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

[in stitches]

its a beautiful watch. those are my thoughts.

 

[Dino944]

Temptation is coming from odd sources for me these days. First I'm lusting after a Sub (about which I was "meh" for decades) then comes along this piece from I brand I have pretty much categorically rejected as decidedly not my thing. Limited edition blue dial Transocean chronograph. Thoughts?

I'm not a Breitling fan, but I think that is a very classic, handsome chronograph. I'd have to know more about it before I could say yea or nay. I'm guessing the movement is ETA based, what are the case dimensions, and of course price. Its refreshing to see a Breitling that isn't blingy, and actually has a dial that's legible...at least in the photo. Dark dialed chronographs are something one really has to see in person to be sure the dial really is easy to read. Wishing you luck if that is on your "Must have list."

 

[jbarwick]

I like the blue faced Speedy mentioned a few pages back more. I do like how Breitling keeps the bezel clean and puts all the other "stuff" inside the case. I will say it is a lot cleaner of a look.

 

[RogerP]

Dino - the movement is a brand new ground-up in-house chronograph movement B01 - Breitling's first. Column wheel, vertical clutch, 70 hr. power reserve, all the mod cons. Legibility is okay. Not as easy to read as a white-on-black Speedy, but not a struggle either.

dopey - fair comment on history, but that's not a priority for me - the product itself is what carries the day. Or doesn't. This one is appealing primarily on a) aesthetics and b) contemporary in-house movement. If this were an ETA-powered piece, I would likely not be interested. Not that ETA sucks, just that I can find a good many appealing chronographs with such movements at a far lower price point.

Here is a write-up on he movement (albeit in a different watch) for anyone interested:

http://www.watchtime.com/featured/breitlings-chronomat-b01-with-manufacture-movement/#

 

[kungapa]



Really a super handsome watch!!!  The lug would bother me, but condition and what satisfies is a balancing act on older watches.  Finding LNIB becomes really tough once you are talking roughly 40+ year old watches.  Most people didn't buy watches back then as any type of investment.  They were worn and often saw a lot of use or at times abuse.  Wishing you lots of luck (or will power) whatever you need most to make the right choice for yourself.  

Frills, like new or really good-looking unpolished cases would be hard to find on the older vintage rolexes. Check this discussion on VRF for reference, and be careful:

http://www.network54.com/Forum/207593/thread/1361559099/Laser+Welding

 

[kungapa]

Also, this thread regarding laser welding. Don't pay pristine unpolished prices for restored cases:

http://www.network54.com/Forum/2075...+allowed+to+post+his+enhanced+offers+on+VRM--

 

[Hayward]

Having owned an SD I can attest it wears thicker than pre-big lug Subs. It seemed like they added thickness to the case, crystal and case back. It wears heavier than the Sub. One reason why I chose an SD as my first Rolex was an aversion to the date bubble and the notion that it would be easier to tell apart from fakes, as my assumption was that fakes just added a valve to the Sub case. I've no idea if that was true after all, but I found the watch heavy and too blingy for my taste wine the shiny dial and markers. Plus I like date bubbles now.

 

[dddrees]

Having owned an SD I can attest it wears thicker than pre-big lug Subs. It seemed like they added thickness to the case, crystal and case back. It wears heavier than the Sub. One reason why I chose an SD as my first Rolex was an aversion to the date bubble and the notion that it would be easier to tell apart from fakes, as my assumption was that fakes just added a valve to the Sub case. I've no idea if that was true after all, but I found the watch heavy and too blingy for my taste wine the shiny dial and markers. Plus I like date bubbles now.

It wears a bit bigger than the older version Sub, but about the same as the current version Sub or GMT. But the thing that really bugged me about the SD was the hump on the back. I found this a bit uncomfortable.

 

[Concordia]

A question about servicing , which I've done my best to avoid until now. Just bought a Lemania/Elvstrom regatta watch, just like the one that fell overboard 20 years ago. (Price has been adjusted for inflation, sadly.) It appears to be NOS, and works fine but makes a bit of unexpected noise when being wound. Is this necessarily a problem, and if so are there shops you'd trust to pull it apart and put it back in a water-tight sort of way?

 

[Newcomer]

Some great posts today guys! Congrats to both Wurger and Stitchy. I really enjoyed the review Wurger. I will have to look over everything more intently later. The thread has not been this active with new pieces in a little while!

And Frills. Just spectacular collection.

I do have a question though. Do you find that with your acquisition of your Patek perp-cal chronos, that your perpetual calendars have been rendered... obsolete? Or is there enough love in your heart for all of them? Personally, I have always been challenged by that concept. I am more of a single love kind of guy.

 

[cpmac7]



Temptation is coming from odd sources for me these days. First I'm lusting after a Sub (about which I was "meh" for decades) then comes along this piece from I brand I have pretty much categorically rejected as decidedly not my thing. Limited edition blue dial Transocean chronograph. Thoughts?

That is sexxxxxxy

 

[earthdragon]

My 3714 just back from major Service
I have worn this pretty much everyday for the last 7 years and the case polish job they did was amazing.
Delivered 3 weeks early and the SA also threw in a couple of Baseball Caps.
The NYC Boutique are a super professional outfit.
I have now had two pieces serviced via them with no issues (preferable to shipping to Fort Worth myself).....

 

[in stitches]



Some great posts today guys! Congrats to both Wurger and Stitchy. I really enjoyed the review Wurger. I will have to look over everything more intently later. The thread has not been this active with new pieces in a little while!
And Frills. Just spectacular collection.
I do have a question though. Do you find that with your acquisition of your Patek perp-cal chronos, that your perpetual calendars have been rendered... obsolete? Or is there enough love in your heart for all of them? Personally, I have always been challenged by that concept. I am more of a single love kind of guy.

thanks! just a heads up, i dont think the wrist shots will be as forthcoming as i had hoped. while the watch is in excellent condition, there are more lines/slight scratches and swirlies to the high polish areas of the steel than i had first realized. i ordered a cape cod cloth and when it arrives i will try and clean it up real nice. then we can has pics! apologies for all the delays.

solid question you point out there regarding owning both annual and perpetual calendars. while from a utilitarian standpoint, the perp obviously covers everything the annual does, and more, from an aesthetic standpoint, the models are certainly different, and lend to very different looks. most strikingly that the perps are far busier on the dials that annuals tend to be, as well as they are usually ticker cased watches if my memory serves me.

i mean, if a person can enjoy multiple perp cals just for aesthetic variation, there is certainly room for annuals too. if i were a collector, there are defo some annual calendars that i would want for their looks even if i had perps lines out the wazoo.

just my opinion. YMMV.

My 3714 just back from major Service

Spoiler: Warning: Spoiler!

I have worn this pretty much everyday for the last 7 years and the case polish job they did was amazing.
Delivered 3 weeks early and the SA also threw in a couple of Baseball Caps.
The NYC Boutique are a super professional outfit.
I have now had two pieces serviced via them with no issues (preferable to shipping to Fort Worth myself).....

looks like new. what an awesome feeling right? enjoy it!

 

[rnguy001]

Likey very much. Great looking watch. Personally I'd wear it on a nice croc strap instead of the mesh. Hear nothing but great things about that B1 movement as well. Keep us posted my man

Temptation is coming from odd sources for me these days. First I'm lusting after a Sub (about which I was "meh" for decades) then comes along this piece from I brand I have pretty much categorically rejected as decidedly not my thing. Limited edition blue dial Transocean chronograph. Thoughts?

 

[Newcomer]



...

Taking a cape cod cloth to it eh? That has always scared me!

Maybe I will pick one up to touch up my Mako. My MUT Moon is back at the mothership, as an aside. So far, JLC customer service has been nothing short of divine.