Post pics of your watches Part II

Wibbs · 30-12-2020 10:31AM

893bet wrote: »

With Rolex you ain’t paying for high end finish. You are paying for the brand.

From a bang for buck point of view the comparisons are pointless as it depends on your motivation as a buyer. If your tipple of choice is finishing and innovation you might tip toward the GS.....if you tipple is brand recognition and strong residuals you will choose the Rolex.

This pretty much. The landscape of the watch market has changed utterly since I'd say around 1990 and has gathered pace since the interwebs. Before that shift brand was certainly in the mix, but less so and was more about how good a timekeeper a watch was and how expensive it looked(the vast majority of men's everyday watches of the 20th century were gold or gold plated) for the price charged.

When innovations came along that made better timepieces like the Bulova Accutron they sold like hotcakes. Bulova couldn't make them quickly enough. Same for when quartz came out and unlike the Accutrons quartz were considerably more expensive than mechanicals of the time, but people were willing to pay more for that regardless of the brand. Same for when the first digitals came along(US president Gerald Ford wanted a Pulsar digital but his wife vetoed that notion as the daft price could send the wrong message to the electorate). If an innovation like Springdrive had come along in 1980 it would have flown out the door. Quartz accuracy and a sweeping mechanical movement that never needs a battery? Sign me up. IMHO anyway the Seiko Springdrive is the only true innovation in personal timekeeping since quartz.

Today, at least at the "luxury" end the market is very different. Brand, cache, almost entirely Swiss, "authenticity" is what counts the most. The better finishing and quality and superior movement of Grand Seiko doesn't quite fit and that's a pity. Not in Western markets anyway. They do sell well in the East.

Cyclingtourist · 30-12-2020 10:56AM

Wibbs wrote: »

Quartz accuracy and a sweeping mechanical movement that never needs a battery? Sign me up. IMHO anyway the Seiko Springdrive is the only true innovation in personal timekeeping since quartz.

Wibbs · 30-12-2020 11:09AM

True enough, but it's still a quartz at heart. Lever escapements, tuning forks, electronic, quartz, springdrive, even atomic clocks are all innovations that changed the "escapement" and how we measured out and controlled the release of energy into ever more precise timekeeping.

banie01 · 30-12-2020 11:15AM

The springdrive Grand Seiko GMT is a watch that keeps catching my eye.
Both for its finish, and its overall mix of tech and innovation.
That said, it does look awfully like an Explorer 2 homage and despite spaffing quite a few quid on watches over the last 2 years, I haven't pulled the trigger on one and can't actually say why.

Grand.Seiko_.Grand_.Sport_.Collection.9F.Quartz.GMT_.jpg

Grand.Seiko_.Grand_.Sport_.Collection.9F.Quartz.GMT_.jpg

Wibbs · 30-12-2020 11:36AM

In that model there's more than a touch of Omega to the case design too. For me it's the "Lexus factor" in that too many of their designs ape the Swiss, so why not buy Swiss? kinda thing. On the car comparison, something like the Civic Type R though having a very narrow appeal market is unmistakably Japanese. Same for something like 90's Nissan Skylines. Blew the doors off European competitors at the time and were popular for it and going crazy in values since. If Seiko said feck it and were confident in going full Japanese they'd be the better for it IMHO>

The Snowflake would be the exception for me. It's its own watch as it were.

redlead · 30-12-2020 11:37AM

I think they are beautiful but I see what you mean about the explorer 2, especially the font on the bezel. My favourite GS is the spring version from their four seasons collection. Kind of like a pink version of the snow flake. The sky flake is a close runner for me. I don't know if I'd ever have the balls to buy one though which kind of proves Fitz's point above. Pretty sure they were only released in the US too so hard come across here.

Wibbs - I think to be fair they do go Japanese a lot. Nobody anywhere near that price point in Switzerland does dials like them. Like I look at this and I just think Cherry Blossoms in Tokyo.

banie01 · 30-12-2020 12:04PM

Wibbs wrote: »

The Snowflake would be the exception for me. It's its own watch as it were.

Mmm, a Grand Seiko snowflake GMT!

Time to cash out some more crypto :pac:

30-12-2020 12:30PM

In terms of liking GS but not buying - can I ask why? Is it that people on here flip a lot and the market is smaller?

Unless my circumstances change and I can afford a 40mm ALS Saxonia I'll be keeping this one

893bet · 30-12-2020 12:44PM

CarProblem wrote: »

In terms of liking GS but not buying - can I ask why? Is it that people on here flip a lot and the market is smaller?

Unless my circumstances change and I can afford a 40mm ALS Saxonia I'll be keeping this one

That ALS do be available for 11-12 k ish (well the 37mm version). A two hander though, I have watched them for a while before deciding 2 hands is one hand too little for me at least.

Wibbs · 30-12-2020 12:50PM

CarProblem wrote: »

In terms of liking GS but not buying - can I ask why? Is it that people on here flip a lot and the market is smaller?

In that kinda price range Omega and Rolex are "safe". Known entities and known among civilians too. People in general prefer safe especially when a few grand is in play. Better residuals help too, especially if buying new. It's not so long ago where TAG Heuer were also in this known entities and known among civilians safe bracket. IWC were certainly in that mix too, but have dropped since. Brands can come and go over time. Going way back when I was a kid in the 80's buying "old watches" in general auctions and the like by far the most common maker I saw (in Dublin anyway)? Rotary of all brands.

njburke · 30-12-2020 01:05PM

Unkle, like most watch guys I love detail, as an engineer I like technical detail.With the GS I've read there is more to be seen with an optic than the naked eye, to me that's more tangeble value than just having the value in the brand. It took effort to put that in the product, i'ld like to at least see it.Trust but verify.

I had a longer personal story about a trip to fuji in japan I made in the 90s. We designed and built world class Inspection robots for component placement machines. Fuji made the placement machines and wanted our tools to monitor theirs during manufacture. They required our tool to perform at more than twice it's stated accuracy. I arrived with our man in japan, a kerryman who loved the culture. Why is nobody talking to us, well one guy had that burden,why do we have to eat in a room on our own? They're shaming us over the accuracy of the machine came the answer. Anyway, it was a long two days, I slept on the floor one night whilst running repeatability studies, woke up under a blanket which wasn't mine. Then I found 7.5 microns additional repeatability buried in the motion control, and more importantly a method to demonstrate it. Bingo, accuracy improved by a factor of 3. They were exceptional customers to us after that, we left with a shoeman sho, a purchase order for 6 tools and an obligation to deliver a waterford stanley cooker. The Kerryman understood the cooker hint, it was wasted on me.They had a special room for gifts from suppliers.

What I've bought is the bargain basement GS, an sbgv225,9F quartz,newish and from a private collector in japan.
I'll try to answer the question of what do GS include in the least of their current offerings.

unkel · 30-12-2020 02:26PM

When I ordered the big one from China that came in the post today, I had no idea, not even any hope, that soon I would own the little one too

Cyclingtourist · 30-12-2020 02:33PM

Nice candle, perfect focus.

Wibbs · 30-12-2020 02:41PM

unkel wrote: »

When I ordered the big one from China that came in the post today, I had no idea, not even any hope, that soon I would own the little one too

The big one's bezel doesn't line up and seems to be missing the cyclops. You wuz robbed.

The little one looks good though. The big one is cool it has to be said.

unkel · 30-12-2020 02:41PM

Is that better? Time set and all

unkel · 30-12-2020 02:45PM

Wibbs wrote: »

seems to be missing the cyclops.

There is no cyclops on the Sea-Dweller Deepsea

Bonus question for the experts though: how from the dial can you tell the wall clock is based on the older version, the 116660 and my watch is the 126660?

Fitz II · 30-12-2020 02:57PM

unkel wrote: »

There is no cyclops on the Sea-Dweller Deepsea

Bonus question for the experts though: how from the dial can you tell the wall clock is based on the older version, the 116660 and my watch is the 126660?

No crown between the swiss and the made, although it missing a stick in there on the wallclock. Now I dont mean to piss on your chips, but I think the big one is fake.

unkel · 30-12-2020 03:30PM

Fitz II wrote: »

Now I dont mean to piss on your chips, but I think the big one is fake.

But I got the original box and papers as well and a blank warranty card

I knew it was too good to be real, it was only 3 grand. That should have set alarm bells ringing. It does have the sweeping seconds hand though and it only works if I shake it a while first, so must be automatic.

30-12-2020 03:35PM

Where did the clock come from? Ali Express?

It looks massive!!!

unkel · 30-12-2020 03:39PM

Some site I found while googling for Rolex wall clocks. Presumably in China. You can buy them on Amazon (surprisingly as these are obviously "replicas" - the chicer word for fakes) and eBay too.

Thirdfox · 30-12-2020 04:49PM

I can see Unkel attaching a gold chain to the clock and wearing it around the neck...maybe while driving a classic car and sporting the shagreen (stingray) strap on the mini-Rolex...

unkel · 30-12-2020 04:59PM

Watch this space. Picture coming in a few weeks. Where do I get a (fake) gold chain?

banie01 · 30-12-2020 05:20PM

unkel wrote: »

Watch this space. Picture coming in a few weeks. Where do I get a (fake) gold chain?

CHY-NAH!!!!

Deep Thought · 30-12-2020 05:34PM

unkel wrote: »

When I ordered the big one from China that came in the post today, I had no idea, not even any hope, that soon I would own the little one too

Would you have a link to the big one?

blue5000 · 30-12-2020 09:03PM

njburke wrote: »

Unkle, like most watch guys I love detail, as an engineer I like technical detail.With the GS I've read there is more to be seen with an optic than the naked eye, to me that's more tangeble value than just having the value in the brand. It took effort to put that in the product, i'ld like to at least see it.Trust but verify.

I had a longer personal story about a trip to fuji in japan I made in the 90s. We designed and built world class Inspection robots for component placement machines. Fuji made the placement machines and wanted our tools to monitor theirs during manufacture. They required our tool to perform at more than twice it's stated accuracy. I arrived with our man in japan, a kerryman who loved the culture. Why is nobody talking to us, well one guy had that burden,why do we have to eat in a room on our own? They're shaming us over the accuracy of the machine came the answer. Anyway, it was a long two days, I slept on the floor one night whilst running repeatability studies, woke up under a blanket which wasn't mine. Then I found 7.5 microns additional repeatability buried in the motion control, and more importantly a method to demonstrate it. Bingo, accuracy improved by a factor of 3. They were exceptional customers to us after that, we left with a shoeman sho, a purchase order for 6 tools and an obligation to deliver a waterford stanley cooker. The Kerryman understood the cooker hint, it was wasted on me.They had a special room for gifts from suppliers.

What I've bought is the bargain basement GS, an sbgv225,9F quartz,newish and from a private collector in japan.
I'll try to answer the question of what do GS include in the least of their current offerings.

Njb, wtf is a shoeman sho?

Great story though. Would like to hear a few more sometime.

unkel · 30-12-2020 11:04PM

Deep Thought wrote: »

Would you have a link to the big one?

https://bestwallclock.com/shop/rolex/

Cost me €130 all-in, including shipping. It did not get intercepted by customs. Not cheap by any means for a Chinese watch (no offense Thirdfox :pac:) but it looks cool and the sweeping seconds hand really makes it. Chuffed to bits that I now have the matching wrist watch too

Thirdfox · 30-12-2020 11:15PM

unkel wrote: »

Cost me €130 all-in, including shipping. It did not get intercepted by customs. Not cheap by any means for a Chinese watch (no offense Thirdfox :pac:) but it looks cool and the sweeping seconds hand really makes it. Chuffed to bits that I now have the matching wrist watch too

Chinese clock you mean

- it could well have a Seiko movement in it though :pac:

A quick Aliexpress search throws up a few hits - (you might wince Unkel - though I know I've been waiting months for some Aliexpress non-watch stuff to come through):

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001933359091.html
€49.97 including shipping

I find it funny that the AP clock is more expensive than the Rolex clock :pac:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001692268661.html
€83.85 including shipping

But for a really cool clock - just wait to see what I've got in the post from the US...

unkel · 30-12-2020 11:40PM

In fairness, they look brutal. The first one isn't even pretending to be a real Rolex

Thirdfox · 30-12-2020 11:53PM

Pretty sure they photoshopped out the logo and name to comply with Aliexpress rules. If you order from them I presume they will be shipping out the named/branded clock to you

Though we’re kinda verging into discussion on “fakes” (not that people will confuse a clock with a watch - but it still is trademark infringement definitely)

njburke · 31-12-2020 12:13AM

blue5000 wrote: »

Njb, wtf is a shoeman sho? Great story though. Would like to hear a few more sometime.

English pronunciation of one of the few japanese words I know, a purchase order, ah the celtic tiger.

Post pics of your watches Part II

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