I have the same Ball and love it, I got mine at Ernest Jones in the sale for £1500, the same watch at Jura was £2100
http://www.jurawatches.co.uk/ball-wa...a-sj-bk-bl-007

 

Cheers Paul. I mentioned it to the wife and we thought it might me second hand. I don't think it would have said discontinued though.

 

I've had my TAG HEUER for near enough 11 years now, never gone wrong.
It survived the Army training, and I wear it everywhere.
Would recommend one to anyone.

The better half has had hers now for a year or so, hasn't gone wrong so far either.

 

I'd give them a call first thing in the morning.

 

I have an Omega Seamaster Automatic, had it 2 years now, it's a superb watch had no issues whatsoever, whould highly recommend Omega.
At the end of the day buy what you like, as you will be the one who has to wear it for many years hopefully

 

Not true. I have seen the same Breitling watches at authorised dealers at different prices.

Suppose it just depends on the area, and how much they think they can add on.

 

Intended on buying Speedmaster and ended up buying the Tag in the link. Just somehow felt more special, I've been very pleased with it.

 

Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean was my choice about two and a half years ago.
They were £1950 back then and I think £2650 now.
It came with a two year guarantee which I thought was a bit crap for the price of the bloody thing.

I didn't expect it to break but it did. Luckily it still had 3 months left on the guarantee.
As you're no doubt fully aware, they are automatic and powered by the movements of the wearer. (My mates found that hilarious saying it stopped coz I'm a lazy git)

No such excuse for the Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra quartz I bought for the wife. That broke within a week of owning it so it was given back to Goldsmiths and exchanged for another.

My confidence in their quality is dented but I imagine what I experienced isn't the norm.

Have fun choosing.

 

My advice: Before forking out over £2K on a watch take a look at similar second hand models selling on ebay, then see what price the auction ends at, same goes with second hand watch retailers.

That will give you a real world value of the watch. You'll probably see a depreciation rate of over 60% within the first year of ownership. So if you can live with that go ahead. Bear in mind even with a 40% discount the retailer is still making a profit - which kind of show the staggering marks-ups that are in the industry in relation to what a watch is actually worth.

If you can't live with that kind of loss, start looking at vintage and pre-owned stuff instead. It'll take some time to find a nice watch that you'll like in the right condition at a fair price, but what you get out of it is something that you can sell on without taking such a huge hit to the wallet should the need ever arise.

As for Watch Hut, personally I've had bad experience from them (well actually one of their high street stores) - my mum bought a watch for me as a gift. I didn't like it and they wouldn't accept it back for refund. It eventually ended up selling on ebay for half of what she paid for it That was a fair wad of cash straight down the drain, it narks me now just thinking about it.

 

Update - I bought the wife a very plain and boring pre owned Cartier for £1550 and myself a new (discontinued) Breitling chronomatic. I'll have to learn how to use it as it has a 24hr clock which can confuse.

 

Lets see them then. !!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

The wifes is all wrapped up for her birthday and looks really boring to be honest.

I have a photo of mine on my iphone and I have a photobucket account. Any ideas how I do it?

 

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/...me/Watch-2.jpg

 

I know I'll probably get lambasted here but I struggle to see the point in paying 2k for a watch, surely it's just for the name on it and the bragging rights? if you spend more on an expensive car you usually get what you pay for ie features, build quality blah blah, but with a watch it sits on your arm and tells the time, how many are worn daily and not brought out for special occasions, I have a few watches and and only spent over £100 a couple of times and had little issues with any of them, the majority are keeping perfect time, one comment on here about a **** poor repair, and others have stated issues too so it's not as though the build quality is perfect, one dropped his on a wooden floor and it stopped FFS if I paid 2k for a watch I would expect it to break the floor.

I understand that a lot of them do look nice, but so do a lot of others at a quarter of the price, also I understand that some can simply afford it without any issues but if you have a "budget" then surely this is not the case?

Be gentle with me

 

Different things for different people but some mechanical watches have unbelievable levels of engineering skill, knowledge and design go into them. A nice watch is a work of art and all done the proper way with cogs and springs not batteries and chips. I have had my rado 18 years and my rolex 12, I cannot imagine any reason not to still have them both for years to come. I wear my rolex most days but been wearing my titanium citizen as well recently when out on my bike or playing golf as its lighter and does not move around so much.
A good watch can be passed through generations and will always have value. I am blown away by the complications master watchmakers can include on timepieces, perpetual calenders, tourbillons, minute repeaters, automatic movements. The movement on the Crazy colour dreams by Franck muller has to be seen to be believed but I can understand that to some it would be a funny looking watch to pay 15k for. For many people its showing off or vanity but for most they love the craftsmanship, design and engineering skill.

 

Same theory can be applied to almost anything. You mentioned cars. Some people couldn't justify paying over £20k for a Subaru or over £65k for a Porsche, when a Kia Pride will get you from A to B in the exact same time (sticking to national speed limits) in comfort, while being cooled by an air con system and all while listening to the radio. What else does a Porsche do differently on the same journey?

Some people just couldn't justify the expense of a Panasonic 42" Plasma, when a 28" Tubed TV shows the exact same programme.

 

I think the crux here is alot of sub £4K watches aren't all that they claim to be. They are mostly mass produced. Granted not on the same level as Casio, but still mass produced. The insult being is they shoehorn in a generic ETA movement and dress it up a little instead of designing their own. Some will argue that makes it more reliable and cheaper to repair and service but that really shouldn't be what its about.

I think people need to seperate their idea of fashion watches away from the craftsman watches; the latter is a rarity....and bloody expensive LOL!

 

Not at all mate, your opinion is valid as I thought this a few years ago. I haven't managed to go on holiday this year due to work commitments so thought I'd treat myself.

I think I had to set a budget or else I'd have spent even more. Regarding the quality I don't know as this is my first expensive watch.

 

Just been informed 'It's a limited edition 24 hour chorno-matic, 1,000 with a black dial and 250 with a blue dial from a few years ago'.

 

Nice watch. I think it would also look good on a leather strap.

 

Instead of the usual Tags, Breitlings, Rolex etc. have you considered something different like say a U-Boat watch (http://www.uboatwatch.com/).

I know it is a personal taste thing but might be worth a look.

Cheers

Ian

 

I will link your watch into the topic mate, and congratulations on buying a Breitling.

 

Have you seen the price of Grand Seikos!!!!!!!

 

Yup; Always fancied a Spring Drive.

Love the geekyness and innovation with about the way it works by using a mix of old/new technology to create a hybrid: A mechanical movement but with modern day regulation/accuarcy via a spring driven generator.

 

Nice breit. For good second hand join tz uk

 

Cheers Stu and RJM25R. I am contemplating buying a 2nd Omega if I can find a cheap one for daily use.

Some people won't touch second hand ones, but I don't mind if the price is right.

 

I am one of them, I just dare not in case its fake.

 

I bought the wifes 2nd hand Cartier from a respectable jewellers and got a certificate of authenticity. They assured me it was real and they would not even dream of selling a fake. They informed me it had been sent off to Cartier for a full service as well. I don't know how they check the authenticity though.

 

Thats always my worry. Some of the fakes out there are almost indistinguyishable from the real thing, so I buy from an authorised dealer with a lot to lose by pulling a fast one.

 

You've got me shi77ing myself now. I suppose I'll find out when I send it to Cartier for a service in the future.