The WIS creation...
Prompted by a post from Grizzlymambo with his specific requirements for a watch and a response from Snowman wondering how popular that design functionality may be, I thought I’d add a thread for us all to state our favourite requirements which might be fun and also offer Eddie some targeted market research/more PITA requests to consider.
I’m new here so my apologies if there’s a similar duplicate post somewhere.
Thinking of some or all of the following, and adding anything I’ve missed, what is it that you’d like in your ideal Smiths watch?
Bezel: yes, no, hours, minutes, hours & minutes, countdown minutes (60-0 rather than the other way), no bezel, or whatever.
Crystal: sapphire, mineral, acrylic plastic.
Case size in mm
Case shape, traditional, barrel, square, oblong, whatever.
Water resistance depth
Hand shape
Luminosity
Crown, big, small, retractable, size in mm etc
Complications: chronograph (double or single pusher), date, day, moon phase, whatever
Movement, automatic, manual wind, quartz, type of quartz (solar etc)
Strap, bracelet, rally/racing style etc
Mine would be countdown bezel, traditional shape 37/38mm 30m water resistant case with lugs, acrylic crystal, large crown, hand wound chronograph on a beads of rice strap. Applied indices, with lume on these and M and H hands. Two or three sub registers.
I suppose that would be a Heuer Autavia from the 1960s look alike, like the popularly named Rindt or Andretti models.
Last edited by YCymro; 19th May 2022 at 09:59.
The WIS creation...
Last edited by TheGent; 19th May 2022 at 10:36.
I was hoping for one of these, but guess it's not likely to happen:
Smiths Carmania?
I'm content with the Smiths Everest design, honestly. But my gripe is that the 6 o'clock end of the bracelet is too long for small (and irregular) wrists making the watch head and inner clasp position uncentered.
So I wish the bracelet had 1-2 more removable links on that side.
A Manual Wind version of this. I know people like this kind of watch since this kind of watch exists, the problem is that some of them had a date which I don't want; and most of them have automatic, which I don't need; and virtually none of them had antimagnetic shielding, which I think is essential for a "one watch".
I know that the things that I do want:
1. no-date, hand-wind: are clearly desirable features because even on this forum people love the PRS-29, 25 etc. which have these features;
2. Antimagnetic protection: is desirable because of the millions that companies are investing in antimagnetic tech;
3. 12 hour bezel is desirable because people love traveller watches.
It's just curious that there is no watch on the planet that combines all these features. This watch is probably my "dream spec watch". I can't think of a more perfect "one watch" that exists.
Last edited by grizzlymambo; 20th May 2022 at 05:32.
For me personally, its this - nav with acrylic. Its
my everyday watch and I just love it!
Last edited by sweets; 20th May 2022 at 09:49.
^^^ We've had the PRS-20 Italian though...
This is a funny thread, one that can not lead to "ne design" but more a collection of peoples' wishes, wants and thoughts.
I have been a Committee Member for 5 years over at WUS-CMW (Chinese Mechanical Watches) and we have done 6 projects over that time period. Even with "limited design parameters" / "room to wander" we ended up with too may compromises. Design by Committee doesn't really work.
That said, this thread might give Eddie some insights in to what his customer-base is looking for.
The Omega Seamaster Spectre is the closest I know of, but it is automatic. It was hugely popular but unfortunately was a limited edition.
The existence of this watch and its popularity PROVES that what I am asking for WILL be popular. And the popularity of handwind watches proves that a handwind version of this watch WILL also be popular.
Last edited by redhed18; 23rd May 2022 at 16:39.
Looking at an Ebay listing for one of these, it describes the length as "6.5 inches - expanding to 8 inches approx to get over hands".
Yours looks great on your watch, but I'm sure we'd all agree that comfort is key.
I have no experience with expanding bracelets but I'm guessing that it would probably be comfortable on my 7" wrist. I don't know what your wrist size is, but can you comment on my guess based on your experience?
Thanks
A bit of trial and error is required. If you can get NOS, it’ll be plenty long enough and you can (with small pliers) remove links - fiddly but doable. Then there is the width of the strap - I like the width to be as near to the lug width as possible, but in this case the end pieces need to be the expanding type and not fixed - which some are. Also look out for the thickness of the strap, some are very thin and not to my taste.
You can still buy these things brand new btw, the quality is not quite as good as the older ones made in Germany or Hong Kong.
Sorry for the thread diversion!
This one
Brushed stainless steel case with polished screw back. Black dial with tritium hour markers and hands, sub-seconds. Acrylic crystal and fixed bar lugs. Water resistant to 3 bar/30 metres/100 feet.
Dimensions: 36 mm diameter, 46.25 mm lug tip to tip and 10.8 mm thick. Lug spacing (fixed bars) is 18 mm.
Movement: FHF 17 jewel hand winding, calibre 1380 11.
Last edited by raysablade; 24th May 2022 at 15:40.
Here's one I made up from parts. I call it the Super A404
Case: early-mid 1950s Dennison Aquatite; 18mm lugs, drilled. I've added a sapphire display back that just happened to fit, because of the gilt movement.
Dial: NOS prototype. (Flat, with every other numeral lumed like the Smiths cockpit clocks.)
Hands: standard Smiths blued steel syringe with radium in-fill
Movement: "1218" by Smiths for Garrard -- extra jewels and overcoiled hairspring. Arguably Smiths finest in-house movement, certainly the best they made at the time.
I would love to see Timefactors release a white watch (not cream) of some kind, preferably a field watch. However, I read somewhere that white watches aren't Eddie's style. Still, the prs-29 does look nice in cream.
Vanguard and Radio Room are predominantly white.
The RR is my favourite Smiths by a country mile.
Don't just do something, sit there. - TNH
No need at alter it in any way shape or form
Manual wind
Light vintage lume - keep the T dial as it’s better balanced
I think it's about time to re-launch the Smiths Astral
Something like this...
^^^ I like the Smiths Astral.
Unless I'm missing something, it could potentially re-use the PRS-82 case.
I have considered that myself in response to grizzlymambo's original thread about "the perfect hand-wound with bezel". I was thinking for a thin watch. Today's public prefers thinner watches. One might as well take advantage of having a hand-wound movement.
The PRS-82 has a noticeably thicker case and it would need a domed crystal. I actually like the hands of the Astral. They are '60s vintage in a nice way.
Did you know there was also a white Astral Diver?
Last edited by abraxas; 25th May 2022 at 12:00.
Costume jewellery. Ouch!!!