Chronograph Fans Only
 

gratuitous ref. 116520 steel daytona pic

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1104208971.jpg

You are really not helping my budget!

Course the photos of the ladies on the right side of the page helped!

Shuie, Thanks for the pic of my favourite watch! Have one in gold and there is none better!

JoeA

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1113188757.jpg http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1113188784.jpg

Wanna buy a steel one with a white dial? Sorry, just trying to help out ;)

Sure,

PM me if you really have one for sale!

JoeA

love that tat! (as well as other attributes) - tells me she is no stranger to making mistakes and learning to live with them

I have a ca. 1960's Breitling Navitimer that I inherited from my late grandfather. I should take a pic of it sometime; really a lovely piece and in excellent condition considering he wore it every day of his machinist's life since he purchased it.

I'm really on the prowl for an inexpensive automatic. I've found that every battery-powered watch I've ever owned has died within a year. And not just the battery...various functions, the ability to keep time...etc.

Aaron,

Do not look only for an "inexpensive" watch. Buy a good one and keep it forever like your Grandfather.

My first Rolex is from 1975 or so, found it in the PX for $275 or so. Steel and gold GMT Master that is now worth at least $4000 and has provided excellent service for 30 years. When you look at the cost per day or year it has been an absolute bargain.

Find a good watch for a descent price, wear it when needed and hand it down to your kids or family. I am partial to Rolex's but there are many good brands out there that hold their value very well.

Anyone into watches might look at this previous thread. Lots of very good information there.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=75416&perpage=20&pagenu mber=1

JoeA

A couple of alternatives to automatics are Seiko's Kinetic line and Citizen's Eco Drive. The Kinetics are like automatics, but they are charged by movement instead of wound. Eco Drives are light powered and will stay charged for weeks when fully charged.

Joe: With all due respect, I've never seen a Rolex that I liked looking at. I prefer something either subdued or mechanically complex and elegant, and Rolexes have always struck me as gaudy (though perhaps it's association with some acquaintences who've placed to much value in them as indicators of status).

Lee: I actually have a kinetic...it outlasted all my quartz watches, but only by a factor of two. So I got about two years out of it before it went on the fritz. I think I emit some sort of EM radiation. Maybe it's my dental fillings, or the lead in my ass.

Frankly I just can't justify the budget for another watch like my gaffer's. And I'd prefer not to wear his on a daily basis, at least until I have it cleaned and adjusted (which he rarely if ever did). But an auto appeals to me due to its (a) mechanical nature and (b) never-have-to-remember -to-wind-it convenience.

Say you had a budget of $1000 tops for an automatic watch. What would you do?

You may be able to find a Hanhart or Sinn for that money, or for a bit less:

http://www.chronomaster.co.uk/ollech_&_wajs.htm

There are usually deals to be had on Omega and sometimes IWC but Rolex and Patek don't depreciate so much. Save your money for the real thing.

Fortis flyer watches are really nice too....

European Aviation Watch of the Year 2004

The Swiss watch company FORTIS was awarded the European Aviation Watch of the Year Trophy this week at the Aero Club de France in Paris. Voted on by an international jury of both pilots and aviation magazine editors, the FORTIS Flieger Chronograph was named the overall winner of "Watch of the Year."

The French pilot magazine Volez, Germany’s Flieger Magazine, and the British Aerospace International sponsored the contest. The editors of these publications defined the criteria for the international judges to follow. Some of the automatic chronograph attributes that were rated include: precision, quality of the materials used, wearing comfort of the case and attachment, legibility of the hands and dial in poor lighting, plus the value and price comparisons. The FORTIS Flieger Chronograph ranked highest of all comparable watches in their category.

"The FORTIS Flieger Chronograph is a classic. Multiple international flying squadrons have already selected this timepiece as their official equipment and their favorite instrument. To be acknowledged publicly with this award is a great confirmation to the continuous improvements being made to our pilot watch collection," remarked Peter Peter, CEO of FORTIS, while accepting the award from jury member Dorine Bourneton.

www.fortis-watch.com

...let me add that it does NOT need to be a chrono. With that restriction gone, I see a lot of O&W fit within a 1/4 of my budget??! Are those things any good?

Aaron,

Does not have to be a Chrono at all. I like them at times but also have a very nice Cartier "tank" watch that is as dressy as they come. To boot it will last forever and still hold its value.

If you like dress watches you might look at some of the 1950-1960 Rolex and Cartier units. The Patek watches are a dream for me unless I win the lotto but they are very classy and are normally given from Father to Son in many families.

Some examples: http://www.watchestobuy.com/dd_watches_for_sale.htm

Joe A

They are basically a trading company offering quite good value watches in the style of more famous brands. They buy bin ends of stuff and assemble. Repaint the dial on the 620 tonneau and it would pass for a Frank Muller in poor light;)
My daughter wears that one daily and she's happy with it, she did replace the strap with a fancier one.

Me likey that 620...your daughter has good taste. :D

ARRGH! I never did care much about wristwatches until "you people" started these watch threads. Now, from time to time, I find myself thinking about a Hamilton Khaki...

Oops, I lied: it's a Cosmonaute.

Here's a pic.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1113247288.jpg

Brietling is a great watch company, but as a dedicated Rolex sport watch snob, I think there watches are about as gaudy as it gets. Ive never seen a Brietling that I could read at a glance. The idea of a pilot staring at one of these and trying to figure out what it says while flying a plane kinda scares me.

If you want and inexpensive chrono look at the Tudor Tiger, a Sin, or a Bell & Ross. I like the Fortis also, but I dont know much about them.