Anyone keen on watches?

[Barry]

Yes, it’s still around the 270 mark

Oh - that's twice the number I thought you said you had.

What is it about wrist watches that fascinates you Roy?

[Roy S]

Oh - that's twice the number I thought you said you had.

What is it about wrist watches that fascinates you Roy?

In terms of storing your collection they don't take up much room (but the boxes do!).

I'm intrigued by the vast number of different designs available and each manufacturers take on what a divers / dress / sports / etc. watch should look like. Not sure how I got to that many but I have eased up on the purchasing and am selling more than buying just now. Apart from anything else there's not much that takes my fancy at the moment and I've stopped buying 'cheapies' because they're basically worthless and not worth the effort of trying to sell them on the bay so kind of stuck with those, might end up selling them as a job lot.

[hifi_dave]

How accurate are the Seiko automatics ? I ask because I have a Seiko Kinetic which barely loses or gains in months and would like to replace it. It's one of their diver's watches in black finish but wearing it all day, every day even when gardening and decorating, it's covered with scratches and looking a bit tatty.

I want a stainless watch to replace it and the Seiko 5 looks good to me.

I bought a Rolex Submariner back in 1970 and recently had it serviced by Rolex for the princely sum of £2200. Gave it to my Son for his birthday and really miss it but what's the point when a Seiko is just as robust and is more accurate ? He is enjoying it now and I can take it off the insurance.

[Barry]

The cost Rolex charge for their servicing is absurd. A couple of years ago I needed to have the bracelet changed on my Rolex. Thinking that was all I would have to pay for, I didn’t think it would cost too much, but was disappointed when the Rolex agent told me Rolex wouldn't do anything without servicing the watch first. Since I had to have the bracelet changed, I had no option - resulting in a whacking bill.

Were it not for the fact the watch was a 21st birthday present to me from my parents, knowing what the servicing cost would be, I think I might have sold the watch instead.

[hifi_dave]

The service I had was very thorough and included a new bracelet (kept the old one) a new bezel and they threw in a valuation in a faux leather folder. It's a very expensive watch now so I guess you have to pay a corresponding amount for servicing. Oh and they gave us Champagne all round when we collected the watch.

TBH, the Seiko is far more accurate than the Rolex has ever been and the fit n finish is superb. Practically, I prefer the Seiko but I've loved my Rolex for 53 years now. My Son is enjoying it now but it's a bit of a poisoned chalice as he has to insure it and that is expensive.

[Roy S]

How accurate are the Seiko automatics ? I ask because I have a Seiko Kinetic which barely loses or gains in months and would like to replace it. It's one of their diver's watches in black finish but wearing it all day, every day even when gardening and decorating, it's covered with scratches and looking a bit tatty.

I want a stainless watch to replace it and the Seiko 5 looks good to me.

I bought a Rolex Submariner back in 1970 and recently had it serviced by Rolex for the princely sum of £2200. Gave it to my Son for his birthday and really miss it but what's the point when a Seiko is just as robust and is more accurate ? He is enjoying it now and I can take it off the insurance.

Plenty of info here

https://calibercorner.com/list-of-se...tch-movements/

For info their workhorse 4R35 aka NH35 (which a lot of micro brands use) is given as +45 / -35 seconds a day (can be regulated if you could be bothered, I never have).

[hifi_dave]

Thanks for that but a bit heavy going for me.

When you quote +45/-35 seconds a day, is what it looks like - could lose 35 seconds a day or gain 45 seconds a day ? Surely that is extremely inaccurate. My Rolex used to lose 5 seconds a day and that drove me nuts.

I'm attracted to a couple of Prospex diver's watches. Are they good ?

[Roy S]

Thanks for that but a bit heavy going for me.

When you quote +45/-35 seconds a day, is what it looks like - could lose 35 seconds a day or gain 45 seconds a day ? Surely that is extremely inaccurate. My Rolex used to lose 5 seconds a day and that drove me nuts.

I'm attracted to a couple of Prospex diver's watches. Are they good ?

I'd imagined the accuracy figures (you're interpreting the figures correctly) were worst case straight out of the factory but no, not that simple - https://www.seikowatches.com/my-en/c...faq/mechanical

A few online watch reviewers criticise Seiko for quality management issues and suggest they're somewhat overpriced but I've never had any particular issues over the years I've been buying them and always found them to be a quality product.

Had one of the premium dive watches and it was excellent, only reason I moved it on was that it was a little bulky on my wrist.

This was the one I had - Seiko Padi Prospex SRPA83K1.

[Lawrence001]

I'd imagined the accuracy figures (you're interpreting the figures correctly) were worst case straight out of the factory but no, not that simple - https://www.seikowatches.com/my-en/c...faq/mechanical

A few online watch reviewers criticise Seiko for quality management issues and suggest they're somewhat overpriced but I've never had any particular issues over the years I've been buying them and always found them to be a quality product.

Had one of the premium dive watches and it was excellent, only reason I moved it on was that it was a little bulky on my wrist.

If Seiko are overpriced, what would be a fairly priced brand at that end of the market?

[Roy S]

If Seiko are overpriced, what would be a fairly priced brand at that end of the market?

I like Orients, in particular their Bambino dress watches are excellent. Other than Orient anything decently made with a Seiko movement in is fine, even Invictas!