Pattio wrote:I love watches, I have quite a few, mostly Seikos and Citizens with a few european oddballs. I just placed a pre-order for a second watch from a guy in Singapore who designs and sells small-batch watches that he has contract built and sells through FB, he calls himself Ronin.
I've only recently started a "collection," so to speak. I've otherwise been wearing the same watch for about a decade. It's a great watch (wearing it now), and it does some
unique things, but recently I've become more aware of some of its failings (not to mention it's getting a wee bit flaky, likely from the abuse its received).
I have a particular fondness for 24-hour dials, which really narrows down the number of makers I'd consider. I almost gave up and went with getting a 12-hour Citizen -- mostly because I like the idea of never having to change a battery -- but then I found a
24-hour Lum Tec for pre-order that I really like. It includes lifetime factory maintenance and batteries, so I figured that was close enough.
The problem was that the pre-order Lum Tec won't be available until the summer, and I was getting really impatient. Mongo want candy NOW. Getting back to the "never change a battery" idea, I researched the most "real watch" I could get for around $100 and came up with the Seiko SNZG15:
Delivered to my door for under $130, Seiko automatic movement that's known for being reliable and accurate for decades, water rated to 100M -- and it takes the Zulu-style bands I already have. What's not to like? It's not a 24-hour face, but for the price and reliability I sure won't bitch. (And the lume on those things are way better than the shit watches I had as a kid.)
I found the Ronin guy and I like his stuff, tho. From what I can tell, the small "boutique" manufacturers are the way to go if you want a really nice watch. If you like 12-hour dials you can find a helluva lot of watch for a fraction of what you'd pay for an Omega, Rolex, etc., and probably get a more robust watch. For example, even the most expensive Lum Tecs are only $1k, but then you can get this:
It has a Japanese automatic movement, a bronze case that patinas over time, and is water rated to 200M. It's an "homage" to
Panerai watches, which retail for somewhere between $5-10k+.
Also, now that I have the Seiko, I'm really starting to appreciate the appeal of mechanical movements. There's something really pleasing about the idea that the machine on your arm is being powered by nothing more than your own movement. I also rather like the idea that with minimal maintenance it will run
forever (unlike quartz watches, which will eventually fail and in 100 years parts won't be available), and I can pass it down to my kids. They're already obsessed with the fact that it actually ticks.
Pattio wrote:I can honestly say I would prefer not to own a watch that cost $100,000. I smack mine into things all the time ... I also prefer stainless steel to gold, not that I will ever be able to afford gold anyway.
Absolutely agreed on all points. That, and as with the shown Seiko above, 99% of the watches out there don't actually do anything to justify the increase in price. They might be more accurate by +/- a couple seconds a month, but honestly who the fuck cares? Basically, you hit the point of diminishing returns pretty quickly when you get into the "luxury watches." The only reason I'll drop additional coin on a watch is if I can justify the expense with a function/feature that can't be found on the Seiko (or something along those lines).
As for the gold watch, I found a used gold Yes watch (the type I've been wearing for years) on eBay for super cheap a while back. I almost never wear it because it's too blingy and I don't go into an office any more. Trying to figure out if I can sell it, but it's kind've beat up so I doubt I can get anything out of it.
That said, I do really like the bronze watches. I never realized there was such a thing until I started shopping around recently. They're spiffy without being too shiny, and they get some really
funky patina patterns.
--Jaeger
