fatscoobfella1

iTrader: (1)

Got around £2000 to spend on a watch..

Its a keeper,not a dealer so it has to be kept forever as its being bought for me..

In the running are...

Ball engineer Hydrocarbon.. About £1500.
Omega Speedmaster Professional.. But would like to pay about £900 SH,dont really see the point in paying £2000 for a new one.

Or second hand IWC Spitfire chrono... £2000 if im lucky !!

What you reckon??

Go for the ball,or wait out till i get my ultimate IWC ??

Or buy a Speedy.. I do love them!!

Any idea's/suggestions welcome..

NorthDave

Personally I would go for one of the more premium brands. Panerai, Rolex or IWC. I wouldnt worry about going second hand - the last one I bought you couldnt tell if it was new or used and 6 months on its covered in marks anyway.

I would heartly recommend heading over to bbc if you are after impartial advice.

The second thing I would say is try lots on - I had my heart set on an IWC Portugese but when I tried it on realised it wasnt suitable for my needs (too dressy and I am a scruffy bugger).

Take your time buying too - you only get one chance to spend it!

scoobybubbles

i dont know much about watches, but my husband would recomend a TAG watch ! my sons friend works in a swanky jewellers and he said they sell quite a few rolex's but he told me other halfs TAG is a great watch and will last forever! (apart from battery being replaced)


let us know what u decide!

GC8

Panerai are a bubble that has to burst sometime... Personally Id be looking at a Rolex or IWC. I love Omegas, I have five in fact, but Im not sure that Id want one as a gifted keeper. In that respect Rolex and IWC fit the bill very well; and it will be reassuring to know that the gift has retained it monetary value, as well as its sentimental one.

fatscoobfella1

iTrader: (1)

Good advice..

I have a big wrist(no shandy jokes ) so need a fairly big watch.. 42mm is ideal.
I have had a speedy and a rolex submariner before,and personally i thought the speedy felt better built than the Rolex,so i have "gone off" Rolex really..

IWC is my favourite,but finding it hard to find the right thing for £2k..

And the Ball is a nice piece of kit.. Tried one on at weekend,and its certainly a lovely thing,feels like it would take a nuclear blast,and the gas filled markers on the dial are a piece of work!

Editted to say... Had 2 Tag watches and they make my arm green!! I asked the jewellers about this issue and they reckon there is a high % of zinc in the stainless in Tag bracelets i react to it..

Never had a prob with any other watch funnily enough..

GC8

Any watch with a battery should be avoided. I like TAG-Heuer watches. The first proper watch that I bought was a bi-colour 4000 automatic; but you really cant compare even the best mechanical TAG-Heuer watches to a Rolex.

GC8

I disagree about the build quality, but that is subjective. Had you considered an automatique Cartier?

Failing that: it ooks like an IWC...

fatscoobfella1

iTrader: (1)

Hmmm.

Perhaps the Subby i had was a bad example ?? The bracelet quality felt substandard i have to say..Well perhaps thats unfair,but next too IWC and even a Seamaster bracelet it felt a little shoddy..

Cartier are a little too dressy for me... I like a chrono that has a certain "chunkiness" about it..If ya get what i mean

AndyC_772

iTrader: (2)

I'm in a similar position, looking to possibly buy my first decent mechanical watch, and struggling to find any useful discussion about price, dealer recommendations, or even basic stuff like mechanical reliability and quality. Watch forums seem to be quite the opposite of car forums in that respect, which is disappointing

I have skinny little wrists, which limits my choice a bit given how big watches are getting. I like the Omega Speedmaster Date, but like Rolex, Omega are a little too heavy on the advertising and marketing for my taste. I also like the IWC Spitfire and Pilot's Chrono, the JLC Master Control, not to mention several more exotic offerings like the Vacheron Constantin Overseas and the Blancpain Leman Flyback Chrono - though I'd have to sell spare body parts to own one it costs nothing to drool

Does anyone else have experience of buying used? I know some older watches tend to be smaller, which might suit me better, but I've had nothing but trouble from second hand camera equipment and would hate to find that watches are the same.

AndyC_772

iTrader: (2)

ps. where did you go to try on a Ball watch? Some of them look quite smart, though I suspect I'd prefer one that has markers rather than numerals, given that the luminous gas tubes are a bit 'blocky'. I'd really have to see one in person...

GC8

Well: I wasnt suggesting a Panthere... I still like the Santos and Cartier make some Santos models that are too large even for me (and I can wear a 45mm -inc crown- Seiko Dive with a rubber strap!)...

fatscoobfella1

iTrader: (1)

Yes,the Santos is nice,just not for me..

Andy, i tried a ball watch on at Leslie Davis Jewellers..

Bluie

These guys have a good reputation, have a look at Zenith watches

Blowers Jewellers Rolex Watches Omega, Breitling, Franck Muller, Cartier, Patek Philippe, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Officine Panerai and many other of the worldsleading watch makers

yoza

Ball Hydrocarbon Engineer chrono....not the latest Trieste its to thin.

yoza

Error
Click on , ERROR.

All you need to know....buy anything else for this price and you will regret it.

Luxury Swiss Watches - Bell & Ross, Bremont, Oris, Raymond Weil, Baume & Mercier, Maurice Lacroix, Corum and Ball Watches

r32

Never ever buy a battery operated watch that costs more than 50 quid.

r32

Buy a GMT111 or a Sub, add the extra it will be worthwhile knowing you are not losing money long term.

JPL

That's what I have, it's mahoosive and I love it

Mitchy260

Where about in the country are you fella? I can get you 30% off if you were to buy a watch in 1 of the ?? stores (Pm me for details )

A 5% handling fee for my efforts of course, but you still save 25% on retail price

At £2000, works out at £1400 with discount, £500 saving to yourself, £100 for my efforts.

edited...

fatscoobfella1

iTrader: (1)

Yoza... Ta for the links..(error dont work,is it supposed to???? got confused there!!) Jura watches are more expensive than the high st for the Ball believe it or not.!!

R32 and Nat.... Like i say,ive had a subby before,they dont do a lot for me anymore,as explained above.Dont like the GMT's at all either..
The Sea dweller and yachtmaster are lovely though..

Do like the speedy's in most of there guises,but not a great Panny fan TBH..

Editted to say...

Mitchy im in Derbyshire,but do float around a bit...

What could you get me one of there for then??? Would it be £1124ish inc your 5% comms ?

Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon men's automatic watch - The Diamond and Watch Specialist - Ernest Jones

Your 5% plus a few beers would gladly be paid

AndyC_772

iTrader: (2)

Yoza's link was slightly broken - here's the fix: The Ball Engineer HydroCarbon Chronograph: LONG - Watch News and Reviews - Reviews, Cars, Gars, Great Food and Wine - TimeTechTalk.com

Mitchy260

It would cost you £1071 with the 30% discount. You would then bung me £76.50 for the 5% Total = £1147.50 and a saving of £382.50

If you give me a PM with your mobile number, i'll ask the wife about it tonight and get back to you tomorrow with an answer on how to proceed

If your local shop has 1 in stock, it's just a simple phone call, and bung bank transfer

Friends and family, you're a cousin that lives in Derby

timmy2take

iTrader: (7)

Tag Heuer for me.

Mitchy260

Breitling and Rado are my top choice

fatscoobfella1

iTrader: (1)

PM sent to Mr Mitchy

GC8

*saves Mitchy260's profile for future reference*

stilover

For £2k, you could get a Breitling SuperOcean with change.

Or, with a discount get a Chrono SuperOcean.

I'm a Breitling man myself. Don't like Rolex (all look the same) and don't like tag's (Lumps of metal)

RRH

I buy all of my watches from Miltons in Liverpool- Rolex specialists, although they usually have other stuff in stock.

Rolex Watches Liverpool | Rolex Day-Date, Liverpool Watches, President, Oyster Perpetual, Daytona, Explorer, Sub-Mariner, | Miltonaires.com

GC8

As are Breitlings. Dont kid yourself, inside they all use exactly the same (top) grade of ETA ebauche.