Hey bsodmikle. How's life in watch land?

[Butuz]

Hey dude, just thought I would send you a message as I've been searching Hexus for watch threads. Problem is your PM box is full - so I guess I'll have to make this public!

Of course couldn't fail to come across posts mentioning your name so after reading some threads and watching some of your YouTube vids I just have to say: congratulations on being so passionate!

I think it’s great. I have to admit earlier on to watching some of your fountain pen and bottle opener vids and thinking “wow” but I can see that you have a passion for all things mechanical from the basic to the most advanced and that I have to jealously admire. I use watches, pens and bottle openers like they were nothing – and I never really think about how they work. To see someone reviewing a bottle opener with genuine interest and passion has made me think about the world and how it all just works – I never tend think about how even the simplest things are complex. I thank you for that!

Anyway, I have a cheap Seiko Chrono that I’ve had since I was 21 (a while) and really for me it does what I want – tells me the time and day, and I really use it regularly for that! It also very occasionally lets me time something in seconds, minutes, hours. Very rarely used, but none the less handy for me.

The problem is – frankly I am bored of wearing the same watch for years.

I think I could be pitching my question to the wrong person – I mean you wouldn’t ask a Ferrari owner which Fiesta model is the one to buy, would you?

But still – I want a nice mechanical watch and preferably a chrono. I am totally not adverse to it being very classical or retro (in design, or years). Problem is – I really wouldn’t be wanting to pay more than £200 for a watch, and I am scared of 1) second hand stuff and 2) EBay (I wouldn’t buy a car off EBay, Fiesta or Ferrari).

My dad has an old Breitling which unfortunately never gets worn, in fact is naked without even a strap and needs a service (*sigh*) but frankly I doubt I’ll get my hands on that until I bury him (don't worry, he'd probably laugh!)

Any ideas on where to start with my budget in mind? Am I even going to get anything remotely not a chinese nock off for my money? Should I spend the £200 odd on something else?!!

Answers on a post card!

[Tumble]

I've had an entry level Traser watch since 2001 - cost me £130 and the battery only died last year. It's been through some hellish abuse and just kepps going - the SAS issue these ones to their frontline troops.

They do do an automatic winding mechanical watch for about £230 - very nice in stainless, and it's got the permanent luminous bits on the dial too (actually passively lights itself). very handy....

Not a chrono, but nice and elegant all the same: http://www.h3watchshop.co.uk/Traser+...atic+Watch.htm

[Flibb]

This site
http://www.timefactors.com/
has some nice stuff and a watch forum, very good reutation with the watch wearing crowd especially the speedbirds and precista (which i believe are made just for timefactors).

[menthel]

I have just emailed Mike to alert him to this thread. I know he weas relocating so that may have kept him busy!

Edit: Mike said he will answer with 24 hours, although he is in the thread as I type this!

[bsodmike]

Edit: Mike said he will answer with 24 hours, although he is in the thread as I type this!

I was actually in the car on the way to heathrow when I got a PM from Jim telling me of this thread. Unfortunately the silly hotel room we were upgraded to had a bust net connection and going down to the exec. lounge/lobby area for Wifi was a pita: angst: I did manage to read your post though on my iphone. I'm now back home in Sri Lanka heh...

Of course couldn't fail to come across posts mentioning your name so after reading some threads and watching some of your YouTube vids I just have to say: congratulations on being so passionate!

I think it’s great. I have to admit earlier on to watching some of your fountain pen and bottle opener vids and thinking “wow” but I can see that you have a passion for all things mechanical from the basic to the most advanced and that I have to jealously admire. I use watches, pens and bottle openers like they were nothing – and I never really think about how they work. To see someone reviewing a bottle opener with genuine interest and passion has made me think about the world and how it all just works – I never tend think about how even the simplest things are complex. I thank you for that!

Glad you liked the vids and at least it seems I'm reaching a couple people out there! I had really great time in London, mostly shopping and will soon post pics if the beauties I've added to my collection ^^

Anyway, I have a cheap Seiko Chrono that I’ve had since I was 21 (a while) and really for me it does what I want – tells me the time and day, and I really use it regularly for that! It also very occasionally lets me time something in seconds, minutes, hours. Very rarely used, but none the less handy for me.

The problem is – frankly I am bored of wearing the same watch for years.

But still – I want a nice mechanical watch and preferably a chrono. I am totally not adverse to it being very classical or retro (in design, or years). Problem is – I really wouldn’t be wanting to pay more than £200 for a watch, and I am scared of 1) second hand stuff and 2) EBay (I wouldn’t buy a car off EBay, Fiesta or Ferrari).

My dad has an old Breitling which unfortunately never gets worn, in fact is naked without even a strap and needs a service (*sigh*) but frankly I doubt I’ll get my hands on that until I bury him (don't worry, he'd probably laugh!)

Any ideas on where to start with my budget in mind? Am I even going to get anything remotely not a chinese nock off for my money? Should I spend the £200 odd on something else?!!

For starters, do not consider any knockoffs, you'd be sorely disappointed and would need a replacement when the movement grinds to a halt. Have you been able to look at Fossil Tissot or Longines in particular? Their pieces are in your range and although it might be a stretch to get something mechanical (ETA based of course), I think I read sometime back of some Fossil pieces having ETA movements and not costing over USD200.

Your best bet would be to look at these brands, and don't give up. In the current UK economy I'm sure you'll be able to get yourself something great or tbh if I were in your shoes I'd approach my Dad and ask for the Breitling and show it to him after having it serviced etc. After all, you'd be wearing one of your Dad's watches and that alone is something special

...is now off to unpack all his "goodies"

[bsodmike]

Regarding those Fossil watches I was on about, here are a few examples. The ME1046 (£125, via Amazon.co.uk, third party seller!) was the one I was thinking about, as I remember a fellow Omega fan reviewing one of those on the forums - for the price, you get a Swiss ETA movement ticking inside, and you get to see the balance oscillating, and if you look carefully, and the escapement working.



Hope this helps

[Butuz]

Cheers mate will have a good loook tomorrow through them lot.

That ME1046 is really nice and the Tissot's look good too!

Cheers!!

Butuz

[bsodmike]

That ME1046 is really nice and the Tissot's look good too!

Even though I sport my Rolexes most of the time, I got this as a Birthday gift many moons ago from my Mom. You can tell how young I was considering I decided to perch it on top of an ABIT mainboard box to photograph





I still do enjoy having it on my wrist from time to time. Tbh, if I had to choose between Fossil and Tissot ~ Tissot would win every time not simply because one could call me biased but because Tissot as a watch company dates back to the 18-somethings and are 100% Swiss made (unlike the Fossils, which simply have a Swiss movement in those particular models only) and considering that it is owned by the Swatch group it will quite easily last you a lifetime and even then some

Please keep us in the loop as to what you get or decide to do. All the best!

Cheers
Mike.

[Butuz]

Wow that's a nice one.

OK lets do some Tissot hunting!

I'll have a word with my dad later on too - see if he would rather me spend the cash towards getting the Breitling sorted....

Butuz

[Butuz]

There are a couple I really like at the mo. For some reason find myself attracted to the lighter faced watches.

Tissot PR50 - nice simple and clean.


Tissot PRC200 - More fancy but still nice and clean.


Fossil FS4359 - I keep coming back to this one - even though I prefer the classyness of the Tissots - this one looks great and at £96 seems a bit of a bargain!


Butuz

[bsodmike]

That fossil looks a bit large for my taste but do not let that sway you. Rule of thumb when watch shopping, get the one that "sings to you". I also like those Tissots but then again am rather biased considering this was my 18th b'day gift from the parents...

PRS200, quartz chrono. I have it in my watch box with the battery removed lol...

I'll have a word with my dad later on too - see if he would rather me spend the cash towards getting the Breitling sorted...

That would be best but also do get it insured; it goes without saying really. Might be cheaper to have it included in your Dad's home cover but make sure you check the value your underwriters cover it for.

Make sure they ask you for all the details: make, model, serial no. and for a jewellers valuation letter - if not, this simply means that they are not going to properly cover it. It needs to be covered to full replacement value...I might be going OTT but tbh, I'd imagine a decent Breitling would at least be worth a minimum of £1,000 upwards...

[Butuz]

Well Mike. I resisted buying anything new. Lucky really - as I now have this:




I've never actualy seen it before. It needs alot more work than I imagined.

My old man had it for his 21st - it's seen some action over the years as you can see.

I only really had £200 to spend on a watch but this is going to take alot more than that to put right I would guess. Having a tatty Breitling for me would be akin to having a tatty Rolls Royce. You just gotta resore it and sod the cost.

*sigh*

(ps. dont worry the old man is still alive)

Butuz

[bsodmike]

I've never actualy seen it before. It needs alot more work than I imagined

Hi mate, the problem is that is quite a vintage piece and even the best of watchmakers could have a problem with the case and even after a full service/restoration the seals may not guarantee acceptable waterproofing.

The only way to fix this on vintage pieces is to have the entire case replaced; at least this is the information I was given when dealing with Omega regarding *several* vintage pieces.

You would do well to get a modern day "cheapy" than to risk exposing that gem to the elements and chavs that seem to run amok in the UK

I would be stunning after a service, and you can easily sport it on a fine leather strap. Just remember not to expose it to any water and you'd be fine!

[Brucelles]

One important piece of advice. Check the price of the service carefully first. Even sending my wife's Jaeger Le Coultre of for an estimate for repairs cost me 76 quid (The estimate was for 675 pounds!!). The last service I had done on my Breitling Chronomat cost me 325 Euros and took 10 weeks.

It's a difficult decision, but you may be better off finding a non-Breitling repair man in your area, and getting an estimate. My wife's JLC eventually got repaired, with genuine JLC parts, for 175 Euros by a British watchsmith in Carcassonne.

By the way, my daughter has a Seiko which has kept perfect time for 9 years, and is waterproof to 200 atmospheres, gets serviced for 35 quid every three years, and only cost me 150 quid. There's nothing wrong with a Seiko.

I do like those Tissots though, but I have too many watches, some never get any wrist time.

[bsodmike]

One important piece of advice. Check the price of the service carefully first. Even sending my wife's Jaeger Le Coultre of for an estimate for repairs cost me 76 quid (The estimate was for 675 pounds!!). The last service I had done on my Breitling Chronomat cost me 325 Euros and took 10 weeks.

...and even after "all that" they can say that due to its age they cannot guarantee it's water-resistance. That's why owning vintage wristwatches is such a niche market ~ the owning costs are nothing compared to the long term issues with maintenance and even humidity can pose problems, such as as discolouration of the dials.

Do not take this negatively, but considering your budget, for the moment it might be best to settle for a modern watch (Seiko are great too!) and get this all done up at your leisure...

[Butuz]

Yep I agree. I am not going to do anything at the moment - its my 30th next year so I will wait a bit and get it properly restored for that.

I think I'll just stick with my trusty Seiko for now!

Butuz