Purchase advice

Nonoperational

Would like a bit of advice.

Have a budget of 4-5K. Ideally I would like something classy but also waterproof that I don't have to take off going for a swim. I wear business dress all day 5 days a week, and like leather straps but I like the idea of an every occasion watch.

Possibly a sub would tick all boxes but stretching the budget.

My order of preference at the moment:

1) Tag Heuer Carrera calibre 1887 black face chronograph. WR 100m, and even though no screw down chromo pushers 100M isn't bad. Always been a watch I really liked and they are going for £2800 on watch finder 1 year old which is cheap. The Tag depreciation has kicked in.

2) IWC 3777 Very cool and I always liked pilots. Not WR to any comfortable extent.

3) Omega Planet ocean 8500 ceramic with black bezel and orange numbers. Probably ticks a lot of boxes, similar to a sub. Great WR, wearable with anything. I had a older orange PO previously which was great.




Any thoughts?

Eoin

If you're patient, I should think 5K will get you a SubC. I've seen them go for £3800 on TZ-UK. The exchange rate at the moment helps.

Failing that; IWC Aquatimer, Tudor Pelagos or Black bay? All definitely more sporty than the first 2 you listed, but seeing as you mentioned a PO...

Slightly left field/under the radar, but what about a Tudor North Flag? I think it's a very versatile watch.

Or perhaps an Explorer II. The 40mm version should be well within budget, and again, if you're patient, the 42mm can be found for under 5K.

Nonoperational

Eoin wrote: »

If you're patient, I should think 5K will get you a SubC. I've seen them go for £3800 on TZ-UK. The exchange rate at the moment helps.

Failing that; IWC Aquatimer, Tudor Pelagos or Black bay? All definitely more sporty than the first 2 you listed, but seeing as you mentioned a PO...

Slightly left field/under the radar, but what about a Tudor North Flag? I think it's a very versatile watch.

Or perhaps an Explorer II. The 40mm version should be well within budget, and again, if you're patient, the 42mm can be found for under 5K.

Thanks for the excellent reply. Food for thought. I have a soft spot for the 1887. I know it's a tier below the others. Any opinions?

I suppose I'd rarely be swimming anyway!

Eoin

It's a fine looking watch, and if it leaves you with a chunk of change from your budget, then all the better!

Homer

Off all the ones you listed that Tag is the one you will take the biggest bath on "if" you decide to flip it at some stage. Rolex will hold its value much better followed by the IWC. I know as I did on the Tag Calibre 36 with the zenith el primero movement a couple of years back! Just something worth bearing in mind

Deep Thought

Classy and Waterproof..

Tudor Pelagos
IWC Aquatimer
Planet Ocean

Maybe a Rolex...

yimrsg

If you plan on wearing a watch with a shirt make sure you check out the thickness of the watches. Some of them are too thick to go underneath you shirt sleeve.

Cyrus

get a sub, if i was to only have one watch it would be my sub, or as an alternative a GMT2 C or a 216570 (Exp2)

Nonoperational

Thanks guys. Ya the Tag will take a hit, but getting one on watch finder a lot of the hit is taken already.

The sub will need more consideration!

Deep Thought

Nonoperational wrote: »

Thanks guys. Ya the Tag will take a hit, but getting one on watch finder a lot of the hit is taken already.

The sub will need more consideration!

Watchfinder are generally £500 more expensive than getting it from someone second hand

dancrowley

I've both a Sub (a 16800 model from 1981) and PO (45.5mm, 8500, ceramic bezel with silver ie non-orange numerals).

If I were to pick one to wear everyday, it's the Sub. I wear it with the bracelet (which is superb) or, like now during the summer, on perlon straps. It's very versatile, comfortable and will hold value very nicely should I ever decide to pass it on... which is unlikely.

Good luck with your hunt; it's the best part, eh?!

blue5000

I've always felt that if I had your budget to spend on a watch I'd be looking for something rarer, not something that you'd see every second day. As dan says the hunt is part of the fun.

Maybe look above the budget and haggle, how about a used Patek Philippe?

http://www.chrono24.com/en/patekphilippe/calatrava-vintage-automatic--original-box--id4615171.htm

If you want to go swimming with a watch wear a €200 Seiko diver. Just my 2 cents.

dancrowley

blue5000 wrote: »

I've always felt that if I had your budget to spend on a watch I'd be looking for something rarer, not something that you'd see every second day. As dan says the hunt is part of the fun.

Maybe look above the budget and haggle, how about a used Patek Philippe?

http://www.chrono24.com/en/patekphilippe/calatrava-vintage-automatic--original-box--id4615171.htm

If you want to go swimming with a watch wear a €200 Seiko diver. Just my 2 cents.

I've had Sub owners tell me my watch is a fake because it doesn't look like the brand new one they bought 6 months ago... :rolleyes:



But yes, if the budget is there, think/buy a little outside the box. Have fun!

Oafley Jones

dancrowley wrote: »

I've had Sub owners tell me my watch is a fake because it doesn't look like the brand new one they bought 6 months ago... :rolleyes:



But yes, if the budget is there, think/buy a little outside the box. Have fun!

I'm probably alone on this but I absolutely hate the cyclops lens on Rolex watches. I love everything else about that watch and that's a great looking strap but I can't get past the lens and the distortion it introduces.

Cyrus

Oafley Jones wrote: »

I'm probably alone on this but I absolutely hate the cyclops lens on Rolex watches. I love everything else about that watch and that's a great looking strap but I can't get past the lens and the distortion it introduces.

buy a non date

dancrowley

Oafley Jones wrote: »

dancrowley wrote: »

I've had Sub owners tell me my watch is a fake because it doesn't look like the brand new one they bought 6 months ago... :rolleyes:



But yes, if the budget is there, think/buy a little outside the box. Have fun!

I'm probably alone on this but I absolutely hate the cyclops lens on Rolex watches. I love everything else about that watch and that's a great looking strap but I can't get past the lens and the distortion it introduces.

I took the pic at a jaunty angle When looked at head-on, it's obviously without distortion. These straps are spot on; can't got wrong at $12!

893bet

Cyrus wrote: »

buy a non date

or remove the cyclops!

Cyrus

893bet wrote: »

or remove the cyclops!

not advisable on newer ones as there is an ar coating underside the crystal where the cyclops sits

sea dweller has none to start with so another option:cool:

milhous

I'm in the same boat budget wise. I've all but decided on a used Rolex cellini, just waiting for right one to turn up in Europe that has original box/papers.. Not sure if I'll ever find it. Something like the one below.

http://www.chrono24.com/en/rolex/cellini-18k-gold-gelbgold--id4656031.htm

On a side note are original papers and original box worth the premium?

johnthemull

Cyrus wrote: »

buy a non date

Totally agree with Cyrus. The sub will also hold its value or even increase in value a little bit. The non date is also a design classic in my opinion. If I had 5k to spend it would be on sub non date. I also like the new explorer 1. You can pick a brand new one up for 6k. 5 year warranty and 10 year service interval.

Cyrus

milhous wrote: »

I'm in the same boat budget wise. I've all but decided on a used Rolex cellini, just waiting for right one to turn up in Europe that has original box/papers.. Not sure if I'll ever find it. Something like the one below.

http://www.chrono24.com/en/rolex/cellini-18k-gold-gelbgold--id4656031.htm

On a side note are original papers and original box worth the premium?

That is tiny are you sure you want something that small

milhous

Cyrus wrote: »

That is tiny are you sure you want something that small

I'll go up to Dublin at the weekend and visit a few shops to get the feel for different sizes.

I always wanted a rolex and I want a dress watch too, might have to look at other brands if it looks silly on my arm.

Current watch is 38mm and it's about perfect so you maybe right.

Cyrus

milhous wrote: »

I'll go up to Dublin at the weekend and visit a few shops to get the feel for different sizes.

I always wanted a rolex and I want a dress watch too, might have to look at other brands if it looks silly on my arm.

Current watch is 38mm and it's about perfect so you maybe right.

yep 36-38mm is modern 'small' and looks fine, smaller than that is pretty small so try a few watchs at 31/32mm id imagine you will want something more like 38mm

Cyrus

something like this?

http://www.chrono24.com/en/rolex/cellini-danaos-xl-18k-gold-ref42438-box--papers--id4062855.htm

milhous

Cyrus wrote: »

something like this?

http://www.chrono24.com/en/rolex/cellini-danaos-xl-18k-gold-ref42438-box--papers--id4062855.htm

Yep that's the type of thing. Seems cheap for the watch, and all their stuff looks nearly too gd!?

Cyrus

milhous wrote: »

Yep that's the type of thing. Seems cheap for the watch, and all their stuff looks nearly too gd!?

78 trusted check outs is pretty good

Eoin

That just means 78 people have bought something, not that there weren't any number of problems, no? I'd research the seller, to be certain.

Cyrus

Eoin wrote: »

That just means 78 people have bought something, not that there weren't any number of problems, no? I'd research the seller, to be certain.

well the trusted checkout works on the basis that c24 dont release the funds to the vendor unless the buyer is happy

obviously do your research but its a positive sign

Nonoperational

Is it terrible that I really like the Tag still?

Eoin

Cyrus wrote: »

well the trusted checkout works on the basis that c24 dont release the funds to the vendor unless the buyer is happy

obviously do your research but its a positive sign

Chrono24 do not seem to have a very good track record when it comes to dealing with buyers' issues. Edit: not saying I wouldn't buy from a dealer on there, just that I would not trust Chrono24 to be a safety net.

Nonoperational wrote: »

Is it terrible that I really like the Tag still?

If you like it, get it!

Cyrus

Eoin wrote: »

Chrono24 do not seem to have a very good track record when it comes to dealing with buyers' issues. Edit: not saying I wouldn't buy from a dealer on there, just that I would not trust Chrono24 to be a safety net.



If you like it, get it!

Have you looked into the trusted check out eoin? Its relatively new

Eoin

Not in huge detail; I've no idea what their claims process is like and whether it's worth the ~200 quid cost on a 5K watch. I am sure there are loads of really good sellers on that site, I just don't really think there's much extra protection through chrono24 over buying directly.

scwazrh

Nonoperational wrote: »

Is it terrible that I really like the Tag still?

IMHO Tag is not in the same league as IWC or omega .

Bluefoam

I wear an IWC Aquatimer most days... It is a truly awesome versatile watch. I wear it with casual and semi formal. It's a great everyday watch and is in great condition compared to my Tag. The strap is still in perfect condition, even though I wear it in extreme conditions _ temperatures are hitting 50C at the moment. It also gets quite a bit of attention.

If you intend to swim with a watch, avoid leather...

Steve2016

Irregardless of what you go for, if it was me I'd get something like a seiko monster for a couple of hundred quid for swimming or diving and pump the rest into a watch that I'd want to keep in the best condition and not swim with....

Bluefoam

Bluefoam wrote: »

I wear an IWC Aquatimer most days... It is a truly awesome versatile watch. I wear it with casual and semi formal. It's a great everyday watch and is in great condition compared to my Tag. The strap is still in perfect condition, even though I wear it in extreme conditions _ temperatures are hitting 50C at the moment. It also gets quite a bit of attention.

If you intend to swim with a watch, avoid leather...

BTW, I have a G-Shock for rough and tumble... beach days etc... If I'm at the pool I usually don't wear a watch.

saccades

Fitted a sapphire to my stargate2 to remove the cyclops.

Nonoperational

Very much leaning towards a Seamaster professional 300m blue dial.

Gavin1

At the end of the day, it is your money and be it Tag, Omega, IWC or Rolex you are the one that each day will put it on. Some random people on an internet forum will give advice and point in a direction of their choosing. But it comes back to the fundamentals, pick something that you like the look of and appeals to you.

For me it would be a Rolex no-date sub or an Explorer.

Nonoperational

Omega Seamaster Professional Diver 300m in blue ordered! It just kind of clicked. Its everything I want. It's waterproof, versatile, a watch i wanted for a long time, and its cheap.

unkel

Nice one! Any link to where you bought it?

Would love one of those myself. Definitely in blue too!

Nonoperational

http://www.premiumwatches.com

Shipped next day by insured courier. Should have tomorrow or Thursday. Has stamped warranty card form AD.