Dave T-S

Re the earlier post, the Cartier watch was the "tank", not "tanker"...tanker is the thing that delivers your Optimax

Got an Omega Speedmaster, which Mappin & Webb inadvertantly put in their sale a couple of years ago (I refuse to pay full price for anything) for £1000 down from £1500, plus their Jan sale last year picked up a TAG F1 (red face) for £300 down from £550 (cost me a £800 pair of earrings for Mrs T-S cos that was the only way I could get away with buying the TAG, but that's another story ).

Diablo

106,

Last time in Switzerland ('99) the Swiss watches were MUCH cheaper

dteagles

Not sure what 'half decent' is but have a look at this:

http://www.watches.co.uk/

bought my Timex from them some time ago, top bloke John......

Cheers,
Darren.

[Edited by dteagles - 1/5/2002 12:25:53 AM]

GavinP

Andy,

Watches of Switzerland sell Bell & Ross watches.

I have a Rado Diastar and a Breitling Chronograph and both are very well made IMHO......

I bought mine in the UK which was an expensive way of doing it (I now know....)

Thanks

Gavin

[Edited for spelling!]

[Edited by GavinP - 1/5/2002 1:50:51 PM]

DaveS6

People always look at the rolex and say' You wear a Rolex' in some sort of suprise.

I normally reply with ' My father said that you can always get home if your wearing a rolex!',, which he did say, but I've never had to put it into pratice!

Dave

[Edited by DaveS6 - 1/5/2002 9:03:17 PM]

Diablo

Well made "Italian" Rolex copies sweep the same as a Rolex. I have had one for 2.5 years and it never misses a beat. It automatic and came with both boxes and certificate!!! Only $150.00.But unless you realy know the fake markets you will never understand how good they get. Many repairers use fake bits...

Most people who buy the real thing do it so they can walk around with a smug look on their face!!!



Do they now?

So Luke, (or anyone else) whats the psychology behind wearing a $150 fake?

Could it be "I want people to think I have a real one"

I've held one of the fakes with the automatic "sweeping hand movement"

Trust me it bears no resemblence in "feel" and quality to a real one. Even the $1000 fakes aren't all that brilliant. The only fake rolex that feels like a real one is one made with genuine rolex case/strap/face but with dodgy movement.

If you're going to wear a fake rolex, it should be a cheap one. At least there is a certain irony that. Who are you trying to kid? yourself or those around you?

For $150 you could have bought a much better watch.

Anyway, I've got a Casio G shock, Swatch Irony and a Stainless Submariner Date (a real one)

Rolex is accurate to appx 1 second every 3 days and built like a tank. My previous Rolex was made in 1961 (bought second hand as a gift) and was going strong when I sold it 14 months ago.

Swatch is accurate to appx 1 second per week and feels like the £50 it cost

Casio is hopelessly inaccurate but indestructable.

Wear the Submariner most of the time and expect it to last a lifetime (with appropriate servicing) Happy to wear the other 2 when appropriate.

What I would suggest to anyone considering any watch purchace is go and try some on, you'll know what you like then.

Salsa (Phil) Get your Sea Dweller serviced m8, its well worth it in the long term. For one, like a car, the oils wil be knackered by now and you may get some damage. Its easily fixed, but can be expensive. Rolex recommend once every 5 years.

as a last point in this post, if wearing a Rolex to look flash is sad (and I agree, I've got mine because if what it is to me, not what it says to others) how sad does that make wearing a fake



D



[Edited by diablo - 1/7/2002 4:14:54 PM]

zoog

When I took my Sea dweller in for its first service last Summer (I took it to Harrods in the hope it was seviced properly!) they warned me that the hologram on the back would be missing on return, and so it was, so it is not necessarily a fake if it is missing - just means it has been serviced.

Fantastic watch, build and looks superb. I certainly would reccommend Rolexes,they are one luxury thing that is not all hype.

[Edited by zoog - 1/7/2002 8:38:03 PM]

bros2

[Edited by bros2 - 7/2/2003 1:07:23 PM]

Andy Mid.

thanks for the continuing replies - isn't scoobynet great !!

I've looked at hundreds of watches (online) and I think I'm steering towards the pilots watch design - I like the simple, clear, "cockpit instrument for your wrist" look.

I thought I'd post a few sites that I have stumbled across in the last few days....

www.timezone.com
www.geocities.com/bobhwd/tz.htm

and good prices from

www.smwatches.com
www.collectorstime.com
2000watches.com

nb: I've not used any of the above so I've no idea if they are reliable or not

[Edited by Andy Mid. - 1/9/2002 12:21:37 AM]

paulr

Hi,
My only other comment is to ask how long a shop has had a watch in stock.You'd be surprised.
I was in Berry's in Hull a couple of months ago and they had a Breitling Chronomat in the window that they'd had for 8 years.(It was discounted,£1600-£1300.)
Secondly Goldsmiths in Meadowhall have a Breitling Aviastar, a model which was discontinued 3 years ago.Its not too much of a problem but be aware of it.
Finally the more reputable jewellers,Goldsmiths and Berrys will allow you to take it back if you change your mind.

Good luck,
Paul

[Edited by paulr - 1/9/2002 1:34:01 PM]

dteagles

Nat21,
The stories about the Omega being the first in space were created by Omega......read below:

"After WWII Omega gives the devastated Soviets technology to rebuild their Wristwatch Industry as part of the Lend-Lease Program. Directly fashioned from that technology and tooling, POLJOT manufactures the now-Legendary ’STURMANSKIE’ that becomes the VERY 1st Watch worn into Space (on the wrist of Yuri Gagarin on April 12, 1961). With only slight variance in the color & script on the Dial, this is that SAME MODEL, with even the same Russian Flight Logo! . This piece is virtually unchanged from the Original that flew on Gagarin’s wrist. Ironically, OMEGA was not even the 1st Watch in Space for the U.S., that was the Swiss Breitling Navitimer ‘Cosmonaut’ on the wrist of Scott Carpenter in Mercury 7, May 24, 1962. Omega didn‘t go up (unless you count this Russian ‘Omega‘ STURMANSKIE) until Oct. 3, 1962 on Wally Schirra‘s wrist in Mercury 8, and again with a Bulova Accutron on May 15, 1963 in Faith 7. Strangely, John Glenn wore no watch on The 1st U.S. Space Mission. Before Omega could make it to the Moon (spawning the Moonwatch Cult), they had to beat out every other high-end watch on the market, including Rolex. Purchased from a Houston Jewelery store, an Omega Speedmaster beat hands down all others. However, OMEGA didn‘t learn NASA was using the watch until their Speedmaster was seen—Velcro-ed on the wrist of Jim Lovell as he walked in Space on the Cover of LIFE Magazine. All amazing, but true.

It doesn't change the fact that the Speedmaster is an excellent watch but it does show how a publicity exercise can become fact after so many years.

www.poljot.com

Cheers,
Darren.

PS - I am not associated with Poljot inany way






[Edited by dteagles - 1/9/2002 1:43:35 PM]

bros2

[Edited by bros2 - 7/2/2003 1:07:55 PM]

father_jack

For those looking for the Omega speedmaster pro - costco do them for £800 IIRC, about £200 cheaper than the high street. They've also got an Ebel sportwave which I quite fancy for about £700 and a nice but slightly dressy steel Longines for £300.
Limited choice but the cheapest in the country.




[Edited by father_jack - 1/10/2002 10:43:03 AM]