Who Watches the Watchmen (Our Chit Chat Thread)

IrishPlayer

blue5000 wrote: »

Keeping the Seiko Sunday theme going, Irishplayer's bellmatic might like to see it's gmt brother

Spencer Klein's latest video, Lovely watch.

shutup

Apologies if this was discussed before.
Any opinions on Watchgang? I saw a review on Facebook yesterday and was very impressed by the watches the reviewer had received. Almost too good to be true!

banie01

shutup wrote: »

Apologies if this was discussed before.
Any opinions on Watchgang? I saw a review on Facebook yesterday and was very impressed by the watches the reviewer had received. Almost too good to be true!

Plenty of threads on Reddit regarding watchgang and an interesting article here

Personally, I'd much rather sign up to a decent watch website such as TZ or watchuseek and follow their bargain threads. Even Reddit has r/watches and r/chinatime

You get to pick your own cheapo's there, rather than hope for a decent random pick.

If quantity over choice, or sometimes quality is what your after?
It would seem watchgang and similar would be an option.

I'd rather either pick my own watch or buy a better one.

shutup

Yeah I agree. It’s not something I’m thinking of. However, the reviewer claims to have got €4500 worth of watches for €1200 paid. I was shocked at how many of the watches I liked.
I’m wondering if everyone is sent the same watch or did they send him the best ones and pay for the review.
I would definitely pay 1200 for the collection he received

banie01

shutup wrote: »

Yeah I agree. It’s not something I’m thinking of. However, the reviewer claims to have got €4500 worth of watches for €1200 paid. I was shocked at how many of the watches I liked.
I’m wondering if everyone is sent the same watch or did they send him the best ones and pay for the review.
I would definitely pay 1200 for the collection he received

The reviews are paid for in most cases and I'd expect that any "known" reviewer gets a far more curated selection.

Getting a watch or service reviewed by anyone with a little bit of traction is an expensive thing to accomplish.
As Thirdfox will attest when he was getting ready to send out a watch of his own design for review.

I'd put a lot less store in published advertorials, than I would in user reviews via watch sites and forums.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

Watch gang will ship you a bunch of garbage with reported inflated RRP, wrapped in a veneer or faux horology and reverse snobbery. You will receive a watch so often that it satisfies the need for something new and gives you a seratonin hit, without you having to suffer the remorse of wasting money on something worthless, all at the same time they play the other side by dangling the chance to win a desirable luxury watch in front of you to keep you happy and hopeful and stop you thinking too much about the money you have wasted on junk. The cognitive dissonance is strong.

Its a classic scam, that plays on the predictable inexperienced collector mentality.

Cienciano

After 10 minutes of researching watch gang I can't believe anyone would actually sign up for it. Fitzgeme hit the nail on the head.

Research microbrands yourself and buy watches you pick yourself instead

shutup

I was expecting negative feedback. Which is absolutely fine if warranted. However, if it’s just typical negativity to show us you are too smart and nobody could con you it would be a bit unfair.
Here are some recent Black Tier watches. So my question to anyone dismissing watch gang. Are these watches any good or are they actually cheap crap?
Seiko • Prospex
Black Tier
Charles Hutton • GMT (Various colors)
Black Tier
Shield • Exley (Various SKUs)
Black Tier
Franck Dubarry • Revolution Intrepidus (Rider, Racer, Diver) (Various SKUs)

Thirdfox

banie01 wrote: »

Getting a watch or service reviewed by anyone with a little bit of traction is an expensive thing to accomplish.
As Thirdfox will attest when he was getting ready to send out a watch of his own design for review.

The big online blogs/sites do charge through the nose for advertorials but it's a business decision for people to make.

For smaller Youtube channels it's a lot murkier - I found that many "reviews" may be "paid reviews" - not necessarily expensive either but just something I didn't want to get involved in. In the end I still managed to line up 3 reviewers who were interested in reviewing for the cost of postage being paid when returning the watch so there definitely are genuine reviewers out there still.

And as to OP's question - I agree with fitzgeme - get what you want rather than "lucky dip".

banie01

shutup wrote: »

I was expecting negative feedback. Which is absolutely fine if warranted. However, if it’s just typical negativity to show us you are too smart and nobody could con you it would be a bit unfair.
Here are some recent Black Tier watches. So my question to anyone dismissing watch gang. Are these watches any good or are they actually cheap crap?
Seiko • Prospex
Black Tier
Charles Hutton • GMT (Various colors)
Black Tier
Shield • Exley (Various SKUs)
Black Tier
Franck Dubarry • Revolution Intrepidus (Rider, Racer, Diver) (Various SKUs)

Rather than asking us to present proof it's a con at worst, and at best very poor value?

Present some proof it's what you seem to want it to be, that isn't a paid blurb?
Compare the RRP watchgang claim for all their models, apart from maybe the prospex to actual selling prices on any range of auction or liquidation sites.

If you want to moan about people claiming it's a con to sound smart?
Present some actual numbers to prove those people wrong.

shutup

I’m not moaning or even arguing. I’m just asking a simple question about thoughts on those above mentioned watches.
I actually agree with everyone who has posted on the subject in that it’s not something I would sign up to however I do feel that there is some negativity for negativities sake.

banie01

shutup wrote: »

I’m not moaning or even arguing. I’m just asking a simple question about thoughts on those above mentioned watches.
I actually agree with everyone who has posted on the subject in that it’s not something I would sign up to however I do feel that there is some negativity for negativities sake.

Fair enough, I really do apologise for taking up your post wrongly then.
Last thing I want to seem is a snarky prick, honestly!
Especially as other than knowing what I "like" I know next to nothing about watches.

That said, the RRP inflation and payola reviews versus the actual user/member experience on Reddit and other sites all scream at the very best description...
Poor value!

To me at least.

shutup

OmegaGene wrote: »

I bet you wish you never said anything now
Some people gave you an awful hammering considering this is a chat thread, I guess people like to feel superior with a bunch of strangers online
The madness may have kicked in after two weeks of lockdown lol

Thanks for the support!
I don’t t mind though. I find boards a bit like watch gang. You can be really lucky with a gem of a reply or you can go a load of crap. I like to take the chance!

btkm8unsl0w5r4

shutup wrote: »

I was expecting negative feedback. Which is absolutely fine if warranted. However, if it’s just typical negativity to show us you are too smart and nobody could con you it would be a bit unfair.
Here are some recent Black Tier watches. So my question to anyone dismissing watch gang. Are these watches any good or are they actually cheap crap?
Seiko • Prospex
Black Tier
Charles Hutton • GMT (Various colors)
Black Tier
Shield • Exley (Various SKUs)
Black Tier
Franck Dubarry • Revolution Intrepidus (Rider, Racer, Diver) (Various SKUs)

I have been conned and dupped many many times and most people have been as they go through predictable phases of collecting, and this is aimed and those in the "accumulation phase", filling watch box slots. I suppose to take a weathered view, its a necessary thing to do in this hobby, and people generally come out the other side and realise what they actually like (and are considerably poorer for the lesson).

Its very hard to advise on this topic online. Generally when you advise on the dangers of this here you get called a snob. Its hard give sage advice without inferring the pupil is naive or doesnt know something. At the end of the day people can do exactly as they please, but I have a very annoying habit of begin right, and wording it nicely.

893bet

He has already dropped his price......

Same fella always has some strange watches. He has strurling moon phase up for years as a super rare watch. I think he started at like 6k? (Maybe a moderator can see the add history?)

He is down to 900 and still over priced by 800 I think.

https://www.adverts.ie/5902589

Wibbs

I'd be climbing the walls were it not for me being so damned lazy. This turns out to be a positive.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

OmegaGene wrote: »

No harm in mentioning something even just to have a talking point imo we are all climbing the walls now with this madness

Speaking of talking points I was offered a hulk with box and papers from a dealer for £10600 and that’s without haggling a discount, fella on adverts looking for €15k could be in for a long wait

To be honest they have been at that 12k euro level for a good while now and verified dealers on chrono24 around the 12500 mark. its what makes the adverts dreamer so interesting. Although he did drop it 600 euro yesterday. Its the watchfinders of this world that put them up for 17gbp that amaze me more. There are going to be a good few perceived bargains out there. 896bet always knows the TZ.uk selling prices, what are they going for on there?

That hulk on adverts give me the heebee jeebees for some reason, I dont know why exactly

893bet

I am working from home a lot now and had plans on doing loads of jobs around.

Have some done but it turns out I ain’t that busy. Just ****ing lazy and a master procrastinator.

893bet

Sky Helpful Fencer wrote: »

To be honest they have been at that 12k euro level for a good while now and verified dealers on chrono24 around the 12500 mark. its what makes the adverts dreamer so interesting. Although he did drop it 600 euro yesterday. Its the watchfinders of this world that put them up for 17gbp that amaze me more. There are going to be a good few perceived bargains out there. 896bet always knows the TZ.uk selling prices, what are they going for on there?

That hulk on adverts give me the heebee jeebees for some reason, I dont know why exactly

Not been one in a while but I think the last one sold was around 11k. But that was a few months back.

banie01

893bet wrote: »

Have some done but it turns out I ain’t that busy. Just ****ing lazy and a master procrastinator.

I have all my "round the gaff" jobs finished, I've even done the neighbours gutters
But...

Now I have to apply myself to actual work and get 3 essays done for Uni, I am honestly finding every excuse possible to avoid work...

Have a politics essay due and the topic was so boring I fell asleep on page 2 of the 1st bit of research:pac:

if nothing else, I have discovered a possible cure for insomnia!

funkyouup

Ive just cleaned out the toaster with an air compressor.

blue5000

banie01 wrote: »

I have all my "round the gaff" jobs finished, I've even done the neighbours gutters
But...

Now I have to apply myself to actual work and get 3 essays done for Uni, I am honestly finding every excuse possible to avoid work...

Have a politics essay due and the topic was so boring I fell asleep on page 2 of the 1st bit of research:pac:

if nothing else, I have discovered a possible cure for insomnia!

Are you going to have to repeat the year?

banie01

blue5000 wrote: »

Are you going to have to repeat the year?

No, it's only 1st yr for me and we'd moved online in early March.

All the assessments were switched over to online and there is a "no detriment" marking policy in place so taking my qca into account I'll be grand this year unless I royally screw up.

I do have an i-grade repeat due in August tho so that could knock the QCA overall but I will pass the year if things go to plan with a 3.4-3.5 and a recognition that I need to stop cruising

893bet

OmegaGene wrote: »

He bought a watch from me and returned it after 3 months because he broke the plastic crown guards
The joys of buying and selling I guess, I’m sure we could write a book if we put the stories together

You allowed the return after three months?

He had paid by PayPal and you had no choice?

TheRepentent

OmegaGene wrote: »

He bought a watch from me and returned it after 3 months because he broke the plastic crown guards

How was that your responsibility ? Sounds like a chancer

micks_address

Hi guys,
How expensive would it be to get a crystal replaced in Omega 300 m seamaster?
Thanks,
Mick

Thirdfox

TheRepentent wrote: »

How was that your responsibility ? Sounds like a chancer

Paypal is notoriously buyer friendly - good for buyers of course. I've experienced quite a few dodgy sellers too when buying from ebay - if it wasn't for paypal I probably would avoid the bay for a lot more purchases.

Though even I didn't know you could return something after 3 months for wear and tear damage - sounds crazy.

Cyclingtourist

I bought a Seiko 5 on Ebay that didn't work straight out of the packaging but got a full refund within a week.

This is it

I'd been looking at various Tags over the last few weeks. I'll probably put off a purchase for a few months until there's some certainly around work but I spotted this and really like it! Any thoughts?

https://www.fields.ie/tag-heuer-f1-gulf-chrono-43mm-men-s-watch

Love the colors of the strap and the dial. Completely different to anything I'd been looking at previously which was a bit more plain with a blue dial, like these:

https://www.fields.ie/tag-heuer-formula-1-men-s-blue-dial-and-bezel-stainless-steel-watch

https://www.fields.ie/tag-heuer-f1-blue-dial-steel-bracelet-men-s-watch

funkyouup

The 3rd one you linked is on chrono24 for under 1000 new, good few of them there, nicest of the 3 imo.

https://www.chrono24.com/tagheuer/formula-1-quarz-41mm--id12960028.htm