watches...

bighoppa wrote:

Gorgeous watches, all. Too bad I have yet to find a watch that doesn't irritate my skin and give me a rash when worn regularly. Gold or silver. Do watch aficionados suffering this plague have a secret? A little felt pad under the watch back or something?

That Perpetual looks huge on the arm, but I'm a big dude. I bet I could make it work. Want.

You could also look at Rado watches. They come in different metals and ceramic. They show almost no wear, but are pretty expensive. Andy Worhol did at least one picture of them.

Paleocon wrote:

What will you do when the zombies overrun NIST?

IMAGE(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gnLg_3SuxNs/TwdRDneoaTI/AAAAAAAAAGc/NwcQq0fwIQU/s1600/fossildial.jpg)

Now that's a fossil.

Oh man. You know, a sundial watch that auto-orients would be pretty freaking awesome.

Well. Except in places where the sun never comes out.

(Like where I live.)

(Okay, it's actually sunny today. It's an anomaly.)

a7an wrote:

What watch are you wearing?

Hamilton Khaki Automatic (self winder)

I have a Breitling watch that I bought myself for graduation.. this thing is a tank.. its been banged..dropped..struck.. you name it.. not a scratch on it.

TheGameguru wrote:

I have a Breitling watch that I bought myself for graduation.. this thing is a tank.. its been banged..dropped..struck.. you name it.. not a scratch on it.

I looked a those, but the smallest one I could find was still the size of a dogbowl.

Paleocon wrote:
TheGameguru wrote:

I have a Breitling watch that I bought myself for graduation.. this thing is a tank.. its been banged..dropped..struck.. you name it.. not a scratch on it.

I looked a those, but the smallest one I could find was still the size of a dogbowl.

They're on the heavy side too... My brother got one for me when he was in Germany.

i got this one ages ago. been a great watch. I got the strap alter when i could afford it. strap cost half as much as the watch! Titanium is 'spensive.

i wasw trying to find it online but it seems to have been an obscure model.

IMAGE(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-BZ81dW5Omf4/T5h6NRvwS8I/AAAAAAAAHUk/wbSKt5nI3y0/s549/2012-04-25+18.26.35.jpg)

groan wrote:

strap cost half as much as the watch! Titanium is 'spensive.

IMAGE(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-BZ81dW5Omf4/T5h6NRvwS8I/AAAAAAAAHUk/wbSKt5nI3y0/s549/2012-04-25+18.26.35.jpg)

That picture emphasizes my problem with titanium. It is soft enough to scratch but too hard to buff.

groan wrote:

i got this one ages ago. been a great watch. I got the strap alter when i could afford it. strap cost half as much as the watch! Titanium is 'spensive.

i wasw trying to find it online but it seems to have been an obscure model.

IMAGE(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-BZ81dW5Omf4/T5h6NRvwS8I/AAAAAAAAHUk/wbSKt5nI3y0/s549/2012-04-25+18.26.35.jpg)

Very interesting groan! Great example of a fresh ana-digi style. Love the lcd subdial complications.

I haven't worn a wrist-watch in almost a decade.
Killing time at a watch-sale on my vacation put the bug in my brain and for the past two weeks I've been researching and trying to figure out what I could stomach aesthetically, financially, and functionally to remedy this character flaw of mine.

Financially I'd say $500 is my absolute top end. There appears to be a very steep Function/Fetish curve at that point that I just can't rationalize for myself.
Aesthetically I like discreet. Sleek. Smooth lines. It shouldn't scream "I AM WATCH!" but it also shouldn't hide its function. I find that I also like rugged simplicity. If it can't be smooth and elegant it should be straight-forward, to the point, and functional to a fault.
The watch that triggered this newfound desire to own a watch was from the Citizen Stiletto line.
http://www.amazon.com/Citizen-AR3015...
I like the Eco Drive concept, so most of the current contenders are Citizen watches... I'd welcome input for similar styles.
http://www.amazon.com/Citizen-BM6555...
However the bracelet style band is problematic for me. My wrist swells quite a bit through the course of a day, so what fits perfect in the morning may be cutting off my circulation in the afternoon. When I tried this on it was extremely snug at its widest setting.
I'm this close to just ordering one and trying it for a week, but before I do that I'd love to see if anyone can suggest a brand or model line with a similar style that I may not have run into in my amateur searches.

Thanks!

You might like some of the ESQ watches.

NathanialG wrote:

You might like some of the ESQ watches.

I checked those out and there were definitely some decent models in there...
Over the last few days I've killed WAY too much time researching and going back and forth between style and function. Quality vs survivability. Discreet vs functional. For my sins I even loaded up the Watch U Seek forums and spent an evening sinking into that rabbit-hole.
Finally I said screw it and found a Seiko 5 that appealed to me with a band I think I might tolerate.
Seiko 5 Sports SNZG15
Not the lowest price, but Amazon seems to have a solid returns policy.
IMAGE(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31zrL7ekMML.jpg)
If this treats me well and doesn't end up collecting dust (like my ancient Timex Atlantis 100 I found in a drawer yesterday) then I'll upgrade.

With that out of the way... I am intrigued with the NATO style bands. Specifically the Tropical braided variety. A watch I had when I was 7ish had the braided style band and I have fond memories of futzing with it. Does a watch have to have a specific style of posts (?) to support that band or can a regular tension bar be used?

I've had the urge to start wearing a watch again, ever since this past winter. After I missed X-mas, I told myself I'd buy one with my tax return. Ha! I owed the price of several watches this year.

Anyway, this obnoxious block of steel still intrigues me.
IMAGE(http://www.watchismo.com/images/products/display/HaffstreunerHA001closeup.jpg)

Then there's also the more subtle and subversive.
IMAGE(http://www.watchismo.com/images/products/detail/Accuratefront.jpg)
This one's a mirror so you see yourself in it whenever you check the time.

Working on acquiring this one. If all goes well, should have it in a week or two. Been after this for awhile and found one in like new condition. Zixen is always sold out of this model.

Cushion Case, plongeur hands, and retro dial that harkens back to divers of the 70's but using a modified ETA 2836 GMT automatic movement.

IMAGE(http://forums.watchuseek.com/attachments/f74/298470d1277475761-sinn-u1-vs-zixen-dsr-500m-dsr-500m.gif)

Rezzy wrote:

Citizen Stiletto line.
http://www.amazon.com/Citizen-AR3015...
I like the Eco Drive concept, so most of the current contenders are Citizen watches... I'd welcome input for similar styles.

Niiiiiice... might steal this one from you.

gains wrote:

I've had the urge to start wearing a watch again, ever since this past winter. After I missed X-mas, I told myself I'd buy one with my tax return. Ha! I owed the price of several watches this year.

Anyway, this obnoxious block of steel still intrigues me.

That one looks uncomfortable. I've got a watch with sharpish corners, and I don't wear it as much as I thought I would because it digs into the wrist.

I don't wear a watch since I got a cell phone for telling what time it actually is, but have you guys seen the work of Haruo Suekichi?

Has this comment been made? I saw the thread title..

watches...

and it freaked me out a little.

Watch project done. Based on the 1936 Panerai Radiomir watches created for the Royal Italian Navy.

Swiss Unitas 6497-1 hand wound movement
47mm vintage 3646 radiomir case with screw down swan-neck crown with 26/26 wire lugs
NOS california dial
blued steel double pencil hands
Giovanni E Figlio hand made Italian leather strap with sewn in buckle

Currently fitted with damaged crystals (front & back). New crystals on order.

IMAGE(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-UGTQZQ-x9Bk/UARI_GydtKI/AAAAAAAAERc/Y33P4rzsClo/s640/DSN%2520California%2520Homage%2520007.jpg)
IMAGE(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-vYE1MZlyOgU/UARI_BqcJOI/AAAAAAAAERc/d4RP-Dz4Jnw/s640/DSN%2520California%2520Homage%2520013.jpg)
IMAGE(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-XG29z1IXTUg/UARI_FsvAwI/AAAAAAAAERc/cYFjxsh*t80/s640/DSN%2520California%2520Homage%2520025.jpg)

I have a love/hate thing going on with watches. I need to wear a watch - really like having one to look at the time and I find that mobile phones just don't cut it for speed and clarity. Unfortunately, the straps *always* go and that's the point at which I find out that the watch I chose had a specific type of connection to the body. :/

To be fair, I usually buy cheap watches but it's still annoying to have these otherwise useful things just slowly grind down their batteries....

I have an awesome cheapo Casio version of Groan's super expensive watch. Similar to this:
IMAGE(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51L01aYFLeL._AA300_.jpg)

Only from the 1980s and grey/metal.

Man, searching for that I got a trip down memory lane. Two of my old watches:

IMAGE(http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Arts/Arts_/Pictures/2011/4/28/1303995000210/A-time-to-kill-...-the-Ca-007.jpg)

IMAGE(http://vintagedigitalwatches.com/watches2/01050060.JPG)

My current, just broken, Jeep SP19C:

IMAGE(http://www.pulsed.ndo.co.uk/jeep-images/jp19c.jpg)

Still retails for the same price as I bought it in 2009 - even on ebay!!

I got this guy a couple years back:

IMAGE(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/411E%2Bhg78DL._SX385_.jpg)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002IAT9WU/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i00

I love it, and it has started many a conversation when on client site.

I bought this watch awhile back, but it sucks back batteries.

http://www.tokyoflash.com/en/watch_museum/tokyoflash/kyokusen/

Bonnonon wrote:

I bought this watch awhile back, but it sucks back batteries.

http://www.tokyoflash.com/en/watch_museum/tokyoflash/kyokusen/

Looks cool though...

I've long had problems with watch bands (irritation, etc.). That is, until I bought a Luminox Navy SEAL Dive Watch. Best watch I've ever owned.

The battery died on my Boccia so I had to dig out my uncle's old Tudor!

The crystal needs replacing, the crown needs replacing and the movement runs a little slow but other than that I love it. It's so classic.

Apparently it's from the 60s, has had the crystal replaced once (you can tell because this crystal lacks the telltale bubble that Tudor uses) and would be worth a lot more if my mom had not tossed the original strap when they were going through my late-uncles things :(.

Now I'm on the quest to locate a watchmaker that can work on it.

IMAGE(https://dl.dropbox.com/u/7779045/2012-10-19%2015.06.05.jpg)

Good luck with the hunt!
Passing things down through the family always has a nice history to it. You're going to have to show us the final result.

I will, if I am able to afford it. I found out that the company that did the estimate a few years ago now has Rolex technicians on staff so I can bring it there.

I seem to remember $300 for the crystal and crown, or maybe it was just for the crown.

groan wrote:

I seem to remember $300 for the crystal and crown, or maybe it was just for the crown.

It's probably worth the expense if you can get the cash together. Tudor watches of that era used Rolex cases and movements. Very nice.