Thread: What types of watches do you like?

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

Like TBS said, custom stuff costs big bux,handmade stuff,the finest watch I ever owned was a Blancpain Moonphase,100% handmade,took them right at a year to do,all in house,watch is long gone.
Heres another example of a rather simple one off,that would cost some serious coin today.
Back in the day when the Canadians were putting out bids for the SARS watch,they also wanted a bid on a Quartz model,so some buds of mine made one (only one) we had a freind who is the finest machinist bar none make the case, bezel, screwback,No CNC stuff,all by hand using his antiquated bridgport and one of my old flatbelt lathes,100s of hrs of machining and hand fitting went into this watch,The finest quartz Mvmt, was used (Rhonda),the mineral crystal is 5mm thick,it is a screwback with full military specs laser engraved on the cover,The Canucks decided they did not want a quartz model( another venture in the tank I still wear this watch almost every day,it is a perfect timekeeper with date,will run circles around any Rolex or patek ever made as to keeping time (as will a $20 casio) just lacking in the cache dept.

That is a beastly looking watch. Your friend does very good work. It looks like something out of Sinn's line up made sweet, sweet baby with a Seiko (sumo or 007, maybe both).

HamburgO, thanks for the backup. However, I don't think you have priced and Eterna lately, but the model. All dial, isn't cheap, at least a couple grand. And do your homework guys the 7750 was invented by a Rolex watch maker back in the 30s or 40s, maybe a little later but I've read it several sites and on several sellers of watch movements.

Originally Posted by Grizzley1

HamburgO, thanks for the backup. However, I don't think you have priced and Eterna lately, but the model. All dial, isn't cheap, at least a couple grand. And do your homework guys the 7750 was invented by a Rolex watch maker back in the 30s or 40s, maybe a little later but I've read it several sites and on several sellers of watch movements.

deeds, not words Grizzley,or should I call you jack lets see something that supports your erronious claims.
Would never be so rude as to call B.S on the unknowing.

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

deeds, not words Grizzley,or should I call you jack lets see something that supports your erronious claims.
Would never be so rude as to call B.S on the unknowing.

pixelfixed, after my last comment, I feel you deserve an apology. After some careful digging on the web I found that I was completely wrong. My bad, and fallen on my sword. However, I have lots of watches with the 7750 and a Rolex and IWC and lots of others and a well tuned 7750 will hang out with the best of them.IMHO

P.S. I really hate when this happens....

I've always been a sucker for watches that I can't afford. I've particularly been a sucker for Breitlings, so, it stands to reason that on our 10 year anniversary a few years ago I LET my wife get me a Breitling when we'd both previously decided to upgrade our wedding rings. I mean, why spend several thousand dollars on a men's wedding band embedded with diamonds when you can have a nice watch that'll be a nice heirloom one day, right?

I usually just wear a fossil or timex to work; but, any other time I wear this:

Originally Posted by Grizzley1

pixelfixed, after my last comment, I feel you deserve an apology. After some careful digging on the web I found that I was completely wrong. My bad, and fallen on my sword. However, I have lots of watches with the 7750 and a Rolex and IWC and lots of others and a well tuned 7750 will hang out with the best of them.IMHO

P.S. I really hate when this happens....

Griz my friend,7750 is a great movement for what it is,No apologys needed,take care.

I gotta say, gents, this thread has been very educational, and might even have saved me some money.

Pixel, that's a mighty cool watch on your picture. I really like these tool/military style designs. I also want to apologize for making a comment to you, months ago, that you don't know a good watch when you see it. I stand corrected!

Bigspendur, your post above has really helped put this whole subject in clearer perspective. With the amount of Rolexes and Omegas I see on people's wrists, I do think they've become a fairly well mass-produced item that is still being touted as luxury. Kinda like Louis Vuitton bags and some other stuff.

All that said, I still have my beady eye on a second Sinn There's something about those watches in general, their purpose built designs, the submarine steel and the extra engineering that goes into them (anti-reflective crystal, hard PVD coatings, gas or oil filled cases, moisture-binding copper sulphate crystals in the case, chrono dials that'll still work and stay sealed at +200m) that appeals to my gearhead nature and might actually come in handy when surfing, diving, hiking, shooting (I know, I know, other watches would probably do as well...).

The interesting thing here is that while Rolex, Omega, Ebel, Audemar and so many other brands have been positioned as luxury items for decades and are in our consumer consciousness as such, I had never even heard of a Sinn before seeing one for the first time. I had no idea what it was worth, but it was love at first sight. I began researching the history, and liked the whole story more and more, until it did turn into "that obscure object of desire". I talked a friend out of his EZM1 for some pistols, and I'm real close to buying a U1000 at retail... - but will probably wait to see if I can score a used model somewhere.

Originally Posted by Grizzley1

HamburgO, thanks for the backup. However, I don't think you have priced and Eterna lately, but the model. All dial, isn't cheap, at least a couple grand. And do your homework guys the 7750 was invented by a Rolex watch maker back in the 30s or 40s, maybe a little later but I've read it several sites and on several sellers of watch movements.

Probably Rolex affectionados. They seem to think Rolex invented everything re watches. the 7750 is a valjeux movement. If Rolex had invented the thing it would be a Rolex caliber and they would never sell it to another outfit. Also if that was the case why would they not use it in the Daytona instead of buying the El primero Mvmt from Zenith? it just makes no sense.

The first auto chrono watch was the Autavia which was what is now Tag-H developed by a consortium of companies. Rolex was never involved and that was probably in the 1960s. The 7750 came out as I recall in the 1970 maybe later as an inexpensive hardy chrono mvmt made for modern sport watches. Back in the 30's or 40s watches were tiny by comparison and any watch made until the 60s at least, the 7750 would never fit in the case.

Up until a few years ago Sinn was unknown and unavailable in the U.S. You could buy their basic models for maybe $500 or so. I had an EZM3 which cost me around $800 when I bought it 10 years ago. Now it's become the in watch and the prices have gone through the roof. yes they are nice technologically advanced watches but still use the typical Swiss mvmts. You can buy a Dasko (spelling?) watch which is a mirror image of a Sinn and in fact used to make their cases for them when they were still ice hardened stainless for a fraction of the price of a Sinn. They are also German.

As far as expensive watches go for most it's just a piece of jewelry or a status symbol. That's why the outfits advertise the way they do and have brand ambassadors so you associate with the person.

You know, you strap on a 9 grand Rolex and you instantly become a smart, successful, self assured, upwardly mobile individual. Others want to be like you including the crooks who would like to take your watch away from you.

I love my Rolex. When I hear what other people pay to change batteries, or what they have to pay for a new watch; every year - I just grin.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Up until a few years ago Sinn was unknown and unavailable in the U.S. You could buy their basic models for maybe $500 or so. I had an EZM3 which cost me around $800 when I bought it 10 years ago. Now it's become the in watch and the prices have gone through the roof. yes they are nice technologically advanced watches but still use the typical Swiss mvmts. You can buy a Dasko (spelling?) watch which is a mirror image of a Sinn and in fact used to make their cases for them when they were still ice hardened stainless for a fraction of the price of a Sinn. They are also German.

Wow! That EZM3 is still available, but now for $1850 new... (PS: All the Sinns cost a little less, 10-15%, in Germany).

I looked up the other brand, it's actually Damasko, and the models are very similar to the Sinn pilot chronographs (no line of dive watches). Their prices now start at 1,000 EUR and go up to 3,500 EUR

Looking at the prices on Timezone, a busy watch forum, it seems like just about everything is being traded for top dollar these days. I wonder if the market is going to be so saturated at some point that prices have to go down. It seems a little strange that with the global economy generally slow, there's such a brisk trade in used watches from $2000 - $20,000. Perhaps some people see it as an investment?