Who Watches the Watchmen (Our Chit Chat Thread)

unkel wrote: »

Cheapest one in good condition, on chrono24, full set, in the EU is €450. That price would have some room for negotiation and includes the sellers fee (iirc 6.5%). So, no not a good deal imho. If I were selling, I'd put it up for €440 and would accept €360 or so

Not seeing any on chrono for 450? All around a grand with one in germany at 750? Where is this cheap one?

Thirdfox wrote: »

TAG Heuer Formula 1 Quartz
€450
https://www.chrono24.co.uk/tagheuer/formula-1-quartz--id16498034.htm?SETLANG=en_GB&SETCURR=EUR

This one seems to be the one Unkel is referring to - there are others at 500 (Portugal) and 600 (Germany) too.

Thats got the wrong box and cant seem to get anything on the Tag Serial number checker on that. Warranty card code doesnt match the watch either.

Lurching wrote: »

And it's completely missing the crown.

How did I miss that? Good spot.

Look it goes to show if we list price low to high and take the cheapest you are often not comparing like with like, and its unfair to beat a seller selling good watches with the dross thats out there.

Looking at the same model of listing you would actually buy with confidence, I think the one on adverts is well enough priced.

unkel wrote: »

Good spot lads. When doing a quick price check on chrono24, I just filter for EU and for full set and then price low to high. Without obviously paying too much attention on the pictures of the watch My understanding of Portuguese isn't the best, but I got the impression from the description that the watch was in excellent condition, took that at face value.

There are several other watches with a lower price than the one on adverts though, haven't checked any of them out. And adverts.ie asking prices are just asking prices. Sometimes the seller doesn't really know how much to ask (which is fair enough) and sometimes they are realistic when it comes to offers, sometimes not.

Necessita de uma coroa e, talvez, uma revisão. Valor negociável.

I guess he did say it needs a crown and a service

Would probably accept €300

There are a few cheaper but a lot more that are more expensive. Its priced on adverts on the low side of average which is all you can ask. Below is the chrono stats on the watch preowned. That cheap one is almost certainly a fake, why bother getting loose paperwork unless you were trying to pass something worth a tenner off for 3-400.

eljono wrote: »

I recently ordered a micro-adjust clasp for my SMP 300m which arrived yesterday. Tried removing the screws and pins which connect the end link to the current clasp, but they are very tightly screwed in and I cannot physically open them with my tools. I'm conscious of over-exertion and stripping the screw heads and/or scratching the links.

Any tips on how to get them open? Tiny squirt of WD40?

Only way is to get a pin pusher tool on amazon they are only a few euro and a good set of screwdrivers like Burgeon, quality drivers are the key and using the exact size you need rather than forcing in a bigger one of using a loose fitting one. Around 50 euro for a set of them but they last forever.

Heating the link can help, some people use a little torch to do it and expand the metal. Youtube will have vids on this if you get a really difficult one.

eljono wrote: »

I recently ordered a micro-adjust clasp for my SMP 300m which arrived yesterday. Tried removing the screws and pins which connect the end link to the current clasp, but they are very tightly screwed in and I cannot physically open them with my tools. I'm conscious of over-exertion and stripping the screw heads and/or scratching the links.

Any tips on how to get them open? Tiny squirt of WD40?

Worth getting a few good tools, as fitz said, bergeon is a good home tool brand. I had a cheap ebay springbar tool and then got a bergeon one, the difference is night and day. It only cost about €15, but it's absolutely amazing compared with the cheap one. Screwdrivers the same, a quality set of flathead screwdrivers make removing the screws far easier. And when you get a few, you'll always have a tight fit which means it won't slip and damage the screwhead.

Cienciano wrote: »

Worth getting a few good tools, as fitz said, bergeon is a good home tool brand. I had a cheap ebay springbar tool and then got a bergeon one, the difference is night and day. It only cost about €15, but it's absolutely amazing compared with the cheap one. Screwdrivers the same, a quality set of flathead screwdrivers make removing the screws far easier. And when you get a few, you'll always have a tight fit which means it won't slip and damage the screwhead.

Same experience here. Bought a single Bergeon screwdriver in the correct size just to adjust the bracelet of my last Rolex. And only a few weeks ago got a Bergeon springbar tool, makes a huge difference from the cheap tools I was using before and that I would never even have tried on any expensive watch

I hate the saying but in this case very much a "you get what you pay for" and the Bergeon tools aren't even that expensive at around €15-€20 each

Interesting article here from Hodinkee, tackling some of the persistent dive watch myths, including some depth rating and water resistance issues, from 2017.

Having seen the near aquaphobic nature of some Speedie wearers, I find this quite interesting.

Is the water resistance rating of a €10 watch to be regarded the same as that of a €1,000 purpose built piece? Or indeed, a €5,000 icon?

I've only ever dived with one watch: a TAG Heuer Formula 1 Professional chrono, with a 200 meter rating. I did the PADI Open Water and Advanced Open Water licences with it. We did a 30m depth test and a multi-level dive to 30m and did not have an issue. The resin bezel worked just fine even at depth, but we were also equipped with dive computers by the school.

I also have an SKX009 that I regard as my holiday watch that happily goes down water slides and flumes, gets worn in the sea and just generally gets abuse in recreation. That said, my Speedie Mark II has a resistance rating of 100m and after its recent rebuild, where there were no signs of seal seat damage or corrosion, the watch guy reckons it should be good for its original performance.

I have no intention of diving soon, but would wear the Mark II while doing wet things: washing up, car washing, garden hosing, etc.

What do we think?

Not looking to start a bun fight, just interested in people's own habits and interpretations.

Don’t dive at all and really only swim in pools. I used to wear a steinhart ocean vintage gmt in the pool but stopped after the writing on the bezel faded. Steinhart sorted it and others suggested it’s probably the chlorine in the water did the wearing as it’s used by watch folks to make new bezels look naturally worn. To your speedmaster question I wouldn’t wear one in the water. It’s probably more to do with the value of it than it’s performance. I’d be concerned at damaging a 3.5k plus watch.

Lorddrakul wrote: »

Interesting article here from Hodinkee, tackling some of the persistent dive watch myths, including some depth rating and water resistance issues, from 2017.

Having seen the near aquaphobic nature of some Speedie wearers, I find this quite interesting.

Is the water resistance rating of a €10 watch to be regarded the same as that of a €1,000 purpose built piece? Or indeed, a €5,000 icon?

I've only ever dived with one watch: a TAG Heuer Formula 1 Professional chrono, with a 200 meter rating. I did the PADI Open Water and Advanced Open Water licences with it. We did a 30m depth test and a multi-level dive to 30m and did not have an issue. The resin bezel worked just fine even at depth, but we were also equipped with dive computers by the school.

I also have an SKX009 that I regard as my holiday watch that happily goes down water slides and flumes, gets worn in the sea and just generally gets abuse in recreation. That said, my Speedie Mark II has a resistance rating of 100m and after its recent rebuild, where there were no signs of seal seat damage or corrosion, the watch guy reckons it should be good for its original performance.

I have no intention of diving soon, but would wear the Mark II while doing wet things: washing up, car washing, garden hosing, etc.

What do we think?

Not looking to start a bun fight, just interested in people's own habits

I swim/shower (when necessary) with my 30m wr speedy - say at a hotel/gym where leaving the speedy in a locker would possibly be more "harmful" than taking it in the water.

But I check seals at least once a year.

I imagine I could take it recreational diving too (but why would I want to - the chrono pushers shouldn't be activated underwater).

Crush depth of submarines are often at 400m - no-one *needs* more than 100m wr in a watch - and the people who do probably aren't wearing wristwatchs on their arms

But I realise I'm an outlier - seems like more people are like MsThirdfox - afraid to get in a shower with a 200m wr seamaster. My friend who I gave a 200m Casio Protrek to was surprised that you could take it into the sea without issue ðŸ˜

Too much has been made of "static water pressure", HEVs, etc. etc. - a properly made/tested 30m wr watch will survive most water activities as long as you don't mess with it in the water

My 90s Seamaster has been in any sea or pool I’ve been near in the last decade, never gave it a second thought. Holiday watch of choice.
Have had a couple of people comment on me swimming with it on over the years. I figure that if it says 300m on it that a dip in a Spanish pool will be okay.

I would be reluctant to bring a watch I cared about the condition of to the beech, not the water but the sand and rocks...too many dinging opportunities. Never any issue swimming in a pool or shower or what not, but not the beech..

Wibbs wrote: »

^^ good point F.

Other issue is if a spring bar decides to let go in the Sea a good chance that watch is gone, in a pool not so much of a issue you will retrieve it. And before anyone says it I am not into soggy natos, that the worlds worst feeling for the next hour or two.