The (Less intimidating) Watch Thread

[Bill C]

@Maynard:

Can anyone recommend a good quality leather watch strap maker in the UK? I’ve found the Toshi website and the offerings there look pretty good? Does anyone have experience of these?

I bought a Toshi strap (cordovan I think?) about a year ago and it's served me really well. As with most things you get what you pay for and the strap wasn't cheap by any means but is in 9.5 condition a year later. I wear it every day, with the exception that if the strap becomes uncomfortably hot, I take the watch off, wipe the strap and put the watch somewhere safe where the strap can air and dry as needed. It could be described as over-engineered, in an understated way, so imo works well with IH stuff. NIce options for stitching, buckles etc - ymmv …

[Maynard Friedman]

Thanks @Bill C , that’s the type of review I like to hear.

[Graeme]

Hodinkee have published a week on the wrist review of the fullmetal G-Shock.

One of the comments to the article mentions the GMW-B5000TFC-1, which is a black, limited edition model, supplied with a Porter watch case.

[UnTucked]

Maranez are running a sale right now, clearing out some stock.

http://www.maranez.com/watches.php#!/SPECIAL-OFFER/c/27429032/offset=0&sort=normal

I've had the Brass Talay (Seiko NH35 automatic movement) for about 2.5yrs now, and I have no REAL complaints about it, though I'm not a "watch guy" so I wouldn't know what to complain about either way, lol! But right now, they're a steal, at $279

[UnTucked]

Also, I just grabbed one of these rubber NATO straps with brass hardware for my Talay.

http://www.yellowdogwatchstraps.com/shop/4577904755/rubber-nato/11154869

Only came out to $30

[UnTucked]

After digging around and doing some more research, from what I can see, Seiko will be discontinuing a few of the more popular models (SARB017, SARB031, SARB033 to name a few), all of which were in the running to go in my "noob watch collection". This info has been floating around for months, but I guess I just hadn't noticed or paid attention. I cam across it last Friday as I was browsing the webs for an Alpinist, and started to notice that there aren't many places to have them in stock.

Deliberating if I should get a new one now, before the chance is gone forever…..

[Max Power]

I really like the look of the last one - if you can, go for it.

[Giles]

I need one

[UnTucked]

Matches your boots….

[Giles]

Where's best you have found for one (inc Japan), I can get H to buy it for me/us and bring it over with him….

[UnTucked]

I found them for $600 on Rakuten…

https://global.rakuten.com/en/store/phaze-one/item/sarb017/

$497 on Amazon.com

https://www.amazon.com/Seiko-Japanese-Automatic-Stainless-Leather/dp/B000KG93BQ/ref=sr_1_3?m=A3D3VH2RNBJ30R&s=merchant-items&ie=UTF8&qid=1529920384&sr=1-3&dpID=51wZ8RuGP6L&preST=SY300_QL70&dpSrc=srch

And 399GBP on Amazon.co.uk

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000KG93BQ/ref=s9u_simh_gw_i1?ie=UTF8&fpl=fresh&pd_rd_i=B000KG93BQ&pd_rd_r=a3dcfa87-785d-11e8-8019-5bcbb218b215&pd_rd_w=2Awf0&pd_rd_wg=z3nih&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=&pf_rd_r=Z86NB4F6Q887VW5W98RC&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=187bec3b-0822-4044-bbe9-441718232b3f&pf_rd_i=desktop

**I'll have Maddy jump some Google searches in Japanese to see what she can drum up.

All of the typically reputable online watch shops seem to be sold out, and there are no projected restocks, as production halted months ago.

[UnTucked]

Caveat:

The listed price of the US one is cheaper by about 20GBP, but Amazon says ordering from the US and delivering to the UK adds $107 to the base cost, for import fees and shipping.

[Giles]

could have it delivered to a US addy?

[UnTucked]

PM sent

[Graeme]

I wonder if the Alpinist is being replaced by the Presage.

[UnTucked]

I hope they replace it with something similar to it, i.e. another field watch

[DougNg]

The Alpinist has been going up in price since it was discontinued. They used to be found for ~$300
Seikos are an anomaly right now, they actually go up in value a pretty decent amount after they are discontinued. If I tried to sell my Omega Seamaster today, I'd lose my shirt.
I ordered an Alpinist from Amazon about year ago, kept it for maybe ten minutes before I printed out the return slip.

[UnTucked]

@DougNg:

The Alpinist has been going up in price since it was discontinued. They used to be found for ~$300
Seikos are an anomaly right now, they actually go up in value a pretty decent amount after they are discontinued. If I tried to sell my Omega Seamaster today, I'd lose my shirt.
I ordered an Alpinist from Amazon about year ago, kept it for maybe ten minutes before I printed out the return slip.

What were you qualms with it?

[DougNg]

I always thought it was ugly as all fuck, but must have been missing something because of it's cult following.

I was wrong, it was even more gross in person.

[DougNg]

If I were starting all over again and were looking for a sub $1k watch, I'd probably go with a MKII ready to wear model.
In fact, I may get a Hawkinge soon