Hello! What’s your budget?
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Firstly hello.
As you can probably see this is my first post, so here goes.
I'm looking for some advice please from the huge wealth of knowledge within this fora, any advice will be welcomed even about owning/ looking after / servicing a watch, as long as you think it's somehow helpful to me or relevant post it up .
I'd like to own a well known branded sports type automatic movement watch with a water depth rating of not less than 200M. ( it may be used on holiday for scuba / snorkelling ) with a steel strap.
I'd love a clear case back to see the beautiful workings tick tocking away. But I believe this would not be possible at the price i'm willing to pay, a used watch would be preferable.
Looking around on second hand watch sites is an absolute minefield and I do not feel confident enough to boldly go and buy something, I have spotted one or two that I would class as being dodgy or iffy, but without specialist knowledge I would have to buy from a respected supplier.
I have always hankered after a breitling A17330 yellow face with steel strap, i don't know why, I just like it, however they are hugely thick nearly 20mm i believe.
Does anyone have one as a daily wearer, what are they actually like to own ?
If anyone can recommend a watch model for me to look at that would be great.
Thanks.
Hello! What’s your budget?
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Omega Seamaster's can start around £1200 s/hand, Watchfinder can be expensive but pretty safe. Gives an idea though.
http://www.watchfinder.co.uk/Omega/S...PriceLowToHigh
I would probably get a Seamaster mate, 2 grand doesn’t get you a lot these days unfortunately
How about a used Tudor Heritage Black Bay, ticks most boxes and great to boot!
Should be able to find one around the 2K mark
Last edited by Ewellblue; 3rd January 2018 at 20:15.
An Oris Aquis would be well within budget. 300m depth rating and a display back, well worth a look and easy to find in a high street jeweller. Lots of other decent brand at less than £2k, that's just the first one that comes to mind.
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I listed a Seawolf 2 Cobra dial recently at below £2k. I have had both Cobra (Mustard) and Custard dials and there are a few others on here that have currently.
Yes, they are thick watches but I would say that it is the weight that is more significant. The profile is similar to a Deep Sea, but I think the Breitling is heavier and therefore not quite as comfortable. It is important to get a good fit on the bracelet to hold it securely on the wrist
I had a Breitling Avenger Seawolf on bracelet and it looked great. It was heavy though, too heavy. I’m used to larger watches but that was the only watch I had to take off regularly to give my arm a break so it didn’t last long. Unless you’re someone who spends most their life lifting weights in the gym I would suggest it’s one to avoid.
Sinn 857 on a bracelet is £1,900
https://www.pageandcooper.com/sinn-857-metal-bracelet/
A lot depends on whether the brand names appeal to you. The Seamaster might hold value better than some.
I own tfrxwatch you mentioned in your post - a Breitling Avenger Seawolf II with a cobra yellow dial and the original steel bracelet. This is it...
https://i.imgur.com/BQy234s.jpg
I absolutely love it, but in the spirit of complete disclosure I should point out that I own 15 or 16 watches so I only wear it in rotation. If it was my only watch I think I would tire of the weight - and actually the culprit is the bracelet. I also own an Avenger Skyland which has the same case but is on a Breitling rubber strap... and I’d happily wear that every day.
Simon
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If I had the money I would be torn between a Seamaster and Tudor.
Seem to have a soft spot for iris as of late though too, worth looking at if you wanted to go under budget
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Thank you all for your honest replies, I have definitely come to the right place.
I've been put off a little by the Oris watches because the red paint on the rotor can start to look a bit shabby on some of the older watches.
So Oris is out unless someone has a very convincing argument . Oris out.
The Sinn looks fabulously clean,simple and practical. Unfortunately on that particular model the bezel can turn either way ! A big no no for scuba use on hollybobs.
I am going to look more closely at the other sinn models though, thank you Der Amf for making me notice them.
Omega seamaster, a great watch and a safe bet for holding it's money but far too many of them around. Seamaster out.
I'm not sure of the Tudor watches, I dunno tell me if i'm wrong but I allways think not quite rolex so a poor mans rolex.
Please do tell me if I'm wrong though. Tudor out.
Ok thank you.
A poor mans rolex they are not.
Planet Ocean 2500 all day long for me.
Tudor is a good shout, but I’d be buying a new Seamaster SMP300m diver for the money. Or... a used Planet Ocean or Breitling Seawolf/SuperOcean.
It's just a matter of time...
A few hundred over budget and there are others available from overseas sellers that come in at budget.
Own a BLNR and this will be my next purchase, don't see them as a poor mans Rolex, just a quality watch that fits a different budget!! Yours 🤔
https://www.chrono24.co.uk/tudor/her...-id7456756.htm
Doxa SUB - iconic orange dial, fantastic build quality, easy to wear, ETA calibre for cheap servicing and as the £ has picked up against the $ well within your budget.
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Ok a little bit more looking done.
Basically I'm hoping to have this decision made before the end of this week then source the watch and collect very soon after.
Many years ago I had a Rolex submariner, bought brand new for just over three grand. had it for a long time but i was always worried about damaging it diving or climbing in and out of boats or just losing the bloody thing altogether.
One day I did damage it and I was distraught and heartbroken , so I sold it.
With the money I bought a new ( quartz ) dive watch that I didn't care about and paid for a trip diving on the great barrier reef just off Cairns.
So this 2K ish watch is going to be worn pretty much all the time at home under a suit or on holiday in shorts , on a boat , in a plane or 30 meters under the water and its gonna get knocked about and i'm not going to care.
I've now properly looked at Tudor and I just don't like them.
I've looked through Sinn, love the look of the 857 but not the right tool for the job, don't like any of the others face is to fussy and cluttered.
Planet ocean, yes ! I like that for just a few pennies over my target.
A17364 second hand super ocean ii yes i like that and possibly some change left for a nice bottle of red.
A17390 second hand super ocean steel fish i like that too and well under target .
So I'm down to three.
Is there any of those three that should be avoided, or any others that should be added ?
Have you discounted the Pelagos too or just the Black Bays?
Id go Seamaster. Over Christmas you could get a brand new one for £1993.
Save your self some money and get the new seiko 62mas reissue in black with bracelet from creation watches. As discussed on sales corner. Fantastic watch regardless of price!
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Had a 8500 PO - XL which is 45.5mm. There is a 42mm which is a better size, but prices of these have gone up quite a lot recently. Sold mine below £2k a couple of years back.
I now have a Pelagos (black dial) and love it. Was surprised by this as I took it in part trade for my blancpain fixity fathoms and expected to sell quickly. It has become one of my daily wearers - great lume, nice detailing on the case and bracelet and the matte dial is really nice - need to see one in person I think
There’s an omega P.O. 2500 42mm on sales corner right now. I had one a few years back and they are excellent. Wears really nice, has a lot of character and you won’t see many around. Think it’s being listed for 2k.
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No but if I were you, that’s one thing I’d lose out of the requirements. Such a feature is non standard in dive watches (as it doesn’t serve any practical purpose). Generally, in my opinion at least, when they are added it’s just to cram in another feature. Save it for when you’re on Watch 2 or 3. I recently sold a Nomos dress Watch for about 1200 quid which was thin as you like and had a really well presented crystal case back to observe the hand wound movement therein. Worked really well. Dive watches on the other hand are meant to be hardy beasts. Doesn’t mean they can’t have refinement but I think there’s a line. The new Oris aquis has one. It’s a watch I like but I do think the clear case back is a pointless feature. Also, from experience, much as they are nice they lose their novelty quickly so I wouldn’t let it influence your overall decision.
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I paid a little over £2k for my Planet Ocean 2201 (this is the mark 1 if you like) last year, it's fantastic. I also have a Breitling Colt GMT A32350 of a similar age. There's nothing in it really in terms of quality, the Omega is a bit more function over form and the Breitling is vice versa. The Steelfish is a great looking watch and very well thought of from what I've read on here. They seem to go for around 1500 or even a bit less which seems great value. The more recent Planet Oceans are a lot more money, retail is over 4k now! I actually prefer the early ones like mine, they have a bit more of a vintage style about them, potentially a future classic IMO especially the 42mm in black ;)
seconded!
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That's now sold. Same model as mine.
Buyer has got a bargain there for 2k, condition is great.
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Last edited by oldoakknives; 4th January 2018 at 00:44.
Im not sure what it is for me, the difference between the 2500 and 8500, sure the clear caseback is a bonus (whilst retaining depth rating) but more importantly I think its the hands that make the difference
Right then, for the moment.
I am now on the lookout for a second hand black and white face and bezel Omega planet ocean 8500 on a bracelet.
The sheer usefulness, the classic simple face design and the blingy see through back door.
This has been epic and I'm knackered, and I thank all those who have helped me.
When I bought my 2500 the 8500 had just come out so Ernest Jones had both in stock. I tried both on and while I liked the 8500 for it's bezel and dial the clear back didn't sway me at all.
The main thing that made me choose the 2500 was it wore a lot slimmer, the 8500 felt 'top heavy'. Now I know the difference in height is small but you have to try both to know how that feels.
These are my sentiments. Thought it’s girth actually made it feel quite small in diameter too, if you know what I mean. But hey, ho. It’s all just opinion isn’t it. I actually prefer the aluminium too so was a no brainier for me.
If I were OP I’d hop along to a decent jewellery quarter where you will most likely see both.
Last point - I’d want-to-buy here before trawling retail outlets and auction sites. If you find someone willing to sell the prices are much closer to net value. The former are inflated by margins and PP/seller fees (a whopping 13.5%).
Have fun
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This forum never ceases to amaze me.
Such an incredible depth of help, advice and experience from watch enthusiasts.
I hope you find the perfect timepiece paulm!
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Thank you, I will find somewhere to try the two watches.
The budget was just a start point, it became apparent very quickly that 2k would not be enough, it's not a problem though I have more pennies available, I just didn't want another watch I'd be afraid of using / losing.
Unfortunately I will have to pay a premium from a trusted high street dealer, there is nothing I can do about this as I do not have sufficient knowledge to buy elsewhere.