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

[Dino944]

And that tank looks like a mess. Cartier has made tanks for around 95 years. How is it possible that they have forgot how to make them? I can deal with date at six and sweep seconds on the dial, a la the tank solo, as it really does not destroy the integrity of the dial (although I would prefer just hours and minutes). I can also deal with automatic rather than manual, though that is close to a deal breaker. At least on the solo the case back is solid. But on a new, in house watch, why would you screw with every element that made the watch great. The curvature of the case makes it look more like a gp 1945, the circular automatic movement looks silly, the watch is much thicker and much larger, the dial is a cluttered mess.

The date window alone would not have been a plus for me, but the date window and sub dial create too much clutter on this dial. Its as though they moved away from what made the Tank famous. Its simplicity and not having lots of extraneous other functions is what makes their classic Tanks so attractive, at least to me.

As for the curved case, its actually a very Cartier look. It's something that Cartier has done for many years with their Tank Cintree and Tank Americaine.

This is Cartier trying to use the movement from the Calibre in all of their watches. They need another in house movement for their reasonably priced watches, that doesn't have the bizarre giant subdial, and either has no seconds hand or has one centrally mounted. Also, if you are sticking a round movement in a rectangular watch, just give it a solid back (like PP and VC do). This watch is an example of why I don't care for round movements in rectangular or square watches.

 

[in stitches]



He is 6 foot 4, an expert shot with handgun, shotgun and rifle, and makes knives for a living. So.... no.

blackmail?

i am really mad because i can a cross many of those old omegas years ago and we had them for next to nothing. i should have kopped.

 

[Kaplan]



My IWC Mark XII pilot

Very nice.

Serious question - why does IWC keep rolling out new pilot's watches? It is hard to see how the new designs improve the old ones and in some cases, you have a real decline (the new one is awful). Do people collect them and thus each new model generates additional sales? Or do they just like giving a new "Mark" to incremental changes and updates? For me, the highpoint was the XV on a bracelet, but the XII on a bracelet is also great.

IMO the newer models have no business calling themselves 'Mark' anything. The Mk 11, based on the 6B/346 designation from The Air Ministry (later the Ministry of Defence), was the origin of the design, and at the time produced by both IWC and JLC. IWC's Mark XII and XV kept a similar design, apart from the addition of a date. From the Mark XVI forward they've cut any ties to the original design, making them closer to the older styled Beobachtungsuhr (originally made for Luftwaffe by A. Lange & Söhne, Laco, Stowa, Wempe and yes, IWC). A design IWC already had in their line-up in the Big Pilot. It's sad that they couldn't see the room for both types of pilot watches in their catalogue, IMO.

Thanks and I agree, my Mark XII is so timeless, I keep looking at other pilot watches and for me my Mark XII seems to be the default. The only thing I want from it is about 2mm of more diameter which they did with the Mark XV. I'm not a fan of the newer models especially the recents versions, except maybe the XV.

I like the larger size of my Mk XV but I would prefer the longer and slimmer 5 minute markers on the Mk XII.

 

[dopey]

Apropos: I have a pie pan Connie that is marked Automatic Chronometer, but not "Officially Certified" (it passes MO, but not MOY). Everything else about it makes it seem real, including the numerals and markers, the Omega and symbol applications and the patination. Do you think it must be a redial or could it be an original dial?

 

[apropos]

That is kosher, a known (less common!) variation.

You have correctly pointed out they pass MO as well.

 

[Newcomer]



...

Oh yes, I caught that! I was just trying to say that if I do have a date on my dress watch, I vastly prefer it to be a pointer date. But I definitely understand not having a date at all, it makes the dial look much, much cleaner. My posts have been fairly terrible lately, my laptop decided to die on me, so I have been relegated to posting on my darn iPad.

And for me, I almost exclusively wear my dress watches to work. And I like to have the date handy just to keep track of certain legal related dates. I would say that I check the date on my watches at least a dozen times per day. In contrast, I have no problem with not having a date on my sportier pieces.

...  

I completely agree with this. Something about the stark Tank dial is just gorgeous. The large roman numerals are more than sufficient to make the dial interesting. That is interesting regarding the curved case. I guess, to be honest, I really prefer a 'flatter' case with square or rectangular watches, a la the Reverso or the Tank, or your VC for that matter. But then again, I am kind of still warming up to the whole rectangular case thing.

I think you are spot on regarding the incorporation of one movement into the various ranges. What I don't get is why they have not modified that movement... at all. Heck, I think the watch would have looked better if they just covered the date function. I am not too familiar with the technicalities, but I doubt it would be very difficult to convert the subsidiary seconds to centrally mounted seconds.

Now, with all of this said... the new in-house caliber is very reasonably priced, which I really appreciate. $6,000 for a SS watch with a manufacture movement from Cartier, one of the most prestigious companies in the world? Not too shabby. I cannot help but feel that they could charge more, considering their placement in the market. Sure, the watch is not the best, but they are going in the right direction.

 

[Cant kill da Rooster]

KS41 - scuse my rattie shirt.

 

[mimo]

^^ I like this (although it does look kind of big for your shirt cuff). Simple, blue hands, small seconds...all things that make me feel warm inside.

Re. Connie talk: I love it when you knowledgeable dudes talk about **** I don't understand. Makes me feel I'm getting educated instead of just fantasising about expensive stuff I'm not going to buy.

 

[Big A]

Just to change it up a little . . . .

This is a (probably fake) Hublot I discovered while searching an apartment. I was searching the apartment to try and find recoverable assets for a friend / client, who was scammed out of $$$$ by the now-jailed former tenant.

While I believe this is a replica, there is a real Hublot Big Bang line called the "Tutti-fruiti" that looks pretty similar. I work with casino owners, slot machine dealers, new-money hoteliers, Russian something-archs, middle-eastern rich kids, professional athletes, and other individuals you would expect to have questionable taste. I see them in their natural environments in Vegas, Biloxi, the caribbean, and South America. I have seen some tacky rich people wearing tacky ****, and I have met their very tacky girlfriends wearing even tackier ****.

And yet, I don't know a single person other than this particular scam artist who would wear this watch. So tell me, outside of a select group of Miami scam artists, who would wear this horological abortion?**

** I have it on because I wore it to the scam artist's bond hearing just to be a dick.

 

[Keith T]

^^^Post of the day nominee^^^

Big A, you have indeed changed it up a little.

 

[Keith T]

And I have further thoughts on the tankiness of the new Tank, but not enough time to share just now.

Briefly, I would applaud Cartier for their multiple strap options play, and I also agree with Newcomer that they have at least attempted to price it halfway realistically (for the steel version).

Rooster: Nice Stowa .

 

[Devoti]

Really good info apropos, thanks. Yes the watch is a family heirloom and had been with my father for 45yrs and is pretty much looks the same as it does now as it did in the wedding photo's when my parents wed 44yrs ago. Serviced by Omega in the 90's and then by a friend last year. Whatever this watch is, it's my favorite on the wrist (we all have one) compared to all my other watches (have & sold) and the best part it's the most accurate of my watches, much better than my IWC Mark XII and my other Omega's so go figure.

Cheers

Can I play too?

And the original correct 10-sided crown, which I am still trying to find someone to replace the gasket within for me...


I am sorry, but there are a few things off with your watch. You may or may not be aware of this.

I understand that this is a heirloom and hence there will be a degree of personal sensitivity around it - so I have placed my comments below in "spoilers".

These comments may be helpful at the very least to those who are interested in dipping their toes into the world of vintage Omega Constellation Pie Pans, also known as Connies to the (what else) Connie-seurs, heh.

There was a "shallow pan" variation of the pie pan (case ref 2652), but yours looks off for a few reasons.

The dial printing fails MOY. Google "Constellation MOY" if you don't know what this means.

The hash marks look a little strange, can't put my finger on why but my gut tells me they are too long/bold.

The lume has been added/redone, clearly.

Constellation font looks off.

The crosshair is off centre - look at its alignment to the bold hashes at 3 and 6 o'clock.

The crown is more associated with Seamasters, though I think there were a few Constellations with it. Not your model though.

No "Swiss Made" on dial.

 

[Devoti]

That watch would go really well with my Justin Bieber jumpsuit , it helps counterbalance the monkey I have on the other shoulder but the watch jewels just don't quite match the ones on my iphone cover.

Just to change it up a little . . . .

This is a (probably fake) Hublot I discovered while searching an apartment. I was searching the apartment to try and find recoverable assets for a friend / client, who was scammed out of $$$$ by the now-jailed former tenant.

While I believe this is a replica, there is a real Hublot Big Bang line called the "Tutti-fruiti" that looks pretty similar. I work with casino owners, slot machine dealers, new-money hoteliers, Russian something-archs, middle-eastern rich kids, professional athletes, and other individuals you would expect to have questionable taste. I see them in their natural environments in Vegas, Biloxi, the caribbean, and South America. I have seen some tacky rich people wearing tacky ****, and I have met their very tacky girlfriends wearing even tackier ****.

And yet, I don't know a single person other than this particular scam artist who would wear this watch. So tell me, outside of a select group of Miami scam artists, who would wear this horological abortion?**



** I have it on because I wore it to the scam artist's bond hearing just to be a dick.

 

[ryewo[i dmfsOZI490w]



KS41 - scuse my rattie shirt.

Nice watch!

 

[no frills]

Just to change it up a little . . . .

This is a (probably fake) Hublot I discovered while searching an apartment. I was searching the apartment to try and find recoverable assets for a friend / client, who was scammed out of $$$$ by the now-jailed former tenant.

While I believe this is a replica, there is a real Hublot Big Bang line called the "Tutti-fruiti" that looks pretty similar. I work with casino owners, slot machine dealers, new-money hoteliers, Russian something-archs, middle-eastern rich kids, professional athletes, and other individuals you would expect to have questionable taste. I see them in their natural environments in Vegas, Biloxi, the caribbean, and South America. I have seen some tacky rich people wearing tacky ****, and I have met their very tacky girlfriends wearing even tackier ****.

And yet, I don't know a single person other than this particular scam artist who would wear this watch. So tell me, outside of a select group of Miami scam artists, who would wear this horological abortion?**



** I have it on because I wore it to the scam artist's bond hearing just to be a dick.

Bawhawhaw, this is one of the best posts I've read recently hehehe. Thanks for sharing!

P.S. I wouldn't wear something like that, for the record.