[LLeite]

Hello dear watch lovers.

Back to this community after a long, long break (so long; i lost my original account....)

After 6/7y of loving and appreciating watches, and having as most expensive watch a modest Hamilto Jazzmaster (Whited, 2016 version), I have finally cracked under my love for Chronographs and decided to purchase one!

My mind was originally set at Longines Master Chrono (L26294783) and thus I went to an AD to see it. I am used to 39-42mm watches, however this one felt a bit too big (maybe due to its light colour?) and thus I started looking online for options, ahead of jumping to soon on this beauty:

I quickly found one or two mint condition used chonographs at Chrono 24, namely Tag Heuer 1886 (left pic below) or calibre 16 (right pic below)

To make it worse my girlfriend introduced the question of a blue Chronograph as this eye-catching Pontos from Maurice Lacroix:

All said and done I would say I am more inclined towards the Longines Chrono or the Tag Heuer 1887, however I would like you all to help me (or confuse me more) by:

- Introducing more options new or second hand on the price range I am looking at (PS: my grail watch is the IWC Portugieser chrono; I am looking at treating myself, thus spending >1.5k, but less than 2.5k, as I wouldn't feel confortable having such expensive timepiece yet)​

- Sharing your view on New vs Second hand (1. I have never purchased anything this expensive - watch or not - from an international store; 2. this will be the most expensive watch I will own for a good couple of year, being worth 4x more than my current most expensive watch)​

- Telling which would watch you'd pick yourself​

I know I am asking a lot without giving anything in return, so I I am just hoping the forum spirit of some years back as remained strong and some aficionados will come in rushing, sharing their know-how (and eye-candy wrist shots when available )

Thank you!!!!

 

[Alallthetime]

If you like IWC Portugieser, you might want to look at Junghans Chronoscope or discontinued Junghans Attache. Both are in your price range. The latter one is literally the poor man's Portugieser. They have basic 7750 inside, so, even in the worst case scenario, you'll not be broken by service costs.

 

[LLeite]

If you like IWC Portugieser, you might want to look at Junghans Chronoscope or discontinued Junghans Attache. Both are in your price range. The latter one is literally the poor man's Portugieser. They have basic 7750 inside, so, even in the worst case scenario, you'll not be broken by service costs.

thank you! browsing through those models (and quite soft on the price range)

 

[Alallthetime]

It's so quiet here... I have no idea why. Well, let's at least have a picture. BTW, you can afford full calendar chrono from a few not fancy brands, too, e.g. Longines Master Calendar.

 

[cheu_f50]

Tag Carrera is a good choice. I got myself a used omega seamaster chrono 2225.80 back in 2010 as my first "nice" watch.

I'm selling my sinn 103 if that interests you. Listed it in this forum earlier today.

 

[kritameth]

Check out some Sinn chronos too.

Here's my 103 Military Type IV.

 

[ddaly12]

I have one of these inbound... not exactly small, but the tech is impressive and I love the design. Fits your budget in the secondary market. You might want something more name brand for your first big step up into more serious watch territory... but this is a legit option for the real watch guy. Damasko DC66.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[h2c]

Heuer cs3111 cs3113 cs3110, iwc 3741, zenith el primero handwind

 

[sticky]

Once again I find myself in agreeance with Krita as Sinn make some great chronos.

 

[LLeite]

It's so quiet here... I have no idea why. Well, let's at least have a picture. BTW, you can afford full calendar chrono from a few not fancy brands, too, e.g. Longines Master Calendar.

View attachment 15645386

ahah thanks for getting it started and nice wrist shot !

 

[LLeite]

Check out some Sinn chronos too.

Here's my 103 Military Type IV.
View attachment 15645421

it looks stunning! unfortunately, as I am planning for only one big purchase now, and I'd like to wear it daily, I would like something with a bit of a less bold look

 

[LLeite]

Tag Carrera is a good choice. I got myself a used omega seamaster chrono 2225.80 back in 2010 as my first "nice" watch.

I'm selling my sinn 103 if that interests you. Listed it in this forum earlier today.

Tag Carrera is a good choice. I got myself a used omega seamaster chrono 2225.80 back in 2010 as my first "nice" watch.

I'm selling my sinn 103 if that interests you. Listed it in this forum earlier today.

thanks for the offer. I do understand the watch's appeal, but I am really looking for something slightly less under the radar Going for a chronograph, is already a step up above my usual "minimalist" self.

 

[LLeite]

Heuer cs3111 cs3113 cs3110, iwc 3741, zenith el primero handwind

Wow! you understood my " target" quite quickly from a looks perspective! Nonetheless, these are all above budget options...

The deals I am seeing for "el primero" are making this sticking to a budget thing, really difficult as I am being really tempted by a few I am seeing on the 3k€ mar....(I did promise myself I wouldn't go overboard in a first big purchase)

The IWC is also interesting, but on my price range I am only finding quartz version. The cs3111 options I am finding are al in the 5k mark, so definetly not looking at those.

 

[GirchyGirchy]

Check out Farer, they offer several hand-wind and automatic chronos. I have a Mortiz that I love.

 

[CJM3175]

Old... epic movement in a contemporary case:

Ebel El Primero

 

[Alallthetime]

Old... epic movement in a contemporary case

Cal.137 is epic enough, too. The problem is, both 1911/El Primero and 1911/137 are old, and very few independent watchmakers are able to work on them, and the last time I checked, MGI charged about a thousand dollars to service them. Oh, and finding a new strap for 1911 is an epic quest by itself.
Other than that - I love Ebel 1911 (fortunately, mine is on a bracelet) and highly recommend it, just not as a first chronograph watch.

 

[h2c]

Wow! you understood my " target" quite quickly from a looks perspective! Nonetheless, these are all above budget options...

The deals I am seeing for "el primero" are making this sticking to a budget thing, really difficult as I am being really tempted by a few I am seeing on the 3k€ mar....(I did promise myself I wouldn't go overboard in a first big purchase)

The IWC is also interesting, but on my price range I am only finding quartz version. The cs3111 options I am finding are al in the 5k mark, so definetly not looking at those.

Iwc is half quartz half auto...usually 2k usd
Zenith hand wind is usually 2k usd
Cs3111 is around 2.5k-3k usually

Check on past sales using search functions or watchcharts.com

Edit: found this on eBay, its located in USA not sure if u would want to pay import taxes but just an example

Wristwatches for Sale - Shop New & Used Watches - eBay

Find great deals on 1000s of watches, including new & used luxury Wristwatches from top brands. Free shipping on many items when you shop eBay.

www.ebay.com

 

[Luis_Leite]

Wow, I would swear I had written a huge comment here, but it's gone...odd....

1. An amazing Admin helped me recover my old account
2. Thank you all for your help! The community is as amazing as I recall it.
3. I went with the Tag Heuer Cal. 1887. Very good condition, new bracelet (not by Tag ) No Official documents, but a certificate of authentication from the seller, a water proof test and, obviously an invoice
4.If tradition is still the same, I owe you some wrist shots. However, I'll do this after the confinement here is done (prefer outside shots)
5. Am I happy? Long story.....Lot's of buyer's remorse because of everything I already new: i) could have almost bought an Omega for the price, which value wouldn't steep as low in the next years; ii) the model is recently discontined and thus may be hard to service in the long future; iii) it doesn't perfectly fit under my shirt cuffs (I work in a suit)...but I can't avoid but smiling like a fool when seeing it on my wrist! I put it side by side with my father's speedy, and after he tested the pushers on my Tag H. he was surprised at how smooth the pushers and the movement were. Honestly, the movement looks beautiful and works smoothly, and that has removed my worries, with not being a 100% in-house movement.
All in all...I am happy Carrera owner!