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Too good to be true?

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  • 17-05-2020 2:52pm
    #1
    colinmis
    Registered Users Posts: 15 ✭


    I've decided to treat myself to a new watch and really like the Frederique Constant Slimline with brown leather strap. Fields have it for €795 but its on Amazon GBP 300. Can I trust Amazon or is it too good to be true?

    I tired tried to post a link to it on Amazon, but since I'm a new user it won't let me.


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    #2
    btkm8unsl0w5r4
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,538 ✭✭✭btkm8unsl0w5r4


    Amazon are fine, they are 299 USD on Joomashop so that sounds about right. Fields are the ones taking the total piss here but whats new, its a retail shop and need to cover rent and staff.


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    #3
    colinmis
    Registered Users Posts: 15 ✭colinmis


    Kamila Yellow Cloth wrote: »
    Amazon are fine, they are 299 USD on Joomashop so that sounds about right. Fields are the ones taking the total piss here but whats new, its a retail shop and need to cover rent and staff.

    Thanks, I'll avoid Fieds in future!

    What are your thoughts on frederique constant watches? I have a budget of around 1k and that watch seems a bit cheap now. Do you have an recommends for watches for that budget. I've always preferred leather straps styles but it's s my first "biggish" purchase so I'm a bit clueless


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    #4
    tedpan
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 4,627 Mod ✭✭✭✭tedpan


    colinmis wrote:
    What are your thoughts on frederique constant watches? I have a budget of around 1k and that watch seems a bit cheap now. Do you have an recommends for watches for that budget. I've always preferred leather straps styles but it's s my first "biggish" purchase so I'm a bit clueless

    Have a look at Steinhart. There's plenty of quality automatics for around your budget. I've got an apollon chronograph with a valjoux 7750 movement. It's been perfect for that past 5 years.


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    #5
    btkm8unsl0w5r4
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,538 ✭✭✭btkm8unsl0w5r4


    colinmis wrote: »
    What are your thoughts on frederique constant watches? I have a budget of around 1k and that watch seems a bit cheap now.

    Frederique constant are not great TBH....they are kinda fake Patek Phillipe.

    If you like strap watches you are lucky, the second hand market will see your 1k get you a watch that retails at 3k. Serious value. The whole new watch thing is overrated, most of the time every watch in the shop has been on 100 punters wrists being tried before you buy it anyway.

    Look on adverts for sellers with good feedback. With a bit of haggling and a bit of stretching of your budget I picked these out:

    https://www.adverts.ie/dress/omega-de-ville-chronograph/19407143

    https://www.adverts.ie/sports/tag-heuer-monaco-chronograph/20338195

    https://www.adverts.ie/other-jewellery-watches/longines/12910647

    Top pick https://www.adverts.ie/dress/longines-avigation-limited-edition-watch/16987799

    top pick https://www.adverts.ie/dress/nomos-club-datum-w-sapphire-crystal-back/18402046

    https://www.adverts.ie/dress/longines-master-collection/18931501


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    #6
    893bet
    Registered Users Posts: 8,787 ✭✭✭893bet


    If you like the slim sleek look I suggest the below. High quality brand with tonnes of pedigree!

    https://www.adverts.ie/18959619

    12-1300 should buy this.


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    #7
    Cienciano
    Registered Users Posts: 14,232 ✭✭✭✭Cienciano


    A tip for you for here OP, if you're budget is €1,000 and you want suggestions, tell people your budget is €600 :pac:


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    #8
    btkm8unsl0w5r4
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,538 ✭✭✭btkm8unsl0w5r4


    Cienciano wrote: »
    A tip for you for here OP, if you're budget is €1,000 and you want suggestions, tell people your budget is €600 :pac:

    What watches would you suggest here Cienciano?


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    #9
    Cienciano
    Registered Users Posts: 14,232 ✭✭✭✭Cienciano


    I'd get one of these these

    There's one's in Europe for a grand, the ad I linked had better photos.

    But everyone is different, everyone likes different stuff so it's pretty impossible to pick for someone else


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    #10
    Thirdfox
    Registered Users Posts: 7,110 ✭✭✭Thirdfox


    Personal tastes are personal of course - do you want date/no-date? Hand wind and slim? Automatic? Bracelet/leather strap? Mechanical/Quartz?

    Swiss only? Or would you consider something from Japan? China?

    Famous brand or value for money (microbrands)?


    Here is a scattergun selection of random dress watches you can look at for circa €1,000:

    Grand Seiko quartz:
    https://www.chrono24.com/seiko/grand-seiko--id14868522.htm

    Omega Aquaterra quartz:
    https://www.chrono24.com/omega/seamaster-aqua-terra-steel-quartz-mens-watch-251730--id13345520.htm

    I checked the Frederique Constant Slimline and it seems like a classic dress watch style you can find in many other lines too (no need to go to 1000 euro necessarily) - for example:

    Tissot Le Locle (starting from 330 euro used):
    https://www.chrono24.com/tissot/le-locle--mod478.htm?dosearch=true&query=tissot+le+locle&sortorder=1

    Longines (as Fitzgeme mentions above) have lots of good looking dress watches e.g. Master Collection is around 1,000 euro:
    https://www.chrono24.com/longines/master-collection--mod217.htm?dosearch=true&goal_suggest=1&query=Longines+Master+Collection&sortorder=1

    Rado thinline automatic (8mm only!):
    https://www.chrono24.com/rado/true-thinline-black-ceramic-black-dial-automatic-mens-watch-r27969152--id13990196.htm



    ...and finally - I've got a microbrand of my own that I am about to start on kickstarter :D - so even buying new it will be less expensive than most of my suggestions above) - can have a look at www.solaswatches.com . So if you're don't require well known brands like the ones I suggested above then microbrands might be worth considering too. I only mention mine since it's a slim dress watch with a leather strap which seems to be kinda what you were looking for.


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    #11
    Cucullan
    Registered Users Posts: 614 ✭✭✭Cucullan


    893bet wrote: »
    If you like the slim sleek look I suggest the below. High quality brand with tonnes of pedigree!

    https://www.adverts.ie/18959619

    12-1300 should buy this.
    Hi 893bet, sorry for hijacking the thread but I'm tried sending you a pm this morning and your message box is full.


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    #12
    893bet
    Registered Users Posts: 8,787 ✭✭✭893bet


    Cleared some space there.


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    #13
    Thirdfox
    Registered Users Posts: 7,110 ✭✭✭Thirdfox


    And not to put anyone off getting the original Nomos but it is a design that is heavily homaged (due to the simplicity and clean-ness of the dial) - for example:

    $99
    https://www.seagullwatchstore.com/Classic-Rodina-Automatic-Wrist-Bauhaus-Watch-p/r005-arabic-white-dial.htm

    I think the "official" Sea-Gull version is just $20 more or something.

    While it has 0 pedigree it does help OP save the funds for anything that may catch his eye later.

    I have to say that I think sub-1000 seems to be a strange price point for a dress watch - a lot of good designs are available at sub500 I think since dress watches tend to be simple in design/lack complications. And then it's a bigger jump into the 2-3k price range for more "super high end" stuff.

    @Colinmis - if I was looking at a Swiss dress watch I'd look at the Tissot Le Locle first off and see what I'm not satisfied with (at that 300+ price point) before looking higher up the price scale. Purely personally, if I was spending 1k on a watch I might be looking for more complications such as a chronograph, diver style etc. 1k seems a slightly awkward price - say, not enough for an automatic modern-ish grand Seiko and not giving you too much more than offerings at 300-500 euro (like that Frederique Constant is a perfectly valid choice at 330 euro) :)

    If you like Rado's design philosophy though I think that thinline is quite appealing at 1k - the beauty with their ceramic bracelets is that despite it being used ceramic is really hard and I imagine the bracelet will be "like new" without scratches.


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    #14
    Cienciano
    Registered Users Posts: 14,232 ✭✭✭✭Cienciano


    That Rado is fúcking cool.


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    #15
    Ryath
    Registered Users Posts: 3,378 ✭✭✭Ryath


    At a €1000 budget I'd have a few Stowa's on my shortlist.

    https://www.stowa.de/en/antea_back_to_bauhaus+_355_limited_silver.htm
    1563265677-10516-1.jpg

    https://www.stowa.de/en/Marine+Classic+bronze+40+silver.htm
    marineuhr_bronze_silber-stowa-2600.jpg

    Few options under the €1000 mark too.
    https://www.stowa.de/cgi-bin/cosmoshop/lshop.cgi
    Instagram_STOWA_Iakrus_bluehands_2600.jpg


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    #16
    colinmis
    Registered Users Posts: 15 ✭colinmis


    Wow thanks guys, i really didn't expect so much help. I spent a bit of time going through the websites and links you shared. I can see why people get into watches - this could be an expensive hobby :-)

    I really like a couple of the Longines but those Stowa ones are really nice as well. I think i've made a decision and then see another one i like :-(


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    #17
    Thirdfox
    Registered Users Posts: 7,110 ✭✭✭Thirdfox


    colinmis wrote: »
    Wow thanks guys, i really didn't expect so much help. I spent a bit of time going through the websites and links you shared. I can see why people get into watches - this could be an expensive hobby :-)

    I really like a couple of the Longines but those Stowa ones are really nice as well. I think i've made a decision and then see another one i like :-(

    Hence my suggestion to pace yourself - you're not necessarily thinking of "buy this one watch for the rest of my life" - experiment a little (with cheaper ones) - see what you really like before committing the big bucks.

    And hey if it happens you fall in love with a "cheap" watch then all the better - if I could just be satisfied with my Vostok I know my wife would be over the moon :D

    There's no rush - you have all the time :pac: in the world.


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    #18
    Gavin1
    Registered Users Posts: 285 ✭✭Gavin1


    893bet wrote: »
    If you like the slim sleek look I suggest the below. High quality brand with tonnes of pedigree!

    https://www.adverts.ie/18959619

    12-1300 should buy this.

    Just missed this one!

    Lovely watch and well wear to the new owner.


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    #19
    893bet
    Registered Users Posts: 8,787 ✭✭✭893bet


    Gavin1 wrote: »
    Just missed this one!

    Lovely watch and well wear to the new owner.

    It’s a little strange. They were asked to provide images of the actually watch. They said the would. Then suddenly it was sold! If it was a Rolex I would be saying it was fake and they never had the watch or similar. But a Nomos! Not really the classic watch scam watch.


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    #20
    Cienciano
    Registered Users Posts: 14,232 ✭✭✭✭Cienciano


    There is fake nomos around, the €7 quartz one is legendary!
    But you don't see many automatic ones, definitely not many with a date.


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    #21
    Thirdfox
    Registered Users Posts: 7,110 ✭✭✭Thirdfox


    For people who are interested in homage alternatives here are two Sea-Gull branded ones:

    https://www.good-stuffs.com/Classic-Sea-Gull-automatic-wrist-watch-ST17-Bauhaus-edition_p_221.html
    this uses the ST17 - ok cheaper movement

    https://www.good-stuffs.com/Sea-Gull-819126047H-automatic-wristwatch-Bauhaus-design_p_381.html
    this one costs more but has that funky seconds design and the ST2130 - the Sea-Gull clone of the 2824 (very dependable movement)

    Might scratch the itch for some while saving up for something else :)


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    #22
    A+-Guru
    Registered Users Posts: 669 ✭✭✭A+-Guru


    I had a frederique constant slimline moonphase Manufacture before, it was a beautiful watch, in-house movement, really sad I sold it tbh, was a cracking watch, sunburst blue dial


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    #23
    Gavin1
    Registered Users Posts: 285 ✭✭Gavin1


    893bet wrote: »
    It’s a little strange. They were asked to provide images of the actually watch. They said the would. Then suddenly it was sold! If it was a Rolex I would be saying it was fake and they never had the watch or similar. But a Nomos! Not really the classic watch scam watch.

    Never thought about that for a Nomos!


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    #24
    893bet
    Registered Users Posts: 8,787 ✭✭✭893bet


    Gavin1 wrote: »
    Never thought about that for a Nomos!
    they also have the same add in their withdrawn adds. Additional photos but no photo i suspect they took themselves. The seller may be grand but something smells a little off. Just cause you are paranoid doesn't mean you a wrong as the saying goes!



    https://www.adverts.ie/dress/nomos-orion-38-date/17292672


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    #25
    Thirdfox
    Registered Users Posts: 7,110 ✭✭✭Thirdfox


    Gavin1 wrote: »
    Never thought about that for a Nomos!

    There are fake Sea-Gull watches out there :D

    If someone can sell a €300 watch for €120 and make a profit someone unscrupulous will sadly.


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    #26
    893bet
    Registered Users Posts: 8,787 ✭✭✭893bet


    I believe there are fake Casio f91 (reads that somewhere).

    That’s a 10 euro watch!

    If there is profit to be made it will be faked!


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    #27
    Cienciano
    Registered Users Posts: 14,232 ✭✭✭✭Cienciano


    893bet wrote: »
    I believe there are fake Casio f91 (reads that somewhere).

    That’s a 10 euro watch!

    If there is profit to be made it will be faked!

    And fake f91 I've seen was the gold or weird colour ones. So its €5 vs €40.


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