So I just read another thread about the woes of the Rolex. Several friends have them and love them. I get the whole "I have a Rolex." thing, but I want perfect timekeeping, utter dependability, excellent service, and good looks, all built so it is darn near indestructible(at least as much as possible). What is your recommendation for a better watch than a Rolex and why? I don't mind paying a premium price if I get the fore mentioned attributes. I like the basic looks of the GMT or the Milgausse. I had a Seiko Divers Automatic and it suddenly puked and they wanted $400 to fix a $400 watch!!! Never again. My old Casio G-shock is an outstanding cheap watch, But I'd like investment grade. Thanks for your offered opinions...............

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Go big or stay home

If you want a dependable, very accurate watch a quartz movement is always very good. I have a Tag Heuer that my parents bought me almost 25 years ago that keeps very good time. They are pretty classy and won't break the bank.
Really, the boring old Timexes are great. About 8 yeas ago I bought an Indiglo. I really like them as you push in the stem and it lights up the dial, it can even be used as a low powered flashlight in an emergency. It recently broke and I sent it in to Timex. They sent it back with a note that said it was unfixable. But they also sent a brand new one and a bill for $10. I looked at their website and that watch retails for $75. The light on the dial stopped working after a year. It was not under warranty but I sent it back to them. They fixed it and sent me another bill for $10. (Guess that's the only price they know how to charge).
I am really impressed with Timex. Their watches are very good timepieces and they look good too. In fact, when I got the first Indiglo I went over to see my Mom one day. She saw it on my wrist and indignantly asked when I had taken my late Fathers Rolex! I said, "Look, Mom, it's a TIMEX!"
Dad would have just rolled his eyes at her.
Jim

if you want to have a comparable watch to rolex, look at breitling. they have a lot of different watches, from divers to pilots and everything in between. i have a navitimer, the only i don't like about it is that is big , as are most of the breitlings.

Hublot King Power F1. Bring lots and lots of money. Or the deed to your house. Title to the Ferrari. You get the idea.

Omega is a good watch in my estimate but I usually wear my Wenger cause the crystal is cheaper to replace and I scratch them up a lot!

For a 100 bucks I bought a casio at cosco. Accurate time, compass, shows temp and elevation. I already have a wife so I dont need to impress anyone.

As Sip would say: "My sundial is always accurate but very heavy on the wrist."

Better then a Rolex? Better for what? Keeping accurate time? Timex, or most any battery powered quartz watch from $5-up.

A nice piece of jewlery? (and c'mon lets be honest, a little snob appeal) Tag Heuer, Brietling, Cartier, (however you spell it) Myself I'd compromise with a nice Bulova, Seiko, Omega, Croton or Citizen.

There's nothing wrong with a Rolex. You have to keep them maintained properly. Not many watches hold their value as well. If you get in a crunch for cash you can sell it quick because everyone regognizes the name.

If you want the best accuracy, get a quartz watch. I too have a Timex Indiglo that runs for several years on a battery (it's a big one).

My daily wear watch is a Seiko Sumo. It's running 2 seconds fast a day for the last couple of months. When it gets about 10 seconds fast I pull out the stem (which stops the movement) for 10 seconds. Easy as pie. The neat thing about the watch is I can adjust it myself. I bought the caseback wrench to open the watch, and the lever to control the timing is right inside there, marked + and -. if I ever have to replace the movement, it is about $100 for the movement, and I can swap it out myself.

A company that makes some really good Swiss movements is ETA. There are a lot of watch companies that use their movements (IWC is one that comes to mind). They are easy to adjust near perfect, and don't break the bank when the movement needs replacing.

I rarley even remember to look at my watch anymore, only put it on out of habit, if I want to know the exact accurate time I'll check my 400 dollar smartphone.

Sounds like you want a quality time piece that also makes a statement...nothing wrong with that..I like a good watch..I have a 33 year old Heuer (before they became TAG)...take a look at Omegas...great quality and still makes a statement....

http://www.omegawatches.com/ambassadors/james-bond

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Thirty characters. Exactly...

For the life of me I can not understand spending that kind of money on a watch. I am way to rough on them.
If I buy a new cheap watch every year it would not total up to a Rolex over my lifetime.

I've heard that Patek Phillipe is a good one....you might have to hock the grandkids, though. My fanciest is a 60 year old Bulova that belonged to my grandfather. The ones I use most also make phone calls and can log onto the forum....

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Even older, even crankier....

Casio Wave Ceptor - multi-function, 10BAR dive, solar power, satalite time correction - Only problem is fear that if it quits, the world stops. About $45.00

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TOMBECK

My old eyes love this Citizen eccodrive. Only difference between my watch and this one is mine has a stainless bracelet instead of a strap. Keeps time to the second and no batteries to change. And the numbers and hands are luminescent enough to light up a dark room. I've got my dad's old Rolex that I wear occasionally but for everyday I love this Citizen.

eBay - New & used electronics, cars, apparel, collectibles, sporting goods & more at low prices

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God spelled backwards is dog.

If you want the finest watch (watchs) that money can buy, and I say this as the owner of a Rolex Submariner, If you can find one look at a Bunn Special, Elgin Father Time, BW Raymond or any Hamilton or Waltham lever set Rail Road watch that was built into the early 50's. I realize they are not visible to other folks like the one on your wrist but they are an enginering marvel if you could see the movements and the beautiful work on the movements and they will run with a Rolex or a Quartz all day long, month after month. Jeff

+1 on the Timex. I have a chronograph that I bought from Campmor 9 years ago. It runs just as well and looks just as good as it did when I bought it.

Please understand, I don't wish to denegrate anyone's choices --
My humble opinion, and it's worth exactly what you have paid for it:

It's analogus to the "government model" Semi-Auto handgun:

"It's not a Colt, but I got this instead. It's just as good, no, really!"
-or-
"It's not a Rolex, but I got this instead. It's just as good, no, really!"

If you want the Colt/Rolex, get it. Everything in the same design, that came later, is a copy.

I will be the first to state, regarding both products, there exist some VERY good copies, but they ARE copies.
Having an original of anything brings a certain joy of ownership, if your wired that way.

If you have, as your goal, the original of either breed, to settle for anything else, will cause you to fall short of that goal.



What is your goal?

Mike

Rolex will hold its value better and be easier to pawn/sell barter later on. Saves you the whole speech from the guy behind of the counter of "well it isn't a Rolex".

Personally? I wouldn't bother. I used to wear a three grand watch. Concord Impressario. Technically it wasn't even just a watch. It was a certified Swiss Chronometre. (That means it is accurate enough to be used to compute longitude.) I wore it for years. Eventually it stopped working and just banging on it didn't suffice to fix it. I think it was going to run me 400 to service it. Eh.

I went back to wearing a G-Shock. Less temperamental and when it dies, I'll pitch it and get a new one. The light is a handy feature too. Self winding Zenith movement from Switzerland wasn't much good when you can't see it in the dark.

If you simply must have a Rolex, consider an older one or else getting on on the "gray market". Note that I said gray and not black. (Just learn how to spot a fake.)

You should be able to get into a lower end gray market Rolex for cheaply enough that you needn't worry about other brands. Or just pay 200 bucks for one of the better fakes... Most people will never know the difference and it'll suffice to impress anyone that would have been shallow enough to be impressed by an expensive watch....

My daily wear is a Movado. I've worn it for years. Paid a grand for it. I don't remember the last time I put a battery in it. When all the batteries die in the rest of them, it just keeps on tickin.

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Firearms and Saltwater Fishing

Thanks everyone for the input. I don't really care to impress anyone besides myself. I like to know that I have a great quality whatever. I work hard and I want spoil myself some. If I can do it with a wise investment, then so much the better. I have an old digital Citizen that needs a battery. Maybe I'll get it up and running for now. Omegas have gotten my attention also. Guess I'll cruise E-ba-gotta have everything.

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Go big or stay home

Omega sea master chronograph in titanium or a Zenith El Primero rainbow chrongraph or a Tag or Zeno, the Zenith has the best movement hands down,
Rolex uses it in the Daytona after they de-tune it, they also use the Valjou 7750 in several models. . The Omega,Tag and Zeno use the same movement in some models, Valjou 7750 Cal.B. However the Zeno is considerable less expensive.
Keep this in mind when buying a fine auto wind mechanical watch, you are buying in order of importance these things, movement, case, dial and strap. all watch makers do is put these components together, in endless styles, colors and variations .
Look for a mineral crystal, lock down crown, deployment buckle.
A watch like this should be serviced (cleaned) every 3 or 4 years at a service cost of $300 to $400 a pop, Rolex I think is charging $475.

The only good thing with a Rolex other than prestige is the resale value of it, you can almost always get your money out of them, keep good time no, resale yes.

A Rolex is no Colt it is closer in quality to Taraus, you and the rest of us have just been sold a bill of goods about its quality. A Steel Rolex on average cost the factory $119.89 to produce.
The rest my friend is adverting, sail boats, race cars, and fancy ads.
Check em out you will see what I mean

Penmon aka Jim

Thanks and I'm gonna start this puter to work on finding info on the models you listed.

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Go big or stay home

Years ago, I wanted a nice watch. I had the dough for a Rolex, but just couldn't get past the whole 'Rolex stigma' that I felt existed. Just not my style to put it out there like that...

So, after researching high quality watches (of course, they start calling them "time pieces" at this point, guess its supposed to make you feel better about spending a ridiculous amount of money for a darn watch!) I ended up buying an Omega (Speedmaster Broad Arrow automatic). I've never regretted the decision, great watch. To me, it is high quality without the appearance of pretention. I also liked the Breitlands, but man, they are BIG. I'm 6' 2" and those things still seemed huge on my wrist.

I've had a couple of Tags in the past, they are nice, and probably one of the best values of the luxury watches. At this stage in my life, I think there is a lot of merit to going with the Timex! I'd like to think I'm getting a little smarter as I get older...

No offense to anyone with a Rolex, they are very nice watches, again, just not my style. The Omega is actually kind of cool, as people that know watches will see it, and comment. Otherwise, it flies under the radar; just the way I like it...! BTW, my Omega keeps great time.

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NRA Life Member

I own a Breitling Chronomat that I purchased in 2001. It runs great, keeping very accurate time. When I bought it, I also considered Rolex, Omega, Tag Heuer, IWC, and Zenith. All were great options, but the Breitling just struck my fancy more than the others. I have the Breitling serviced about every three years.

For electronic watches, it's tough to beat Seiko and Citizen. I have several of each, and they work great.

However, the next one will be daylight powered and tuned to the atomic clock.

I'd suggest Tag Heuer or Breitling if you're looking for a chronograph.

I've been wearing Rolex since 1983, it's the right watch for me.

Many people just aren't into watches but they know the Rolex name and assume it's the best watch - it's not, not by a long shot!

What a Rolex is, is a fine watch in a most durable case that will take any beating you can dish out and look good doing it. I have personally tested this and found it to be true. In short, it's a Lexus in a world of Rolls Royces and Ferrari's.

Want something well made, high value and looks real good? Check out the Sinn line. They cost less than half of a Rolex and are the equal in quality. Not as tough, but close enough.

Check out a Seiko Marine Master, directly equal to a Rolex Sub Date in quality and durability down to the "in house" mfg. of all parts. It uses a Hardlex crystal, not sapphire like the Sub, but you can get an aftermarket one to fit it. Half the cost of a Rolex.

Many, many, many other quality watches out there if you take the time to seek them out.

On a Rolex, if it's gold, it isn't plated - it's solid. Same for platinum. Rolex is one tough watch.

So, in closing I offer this...

Life is too short to wear a cheap watch.

This is precisely why I decided against a Rolex...too many fakes, and most people will think you have a fake, even if you bought a real one. That, and the fact that everyone and his brother thinks that if you want a high-end watch, you must be talking about a Rolex...just as everyone who hears you have a motorcycle assumes it must be a Harley Davidson, right? I prefer to have something a touch more unique...which is why I wear an IWC and I ride a Triumph (and a BMW, and a Kawasaki).

I agree with what others have said...the Rolex is not necessarily any better than most other choices of luxury brand watches, they have just had
some great advertising and P.R. over the years.

As I said, I own an IWC Flieger Chronograph, it can be had with a leather strap also...I prefer the SS bracelet. I've owned it for about 10 years, and I still love it, maybe even more so than when I bought it. I don't understand people talking about scratching up a high-end watch...these things are tough as nails. I've worn my IWC almost daily, slammed it into doorknobs, metal tools at work, door jambs, desks, car doors, almost anything you might expect to encounter in a normal day...not one scratch on the crystal. Sure, there are a few tiny micro-scratches and blemishes on the stainless steel, nothing that couldn't easily be buffed out, if it bothered me.

Also, my previous watch was a Seiko, and after about 5 years of wear the bracelet wouldn't stay fastened and it was rusting to bits. My IWC's body and bracelet are completely untarnished even though I almost never take it off, even while swimming or in the shower, and I perspire a lot while riding my motorcycle all summer in Phoenix!

The bottom line is...a quartz watch is obviously the more cost-efficient choice. It's less expensive, more accurate, lighter, and the newer high tech plastic bodies/straps are quite tough, and probably have little trouble with rust. I do own one of the Casio Solar-Atomic watches, and I like it. I bought it when I was taking a trip to Thailand, and I didn't care to think about possibly being robbed and losing my IWC.

Anyway...a luxury mechanical watch is for someone who appreciates a precision tool. My IWC has run accurately for the past 10 years without a battery, and will likely run for another hundred years, at least.

All the watches others have mentioned are fine choices...Omega, IWC, Breitling, Zenith, Rolex, Patek Philippe ($$$!)...or some other good choices are, Ball, Bell & Ross (I have one of these as well), Fortis, Oris, Glycine, Martin Braun ($$$), Panerai ($$$), Glasshutte Original, Ventura (gorgeous, IMO), Sinn, Xemex, Ikepod...and about 100 others.

As dangerous as we all know that EDC'ing can be to your wallet...developing a taste for luxury watches can be even worse!! But, they sure are fun to shop for. Take your time, do lots of research, try to handle/wear all of your prospective choices, and enjoy the hunt! Also, while shopping for a good deal, be very wary of some online deals...the so-called gray market. There can be pitfalls there.

Tim

I don't have a Rolex, but I have a couple of Raymond Weil's and an Ebel. These are nice Swiss ETA movement automatics.

The various ETA movements are well thought of for the most part, although some watch snobs disparage them. Lots of makers use ETA movements.

I also have a bunch of Seiko and assorted other nice quartzes. The one pictured below is a Raymond Weil Parsifal that I picked up at Costco several months ago for just under a grand. Stainless and 18k Gold with a Mother of Pearl face. I have been wearing it everyday for about two months and its accuracy has started to settle at about 0 to plus 2 seconds per day.

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Copyright MCMLXII ©

The Timex Ironman Triathlon is the best value in a watch in my experience. A watch is worth $0.49 - anything more is just show.

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VIVERE MILITARE EST

Personally I love my $400.00 Bulova watch. Although, I am a girl, I do like to be fashionable, yes, it does have diamonds. However, I needed a watch that was going to hold up while crawling through MVA/MVC scenes and the everyday hard beating I give it. I have no fear that it is going to still look great after completing the police academy this year. I have had my current Bulova, for 2 1/2 years, and yes, I have beat the crud out of it, and it still looks great!

Try looking at TJ Maxx, They have some higher end watches, at great prices, and you get the opportunity to actually try the watch on to make sure it fits, and you like the way it feels/fits and looks on you.

My dad has worn an Omega Constellation nearly every day since 1968. He also has the Speedmaster Moon watch, but that one mostly sits in its box on his dresser.
I have a few Citizen Eco-Drive watches, and like them.

i mentioned breitling earlier but neglected to say i have been wearing a submariner since 1973. omega has nice watches and IWC also. i bought a navitimer because when i was flying it was the watch to have and i couldn't handle the freight cost of them then. since i haven't flown in several years, i decided i still wanted one and can now afford it, so why not. another statement an upper end watch says about the person is, time is important to them. i must mention that i wear stainless steel as gold just doesn't fit on me. personally, i would stay away from the gray market stuff unless you really know what you are buying.

I am with you on this. I have the all stainless version. Never take it off for the last 5-6 years. Work with it, fish with it, salt water (20 ft or so), fresh water, bashed, dropped it never misses a beat. Solar powered. Cost around $100.00

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Still Running Against the Wind

I live in the Pacific NW. What does "solar" mean?

Happiness is not caring what time it is.

Not to worry, even there it will charge.Enough energy comes through the rain, clouds and doom. Indoor lighting will work also.

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Still Running Against the Wind

If I had the bucks to buy a Rolex, I'd buy a Ball instead. Since I don't, I'll keep wearing this old wind-it-every-day mechanical Russian tank-commander watch my son brought me from a trip to Moscow 20 years ago.

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Rick, W0FG
CTR2 68-72

My line of work is rough on me and my watches. I liked the solar/atomic time keeping in my latest aquisition, Citizen Skyhawk in titanium that I had to get a Casio with the same features for work. Beat up a $60 watch instead of the pricey-to-me one. I carry a cell phome 18.5/7, so what do I need a watch for? Why do I need so many guns? Will somebody please tell me?

CW Spook
>>If I had the bucks to buy a Rolex, I'd buy a Ball instead.<<

I drool over Ball watches. Had to settle for a Luminox instead.

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9tenz

Check out Longines. It's Swiss and my jeweler says it's the best watch made, mine doesn't lose a second. It's the official timekeeper of the Olympics.

If you want an expensive watch, or in some cases they have models that are not so expensive, but one that is reliable for time and is quite durable with a good reputaion, check into a Fortis. Their selfwinding automatic watches are very good.

I think a lot of people choose a Rolex or other high priced watch for show based on reputation more than specific excellence, or as a display of conspicuous consumption. Do you really need seconds per decade accuracy? If you buy a watch like one of those you are likely fiddling with it daily anyway so keeping it timely is a moot point. Are you looking for indestructible quality? For what purpose. Most of us aren't going to end up on a desert island like Tom Hanks. Is it likely you can't drop into a Walmart, or Goodwill somewhere and get a half dozen cheap watches that will work well enough until you can get hooked up to the atomic clock again? So if you just like good watches and want one for whatever purpose, there are many out there that aren't the big name recognizable ones and that do a great job, just not as good a job at flashing.

Fortis makes a decent watch. Some very expensive "show" models full of features, but they also make some dead reliable less expensive models as well. Their "Space Watches" are pretty cool. I got my girlfriend a ladies Fortis Square SL model about 10 years ago. Reliable, tough, fairly fashionable, and it keeps remarkably accurate time without needing setting more than once a year. With its automatic mechanism, it never needs a battery and never needs to be consciously wound up.

(edit: holymolly!! I know what I paid for that one 10 years ago. I just looked up what they are going for now. That one's going in the safe!)

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" I said, good DAY! "

TAG HEUER makes pretty good watches but I never spent the money.

I had a Maurice Lacroix Miros Chronograph. It was a nice watch, but pretty big.

I sold it and switched to Skagen. These watches are really nice, really slim and really affordable

But since a couple of years I do not wear a watch anymore.
You can see the time everywhere... in your car, cell phone, TV, Radio, ... just everywhere.

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Jorge

If you want a watch that has: owner pride of quality, solid beefed up case you can forget about when doing strenuous activity, waterproof to 200 meters, unscratchable crystal, with enough gold on it to have value, have name recognition, and best of all accuracy to less than 1 second in a couple months.

Tag Heuer. Not cheap, but no where as expensive as a Rolex.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

Just my two cents:Buy the watch that you like, don't worry about what other people think.i own a day date presidentia with jubilee bracelet that includes the diamond face. I bought this watch not to impress anyone, but because I liked it.I enjoy this watch like no other I have ever owned. I plan on passing it on to my middle son someday.there may be "better" ways of marking time,but for me it is like my old Harley,not as efficient as others, expensive to repair,but both have for lack of a better word "soul",kind of like a registered magnum.

Casio G Shock GIEZ

Solar, atomic, 200 atm wr, and it is indestructible, the only things it can't do better than a rolex is impress the shallow brand junkies, and retain it's value.

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Regards,
Guy-Harold Smith II

"but I want perfect timekeeping, utter dependability, excellent service,"

Cell Phone

If I understand correctly, the OP is saying, "I'm thinking about a Colt, but wondering if there's a Les Baer out there." Or, in SAA terms, "I'm thinking about a Colt, but is there a Freedom Arms out there?" It's a reasonable question.

It uses an ETA I would guess. Both are under the Swatch Group, like Hamilton, Tissot, and Omega.

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9tenz

My cell phone always tells me the correct time PLUS I can make phone calls on it also !!! Came free with a two year contract !!!

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millbilly

I gotta go with this. Real simple, relatively cheap, super accurate. Think I'll buy one.