Watches - another OCD problem

[Anesthetist]

I've had such bad luck with my kobold that I won't buy another. I returned it three times for warranty work and it was sent back broken twice. This was on a brand new watch that I had for two weeks. They didnt want to give me my money back, but persistence and a ton of phone calls worked. I love buying American, especially watches but none of my cash will be going back to Mike.

[bertoni]

Wow that's good to know. Kinda softened the blow of not actually being able to buy one
Chris, keep the suggestions coming…I can deal with depression and envy rather well
(you kinda get used to it when combining a Social Worker salary and unfortunately expensive taste).
Anything that kinda looks like Kobold but costs a bit less would be good...or a 'budget' Panerai if such a thing exists!
Thanks again for the help

[hectic]

dude, check out Benarus

[barun]

Not sure if anyone here has heard of or owns one of these.  A really cool, smaller watch company with all hand carved bezels and more out of New Zealand of all places.  Check it out, with as much as we all pay attention to the details, this should be right up most of our alleys…

http://www.magrette.com/the-timepieces.php

[bertoni]

@hectic:

dude, check out Benarus

Yeah been looking at some of their watches but they're all sold out! Quite like the look of the UTS 3000…not sure I can stretch to that though. Anyone here had a Benarus? Or UTS? By the way thanks again Hectic...
Barun - interesting link...some nice original watches on offer.

[zhivago]

Barun, cool link, not my style but very cool none the less.

[Jii]

@bertoni:

Anyone here had a Benarus?

Yeah, I have a Sea Devil. Bought it second hand two years ago and have been very happy with it. They seem to have stepped up their game all the time and as long as they don't start hiking up the prices too much I have to say that they are a lot of watch (and their customer service is top notch) for the money. The second hand market seems to be ok on them as well and at when I asked about it their warranty was transferable.

Benarus always make a limited amount of watches per model and nowadays it seems to be safest to pre-order if you want one as new.

[bertoni]

Thanks for that Jii. I'm still looking around. Loved the look of the U-Boat watches but they're apparently style over substance
according to some. The UTS watches look good but I can't get over the Kobold Arctic diver and Seal designs…stunning. 
Ah well, looks like i'll be spending a fair bit of time on the watch forums. Anyone recommend one by the way?
Thanks again for all your help

[Giles]

Today

Because this happened a week ago

[Seul]

That PP's nice though, G!.

[bertoni]

That PP looks nice but a bit grown up and civilized for me (not that I would ever dare accuse you of being civilized or grown-up G
Them's dirty words in this here house).

[Giles]

I love it, but you're 100% correct a little grown up and civilised (especially for Alex when he inherits it)….

[Chris]

@bertoni:

Ah well, looks like i'll be spending a fair bit of time on the watch forums. Anyone recommend one by the way?
Thanks again for all your help

Watchuseek.com is the biggest watch forum around, and if you have tapatalk, it's compatible, which is nice.

[hectic]

Also browse TZUK for info but I wouldnt bother signing up. If you see anything on their Buy&Sell board then drop me a PM, I can contact the member for you (or I will proxy for you). I have only a v.modest presence there (not a fan of their vibe) but I might be of some use.

[Anesthetist]

UTS? YUP. I own the 500m diver and although it's very heavy it's a cool watch that you aren't likely to see another of on someone else's wrist. Buy used as they depreciate a Lot, not sure why…I like mine.

[bertoni]

Jeez that UTS looks solid! Thanks for sharing man I can't get the Kobold watches out of my head. A second hand Seal or Arctic Diver
would make me one happy (nearly) middle aged man Just a bit worried about their toughness…
I've joined watchuseek...see what turns up.

[rocket]

so you wanna raise your budget, even a 2nd hand one would go for way more than you said you would like to spend…

seriously I do not think that they are worth the asked price, a Seal cost in Europe around 4750 Euro, for that amount I would def get something different than a Kobold watch...

[hectic]

Glad you said that Rocket, I cant see where the $$$ go either on the Kobold.

[bertoni]

Thanks for your thoughts and honesty fellas. I think you can pick one up second hand for around 2000 usd. I'm pretty sure if I find the one I want I could stretch up to 1500 euros. No more.
I just love the design of the Kobold but being a newbie have no idea about the quality. From what i've read so far they don't seem like that big a turkey.
I'm continuing the search. The Kobold's are the most beautiful watches i've seen (apart from the Panerais of course!) so far.
I like the idea of a diver on leather and there aren't many that can pull it off.

[rocket]

don't mean to say that they are crap, just that I think that they are overpriced… I did not made any research on the 2nd hand market, but if a 5k+ watch goes for 2k 2nd hand, there is something wrong in my eyes... from only the visiual aspect I kinda like them...

For the leather strap thing, that works actual on a lot of divers

have a look here, for example

http://gunnystraps.blogspot.com/

http://forums.watchuseek.com/f74/leather-strap-diver-got-any-416039.html