Hello all,
I would dearly love to buy a quality automatic watch such as an Omega, or a Longines but really cannot afford to buy one brand new.
There are loads of UK-based websites offering new replicas of these for around £70-100. The websites look kosher, and the watches look good. But I can't help being a teensy bit suspicious.
Does anybody have any (relevant!) tales to tell - good or bad?
Cheers.
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I did suspect as much, cheers for that.
What's the best way, then, of buying myself a good used automatic watch? There's loads on Fleabay but the risks are great.
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Just remembered this newspaper article from a few years back on the subject (Google, as ever, proved amazing, it came up as the first link!):
tinyurl.com/3vdwd7j
The second link, from 2006, is:
tinyurl.com/4yvh8c5
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I bought a fake Rolex years ago from a lookee lookee man somewhere broad for under a fiver. It looked good, albeit not as good as the real thing, and kept good time till the battery died.
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You could try your local jewelers.
Last edited by: Clk Sec on Thu 26 May 11 at 20:16
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I have two fake rolexes in my drawer cost a fiver each in singapore, and afake logines that cost a tenner.
And that is all they are worth so dont pay a hundred quid for one.
A second hand good watch is a good buy. Watch fleabay, do some research and choose a couple of makes you would like. 100 quid gets you a good working Bulova Accutron.
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I treated myself to a new Tudor divers type watch a few years back. I already had a nice Omega Seamaster, but after the original battery, which lasted 5 years, all the replacements seemed to struggle to do 2 years. Hence my decision to go with the automatic Tudor.
The Tudor broke after about 3 yers and went back to Rolex for a repair and service - about £100 I think. Then last year it broke again and has been on the kitchen window sill ever since. So I dug out the Omega again and got a local place to put in a new battery, but didn't bother with the (expensive) waterproof test.
So maybe it's better sticking with batteries.
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At the other end of the market, I decided I couldn't afford £9 for a real Casio F91W digital watch so went for an ebay replica - exactly the same, allegedly, but without the word 'Casio' on the face. £4.87 inc p&p at the time.
Unfortunately the first one lost about 20 seconds per day, and the replacement gained about the same amount. Lesson learned :)
(A 'proper' digital watch shouldn't gain/lose more than about half a second a day.)
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www.brittons-watches.co.uk/NEW_SITE/index.htm
Highly recommended for second hand quality watches. Dealt with them before. Totally reliable.
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Bit of a classic now the old Casio F91W. very cool to be seen with one on your wrist ( a real one - jeez fancy buying a fake 9 quid casio - what a cheapskate)
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>> Bit of a classic now the old Casio F91W. very cool to be seen with
>> one on your wrist
Depends where you are!
www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/apr/25/guantanamo-files-casio-wristwatch-alqaida
(bought mine before that story came out)
>> ( a real one - jeez fancy buying a fake 9 quid casio - what a cheapskate)
guilty as charged
Last edited by: Focus on Thu 26 May 11 at 20:55
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Plenty of reputable secondhand dealers about. Austin Kaye on the Strand is one such, with a proper shop and a well-photographed website. (How is it that watch manufacturers' official photos manage to convey so little information, and actually make the watch look less impressive that a simple studio shot?)
Alternatively, if you want something new, you could look at a Vostok Europe or (if you can find one, which seems harder these days) a Poljot. These are made in Russia, and the Poljot in particular is an interesting option. In the mid-1970s, as buyers were deserting Swiss wind-ups for newfangled quartz, Poljot bought some surplus-to-requirements tooling from movement maker Valjoux for a manual-wind chronograph movement. Rather than simply put the movement into production, they developed it, increased its frequency to 21,600 vph, and created the Poljot 3133.
I have one I bought new in 2004. You wouldn't mistake it for an Omega, but nor is it Thai street market tat; it has a well-machined stainless steel case and a nicely-printed dial with some cool-looking Cyrillic text.
Sadly, in 2008 it suffered a ham-fisted and very slow service from a watch dealer in Warwick that I will happily name on request, and although it still runs it loses about 15 minutes a day and current spending priorities do not include getting it fixed up. But it converted me from automatics to manuals; you develop a more personal relationship with a watch you wind yourself, and when Mrs Beest offered me a watch in honour of a Significant Birthday, I went for another handwinder - but Swiss this time.
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I had a Poljot - nice watch that I gave to a good pal about 10 years ago - it's still working well.
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>> Bit of a classic now the old Casio F91W. very cool to be seen with
>> one on your wrist
I had no idea it was cool. I've been wearing them for years and treating them as disposables. Strap goes or battery dies, down to Argos for a new one.
Then I got fed up with the straps getting grubby and a bit smelly so i changed my habit. And bought a Casio A163W, stainless steel for a few quid more. I expect I'll throw it away when the battery dies....................
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"I've been wearing them for years"
Lucky you didn't end up in Guantánamo
"The Casio F-91W digital watch was declared to be 'the sign of al-Qaida' and a contributing factor to continued detention of prisoners by the analysts stationed at Guantánamo Bay. Briefing documents used to train staff in assessing the threat level of new detainees advise that possession of the F-91W – available online for as little as £4 – suggests the wearer has been trained in bomb making by al-Qaida in Afghanistan."
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>> >> Bit of a classic now the old Casio F91W. very cool to be seen
>> with
>> >> one on your wrist
I have one of these
www.thewatchhut.co.uk/Casio--G+Shock-Watch-..html
Just a posh version of the F91W. I could have done without the solar power, but I couldn't find one that looked the same with a battery. But it works very well, and never drops below high on the charge display. It may be different for someone that spends most of their time in an office with the watch under a jacket sleeve though. It gets wet, get's covered in dirt and dust from work and sometimes gets knocked, but they're indestructible. After having watches with analogue faces, I went back to digital because they're so easy to read quickly, although they don't have the Kudos factor if you're a Bond wannabe, rowing along a rocky coastline in the evening on some mission, with an Omega Seamaster* strapped to your chunky forearm.
* with extras such as tracking device and laser cutter.
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>>
>> Unfortunately the first one lost about 20 seconds per day, and the replacement gained about
>> the same amount. Lesson learned :)
>>
Wear both and average the two times? ;-)
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There are reasonable replicas or lookalikes but you need to know what's in them really. Most have cheap Chinese movements and are worth a few pounds at the most.
Beware also of "German" watches that claim to be high quality, low priced ("sold direct") but commonly originate in China - they may have been produced to a German design (or possibly just badged) and you must draw your own conclusions. Some names here -
www.trustedwatch.com/community/blacklist
If you like a mechanical watch for not much money, either buy used or something like a Seiko 5 (not officially imported to UK now, but look on Amazon) - about £50 up. I'm wearing a 15 year old one at the moment - dinged and scratched, still goes with a shake and keeps good time.
Last time we did watches I posted this
www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?v=t&t=3767&m=78684
My Mk II watch cost me about $400 - they seem to have gone up a bit!
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I also have the Seiko 5. Had it for about 5 years. It cost about £30 from ebay, and never stops unless I don't wear it for a couple of days.
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My view is that mechanical watches are a waste of time and money. They need servicing every few years at a cost of ~£100, and it might cost more if there is a failure of the mechanism. It can happen. Rolex etc are undoubtedly well made, but the adverts are hype, and they are for rich people. That is my subjective viewpoint, that's all, many will disagree. If you must have a mechanical watch, then a Swiss company called ETA mass produce mechanical movements and many companies use them in affordable cases e.g Invicta. They are very good movements and made using robots etc so superb value. Seiko make some at excellent prices, and there is a sister company called Orient. Bear in mind that you might get bored of the watch after a few years. I no longer wear a Zenith Elite, and prefer to wear a 9ct gold Rotary quartz I bought new on ebay for £125. I actually do not like wearing a valuable watch. I find it too ostentatious, and anyway I don't want people to mistake me for a car salesman or a solicitor. ;)
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I wouldn't mind one of them Casios, might help me regain some my lost 'geek' image.
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>> I wouldn't mind one of them Casios, might help me regain some my lost 'geek'
>> image.
>>
I do have one, but not worn it for a while due to the strap breaking.
Just ordered a new strap off ebay....
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Agree with most of that Leif, though I'm fonder of mechanicals than you.
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Mechanical watches are like steam engines, fascinating and romantic, but you have to admit that the modern equivalent actually does the job better.
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You're absolutely right CG. I bought myself a lovely hand-made Stowa Fleigr last year. The movement is visible through a panel on the back - beautiful detail down to the actual maker's signature on the movement. I love it but wouldn't go up a mountain with it...
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>> You're absolutely right CG. I bought myself a lovely hand-made Stowa Fleigr last year.
Stowa are well made watches using standard ETA movements and well priced. There are a few such German brands, Limes is another.
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>They need servicing every few years at a cost of ~£100,
£300+ and a 4-6 week turnaround for a Swiss automatic serviced at the manufacturer - more if it's a chronograph.
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I have a couple of nice watches, but rarely wear either as 'er inside the doors cannot 'ave a go when I get home late from the Pu.................Oh! hell........here she comes.......yes dear yes dea..............THUMP.
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For heaven's sake.....Get off down to the market, find the nice Asian gentleman selling electrical stuff and get two decent watches for £2.50 each.
Mine last well and keep good time. I only chuck 'em when the strap goes.
I have an automatic Omega in the drawer somewhere. It was a 21st prezzie. I may have it serviced and re-strapped one day.
I stopped wearing good watches years ago when I was plunging my hands into car's engines daily.
My watch makes an important statement about me.........Lickpenny !
Ted
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I just use my mobile to tell the time. I've noticed the Panda's clock is quite useless at telling time as it loses a few minutes over the month.
I suspect Lada make the clock chips.
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>> I've noticed the Panda's clock is quite useless at telling time as it loses a few minutes over the month.
Vauxhall clocks set themselves via the RDS signal from the stereo. Have done for a number of years now. I don't know why other car manufacturers don't do the same. Take the Ford pool vehicles (Focus's and Transit Connects mainly) at work. The clocks are always fast or slow. The clock display is incorporated in the stereo display, and in the stereo menu there is an option to briefly show the correct time via the RDS signal. Why can't Ford just use the RDS signal like Vauxhall do?
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...Why can't Ford just use the RDS signal like Vauxhall do?...
No idea, although I've not turned on FM radio for months on the CC3.
The clock - and more often the date - displays wrongly from time to time.
At first I thought it was me not setting it correctly, but it's happened several times now.
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>>Mine last well and keep good time. I only chuck 'em when the strap goes.>>
That's actually cheaper than buying a new battery for it at most places (apart for the 40 or 50 retail packs at Poundland)...:-) Even if you only use one battery you've saved money and it's usually easy to get the back off.
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>> >They need servicing every few years at a cost of ~£100,
>>
>> £300+ and a 4-6 week turnaround for a Swiss automatic serviced at the manufacturer -
>> more if it's a chronograph.
Quite! £100 is when done at a respectable UK workshop. And they sometimes leave marks in the case, as was the case (no pun intended) with an old Jaeger LeCoultre I inherited.
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Most towns have a jewellers or two selling quality watches second hand.
I have several quality Seiko and similar brand watches which have served me well for many years, but the one I wear the most (apart from a £2.99 Lidl purchase worn during the day and which keeps perfect time) is a Pulsar (a Seiko brand as is Lorus) blue face stainless steel example.
Normally at least £155 in a specialist watch/jewellers shop, Argo had it on offer for £69.99 up to quite recently - a giveaway price for a 100m water resistant watch with day/date feature and full Kinetic movement. You'd be lucky to get a basic date only automatic type Pulsar for that price...:-)
A pal whose very into watches once told me that the quartz movements in cheap watches are the same as those used in the most expensive, but how true that is I don't know.
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To add to above, see:
tinyurl.com/3vdwd7j
Also the OP might like to take a walk down Market Street at the side of the Vincent and have a look in the watch seller's windows there...:-)
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I have had my Lorus Sports automatic/kinetic watch for 12 years now. Never missed a beat and has never been serviced. It is worn daily which may help.
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I have an analogue Timex and one of those Casio FS digitals.
Both have been keeping good time for years, and I cannot remember when I last changed a battery.
Don't often wear a watch these days.
Usually have the mobile with me which has a clock, as does the car, as does the laptop, as does the netbook, as do the courts I go to, as do most rooms I routinely sit in, as does the iPod, etc etc.
Access to the time is one thing few of us are short of.
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I wore my last classical-looking Accurist till it broke a few years ago and managed with Lidl watches at up to 15 euros since then. Last year I happened to mention to a friend that I always fancied following Bill Boddy's (Motor Sport) advice to buy a Breitling Navitimer. 'No need to' he said and came up with a quite good-looking fake Breitling he bought in Azerbaijan for 75 euros. To my surprise he then gave it to me. I wore it for a couple of days but decided a - it was far too big to be comfortable and b - I just didn't feel right wearing a fake. So I gave it back.
I did borrow it again a couple of months ago though, for a trip to the UK where I could wind up my wealthy brother.
On the way back I bought a 25-quid Sekonda on the boat and I'm really pleased with it - slim, classical design, shows the date, movement made in Japan, keeps perfect time. What more could I want?
Incidentally, I am gobsmacked at all these glossy ads for 'motorsport' watches in the old car mags these days. Apparently, drilling holes in the hands and using an odd colour scheme makes a watch redolent of the 'golden age of motor racing'. And only £2,800 or whatever. What sort of a prat buys that?
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>>I did borrow it again a couple of months ago though, for a trip to the UK where I could
>>wind up my wealthy brother.
Somewhat foolish to take fake watches through customs. And once having smuggled them into the country why go to the risk of taking them through repeatedly.
An interview under caution would make winding up a watch (or a brother) look like hard work.
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...Somewhat foolish to take fake watches through customs...
If customs saw one of my watches, they'd probably feel sorry for me and give me a seized one.
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>> An interview under caution would make winding up a watch (or a brother) look like
>> hard work.
No-one is going to get a tug or questioned under caution for wearing one fake watch.
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>>Argo had it on offer for £69.99 up to quite recently - a giveaway price for a 100m water resistant watch
A giveaway price if you do a lot of diving, Stuartli, certainly. Well done.
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Todays watch question ....
Do you agree that the bigger and pricier the smaller the manhood size ......?? :0)
Also did any one else see CeeLo Greens watch on Graham Norton show last week?
Last edited by: retpocileh on Fri 27 May 11 at 11:35
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>> Also did any one else see CeeLo Greens watch on Graham Norton show last week?
Couldn't miss it! Song was a bit disappointing though - without his singing I would have rated it as poor.
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i have several oldish a970's watches and my favourite is a seconda steel watch with self winding.
keeps very good time. prob wothless but checked serial number and it was made in 1976
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There is a little known third way between quartz and automatic- the electric tuning fork.
The principle is similar to the quartz, but the frequency is taken from a, well, tuning fork instead of a crystal. The result is a watch that runs on battery and should be pretty reliable. The second hand sweeps seemlessly (not even ticking like an auto), and the watch emits an audible hum at 300hz.
Use by a number of swiss watchmakers in the 70's, notably Bulova and Omega. I have a 1973 Seamaster like this:
www.watcheswithnolimits.com/index.php/en/225450/-omega-seamaster-f300-hz.html
but with a silver dial. 40th present. Looks lovely and feels solid; little bit unusual too. Can be had for £250+ on ebay. Won't be faked as you can't fake this movement.
I also have a battered 1990s Tag Heuer F1 as an alternative, and a Casio plastic digital (hurrah!) for sport & gardening etc.
I have to admit that I LOVE watches. Were I extremely rich, I'd have a drawer full of them
Cheers,
Alex.
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Here's a lovely one on ebay, item 170643973649
If I didn't already have one... :-)
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My aunt bought me a replica Rolex back from Hong Kong. The face wasn't even on straight!
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>> My aunt bought me a replica Rolex back from Hong Kong. The face wasn't even
>> on straight!
Yeah, my Aunt can never keep a straight face...
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>>My aunt bought me a replica Rolex back from Hong Kong. The face wasn't even on straight!>>
In the mid-1990s I was on an Egyptian cruise ship working an overnight route to Aqaba in Jordan - when we landed, many of use bought examples of the replica Rolex watches etc for between £5 and £10.
When we got back we proudly showed them to the bar steward on the ship, who just smiled and almost contemptuously showed us the genuine Rolex he was wearing (loosely fitting strap and all).
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>> When we got back we proudly showed them to the bar steward on the ship,
>> who just smiled and almost contemptuously showed us the genuine Rolex he was wearing
Reminded of what Jeremy clarkson once said, "Only thing worse than a fake Rolex is a real one".
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>> There is a little known third way between quartz and automatic- the electric tuning fork.
Yeah those are quite interesting.
>> I have to admit that I LOVE watches. Were I extremely rich, I'd have a
>> drawer full of them
>>
>> Cheers,
>>
>> Alex.
I know what you mean. In my view watches are for rich people. But if you are rich, well there are some beautiful ones around. But could you wear it? I couldn't. I might collect a few for display, or even go for wall clocks. Do you know about George Daniels who invented the co-axial movement? A well made example can have incredible accuracy. The Omega ones are not so accurate, but still nice. Also did you know that Britain used to be a world leader in watch technology, until ~1900, when mass production took over.
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>> Todays watch question ....
>>
>> Do you agree that the bigger and pricier the smaller the manhood size ......?? :0)
I have a small watch, 34mm across, and it cost £125 on ebay. I do not have a large todger aka gentleman's sausage. I have very small wrists which makes choosing a watch hard. The modern trend is for large dials, but they look stupid on me.
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Perhaps the slimness of your wrist may have an answer in the second sentence of your post !
There are drugs on the market now...:-)
Ted
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...Perhaps the slimness of your wrist may have an answer in the second sentence of your post !...
Sounds more like a chipolata than a proper, er, banger.
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>> Perhaps the slimness of your wrist may have an answer in the second sentence of
>> your post !
I did say 'not large' as in not enormous, which some think would be the case given the size of my watch.
I suspect sausage size is related to general build. I once knew someone who had very stubby fingers. The wife of a colleague who had been bullied by him made a very interesting comment regarding his fingers, and another part of his body. It made us all laugh. We never did determine whether or not the connection was valid.
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>> I have very small wrists which makes
>> choosing a watch hard.
The good thing is you'll be able to wriggle out of handcuffs if you ever get arrested (As long as the small wrists are attached to small hands).
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Even easier if they're not.
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I do not have a large todger aka gentleman's sausage. I have very small wrists which makes
>> choosing a watch hard. The modern trend is for large dials, but they look stupid
>> on me.
>>
>>
>> Ah Leif
You have my sympathy.
I too have a small wrist but fortunately am blessed with the full Cumberland.>>
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You dont need to spend a fortune to get a good looking timepiece on your wrist.
Take this
www.goldsmiths.co.uk/product/sekonda-gents-gold-plated-watch-17440034
I defy any guy to say that's not a classically good looking yet understated timepiece you wouldn't mind sporting on your wrist.
And it has a leather strap, can be made to fit those of you with limp thin wrists.
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>>I defy any guy to say that's not a classically good looking yet understated timepiece you wouldn't mind sporting on your wrist. >>
Completely agree with you - it's classy far beyond its modest cost.
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>>I defy any guy to say that's not a classically good looking yet understated timepiece you wouldn't mind sporting on your wrist. >>
Which is why my personal favourite watch is a nice little 1957 Rolex Oyster - plain simple elegance. (bit like me ! :-) )
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very nice looking traditional watch for a very cheap price
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>>
>> I do not have a large todger aka gentleman's sausage. I have very small
>> wrists which makes
>> >> choosing a watch hard. The modern trend is for large dials, but they look
>> stupid
>> >> on me.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> Ah Leif
>>
>> You have my sympathy.
>>
>> I too have a small wrist but fortunately am blessed with the full Cumberland.>>
My point was that I have a very small watch, but by the earlier argument I should have a mighty black pudding of a gentleman's sausage so to speak, and it is not enormous.
Sometimes there are posts I wish I did not make ... ;) Especially with you rotters around ... ;)
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Stop worrying.
There's nothing wrong with a chipolata.
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Ronald said:
>> Stop worrying.
>> There's nothing wrong with a chipolata.
Get stuffed. The first replies could be taken as a joke, but when you drag it on, it gets tedious, and starts to get offensive.
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> I too have a small wrist but fortunately am blessed with the full Cumberland.>>
A severe case of Peyronie's Disease?
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/cumbria/7406406.stm
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I have very small wrists which makes
>> choosing a watch hard. The modern trend is for large dials, but they look stupid
>> on me.
>>
>>
>>
Similar problem here. I rarely wore wristwatches anyway, preferring a fob watch on me leather waistcoat; never need one at work as apart from the clock on my mobile there's one in every HGV since the early 1970's, on the tachograph. As a former mechanic I was educated out of wearing jewellery of any kind in the Army and the habit stuck.
When my dad died in 2002, I inherited his 9ct Omega which was his long service gift from his employer; quite apart from the sentimental value I love it for its simplicity, slim case and no gadgets just a plain dial. Service every couple of years costs about £40 via a semi-retired local chap who used to own a "proper" jewellers in Carmarthen.
Last edited by: Harleyman on Sat 28 May 11 at 11:37
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>> When my dad died in 2002, I inherited his 9ct Omega which was his long
>> service gift from his employer; quite apart from the sentimental value I love it for
>> its simplicity, slim case and no gadgets just a plain dial. Service every couple of
>> years costs about £40 via a semi-retired local chap who used to own a "proper"
>> jewellers in Carmarthen.
I like small simple designs, clear and elegant, but the modern trend is for huge watches, often with intricate designs, which are little more than bling. Clarkson and James May have some expensive watches. I believe May is a bit of a collector. He has good taste, and no doubt a deep pocket (or perhaps an empty one).
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I only wear a watch on 'dress' occasions, and the dress watch I have is a sub £10 supermarket special that was a present from the SIL's kids, so I'm not qualified to answer, but there are things about watches dont understand -
Why are there always watches like tinyurl.com/3tssf3c in Top Gear Magazine
how many Top gear readers have £165000 to splash out on one of those
how the hell do you work out what time it is with it ?
Last edited by: borasport on Sat 28 May 11 at 10:58
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None, but that's not the point, because Top Gear is for 14-year-olds. They can't afford a Lamborghini either, you know.
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Thanks, all, for your input :-)
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I recently inherited a Giraud-Perregaux from my father. It's the name that attracts me as much as anything else. I don't think I'd bother buying one myself, but for sentimental reasons I'm getting it cleaned and serviced.
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>>
>> I recently inherited a Giraud-Perregaux from my father. It's the name that attracts me as
>> much as anything else. I don't think I'd bother buying one myself,
Have you seen how much modern ones cost?
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Very happy with my Accurist Skymaster. Cost me £95 in a sale at a local jeweller, and keeps great time. Classic styling and seems to suit any occasion or dress style.
I do not possess a single ring, or any other jewellery, but I would have a sizeable watch collection if funds permitted. Love the things.
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There is nothing like an original watch, be it Seiko, Omega, etc, you know it will work and give you years of pleasure.
I got this one for about £400 from Goldsmiths by using Tesco Club Card vouchers when they were 4x value so fill up and shop there and you could get a bargain!
tinyurl.com/3mzngv5
Last edited by: zippy on Sun 29 May 11 at 12:02
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Warning - Dont buy anything from that site in Zippy's link. It looks very dodgy.
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Hi Zero,
Sensible warning, I got mine from Goldsmiths, who have highstreet shops.
Zippy!
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I'm lucky enough to own one of these classic Seiko chronograph watches (mine's the 7A38 727A) which belonged to my father:
tinyurl.com/4y6ltur
One of the motors went and it cost well into three figures to have it repaired by Premier Watches (a Seiko recommended repairer of older models), but it's admired by everyone who sees it.
Premier buys a wide range of older Seiko watches both in the UK and abroad for repairs or repairs and reselling and proved extremely valuable in finding the correct motor; seems there are many thousands of spare parts for the brand's watches and Seiko will only handle fairly recent examples that require attention.
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I managed to resist the "Genuine Fake Watch" shops while passing through the Turkish beach resorts. My son in law bought my daughter a £2 watch while on a business trip to China. It worked perfectly until the battery died after about nine months when it was binned. He is still alive as he also brought back an acceptable present. :-)
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Remember that the profits from replicas go to fund organized crime/drugs and terrorists.
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A colleague of mine got quite a good replica Rolex from Greece. He doesn't have it any more, it got stolen from the changing room of his gym about five years ago, the thief replaced it with an extremely tatty, but never the less genuine, Rolex of the same model.
The tatty genuine cost him £200 or so to have serviced to as good as new (at least as far as we can tell) and he's extremely pleased that Karma won out.
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Just to add to the above that mine is the white face type as in this case (no pun intended!):
tinyurl.com/3dj5xvf
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>> I'm lucky enough to own one of these classic Seiko chronograph watches (mine's the 7A38
>> 727A) which belonged to my father:
>>
>> tinyurl.com/4y6ltur
Seiko are underrated in my opinion, in much the same way that Japanese cars have less cachet than German cars. Grand Seiko are very expensive:
www.jurawatches.co.uk/grand-seiko-mechanical-gmt-watch-sbgm021j-gsk-018?utm_source-google&utm_medium=googleshopping&utm_campaign=googlebase
The hand wound ones are very elegant:
www.ninanet.net/watches/others03/Mediums/mgseiko.html
They are very accurate, made only in Japan and only by the most skilled watchmakers.
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>> The hand wound ones are very elegant:
>>
>> www.ninanet.net/watches/others03/Mediums/mgseiko.html
That is a really nice watch - love the strap as well.
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>>That is a really nice watch - love the strap as well.>>
Superb. The Grand Seiko (Jura store) is also very handsome.
I first got into Seiko watches at the beginning of the 1970s (an automatic day/date gold model with black leather strap which still works perfectly) after first experiencing the firm's products through photography in the form of Seikosha between lens shutters.
It seemed to be reasonable to assume that any firm that could manufacture such precision shutters must also be equally as proficient with watches and so it proved.
I also have Pulsar and Lorus watches (both Seiko brands) and an Epson R300 printer; Epson is a division of Seiko.
Last edited by: Stuartli on Sun 29 May 11 at 22:46
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>> after first experiencing the firm's
>> products through photography in the form of Seikosha between lens shutters.
>> Epson is a division of Seiko.
Seikosha branded dot matrix printers were also prominent in 1980's and early 1990's.
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>>Seikosha branded dot matrix printers were also prominent in 1980's and early 1990's.>>
Very true. Don't forget the watches either..:-)
www.flickr.com/photos/43587714@N05/5200539105/
One printer name that was also big at that time was Star and then it gradually faded away. Remember buying one in 1988 at Dabs when they were based in Leyland - cost a small fortune..:-(
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The first printer I bought was an Epson LX-80 around 1986 (or was it in 1985). It was quite expensive too for what you got - I am sure it was over £200. Very useful for school work at the time.
I got a replica watch in Greece last year as my other watch needed replacing and I'd not seen one I liked. The replica was nice enough and looks real enough. Needed a new battery a few months ago and now doing fine again. Even had it re-pressurised as part of the battery replacement (I didn't ask but the shoe shop did it anyway).
Edit: Didn't they refer to printers like the LX-80 as Near Letter Quality ;-)
Last edited by: rtj70 on Sun 29 May 11 at 23:50
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My first printer was a Canon Bubbjet BJ10 SX, funny how I would end up with a car with had the same number printed on it some where.
The printer was about £200 in 1993, it was very small and I am pretty sure it would take batteries, I wish I had kept that would have been useful.
It was a Bubblejet but black and white only. In 1994 I bought an Olivetti colour dot matrix but we could never get the colour to work, apparently Makro received a lot of complaints about it but it was a very robust printer and my mum used to print out envelopes, (a job she used to have at home).
Then bought a Colour Inkjet in 1996, a Canon something, cost me nearly £200 out of my birthday money.
Mainly use the Brother laserjet now, with clone import toners which cost £10 each for a 6000 yield!
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>>Then bought a Colour Inkjet in 1996, a Canon something, cost me nearly £200 out of my birthday money.>>
I bought a Canon Bubblejet 600e at Makro in May 1996 at the staggering cost of £394 including VAT, but it would do pretty well everything a modern photo printer achieves; it featured four separate cartridges and I used it for about 10 years before buying an Epson R300..:-)
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Mine was very basic, had two cartridges, one colour and one black, so if the cyan went in the colour the entire thing needed replacing.
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I love watches and have several.
My best buy was a Tag Heuer Professional Divers 200 metre which I bought a couple of years ago for £190 second hand at an antiques fair on a whim . I took a chance on it being a replica but it turned out to be genuine , authenticated by a local watchmaker, it is a 1997 model.
I just liked its classical good looks and it seems I am not alone - this guy does as well.....
tinyurl.com/3ugpbg9
Last edited by: retpocileh on Tue 31 May 11 at 21:23
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...I just liked its classical good looks and it seems I am not alone - this guy does as well...
Shame he didn't buy one which displays the year as well as the time:
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/barackobama/8534672/Barack-Obama-signs-wrong-date-in-abbey-visitors-book.html
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>>Shame he didn't buy one which displays the year as well as the time:>>
Sky News spotted that error first...:-)
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>> ...I just liked its classical good looks and it seems I am not alone - this guy does as well...
>> Shame he didn't buy one which displays the year as well as the time:
2008 it was - here is the photo
www.newser.com/story/119359/president-obama-gets-year-wrong-on-westminster-abbey-guest-book.html
Also shame he didn't buy one which displays the date:
"However, when it came to signing his name and adding the date, the U.S. president was reportedly heard asking the Abbey’s Dean, Dr. John Hall, what the day’s date was.
He then wrote the wrong date."
www.christianpost.com/news/obama-gets-date-wrong-in-guestbook-entry-at-westminster-abbey-50527/
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Left handed president and not the first !
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>> Left handed president and not the first !
>>
But we're smarter all us lefties. Just make sure the scissors are nearly useable please :-)
I fear BBD is a leftie too. Don't know why I say that mind.
Last edited by: rtj70 on Wed 1 Jun 11 at 00:04
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>> But we're smarter all us lefties. Just make sure the scissors are nearly useable please
As you say - also left handed, and also can't get along with right handed scissors. Just won't cut.
The thing is, I've never quite been able to work out why.
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>I love watches..
So do I.
I don't know who said it but I'm a firm believer in the statement "The only jewellery a man needs is a good watch."
>..and have several.
Luckily, Mrs K shares my fetish and has several of her own.
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I fear BBD is a leftie too. Don't know why I say that mind. ..........
The latin word for left is sinister.........
Could be something to do with it..............
As regards loving watches , in addition to my TAG.....
Today I'm wearing my Seiko perpetual calendar watch in the hope that Barack will take the hint and copy me.....
I also have a Seiko Arctura Kinetic (£433 price on attached link) which I bought on Ebay for just over £100 with 9 months warranty..........
www.thewatchhut.co.uk/seiko-arctura.htm
And I have a Longines classic ..........
and a Waltham pocket watch......
And a Mappin and Webb.......
Last edited by: retpocileh on Wed 1 Jun 11 at 10:00
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...And a Mappin and Webb...
Is that a rebrand of another make?
I've always had M&W down as silversmiths rather than watchmakers.
www.mappinandwebb.com/information/history
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I have not been able to establish the maker iffy as I have not taken the back off..
Like yourself , I am fairly sure M & W do not make the watches themselves but buy them in and being M & W it will be an upmarket model ....I did go into M & W in Guildford and ask about it but they would not or could not give me any info on it.
I have it tucked away in a drawer at the moment because the bracelet is too small for my wrist.... I will sort it out a new bracelet at some point because I cannot wear a leather strap.
It was another one of my bargains bought not working at an antiques market for £15 . I put in a battery which cost £ 3 and it now works well...
The Longines was also bought at an antiques market not working .
I forgot about the Avia classic which I inherited from my father in law , another classic slim watch..
Like I say I just love watches..
Last edited by: retpocileh on Wed 1 Jun 11 at 10:27
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I worked in central London in the 1980s in an office close to Mappin and Webb in Regent Street.
There was a uniformed flunky standing inside the (locked) door, I never did pluck up the courage to go in.
No need, they'd always put one or two of their bigger, flashier pieces in the window.
I didn't - still don't - want to own stuff like that, but I enjoyed looking at it.
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I have one of these:- bit.ly/mzTqNm
and SWMBO has the same model in a ladies size./
We bought these in the same shop, on the same day, BUT browsed and chose without reference to each other's choice, until we came to pay!
Not quite in the same league as his and hers woolly pullovers (Ever decreasing circles - remember?), but close!
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>>BUT browsed and chose without reference to each other's choice, until we came to pay!>>
Very elegant watches - you both have good taste...:-)
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Replica watches - CGNorwich
