Watch snobs any suggestions...where to buy from and brands? (Page 3)

That Zenith is so nice! What color dial are you looking at?  I've always liked the blue dialed one.

If you're looking for a chronograph, other suggestions would be:

Omega Planet Ocean:  http://www.omegawatches.com/gents/seamaster/planet-ocean-chrono/23230465101001

Omega Speedmaster:  http://www.omegawatches.com/gents/speedmaster/professional-moonwatch/35705000

Monte Blanc Sport Chronograph:  http://www.montblanc.com/en-US/Flash/Default.aspx?sc_lang=en-US#/collections/watches/male/sport/chronograph/montblanc-sport-chronograph-automatic-03273

All can be had new or used for well within your budget, but I'd go with that Zenith unless you just love something else.

Timezone.com has a great classified section also.

I hope this helps,

twomarks

DanielG - 2012-11-27 8:33 AM

trmat79 - 2012-11-26 12:59 PM I have a Brietling Navitimer World that I got 5 years ago. Zero problems and I love this watch. I may get another Brietling again soon as a more everyday watch.

You're a pilot. I've come to the conclusion we're the only ones who "get" Breitlings

I sort of don't "get" Brietling. Not that they are not good looking or good quality... because they are. There is just sooo many of them, and everyone just loves them. My co-worker has one, and I like it, but nothing I just have to have. I know, I know... totally subjective personal taste topic.

One thing to look at on the watches on this page... the bezel and which ones are painted and which ones have machined numbers. After a few watches over the years, I won't get another painted or anodized bezel because they just don't last with daily use. They get scratched up and can't be refinished. My bezel on my Tag needed to be replaced and was $350(different reason).... but it's only a $1200 watch. Buying parts for a watch will get you a watch that is 10 times a new one.

So I get the bare metal with numbers imprinted... But the "painted" dial look soooo much better. Well now these days the better watches are coming with ceramic bezels that are darn near scratch proof. Rolex developed it, but of course now it isn't new. That Grand Seiko Spring drive diver is ceramic, and the new Omega Planet Oceans are too. So if you are going to have any treatment on a bezel, make sure it is ceramic and it should stay new looking for a very long time.

And one more plug... Had to go take a look at a Planet Ocean since it has been a  while... thanks for opening the can of worms again.... But the new ones have ceramic bezels and display case backs now. HERE is the presentation for Planet Oceans, at the bottom there is a video on the bezel. (But if you notice it is usually black, because their other colors are still anodized). I want one even more... thanks again.

I actually like the 36,000 now too. I would have to see it in person though. I don't like really busy dials and would have to see if I could live with it. I would not have a problem buying on line, but I would have to see it in person first so I'm with you on that one.

Brian,

You can take it to an authorized dealer to see what they recommend.  Then based on what they say or can do for you, I'd suggest sending it to either the Rolex Service Center in Dallas, or there's a great place in San Francisco that you can send it to.  It's one of the last, if not THE last, individually owned service center in the country.  If it's done through a service center, then it's warranted through Rolex.  There are reasons to go to a watchmaker though such as having a vintage piece that the service center won't touch.

If you're interested, I have a contact there (actually, a contact of the contact)that can help and they can be less expensive and/or faster than the one in Dallas.

Let me know if I can help.

twomarks

Funny you should mention SF. They are the ones that fixed it the second time, I used to live out there.

trmat79 - 2012-11-27 12:06 PM

powerman - 2012-11-27 11:46 AM

DanielG - 2012-11-27 8:33 AM

trmat79 - 2012-11-26 12:59 PM I have a Brietling Navitimer World that I got 5 years ago. Zero problems and I love this watch. I may get another Brietling again soon as a more everyday watch.

You're a pilot. I've come to the conclusion we're the only ones who "get" Breitlings

I sort of don't "get" Brietling. Not that they are not good looking or good quality... because they are. There is just sooo many of them, and everyone just loves them. My co-worker has one, and I like it, but nothing I just have to have. I know, I know... totally subjective personal taste topic.

I think it boils down that there are so many different styles so some are awesome (like mine haha) and some I can't stand..that is just the company being diverse. When I was looking for a watch 5 years ago my aunt (who is in the jewlery industry) said doctors and lawyers get rolexs, pilots get brietlings

That makes sense... in that case I would have to go with Brietling.

Make sure you let us know what you wind up with.

twomarks

Definitely! And now I have to go spiff mine up. It's a bit worn looking now.

All this watch talk has convinced me I should get my Rolex Submariner fixed and start wearing it again!

Darned peer pressure...

I concur.

So check this place out. I think I'm in love.

http://www.blackoutconcept.com/en/17-black-sea.html

That is a watch that is $3400... regular ETA movement... but they do that black coating that is supposed to be like diamond. They guarantee it for life to be scratch free.... that's pretty special. Take some time and look around. You send your watch to Switzerland and they coat it. A bunch of Rolexes. I don't know what the coating costs, but I think it is pure sex.

I have a tungsten wedding band that is mirror polished... it is scratch proof. I wrench with it and everything and I do not have one single scratch on it. It's pretty cool so I find this pretty interesting to have a scratch proof watch.

Play around with the simulator... the choices are endless how you can customize your watch.

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

skipg - 2012-11-30 11:46 AM

powerman - 2012-11-30 12:07 PM I don't know about the OP, but I am finding a bunch of stuff I like.

All of my free time has been consumed by researching fancy timepieces and trying to make a good choice! Does shopping for man jewelry make me less manly?

ONly if you get a pinky ring.... 

That Rolex powerman posted is niiiiiiiiiiice. I need.

skipg - 2012-11-30 10:46 AM

powerman - 2012-11-30 12:07 PM I don't know about the OP, but I am finding a bunch of stuff I like.

All of my free time has been consumed by researching fancy timepieces and trying to make a good choice! Does shopping for man jewelry make me less manly?

NO... because it is a manly mechanical device. That's the beauty of it.

Come to find out, the TAG Calibre 36 is the Zenith movement... but I just hate the watches that use it. Only two.

I have grown pretty fond of the TAG Calibre S... not for you but for me.

And the Brieghting Colt 44 is the only quartz that uses a temp compensated ETA movement and is really nice. But the bracelet end links just kill it for me... the band just ends at the watch. Most nice bracelets have end links that match the watch and then go from there.

mdg2003 - 2012-11-30 10:52 AM

skipg - 2012-11-30 11:46 AM

powerman - 2012-11-30 12:07 PM I don't know about the OP, but I am finding a bunch of stuff I like.

All of my free time has been consumed by researching fancy timepieces and trying to make a good choice! Does shopping for man jewelry make me less manly?

ONly if you get a pinky ring.... 

 

That Rolex powerman posted is niiiiiiiiiiice. I need.

I had to dig deeper and the treatments generally cost more than any watch I would put it on... I saw one number of $7K... and it voids all the warantees because they have to take it all apart. Definitely a lottery project.

powerman - 2012-11-30 12:38 PM

mdg2003 - 2012-11-30 10:52 AM

skipg - 2012-11-30 11:46 AM

powerman - 2012-11-30 12:07 PM I don't know about the OP, but I am finding a bunch of stuff I like.

All of my free time has been consumed by researching fancy timepieces and trying to make a good choice! Does shopping for man jewelry make me less manly?

ONly if you get a pinky ring.... 

 

That Rolex powerman posted is niiiiiiiiiiice. I need.

I had to dig deeper and the treatments generally cost more than any watch I would put it on... I saw one number of $7K... and it voids all the warantees because they have to take it all apart. Definitely a lottery project.

$7K on top of sending them your $14K Stainless Rolex Daytona like in the picture you posted. It is a cool process and the simulator was fun to play around with, but I'm hoping the Daytona in the picture is a replica.  

wingsfan - 2012-11-30 11:59 AM

powerman - 2012-11-30 12:38 PM

mdg2003 - 2012-11-30 10:52 AM

skipg - 2012-11-30 11:46 AM

powerman - 2012-11-30 12:07 PM I don't know about the OP, but I am finding a bunch of stuff I like.

All of my free time has been consumed by researching fancy timepieces and trying to make a good choice! Does shopping for man jewelry make me less manly?

ONly if you get a pinky ring.... 

 

That Rolex powerman posted is niiiiiiiiiiice. I need.

I had to dig deeper and the treatments generally cost more than any watch I would put it on... I saw one number of $7K... and it voids all the warantees because they have to take it all apart. Definitely a lottery project.

$7K on top of sending them your $14K Stainless Rolex Daytona like in the picture you posted. It is a cool process and the simulator was fun to play around with, but I'm hoping the Daytona in the picture is a replica.  

I doubt it. For some people $20K for a watch is not that big of a deal. At Prestige Time... they have plenty of watches listed over $100K. And if you had that kind of money, it would be nothing compared to the $200K or so sitting in your wife's jewelry box.

powerman - 2012-11-30 1:29 PM

wingsfan - 2012-11-30 11:59 AM

powerman - 2012-11-30 12:38 PM

mdg2003 - 2012-11-30 10:52 AM

skipg - 2012-11-30 11:46 AM

powerman - 2012-11-30 12:07 PM I don't know about the OP, but I am finding a bunch of stuff I like.

All of my free time has been consumed by researching fancy timepieces and trying to make a good choice! Does shopping for man jewelry make me less manly?

ONly if you get a pinky ring.... 

 

That Rolex powerman posted is niiiiiiiiiiice. I need.

I had to dig deeper and the treatments generally cost more than any watch I would put it on... I saw one number of $7K... and it voids all the warantees because they have to take it all apart. Definitely a lottery project.

$7K on top of sending them your $14K Stainless Rolex Daytona like in the picture you posted. It is a cool process and the simulator was fun to play around with, but I'm hoping the Daytona in the picture is a replica.  

I doubt it. For some people $20K for a watch is not that big of a deal. At Prestige Time... they have plenty of watches listed over $100K. And if you had that kind of money, it would be nothing compared to the $200K or so sitting in your wife's jewelry box.

Sure, I still can't see taking it on faith it would actually come back in working order (or at all). Not to mention defacing such a classic. I used to have one of these, but if I were to pick up another Rolex, it would would be a stainless Daytona.

(a meteor rolex daytona.jpg)