Another watch buying help thread

I honestly think you would really like the Cartier Santos XL. They have a great history and are a fantastic brand, the watch looks much better in person than in photos you will find online. I think you should check them out. You could also look at Breguet Type XX you can't go wrong with the oldest watch company around and Napoleon used to wear one so you know its good.
 
I get the impression that the OP is interested in a sports watch, but if a dress watch is in the running, the Santos is worth a look. I got one for my wife for Christmas, as a matter of fact.
 
I have a Cartier Roadster. Sold my Rolex to get it. Mine is gold and steel, but if I had it to do over, I'd go for the all steel. It is really gorgeous, to me, and looks different than most other watches. And It really takes banging around well. Owned it for - maybe 7-8 years, and have never even had it serviced.

Sorry, don't have a photo downloaded, but you can search for it. Mine is the plain (none of the little dials) with roman numerals. Check one out.
 
CWL said:
The OP is 17 years old. If he needs to impress the ladies or other young gents, a Rolex will mean more than Panerai ever will. I would have loved to be flashing a Rolex at that age.
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When I graduated from HS my father wanted to buy me a watch. Our city had only one large jewelry store and I knew of the Rolex and Omega names but I didn't know what models they sold. I picked out a gold Omega which was a little cheaper than the 2-tone Rolex models (probably the Rolex Date model) that they sold, and I still have it. I don't recall that they had very many models and probably didn't have the Submariners and Speedmasters that people like now. Now that I know a lot more about watch collecting I like to think back to what it would have been like if I had been able to select a moon watch or a Submariner from that era.

I've owned a Submariner since then and it ran flawlessly for the 10 years that I wore it. I finally decided that I preferred an Omega Seamaster because I liked its styling a little more and at least in my area it is a lot more exclusive watch than the Rolex.

Here is my Omega from high school graduation:

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I can't believe no one has said this yet, but...

Honestly, at 17, I would put the money toward college, car, or house down payment depending on your circumstances. You have a bewildering array of expenses you can't even imagine that will be coming your way over the next 50 years. It's hard to recommend spending $5k on anything that won't provide a return on investment for you. A watch certainly won't and a car won't either, but you might need that for work and school. When you graduate from college and get a big time job making a boatload, and you have the house and car and some money in the bank, then buy yourself whatever Rolex you want.

Now, if you have all the money you need for the "important" stuff, go for it. I have an Omega and love it and have almost bought a Rolex a few times. Eventually, I will find a deal on a Daytona I can't refuse. You might prefer a Panerai or a Breitling Bentley, though, which tend to be more popular with the younger luxury watch buyer.
 
i went with a seamaster gmt when i finished my undergrad around 9 years ago. i just had it service and it came back looking brand new. i dont have any regrets, it looks fine on the weekends with short and during the week in a suit. when i started my mba i was planning on getting another watch when i finished. being done a few months back i still rock the omega. my latest purchase was a casio tough solar to time my sets at the gym.
 
Timezone.com is the bladeforums of watches. You get the best info / advice on knives here ... you'll get the best info / advice on watches there.

I have worn a Sinn 656 for about 10 years and love it. Have seen lots of Rolexes and Omegas, but never noticed anyone else wearing a Sinn. But if I were going to drop that kind of coin on a watch, considering your 300 meter requirement, my choice would be an IWC Aquatimer. Do you have any experiance wearing an automatic watch? The cheapest Seiko quartz perpetual is 100 times more accurate than a COSC certified automatic. You have to wear an automatic daily or put on a winder or it runs down. Before you plunk down that much money on an automatic watch (whose performance as a timepiece is far exceeded by your cellphone), shoot me an email through bladeforums and I'll send you a pilot style automatic watch with an ETA movement for you to test drive a few months. Might help determine if you are an up-and-coming WIS who can feel the soul of an automatic or looking to impress friends who can't tell the difference from a quartz.
 
If you are asking which watch you should get, it doesn't sound like you've found the watch yet.
I've recently started collecting some watches (none of mine have been much over $1000), and when you see it,
you'll know it. None of the usual suspects (Rolex, Omega, etc.) have made me very excited. I do like the PO.
 
Dear Op

I have several dozen watches including Rolex Omega and more

I have been diving for 50 years and usually wear a business suit
I travel a lot and my favorite watch for casual or dress is my Doxa 1200 T pro

It's rugged and very reliable waterproof with a very classic design

The price point is well within your budget and buying it from Doxa in Switzerland to us took about 4 days total

Also only a limited number produced

Go to the Doxa website and look at all their models they have black as well as silver and orange face models

There is even a titanium model

The 1200t is not too large in diameter and has the grain of rice type bracelet

Also go to watchuseek and check out their forums

My second favorite watch is my omega speedmaster but it is not as rugged or as distinctive

Google Clive Cussler Dirk Pitt and Doxa
 
I have had a lot of watches in my lifetime but I always come back to Rolex. Nothing like it for holding value and constant reliability. Daily wearers for the last ten years or so.
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Hi --- have razor you asked about-----will send picture----reply to lvcfish@gmail will send---on this line for some reason----its like new !!!--larry
 
I was slightly older than you back in 82 or so and just finished up with university and landed my first job in retail management. It was in a mall and a Rolex dealer was accross the way.

All I could think about was to get a Rollie on mu wrist as a memento of both graduating and a first real job. Could not afford one for the longest time and finally

ended up getting a 18k&SS Tudor oysterdate. Still runs perfectly and is one of my special occasion watches and on the heirloom list for my son.I have added a

couple of full fledged Rolex's since then but the Tudor is the one which I treasure most.

Rolex is like the universal language of timepieces.
 
Wow. I stopped checking this thread after the new year and didn't notice all of these posts. Thanks for the information guys!
 
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Try to find a pre-owned IWC Ingenieur (3227) or Fliegerchrono (3706) or Aquatimer on the Bay.
None are currently being produced so they might take a bit of doing to find.
They're all relatively large watches so you need at least a med sized wrist.
But they're very impressive and expensive looking watches.
The Ingenieur has it's very own in-house (IWC designed) movement while the Flieger has a highly modified Valjoux 7750 movement.
I've owned both and I can honestly say that IWC's fit and finish is light years ahead of both Rolex and Omega.
(I also owned a Submariner and Bond Seamaster so I know this from first hand experience)
A recommendation from left field is the Grand Seiko or Credor lines from Seiko.
These are not your run of the mill $125 Seikos that you see in the mall.
They make some absolutely beautiful dress watches rivaling the look of the JLC Master line in the classic styling dept. (and I love JLC's)
Their Marine Master is considered one of the absolute best diving watches you can buy.
And all Seikos have their own in-house movements too.
These are only available on line either from Japanese or European companies, so it'll take a bit of searching.
Have fun looking and let us know what you get.
Lenny
 
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I'm surprised no one has mentioned Hamilton Watches. They make a great time piece (I have an old Railroad Pocket watch I inherited and I fell in love with all the Hamilton Watches.)
A few years ago (before I inherited the Hamilton) I almost bought an Omega Speedmaster, but I balked at the last second. Good thing I did, because I realize "Everyone" has an Omega or a Rolex. I see those watches today and yawn. Boring and unimpressive. They are not unique or even a status symbol these days, IMO.

Look at some Hamilton's, you wont be disappointed, and they won't break your bank account. I recommend them because they are a nice quality, stylish time piece which you will never get tired of and, like another poster said, what you like now will not be what you like in 20 years.
 
Tdhurl1103 said:
I'm surprised no one has mentioned Hamilton Watches. They make a great time piece (I have an old Railroad Pocket watch I inherited and I fell in love with all the Hamilton Watches.)
A few years ago (before I inherited the Hamilton) I almost bought an Omega Speedmaster, but I balked at the last second. Good thing I did, because I realize "Everyone" has an Omega or a Rolex. I see those watches today and yawn. Boring and unimpressive. They are not unique or even a status symbol these days, IMO.

Look at some Hamilton's, you wont be disappointed, and they won't break your bank account. I recommend them because they are a nice quality, stylish time piece which you will never get tired of and, like another poster said, what you like now will not be what you like in 20 years.
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I was just looking at Hamilton's Intra-matic. Looks like something that could be worn everyday, but lacks water-resistance and a second hand. Maybe I'll need to get more than one watch...
 
Tdhurl1103 said:
I'm surprised no one has mentioned Hamilton Watches. They make a great time piece (I have an old Railroad Pocket watch I inherited and I fell in love with all the Hamilton Watches.)
A few years ago (before I inherited the Hamilton) I almost bought an Omega Speedmaster, but I balked at the last second. Good thing I did, because I realize "Everyone" has an Omega or a Rolex. I see those watches today and yawn. Boring and unimpressive. They are not unique or even a status symbol these days, IMO.

Look at some Hamilton's, you wont be disappointed, and they won't break your bank account. I recommend them because they are a nice quality, stylish time piece which you will never get tired of and, like another poster said, what you like now will not be what you like in 20 years.
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I hope nobody takes this the wrong way, but today's Hamilton watches bear almost no relationship to the original Hamiltons.
The new ones are mass produced somewhere in asia and are just basic watches, most if not all have quartz movements I suspect.
The orig American made mechanical Hamiltons were true works of art.
Now, I assumed the OP wants a "nice" watch.
The only way you can figure this out for yourself is to look at a new Hamilton, then look at a modern IWC, hopefully side by side.
If you can't tell the difference, then, by all means, buy the Hamilton.
Lenny
 
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