Watches - another OCD problem
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@RobeOfTheMagi agreed
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@RobeOfTheMagi I used to have one but sold it on. It was a cool watch. I replaced the hardlex with sapphire. The bezel could have been a little nicer imo, the ratcheting strap was functionally nice but it's still in need of an update, and it was always a little top heavy and unbalanced on any strap. The monoblock was cool but made servicing a little less easy.
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And thus the search for the "perfect" watch continues... I'd whittled it down to
- Seiko
- diver
- 42m or less
- non-metal bracelet
- green dial and/or bracelet
I went through hundreds of listings of Presages, (baby) Alpines, Prospexes, Tunas, Sumos, Padis; hell you name it...
Most of 'm are either bigger, way more expensive and usually both those things...I settled for this 1986 6458-602B 200m diver. New battery, new strap. Bought for 270€. It was shipped today (no pics or impressions yet) but here's a pic from the listing:
(I should add... This is meant to take some abuse... Nothing fancy... Just a trustworthy Japanese workhorse...)
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I miss that one. Had to sell it in order to pay rent as student.
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This is btw the first analog quartz chronograph. The movement is quite interesting:
https://www.watch-wiki.net/doku.php?id=seiko_7a
I also had the 7A38, which is the day date version.
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Well it's been travelling from Italy to Belgium for four days and it's still accurate down to the minute... Guess that says it all...
Yes yes yes I know quartz mov't and all that... Still this is pretty complicated... Some intel I stole:Don’t be fooled by the word “QUARTZ” either. This is indeed a quartz watch, but it isn’t a cheap throwaway quartz movement. The 7548 movement is based on the hugely iconic 6309 automatic movement. The two movements are identical until you get to where the mainspring would usually be. Instead of a mainspring you find a battery powered quartz crystal circuit board. My point being, this movement is powered by quartz, but is 90% mechanical and is full metal construction (other than the circuit board). It’s designed to be serviced, nurtured. Not thrown away should things go wrong with it.
The 7548 is the same as this 6458, the latter just being a smaller (38mm) case version.
Oh and yes I'm aware we're the 27th today. I'll fix that in a bit...
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@Seul I love nice quartz watches, I’m glad to see this one on your wrist.
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Agreed. We’ll played @Seul
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Rolex has just announced the Land-Dweller, which has been pretty heavily leaked over the last few days.
It's an integrated bracelet watch, which they haven't done for some years, but the big news is the movement. It has a new silicon natural escarpment, which they've dubbed the Dynapulse, it runs at 5 Hz, rather than 4 Hz, and is thinner than the existing movements.
Rolex claims it's more accurate, but it's still certified to their -2/+2 seconds per day Superlative Chronometer standard. I thought that they might have chased Omega's 0/+2 seconds claim for the Spirate system.
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The trouble that I have with the Land-Dweller is the price. It's $16K (US) or $24K (Australian). That's about the same as a Glashütte Original SeaQ Panorama Date in steel and gold, or an entry level Fifty Fathoms.
Like @JDelage, I don't think that it's an ugly watch. It feels a bit derivative. The Tissot PRX looks like a version of the Vacheron Constantin 222, and the Land-Dweller seems to be a copy of these with Rolex garnishes.
I'm curious where the movement will turn up next. A titanium Explorer fitted with it would be lovely.
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@Graeme I think most people spending $16K on a watch really are in the position to just buy all of the above mentioned models. I'm really not sure they are comparing dollars for features or value too much.
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@Graeme tempted me to look at the recent announcements. The two standouts for me are never going to happen - one isn’t even a watch (which won’t surprise some of you)!
The Cartier Tank à Guichets is beautiful, especially IMO this one:
But the real winner for me is this from Patek. I love the combination of horology, silversmithing and enamelling, although I doubt my extended family has enough spare organs to cover the cost!
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@ARNC my favourite Patek release is the Calatrava 6196P. It's a simple hand wound watch in platinum. I'd get one over the Cubitus, if I had a spare CHF 40K lying around. (The Cubitus is CHF 35K, so slightly cheaper, and far less lovely.)
Zenith announced the GFJ which is similar (a platinum case, hand wound movement), but a slightly larger case. It's actually more expensive, at CHF 49K.
What's really interesting about it is Zenith have resurrected a vintage chronometer movement, the Calibre 135, which they've given a few contemporary twists. It's got a 72-hour power reserve, up from 40 hours, and it's regulated to -2 to +2 sec per day, which is the same as Rolex's Superlative Chronometer rating.
@RobeOfTheMagi I don't think that buyers will be cross shopping the Zenith and the Patek either!
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@Graeme the Calatrava is beautiful and definitely more practical than my choice. The GFJ dial doesn’t work for me for some reason (although many of the design elements are up my street), but the movement is definitely interesting.
