Thread: What types of watches do you like?

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Well here's the thing. If you keep an auto on a winder 24/7 it's running and and overhaul time comes around that much quicker. You know what it costs to overhaul any watch let alone a better one?

A cheap Seiko is around $200 minus any parts and a Rolex will run you a grand and complicated pieces need overhauls every 2-3 years and cost a kings ransom.

I have a number of quartz models and am proud to say I do also a few old Accutrons.

Actually I have around 6 or 7 winders but only keep one on standby and use it every now and then.

Absolutely true.

Watch winders, and if you get one it had better be high quality so it can be set exactly to match the frequency of the watch, are generally used for watches with grand complications. A watch with a Perpetual Calendar and other complications (i.e., Month, Day, Year, Leap Year, Moon Phase) would be a good bet for a watch winder, usually manufactured for that brand or even that specific watch.

For a simple watch just wind it and set it, half the fun of owning a watch imo, even one with Day and Date, just leave it sitting in it's case and set the watch when you want to wear it.

Would you leave a car running in your garage? Especially a nice Ferrari. You'll just increase the wear on your parts and up the service date. Service for my Rolex Daytona is $1,800 - why would I put it on a watch winder. Wind it, set the time and pop it on my wrist. Even my Rolex Day-Date, little longer to set, but that's part of the enjoyment of getting to interact with the watch, and takes little time to set. My last service cost for that watch in 2018 was $850.00 for standard service.

Originally Posted by Phrank

Absolutely true.

Watch winders, and if you get one it had better be high quality so it can be set exactly to match the frequency of the watch, are generally used for watches with grand complications. A watch with a Perpetual Calendar and other complications (i.e., Month, Day, Year, Leap Year, Moon Phase) would be a good bet for a watch winder, usually manufactured for that brand or even that specific watch.

For a simple watch just wind it and set it, half the fun of owning a watch imo, even one with Day and Date, just leave it sitting in it's case and set the watch when you want to wear it.

Would you leave a car running in your garage? Especially a nice Ferrari. You'll just increase the wear on your parts and up the service date. Service for my Rolex Daytona is $1,800 - why would I put it on a watch winder. Wind it, set the time and pop it on my wrist. Even my Rolex Day-Date, little longer to set, but that's part of the enjoyment of getting to interact with the watch, and takes little time to set. My last service cost for that watch in 2018 was $850.00 for standard service.

Considering all that, if you only require a wrist watch to keep decently accurate time, a Timex battery powered quartz watch is more than good enough for the job. If the battery dies, just buy a new Timex. Doing it that way would not come close to the initial cost of a high end watch and multiple overhauls during a lifetime. OTOH high end watches are not bought to only keep decent time, which they also do. It all depends on what you value more.

Bob

This year for Christmas I reintroduced both of my kids, now approaching 30, to wrist watches again and opted to go solar, or eco for both of them.
Tough solar seiko for the lad, and an eco drive citizen for my princess. Will see how the batteries last, but both auto update from the world clock somehow which is pretty cool unto itself and neither have a visible ‘solar panel’ per say which keeps them looking traditional and simple.
Me, I like to wind my watches as part of the interaction when I put them on, but appreciate the self winding of my auto’s once they are on my wrist.

Originally Posted by BobH

Considering all that, if you only require a wrist watch to keep decently accurate time, a Timex battery powered quartz watch is more than good enough for the job. If the battery dies, just buy a new Timex. Doing it that way would not come close to the initial cost of a high end watch and multiple overhauls during a lifetime. OTOH high end watches are not bought to only keep decent time, which they also do. It all depends on what you value more.

Bob

A high end watch is bought for many reasons. Some buy it because they appreciate the fine work that goes into it. Some buy it to impress others. Some buy it because they think there is some magic and have been swayed by advertising hype.

If you look at a $500 Timex it looks pretty good. Now compare it to a $1000 watch and it doesn't look so good anymore. Then compare that to a $2000 watch and the casework is way better as is the inner workings. Go up from there and you see smaller incremental improvements.

There are a slew of independent watch brands out there selling direct. Most of these are sub thousand dollar watches and some are real bargains since there is no middleman involved. Some are pure Asian made watches and nothing special but some make a Swiss Made Watch for a very reasonable price and the overall package is way above the price.

Seiko makes a great watch for a great price as does Orient. Even though Seiko has gone upstream with many of their watches, for around $400 or so you can get an all around great watch that will last the rest of your life.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

A high end watch is bought for many reasons. Some buy it because they appreciate the fine work that goes into it. Some buy it to impress others. Some buy it because they think there is some magic and have been swayed by advertising hype.

If you look at a $500 Timex it looks pretty good. Now compare it to a $1000 watch and it doesn't look so good anymore. Then compare that to a $2000 watch and the casework is way better as is the inner workings. Go up from there and you see smaller incremental improvements.

As I said, it all depends on what you value more besides keeping decent time. Who looks at $500.00 Timex watches? Sub $100.00 Timex watches are more than good enough to keep decent time. If you are going to spend $500.00 on a watch, you might as well spend that on a brand name that has some hype to it.

Bob

Originally Posted by BobH

As I said, it all depends on what you value more besides keeping decent time. Who looks at $500.00 Timex watches? Sub $100.00 Timex watches are more than good enough to keep decent time. If you are going to spend $500.00 on a watch, you might as well spend that on a brand name that has some hype to it.

Bob

Totally agree. Timex, at least the vintage one's, are actually superb watches. They don't have any fine finishing or beautiful craftsmanship, but "Takes a licking and keeps on ticking." Get your hands on one that was made in the USA or a good shop, and chances are with the occasional wind, or if you're actually wearing it everyday and it's an automatic, it'll last you and your grandchildren! haha.

But absolutely, grab a quartz, they keep better time anyhow, wear it and just get a new one.

If you're into fine movements and finishing, well, that's a different boat then....

I have a Timex Expedition that lights up, I use that if we're going traveling. The British Railway also issues Timex watches but i do prefer Bulova and have about half a dozen. Not Automatics or wind up, just Battery but I like to choose my watch depending on the shirt I'm going to wear. My Bulova's are about $500 CAN.

Originally Posted by STF

Not Automatics or wind up, just Battery but I like to choose my watch depending on the shirt I'm going to wear. My Bulova's are about $500 CAN.

I have never considered matching a watch to the shirt I was going to wear. I always thought that a black or brown leather band on a silver or yellow watch with a classic dial face went with anything.

Bob

There are definitely dress watches and sport watches and roughhouse watches. True dress watches are very thin and are worn with leather bands.

While I'm on the subject, watch buyers can be divided into groups no different than cars. It's like my friend who drives a Yugo and feels it's all he ever needs. He laughs at people in BMWs and similar cars.

Some use their cell phones or their fitness bands and would never ever wear a watch. Some will buy a $90 quartz Timex and wear it every day for every occasion. Some will use that Timex for sports and have a nicer watch for dress or work. Some buy watches as prestige items or luxury items. Some view a nice watch as a fine piece of jewelry. Some Collect watches to varying degrees.

There are many reasons folks buy a particular watch or wear none at all.

Why would someone pay a grand for a straight razor when a $60 used razor can do the same job?

We all decide how we spend our disposable income. That's what keeps the world economy going.

Originally Posted by BobH

I have never considered matching a watch to the shirt I was going to wear. I always thought that a black or brown leather band on a silver or yellow watch with a classic dial face went with anything.

Bob

Matching my shirt? Never even thought of it. A truly nice watch makes it's own statement, IMHO,no matter what you're wearing, and price doesn't matter, I wouldn't wear a watch I didn't like the looks of.
And there are cheap ones that look great, look on Ebay under German watches and you'll see some beautiful ones that you've never heard of.
I've bought a few, and every one of them has kept good time, I bought them for my son's, and was amazed at how well they kept time.