Thin Automatic Watch

[Gradstudent78]

Limes Pharo, $1325

http://www.limes-watches.com/us/uhr....d=U6366-la1.1e

 

[yfyf]

Try the Max Bill watches made by Junghans. I got mine for $290 but the price has risen somewhat. Quality is ok, it's a manual wind but you don't get sapphire crystal, only acrylic for the watch face (? the term slips my mind), meaning it does scratch quite easily. http://www.momastore.org/museum/moma...474_null_shop_ The Nomos are beautiful but I hear that the quality control can be iffy with them i.e. the hands and batons are not so neatly painted. If you get one, inspect it carefully and kick up a fuss if it's not right.

 

[marano]

Archimede Pilot M - Automatic Movement, Eta 2824-2 Swiss Made, Sapphire Crystal, Water Resistant to 50M, Crystal Display back, $425 Shipped

http://www.archimede-watches.com/US/.../79M19-a11.htm

 

[grimslade]

The Archimede isn't particularly thin, though. The Stowa automatics are about the same thickness, and the manuals a good deal thinner. They start around 300 euros, last I checked. Some manual winds maybe slightly less.

 

[chobochobo]

Originally Posted by yfyf.org

Try the Max Bill watches made by Junghans. I got mine for $290 but the price has risen somewhat. Quality is ok, it's a manual wind but you don't get sapphire crystal, only acrylic for the watch face (? the term slips my mind), meaning it does scratch quite easily.

I got one of those as a present and I don't think it was that much. It is a nice looking watch although it could never be called thin. I prefer manual wind watches.

 

[bcate3]

Try the Max Bill watches made by Junghans. I got mine for $290 but the price has risen somewhat. Quality is ok, it's a manual wind but you don't get sapphire crystal, only acrylic for the watch face (? the term slips my mind), meaning it does scratch quite easily.

http://www.momastore.org/museum/moma...474_null_shop_

I don't think the use of acrylic is necessarily a sign of poor quality but a choice to be faithful to the original design. That was Tag Heuer's rationale anyway when it did a reedition of the original Carrera. I like the Max Bill, btw, and have toyed with the idea of buying one in a black dial. The Chrono is also very attractive.

 

[LabelKing]

In older watches, hesalite was often used for the crystals.

 

[yfyf]

Originally Posted by chobochobo

I got one of those as a present and I don't think it was that much. It is a nice looking watch although it could never be called thin. I prefer manual wind watches.

They make an automatic and a manual wind version. I have the manual wind version and its definitely the thinnest watches I own. The automatic version could be thicker but I've never seen one in real life.

Interesting point about using acrylic to be faithful to the original design. Nonetheless, I wish for sturdier crystal. I have a modern Omega Seamaster and a few vintage watches. The vintage watches tend to have some sort of plastic for the crystal that inevitably gets chipped or scratched in day to day use. The Seamaster has a sapphire crystal and it is still pristine after 10 years of use.

And ... I just found this: http://www.crystalfit.com/

 

[Urbane Legend]

I have a Zenith Class Automatique which is a very thin automatic watch.
I have it on a black strap and it is a dressy alternative to my other automatic watches. I am very happy with it.

JLC is also a great choice.

 

[Sartorially Challenged]

Originally Posted by grimslade

The Archimede isn't particularly thin, though. The Stowa automatics are about the same thickness, and the manuals a good deal thinner. They start around 300 euros, last I checked. Some manual winds maybe slightly less.
I initially started the thread to find a watch to complement my TAG Heuer Monaco, but I must say I really like the looks of the Stowa Airman No Logo and the Archimede M!

I am not a "watch person," and I had not been aware of German brands like Stowa and Archimede (and Sinn and Nomo). Thank you again, Forumites. I like the whole historical connection to the flieger watch thing, too.

A follow on question: what makes Stowa worth more than a comparable Archimede? I understand that the Archimede movement is unmodified, but does Stowa have other, better features.

Also, is it worthwhile to upgrade the Stowa with a COSC chronograph-certified movement? Even with the upgrade, the price of the Stowa is well within the budget I specified earlier (although the Dollar continues to fall against the Euro, so the price keeps going up).

 

[SoCal2NYC]

I upgraded my Stowa Ikarus Airman to the chronometer...I'm not one to set my watch to the Atomic Clock and check on it to +/- 3 sec/day; but, I figure why not get the best available?

 

[Don Goldstein]

Originally Posted by Gradstudent78

Limes Pharo, $1325

http://www.limes-watches.com/us/uhr....d=U6366-la1.1e

They are charging $1325 for that watch?!? Wow, it has tripled in price in the last 6 years.

 

[Hard2Fit]

Originally Posted by Hard2Fit

http://www.jaeger-lecoultre.com/viewModel.do?modelId=31

No idea on price.

Looks like JLC updated their website. This is the watch I was referring to.

http://www.jaeger-lecoultre.com/eu/e...ter-ultra-thin

 

[WSW]

The MUT is now a little over 5k, retail. JLC has been increasing prices lately, but even with the increase, the watch is still a steal at that price, considering ultra thins from other high caliber makers will run several grand more.

FYI, I paid $3750 for mine last Dec, so that number might help in gauging an appropriate discounted price.