The Official Watch Thread.

[moth]

That's more my style. I don't need another watch but when I do I'll consider one of them.

Hamilton do some nice field watches, quartz and auto, that aren't too expensive.
https://www.hamiltonwatch.com/en-gb/fi ... s.html?p=1

[G.P]

@moth
had a look at your link and Hamilton have some nice looking watches, do they have a good rep?

[wheelnut]

@moth
had a look at your link and Hamilton have some nice looking watches, do they have a good rep?

Yes they do. They have ETA movements which is par for ther course at that price point, company has lots of history and their watches are pretty well thought of.

[Mr. Dazzle]

So when you get your watch repaired by an official Omega place they give you back the bits they replaced. Quite what they expect you to do with them I'm not sure...

But nevertheless here's what (some of) the insides of a mechanical watch look like. The fundamental problem was the main spring had broken at the end, you can see the little bit. The chronograph pushers also needed replacing and the winding crown was a bit bent.

They always fit a new 'crystal' and spring bars as a matter of course.

[G.P]

Considering this Hamilton, they do a cheaper version without day/date but I like the look.

What say you lot? I think its behind Oak & Oscar in the wish list but looks good value

https://www.hamiltonwatch.com/en-gb/h70 ... -auto.html

[Mr. Dazzle]

I prefer the Oak and Oscar too....but IIRC I was actually led to the O&O by a link at the bottom of an article about that very Hamilton!

I also don't think you can actually buy the O&O in the UK?

[wheelnut]

Considering this Hamilton, they do a cheaper version without day/date but I like the look.

What say you lot? I think its behind Oak & Oscar in the wish list but looks good value

https://www.hamiltonwatch.com/en-gb/h70 ... -auto.html

It’s nice. Similar evolution of the same eta movement that powers the tissot powermatic 80 (I’ve got a seastar with that movement and I like it). It’s got a good power reserve, the trade off being a slightly more pronounced tick rather than a smooth sweep.

It’s a nice well thought of watch, in terms of price it’s edging towards a Sinn or Oris which may be worth considering.

[G.P]

Yeah, the versions without day or date are only half the price of the day-date version.

I've never really thought about buying a used watch in that price bracket, will have a bit of a wider mooch about

[Horse]

https://www.chrono24.com/hamilton/khaki ... 4.htm#gref#
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hamilton-Kha ... ition=3000

Adding nothing useful to this thread or this specific conversation, but ....

Intriguing that in one ad all of the photos were taken within five minutes, in the other over several hours. Odd.

[G.P]

Yeah, the versions without day or date are only half the price of the day-date version.

I've never really thought about buying a used watch in that price bracket, will have a bit of a wider mooch about

As I said I don't know much about them, but when buying watches I've learned from experience, e.g. I impulse bought an IWC MK18 Heritage Titanium and IMO it's not worth the money, either of those Hamiltons is as good for less than 10x the cost. I do like the IWC but I wish I'd properly done my homework before buying it, I've seen them selling used for 50% of RRP.

So for any watch that doesn't appreciate in value on the used market I'd browse the used markets and look at the resale prices, then either buy used and swerve the depreciation, or ask for a whopping discount if buying new.

Yep, that makes complete sense, I shall adopt that approach!

[Mr. Dazzle]

Yeah, the versions without day or date are only half the price of the day-date version.

I've never really thought about buying a used watch in that price bracket, will have a bit of a wider mooch about

At the prices up there you might as well go for it...it is cheaper than the service on any of the Swiss mainstream!

[G.P]

Yeah, the versions without day or date are only half the price of the day-date version.

I've never really thought about buying a used watch in that price bracket, will have a bit of a wider mooch about

At the prices up there you might as well go for it...it is cheaper than the service on any of the Swiss mainstream!

Yep, Last service on my Datejust was £550

[Rockburner]

Not of any real interest to most, I'm sure, but I treated myself to a low-cost daily wear yesterday - one of these:

1f3d87_acee003a4bb345529af8409cebc5fd0f_mv2.jpg (204.69 KiB) Viewed 1470 times

https://www.steeldiveuk.com/product-pag ... iver-watch

Mainly because I'm hoping to be doing some juvenile and stupid things in wetsuits whilst on holiday and my TAG needs some work doing (crown tube is worn out) so I didn't want to risk it.

[Mr. Dazzle]

I would guess....and it would be a guess...that any Tom, Dick or Harry can get ETA parts though.

The place that did my Omega are an official Omega repair centre, but they're also an independent clock and watch repair shop. To get something other than an Omega or Rolex serviced is <£100. Those two just take the piss, even insisting you buy their screwdrivers and wear their labcoats. You also have to pay an annual subscription.

Given that any old watchmaker can buy an ETA movement for £200 I'd guess any old watchmaker can also buy ETA spares for 50p.

Or you could just buy a whole new movement!

[moth]

Considering this Hamilton, they do a cheaper version without day/date but I like the look.

What say you lot? I think its behind Oak & Oscar in the wish list but looks good value

https://www.hamiltonwatch.com/en-gb/h70 ... -auto.html

I don't have a lot of knowledge about that section of the market, and certainly my opinion isn't worth more than anyone else's, but if I was buying a Hamilton I'd shop around...

https://www.chrono24.com/hamilton/khaki ... 4.htm#gref#
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hamilton-Kha ... ition=3000

...and I'd take either of those two at less than half the price of the one you linked to - took me literally 45 seconds to find them, there are loads more about.

They are nice watches, in fact I'm tempted to throw the bloke an offer for the white faced one in my link, but I probably wouldn't be buying new just because they're likely to lose a large percentage of their value as you leave the shop, so let someone else take that hit and buy one in unworn condition for half the price. £350 for an unworn Hamilton is a proper bargain when you consider what you're getting.

A new 38mm no date Field Khaki is only £395, direct from Hamilton.

https://www.hamiltonwatch.com/en-gb/h69 ... field.html

[moth]

I would guess....and it would be a guess...that any Tom, Dick or Harry can get ETA parts though.

The place that did my Omega are an official Omega repair centre, but they're also an independent clock and watch repair shop. To get something other than an Omega or Rolex serviced is <£100. Those two just take the piss, even insisting you buy their screwdrivers and wear their labcoats. You also have to pay an annual subscription.

Given that any old watchmaker can buy an ETA movement for £200 I'd guess any old watchmaker can also buy ETA spares for 50p.

Or you could just buy a whole new movement!

Some Omega movements are ETA based.

Unsurprisingly, because they're both owned by Swatch.

[Mr. Dazzle]

Yeah I know.

I bet they still charge the same though, they just receive ETA spare parts in an Omega bag.

[cheb]

Yeah I know.

I bet they still charge the same though, they just receive ETA spare parts in an Omega bag.

The same happens in the automotive world. Same part, different box, different price.

[wheelnut]

I like the look of this. I don’t have a GMT so this may scratch that itch.

https://www.midowatches.com/uk/swiss-wa ... 6291705100

It does have the ETA based powermatic 80 movement aIong with the GMT complication and I do already have a watch with that movement but I do like the Mido.

Quite difficult to get hold of in the UK at the moment though plus at 44mm it’s a bit on the big side for me.

[wheelnut]

I like the look, it gets points for not going with a blue face and stainless strap (which seems to be almost compulsory these days) but 44mm is too big for me.
My wrists are big enough to get away with it but IMHO the big watch thing is a fashion and it's a young mans look, it's not an easy look to pull off for an older bloke.

I prefer 40mm or below - although on my big wrists the 40mm does look small and unfashionable - if you're into the fashion for big watches

Yeah, 40-42 is the sweet spot for me, anything over that feels a bit unwieldy. There are indications that the fashion is going back down in size.