OT: Watch suggestions <$1k (Sinn 556i)

[jr59]

I'm somewhat sure that we on this board shouldn't be telling each other how to spend your money. I mean after all, just look at the bikes we ride.

Buy what you like and enjoy. Take care of it and it will last a lifetime, maybe longer!

[1centaur]

It can be a slippery slope to look for "value" in an expensive watch. Buyers look for interesting dial faces, but every watch beyond the cheap ones has a sapphire crystal and the case material is likely steel below $3k and the workmanship does not cost much on the outside so it all devolves towards the movement - unique movements can cost a lot, especially if worked on by Swiss people rather than Asian people, and more accuracy is worth more than less accuracy.

An ETA 2824-2 starts at $239 retail but big buyers can get big discounts from that. The accuracy of that movement is modest. With some expense it can be modified to be more accurate, but not really, really accurate, so paying up in order to set your watch twice a month instead of 4 times a month seems not particularly worth it. You can get 2824 movements in the occasional $500 watch on ShopNBC or $3k+ watches from some Euro brands and the rest of the watch is not obviously more expensive to make. So I resisted the U1 because it was nearly $2k and I knew I was paying for a face I liked and not "value," but I bit the bullet and every time I look at it I am glad I did.

[wallymann]

Originally Posted by IJWS

Anyway, thanks again for the advice. Cheers!

also, be forewarned...you are heading down a dangerous path...

[dancinkozmo]

...as a counterpoint to the previous post.

[sandyrs]

Originally Posted by wallymann

also, be forewarned...you are heading down a dangerous path...

omg

[oldpotatoe]

Originally Posted by jr59

http://www.jomashop.com/oris-watch-7...FdgQgQod6BUAxQ

Is the 'bubble' over a Rolex date some sort of copyright/patent gig? Never seen it on any other watch. I could't see date w/o it.

[jr59]

Originally Posted by oldpotatoe

Is the 'bubble' over a Rolex date some sort of copyright/patent gig? Never seen it on any other watch. I could't see date w/o it.

No it is not, And you need better glasses.

http://www.jomashop.com/cartier-w62025v3.html

[choke]

Originally Posted by 1centaur

An ETA 2824-2 starts at $239 retail but big buyers can get big discounts from that. The accuracy of that movement is modest. With some expense it can be modified to be more accurate, but not really, really accurate, so paying up in order to set your watch twice a month instead of 4 times a month seems not particularly worth it.

I'm don't think that the cost of a movement has any bearing on its accuracy. While I really don't care that they're super accurate, one time just for s&g I checked mine after changing them for DST. My most accurate by far....losing 3 seconds over the period of a month IIRC.....was an inexpensive SandY 490 which has an ETA 2801 movement.

[Steve in SLO]

Originally Posted by wallymann

also, be forewarned...you are heading down a slippery slope...

Ha! Amateur!

[RFC]

Originally Posted by choke

I'm don't think that the cost of a movement has any bearing on its accuracy. While I really don't care that they're super accurate, one time just for s&g I checked mine after changing them for DST. My most accurate by far....losing 3 seconds over the period of a month IIRC.....was an inexpensive SandY 490 which has an ETA 2801 movement.

I have easily tuned Seiko dive watches to +-1 sec/day.

[1centaur]

You can look up the wiki on the 2824 and they will describe how there are levels of 2824 and the better levels are more accurate; they give seconds per month of accuracy difference in that source.

That said, sometimes one gets lucky and something just is very accurate even if it did not cost much. And as often said, electronic watches and phones are more accurate anyway, so paying up for a much more accurate movement on an automatic is of questionable value.

[Louis]

Originally Posted by dancinkozmo

...as a counterpoint to the previous post.

With bikes you can only ride one at a time, but I suppose with watches you can wear as many as you like...

I only have one winder and don't plan on getting more, so I'm pretty much at my limit for automatics. If I get anything more it will be an "atomic" for the accuracy, but I see that there are clocks sold for $25 that can do the job, so it will be difficult to justify spending a lot on a watch just to get that. Plus, super-accurate time is only a web site away at the Naval Observatory site.

[thirdgenbird]

This thread imay result in me buying a swiss mechanical that I don't need...

[Chris]

I appreciate the craftsmanship of a mechanical watch, but there is something really nice about being able to pull out my quartz watch, put it on the wrist and go without any adjustments or concerns about accuracy.

[bcroslin]

Originally Posted by tumbler

Along with Oris, you should also look at Stowa. Hoping to add one of these to my collection soon.

I really like that Stowa. Very nice.

The Hodinkee website is full of lust-after watches and they make some sharp bands. The site is full of inspiration for watch styles and watch history.

After spending a bunch of money on a Tag Heuer I never wore I sold it to my brother-in-law the lawyer and bought a Seiko and never looked back. Cost $250 and is indestructible and looks good.