Watches you wear...

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by MoneyGuy

The Vital wasn’t expensive. Maybe that’s a red flag; I’ll see. If it doesn’t last, maybe it’s Apple or Garmin.

Trust me, you'll throw them in the trash or a drawer within a few months and buy better ones. There's fake review engines out there, but these guys basically openly admit it, lol.

[GullFoss]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

There's a new Birks opening in Chinook and its advertising Rolex on the drywall. Being in the mall, I hope they will be a less snobby AD experience too.

These guys are A+. I went in there with a friend who needed to do a watch repair not related to Rolex at all, one of them struck up a conversation with me while I was waiting. They were very generous with their time anyways, let me try on a bunch of display models.

[TorqueDog]

I had such a good recent experience on Chrono24 with Japanese sellers, I decided to get my dad's birthday gift off of there too.

He's always loved the Brosnan-era Bond Seamaster, but the chronograph version which is a 2599.80. However, I found the revised version with the nicer dial detailing, which is the 2225.80.

Presenting, the Omega Seamaster Professional Diver 300m -deep breath- Chronograph, model 2225.80.




I made the purchase on Thursday evening last week, and the seller shipped out yesterday... and it's here today. So effectively they overnighted it ... for free. Yes, shipping in the listing was free. Pretty cool.

The watch, as I'm coming to appreciate with Japanese trusted dealers, is better than the description and in fantastic shape. You can definitely see that it is a previously-owned piece (unlike my Aqua Terra GMT Chrono which looked like it had never been worn until I got it), but still in very, very good shape. It's also nice that this one comes with the box, papers, tag, etc. whereas mine didn't (not that it matters much to me).

Interestingly, when I bought mine, my purchase was subject to both 5% duty and 5% GST when importing (which also took a week). That was with DHL. This time? Just GST, no duty payable. UPS (or maybe the seller?) specified tariff code 33 and so there was 0% duty levied. Score!

Now to send this off to my dad so he can start enjoying it himself. Can't keep it here forever, as much as I'd like to.

[Table 5]

I've mostly bought used camera equipment as opposed to watches, but Japanese sellers are awesome for used items. Their stuff is always in great shape (often better than listed), well priced, and they are super fast with processing. For electronics, it's come to the point where I'd often rather buy from trusted Japanese sellers than locally.

Oh, and sweet watch! Great of you to get that for your dad.

[Leondros]

Special shout out to Torque who gave me some guidance on the process for Chrono24. Bought this watch as my Speedy is in my servicing and its going to take 6 months and didn't want my wrist to be naked.

This is a 2006 2254.50 Seamaster 300M. This is a modern classic for me in terms of a tool watch/diver. The lumes are huge, my movement is bullet proof and the sword hands are somewhat rare for the Omega Seamasters. What really drew me to this watch is its only about 11mm thick. Most modern Co-Axials are getting comically large (~16 - 18 mm).

Picked this one up from Japan, and it was just serviced. It is immaculate - I can't find any major blemishes.



For some reason my image isnt working, here is the link: https://postimg.cc/LJcgLzTB

[TorqueDog]

Glad it worked out for you, the watch looks fantastic. The amount of lume on that thing looks like it could illuminate a football field.

I don't think I've worn another watch in my collection since my Omega AT GMT arrived. Although I'm keeping my eyes open for the 'next' piece I want to pick up; a Breitling TransOcean Chronograph Unitime (or Unitime Pilot) if I can find one for a reasonable price. The in-house B05 world-time movement is pretty damned cool.

[kevman]

Different price point than most of these watches but I just ordered the infamous Casio Duro to add to my collection. They're currently 20-30% off on Amazon so I couldn't help but see what all the hype is about.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by kevman

Different price point than most of these watches but I just ordered the infamous Casio Duro to add to my collection. They're currently 20-30% off on Amazon so I couldn't help but see what all the hype is about.

Made famous by this guy wearing it a lot, My bezel is a bit beat up and I found it a bit large but it's kind of legendary in a Wal-Mart way.

[DFO]

Come on Bill just buy the real thing. It’s not like they'd wait list you. Hell, just go ahead and buy Rolex itself.

[DownInFlames]

Originally Posted by DFO

Come on Bill just buy the real thing. It’s not like they'd wait list you. Hell, just go ahead and buy Rolex itself.

I wonder if they’d sell to him. Maybe they’d sell to his foundation so they could continue operating as a charity.

[looooob]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

Yes I went to the Chinook Swatch store to ask as well and they must have been tired of the questions. I think they are great for the price. Scalpers already putting them up for $1000-$4000 on Ebay.

I'm ready for a Swatchmaster 300M now.

apologies if this is old news, but I don't think so


Swatch has (re) opened in Chinook center and they do have the Omega collabs, just picked one up, totally random but couldn't help myself

[Winsor_Pilates]

Yeah, they're much more available now. The novelty wears off quickly, I haven't touched my Mission to Mars in months.

Swatch has moved on to a plastic Blancpain Fifty Fathoms now.

[Hack&Lube]

I was at Chinook and impulse picked up a Mission to the Moon Moonswatch. I might return it, the chrono hand doesn't line up with the seconds track tick marks. A frustrating sign of a cheap quartz movement with little thought put into QC for a $350 watch.

How is the chronograph hand alignment on your watches? (loooooob and Winsor_Pilates)

[Winsor_Pilates]

I honestly haven't looked that closely, it's pretty much just a toy to me. Maybe I'll look now that you've mentioned it.

[kevman]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

I was at Chinook and impulse picked up a Mission to the Moon Moonswatch. I might return it, the chrono hand doesn't line up with the seconds track tick marks. A frustrating sign of a cheap quartz movement with little thought put into QC for a $350 watch.

How is the chronograph hand alignment on your watches? (loooooob and Winsor_Pilates)

Speaking of second hand alignment - I'm very impressed with the second hand alignment on the Duro I got. I'd say it hits each second mark perfectly (within my ability to notice). Easily the best second hand alignment of any of my Quartz watches.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by kevman

Speaking of second hand alignment - I'm very impressed with the second hand alignment on the Duro I got. I'd say it hits each second mark perfectly (within my ability to notice). Easily the best second hand alignment of any of my Quartz watches.

Casio is the only manufacturer that seems to care and be consistent with quartz alignment. Timex has recently been coming out with retro Q-Timex and other high end models that are $200-$500 and the alignment is a joke on them.

[NuclearFart]

Originally Posted by Winsor_Pilates

Yeah, they're much more available now. The novelty wears off quickly, I haven't touched my Mission to Mars in months.

Swatch has moved on to a plastic Blancpain Fifty Fathoms now.

Apparently the Calgary Swatch store will not be getting any Fifty fathom happy meal watches yet. Only BC, Ontario & Quebec for now.

I still wear a couple of the mission to X swatches when dressed down on weekends. The hand alignments are fine on mine, but you definitely need to change out the OEM straps. The stock velcro straps look cheap, bulge out awkwardly, and arent very comfortable.

[Winsor_Pilates]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

I was at Chinook and impulse picked up a Mission to the Moon Moonswatch. I might return it, the chrono hand doesn't line up with the seconds track tick marks. A frustrating sign of a cheap quartz movement with little thought put into QC for a $350 watch.

How is the chronograph hand alignment on your watches? (loooooob and Winsor_Pilates)

So I went to check now & mine is off on some of the marks too. It hits some & misses others.
Not something I personally would have looked at, but since you mentioned it, thought I'd check.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by Winsor_Pilates

So I went to check now & mine is off on some of the marks too. It hits some & misses others.
Not something I personally would have looked at, but since you mentioned it, thought I'd check.

Thanks, I took it back today and looked at 5 different ones and they were all a little bit off here and there. I did end up keeping the best one out of the bunch but maybe one day I'll fix it myself by removing the chrono hand and reapplying it. That's one problem with Quartz that Casio has fixed but everybody else screws up for some reason.

[TorqueDog]

Originally Posted by NuclearFart

Apparently the Calgary Swatch store will not be getting any Fifty fathom happy meal watches yet. Only BC, Ontario & Quebec for now.

They did the same thing with the Moonswatch.

Personally, I'm not sure if these cross-collabs are the right move. Is it the right way to introduce people to these brands by giving them -- as you so perfectly put it -- "Happy Meal"-grade versions of luxury watch marques?

At least for the Fifty-Fathoms, they're using a mechanical movement instead of a $50 ETA Swiss quartz chronograph movement as in the Moonswatch.