Hello everyone,
I will start off by saying this is a great forum and there seem to be a lot of information here.
Background on me: I am a professional engineer working in New Zealand in an office and have recently started the obsession with watches. I have been doing a bit of reading on here and watchsob. I am not sure what people think about him but he seems to know what he is talking about and now I feel like I can only buy something he approves.
I bought a Seiko 5 automatic for less than $100 as my first watch. I also bought a Tissot PRC 200 with black leather strap and the one with the yellow on black chrono worth 300USD (from Amazon) . It hasn’t arrived yet.
Being in NZ makes it very hard for me to buy or look at anything. The market is very small and we don’t have much choice. Both my purchases have been from America (ebay and Amazon). The prices are very different here in NZ compare to America. E.g. the PRC 200 I bought cost me 400 NZD after shipping forex etc. Here in NZ the cheapest quote I got was 825 NZD. So in general its about double the price here. I know the two I bought probably aren’t from an AD and the shop would most likely have been an AD.
Anyway that’s the background. Now I want to buy my next watch. This is where you guys come in.
I apologize in advance if this question has been asked numerous times but bear with me till the end for my requirements or wish list items.
I have seen watchsnobs post on under $1000 watches. I really like the Hamilton Khaki and the xentum. But the only problem with both of those is that they are American (no offence to anybody)
So heres what I am looking for:
-Good brand – a brand that’s been around for a long time. 100+ years. Brand that is reputable. Brand with history, possibly awards etc. Brand that is preferably swiss but can be European but definitely not American. I don’t have anything against American brand its just that if I am spending so much then I want to get a swiss. And Watchsnob should like it. (probably be very hard)
- budget – approx. $1000 USD. Now I realize I am not going to get much for $1000 with all the requirements I have. So that’s fine if its over $1000. It can be upto $2000 USD. Don’t forget the $2000 USD watch will cost me close to $4000 NZD.
-Must be Automatic
-all the bells and whistles of a luxury watch as per watchsnob.
-Must be round ( I don’t like rectangular or square watches)
-Can be chrono or pilot
-40mm minimum diameter. (not very important)
I am guessing I have annoyed a lot of people by praising watchsnob so much. I apologize again. I have no intentions on doing that. I feel with my very little to no knowledge he feels like he knows what he is talking about with all the history etc. By all means recommend me a watch that he doesn’t like for whatever reason but meets all other criteria. If I was in America I would have bought an IWC. But its double the price here so I can’t afford it.
The problems is I saw a few watches online that I like. And then I go and read about it on watchsnob or Wikipedia. I then get put off. E.g I like the Baume Mercier Capeland. I read one article on Baume Mercier by Watchsnob and he says they are not very different from Tag Huers.
Am I listening to Watchsnob too much? I think I know the answer to that.
Feel free to provide feedback advice.
Another random question. Whats the deal with Bulova. They seem to fit my requirements and they look great but why are they so cheap??
Again, I can’t stress enough that I admit I know nothing about watches and I have no intentions on offending anybody. So please forgive me if I have.
Your help, time and advise is much appreciated and won’t be taken lightly.
I realize using words like “my requirements” can come off strong and arrogant. But I couldn’t think of another word. Go easy on me
Thanks
New Enthusiast from NZ
I will start off by saying this is a great forum and there seem to be a lot of information here.
Background on me: I am a professional engineer working in New Zealand in an office and have recently started the obsession with watches. I have been doing a bit of reading on here and watchsob. I am not sure what people think about him but he seems to know what he is talking about and now I feel like I can only buy something he approves.
I bought a Seiko 5 automatic for less than $100 as my first watch. I also bought a Tissot PRC 200 with black leather strap and the one with the yellow on black chrono worth 300USD (from Amazon) . It hasn’t arrived yet.
Being in NZ makes it very hard for me to buy or look at anything. The market is very small and we don’t have much choice. Both my purchases have been from America (ebay and Amazon). The prices are very different here in NZ compare to America. E.g. the PRC 200 I bought cost me 400 NZD after shipping forex etc. Here in NZ the cheapest quote I got was 825 NZD. So in general its about double the price here. I know the two I bought probably aren’t from an AD and the shop would most likely have been an AD.
Anyway that’s the background. Now I want to buy my next watch. This is where you guys come in.
I apologize in advance if this question has been asked numerous times but bear with me till the end for my requirements or wish list items.
I have seen watchsnobs post on under $1000 watches. I really like the Hamilton Khaki and the xentum. But the only problem with both of those is that they are American (no offence to anybody)
So heres what I am looking for:
-Good brand – a brand that’s been around for a long time. 100+ years. Brand that is reputable. Brand with history, possibly awards etc. Brand that is preferably swiss but can be European but definitely not American. I don’t have anything against American brand its just that if I am spending so much then I want to get a swiss. And Watchsnob should like it. (probably be very hard)
- budget – approx. $1000 USD. Now I realize I am not going to get much for $1000 with all the requirements I have. So that’s fine if its over $1000. It can be upto $2000 USD. Don’t forget the $2000 USD watch will cost me close to $4000 NZD.
-Must be Automatic
-all the bells and whistles of a luxury watch as per watchsnob.
-Must be round ( I don’t like rectangular or square watches)
-Can be chrono or pilot
-40mm minimum diameter. (not very important)
I am guessing I have annoyed a lot of people by praising watchsnob so much. I apologize again. I have no intentions on doing that. I feel with my very little to no knowledge he feels like he knows what he is talking about with all the history etc. By all means recommend me a watch that he doesn’t like for whatever reason but meets all other criteria. If I was in America I would have bought an IWC. But its double the price here so I can’t afford it.
The problems is I saw a few watches online that I like. And then I go and read about it on watchsnob or Wikipedia. I then get put off. E.g I like the Baume Mercier Capeland. I read one article on Baume Mercier by Watchsnob and he says they are not very different from Tag Huers.
Am I listening to Watchsnob too much? I think I know the answer to that.
Feel free to provide feedback advice.
Another random question. Whats the deal with Bulova. They seem to fit my requirements and they look great but why are they so cheap??
Again, I can’t stress enough that I admit I know nothing about watches and I have no intentions on offending anybody. So please forgive me if I have.
Your help, time and advise is much appreciated and won’t be taken lightly.
I realize using words like “my requirements” can come off strong and arrogant. But I couldn’t think of another word. Go easy on me
Thanks
New Enthusiast from NZ