The Watch Thread

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by Dimman

When it comes to 'feel', a good handwind mechanical is what it's all about. I prefer them to automatics in some ways. The daily interaction, each winding mechanism feels and sounds different, they are typically thinner.

But I have, um, many. And winding and resetting when I want to wear one is a bit of a nuisance, especially on older ones without quickset dates. Autos I keep 6 in a winder, and only need minor time corrections when I'm ready to wear one.

It's the idea that appeals to a lot of people. A, beautiful (inside and out), super-precise, spring-powered, gear-filled time keeping computer on your wrist.

That pretty much describes it. If I were collecting watches, I'd go with mechanical, and most likely older ones. They would hold their value (or appreciate) and they are wicked cool with the engineering that goes into them, as well as needing a little TLC so you have a reason to touch and appreciate them.


I don't collect them though, so I go with Quartz. They have their own version of techno-cool for me and since I wear one every day I prefer the "wear and go" aspect of it. I also won't pay more than about $200 for one. Reason being, if I own it, I'm going to wear it, and its going to get scuffed and damaged over time.


Same reason I don't collect cars as much as I want to. I'd drive them, and that just eats way at your "investment".

[53Driver]

Just picked this up off of Amazon. Love it.

[spitfire481]

Newest pickup. Very happy with it. 16570 explorer 2 on a Hirsch leather strap

[serialk11r]

@Dimman I discovered the cause of the fogging up of my cheapo skeleton...

I forgot to take it off while showering yesterday and this morning it fogged up again! I let it dry out for like a month before wearing it again prior and it seemed fine but now it's foggy :/ Seems like the stem seal has some problems.

What's the highest temperature a watch can take? I'm considering removing the straps and baking it to get the moisture out.

[OnkelC]

[teamturbo]

Baume & Mercier


Omega Dark Side Of The Moon




[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qic1ewDTF08"]OMEGA Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon - YouTube[/ame]

[Dimman]

Originally Posted by serialk11r

@Dimman I discovered the cause of the fogging up of my cheapo skeleton...

I forgot to take it off while showering yesterday and this morning it fogged up again! I let it dry out for like a month before wearing it again prior and it seemed fine but now it's foggy :/ Seems like the stem seal has some problems.

What's the highest temperature a watch can take? I'm considering removing the straps and baking it to get the moisture out.

Hmm... In the old days when temperature timing, they put them in a wood box (probably at least 9" away from the bulb, maybe a shade so it's not direct?) with a light bulb to heat it. I wouldn't get it too hot, maybe open the back, get it warm enough to get the moisture to stay i the air and throw a couple silica gel dessicant packs beside it overnight.

(This is just thinking out loud, not any official watch advice I've read anywhere...)

[AznBRZer]

Originally Posted by teamturbo

Omega Dark Side Of The Moon

Wow, holy shit! You are BALLIN'

Don't suppose you have a regular Speedy to do a size comparison?

[teamturbo]

Originally Posted by AznBRZer

Wow, holy shit! You are BALLIN'

Don't suppose you have a regular Speedy to do a size comparison?

I don't, although my next watch will be the Omega Speedmaster Racing Charcoal with yellow fonts. Most Speedmasters are 40MM wide. The Dark Side Of The Moon is 44mm, so about 10% bigger. My pet peeve is large watches, this watch is not huge. I just have a lean build with more narrow wrists.

[teamturbo]

By the way, this is how it's made. Amazing video. Amazing piece of art.

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7nWD8Anwf0"]Omega Speedmaster Dark Side Of The Moon Watch Story | aBlogtoWatch - YouTube[/ame]

[serialk11r]

Originally Posted by Dimman

Hmm... In the old days when temperature timing, they put them in a wood box (probably at least 9" away from the bulb, maybe a shade so it's not direct?) with a light bulb to heat it. I wouldn't get it too hot, maybe open the back, get it warm enough to get the moisture to stay i the air and throw a couple silica gel dessicant packs beside it overnight.

(This is just thinking out loud, not any official watch advice I've read anywhere...)

I can't open the back though, it doesn't have screws. It looks like you use some weird 6 pronged tool to twist it off :/

I am probably visiting family in China soon, maybe I should just bring both of my watches there for a professional tune up and have the shiny bits polished a little. I bet it would run less than 50 USD lol. There's a smudge on one of the gears on the Master Control lookalike and the moisture that got into the skeleton makes it look kind of horrible. I haven't been able to get the other watch to the level of accuracy it had from the factory, it's still gaining like 30-60 seconds a week when it used to gain only like 15-30.

Kind of bummed there probably won't be enough time for a visit to the Shanghai watch factory, their prices are ridiculously low and they have some pretty interesting designs but you can't find them outside China. I suppose I should probably wait until I have a real job before thinking about expanding the watch collection though LOL.

[mike the snake]

just traded up from my Submariner to my new Seadweller.

[Dimman]

Originally Posted by serialk11r

I can't open the back though, it doesn't have screws. It looks like you use some weird 6 pronged tool to twist it off :/

I am probably visiting family in China soon, maybe I should just bring both of my watches there for a professional tune up and have the shiny bits polished a little. I bet it would run less than 50 USD lol. There's a smudge on one of the gears on the Master Control lookalike and the moisture that got into the skeleton makes it look kind of horrible. I haven't been able to get the other watch to the level of accuracy it had from the factory, it's still gaining like 30-60 seconds a week when it used to gain only like 15-30.

Kind of bummed there probably won't be enough time for a visit to the Shanghai watch factory, their prices are ridiculously low and they have some pretty interesting designs but you can't find them outside China. I suppose I should probably wait until I have a real job before thinking about expanding the watch collection though LOL.

A case wrench is like $10. They're adjustable for any size.

The Chinese guys I work with (they all go back once a year) all seem to agree that the domestic stuff is rather inferior to the export stuff.

If I were you I'd save up for the Seagull tourbillon. The simple one with just the time and tourbillon, no other stuff.

I'm kinda stuck on what I want next. I've got something for everything in vintage, mid and low end, but everything that catches my eye now is big dollars.

Let's see, for complications I have:

World Time, automatic, power reserve
GMT, automatic
Chronograph, column wheel, automatic (vintage)
Chronograph, cam switch, handwind (vintage)
Alarm, handwind (vintage)

What should I add next? I'd like a dressy moon-phase, but only thing I like is the JLC Moon Ultra Thin, which is about $8k plus. So nope.

[serialk11r]

Originally Posted by Dimman

A case wrench is like $10. They're adjustable for any size.

The Chinese guys I work with (they all go back once a year) all seem to agree that the domestic stuff is rather inferior to the export stuff.

If I were you I'd save up for the Seagull tourbillon. The simple one with just the time and tourbillon, no other stuff.

What should I add next? I'd like a dressy moon-phase, but only thing I like is the JLC Moon Ultra Thin, which is about $8k plus. So nope.

Oh okay. I want the tarnish cleaned too though so I'll probably go that route.

Yea domestic stuff is worse but I really like some of the designs and the Shanghai watch I got as a present for someone was some pretty damn good bang for the buck considering how it was like $130. Been almost 2 years and AFAIK they're still wearing it, no complaints.

It's not like I can't just go buy the tourbillon (or even a Grand Sieko or Omega or a more basic JLC), it's that it would be an unwise financial decision lol. When my bank account hits 6 digits (it's at 4 LOL) I may buy one.

I'm not really into moon phase but I guess it's kind of nice to have in the collection. With my 2 watches I barely get to rotate between them.