I'm going to start a watch thread.
I think its like that at Patek Philippe. It takes one watchmaker over 10 years to make a Grand complication. With the Zenith el primero they have 20 watch makers building the watches. They take 60 weeks to manufacture but as there are 20 watchmakers i would think a batch is made over that 60 weeks. Its the back plate that takes most of the time on this movement as that's the heart for a complicated centre column movement.
Its a 36,000 vbh movement (10 beats per second) automatic chronograph with day, date, month, moonphase and 12 hour 1,1/10 sec chronograph complications. These watchmakers have to be from another planet with their engineering skills. That's the part that flicks my switch with watches. Gold case and diamonds don't do it for me, but handmade complicated movements is watch **** imo.
Its a 36,000 vbh movement (10 beats per second) automatic chronograph with day, date, month, moonphase and 12 hour 1,1/10 sec chronograph complications. These watchmakers have to be from another planet with their engineering skills. That's the part that flicks my switch with watches. Gold case and diamonds don't do it for me, but handmade complicated movements is watch **** imo.
Always been a G shock person; just wanted bombproof accuracy. Then I started wanting an automatic and so got a very entry level Seiko - but loving it so far.
Eyeing up all sorts now but I will have to keep it restrained as the wife isn't so keen! Not at all into Rolexes and flashy bling but I really like stuff like yours, some of the more subtle IWCs, the Omega Speedmaster Pro, etc. And yes, a nice movement is a work of art.
Interesting stuff!
Always been a G shock person; just wanted bombproof accuracy. Then I started wanting an automatic and so got a very entry level Seiko - but loving it so far.
Eyeing up all sorts now but I will have to keep it restrained as the wife isn't so keen! Not at all into Rolexes and flashy bling but I really like stuff like yours, some of the more subtle IWCs, the Omega Speedmaster Pro, etc. And yes, a nice movement is a work of art.
Always been a G shock person; just wanted bombproof accuracy. Then I started wanting an automatic and so got a very entry level Seiko - but loving it so far.
Eyeing up all sorts now but I will have to keep it restrained as the wife isn't so keen! Not at all into Rolexes and flashy bling but I really like stuff like yours, some of the more subtle IWCs, the Omega Speedmaster Pro, etc. And yes, a nice movement is a work of art.
Quick question - are chronographs actually any use? The little dial just seem to clutter up the main face and just seem to replicate functions the main hands do.
For example I really like this:

But to me the more expensive chrono doesn't seem to do any more:

But some watches look right as a chrono - e.g. the Omega Speedmaster.
For example I really like this:

But to me the more expensive chrono doesn't seem to do any more:
But some watches look right as a chrono - e.g. the Omega Speedmaster.
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From: Markyate.Imprezas owned:-wrx-sti5typeR-p1-uk22b-modded my00. Amongst others!
I'm not a fan of loads of dials. IMHO it clutters everything up. Also ***** sprouting out of everywhere, cheap or expensive watch makes no odds to me.
Quick question - are chronographs actually any use? The little dial just seem to clutter up the main face and just seem to replicate functions the main hands do.
For example I really like this:

But to me the more expensive chrono doesn't seem to do any more:

But some watches look right as a chrono - e.g. the Omega Speedmaster.
For example I really like this:

But to me the more expensive chrono doesn't seem to do any more:
But some watches look right as a chrono - e.g. the Omega Speedmaster.
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Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 8,541
Likes: 0
From: Markyate.Imprezas owned:-wrx-sti5typeR-p1-uk22b-modded my00. Amongst others!

I'm well into watches, have been since an early age.
Have got one of those Casios that acts as a remote in a drawer somewhere, had it at school and used to wreak havoc in Geography lessons with it. Our teacher was an unpleasant **** who used to lose it at the TV and turn to this Chinese kid on the front row and blame his relatives for not building things properly
Now divide my watch wearing between a Rolex Submariner, a Red Arrows Breitling Navitimer (with the 13 Calibre movement) and an Orbiter 3 Breitling Emergency.
Have got one of those Casios that acts as a remote in a drawer somewhere, had it at school and used to wreak havoc in Geography lessons with it. Our teacher was an unpleasant **** who used to lose it at the TV and turn to this Chinese kid on the front row and blame his relatives for not building things properly

Now divide my watch wearing between a Rolex Submariner, a Red Arrows Breitling Navitimer (with the 13 Calibre movement) and an Orbiter 3 Breitling Emergency.
I'm well into watches, have been since an early age.
Have got one of those Casios that acts as a remote in a drawer somewhere, had it at school and used to wreak havoc in Geography lessons with it. Our teacher was an unpleasant **** who used to lose it at the TV and turn to this Chinese kid on the front row and blame his relatives for not building things properly
Now divide my watch wearing between a Rolex Submariner, a Red Arrows Breitling Navitimer (with the 13 Calibre movement) and an Orbiter 3 Breitling Emergency.
Have got one of those Casios that acts as a remote in a drawer somewhere, had it at school and used to wreak havoc in Geography lessons with it. Our teacher was an unpleasant **** who used to lose it at the TV and turn to this Chinese kid on the front row and blame his relatives for not building things properly

Now divide my watch wearing between a Rolex Submariner, a Red Arrows Breitling Navitimer (with the 13 Calibre movement) and an Orbiter 3 Breitling Emergency.
That's like saying "I didn't know people still drove cars, we have buses and trains" or "why have a nice car when a crappy town car will still get you A to B. Having a nice watch is not just about telling the time.
I've gone from thinking mechanical watches at pointless (less accurate, need servicing, etc) to really appreciating the way they work. Sure it's often engineering for the sake of it but drive an electric steering, ECU dominated car then step into a Caterham and you have a similar experience.
Well sort of.
For some, it's just jewellery, for many, it's to show off (how can you convince the World you've made it when all you have is an iPhone?!), for others there's an appreciation of engineering, for others it's the functions. My G-Lide surfing watch has tide times on it for example. And I use the countdown timer for cooking!
I've gone from thinking mechanical watches at pointless (less accurate, need servicing, etc) to really appreciating the way they work. Sure it's often engineering for the sake of it but drive an electric steering, ECU dominated car then step into a Caterham and you have a similar experience.
Well sort of.
I've gone from thinking mechanical watches at pointless (less accurate, need servicing, etc) to really appreciating the way they work. Sure it's often engineering for the sake of it but drive an electric steering, ECU dominated car then step into a Caterham and you have a similar experience.
Well sort of.
(well not in the one I drove anyway!)
As with a lot of my precious things, two of these watches live off-site in a metal box and I swap them over every few months. So I can't give you a pic of the Rolex but it is a boggo black-faced Submariner.
I did however find this pic of the Emergency on my hard drive. It's next to an iPhone 3GS so was taken a while ago! Have got a UTC module fitted too, the dealer threw it in when I bought the watch back in 2002.

You're at the mercy of an iPhone camera for this one but here's my Red Arrows Navitimer. And I've just noticed it stopped at half five yesterday as I haven't been wearing it this week

I did however find this pic of the Emergency on my hard drive. It's next to an iPhone 3GS so was taken a while ago! Have got a UTC module fitted too, the dealer threw it in when I bought the watch back in 2002.

You're at the mercy of an iPhone camera for this one but here's my Red Arrows Navitimer. And I've just noticed it stopped at half five yesterday as I haven't been wearing it this week


Does the Emergency have LCD screens? Not quite sure about digi/analogue (I have one albeit much cheaper) watches. Still, handy if you suddenly get lost in Richmond Park ;-)
I think some Breitlings are a little fussy with too much going on but this one has really taken me:

PHWWWAOOOOORRRR!!! My local jeweller has one in stock too...
And the slightly more grown up:
I think some Breitlings are a little fussy with too much going on but this one has really taken me:

PHWWWAOOOOORRRR!!! My local jeweller has one in stock too...
And the slightly more grown up:
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From: Markyate.Imprezas owned:-wrx-sti5typeR-p1-uk22b-modded my00. Amongst others!
All these watches look like they've never been worn! Mine has several bezel scratches and superficial wear scuffs all over the bracelet. I took it off for a week and left it at home as I was on a raucous stag week away, felt horrible not having it. Otherwise in the 9 years I've had it, it's never off.
The cheaper watch I've given to my dad to wear and the red half of the bezel is badly sun faded.
I've never understood the mentality of having something nice and it being boxed away somewhere 99% of the time, be it a car or a watch.
The cheaper watch I've given to my dad to wear and the red half of the bezel is badly sun faded.
I've never understood the mentality of having something nice and it being boxed away somewhere 99% of the time, be it a car or a watch.
All these watches look like they've never been worn! Mine has several bezel scratches and superficial wear scuffs all over the bracelet. I took it off for a week and left it at home as I was on a raucous stag week away, felt horrible not having it. Otherwise in the 9 years I've had it, it's never off.
The cheaper watch I've given to my dad to wear and the red half of the bezel is badly sun faded.
I've never understood the mentality of having something nice and it being boxed away somewhere 99% of the time, be it a car or a watch.
The cheaper watch I've given to my dad to wear and the red half of the bezel is badly sun faded.
I've never understood the mentality of having something nice and it being boxed away somewhere 99% of the time, be it a car or a watch.
It would be a bit like me accusing someone with a nice car on here that has been detailed that they haven't driven it or used it properly!
I would also point out that if you pay for something of high quality it doesn't wear as quickly as some of the more cheaper types. That Navitimer with its large glass face has taken a direct hit onto granite without suffering a scratch and the metal has a few very small scratches that will go again when the watch is next serviced.
The only reason I lock the ones away that I am not wearing is so that if some **** breaks into my house when I'm not here they have to settle for the DVD player and I only have to stump up a couple of hundred quid rather than several thousand pounds.
All these watches look like they've never been worn! Mine has several bezel scratches and superficial wear scuffs all over the bracelet. I took it off for a week and left it at home as I was on a raucous stag week away, felt horrible not having it. Otherwise in the 9 years I've had it, it's never off.
The cheaper watch I've given to my dad to wear and the red half of the bezel is badly sun faded.
I've never understood the mentality of having something nice and it being boxed away somewhere 99% of the time, be it a car or a watch.
The cheaper watch I've given to my dad to wear and the red half of the bezel is badly sun faded.
I've never understood the mentality of having something nice and it being boxed away somewhere 99% of the time, be it a car or a watch.
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