Wristwatches, watches and watch-like gadgets

[Meltingpot]

ok I got laughed at at school for having a watch that was only waterproof to 10 metres, whereas 25 was considered pathetic, 50 metres barely acceptable and 100+ required to be anywhere near cool.

But mostly it's because all the watch adverts I've seen are just about flogging over-engineered fluff to people who use private banking. I wonder what the average markup is. I'm all for having an accurate time piece if that's what you need, but don't kid me that it's worth paying silly prices for one.That can't be justified unless you succumb to marketing twaddle about extreme usage, sentimentality or what not.

Basically if you spend more than about £200 on a watch it's jewellery unless you need something extremely specialised (such as working in an highly magnetised environment, when you might want something like a Milgauss).

The Swiss watch industry had to reinvent itself in the 1980's because thanks to quartz movements, Seiko and other Japanese watch companies produced watches which were more accurate than theirs at prices most people could afford, so they did two things; produced cheap watches for the fashion market (Swatches) and high-end watches for the "aspirational" market (Patek Philippe, Breguet, Audemars Piguet, Blancpain etc.).

Rolexes were always expensive but they used to be cheaper in relative terms than they are now.

 

[Meltingpot]

I bet most decent expensive fountain pens write far better than cheap ones.

Not since the Chinese entered the market. There's a very cheap Chinese pen which will give a Meisterstuck 149, of which it is a copy, a run for its money;

Time is time though. As long as a watch is sufficiently accurate for your purposes, which let's face it for most people are not millisecond-critical, then why do you need to spend more money? How many people are actually going to need their Breitling to work properly in Antarctica or when they sky dive from space?

Status basically (and for some, the pleasure of owning something which by dint of its being produced in small numbers is always going to be exclusive).

 

[Athos]

There are some dreadful adverts for expensive watches, apparently designed to sell them exclusively to the cunt market. Watches themselves are good though.

There are some dreadful ads for fountain pens as well, though not quite as bad as that, but that doesn't put me off them. Well actually I'm not sure I'd buy a Mont Blanc - not a modern one anyway, maybe a vintage.

I avoid modern MBs for the same reason; just look a bit try-hard to me. (I do have a vintage one, though.) I have some great pens for which I've paid a small fortune, and some that I've bought for next to nothing - price and quality aren't necessarily tied together. But, watch enthusiasts seem overly-obsessed with price.

 

[editor]

But mostly it's because all the watch adverts I've seen are just about flogging over-engineered fluff to people who use private banking.

I'm wondering what magazines you must be reading.

 

[editor]

Not since the Chinese entered the market. There's a very cheap Chinese pen which will give a Meisterstuck 149, of which it is a copy, a run for its money;

I'm going to get that. Good call!

 

[weltweit]

What, all of them?
View attachment 30924
Back on to my (non wanky) watches, here's the others I'm going to flog soon. They're both tough as nails and have given good service for many years, but they're battery powered and I'm solar all the way now!

I am not even using the power of the sun, my watch winds itself as I move.

 

[Athos]

I'm going to get that. Good call!

There are many far better cheap fountain pens you can buy.

 

[editor]

There are many far better cheap fountain pens you can buy.

£10 is fine by me.

 

[Athos]

£10 is fine by me.

Yeah, better pens you could buy for a tenner.

 

[FridgeMagnet]

I bet most decent expensive fountain pens write far better than cheap ones.

There's a recognised point at which you're really only paying for decoration or exclusivity. The best writers I have cost generally £60 to £150 - they look fine but aren't particularly flashy (my favourite, the Lamy 2000, has an understated Bauhaus design and looks quite dull until you examine it and hold it). After that it really is things like size, material, being rare or a limited edition, having gold leaf etc.

 

[discokermit]

I am not even using the power of the sun, my watch winds itself as I move.

yes you are. your energy to move is derived from the sun.

 

[FridgeMagnet]

I'm going to get that. Good call!

I have a lot of Chinese fountain pens and haven't paid more than 30 quid or so for any of them - the issue is the QC, which is widely variable. Indian is the way to go for inexpensive good performers IMO.

 

[editor]

Yeah, better pens you could buy for a tenner.

I'm sure there are but it's a shame you've still declined to name any.

Still, I'm more than happy to punt a tenner on this so there's no need to continue the parade-pissing.

 

[FridgeMagnet]

I avoid modern MBs for the same reason; just look a bit try-hard to me. (I do have a vintage one, though.) I have some great pens for which I've paid a small fortune, and some that I've bought for next to nothing - price and quality aren't necessarily tied together. But, watch enthusiasts seem overly-obsessed with price.

MontBlanc have a problem in that they've spent so long actively targeting pens as jewellery for overpaid cunts that the reputation has spread. Even people who know nothing about fountain pens will say "oh, montblanc, they're pens for cunts". Which is a bit of a shame but hey, they've made their own bed and they continue to make it.

I have enjoyed visiting MontBlanc shops in my scruffiest t shirts and combats and asking a series of highly technical pen questions, but the novelty wears off.

 

[Meltingpot]

I avoid modern MBs for the same reason; just look a bit try-hard to me. (I do have a vintage one, though.) I have some great pens for which I've paid a small fortune, and some that I've bought for next to nothing - price and quality aren't necessarily tied together. But, watch enthusiasts seem overly-obsessed with price.

There's a forum for people who are interested in (or can only afford) cheaper watches;

http://www.pmwf.com/Phorum/index.php

 

[Athos]

I'm sure there are but it's a shame you've still declined to name any.

Still, I'm more than happy to punt a tenner on this so there's no need to continue the parade-pissing.

Many are listed on the fountain pen thread. But this is a good start: http://www.cultpens.com/acatalog/Platinum-Carbon-Pen-DP800S.html

 

[editor]

Many are listed on the fountain pen thread. But this is a goos start: http://www.cultpens.com/index.html

I've bought a cheap, well reviewed pen now, thanks.

 

[Athos]

I've bought a cheap, well reviewed pen now, thanks.

Cool.

 

[Athos]

There's a forum for people who are interested in (or can only afford) cheaper watches;

http://www.pmwf.com/Phorum/index.php

Great stuff.

 

[RedDragon]

Wish I was an Octopus

 

[Spymaster]

Time is time though. As long as a watch is sufficiently accurate for your purposes, which let's face it for most people are not millisecond-critical, then why do you need to spend more money? How many people are actually going to need their Breitling to work properly in Antarctica or when they sky dive from space?

You could say that about pretty much anything though. Most people probably own something that they appreciate beyond its basic functionality. In the case of watches it's the engineering, artistry, workmanship etc.

 

[not-bono-ever]

real Designer Pens are a massive business in China - theyse given as gifts between businessmen

http://www.ibtimes.com/mont-blanc-thrives-china-194234

 

[Frances Lengel]

I like clockwork stuff, the aesthetic of it, but watches fill me with a profound sense of melancholy - I think it's coz my dad and one of my surviving uncles wore watches, it'd take too long to explain.

I like markers though, the bad boys shown above for example.

 

[discokermit]

i want a fake omega speedmaster like what buzz aldrin wore on the moon, a fake rolex gmt master II like what che guevara wore, and a fake tag heuer monaco like steve mcqueen wore in 'le mans'.

 

[tbtommyb]

I would like to use nice pens but I'm left handed

 

[Greebo]

I would like to use nice pens but I'm left handed

Get one fitted with an oblique nib? Some (not all) of the better pens can be fitted for lefties - oblique nibs are usually available as one of the accessories rather than by default. ViolentPanda

 

[bi0boy]

i want a fake omega speedmaster like what buzz aldrin wore on the moon, a fake rolex gmt master II like what che guevara wore, and a fake tag heuer monaco like steve mcqueen wore in 'le mans'.

Yes, if fake watches were good enough for those people they should be good enough for you.

 

[editor]

I'd love to have this watch. Shame it's over ten times the price I'm prepared to pay for it though.

http://www.fortis-watches.com/

 

[Shirl]

A Swiss one I was given as a christmas present. I haven't worn it for 15 years mainly due to my mobile.

Mine is a Mondaine too but it also has a date function. I wear it everyday and every time I put it on I think how much I love it. It was a present so I have no idea how much it cost, nothing ridiculous though.

 

[tbtommyb]

Get one fitted with an oblique nib? Some (not all) of the better pens can be fitted for lefties - oblique nibs are usually available as one of the accessories rather than by default. ViolentPanda

I can write with them but I smudge everything with my hand as I write across the page.