Watches

[Herr Tubthumper]

For some reason I'm really enjoying this thread.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Swiss Army. A gift (2002). Left wrist, every day, never in bed. If you'll pardon the expression.

 

[Acker79]

I do wear one.
My right wrist (with the face on the palm side)
Timex, relatively cheap
I only wear it when I go out. I take it off when working at my desk as it gets in my way when typing/using my mouse, and I take it off when I get home.

I wouldn't pay too much for one, expecially since the more expensive ones tend to be the sort I'm not comfortable wearing (there's acurrent trend for large dials, the smaller dials have straps I don't like.

 

[James Bond's body double]

Yes wear one every day but, never in bed.

Rolex, got it 2nd hand for my 21st still going strong 24 years later.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

A more cynical person would say that Omega along with other maufacturers (Omega is part of the Swatch group which with Richemont own most of the watch brands apart from Rolex) are making sure all watches are in house serviced by restricting parts to independent watchmakers, which is the real reason for that industries decline.
No doubt that servicing a manual wind or automatic watch is a labour intensive and highly skilled job though.

Omega of course restrict supply of parts. They will only supply parts to an independant, if they have an in store watchmaker, trained (by them) to work on Omega watches. Seems pretty sensible, and not at all unreasonable given that they are prepared to provide and fund training, and fund the watch-makers' school. Why on earth would you want your watch serviced by a self-taught or completely untrained person?

But don't you think that most of this complexity is self generated by the watchmakers to make it difficult for anyone else to work on them?

No. A turbillion or any other classic movement is a complex and beautiful piece of engineering. The complexity is deliberate - its a selling point. Its not to make it hard to service - though they are, of course.

consider that these watches actually do not keep better time than something you can pick up for a tenner in a petrol station.
.

Far worse time, in many, if not all cases. But to focus on that is to spectacularly miss the point. It would be like saying, "why buy a classic car, when you can get higher speed and better fuel economy from a new nissan micra?"

Neither are they more robust, in fact if worn regularly they seem to fall apart and wear more severely than many cheap watches

This, I would have to disagree with. I've two Omega Seamasters that have been absolutely beasted and never picked up so much as a scratch.

Ask yourself why a watch actually needs a service? A car needs a service but surely something that sits on your wrist doing nothing for most of the day should go on and on.

True if it were a digital watch with no moving parts, but for an automatic, obviously not the case - hundreds of tiny, intricate moving parts, that are working away the whole time.

When I took my Breitling to a independent he said he couldn't work on it as Breitling wont sell parts to anyone else and this policy basically allows them to charge what they like for servicing.

I've no knowledge of Breitling policies, but the answer you got was from the perspective of the independent, who feels they've been cut out - I'd imagine the watch brand's thinking is in line with Omega's - restrict parts to trained watch-makers.

 

[Nitram]

They look very very nice as well. At 5k I'll file it under "in my dreams"

They make hundreds of variations of the Speedmaster and more limited editions than you could imagine. The one to go for is known as the 'moonwatch' retails at approx £3330 aim for 20% discount. This is the latest edition of the moonwatch a couple of years ago they were about £2000 new.

 

[Ceej]

I do wear one.
My right wrist (with the face on the palm side)
Timex, relatively cheap
I only wear it when I go out. I take it off when working at my desk as it gets in my way when typing/using my mouse, and I take it off when I get home.

I wouldn't pay too much for one, expecially since the more expensive ones tend to be the sort I'm not comfortable wearing (there's acurrent trend for large dials, the smaller dials have straps I don't like.

Can I ask why watch face down? Just tradition? It would not getting the way whilst typing if you had it the "normal" way up.

Also not a fan of massive dials.

 

[Ceej]

Hamilton Khaki Field Auto 38mm.
Not in shower or bed. Left wrist. Could never be without a watch!

 

[Acker79]

Can I ask why watch face down? Just tradition? It would not getting the way whilst typing if you had it the "normal" way up.

Also not a fan of massive dials.

I just always have, so it now feels off balance if I have it the other way around.

 

[Nitram]

Omega of course restrict supply of parts. They will only supply parts to an independant, if they have an in store watchmaker, trained (by them) to work on Omega watches. Seems pretty sensible, and not at all unreasonable given that they are prepared to provide and fund training, and fund the watch-makers' school. Why on earth would you want your watch serviced by a self-taught or completely

You are making an assumption I did not. I was talking about qualified watchmakers, Omega are restricting the supply, yes you can argue they are maintaining standards, but I believe that is being naive. It's more about controlling the market and fixing prices for service and making people use in house servicing. As I said before nearly all the watch brands apart from a few small independants along withRolex, Breitling and Seiko are owned by Richemont and Swatch groups. It's a cynical business practice advertised as standard setting by the large corporations, and is putting good, trained watchmakers out of business thereby eliminating choice and creating a monopoly market so they can fix prices.

 

[Hiney]

Anyone got any pringles?

 

[Hiney]

You are making an assumption I did not. I was talking about qualified watchmakers, Omega are restricting the supply, yes you can argue they are maintaining standards, but I believe that is being naive. It's more about controlling the market and fixing prices for service and making people use in house servicing. As I said before nearly all the watch brands apart from a few small independants along withRolex, Breitling and Seiko are owned by Richemont and Swatch groups. It's a cynical business practice advertised as standard setting by the large corporations, and is putting good, trained watchmakers out of business.

Just as a matter of interest, if you owned a Ferrari, would you have it serviced by a trained mechanic at the garage down the road, or have it done by the accredited Ferrari dealership?

 

[Nitram]

Just as a matter of interest, if you owned a Ferrari, would you have it serviced by a trained mechanic at the garage down the road, or have it done by the accredited Ferrari dealership?

Well that's the crux of it and what they want you to do. In answer it would depend, a new car yes I probably would, my 50 year old model, I'd rather go independent. It's about choice and the car analogy is a good example of the business model the watch corporations want to go for good or bad. Trouble is when you have achieved your monopoly all the independent guys with knowledge will have gone, probably does not bother most but I think it's a shame.

Edit.

The other point worth mentioning is that having in house services servicing your watch does not mean they are good. Brietling and Rolex have excellent records but those unfortunate to buy from the Richemont group (including JLC and Panerai) have some real horror stories.

 

[Icy Gull]

It won't be OK to wear near water unless it has had a recent service but even then it's doubtful for such an old watch. Rolex should not be on the watch face it would be a Tudor Rose, the Shield was introduced much later. Tudor are owned by Rolex and case markings and the crown are marked Rolex on older watches but never on the dial.

Has the oyster crown and has been given a number of showers and swims, fortunately without obvious problems but I take you point.

Not going to argue with you about the Rolex face with Tudor written on it as I am no expert, but I have seen reference to the Rolex crown being on the Tudor face on watches of the early 40's and being genuine. I really need to take the watch to a Rolex dealer to look at.

 

[Nitram]

Q

Has the oyster crown and has been given a number of showers and swims, fortunately without obvious problems but I take you point.

Not going to argue with you about the Rolex face with Tudor written on it as I am no expert, but I have seen reference to the Rolex crown being on the Tudor face on watches of the early 40's and being genuine. I really need to take the watch to a Rolex dealer to look at.

The vast majority of Rolex authorised dealers will not have a clue about anything vintage, your best bet is someone who deals in older pieces like the one in Brighton Square.

 

[Normal Rob]

TAG Heuer Kirium like this one



left wrist. never take it off

 

[Nibble]

My father's Omega with suits, G Shock or a a slightly nicer Storm watch for everyday. Also a Tag I got as a present for being my Brothers best man but can't bring myself to wear it since he died. I love watches but cannot justify shelling out for them really. On and a fairly inexpensive generic divers watch I wear for scuba.

Left wrist, off for showers and in the wooden bowl by the front door overnight. No other jewellery.

 

[BigGully]

I look at watches a little bit like sunglasses, they quickly date and go out of fashion nearly each season, so I would consider fake stuff.

Unless you are buying watches with precious metals or jewels you kind of end up with a pretty ugly, unfashionable and a devaluing thing, that only seems to have any relevance if you bore someone with the story of why you bought it.

 

[KVLT]

My Dad's old Longines Conquest. Wear it most days. Always left wrist, never in bed.

Looks the same as this:

 

[Silverhatch]

Just as a matter of interest, if you owned a Ferrari, would you have it serviced by a trained mechanic at the garage down the road, or have it done by the accredited Ferrari dealership?

Difficult one this. A modern Ferrari with all the complex electronics and I'd go to a dealership. A hand built classic - then I'd look for a specialist (probably an old mechanic) who knows how to spanner an analogue/carburettor engine. With hand built watches a repairer who's a member of the British Horological Institute would probably do as good a job on any classic watch as an approved shop.