Reply With QuoteA good saving on a beautiful blue diver here-
https://www.beaverbrooks.co.uk/01357...c-Mens-Watch/p
It may be that my SKX009 has gone so in the spirit of one out one in, ahem, I quite fancy a blue dialed diver in the watch box.
It's going to be a holiday/pool (SE Asia this Jan) watch so nothing too expensive and have thoughts about these, in no particular order;
https://www.timefactors.com/products...37538594324642
https://www.beaverbrooks.co.uk/01314...c-Mens-Watch/p
https://www.goldsmiths.co.uk/Hamilto...xoCTkIQAvD_BwE
I rather prefer a bracelet, but am drawn to the Certina for its looks albeit it's may be too big for me (I can just about get away with a 42mm Pelagos/Steinhart diver). The down side to the Certina is the nato in the pool. Both have the same 80hr Swatch group movement and I have previously enjoyed a Hamilton scuba with it. The drawback with the Hamilton is no half link and only 2 micro adjustment holes in the clasp which is not ideal with a wrist swelling in the heat and humidity.
I'd love to keep it in the TF family, so as to speak, but am not a huge fan of the obvious brand look-a-likes although I'm conscious of it's heritage. It also appears to have a marked similarity to the Steinhart case shape and I have one of those already. It may be that it won't be available before the end of January in any event, which is wholly understandable.
I'm also longingly looking at this but am resisting spending that much on a holiday watch that may take a hammering by the pool;
https://www.francisandgaye.co.uk/ori...xoCQ6cQAvD_BwE
Any experiences of these, or other suggestions greatly received.
I see that First Class watches have a couple of these for considerably less but am not sure what they are like to deal with. Having seen comments about Jura on here, I am reluctant to go their way. Creation have the Hammy and Oris at stupid cheap prices, but I would imagine that after duty/VAT and handling fees it is less attractive.
Last edited by Beanie; 29th December 2023 at 21:47.
A good saving on a beautiful blue diver here-
https://www.beaverbrooks.co.uk/01357...c-Mens-Watch/p
All are nice but I would be looking for a Damasko ocean blue for 1600ish.
200m, submarine steel and 39x10mm so a great size.
I think this is pretty cool:
https://www.dievaswatches.com/collec...ya-mk-iii-blue
…it’s not a dive watch?Originally Posted by pete-r
All are nice but I would be looking for a Damasko ocean blue for 1600ish.
200m, submarine steel and 39x10mm so a great size.
200m wr so you can definitely dive, swim or shower with it.
No divers bezel but I still think it's a great package for the money.
I would put up a WTB for a Smiths Caribbean.
Fantastic watch for the money.
Out of the watches you have posted it would be the Certina for me.
Thanks for your collective thoughts, my bad I should have said no Seiko's (SPB143 and an orange dialed Seiko SNM037 have that brand covered in the watch box).
As we are spending a few days in Singapore I did look at the Damasko on the Gnomon site, ditto Dievas, Squale, Glycine and Steinhart and while they are a good shout, none of them quite hit the spot. If I'm not sorted before we go, I may well pop in and have a look in the metal.
Last edited by Beanie; 30th December 2023 at 10:11.
I've had good multiple purchase experiences with First Class watches, much more of a mixed bag with Jura. That blue Certina PH500 is a beauty and has been on sale a few times for quite a lot off MRSP, in fact First Class have it on sale for £610 using the WS10 code. It wears like a 42mm watch but is rather thick.
Personally if not sure on the PH500, as you are going to be near Gnomon, I'd go there and buy my holiday watch as part of the holiday experience, after trying loads on.
Two options. The Halios will likely retain good value. For travel, the bulova is great (flyer gmt movement).
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
I like the look of the Halios so will have a read, and I already have a Steinhart GMT thanks.
I have had a look at First Class watches prices and they do seem competitive.
We tend to drop into Gnomon while we are there and have bought 4 watches between Mrs B and me over the past few years, it's become a bit of a holiday tradition. Always go there first before The Long bar though!
Doxa sub 200? 42mm so maybe too big. https://uk.doxawatches.com/collectio...43175930724593
I got one of these from Sales Corner just this week. Superb value for £400. The bracelet is brilliant and the proportions are spot on and the domed sapphire really does give it a vintage vibe. Time keeping is also well within COSC. The only negative is the lume which I knew about before purchasing but since I like it so much a trip to James Hyman is on the cards to sort that out.
https://www.midowatches.com/uk/ocean...301104100.html
Some really good suggestions thanks.
I had seen the Doxa, but only the aquamarine, which is a bit too light. The darker blue is much nicer although I'm not a fan of faux aged lume. It's probably nicer in the flesh which raises another issue; actually finding one to try on. I have asked a local retailer to order the Certina in for me which is a bit of a faff and it seems that less than mainstream watches are not stocked, ditto the Hamilton.
I had considered a Mido (another Powermatic 80 movement), my friend has one and while I love the domed crystal, the bracelet doesn't taper and its pretty highly polished. The website photo looks much better and significantly different to the Gnomon pictures. Mr T, can ask if you can confirm if they look more like the Mido or Gnomon pictures?
I was really tempted by the mido, think they’re an odd lug width which held me back.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
The Gnomon pictures definitely aren’t an accurate representation of the bezel colour or the most flattering pictures of the watch in general. Must be the lighting they used. On my wrist right now and indoors the watch looks like the Mido images but it is all polished. Outside the blue appears a lighter shade but bezel and dial still match. The bracelet tapers from 21mm to 19mm. The extension is very good indeed. For the £400 I paid it would be a difficult one to beat imho.
Had a drunken browse of Sales Corner a few days back and I've just taken delivery of one of these -
...and it actually looks better than the promo shots in the metal. The shade of blue is a mite darker.
41mm across, 316L everything, sapphire crystal, ceramic bezel, good lume - which includes the pip on the bezel, no-date, no nasty-ass 'Mercedes' handset, solid SS PCL bracelet, 20mm lug width, and a Seiko NH35 movement (which apparently is good enough for £2K watches these days!).
The really good news is that it's currently on sale for £89 here. No noughts missing from that price.
Scurfa do a nice blue if quartz is acceptable
Baltic Aquascaphe gilt blue dial?
Sent from my iPhone using TZ-UK mobile app
Thanks for that, most certainly worth a look, for £400 a complete bargain. Out of stock at Gnomon of course.
A proper bargain! That being said, I have up to £800 to spend (maybe a bit more) otherwise Mrs B will spend it, can't have that.Had a drunken browse of Sales Corner a few days back and I've just taken delivery of one of these -
...and it actually looks better than the promo shots in the metal. The shade of blue is a mite darker.
41mm across, 316L everything, sapphire crystal, ceramic bezel, good lume - which includes the pip on the bezel, no-date, no nasty-ass 'Mercedes' handset, solid SS PCL bracelet, 20mm lug width, and a Seiko NH35 movement (which apparently is good enough for £2K watches these days!).
The really good news is that it's currently on sale for £89 here. No noughts missing from that price.
Just had a look at their website, very tempting, they even do a Ti version. I think I probably prefer an auto though but thanks.
[QUOTE=benshep;6328566]Baltic Aquascaphe gilt blue dial?
Not a fan of gilt, but;
https://baltic-watches.com/en/produc...-titanium-blue
[QUOTE=Beanie;6328580]Good-looking watch that.
That is really nice[and enough left over for a beater!]
[QUOTE=Beanie;6328580]There’s one on sales corner atm I think?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
REDUCED to £450 Baltic Aquaschape Classic Blue Gilt
https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink/top...ink_source=app
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
I got a blue borealis bullshark
Sent from my SM-M325FV using Tapatalk
Oh and this glycine combat in blue and gilt, 10mm thin x 42mm.
I like matte or textured dials, not sunburst for divers.
Sent from my SM-M325FV using Tapatalk
Steinhart are good value.
There are some nice watches here thanks, but gilt/faux aged lume isn't my thing.
Steinhart are certainly good vfm and I have the Ti GMT, but there's nothing that grabs me atm.
I did see this though;
https://www.gnomonwatches.com/collec...lue-ref-gl0077
Not A diver.......But.
Well worth a look and dare I say with the Countdown bezel a bit more useful day to day IME.
You know, I have seen these (they do a fine link bracelet as well I think) and really liked them. For a grand, it's a no brainer, but they're not and we are in danger of moving away from the bash-it-about-round-the -pool plan, and back into the Oris Aquis level . Yes it's not a diver, but I don't actually dive....Not A diver.......But.
Well worth a look and dare I say with the Countdown bezel a bit more useful day to day IME.
Up the budget?
If you do, then you really need to start considering the U1 B -
I have looked at Sinn divers in the past but these are huge at 44mm and are moving into a different, more expensive class of watch.
When I started looking I didn't intend looking at watches over about £800, that didn't go well.
It never does. The road to perdition is paved with good-intentions...
FWIW, U1s don't wear terribly large, despite the whole 44mm thing.
That's a great shout.
"Scurfa Diver One" is my default thought on a lot of similar thread requests recently :-)
The Diver One is particularly good for something in the £200-300 range, I regret selling mine a couple of years back to someone for far, far too little money.
Reference shot on my 7 1/2 inch wrist.
FWIW, U1s don't wear terribly large, despite the whole 44mm thing.
No, you can't convince me, absolutely going to spend less than that. Honestly, really....
Just in case your worried about knocking it on the pool.
https://youtu.be/FwLKi8aIbiI?si=vB4ww-OsjVAA9BhF
It is the perfect pool watch though…
The 1000m is handy for the deep end and the extra hard bezel means it takes scrapes against the tiles in its stride. (For full admission I have had mine over 15 years and it has never been in the sea or a pool, it did get soaked in beer once though)
I did accidentally do the washing up in one of my watches once....(Pelagos 500m wtf?)
Blue and titanium.
Mitch
That's a lovely blue. Can I ask what size it is?Blue and titanium.
Mitch
It is 44mm wide and 11.5mm thick.
Mitch
Thanks for that, I rather suspected it might be a touch on the large side for me.
I had a Citizen Eco-Drive Ti chrono which I gave to my lad and it's still going strong about 15 years on, so there is a lot to like about them.
Blue dial Prometheus is pretty nice imho
The Omega 2551 on a Jubilee.
Sent from my SM-A125F using Tapatalk
Posting Permissions
