Fancy A New Watch.......opinions Please!

[Rillo]

Of the three my fave is the Omega (used to have one) however for a budget of 3K how about :

Rolex GMT 2?

or

Rolex Submariner?

[LexAzur]

I used to have an Omega years ago but got rid of it after some problems and bought a Breitling.

Now on my second Breitling, no problems with either one, latest one blue faced Chronograph, great watches!!!

[chips229]

Omega: Omega Seamaster

For Me.

[IanF]

I can't get my head round this at all.

I would spend more money on an expensive car than a cheap car because it performs better, has more features or is bigger.

I would spend money on a bigger house because it is better than a small house.

But a £3000 hour is exactly the same as a £20 Casio hour. You have to adjust your watch twice a year anyway - who cares if it is 0.5seconds out each time.

Ian

[Rillo]

I can't get my head round this at all.

I would spend more money on an expensive car than a cheap car because it performs better, has more features or is bigger.

I would spend money on a bigger house because it is better than a small house.

But a £3000 hour is exactly the same as a £20 Casio hour. You have to adjust your watch twice a year anyway - who cares if it is 0.5seconds out each time.

Ian

then why buy a lexus instead of a toyota, or citroen or fiat etc....... ??? :)

[IanF]

I can't get my head round this at all.

I would spend more money on an expensive car than a cheap car because it performs better, has more features or is bigger.

I would spend money on a bigger house because it is better than a small house.

But a £3000 hour is exactly the same as a £20 Casio hour. You have to adjust your watch twice a year anyway - who cares if it is 0.5seconds out each time.

Ian

then why buy a lexus instead of a toyota, or citroen or fiat etc....... ??? :)

Ahh, but I did - Toyota Altezza RS200 - much better than an IS200. That's my point - I'm not saying don't spend the money you've got - but why spend it on something that has no added value other than snobbery?

I can sense this is an argument that is going to get me shot down in flames :D - it's one of theose things you either "get" instinctively, or will never understand :winky:

[Kazi]

Kazi just checked out the Patek Phillipe watches kent is talking bout.they are v nice.You arent looking for a dressy watch tho are you,as the ones that you have selected seem to be robust not delicate.

Not robust as such, just the style, understated. Didn't want anything to shiney chromey etc etc and be able to wear it on any occassion and not look out of place. :D

On another as I have to commend the shop Ive bought my previous watch from and the current purchase. He added two links to my old watch while I waited free of charge, and heres the best part, as my new watch is out of stock, he has lent me his old Omega which is identical to the one ive just sold!

Hows that for service? :D Can't fault that at all! Well chuffed!!!! :D :D :D

[Rob]

Breitling use a cheap movement and are easily broken i have heard many stories from owners who have knoocked or dropped the watch for the hands to fall off

[Kazi]

Breitling use a cheap movement and are easily broken i have heard many stories from owners who have knoocked or dropped the watch for the hands to fall off

Good quality then? :duh:

[Kent]

Breitling use a cheap movement and are easily broken i have heard many stories from owners who have knoocked or dropped the watch for the hands to fall off

The original poster has now chosen his watch so its all a bit academic really but I would be interested to hear more about the "cheap" and unreliable Breitling movement. The three watches in the original shortlist all use the same base movement or "Ebauche", that is, the Valjoux 7750. This is the most common chronograph movement in the world and is used by dozens of quality watchmakers as a base module. It is recognised as an extremely robust, accurate and reliable movement throughout the watch world. The quality of the finished movement depends on the amount of personalisation that a Manufacturer puts into this base movement. Thus, a company such as IWC will modify and personalise to such a degree that it finishes up with a movement totally unrecognisable from the original. Tag Heuer, Breitling and others will not usually do very much at all with the original other than specifying the best quality materials and then adding a few swirlies to make it look good. hence the price differential. A lot of watch "snobs" won't buy a watch unless the movement is made in house and this helps to create the market for the Pateks of this world.

"can't get my head round this at all.

I would spend more money on an expensive car than a cheap car because it performs better, has more features or is bigger.

I would spend money on a bigger house because it is better than a small house.

But a £3000 hour is exactly the same as a £20 Casio hour. You have to adjust your watch twice a year anyway - who cares if it is 0.5seconds out each time."

Ian

Buying a high quality watch is not only for telling the time. The £20 Casio will be far more accurate than most mechanical watches anyway. An investment of £5K on a sought after timepiece will still be worth a lot of money in 50 years time and even more in 100 years time. My first good watch was my Fathers Rolex which I inherited many years ago. This started off my ruinously expensive passion for watches which, thank *** has now cooled to the extent that I now own only one really good watch and that is a Panerai (which incidently uses the Valjoux 7750 as its base movement) Spending more than £20 on a watch is not foolish. Who says a big house is better than a small house? or an expensive car is better than a cheap car? It depends surely on the quality/location. Almost anything I can think of comes in a variety of qualities and it just depends what you want from an item whether it is worth spending more on.

[IanF]

Buying a high quality watch is not only for telling the time. The £20 Casio will be far more accurate than most mechanical watches anyway. An investment of £5K on a sought after timepiece will still be worth a lot of money in 50 years time and even more in 100 years time. My first good watch was my Fathers Rolex which I inherited many years ago. This started off my ruinously expensive passion for watches which, thank *** has now cooled to the extent that I now own only one really good watch and that is a Panerai (which incidently uses the Valjoux 7750 as its base movement) Spending more than £20 on a watch is not foolish. Who says a big house is better than a small house? or an expensive car is better than a cheap car? It depends surely on the quality/location. Almost anything I can think of comes in a variety of qualities and it just depends what you want from an item whether it is worth spending more on.

I don't buy the investment argument - if you want to invest money for the future, there are far better ways to make more money - over 100 years you can pretty much guarantee a 7% pa increase on the stock market, turning £5000 into over 4 million quid. How many expensive watches are going to be worth that in 100 years time?

The thing with the house or car argument, is that you can point to a factual reason why you have spent more money - ie a flat in the centre of London is worth more than a mansion in the outskirts of Huddersfield for a tangible reason.

The only argument I can understand is that what you are actually buying is a piece of jewellery, and the associated feelgood factor. It's an emotional purchase, not a rational one - hence the reason a logical engineer like myself can't see the point.

At the end of the day, it's your money - do whatever you like with it that makes you happy :)

Ian

[Rob]

all i can comment on is the experience i had from quite a few people that own ( did own) breitling watches and i work with them every day. the situation with the hands falling off was shocking - not something you would expect for a watch that costs so much - i remember that breitling wanted about £400 to just look at it repair etc was more, funnily enough he had quite a few calls to say that they had found x required repair, he paid about £1K in the end for the repair.

For anyone that is serious about watches you need to attend "Basel World" THE worlds premier watch show - but book your hotels early because every single hotel in about 60km radius will be fully booked.

[Kent]

[

I don't buy the investment argument - if you want to invest money for the future, there are far better ways to make more money - over 100 years you can pretty much guarantee a 7% pa increase on the stock market, turning £5000 into over 4 million quid. How many expensive watches are going to be worth that in 100 years time?The only argument I can understand is that what you are actually buying is a piece of jewellery, and the associated feelgood factor. It's an emotional purchase, not a rational one - hence the reason a logical engineer like myself can't see the point.

Ian

I agree with the investment point although 7% is a low estimate of a 100 year return and historical increases have been mostly in double figures. However I did not and would never recommend watches as a wise investment, I merely pointed out that unlike a car, which will probably have wasted away to nothing in 20/30 years, quality watches are built to last several lifetimes and can retain a very high percentage of original cost even allowing for inflation. In the meantime you have had decades of pleasure wearing them and showing them off to other watch buffs. Most house and car purchases are far more emotional than rational in my experience. Only investors and builders buy rationally. Most people, including me, take an area they can afford to buy in and then buy the house they fall in love with. I would bet that most people on this forum have bought at least one car which was not the most practical, wisest choice but had that "I want it and I want it now" factor.

Kent.

[Chris Skelton]

I can't get my head round this at all.

I would spend more money on an expensive car than a cheap car because it performs better, has more features or is bigger.

I would spend money on a bigger house because it is better than a small house.

But a £3000 hour is exactly the same as a £20 Casio hour. You have to adjust your watch twice a year anyway - who cares if it is 0.5seconds out each time.

Ian

then why buy a lexus instead of a toyota, or citroen or fiat etc....... ??? :)

Because they get you places in style, while a watch just tells you you're late?

I haven't had a watch for 30 years..

Mugger approached; rolled up sleeves. 'Look, idiot!! No watch! Don't have a phone!! I'm walking so don't have a car! WHAT do you want!!??'

Just mumbled...Sorry mate...and went off.

( I WAS going to my lock-up to get Lexus out, but.....)

There IS a watch called a SKELTON, so I'd have to wear that. But really, it's just image when you look at it.

You might get past it?

[Kent]

There IS a watch called a SKELTON, so I'd have to wear that. But really, it's just image when you look at it.

You might get past it?

Are you sure? There are plenty of Skeleton watches but I've never heard of a Skelton brand.

[Pip]

I am happy with my Rolex MOP President.

Only gripe is the that it has to be worn at least every 2nd day to keep the perpetual motion running.

At £25k its not exactly a watch i wear to the gym or cleaning up the house.

BTW Kazi i dont like any of the watches you mentioned but if that was a choice go for the Breitling.

[Kazi]

I am happy with my Rolex MOP President.

Only gripe is the that it has to be worn at least every 2nd day to keep the perpetual motion running.

At £25k its not exactly a watch i wear to the gym or cleaning up the house.

BTW Kazi i dont like any of the watches you mentioned but if that was a choice go for the Breitling.

To late mate, Omega is on its way :D longer than expected mind, was told this morning I have to wait 5 - 6 weeks now :o

Trouble is with Rolex, there a bit bling if you get what I mean. Bit in your face, works of art in terms of quality don't get me wrong, but again, loads of knock offs about.

[Pip]

I actually meant to say Omega Kazi!

I agree with the cheaper end of the Rolex spectrum i.e the stainless steel sh!tty models and the likes.

You cant fake the sheer exuberance of the high end models though mate.

People know when they see it straight away.

What Omega did you go for in the end?

[tdiplc]

May I suggest this watch from this page. (Seventh watch down)

Its ceramic, radio controlled time and solar powered.

S.

Kazi,hows bout RADO,do you not fancy something like that?I am partial to a bit of Omega.My old man swears by them.

I have one of the those Junghams atomic titanium jobbies - well chuffed.

[Kazi]

I actually meant to say Omega Kazi!

I agree with the cheaper end of the Rolex spectrum i.e the stainless steel sh!tty models and the likes.

You cant fake the sheer exuberance of the high end models though mate.

People know when they see it straight away.

What Omega did you go for in the end?

Click on the linky on post #1 :D

May I suggest this watch from this page. (Seventh watch down)

Its ceramic, radio controlled time and solar powered.

S.

Kazi,hows bout RADO,do you not fancy something like that?I am partial to a bit of Omega.My old man swears by them.

I have one of the those Junghams atomic titanium jobbies - well chuffed.

No idea what they are

[Pip]

You happy with the watch mate?

[Kazi]

Hermmmm interesting timing mate. The watch only came in on Monday, the guy down the round popped into to see me yesterday, left it with me, I had a good look, feel etc etc....and im not so keen on it now. Little to thick on my skinny wrists. Its an excellent example of great build.

Anway, Ive decided to just buy another Seamaster like the James Bond one (like the one I had) . So, all not a success really.

Think im to fussy.

Cheers for asking though Pip. :D

[Pip]

No problem mate.

Like you i appreciate the nicer things in life.

Not being funny i work out and by no means have small forearms but some of these HUGE faced watches as just disgusting and look daft, breitlings especially.

It wouldnt suit me and i have the forarms to possibly carry it off.

[Kazi]

No problem mate.

Like you i appreciate the nicer things in life.

Not being funny i work out and by no means have small forearms but some of these HUGE faced watches as just disgusting and look daft, breitlings especially.

It wouldnt suit me and i have the forarms to possibly carry it off.

I have no chance of pulling it off then, I have girly wrists! I think it also come down to the fact im not great at changing what I like. The price of the watch or any of the others was not a factor really, im not buying something for the sake of it just to look poncy.

The watch itself was not huge in terms of the face of it, very simular in size to what ive had but the thickness of the watch was to much....

[Bloodygoodbloke]

I take it no one would want to buy this watch

:D