Let’s Talk Watches

[HilltopHitman]

Seiko… A well respected “budget” brand that puts classic and great timepieces.

 

[BoilerBowHunter]

I recently got a Citizen Promaster Dive as stated earlier. I primarily wear a Garmin watch, but I wanted something for dressier occasions. I settled on Citizen due to the Eco Drive technology that requires basically no maintenance. You don't have to wear it to keep time, and you don't have to take it in every "x" years for maintenance. I get it may not be an heirloom piece like an automatic, but I'm fine with that. I like the idea of an automatic watch and the craftsmanship that goes into it, but I couldn't get there for something I'll be wearing sparingly.

If i went with an automatic, the Seiko Prospex Alpinist with the green dial is a pretty sweet looking watch in my opinion.

 

[bowhuntercoop]

Went down that rabbit hole, careful…it’s slippery.

My daily is my explorer 114270. Best watch they ever made imo.

Sold my sub last week since I never wear it. Bought it new in 2015 and made a great profit 11 years later.

For budget dive watches nothing is even coming close to an Orient Kamasu. They are fantastic for the money, and when regulated very accurate.

Op I’ve prolly spent 40-50k on watches over the years in my journey of buying, selling, flipping, wearing.

For your budget buy an orient. That 500-1000 range plenty of micros and used micros. Used Ginualts would be my top pick imo.

Fare warning like I said, if you dive down the rabbit hole it’s addicting, start saving, all roads lead to Rolex at the end…

 

[chasewild]

Careful with watches . . . it can cost you a shit load of money and probably more time just browsing and wishing, and coveting thy neighbors watch.

 

[Ashy Larry]

I will 5th (or 6th or 7th) the Orient diver suggestion. A Kamasu was my first “real” watch and I still wear it regularly. It’s been in the ocean several times and as well as pools and fishing. I think it’s ballsy to walk around with $20k+ on your wrist. Not saying I wouldn’t, but it’s a commitment and there are folks with eyes on those sort of things.

 

[betelgeuse]

I picked up one of these from Aragon for $189.00 has a NH36 24 Seiko movement Tungsten bracelet and Sapphire crystal. It's no Rolex, but as an old time abalone diver I had to have it. It is my first automatic.

 

[betelgeuse]

I will 5th (or 6th or 7th) the Orient diver suggestion. A Kamasu was my first “real” watch and I still wear it regularly. It’s been in the ocean several times and as well as pools and fishing. I think it’s ballsy to walk around with $20k+ on your wrist. Not saying I wouldn’t, but it’s a commitment and there are folks with eyes on those sort of things.

I really like those. They look super nice. If anything I am learning a lot about the history of watches !

 

[Bonehammer]

Awesome choice. It’s pretty cool when you get a true sapphire crystal, and it just doesn’t ever scratch. Definitely an upgrade that will always be worth it to me.
Let’s see some pictures of the alpinist!

 

[betelgeuse]

I saw some funny watches that said RELAX it's not what you think. It said Garage assembled, hand washed. Pretty funny.

 

[betelgeuse]

Careful with watches . . . it can cost you a shit load of money and probably more time just browsing and wishing, and coveting thy neighbors watch.

Don't worry about me, I still shoot a .30-06 hahaha

 

[woods89]

I'm on the cheap side.

-Timex Weekender for outdoor stuff.
- The cheap Casio diver with a NATO strap for any time I'm more dressed up than work clothes but not totally dressed up. ( I think I've had it for about 5 years now. Replaced the battery once, other than that it keeps on rolling)
-An Orient Bambino 38mm for when I'm dressed up. Really like this watch.

I don't wear one to work, but I've come to enjoy wearing one for everything else.

 

[bowhuntercoop]

I will 5th (or 6th or 7th) the Orient diver suggestion. A Kamasu was my first “real” watch and I still wear it regularly. It’s been in the ocean several times and as well as pools and fishing. I think it’s ballsy to walk around with $20k+ on your wrist. Not saying I wouldn’t, but it’s a commitment and there are folks with eyes on those sort of things.

In London prolly not smart, most of the us you’re fine. I’ve worn my explorer all over the world and only true watch snobs or fellow explorer owners know what it is.

The sub is super recognizable and a target for sure, that was another reason I wanted to sell it.

I wore my Daytona and people rarely knew it was a Rolex as well.

Covid brought on a huge drive and demand in the watch world that honestly changed it for the worst imo.

I bought my first Rolex in 06 after boot camp from the Marines because I always wanted one, it’s the explorer I wear today on my wrist.
Every Rolex I bought from 2010-2020 I got as a walk in at the ad, with a discount. Those days are looooong gone and never returning. Prices have absolutely gone crazy. That sub I bought in 2015 cost me 6500, the explorer i bought new in 06 was 2800. Just sold the sub last week for 13k and the explorers sell for 10k all day.

Watch theft just wasn’t as big of a concern even 5 years ago, but with the huge influx and hype in the watch and increaed prices world wide theft has skyrocketed like you mentioned for well recognized pieces, hence another reason i daily an explorer because no one realizes its a Rolex lol.

 

[ni7ne]

I recently got a Citizen Promaster Dive as stated earlier. I primarily wear a Garmin watch, but I wanted something for dressier occasions. I settled on Citizen due to the Eco Drive technology that requires basically no maintenance. You don't have to wear it to keep time, and you don't have to take it in every "x" years for maintenance. I get it may not be an heirloom piece like an automatic, but I'm fine with that. I like the idea of an automatic watch and the craftsmanship that goes into it, but I couldn't get there for something I'll be wearing sparingly.

If i went with an automatic, the Seiko Prospex Alpinist with the green dial is a pretty sweet looking watch in my opinion.

I suspect you have to wear ecodrive or other solar watches for them to be zero maintenance. People who leave them in a drawer for weeks kill the rechargeable battery, even if you can resurrect it a few times.

 

[xcutter]

Not a collector watch but I really like my Garmin Fenix 7 Sapphire Solar. Battery life is excellent. Tracks my workouts really well. When it dies I will have to buy another one.

 

[Choupique]

suspect you have to wear ecodrive or other solar watches for them to be zero maintenance.

Even those eventually need capacitors changed but that happens in decade + intervals usually. They wont last forever but go for way long enough.

The autos Ive had went a long time without service, I think 8 years was the earliest i had it done. The problem is its a $300+ service for a sw200 so you need to be ok with eventually putting more money into servicing it than you paid for the watch if its one of the $500 to $1500 price bracket rigs.

 

[dh.hamilton1]

Have any of you found any luck looking in pawn shops or obscure places like swap meets and such to find some of these watches?


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[43.6N]

Have any of you found any luck looking in pawn shops or obscure places like swap meets and such to find some of these watches?


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Pawnshops, no.
Swaps, never been, but could be promising.
Watch repair shops: yes.

And an app I have had good luck with is chrono24. https://apps.apple.com/app/id472912032
It keeps funds basically in escrow until you’ve had a chance to handle the watch and decide to keep it.

 

[bozeman]

View attachment 1027841View attachment 1027842
Went down that rabbit hole, careful…it’s slippery.

My daily is my explorer 114270. Best watch they ever made imo.

Sold my sub last week since I never wear it. Bought it new in 2015 and made a great profit 11 years later.

For budget dive watches nothing is even coming close to an Orient Kamasu. They are fantastic for the money, and when regulated very accurate.

Op I’ve prolly spent 40-50k on watches over the years in my journey of buying, selling, flipping, wearing.

For your budget buy an orient. That 500-1000 range plenty of micros and used micros. Used Ginualts would be my top pick imo.

Fare warning like I said, if you dive down the rabbit hole it’s addicting, start saving, all roads lead to Rolex at the end…

Wish I had known the sub was for sale....on my short list.

 

[akhunter3]

In London prolly not smart, most of the us you’re fine. I’ve worn my explorer all over the world and only true watch snobs or fellow explorer owners know what it is.

The sub is super recognizable and a target for sure, that was another reason I wanted to sell it.

I wore my Daytona and people rarely knew it was a Rolex as well.

Covid brought on a huge drive and demand in the watch world that honestly changed it for the worst imo.

I bought my first Rolex in 06 after boot camp from the Marines because I always wanted one, it’s the explorer I wear today on my wrist.
Every Rolex I bought from 2010-2020 I got as a walk in at the ad, with a discount. Those days are looooong gone and never returning. Prices have absolutely gone crazy. That sub I bought in 2015 cost me 6500, the explorer i bought new in 06 was 2800. Just sold the sub last week for 13k and the explorers sell for 10k all day.

Watch theft just wasn’t as big of a concern even 5 years ago, but with the huge influx and hype in the watch and increaed prices world wide theft has skyrocketed like you mentioned for well recognized pieces, hence another reason i daily an explorer because no one realizes its a Rolex lol.

the price jump on the explorer and sub is nuts. I've just gotten into watches a bit over the last year or two and Rolex seems so insanely expensive these days it's hard to imagine a daily wear in that $10K+ range

 

[dh.hamilton1]

Anyone have any insight into Vaer watches?

They have some designs similar to other watches called out as well as good price points.


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