I need a new watch. What should I get.

mookydooky · #1 (**permalink**) 4th January, 2004, 11:55 PM

What kind of watches do you guys wear? Mine broke last month and I need a new one. Actually, it's only the bracelet and I'm ordering a replacement, but it's a good enough excuse to get something new since I've had it for almost 12 years. Pics would be great.

JayJay · #2 (**permalink**) 5th January, 2004, 04:17 AM

What kind of budget do you have? I find Tag Heuers and Omegas very attractive

Pricey they are though...

A Rolex is just way too expensive. Although they last forever.

mookydooky · #3 (**permalink**) 5th January, 2004, 06:56 AM

I don't really have a price range in mind. I went to about 10 watch dealers looking for a Daytona, but none of them had anything less than a 30 month wait list for the Stainless Steel version. So I put myself on a couple of waitlists, but I still need something in the meantime.

As long as it's not gold or digital or too much bling bling, I'm willing to consider it.

Southern Man · #4 (**permalink**) 5th January, 2004, 07:50 AM

Mooky, I have owned a lower end Swiss Army Watch for the past +/- 10 years and I have to say it is one of the best chronometers I have had. In that time I have replaced the battery maybe 4 times. I made notes last time I had to set it for the time shift and it lost 5 sec. over that time period, using the atomic clock site on the Internet as my base. (You will no doubt be setting yours more often with your travels) I like it much better than the Nautica I have which has had it's share of problems.

HERE'S A LINK to the site and the model closest to what I have. Mine is a little different I guess because it was a promotional deal that was made for the company I worked for. Click through the different styles at the top to see if there is anything you like there.

Another interesting link just to see what is out there.

cloasters · #5 (**permalink**) 5th January, 2004, 10:02 AM

Often it seems that the more expensive the watch the less reliable it is. If you want to be stylish in the wrist department, a Cartier Tank Watch for evening wear is hard to beat. Tag Heuer's(pronounced Tahg Hoyair's) are very nice for daytime wear. In the reasonable price range for reg'lar folk, you can't beat Seiko.

Santa brought me a very nice Seiko diver's Kinetic for Christmas. The beauty of Seiko Kinetics is that they're electronically self-winding--with the advantage of being Quartz. The older mechanically self-winding watches work fine--but without the advantage of Quartz accuracy. Rolex mechanically self-winding are almost as accurate. Gotta admit, seeing the date snap forward precisely at Midnight is kinda kewl. Too expensive and a magnet for thieves, IMHO.

www.princetonwatch.com is worth a visit. Real prices are much better than the listed amounts. My new Seiko listed for $525. Overnight shipped, it cost $334. (Santa left the receipt in the box.)

danrok · #6 (**permalink**) 5th January, 2004, 04:22 PM

Seiko's website is very slick, those presentations a re very impressive. I am now totally convinced that watches have dreams. lol

mookydooky · #7 (**permalink**) 5th January, 2004, 08:13 PM

Seiko is a historic company. It's probably the oldest of the major watch manufacturers including Rolex. They are also one of the most vertically integrated companies in the world. The integration goes as far as Seiko producing the oil they need to lubricate their watches. During the quartz craze of the 80's when most of the watch manufacturers consolidated (did you know Omega is owned by Swatch? My Omega is barely more than a glorified Swatch!), Seiko was able to take full advantage and expand into the huge conglomerate it is now.

Allan · #8 (**permalink**) 6th January, 2004, 06:45 AM

I like my Festina watch.. it is pretty precise; has a good, strong bracelet and it isn't that expensive. I'd get one with a better glass than the one in mine, as it has a lot of scratches by now (Since I practically never take it off). Other than that it is a good watch.

Picture? Okeydokey, here comes:

cloasters · #9 (**permalink**) 6th January, 2004, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Allan

I like my Festina watch.. it is pretty precise; has a good, strong bracelet and it isn't that expensive. I'd get one with a better glass than the one in mine, as it has a lot of scratches by now (Since I practically never take it off). Other than that it is a good watch.

Picture? Okeydokey, here comes:

Yeah, dark blue faces are quite nice! I have a Swiss Army with a blue/magenta-ish face. Dic**** of a dishonest jeweller broke it as he replaced the battery. So he'd be paid for fixing it. He was surprised when I walked out with it, un-fixed, sans new battery. Dishonesty really bothers me sometimes.

Who gets their watches repaired nowadays? Only folks with very expensive timepieces?

mookydooky · #10 (**permalink**) 6th January, 2004, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cloasters

Who gets their watches repaired nowadays? Only folks with very expensive timepieces?

Well.... if you get something like a Swatch, it might cost more to repair it than to buy a new one...

BTW, any of you guys ever see a tourbillion movement? Is that the coolest thing you've ever seen in a watch?

Southern Man · #11 (**permalink**) 6th January, 2004, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mookydooky

Well.... if you get something like a Swatch, it might cost more to repair it than to buy a new one...

BTW, any of you guys ever see a tourbillion movement? Is that the coolest thing you've ever seen in a watch?

If anyone is interested I did a little google on tourbillion movements. Check out the little video in the top left side of the page.

tourbillion movement

mookydooky · #12 (**permalink**) 6th January, 2004, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Southern Man

If anyone is interested I did a little google on tourbillion movements. Check out the little video in the top left side of the page.

tourbillion movement

Like I said, isn't it cool??!!! I would get one but even I can't justify getting one. They're not just normal expensive, they're ridiculous expensive. Not to mention that they're fragile. I'd probably break it in a week. I realize I'm pretty rough on things like watches. When I was wearing my Omega, I'd never take it off. There would be stretches of several months when it would literally not come off my wrist. Before the Omega, I went through a couple of Gucci's and a couple of Movado's. Those all self destructed after similar treatment as my Omega.

mookydooky · #13 (**permalink**) 6th January, 2004, 09:31 PM

When I was a little younger, I thought a anything more than $2-300 bucks on a watch was insanity. I then got the Omega as a gift. The fact that it has lasted me until now is an amazing feat. I'm not saying you get what you pay for, but it's good to know it's not a total waste.

cloasters · #14 (**permalink**) 6th January, 2004, 09:52 PM

One way to extend the life of watches is to never wear them in a hot shower or bath. Even real Diver's watches should avoid this treatment. A little Swiss watchmaker(honestly) informed me that the rapid change in temperature just ain't good for them.

snake boy · #15 (**permalink**) 6th January, 2004, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mookydooky

Like I said, isn't it cool??!!! I would get one but even I can't justify getting one. They're not just normal expensive, they're ridiculous expensive. Not to mention that they're fragile. I'd probably break it in a week. I realize I'm pretty rough on things like watches. When I was wearing my Omega, I'd never take it off. There would be stretches of several months when it would literally not come off my wrist. Before the Omega, I went through a couple of Gucci's and a couple of Movado's. Those all self destructed after similar treatment as my Omega.

Yes , real cool, I like to get one when I save up enough money.
Its something I always wanted..

SteveI · #16 (**permalink**) 7th January, 2004, 01:01 PM

I'm clueless when it comes to watches, Daytona you said right?

http://bellsouth.dealtime.com/xDN-Wa...-atlantic_time

WHich one?

mookydooky · #17 (**permalink**) 7th January, 2004, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveI

I'm clueless when it comes to watches, Daytona you said right?

http://bellsouth.dealtime.com/xDN-Wa...-atlantic_time

WHich one?

The one on top. The all steel with black dial. It lists for a little over 6G.

Kaitain · #18 (**permalink**) 7th January, 2004, 02:48 PM

Have to admit I'm kinda pleased with my Fossil watch. Only £60 about 3 years ago, only ever needs adjusting for summer/winter time, and has yet to need a new battery. Not bad for a watch aimed purely at the youth fashion market...

SteveI · #19 (**permalink**) 7th January, 2004, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mookydooky

The one on top. The all steel with black dial. It lists for a little over 6G.

I have to admit, that is a good looking watch... the markup is obcene for these things. BTW, to me, $50 is expensive for a watch.

stigweed · #20 (**permalink**) 7th January, 2004, 02:50 PM

here's my seiko. was so impressed when my parents got this for my 18th birthday. I can't really say anything about its reliability cos that was only jsut over a year ago and I've messed around with daylight savings and GMT/CET. Got to love the blue face - the metal brushing on the inner circle is in a different direction to the outer so you get the highlights at 90degrees to eachother. The glass and the band are getting a bit scratched now (the first scratch seemed like the end of the world) but its unavoidable.

Its a kinetic model - its pretty cool that you can hear a bearing rolling around when you hold it to you ear.

Weight is a good thing in a watch I think.