a Hamilton or Seiko, or spend a bit more on a Tissot or Longines.

                  last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • JDelageJ
                    JDelage
                    啓蒙家
                    Joined:

                    I don't think that Seiko has a bronze watch, do they?

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

                      Not as far as I know. The cheapest bronze watch from a major brand is probably one of the Oris models, or the Tudor Black Bay.

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

                        Just checked, and the Oris Big Crown Pointer Date Bronze is $1900 according to Hodinkee. It's probably the cheapest Swiss watch in bronze.

                        Most Oris pieces can be had for 30% or more off at Jomashop, so I'd expect a similar discount for the bronze one in the not too distant future.

                        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • neph93N
                          neph93
                          見習いボス
                          Joined:

                          Is Jomashop a reliable retailer?

                          «Stevie Heighway on the wing!
                          We had dreams, and songs to sing…»

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

                            @neph93:

                            Is Jomashop a reliable retailer?

                            From a quick Google, they sound pretty reliable, and the watches are authentic.

                            However, anything they sell will have a Jomashop, rather than manufacturer's, warranty. There are a few unhappy customers who've had trouble getting things fixed.

                            Personally, I'd look up prices of my desired watch on Chrono24, Jomashop, Ashford, and Watchmaxx, and use that to negotiate with an authorised dealer.

                            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • neph93N
                              neph93
                              見習いボス
                              Joined:

                              Thanks for the tip. I’ve done a web search myself and got the same impression. I asked specifically because I read a while back that the  Scandi web retailer of luxury watches urverket.se/no/de has received criticism for some of the same drawbacks you mention. I now understand that these issues seem standard for this kind of «grey market» web retailer.

                              The prices for the models I’m drawn to are more expensive on Urverket than on the international/US sites but I need to do some math because I’m pretty sure import duty will be a bastard and that may eat up any savings that could be made.

                              The watches I’m looking at are certainly at the lower end of the market, so the warranty service issue with these sites doesn’t bother me so much.

                              «Stevie Heighway on the wing!
                              We had dreams, and songs to sing…»

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

                                Have you looked at prices in the UK @neph93? It tends to be the cheapest market in Europe, or was a year or two back, and you could possibly reclaim VAT when you head home.

                                Of course, you'd be duty bound to declare the watch when you reached Norway… 😉

                                last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • AppfaffA
                                  Appfaff
                                  Raw and Unwashed
                                  Joined:

                                  @neph93:

                                  Thanks for the tip. I’ve done a web search myself and got the same impression. I asked specifically because I read a while back that the  Scandi web retailer of luxury watches urverket.se/no/de has received criticism for some of the same drawbacks you mention. I now understand that these issues seem standard for this kind of «grey market» web retailer.

                                  The prices for the models I’m drawn to are more expensive on Urverket than on the international/US sites but I need to do some math because I’m pretty sure import duty will be a bastard and that may eat up any savings that could be made.

                                  The watches I’m looking at are certainly at the lower end of the market, so the warranty service issue with these sites doesn’t bother me so much.

                                  Ask @hajduk - I am a pro at getting expensive items into Norway duty free 🙂

                                  Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

                                  last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • neph93N
                                    neph93
                                    見習いボス
                                    Joined:

                                    Ah… options.

                                    @Appfaff I have heard about the legendary ski boot scam! That’s something to think on. The watch price with shipping in the US is 425USD. With shipping, import duty and handling fees it goes up to 580USD. I can buy in Norway for 630USD. Let me have a look at things and I may be in touch.

                                    The British option had not occurred to me, no. I’ll check that out. Although how on earth can you get it back into Norway? It’s not like you can just strap it to your wri.... oh, hang on [emoji848]

                                    «Stevie Heighway on the wing!
                                    We had dreams, and songs to sing…»

                                    • Dame Vera Lynn
                                    last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • AppfaffA
                                      Appfaff
                                      Raw and Unwashed
                                      Joined:

                                      I could ship with a “repair form” and claim repair work was done 🙂

                                      Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

                                      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • JDelageJ
                                        JDelage
                                        啓蒙家
                                        Joined:

                                        As someone who bought the other Oris bronze watch, I'm not sure it's fair to put those in the same category as a $900 watch (and there are plenty of cheaper bronze watches).

                                        As a side note, Ball also have a cool bronze watch, for $2,200 or so: http://www.gnomonwatches.com/engineer-iii-pilot-bronze-ref-nm2186c-l3j-bk

                                        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                        • neph93N
                                          neph93
                                          見習いボス
                                          Joined:

                                          @Appfaff:

                                          I could ship with a “repair form” and claim repair work was done 🙂

                                          You sir have the attitude of a gentleman and the cunning of a criminal mastermind [emoji1]

                                          While we’re on the other subject of brass watches, I rather like this one…

                                          «Stevie Heighway on the wing!
                                          We had dreams, and songs to sing…»

                                          • Dame Vera Lynn
                                          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                          • UnTuckedU
                                            UnTucked
                                            Joined:

                                            That IS rather nice!

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

                                            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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