I’m not a watch guy….
- Thread starter sigp220.45
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My everyday watch is a Citizen Diver. Although digging through my watch drawer I did fine a few Seiko's and Hamilton's, including my old military Hamilton. I was charged $10.50 for "losing" this watch when I was turning in my gear for the last time. I still think it was worth it ;-D. I have one Vantage calendar watch, a brand I never heard of before.
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Jeff423
US Veteran
I used to be a watch guy and still have some nice mechanicals, but I haven't worn them since I got an Apple watch. Periodically if I'm in a mechanical frame of mind I use the GMT face.
DWalt
Member
An explanation of the Seiko spring drive movement previously mentioned. Essentially it's a hybrid of mechanical and quartz movements. Seiko Spring Drive: The Advanced Art of Watchmaking
Not cheap, new spring drive watches start at around $5K and go way up from there. Used ones are about half that. In the extremely unlikely event I got the urge to buy a high-end wristwatch, that is the one I would select.
Not cheap, new spring drive watches start at around $5K and go way up from there. Used ones are about half that. In the extremely unlikely event I got the urge to buy a high-end wristwatch, that is the one I would select.
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bobcat
US Veteran
I also was a Timex guy, my last one I got when my father won a shopping spree when they opened the new BX on Malmstrom AFB. The timex died on duty when I was in the Border Patrol, I literally sweated so much it quit, probably salted the innards. I bought Seiko Sports battery quartz in about 1985 for the princely sum of about $125, the most I had ever spent on a watch. It's on my wrist right now, minus the original band, it now sports a spiedel twist o flex, and survived my 1st marriage and rough treatment in the Border Patrol. I have a Citizen eco drive, a couple of pocket watches, but this old Seiko is like the proverbial old Timex, it takes a licking and keeps on ticking. I did find a ladies Seiko a few years ago in the Goodwill for like 3 bucks, but a battery in it and gave it to my niece when she finished college, she likes "retro" things, she was pretty happy. Nice watch btw...
mmaher94087
Member
I worked around machinery so jewelry, wrist watches and ties were taboo. I carried a $1.00 Bulldog pocket watch. It was accurate within two minutes. Now if I'm asked the time, I look up and it's either daytime or nighttime.
I do wear a Tag Heuer diver, but my dressier watch is a Citizen
Eco drive. That solar powered Citizen keeps identical accuracy to my Tag.
Eco drive. That solar powered Citizen keeps identical accuracy to my Tag.
I bought a Railroad approved Seiko in 1980 & other than batteries it was in the shop twice for a repair. Both times it had been hit or dropped so hard that once, the second hand was bent enough to impede movement & the other was when the face was knocked loose.
It finally gave up for good after 35 years & was definitely replaced with another Seiko.
Oh! I almost forgot. I had a job once that required me to keep a pretty close eye on the correct time & I had the US atomic clock on speed dial. That doggone watch "might" be off about 3 seconds in 2 months.I thought that was pretty neat.
It finally gave up for good after 35 years & was definitely replaced with another Seiko.
Oh! I almost forgot. I had a job once that required me to keep a pretty close eye on the correct time & I had the US atomic clock on speed dial. That doggone watch "might" be off about 3 seconds in 2 months.I thought that was pretty neat.
DWalt
Member
The most attractive thing about quartz movements is their phenomenal precision as timekeepers. With my oft-mentioned Swiss Army watch, it gains between one and two seconds per month. I never need to change it except when going from CST to DST and back or to replace the battery every few years.
Regarding Timex watches, I have never owned one, but my wife has owned several. Her current one is six years old. All have been very dependable. However, I do have a Timex expansion band on my Swiss Army. It dates back at least ten years, never had anything go wrong with it. Would recommend Timex expansion watchbands with no reservations.
For those interested, Timex does offer some expensive Swiss-made watches in their line going up to around $1000. Some unusual Timex watches on the used market can go well beyond that. Apparently there must be some Timex classic watch collectors who are willing to pay such prices.
Regarding Timex watches, I have never owned one, but my wife has owned several. Her current one is six years old. All have been very dependable. However, I do have a Timex expansion band on my Swiss Army. It dates back at least ten years, never had anything go wrong with it. Would recommend Timex expansion watchbands with no reservations.
For those interested, Timex does offer some expensive Swiss-made watches in their line going up to around $1000. Some unusual Timex watches on the used market can go well beyond that. Apparently there must be some Timex classic watch collectors who are willing to pay such prices.
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I loved em when I was young but after ruining a few at work I lost interest. I have a few that were my dads including a pocket watch I gave him 50 yrs ago. FB has been feeding me watch ads ever since I looked at a Timex lol. I may just buy that one.
This thread brought back a long forgotten memory of a pocket watch given to me by an uncle for Christmas in my early teens. Ray was a great guy. Grew up in an orphanage in DC,Married my immigrant aunt in the early 40s,was drafted and then trained with the 10 mtn division in Colorado before shipping out to the South Pacific. A quiet and kind man who drank too much after all of that.
This thread brought back a long forgotten memory of a pocket watch given to me by an uncle for Christmas in my early teens. Ray was a great guy. Grew up in an orphanage in DC,Married my immigrant aunt in the early 40s,was drafted and then trained with the 10 mtn division in Colorado before shipping out to the South Pacific. A quiet and kind man who drank too much after all of that.
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At 87 I've been thru a number of watches including my first, an OMEGA Seamaster, which I still own, but needs an overhaul. I have had battery, auto wind (SEIKOs), solar, and solar/auto everything (CASIO). Each a step up in accuracy and use. Then had triple bypass in 2018 and got a FITBIT Versa 2. A lot of inf on heart rate, sleep, walking, etc., and a lot I d'ont use. Downside is charging every few days and no second hand. Updates on time and time zones easy. Not as fancy as a SEIKO etc., but I am a happy camper with it.
Walter Rego
Member
Seikos are great. I own a couple, one is a really thin dress watch and the other a chronograph with moon phase dial. Both were purchased back in the mid-1980's.
As other have mentioned the Grand Seiko Spring Drive watches have an unique movement and can be found with some very attractive dials. I can't really justify the purchase of an expensive watch at this point as I hardly wear the ones I have, but if I ever do it will likely be one of these. It has a titanium case and bracelet which makes wearability quite nice.
As other have mentioned the Grand Seiko Spring Drive watches have an unique movement and can be found with some very attractive dials. I can't really justify the purchase of an expensive watch at this point as I hardly wear the ones I have, but if I ever do it will likely be one of these. It has a titanium case and bracelet which makes wearability quite nice.
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Sistema1927
US Veteran
I bought a Seiko in the PX, not long after graduation from Basic Training. Reason was because when my Dad came home from Vietnam he was wearing a new Seiko, and I thought, at the time, that it was the neatest watch I had ever seen.
Today I normally wear an Omega Speedy Pro, but also have Hamilton and Tag watches, along with a couple of Citizen Eco-Drives. I even have one of those Invicta divers with teh Seiko auto movement that DWalt spoke of.
Today I normally wear an Omega Speedy Pro, but also have Hamilton and Tag watches, along with a couple of Citizen Eco-Drives. I even have one of those Invicta divers with teh Seiko auto movement that DWalt spoke of.
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Have “ several” old worn out old watches from over the years. Just found an excellent watch repairman. Old EU gentleman here in Fl. He just rebuilt/ repaired one WWII US watch and my Dads watch he wore in Italy in WWII. Have had this watch to several other so called watch repair shops over the years and all told me, its an expensive watch, can not get parts ECT blah blah. This gentleman made a part or 2 and charged $299. He is working on my WWII US Aviation watch and expect a call in a week . Got tired of looking at cell phone so bought a new self winding Seiko about month ago and very happy.
DWalt
Member
Have never owned a mechanical watch that was worth the cost of getting it serviced when it started to give problems. As I am not into high end watches, it makes more sense, at least to me, to replace with a new lower end watch that catches my eye.
I’m a Luminox man myself. I recently retired my 2005 chrono after the tritium lamps had faded and picked up this orange faced one on the fleabay for about $250, IIRC. To me, it’s reminiscent of a Doxa diver, which I couldn’t justify the cost of…but would love to have. Another unaffordable one I really like is a Ball Engineer.
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I miss my old swatch watch. Swiss. Black plastic quartz. About $30 in the early 80s. Very light. Very thin. Very accurate. Analog. Used to wear it swimming. No issues at all. Battery powered.
It eventually broke; stopped running. After 15 years or so. Maybe 20. So far as I know, it is not repairable. Solid plastic, other than the battery compartment.
I liked that watch.
It eventually broke; stopped running. After 15 years or so. Maybe 20. So far as I know, it is not repairable. Solid plastic, other than the battery compartment.
I liked that watch.
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I have a few watches, nothing fancy. An early 60s Bulova radium dial, an old Timex, one of the Pulsars like was previously shown, and a Rolex that was clearly made in China. It keeps time though.
I wear a Samsung watch nowadays. I feel like Dick Tracey when I make a phone call or text on it......
I wear a Samsung watch nowadays. I feel like Dick Tracey when I make a phone call or text on it......
"I miss my old swatch watch"
The Swatch Group is the world's largest watch manufacturer, owning complete brands, as well as supplying parts to many companies.
My Glycine watch has a Swatch ETA movement.
The Swatch Group - Wikipedia
The Swatch Group is the world's largest watch manufacturer, owning complete brands, as well as supplying parts to many companies.
My Glycine watch has a Swatch ETA movement.
The Swatch Group - Wikipedia
Been wearing Seiko automatic Dive watches since 1989.
Also have one of their Solar powered dive watches.
Also have one of their Solar powered dive watches.
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