Thread: What types of watches do you like?

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Actually, they had radium filled dials but they weren't allowed.

Railway approved Pocket watches were far better in every way than modern mass produced watches. You can buy a Miyota 8000 series mvmt for around 40 bucks and it will keep time to within 15 seconds a day or better. Modern machining and tolerances make this possible but I wouldn't call it a "good" mvmt.

Railway grade pocket watches were accurate to within a scant few seconds a day. The mvmts were highly decorated and the parts in many cases used exotic materials. The brass used was harder than todays case hardening which wears over the years, many used diamonds for the main cap jewel, many used gold gears for the gear train. If they made a mvmt today like an old pocket watch mvmt it would cost a fortune.

I'm Not knocking Swiss Movmts. They are great and the El Primero is outstanding. It's just a matter of how you define quality. It's like saying a Honda Civic is a great car (which it is) for what it is. If you compare it to a top of the line Mercedes it doesn't look so great anymore.

You are correct, but we,I, was talking about wristwatches, not pocket watches, I don't think Ball even makes them anymore. If I understood him correctly, he said he wouldn't wear (buy)a Ball watch because of the history. If they don't make pocket watches anymore then there's no comparison.
Hey,I didn't realize it was you Big, but come on that's comparing apples to oranges, and YOU know that...