Congrats on a lovely watch, what year is it? Obviously not 1984.
Hi all,
While I'm new here, I've always loved watches and growing up I've had various Quartz watches but I've never owned an automatic. For my 21st my grandparents bought me a Sekio (Model: SKA192, Case/Movement: 5M62-0AH0) and I've loved it. Until now it was the best watch I've ever owned and I've worn it every day for nine years. While it's looking very battered and bruised these days, I'll always have it and once I find somewhere suitable I'll send it away for a bit of TLC ( any suggestions of suitable places around SW London welcome ).
5/6 years ago for uncle's fortieth he bought himself a 40 year old Rolex Explorer. While I now know a birth-year watch is quite a common thing (at least on here), I hadn't heard of it before and decided there and then I'd buy myself a nice watch for my 30th. Unfortunately, after looking for 30 year old watches, I struggled to find anything of the era which I liked and started looking at more modern options (though someday I may buy a 1984 Speedmaster Pro). After many months of searching, where I considered numerous Nomos, GO, Omega and many other options, I finally settled on a JLC Master Hometime. Ordered it a couple of weeks ago and it was here for me when I got home from work today.
Here are some quick pics I took while unpacking - will try to take some proper ones at the weekend (i.e. ones without fingerprints and where I've paid some attention to white balance, amongst other things!):
All stickered up!
Some close ups:
And finally a couple of phone ones of it on:
As Mondays go ... I've had worse!
Congrats on a lovely watch, what year is it? Obviously not 1984.
Crikey, that's a pretty decent first automatic...mine was a Vostok!
My first automatic was as a Tag Heuer. No contest that is class.
so, to be clear here.....you went from a 9yr old seiko kinetic (top watch by the way) to pretty much the nicest watch JLC do in a single bound? thats got to be the superman leap of wisdom.
excellent choice friend.
Many thanks folks. Your comments are appreciated. :-) I guess you're right, it's not a typical entry level watch, but I've had a lot of time to think about it and I had a few goals. 1. I was trying hard to find something special which I wouldn't be tempted to flip immediately (I've heard what SC can do to people!). 2. Something which I could look at in 10 years time and still be happy I had it as part of whatever collection I do or don't have at the time (related in some way to 1 I guess). And 3. Something a little less recognisable (unless you know something about watches). Have had it for less than 12 hours, so it's early days, but the signs are good! ;-)
Nice watch and great photos.
Congrats. Straight in at the deep end! As severe a case as I've witnessed.
Do keep that SKA192, battered or not. I lost the Seiko that I got for my 16th, a lot longer than 9 years ago - I've no idea what I did with it but I suspect drinkahol might have been involved - and I always regret it. I've searched for and found identical ones on Ebay, but I didn't press "Buy" as I realised that it is pointless really: it's not that same watch.
Don't worry the Sekio isn't going anywhere, it probably just won't get quite as many outings!
Sounds like I should have even a heads up in the title to expect something a little different! Ah well ... Next time! ;-)
I really, really like that watch, enjoy your new purchase!
Why the hell has it got one Arabic numeral (9) on the dial??? Other than that - very nice.
If that's your first automatic look forward to seeing what next lovely time piece very nice indeed
WOW Great watch!
Very very nice watch indeed. Great choice. I do love JLC and their Master line.
I do hope you shopped around as JLC's can be bought new at big discounts from the listed price on the E-Boutique
Enjoy your watch.
Congratulation, beautiful piece. Wear with care
Very nice JLC.... Your automatic collection begins here.
Your Seiko has served you well, - take a look at Grand Seiko some time.
Thanks again folks. I have to say I do smile every time I check the time these days! :-)
Have seen a few very nice Grand Seikos talked about on here alright. I also have a greater appreciation for them now I've read some of the background around their manufacture and just how extreme they go in terms of keeping things in house. Very impressive!
Congrats on the new arrival,great looking dial.
Hi all,
So a quick update - first of all - still loving the JLC and I'm hoping that feeling lasts! Secondly, as promised in my original post, I've tried to get some better photos this evening. But before we get into them, just wanted to send major kudos out to all the photographers on here who manage to capture amazing photos of their watches. I've found getting any sort of 'decent' photos exceptionally tough. If any of the more experienced watch photographers have any tips/thoughts/comments I'd love to hear them.
Here are my latest attempts:
Thanks for all the positive feedback on the watch so far.
Ok I think that is just fabulous and very,very desirable.Super nice catch mate.
Just spotted this thread, congratulations on a great watch.
I had the same model a few years ago and ended up selling it as I felt it too similar in ways to my IWC Portuguese and it needed to go to allow me purchase the next watch on my list.
In hindsight I should have kept it, they are a really elegant piece, with a lot of the restrained,classy design touches normally found on much more expensive watches.
Well wear and make sure you hang on to it when the itch to change appears!
They look like pretty professional photos to me, I'd be proud of those. As for the watch, wow what a first automatic, talk about starting as you mean to go on!
Good choice, wouldn't be quite for me but certainly something I would admire. Enjoy!
Great pics of the moment, nice close up shots. Very sharp.
I wish this watch were mine and, if it were, I'd never sell it.
Lovely JLC and great photos
What a great first automatic! Love JLC!
Not sure if they still do it, but if you contact JLC they used to send you the final report for your particular watch. This was some tome back - around 2006 or so - but they might still do it.
Lovely watch so enjoy wearing it for years to come.
That's not so much sticking a toe in the water as complete immersion!
Well done that man!
I have a new Master Control and am now thinking about seeing whether someone has one of these they'd like to trade for it...
Compliments on your choice... Great watch
Many thanks for the comments on the watch and the photos. Have to say I'm a little happier with the photos today now that I'm less connected with the pain I went through trying to get them!
Good tip - I'll be sure to contact them and see if I can find out about it. It would be very cool to have the report to go along with everything else.
Haha - yeah - as they say "might as well be hung for a sheep as a lamb" (I did hover over the buy button for about a month!)
Sorry for the temptation! For what it's worth I'd back you up on that one I tried quite a few on, was also quite tempted by the Master Chronograph and the Ultra Thin Moon 39 (quite liked the sweeping second hand on the moon)
Really lovely... Enjoy it!
... excellent choice as your first automatic watch! Very classic design and the Cal. 975 is certainly one of the best GMT-movements around.
Unfortunately, this watch is very difficult to capture on photos - at least on my pictures the watch looked rather plain
It is a watch that you need to see live to really get a feeling of the quality.
Cheers,
Christian
Great photos all around gents. Thank you for sharing.