Are automatic watches making a comeback?

shootist16

shootist16

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Seems that autos are becoming more and more popular. After getting my first auto not too long ago I can see why. I would have a hard time going back to quartz.
 
I certainly concur. I really love my Revue Thommen Ti Airspeed Chronograph.

Revue Thommen Airspeed automatic

I also recently got a real good "tool" watch for an everyday beater. This one is a Fortis 40mm basic model on a leather strap.

Fortis

Both are bringing great satisfaction and are a joy to use. The watch bug is as bad, maybe even worse, then this custom knife thing. :D
 
Dennis, when you get tired of that SAR let me know, I will try to trade you some Sinn for it!
 
I say the following in a friendly spirit. First, Copfish, the SAR watch may be nice, but Sinn makes an AWFULLY fine watch, few people trade theirs in for another watch brand, and theres a reason for that, they are extremely fine watches, a poor mans IWC for a fifth the price.

And to the thread starter, i dont think autos were ever gone to have made a comeback. The masses have, and always will have a cheap quartz watch on their wrist, and a select group of individuals who appreciate the finer things, and who have been exposed to the world of autos wear and appreciate an auto, and i think that hasnt changed at all. I think that you simply have become one of us, you have crossed over to the dark side, and your bank account WILL suffer. :)
 
Autos are a whole 'nuther world from quartz, although I have seen quartz watches from some of the "finer brands" retail in excess of $2,500. Some manufacturers will slap quartz movements in some of their models that would sell for even thousands more with an automatic. It's fun to go to the watch nut sites and look at the arguments about movements like "xxxx-xx ETA movement is crap", and "I just won't wear a watch unless the movement is manufactured in-house". Very amusing. :)
 
My current edc watch is a is a Citizen Promaster auto, which at £80 here is about as much as I could afford for an auto. I'd love an auto with an alarm, but they all seem to be silly prices.
 
These are the ones that have caught my fancy to date

Revue Tommen Airspeed Altimeter--Cool concept, but the appearance is a little cluttered for my taste and I don't know enough about the movement or the aneroid capsule. (OK It's a 17 jewel manual wind, but the altimeter will compensate for that if it's as good as other Thommen altimeters.)
Sinn EZM2--Wow! I think this is my favorite so far.
Sinn 656--This one's got style.
PRS-1 Speedbird Only $285 but old out :(
Seiko 7S26 Military or Divers watch. "Good enough" and they seem like a great value. I'll probably replace my Luminox Nato Field Watch with one of these, but the Sinn's are really tempting.
 
Diletante, the Sinn EZM2 is NOT an auto, its a mediocre quartz Mvt. The EZM2 has great cool factor with its impressive depth rating, but aside from that, its not, IMO, such a great watch, and definitely not in the same league as the rest of the EZM line. The EZM 1 and 3 do have an auto mvt, the 1 has the beautifully made Lemania 5100 and the EZM3 has a modified Valjoux 7750. I wear and love the EZM3, had a 1, prefer the 3 for some reason.

Believe it or not, if you live in Europe, you can buy a new EZM2 for about $500, the EZM1 is $1200, the EZM3 is about $850. Here in the US, unless you buy off of Ebay, youll pay about double those prices. I think Sinn makes a great watch for the money (euro prices), theyre built like an IWC, for a third the price.

PS. I just found a brand new EZM3 on Ebay with a buy it now price of $895. If i didnt have one on my wrist right now, id buy it in a heartbeat. Its a good price and a LOT of watch for the $.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=941393530
 
I just preferred the looks of the EZM2 over the other EZMs and assumed they were all autos. Oh well. I'm still in the browsing phase (unless I find the price of a Marathon SAR before they sell out).

I don't need quartz accuracy and appreciate mechanical watches, but I don't see myself as a collector. I'd just like one rugged, water-resistant* user with some style for $750 or less (and preferably $500 or less). A Sinn would be awesome, a Marathon SAR would be great and a Seiko 7S26 would be good enough.

*I'm not looking for a diving watch, just something water-resistant enough to swim in if I ever want to or have to.
 
I agree, i like the looks of the EZM2 a lot, but when i owned it, i felt it wasnt all it was touted to be, one thing i just cant tolerate on a quartz wacth, is a second hand that doesnt line up properly with the markers it is supposed to be hitting as it travels around the dial, and the EZM2 didnt do it. Every Seiko divers watch i have ever examined can do it, the Sinn should as well for the price. But, if i were you, id keep an eye on Ebay for a Sinn EZM3 at a good price. You may be able to get lucky and find a slightly used one for $600-$700, which is within your price range. It would make a great user. I actually prefer the 3 to the 1, even though the 1 is their "flagship". I owned a 1, sold it and got the 3. So, the above advice comes from someone who has owned all 3 of the EZM series. I know theres a 4, but its a weird watch, and i dont think of it as an EZM.
 
Another great Sinn choice, and a great tool watch, would be the 103 Ti Ar UTC. It has the 7750 movement mentioned above, as well as a second hour hand for keeping track of a second timezone. It is not only extremely useful, but the yellow hand and the yellow "UTC" are a great contrast with the black dial. The watch is also extremely easy to read with the large luminous arabic numerals. A Sinn, whether it be one from the EZM or 103 line - or any of the other models, is a great choice in my opinion.:)

Bucky
 
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