Being into watches - it's just not the same.

Richard G said:
I agree with Ko.Fe about the function of a watch. It is is to tell the time, instantly, at a glance. The apple watch is not such a watch. I bought an Oris automatic watch in 2010. I was tired of getting batteries changed in my quartz watch. I never had time so I was wearing my grandfather's Cyma and worried I would damage it. That kept perfect time.

I went into the jeweller's and asked for a steel braceleted automatic waterproof watch with a second hand and a big smooth crown as plain as possible. You're kidding aren't you? Nope. He showed me a Raymond Weil and an Oris. Have you heard of these brands? Yes, at least the Raymond Weil. So you'll take the Raymond Weil? No, I'll take the Oris. Not till the sale went through did the guy see that I was the real deal.

Eventually the watch needed servicing and regulating to keep better time. It is now a few seconds fast per day. Knowing I'd be without it for a few weeks waiting on an important part, I went to the second hand watch dealer next door and looked for another watch to be my backup. I didn't like many. I bought an Oris diver's watch that fitted my requirements. I went outside and sent a photo of it to my son. The Oris 65 he tells me quick as a flash. Mine is the 2015 revival version with the big numbers. It's great. It was within 2 seconds per day accuracy. So now I have two good watches, keeping excellent time. I may never buy another watch. The same cannot be said of my son.
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I'm with both of you. A watch is a lot more functional than a smart device for me. It's just there. It doesn't need batteries, or a charger. I've got enough gadgets to keep track of. Now even on my bike, with some Garmin gear. At least the bike itself doesn't need charging.

And similarly, while i certainly appreciate them, I can't justify more than a few. They do just one purpose, to tell time. At least cameras have different utilities. (Don't get me started on fountain pens, though as far as collectables go, they don't take up space, and I have the skills to fix up estate sale finds).

For those in this thread that don't see the cost/benefit of mechanical watches, allow me to introduce you to the Seiko 5 series. Cheap and go forever without service, and of course, no batteries. Like the old pre-quartz Timexes, but far more accurate.

As an aside, what I do find interesting looking around at other people's wrists is that I see smart watches far more common among older generations. You'd think it'd be the other way around. Might just be a bit of confirmation bias.
 
Watches have very distinctive looks, which can be spotted from far away, and they don't need to be expensive to have a unique appearance:

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Junghans "Bauhaus" Trilastic

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Citizen "Bullhead" chronograph

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Alpha "skeleton"

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Steinhart Ocean Vintage Military

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Poljot gold watch

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Yema Sous-marine

Even a quick look at the movement will be enough for an aficionado to identify the watch:

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Volna 2809 "Precision" caliber

Cheers!

Abbazz
 
panerai said:
I'm more of a watch guy than camera and I can spot a nice watch 10 ft. away just by the case design on many models. Spotting a fake is another story, but some are easy.

I've owned close to 400 watches (mainly vintage) and even taught myself watchmaking to do minor repairs when needed

Currently I only have two and both from the same company

Watch nerds will know the brand

DON

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I love your watches but can attest to the fact that this model is large and heavy to wear. So I only wear mine now and then, when I feel in the mood. And I have to confess up front - mine is a "homage" watch - not exactly a fake as it is not labelled Panerei or Luminor tho' its design is classically so and unmistakable. Visually its fit and finish is very good though no doubt it suffers greatly by comparison with the real thing both in terms of the fineness of its finish and of the quality of the movement.

I must say I especially like your black model Luminor. From the fact that mine is a copy watch it can be discerned that I am not so addicted to watches as I am to cameras and lenses - the latter in particular. But there is something special about classic watch designs (as with the best classic camera and lens designs). I do however own an original Schaffhausen IWC from the 1960's (my fathers watch and a kind of entry level drug for those more afflicted than I am to the classic watch drug). The IWC is this model but of slightly later vintage. And beautiful it is too.

https://daisyexclusive.com/collecti...sen-18k-rose-gold-watch-caliber-89-circa-1947
 
CliveC said:
That's why I wear a Pebble. Display always on.

Always wanted a better mechanical watch, but it's a little daunting. So if you choose something affordable (as in under $2000), it probably won't appreciate in value. Plus mechanicals need CLAs just like cameras do, every 10 years, if not less. Might as well go with a classy-looking Timex and not feel quite the loss when it dies.
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There is a huge range of good looking, decent quality mechanical and quartz watches, and you don't have to spend a lot for one. Even a simple Seiko 5 can be beautiful, classic and stylish. Check this out, I would totally wear this model if I could get one in Australia.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNUGxV6zCm8

If you don't want mechanical and prefer the accuracy and ease of use of quartz, Citizen and Seiko offer a fair number of solar powered models that will go for years and years.
 
A lot of younger people use a watch as a fashion item and their smartphone as their 'pocket watch'. As someone who loves watches, this doesn't work for me. This morning, I had to run an errand which required parking in a space for under half an hour, or I'd be hit with a big jump in parking fees. Now, I could have used my usual dive watch with timing bezel, turning the bezel to the minute I arrived and checking for elapsed time, but in this instance, I used my Casion G Shock with stopwatch function. Seeing the time tick over in digital form gave a real sense of security. I could have used a normal watch, a diving watch with timing bezel, or even my smartphone, but the G Shock was a fun and practical way to do it.


Funny, I had my Sony RX0 and Contax T3 with me. When I ran my errand in four minutes (thanks, G Shock!) I sat down for an egg and bacon muffin and pulled out the T3 to take a photo. Imagine my consternation when it didn't turn on! Thankfully, it was only a low battery. So there's my solar powered G Shock zipping along, and my beloved T3 with a dead battery, hahaha!
 
In 1998 I became interested in mechanical watches. I joined the Time Zone web forums and became totally addicted.

Although the watch's main purpose is to tell time, we watch aficionados all know an inexpensive quartz watch will easily exceed the accuracy of the best mechanical watches.

Rather, just as manual transmissions on cars let you become more involved in driving, mechanical watches allow you to appreciate the complex aspects of keeping time, with maybe the complications of moon phase, calendar functions, and so on.

My collection is fairly modest:

Tag Heuer 2000 automatic, Valjoux caliber 7750
Omega Speedmaster, manual wind, caliber 1863
Seiko Diver, automatic, caliber 7s26
Debaufre, manual wind, Unitas caliber 6498
 

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Collecting watches appears to be one of the few things that make collecting Leica's seem cheap. And the smartphone in your pocket technically makes both redundant (not that that ever stopped anyone).
 
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