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Wristwatches, watches and watch-like gadgets

My previous order for a replacement Timex Expedition Camper back in August got lost in transit to a seriously dodgy "Post Office" in a convenience store, and when I went to re-order they'd sneakily put the price up by £5 to £29.99 so I put up without being able to easily time my coffee brewing :eek:
But I just relented at £27.99...

It seems I bought the previous one in 2009 for £15 so the price has increased significantly ... let's hope this one lasts at least 11 years ...

In the meantime I mislaid the old one with its "Nato" fabric strap.
Luckily this one came with a very nice, semi-elasticated velcro strap - though on my only-moderately manly wrist, I've had to set it to the absolute limit - and it remains to be seen what it's like when I do some serious exercise.

I'll see how long the electroluminescent display works on this one - which makes me realise I really need to open the other one up to marvel at the electronics :)

I ordered and returned a cheaper "easy-view" watch because it was far too shiny and "Werthers Originals" - the display on this one is pretty well as easy to read as well as the watch being tolerant of getting rained-on. One day I may learn if it will tolerate regular ocean swimming ...

The whole wearing a watch thing was far more relevant when I was working, but I missed it when the clocks changed - and for brewing coffee ... in a few years' time when I'm properly "retired", I suppose I may (hopefully) need it for social events :)



timexwatch.png
 
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My cheapo Casio digital's strap has broken, and it was already a replacement strap. Now I have had two of these little digitals, they are fine for my needs and I love that they are all waterproof.

So I have been living for a couple of months without a watch, relying on my phone instead. It hasn't been too bad but I like having a watch so I am considering another Casio digital, but this time perhaps this one:

1607879750542.png

£23.00 - can't argue with that. Casio LCD Digital Watch SPORT Chrono etc. WS-1000H-1AVEF (7dayshop.com)
 
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Been wearing this regularly to track my training (alongside the HRM chest-strap).
Very fun.
 
Bought myself a Garmin Fenix 6.

20201230_215705_copy_907x745.jpg

More than I really need but after looking at lots of fitness-oriented smartwatches and finding deficiencies in each, I thought fuck it and splashed out - but £359 rather than a much higher RRP.

It's pretty nice, as are the services that go with it. Doing some of the training plan stuff it offers.
 
This winter is crap and I made some money so thought I'd buy myself a new watch. I have developed a lust for a seiko solar chronograph but can't really afford a new one. Are there any second hand places apart from ebay that people know of?
 
Seiko Alpinist SARB017 automatic. I bought it as a gift to myself five years ago, after a promotion at work. A year ago it began to lose a couple of minutes a day; the authorised service centre said it needed a new movement at 200 quid; I took it to an old-school watchmaker and he serviced it for 100, and it's more accurate than ever, gaining maybe 10 seconds a day. I'm not terribly keen on the compass bezel, but I love the design otherwise. Strap is Hirsch; the original was crap. If I had the cash, I'd have a Grand Seiko.
IMG_20210120_140145.jpg
 
Not to my taste that, but distinctive with the colour.

Isn't Grand Seiko just a way of extracting money from gullible rich people? Given that Seiko can make a good watch for under £100 and a very good, accurate, attractive watch for £200.... Maybe I'm missing something.
 
Brainaddict said:
Isn't Grand Seiko just a way of extracting money from gullible rich people? Given that Seiko can make a good watch for under £100 and a very good, accurate, attractive watch for £200.... Maybe I'm missing something.
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quality of movement v a (more accurate) lump of quartz?
 
I have a complaint about my G-Shock 3159 (eta: mine is the GW-M5610-1) - the "beeper" is completely shit :mad: I was using it to time some exercises and thought "well it would be handy if I could hear when the time is up, maybe I should have it make noise, I must have turned it to silent mode ages ago and forgotten". Then I read the manual and found that there was no silent mode and the timer should be beeping for ten seconds when it finishes. Which I then found that it does, but you literally have to hold the watch by your ear to hear it. There is no volume setting for this either. I mean it kind of takes away the point of alarms.
 
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nick said:
quality of movement v a (more accurate) lump of quartz?
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What 'quality' are you really looking for in a movement besides accuracy? The main thing I don't like about many quartz watches is the battery running out but I have a pulsar kinetic that is a quartz-modulated mechanical movement. It has never lost or gained any significant time while I have had it and has never needed servicing. It costs about £60 new. It is obviously not beautiful, but as I say you can get very beautiful watches at £200.
 
FridgeMagnet said:
I have a complaint about my G-Shock 3159 - the "beeper" is completely shit :mad: I was using it to time some exercises and thought "well it would be handy if I could hear when the time is up, maybe I should have it make noise, I must have turned it to silent mode ages ago and forgotten". Then I read the manual and found that there was no silent mode and the timer should be beeping for ten seconds when it finishes. Which I then found that it does, but you literally have to hold the watch by your ear to hear it. There is no volume setting for this either. I mean it kind of takes away the point of alarms.
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Yes - and I have the same problem with a Gshock GMW B-5000G (3459 movement). It is inaudible
 
Brainaddict said:
What 'quality' are you really looking for in a movement besides accuracy? The main thing I don't like about many quartz watches is the battery running out but I have a pulsar kinetic that is a quartz-modulated mechanical movement. It has never lost or gained any significant time while I have had it and has never needed servicing. It costs about £60 new. It is obviously not beautiful, but as I say you can get very beautiful watches at £200.
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no one claims that the price of a watch is related to its utility. A petrol station £5 job is going to be more accurate than a Patek, but.....

some people buy into the history, workmanship, etc etc.
Paul Newman's Daytona isn't really worth $20m to anyone except the collector that bought it, and the one that will buy it next for more
I much prefer wearing one of my automatics to the Casio, except when at risk of damaging it. Don't have to worry about the battery wearing out if I am wearing it. And if I am in a particularly inactive phase, a quick wank will power it up nicely (will work with your Pulsar too by the sound of it)

It's just a thing. The same way some will spend more on a car that has no extra utility (probably less) in a "real world" situation
 
while googling I did see that Casio are doing a January sale on some G-Shocks though

G-SHOCK Sale | Casio G-SHOCK

Built from a mission by creator Mr Kikuo Ibe to create the unbreakable watch, G-SHOCK is the watch that stunned the world with a concept for toughness that defied conventional watch-making logic. G-SHOCK creates technologically advanced watches that can resist gravity, freezing temperatures...
g-shock.co.uk g-shock.co.uk
 
Brainaddict said:
Isn't Grand Seiko just a way of extracting money from gullible rich people? Given that Seiko can make a good watch for under £100 and a very good, accurate, attractive watch for £200....
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No doubt, and at £3,000+ I'm never going to have one.

My other Seiko, SQ100 7N43-8001 quartz, made in May 1991 according to the serial number. It keeps pretty much perfect time. I bought if from my brother about 25 years ago, for £7.50.

IMG_20210121_093149.jpg
 
mauvais said:
Bought myself a Garmin Fenix 6.

View attachment 246188

More than I really need but after looking at lots of fitness-oriented smartwatches and finding deficiencies in each, I thought fuck it and splashed out - but £359 rather than a much higher RRP.

It's pretty nice, as are the services that go with it. Doing some of the training plan stuff it offers.
Click to expand...

Fucking great watches - don't forget to put a screen protector on it.
My wife has the 6s pro - she loves it.
Great interface and app.
 
That's a good shout, I don't always bother with screen protectors but especially since it's not a touchscreen it's a good idea, I'll buy one.

I'm enjoying it, but I've also done my ankle in - the two things are probably related - so I've had to stop doing anything for a bit, which is at least matched with the weather.
 
mauvais said:
That's a good shout, I don't always bother with screen protectors but especially since it's not a touchscreen it's a good idea, I'll buy one.

I'm enjoying it, but I've also done my ankle in - the two things are probably related - so I've had to stop doing anything for a bit, which is at least matched with the weather.
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Sorry about the ankle and the weather is shit for outdoor activity anyway.
At least with the Fenix 6, you can monitor your sleep/ recovery!
 
Posted up-thread about the Precista PRS-82 divers watch I got a bit ago. It's been shit tbh, the lume doesn't hold through the night, and it wouldn't keep time and the maker took ages to fix it (months), then recently the second hand fell off so it's back with the maker again.

I think I'll sell it on and get a similar Seiko and Citizen model for half the price. It'll be cheaper and more reliable. Covet something like a Sinn or similar, but beyond my price range.
 
I've started to get into G-Shocks. Obviously you can spend silly money on one if you want, but mostly they are quite affordable, and I reckon this is a reasonable consumer luxury to entertain me in a time when everything is terrible.

I bought one of these - Men's Limited Edition Transparent Watch | DW6900SP-7 | G-SHOCK - and then I decided that I wanted one with hands that was a ridiculous colour so I got one of these - GA-400SK-1A4ER | G-SHOCK | Watches | Products | CASIO

this is how it starts isn't it?

DW6900SP-7_hd.jpeg

IMG_2903.jpeg
 
Nikkormat said:
Seiko Alpinist SARB017 automatic. I bought it as a gift to myself five years ago, after a promotion at work. A year ago it began to lose a couple of minutes a day; the authorised service centre said it needed a new movement at 200 quid; I took it to an old-school watchmaker and he serviced it for 100, and it's more accurate than ever, gaining maybe 10 seconds a day. I'm not terribly keen on the compass bezel, but I love the design otherwise. Strap is Hirsch; the original was crap. If I had the cash, I'd have a Grand Seiko.
View attachment 250181
Click to expand...

That's a nice-looking watch.

SPB121J1.png
 
Nikkormat said:
Seiko Alpinist SARB017 automatic. I bought it as a gift to myself five years ago, after a promotion at work. A year ago it began to lose a couple of minutes a day; the authorised service centre said it needed a new movement at 200 quid; I took it to an old-school watchmaker and he serviced it for 100, and it's more accurate than ever, gaining maybe 10 seconds a day. I'm not terribly keen on the compass bezel, but I love the design otherwise. Strap is Hirsch; the original was crap. If I had the cash, I'd have a Grand Seiko.
View attachment 250181
Click to expand...

That's a keeper and rare to see the non-'X' version.
 
Virtual Blue said:
I would love a GS - amazing watches for the money.

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Lots of watches look nice though, I don't really get the desire to spend ten times what everyone else does.

What I do get is practicality in a watch. Earlier this year I eventually chose a Citizen Eco-drive chronometer, which looks very nice but it is annoying. The crown turns too easily, resulting in it moving to other settings, which means you can't be sure you're looking at the right time when you glance at the watch. It also results in the date changing spontaneously, meaning you also can't rely on the date. So there you go folks: Citizen eco-drive chronometer not recommended.
 
Brainaddict said:
Lots of watches look nice though, I don't really get the desire to spend ten times what everyone else does.

What I do get is practicality in a watch. Earlier this year I eventually chose a Citizen Eco-drive chronometer, which looks very nice but it is annoying. The crown turns too easily, resulting in it moving to other settings, which means you can't be sure you're looking at the right time when you glance at the watch. It also results in the date changing spontaneously, meaning you also can't rely on the date. So there you go folks: Citizen eco-drive chronometer not recommended.
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It's to do with the craft on what it takes in making them in the first place. For example, I love the artistry and process involved in constructing enamel watches and it draws me closer to Lange, Nardin and even micro-brands like AnOrdain. I'm a geek and like reading about them. The models and years. Then you have the evolution of movements - I personally find the Grand Seiko Spring Drive a thing of wonder and been eyeing the Snowflake over the years. Also Zenith's El Primero movement - that shit is just legendary.

BUT who's give a fuck what I wear? Over the years, I have worn Rolexes, Omegas to Seikos and Gs (and still do). I think in the last 10 years, only one person noticed I wore an Omega and we started talking about chronographs and how massive and heavy modern Omegas were.

I've dropped silly money on watches but I won't do it right now - would rather spend it on a family holiday or 2. I don't believe real watch collectors wear their pieces to show off cos the majority of people won't notice a Rotary to a Zenith or an AP/ Breguet. I think for the majority of collectors, they wear it cos they are geeks to the history and are genuinely interested with the movements inside.

It sounds like your Citizen Chronometer is faulty - yeah, its a good looking watch btw.
 
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