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

Bill-

I've always wanted an annual calendar, but til now the options were limited to a PP5146 or FPJ Octa Calendrier, neither of which really did it for me. I never cared for how PP simply grabbed the 315 movement from the 5035 and enlarged the case - leaves the subdial unbalanced in the 5146. Had some reliability issues with my FPJ CS, and while I like the retrograde date on the Calendrier, somehow it always bothered me that the date hand crosses over the day and month apertures.

Lange makes my favorite moonphase, and the combination of the big date and the clean, timeless dial make this a winner IMO.

Here is a nice video on seiko spring drive technology:

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Look at how smoothly that second hand sweeps - nothing ETA has produced is this smooth from what I have seen:

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Even their quartz watches are so nice - look at how nicely the seconds hand aligns with the marks. Now show me a ETA movement that does anything close!

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And here is a nice writeup by Seiya-san:
http://www32.ocn.ne.jp/~kseiya/gs/

Originally Posted by srivats

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Am I the only one who doesn't like Panerai here? This grand seiko spring drive(with a brown shell cordo strap) is my current dream watch:

No, you're not the only one. And that Grand Seiko is gorgeous

Originally Posted by srivats

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Look at how smoothly that second hand sweeps - nothing ETA has produced is this smooth from what I have seen . . .
This comment doesn't really make much sense. The seconds hand of an ETA mechanical movements obviously won't sweep as smoothly--but neither will that of a Patek movement. Since they are fully mechanical, their beat rate is going to be much slower. The technologies you are comparing are completely different and the difference you're talking about says nothing about quality or refinement. Keep in mind: the fact that the seconds hand on a typical quartz watch steps from second to second is actually considered a horological advancement compared to the smoother sweep of the seconds hand on a mechanical watch, as it more clearly indicates the seconds as they pass. It takes more complexity and energy consumption to make step seconds work on a mechanical movement, so it is rarely done. If a quartz watch manufacturer wanted to make a watch with a smoothly sweeping seconds hand, it would be very easy to do so.

Originally Posted by srivats

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Even their quartz watches are so nice - look at how nicely the seconds hand aligns with the marks. Now show me a ETA movement that does anything close!
Again, that says little to nothing about movement quality. Whether the seconds hand lines up with the dial markers has much more to do with calibration after the movement has been manufactured.

Originally Posted by mafoofan

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This comment doesn't really make much sense. The seconds hand of an ETA mechanical movements obviously won't sweep as smoothly--but neither will that of a Patek movement. Since they are fully mechanical, their beat rate is going to be much slower. The technologies you are comparing are completely different and the difference you're talking about says nothing about quality or refinement.

Keep in mind: the fact that the seconds hand on a typical quartz watch steps from second to second is actually considered a horological advancement compared to the smoother sweep of the seconds hand on a mechanical watch, as it more clearly indicates the seconds as they pass. It takes more complexity and energy consumption to make step seconds work on a mechanical movement, so it is rarely done. If a quartz watch manufacturer wanted to make a watch with a smoothly sweeping seconds hand, it would be very easy to do so.

Case aesthetics apart, can you explain a little more on what you mean by quality/refinement in this context?

The seiko spring drive is mechanical too - no need for an external battery. Also, all spring drives are hand assembled from what I understand. I specifically posted the spring drive to point out that Seiko's in-house movements are comparable (if not better) than swiss ETAs that go in other luxury watches.

If we were discussing step seconds, we would be arguing about which quartz movement is better Quartz watches are easily more accurate at a fraction of the cost, no question. However, I don't think it is easy for a simple quartz watch to mimic the perfect sweeping of the spring drive grand seiko ... the spring drive has a quartz crystal (that is fed by the energy generated from the main spring) and a special regulator to create that beautiful sweep. Is this what you meant by the Seiko not being fully mechanical? For me, the grand seiko is fully mechanical (no battery + self winded). I am not sure how much you know about spring drive, but I don't want to derail the thread discussing it here.

FWIW, seiko also makes a great hi-beat (36000) grand seiko - the SBGH001

I definitely appreciate other watches (some PPs posted here are breathtaking) for aesthetics, but if I have to pick a new watch (mehcanical or quartz) to spend money on, it will be a Seiko. I am very tempted to start searching for a used omega constellation, but I am trying to control the lust.

Originally Posted by mafoofan

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Again, that says little to nothing about movement quality. Whether the seconds hand lines up with the dial markers has much more to do with calibration after the movement has been manufactured.

To me, this is a sign of very high quality. I have been plenty nice quartz watches in real life, nothing had anything close to that quartz seiko. Show me a swiss watch that has something similar - I am not arguing with you, I am very curious to learn.

Originally Posted by btinl

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no. They are hideous. big watch trend.

Typical Paneristi.

Regards.

Originally Posted by Shikar

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Typical Paneristi.

Regards.

Fewer fans = better chance of getting the new 339

Originally Posted by Singular

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/M

I love this presentation, it's the first time I've seen a Rolex and really liked it. Any info on the strap?

New Arrival : Cashmere and submarine steel

Originally Posted by btinl

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Fewer fans = better chance of getting the new 339

Nice.

Of course, showing the watch and sharing the model name will also help drawing peoples attention away from it.

Originally Posted by srivats

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Am I the only one who doesn't like Panerai here? This grand seiko spring drive(with a brown shell cordo strap) is my current dream watch:

Originally Posted by texas_jack

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Am I the only one who doesn't like Panerai?

Guess not.

Here we go again. The circus is in town.

Regards.

Small timer contribution:

Originally Posted by Shikar

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Regards.
Nice, but some of those watches seem to have too few diamonds