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What should I buy. Please help a noob

2K views 26 replies 19 participants last post by  Rusty427 
#1 ·
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
 
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#3 ·
Welcome to the forum.
My attitude to the WatchSnob is that he is foremostly there for entertainment value. Sure he knows a thing about (mostly high end watches), but his tastes (stuck in the 70s, Royal Oak and Nautilus, FGS) and opinions is not the gospel and are often not true for everyone. So forget about the WatchSnob, he's a d@@k.
As for recommendations, do a search - this question has been asked many, many times.
 
#4 · (Edited)
There is an excellent Kiwi watch company - Magrette. They don't have a 100 year history, but the quality and reviews of their timepieces have been very positive. Everyone else has to pay to have them shipped from NZ to the US or Europe so it's the one instance where your location is an advantage =)

As per your requirements....since you seem to emphasize brand = quality, and you're not willing to consider Hamilton* I would get Longines Legend Diver and call it a day.

* just so you're aware, Hamilton is American in name only. The company is owned by Swatch and uses ETA movements just like every other generic Swiss brand
 
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#5 · (Edited)
Pretty new here myself, but I might as well jump on the bandwagon and suggest an Omega also, if you don't mind used. Love my Speedy Pro, right now it's my favorite in my meager collection. I also picked up a Chopard Mille Miglia for about your budget used, and if you like cars you might enjoy one.

As for Bulova, I actually own two. One is a Spaceview with the 214 tuning fork movement from the early 70s, and one was an impulse buy at a mall jewelry shop while I was picking up cookies (my wife loves Great American Cookie, what can I say). Case quality is decent and dial looks okay, but they are cheap because they use Japanese movements that aren't particularly well decorated, mineral crystals, and the bracelet is kinda chintzy. But it felt good on my wrist and for $300 with an automatic movement, I took it home. Wore it for two days straight just to make sure I liked it, and it's still in my watch box.
 
#6 ·
Welcome to the forum. As far as I'm concerned you're off to a flying start because you've bought a Tissot. Back before when I was a lad (long ago) Hamilton were an American brand but are now Swiss and truly international. I point this out because:
1/ You like the Khaki.
2/ Along with Tissot and Seiko, Hamilton was the other brand I thought of recommending to you.
 
#7 ·
Magrette has been mentioned... you need to own one, they're awesome and (all but the movement) made in Auckland.

Personally, I believe the Swiss have been totally over-rated, and that Japanese watches are on the whole objectively better and much better value. So, consider a high-end Seiko or Citizen; you'll save a ton of money, and get a more practical and at least as well made watch.
 
#8 · (Edited)
Pardon me, but...
Screw the watchsnob. There's "snob" in his name, and while he has a little horological knowledge, he is absolutely blind to the amazing watches out there for less than his arbitrary dollar value. There are so many amazing pieces from big names like Certina, Mido, Longines, Hamilton, Raymond Weil, Seiko (yes, they make really good watches) and others, and from small shops like Steinhart, Magrttte, Christopher Ward, Lum-Tec, the list could go on and on. Finish close to the "luxury" brands, interesting design, quality long lasting pieces. You're being totally myopic if you ignore them-- particularly in your price range. The fact that you would discount the B&M just because it was "not very different' from a TAG? Whatever.

The answer to your question is Stowa. German, historic watches (using well decorated ETA movements). One of the original manufacturers of the pilot's watch, so there's the history. 40mm-- perfect size. And prices range from $1K to $2K, depending on the movement and strap you choose.

And trust me, if you walk into a room of watch lovers wearing the Stowa Flieger Baumeister B, they'll know it. And you'll certainly get respect.
Flieger - STOWA GmbH & Co.KG



Done and done.

(oh, the deal with Bulova? It was an American company (GASP!) that was bought by Citizen (Japan) (SHRIEK!) about a decade ago. Some OK stuff, but generally not up to the quality standards of the other recs we've given)
 
#9 · (Edited)
I would probably say a chrono automatic from tissot, certina, hamilton, and or steinhart. All swiss brands, that have been around since the 1900s. These cost about 1000 usd if im not wrong, or I at least hope so. Lets take a look:

Tissot Couturier Chronograph Valjoux Mens Watch T035.614.16.051.01

Tissot T-Sport PRS 516 Automatic Chronograph Mens Watch T044.614.21.051.00

Tissot PRS 516 Chronograph Mens Watch T044.614.26.031.00

Hamilton American Classic Jazzmaster Chronograph Automatic Black Dial Mens Watch H32606735
Hamilton Jazzmaster Automatic Chronograph Black Dial Mens Watch H32596731

I dont know, there may be some more swiss automatic chronos for sub 1000:- dollars.
 
#21 ·
I would probably say a chrono automatic from tissot, certina, hamilton, and or steinhart. All swiss brands, that have been around since the 1900s. These cost about 1000 usd if im not wrong, or I at least hope so. Lets take a look:

Tissot Couturier Chronograph Valjoux Mens Watch T035.614.16.051.01

Tissot T-Sport PRS 516 Automatic Chronograph Mens Watch T044.614.21.051.00

Tissot PRS 516 Chronograph Mens Watch T044.614.26.031.00

Hamilton American Classic Jazzmaster Chronograph Automatic Black Dial Mens Watch H32606735
Hamilton Jazzmaster Automatic Chronograph Black Dial Mens Watch H32596731

I dont know, there may be some more swiss automatic chronos for sub 1000:- dollars.
Hamilton (the name) has been around for well over 100 years, but they've only been "Swiss" for the last couple of decades, sort of like Ball. Hamilton and Ball were top line American manufacturers in the mid to late 1800's and the Swiss actually copied their manufacturing techniques and created the Swiss watch industry based on this. Note that I'm not talking about the small handmade Swiss/German brands from back then. However, there was a desire to create more of an "industry" rather than a craft trade, and that why they borrowed heavily from the American pocketwatch industry.
 
#12 ·
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)

Thanks
New Enthusiast from NZ
Despite what you say, I'm not sure if you truly are a Watchsnob disciple... his true followers know that a 40mm diameter watch is his maximum preference. :-d
Anything over 40 mm is to his eyes: big, gaudy, and an abomination of a dinner plate strapped to one's wrist! You should know that! ;-):-d

All kidding aside, welcome to WUS! :-!
 
#13 ·
If you like the Watch Snob, you should probably pick something the WS suggested that's within your budget.
 
#19 ·
A moment on the Watchsnob. I find him to be tongue in cheek most of the time and when not just cut from the more decorum oriented side of the same cloth that Archie Luxury is. To truly impress the watch snob you will need to extend your budget at least 25 times. His jabs are squarely at the majority of watch accumulators like many on here. The middle ground which most of us tread in is the area he has the most distaste with one notable variation, the Omega Speedy Pro. He makes the rare indulgence with the sub 1k budget just so he can appear fair and balanced but in the end he is just taking a jab. On to your conundrum. I say forget the WS you aren't going to make his character happy with any choice under 15-20K but you can get a darn fine watch for your budget. The Japanese and certain microbrands offer the best bang for buck under 1K but I do understand the desire for a dial that proclaims Swiss Made. Oris, Hamilton and Tissot would be some of the brands I would steer you toward. I personally think Oris offers great value in the true Swiss brands and are priced very aggressively by the good grey market dealers.
 
#23 ·
Trying to impress other with a mechanical watch is like telling really bad jokes pretty drunk at some party. Other people will just pretend to laugh, but in reality they will be thinking: "What an idiot..."

So ... Impress yourself with the watch you choose. That is ALL that matters really.
 
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