Got any tips for buying a "once in life time" watch

[Bung]

Check out Stowa watches. They are very nicely made and reasonably priced below $1000. Have a nice historical cache to boot. German made. Don't laugh, they guy buys the bits in and finishes them himself and there is a whole forum about them. Often releases limited editions on the site.

I like the bands as well, very traditional and easy to wear with t shirts or whatever. Some watches you just can't wear unless your wearing a suit without looking like a twat.

Jörg Schauer & Stowa - Watchuseek Watch Fora

Interesting reading about them here as well (Company website)

STOWA

I'm after a Airman ($500 odd) as soon as I can flog my useless Omega SMP GMT($3000 odd....)

[WhiteLotusLane]

Don't you people own phones? I mean WTF, who needs a watch these days?

[Mr Brown]

^ Riviting contribution

You're a bit of an arse aren't you?

[Butterfly]

I saw a real nice one from one of those links here, but it's a limited edition and cost 5000 EURO !!!

[Mr Brown]

Which one?

[Butterfly]

LINDE WERDELIN SpidoLite (Pre-Order)

[nidhogg]

^ Riviting contribution

You're a bit of an arse aren't you?

He does have a bit of a point though, I quite often do not wear a watch, and use my phone for time keeping.

[Mr Brown]

^ I just read another of his posts and was construtive regarding the OP so I take it all back.

^^ Don't like it too industrial looking.

[Felix Sphinx]

More reasonably priced are Omega, Rolex (but they are mass produced), IWC, Stowa, Panerai, Sinn, Zenith or a Grand Seiko.


My zenith worked with only one clean for 40 yrs until myEX put it in a French washing machine!

[Jack meoff]

My zenith worked with only one clean for 40 yrs until myEX put it in a French washing machine!

those fukeen french

[kmart]

Planning on getting a nice watch. Any tips . shops... exhibitions... discounts... TAG H .... Central ok mai? auctions? rip offs? lifetime guarantee... Anyone done it?

any watch more expensive than about 50 quid is just jewelery for men.

I just want to buy something to keep as an heirloom....family jewels (oi oi) for my not yet existant progeny.


(I'm going back to Thailand after 3 months in cold old England and have got love and marriage on my mind ) ;0

This watch would be a real heirloom:

[Fabian]

i got an old omega, lovely watch, aint worth all that much though, dunno why.

Too many build. My hundred year old Omega is worth not more than 100 Euros.

What's amazing though you can get it checked at Omega and they can still confirm it's a real one and tell when and where your watch was delivered.

[crippen]

Don't bother with a watch. Light- get up. Getting dark,go to bar. Sleepy or anything else,Bed. Problem solved!

[Bung]

Here's my next watch. Hand made in Germany 590 Euros, order only, not many around. Beautiful piece.



Airman automatic without Logo - Stowa Uhren ab Werk bestellen und online kaufen

Not too much money for something like that.

[blackgang]

Well Mad dog if ya worried about water sports then take it off and lay it on the bed stand or just hold your arm up when the pissing starts as that water used in water sports has alot of minerals in it and will fuck up a watch, specially if it is real yellow water.
Never was into that myself, so any old cheap watch does me fine.

[Marmite the Dog]

Hand made in Germany 590 Euros

I can get one hand made in Yarrowat for about 200 Baht.

[sabang]

The only watch you can even consider that is also a 'fashion' brand is Cartier. otherwise, serious horophiles will just scoff at you. Under no circumstances buy a Gucci. And does anyone buy Tag any more?

Rolex are certainly a quality timepiece, but they are clunky, a bit vulgar and not comfortable to wear, especially in the tropics. Passe'.

In terms of quality watchmakers, there are many, and ultimately your choice will prolly be determined by your budget and tastes.

Amongst the cheaper 'quality' watches are Baume & Mercier, Oris, Ebel, Omega- and nothing wrong with a top of the range Seiko either. Maybe a Breitling without too many bells and whistles.

If you want to raise eyebrows amongst the cognoscenti, and you have the budget, consider Franck Mueller, Constantin & Vacheron, IWC, Pirragaux, Blancpain, Breguet, Lange & Soehne & Patek Phillipe. They ain't cheap- but if it's any consolation they retain value second hand, you might even consider buying one second hand thru' Ebay.

It used to be quite different for me, but personally I'd buy a top of the line Seiko- the image being practicality, reliability and quality at a reasonable price, stuff the poofy fashion aspect. Or a Ball, maybe the only decent US made watch- nothing wrong with them.

[tnd034]

If you want a very posh (and expensive) watch the brands you need are:

Patek Philippe
Audemars Piguet
Vacheron Constantin
Jaeger le Coultre
Girard Perregaux
Ulysse Nardin
More reasonably priced are Omega, Rolex (but they are mass produced), IWC, Stowa, Panerai, Sinn, Zenith or a Grand Seiko.


If you're interested in watch porn go here:

I strongly agree with this list. If you can afford high end watches, you can't go wrong with Patek Phillipe, they are the most the collectable watch and retains the most second hand value. Supply and demand will greatly influence the price on these watches, price flux can seen up to $10,000 for a $50,000 Patek Phillipe if demand is high, there are pretty much no other brands where the value can increase this much even for 2nd hand watch. If you look at a sootheby auction magazine, you can see why there are so many 2nd hand patek phillipe watches for sale.

For a mid tier priced watch - rolex is a solid choice. Yes it could be overated and mass produced, but their movement is rock solid and you can count on it to run 100 years later.

For a low tier priced I would stick with Omega and Seiko watches. They are reliable and always a classic time peice to own. My dad owns a 50 year old omega, the glass is cracked missing straps and all, but its still running strong for 50 years. We need to get this watch serviced and bring it back to its glory days!

If you are looking to buy a mid-high tier new or second hand watch, I suggest avoiding all official shops, they are overpriced. Best place I can recommend is a shop called Papaya at Central World, forgot which floor. They have 2-3 shops adjacent to each other, if you go there on weekdays you will see empty display cases, this is because they hand carry all their watches in (to avoid paying tax on the watches, therefore giving customers the lowest possible price in thailand). The customs check up on them on weekdays, thats why they don't display the watch, but if you want to see they can bring it out from the safe to show you. On weekends when customs officials are resting, they display some of their watches.

I heard Dubai has very cheap watches too, they have a huuggggee selection at the airport duty free, it could be worth a plane ticket to fly there if you are interested in a high end watch.

[Fuzzy Bob]

• This is Japan Domestic Market CITIZEN Promaster SKY PMV65-2242
• Caliber No. U600
• Titanium Case
• DLC/MRK processed surface (Diamond Like Carbon)
• Sapphire Glass : Non-reflecting coated glass
• Shockproof Structure
• Anti-Magnetic
• Perfex Multiband 3000 Eco Drive Wave Reception
• World Time
  29 time zones (43 cities), city code display, daylight saving on/off
  
  2000km in the radius of Japan
  JJY, Frequency?40kHz/60kHz (Fukushima/Kyushu Dual band)
  
  3000km in the radius of Fort Collins, Colorado
  WWVB, Frequency? 60 kHz
  
  1500km in the radius of Germany
  MSF/DCF77, Frequency 60kHz/77､5kHz
• Home Time Setup / UTC Universal Time Coordination
  When Los Angeles, Denver, Chicago, and New York are selected,
  it receives US wave (WWVB) and the time of the place is corrected.
  The time difference is set up by the selected city.
• WR 20 BAR : 200 meter Water Resistant
• World Calendar
• World Time Alarm
• Timer
• EL backlight
• Flight Calculation Function
• Second Hand Stopping Feature
• 1/100 second Chronograph (24 hour meter)
• 12/24 hour Display
• Battery Life : 2.5 years (power saving mode)
• Low Battery Warning
• Power Saving Function
• Overcharge Prevention Function
• 3 Fold Push Type Band
• Accuracy : ±15 seconds per month (at Non-Reception)
• Diameter : 45 mm
• Case Thickness : 15.6 mm
• Weight : 126 gr
• Comes with original CITIZEN Promaster box and Japanese manual
• Product Manual in English by CITIZEN JAPAN

I use this watch. The auto time sync works in Thailand as well!

[blackgang]

Very fine watch there Fuzzy, It is quite similar to my Timex I bought for $13 in 1986 to use for navagation when sailing, and always checked the time tic from Ft. Collins daily to make sure it was on time before taking a shot.

[jamesfraudia]

Tried typing out a long post twice and it got deleted both times.




Planning on getting a nice watch. Any tips . shops... exhibitions... discounts... TAG H .... Central ok mai? auctions? rip offs? lifetime guarantee... Anyone done it?

You should try out Patek Philippe Watches this time..they are really expensive and express the royalty itself. They are very often available for the auction. Would let you know very soon as they are available for the auction. Or mean while if at all you get them available on a shop go for it...would suggest you go for "Sky Moon Tourbillon Model 5002P" its a good one.

[Nokturnal]

Tissot PRC200 Men's Black Quartz Chronograph Classic Watch

This is the exact watch I wear... Nothing super costly 525$ And in my line of work I don't need anything like a omega or anything, Although they're quite nice.. It would just be another toy I purchased but never used... wasting away in storage. Plus my Tissot has been great, no problems.

[Bettyboo]

^ I like Tissot too, had a couple in the UK; not fussy or pretentious. Cheapish too

Me mummy sent me a Skagen a couple of years ago as an Xmas present (not sure why...) which I didn't like at first, but now I've got used to it. Not expensive at about 100 odd euros.

Skagen Denmark Watches & More



It's light and sturdy and tells the time. Banged it a few times and it still tells the time (I think they're very standard Japanese movements/chips inside).

[bsnub]

How about a Panerai?





Or my current daily wear..Breitling Avenger Skyland

[nedwalk]

I remember as a kid, one year me old man asked me what i wanted for xmass..i said i wanna watch.......so they let me.....