The Endangered Wrist Watch

[Faulkner]

A little off topic, but I worked a burglary last year at a retired NFL player's home. His Super Bowl ring (played with the Denver Broncos back with Elway) and two Rolex watches were stolen. He had the receipts on the watches showing what he paid for them; one was $28,000 and the other was $41,000.

He'd hired some yard work done and he had an idea of who might have broken in the house so we followed up his leads and actually recovered the Super Bowl ring and the $41K watch within a couple of hours. The $28K watch we never recovered as the perpatrator had sold it for 50 bucks to buy drugs . . . we did recover the drugs.

I obviously don't shop in the same circles as this guy, I never even knew before then that Rolex made watches that cost that much. I'd always thought a good Rolex cost a couple thousand bucks, not that I'm ever going to guy one.

 

[jframe]

I still like having a wrist watch, and I a quality piece. To me, Rolex is too much of a 'status shout.' So, I wear an Omega Speedmaster, Long Arrow. Very nice watch, without the puff of wearing a Rolex. As for 'status,' people that know watches, know how good Omegas are, and it slides under the radar of those that don't. That's the way I roll...

I have an Omega as well, along with a pair of Citizen Eco Drives that function well. The Omega is special; it is engraved on the back to my grandfather when he retired from Reynolds Metals Company in January of 1971. It sat in a lockbox from 1977 when he died until last year when I got it out, wound it up, and have had it running and wearing ever since. I'm with you; let the status symbol folks have their Rolexes; I'll stick with this and know that it is every bit the equal of a Rolex. Really a crappy pic, but the only one I have.

 

[wuluf]

wrist watch, cell phones, Dick Tracy was right...

 

[JamesArthur60]

There are so many good new Swiss made mechanical pocketwatches made today for just a bit more than the cheap junk battery powered pocketwatches there isn't much excuse not to get one.

I'd like to know where to find one of those pocket watches. The last two I carried were both new (battery) Swiss Army. One I dropped on the floor. It stopped and never worked. The other stopped as well and never worked properly after battery changes.

I believe when we the older generation die off, less wrist watches will be worn. Young people have the time on their electronic toys.

 

[DeadAye]

For YEARS my life ran on a clock.
I had a nice watch for office work and a G-Shock for the field.

Then I retired
I don't need no stinkin' watches!

 

[Frailer]

Why a Rolex over a Seiko??? Why an M&P over a Hi Point???
Defense Rests your honor!

Respectfully, that's a poor analogy. The Hi Point does nothing better than the M&P.

I love finely made things, and back in the day when one could find heavily-discounted Rolexes in PXs I came very close to buying a Submariner on several occasions.

Unfortunately, I came to the conclusion that the only reason I wear a wristwatch is to be able to determine the *exact* time at any given moment, and no mechanical watch can perform that task as well as its quartz counterpart.

I own a very nice, 120 year old gold railroad pocket watch for nostalgia's sake, but I wear a Seiko.

 

[haggis]

My biggest problem with a watch is that my sweat eats metals. I can even corrode stainless. So that meant precious metal cases, and I couldn't afford that. So I put up with replacing a Seiko stainless every couple of years until the eroded sharp edges on the back starting cutting my wrist.

As my eyesight worsened with age, I found that a digital watch better served my needs, especially for the hard to read functions on an analog chronograph, such as stopwatch, alarms, and countdown timers. Then Seiko stopped making their stainless version.

What I was able to find was a little-known watch called Momentum SLK by the St. Moritz watch company in Vancouver, B.C. It was designed as a digital dive watch with a Sapphire crystal waterproof to 10 atmospheres, and it was available with a solid Titanium case and wrist band. Turns out it is "Buck-sweat" resistant - I've worn it for over three years with absolutely no corrosion of the metal surfaces at all. And it cost less than $200. It was a perfect match for my needs, and it only took me 60+ years to find it.

Buck

 

[perrazi]

bought a rolex submariner at the px in san diego naval base. still wear it almost every day. for the s&w vs. hi-point comparison, that is exactly right. sell either one and tell me which brings the most money.

 

[Smith357]

S&W vs Hi Point

While Rolex watches are nice, there are some jobs they are just not suited for. I wear this old 20 year old Timex when I'm grinding steel or other such dirty dangerous work when I don't want to damage my good watches.

 

[walnutred]

Until a decade or so ago I wore a military Hamilton that I did not turn in when I was discharged from the Army. As they charged me $22 for it as lost property I do not feel guilty. Then I switched to Seiko Automatics because I need a solid stainless case or my skin will eat holes in the case in a few months. It's hard to get them repaired though and in reality the repairs probably cost more than the watches are worth. Just don't like battery watches for some reason.

 

[straightshooter1]

I have purchased four Rolex Submariners. Three I bought "used" but near new. I wore each one daily and never had any problems. The sapphire crystals are VERY hard to scratch and desk diving marks can be polished out by a skilled jeweler.

I kept the first three until their value exceeded my ability to control my impulse to make a profit-then sold each and then bought the next one for a bit less than I sold the previous one.

I have the last one in the safe, still love it, but think it is worth just about 4k +/- and will sell it off before too long.

I have a Tag, a Swiss Army Diver, a G-Shock, a Luminox and another Diver-all with sapphire crystals and I wear them a week or so each, then rotate.

I also have a bunch of 40s-60s Bulovas, Hamiltons and others (autos and manuals) which I sell off from time to time (some on our Classifeds here). I used to rotate them at the Office before retiring, but my outdoor lifestyle (rain and shooting) can be hard on them, so they reside in the safe.

I love wrist watches and find that they are far more convenient than a cell phone for time. It takes just a split second to see the time when driving or doing some task and that's a lot quicker and more convenient than unholstering my cell to see the time.

Bob

 

[armenius]

I have worn a watch since a teenager and began in aviation.I was rough on them,knocking off crystals or banging them up-none lasted long.I bought a fairly good chronometer in the USAF and it was always in the shop.I then discovered Timex at $9.95 and threw them away after a year.When I became a medical resident and had a few dollars my brother in law brought me a Rolex GMT Master (1968) for $165.00.
Later I bought a Gold and Steel GMT Master for $775 and even though I used them scuba diving I got a Submariner for $440.In all these years I have been unable to destroy them no matter what.All were refurbished up to brand new condition after years of use for $400 to 600 each.When I periodically check the prices on the previously owned market I wish I had put most of my savins in good watches!
Then don't require recharging, winding or new batteries and never leaked to 120 foot depth.They go and do everything with me.

 

[brucev]

First good watch I had was a Bulova Accutron that was wonderful. Gave it to my brother. Got a little rectangular gold Seiko... picked it up after stopping some gents from breaking into my car. They were in a hurry when they ran. Still have the watch. Bought a Seiko diving watch in 1990. It has had three batteries. It keeps absolutely perfect time. Wearing it right now. Excellent watch. Bought a Seiko Chronograph last year. Found it, in of all places, at Belks on sale. It was on a rack with some necklaces. The box was missing. Paid $71 plus tax. Didn't know boxes were so expensive!!! Very good watch. Well worth the money. Would not want to do without a good wrist watch.

 

[mm6mm6]

I guess the same internal workings of my brain that love blue steel and gunleather also appreciate a fine Swiss Automatic watch. I am enthralled with these mechanical watches that require no batteries.

The well dressed and armed gentleman must wear a quality timepiece on his wrist!

 

[litauer]

An IWC Mark XVI works for me.

 

[bmcgilvray]

The wristwatch isn't endangered around here. I wear 'em and enjoy the convenience.

I wore dress watches to the office, frequently this Longines.

I still wear this Omega Constellation.

I enjoyed this classic IWC but it stopped on me a while back. Need to get it tended to.

This Glycine military watch is my hunting/shooting watch. It is the most accurate mechanical watch I have.

 

[walnutred]

Does Rolex make anything other than the cases? Years ago I was told by a factory authorized Rolex watch repairman that Rolex works were subbed out and he mentioned a couple companies that used the same sub contractors for their internals. He may have been blowing smoke but I've always been curious.

 

[Smith357]

Does Rolex make anything other than the cases? Years ago I was told by a factory authorized Rolex watch repairman that Rolex works were subbed out and he mentioned a couple companies that used the same sub contractors for their internals. He may have been blowing smoke but I've always been curious.

He was blowing smoke, Rolex makes everything in house as do most top tier watch manufactures like Jaeger LeCoultre, A. Lange & Söhne and others.

The Tudor, Rolex's low end brand, uses ETA movements and may outsource other parts, but any Rolex guy will tell you a Tudor is not a Rolex. ETA sells movements world wide and is part of the Swatch Group. Swatch is a large conglomerate that also owns Breguet, Blancpain, Omega, Longines, Hamilton, and Tissot to name a few.

 

[CW Spook]

They are making more really fine watches today than ever before. Unfortunately I can't afford any of 'em! Fifty years ago, when hardly anyone but professional pilots and CIA agents knew what they were, I wanted a Rolex. Now, they're too commonplace. I'd take a Ball Engineer though. I wear a watch all the time...have since I was about 8 years old. I have a couple of good Seikos, but the one I wear everyday is a very plain Luminox I found on sale at Cabelas for $69. I really like the tritium gas tubes for visibility at night.

 

[rimfired]

Always worn a watch starting with Timex. When my employer of 12 years eliminated my position, I had saved enough to by my dream watch, a Rolex Submariner.

This is not a bling watch but a practical dive/wet watch and I used to dive/fish a lot. I've worn it everyday since '98 and never had it serviced, doesn't owe me a dime and if I needed some cash or decided to sell it I'd be ahead of the game.

The beautiful dress Movado museum watch the bride bought me gets a new battery every year and is worn maybe once or twice.