The Watch Appreciation Thread (Reviews and Photos of Men's Timepieces by Rolex, Patek Philippe, Brei

[Newcomer]

 

[Kid Nickels]

Thanks Newcomer. I have seen that before, but today it does seem to be having a more therapeutic effect!

 

[no frills]



Thanks Newcomer. I have seen that before, but today it does seem to be having a more therapeutic effect!

I have found Kate's videos and pictures to have a profound healing effect on me.

 

[in stitches]



That's some killer work of art right there. Even better in person where you can get some sense of the three dimensional depth.

i believe really, there is never any comparison between seeing the pics, and the real deal. nothing comes close to holding the real mccoy in your hand.

frills - the 3970 is lovely. get one for me please.

 

[SJC83]

30th birthday gift from my wife, very simple I live it.

 

[TheTukker]



....
The Tukker... I REALLY like that Zenith you posted, but those are pretty pricey new... did you find one 2nd hand somewhere you'd be willing to share? ... that's a beauty!

Thanks KN - I don't know much about it yet, but have seen them go for, what seem, reasonable sum in the vintage market.

....
Sorry, I don't care for it, and I am someone that really loves asymmetric dials and watch cases.  This looks like a jumbled mess to me.  There is simply too much happening, we have a mix of arrow heads & Arabic markers, 3 styles of guilloche, a big honking plaque for Elite Automatic (sorry doesn't need it, one for the brand is all I can stand), the hands look "Too heavy" for this dial or for something that is supposed to I guess be dressy.  In addition, everything is so close to the center of the watch that it looks like it was probably a movement from a smaller watch that they dumped into a bigger case.  I'd search for something else, as they do make some really nice watches.
....

Many thanks Dino - sadly, can't argue much with any of the solid points you are making here. Very helpful. I am assuming this version would be (slightly) more appealing to you:

 

[cjmruns]

Frederique Constant Classic Manufacture. Fabulous watch, in house movement, great price, limited to 1888 pieces.

 

[Newcomer]

Cool watch, I like the direction that FC is going in with some of its watches.

 

[cjmruns]

Thanks - I've gone from a timex ironman to a tissot V8 to this in about a year. Think I got the bug. I do certainly like the FC and their direction but I have a lot of learning to do before I jump in deeper.

 

[apropos]



30th birthday gift from my wife, very simple I live it.

Very nice, I like this very very much - congratulations!

Thanks KN - I don't know much about it yet, but have seen them go for, what seem, reasonable sum in the vintage market.
Many thanks Dino - sadly, can't argue much with any of the solid points you are making here. Very helpful. I am assuming this version would be (slightly) more appealing to you:

I will admit I know next to nothing about this line of Zenith watches, but that actually looks like a fake. Something about it screams... fake.

Cool watch, I like the direction that FC is going in with some of its watches.

Agreed. Not sure if anyone here noticed their new moonphase - a steal at ~$3,500!! No, that is not a typo!!

 

[Kid Nickels]

what is the quality of FC? I always thought they were one of those 'tweener brands as I see them on Overstock and Amazon all the time.

 

[Newcomer]

The new in-house offerings are exceptional, considering all that you get. Although I have not handled them in the flesh, the pictures I have seen are quite impressive.

Now, for the caveat. First, FC's PR department really needs to step its game up. Either you are a mall watch, or you are a manufacture. I think they are trying to straddle both markets, and that really causes their image to suffer. It would be like if Nomos suddenly started selling open heart Quartz watches at your local Kay. It just does not look good.

Second, FC's offerings truly lack an identity. Further, they tend to "borrow" their identity from other, more established manufactures.

For example, the moonphase above looks slightly reminiscent of this GP:

I wish that FC worked a little bit on developing themselves and their own identity.

With all that said, in their price range, you really cannot get much better for your money.

 

[gambit50]



I do understand this sentiment. We've written before about not wanting to compromise for anything, given the stratospheric price points of some timepieces. I do think part of the nature of whether you think something represents a "compromise" or not is certainly personal and subjective (which you always allowed for). For example, the 3970 has been criticized for not quite having an ideal "size to height" ratio. That it looks "too fat" because its case size is 36mm but it is relatively "tall" at 12.9mm (chronograph movements usually add a bit of thickness). It has even been called a "hamburger watch." Yuck, who would want to own something like that? Here is a picture of the "hamburger watch" - at an angle to hopefully show its relative thickness versus its "small" case size. For me, however, I think it's absolutely perfect. It's one man's "fat" versus this man's "perfection." I will happily stay "married" to this piece until it's time to give it to my daughters. To continue the supermodel analogy, this young lady was "roundly" (sorry for the pun) criticized when these pictures came out: "OMG - she's fat," others crowed. "No way she should be modeling on a catwalk!" - others said. Sports Illustrated and thousands of other men - including myself - disagreed. Twice on the cover of SI Swimsuit Edition! Again, if her "look" ain't your cup of tea, that's all good. From my perspective, she looks mighty fine. To use a watch analogy, I'm quite impressed by the lovely balance of the subdials and lugs, and the finishing looks first rate.

Stick with watches, mate. Many a hole in many an argument. But with your obvious means, you have quite the assortment of fine timepieces. Your 'hamburger' watch might even do it for me. Not familiar with it in person and the measurements are possible but maybe not quite right on my wrist. I cannot say for sure without it on my flesh. Sorry, that attempt at a pseudo pun sounds off. I find size issues also depend on size of wearer.

 

[in stitches]



Very nice, I like this very very much - congratulations!

+1

Agreed. Not sure if anyone here noticed their new moonphase - a steal at ~$3,500!! No, that is not a typo!!

Spoiler: Warning: Spoiler!

these are lovely.

 

[ChicagoRon]



what is the quality of FC? I always thought they were one of those 'tweener brands as I see them on Overstock and Amazon all the time.

I really like mine - and it's one that's not very derivative of an existing watch that I know of. Their sister brand Alpina has a longer history and is better known globally, but not so much in the states.

It's true, their marketing strategy is a bit muddled and is holding them back. As a manufacture, I think their watches are a much better value than, say, most of the Longines that are based on ETA movements. But they should clean up the lower end stuff and try to limit their channels a little - although I don't see an issue with Amazon or Overstock, who also carry Longines, Breitling, B&R, TAG, Tissot, Oris, Hamilton, etc.