New Watch Recommendations

CIP4

To give some background I have never spent anymore than about €150 on a watch and my current go to watch is a swatch which I think cost about €60. But I would like to have at least 1 nice watch for occasions and weekend wear just something that feels a bit more special. I was originally dead set on a Tag Heuer formula 1 but from reading on here you pay a lot for the name and other brands provide the same / higher quality for maybe less cost. To give you some idea of what I was looking at see link below.

https://www.hartmanns.ie/show/watches/tag-heuer-watches/tag-heuer-formula-1-chronograph_caz101kba0842

Also I am thinking if I went with another brand I would get an Automatic for my budget but I don't know a lot about Automatic watches are they a lot of work for the likes of myself who isn't a watch fanatic should I just stick with a Quartz. What maintenance is required with automatics ?

-Budget €1000-€1500
-Should be able to buy in a watch shop in Ireland so not a very rare hard to find brand
-Would like to go the brand new route

Would Tissot or Longines be good brands to look at as an alternative something like this

https://www.hartmanns.ie/show/watches/longines-watches/gents-longines-hydroconquest_l36954536

Basically looking for any suggestions.

California Dreamer

https://gearpatrol.com/2014/08/26/want-this-get-this-breitling-aerospace-evo-or-victorinox-swiss-army-chrono-classic-xls-mt/

Compare the 2 and then compare the price.

The Breitling is titanium versus the Victorinox which is steel and heavier but a hell of a lot cheaper.

saccades

Definitely go try some on, some watches look awesome in the media (if the photographer is earning their money) and just don't "work" on your wrist.

I'd also check servicing costs - Swatch group are quite high and are limiting sales of spares to independent horologists.

Buying in Ireland means paying through the nose too.

shutup

Oris pro pilot is nice in that price range. I’m not sure how the brand stands up to others and if they hold value.

Eoin

CIP4 wrote: »

Automatic watches are they a lot of work for the likes of myself who isn't a watch fanatic should I just stick with a Quartz.

If you're only going wear this watch occasionally, then you'll likely need to set it each time if you get an automatic. Do you care if the second sweeps or ticks? If not, then a quartz might be a good option. It is kinda settling though, so you may regret it later if this is your "good" watch.

If you want to buy local and want a brand with some recognition, then I think it's hard to look past Longines. I don't think the Hydro Conquest is amazing value for money, but they're nice. I'd prefer this one.

shutup wrote:

Oris pro pilot is nice in that price range. I’m not sure how the brand stands up to others and if they hold value.

Good shout - not sure about resale value, but I've only heard good things about their quality.

CIP4

Thanks for all the suggestions and detail. I hadn't even really considered having to set time manually on the automatic watch each time I use it not sure that could become a bit of a pain alright or I could get one of the devices above.

In terms of servicing on an automatic how often and roughly whats the cost on say a Longines Automatic watch for example. Its hard to know whether for someone like me its worth going the automatic route although I know they do feel a bit more special. If I was going the Quartz route spotted this one and quite like it. I know I wont really know until I see them in person and try them on but its just to have some idea before I go looking really.

https://www.hartmanns.ie/show/watches/longines-watches/gents-longines-conquest-chronograph_l36604566

saccades

OmegaGene wrote: »

Not a fan of that conquest vhp Eoin (sorry)
Watches really are a personal taste thing, what I like the next fella might think it’s fugly and exactly the same the other way round

I’ve sold a few automatics over the years and people always ask about setting the time after a few days, and it is a pain and as eoin said If it’s nit your daily watch then it will become a chore so this is always an option

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Automatic-Winder-Luxury-Wooden-Storage/dp/B07D1JSB4X?ref_=Oct_CABSellerC_199489031_0&pf_rd_p=54f847f5-30af-5b89-b0a8-f8759a4e8367&pf_rd_s=mobile-hybrid-6&pf_rd_t=30901&pf_rd_i=199489031&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_r=F4M21BWPJCAJ7BTRQ3N0&pf_rd_r=F4M21BWPJCAJ7BTRQ3N0&pf_rd_p=54f847f5-30af-5b89-b0a8-f8759a4e8367



I have a similar one made by time tutelary, as far as I know they all do the same job, some have lights and some are silent so it all depends how much you want to spend, my room is a like a disco lol I have one box with blue lights and another with red lights but it keeps 8 autos going ready to wear

Are you not just wearing the movement out with a watch winder?

I quite enjoy sitting down and adjusting the time as I change watches through the rotation, even the bellmatic with it's "quickset".


The cheapest longines watch full service recommended price (for a quartz) is 190 euro. 30 for a battery and pressure test. They don't state service intervals but quite long for a quartz I would hope.

230 for an automatic bog standard thing, Every 5 years For services?

I'm a Seiko fan boy where it is cheaper to run the robust but less accurate movement into the ground for ten years and then bung a brand new movement in.

But Seiko at your price point are rarely appreciated in Europe.

saccades

OmegaGene wrote: »

If that’s the case then wearing them wears out the movement too
Watch wonder replicates the wearing of a watch by rotating for 10 minutes and stopping

But I'm only wearing my watches out one by one, you are doing 8 all the time.

Is it just 10 mins per day? Much better than the constant rotation I assumed. Tempting for two of the watches a swap a lot. Cheers.

guitarhappy

This is almost heresy, but I almost never service my automatic watches. I still have a few very high end watches ($10k to 15k) that I bought new 35 years ago that I had serviced for the first time about 4 years ago. A sure sign they need service is if the oils thicken over time they start to run very slow. Otherwise I just run them forever. An exception is dive watches that are actually used for underwater diving.

2shea

I really like the Tudor black bay 36mm I think that would be a great watch for you.

About €2k new though if you go up to Belfast. I'm sure you would get a pre owned for less.

Bluefoam

If you want an investment go for bitcurrencey or student accommodation... Buy the watch you like, wear it and enjoy it, allow it to wear in and gain character.

Cienciano

I really like the spb073 seiko. One on the left below. Bit of a stretch mind you.

https://wornandwound.com/library/uploads/2018/03/SEIKO_PRESAGE_SPB075_SPB073_1.jpg

https://youtu.be/oAIuBTbygsU