Watches

Posted by: CP62 on 08 May 2014

Hallo,

 

On this great forum there are people who like high end audio and good wine. Are there any who like watches  and are collectors. Brands like Oris, Rolex , Omega and others?

Posted on: 09 May 2014 by Don Atkinson
Originally Posted by Mr Fjeld:
Originally Posted by Tony Lockhart:
This is the first decent watch I bought, a Longines Conquest VHP quartz. It's tiny and very light by today's standards, keeps incredibly accurate time (less than five seconds out per year) and was bought in Dhahran in 1991. I've a real soft spot for the ol girl.

Nice, I suppose "VHP" means Very High Precision" like in a super quartz? 5 seconds a month is an amazing time keeping! Looks good too


I think Tony said 5 seconds a year !

Posted on: 09 May 2014 by Tony Lockhart
Indeedy
Posted on: 09 May 2014 by Chalshus

Pictures are always nice. This is a Minerva from 1997-98 with calibre 48 hand wound movement. A beautiful little watch with a diameter of 34mm.  A bit tiny if you are used to modern watches , but this is the classic size. 

 

 

 

 

 

Vintage inspired Omega Dynamic from around 1998. Automatic ETA 2898 A2. 36mm.  I really like this watch. Had a Sinn 556 earlier, witch is similar in size and shape, but it didn't gave me anything. Flipped it pretty fast.

 

Posted on: 10 May 2014 by mista h

Many years ago when i was wed to the late Mrs h a guy a few houses along was going out with a girl who was the sec to a Director of Tissot,and she got us all watches SILLY cheap. I had one,Mrs H,parents,Bill the dustman,kevin the paperboy etc,etc. Th margin on watches is huge. I should have bought a few more,just to put away in a cupboard.

Mista h

Posted on: 10 May 2014 by Mr Fjeld
Originally Posted by Don Atkinson:
Originally Posted by Mr Fjeld:
Originally Posted by Tony Lockhart:
This is the first decent watch I bought, a Longines Conquest VHP quartz. It's tiny and very light by today's standards, keeps incredibly accurate time (less than five seconds out per year) and was bought in Dhahran in 1991. I've a real soft spot for the ol girl.

Nice, I suppose "VHP" means Very High Precision" like in a super quartz? 5 seconds a month is an amazing time keeping! Looks good too


I think Tony said 5 seconds a year !

Quite right! Even for a so called super quartz that is very good. Interestingly, they usually increase the frequency to negate the effect varying temperatures have on quartz movements. It usually drains the battery so one has to change batteries more often. It really is an amazing technology and there are a few really nice looking watches out there such as Tony's watch and also the Grand Seiko range is fabulous.

Posted on: 10 May 2014 by Sniper
Originally Posted by mista h:

 watches SILLY cheap.. Th margin on watches is huge.

Mista h

A friend of mine who is a horologist told me that the 'mechanicals' of many watches costing many hundreds or even thousands of pounds cost no more than 20GBP. Many companies such as TAG Heuer for example bang out many of their watches with 20 quid mechanicals which are bought in baulk from other manufacturers. You pay for the case, the strap and their image. 

 

By chance I discovered this film today - How a watch is made - http://www.flixxy.com/look-ove...makers-shoulders.htm 

Posted on: 10 May 2014 by Tony Lockhart
That sort of thing is well known and accepted. One thing is for sure, given all the required parts, I wouldn't be able to produce even the cheapest watch!

And legend has it, some hifi companies mark up their boxes by huge amounts, just to keep dealer networks going!

Ever priced up printer ink per litre? Scary.
Posted on: 10 May 2014 by Steve J
Originally Posted by Steve J:

I have a very understated Omega Titanium and Gold Seamaster which I bought in 1989 for £400. It was a real bargain as I bought it from a jewellers that was closing down. It was in the window for £800 reduced from £1600 and they were just about to close for good when I walked in and offered £400 which they took. I have worn it daily since. A few months ago the bracelet broke. Local watch repairers said it couldn't be fixed and it was sent to Omega who said the same. They quoted £4500 for a replacement bracelet. Luckily my Naim dealer recommended a friend of his who is a watch specialist in Birmingham and he repaired it for free. Result. 

Here's a pic from the iPhone...

Posted on: 10 May 2014 by Brian Dodson

I have a Breitling B-1 like this one.  A great watch that's been going strong for 15 years.

 

I chose it because I used to fly the B-1.  One of my boys will get it one day.

 

Posted on: 10 May 2014 by Tony Lockhart

Seriously, you flew the B1?  

Posted on: 10 May 2014 by Brian Dodson
Originally Posted by Tony Lockhart:

Seriously, you flew the B1?  

Yeah, a good gig while it lasted.  I'm retired from the USAF now, "working" for a living

Posted on: 10 May 2014 by winkyincanada
Originally Posted by Tony Lockhart:
That sort of thing is well known and accepted. One thing is for sure, given all the required parts, I wouldn't be able to produce even the cheapest watch!

And legend has it, some hifi companies mark up their boxes by huge amounts, just to keep dealer networks going!

Ever priced up printer ink per litre? Scary.

Ever added up the market cost of the ingredients in a high-end restaurant meal?

Posted on: 10 May 2014 by Tony Lockhart
It's the difference between cost and value, maybe.
Posted on: 10 May 2014 by Jasonf

This has turned into the hairy wrist thread, beautiful!

 

Jason.

Posted on: 10 May 2014 by King Size
Originally Posted by GraemeH:

image Mine G

Clean, clear and classic. Very nice indeed!

Posted on: 10 May 2014 by TomK
Originally Posted by Mr Fjeld:
Originally Posted by TomK:

I'm no collector but I have a Rolex GMT Master II and an Omega Speedmaster (aka the Moon Watch). The Rolex was bought to mark the birth of my first son 25 years ago and the Omega shortly after my second son's birth. They'll get one each when I'm gone.

I believe NASA went for Omega as they weren't sure how an automatic mechanism would work in zero gravity. No doubt the Rolex is vastly more robust than the Omega and neither is anywhere as accurate as a couple of Seiko quartz I have. A fraction of the price but still beautifully built.

I love my Omega Speedmaster; the classic and understated design - for a chronograph, the history and its functionality. The Rolex GMT II c is another true classic watch designs. I'll probably buy one later on, but next time I'll spend a significant amount of money it will be on Naim separates.

The idea that lack of gravitation poses a problem for the self winding mechanism is a myth. It isn't and the movement of your arm have enough torque to enable the rotor to wind up the main spring. NASA was aware of this too and it is a fact that the Speedmaster was the only chronograph to pass the abusive test program the watches were put through. It was repeated on two later occasions and one of these tests was carried out after a senate hearing which focused on the dilemma caused by choosing a Swiss product rather than an American made watch (Bulova). It still is approved by NASA as "Flight qualified for all manned space missions". 

I have several less expensive watches; a couple of Seikos and three Tissot watches. 

It came direct from a NASA website and Rolex also passed all their tests. They weren't sure at the time how an automatic mechanism would work in 0 G.

Posted on: 10 May 2014 by winkyincanada
Originally Posted by TomK:
 

The idea that lack of gravitation poses a problem for the self winding mechanism is a myth. 

Correct. No-one with a basic understanding of high school physics and of how self-winding mechanisms work would think otherwise.

Posted on: 10 May 2014 by King Size
Originally Posted by Sniper:
Originally Posted by mista h:

 watches SILLY cheap.. Th margin on watches is huge.

Mista h

A friend of mine who is a horologist told me that the 'mechanicals' of many watches costing many hundreds or even thousands of pounds cost no more than 20GBP. Many companies such as TAG Heuer for example bang out many of their watches with 20 quid mechanicals which are bought in baulk from other manufacturers. You pay for the case, the strap and their image. 

 

By chance I discovered this film today - How a watch is made - http://www.flixxy.com/look-ove...makers-shoulders.htm 

Perhaps, this is true.  

 

All I know is that my Tag Heuer is 15 years old and is the only watch I have ever owned that has lasted more than two years without breaking and being declared 'uneconomical to repair'.  It still looks almost as good as the day I bought it.  So money well spent in my case.   

Posted on: 10 May 2014 by joerand

Wrist watches seem like a thing of past to me, and redundant when everyone is likely carrying a cell phone anyhow. Maybe something like this makes more practical sense while satisfying a perceived fashion yen .....

 

Posted on: 10 May 2014 by Tony Lockhart
There's no way I'm strapping my iPhone to my wrist!

These Star Trek futuristic watches will look fine on a trendy 20 something, not me!
Posted on: 11 May 2014 by Jasonf
Originally Posted by Tony Lockhart:

       
There's no way I'm strapping my iPhone to my wrist!

These Star Trek futuristic watches will look fine on a trendy 20 something, not me!

       


Those gold Rolex's would look fine on Jimmy Savilles or a gangsta rappers wrist, but not on 20 something's.

Jason
Posted on: 11 May 2014 by Tony Lockhart
20 something's weren't his thing!
Posted on: 11 May 2014 by joerand
Originally Posted by Tony Lockhart:
There's no way I'm strapping my iPhone to my wrist

My current time piece is a six year old Samsung flip phone. I keep it in my pocket. It provides accurate time and keeps my wrist unencumbered.

No bling, but it can also be used to make phone calls .

Posted on: 11 May 2014 by Tony Lockhart
A bit rude in some situations, and would get me suspended at work!
Posted on: 11 May 2014 by Mr Fjeld
Originally Posted by TomK:
Originally Posted by Mr Fjeld:
Originally Posted by TomK:

I'm no collector but I have a Rolex GMT Master II and an Omega Speedmaster (aka the Moon Watch). The Rolex was bought to mark the birth of my first son 25 years ago and the Omega shortly after my second son's birth. They'll get one each when I'm gone.

I believe NASA went for Omega as they weren't sure how an automatic mechanism would work in zero gravity. No doubt the Rolex is vastly more robust than the Omega and neither is anywhere as accurate as a couple of Seiko quartz I have. A fraction of the price but still beautifully built.

I love my Omega Speedmaster; the classic and understated design - for a chronograph, the history and its functionality. The Rolex GMT II c is another true classic watch designs. I'll probably buy one later on, but next time I'll spend a significant amount of money it will be on Naim separates.

The idea that lack of gravitation poses a problem for the self winding mechanism is a myth. It isn't and the movement of your arm have enough torque to enable the rotor to wind up the main spring. NASA was aware of this too and it is a fact that the Speedmaster was the only chronograph to pass the abusive test program the watches were put through. It was repeated on two later occasions and one of these tests was carried out after a senate hearing which focused on the dilemma caused by choosing a Swiss product rather than an American made watch (Bulova). It still is approved by NASA as "Flight qualified for all manned space missions". 

I have several less expensive watches; a couple of Seikos and three Tissot watches. 

It came direct from a NASA website and Rolex also passed all their tests. They weren't sure at the time how an automatic mechanism would work in 0 G.

That's not correct. The tests are very well documented and the Rolex Chronograph failed several times during the tests; the watch stopped on two occasions and the second hand was warped and firmly stuck in the other hands because of the high temperature the watches was being subjected to. The original report was published at Nasa's website some time ago but there are countless references on the net. There are now a few other watches which are approved by NASA for space missions, but I believe the Speedmaster is still the only watch to be certified by NASA for space walks/extra-vehicular activity. Not bad for a watch designed in the fifties!