Best Watch?

I can't say enough good things about this one. Built like a tank, automatic, extremely accurate, and if there is a watch out there more waterproof, I haven't seen it. Hope the link works. If not, go to BREITLING.COM and find the "SuperOcean Pro" model.......Jeff

http://www.breitling.com/eng/models/aeromarine/professional/index.html

p.s. If you are thinking about this one, go for the steel bracelet. I bought the rubber strap about a year later. Much cheaper to get the steel first.
 
I don't think Breitlings really represent good value. They are more of a fashion-watch company - they don't manufacture their own movements, or produce many of their own components. Most of the price of a Breitling is going to the advertising.

(Of course, the same could be said about many watch brands.)

My other beef with Breitling is the silly protruding bezel tabs, and the excessively busy dials and bezels their models usually are burdened with. Too much glitz, not enough functional design.

You'd be far better served with an honest Seiko automatic.
 
bae, I noted your suggestion of the IWC GST series and wanted to ask you if you have a preference for it over the Fieger series. Also, how do you think IWC's titanium finish compares to other makers?

I've enjoyed reading your articles that used to be at Timezone...
 
I'll have to agree with bae again on the Breitling thing.
Next to Rolex, they've gotta be the most overpriced brand on the market. They take a completely unfinished ETA movement, slap it in a mediocre case, slap on a very "busy" dial, and "fancy" bezel, and charge $2500. I don't even think they use sapphire crystals on some of their watches. ETA movements can be made more refined by extensive finishing and tweaking (like Omega and IWC do), but not the way Breitling does it. Breitling does, however, make some of the nicest SS bracelets and leather bands in the business.
Of all commodities, wristwatches require the most research to get your money's worth. A flashy complicated looking exterior, or blitzkrieg marketing, or image, or past accomplishments does not a fine mechanical instrument make.
I purchased an automatic Seiko Diver at Costco about 3 years ago for $135. It's built like a tank and I'd put it up against any Rolex, any day. Sure, it doesn't have some of the bells and whistles like the Rolex (sapphire crystal, manual winding) but I can buy 20 of them for the price of a Submariner.
Lenny
 
Thanks for all the comments so far,,keep 'em coming. I figured that if I gave a budget that it might help to narrow down what the best value for that amount would be. With that said, I'd like to spend about $2500.00. Yea, it ain't enough for some of the watches mentioned but it ought to buy a pretty good watch.

Phillip
 
Hey notdos, that's a good amount of $ to spend on a watch. I paid less than that for my Fliegerchrono. However, I got extremely lucky. The guy I bought it from owned it for 5 weeks before deciding to sell it.
I would definitely recommend purchasing pre-owned. Take your time, learn as much as possible about the watch you like, then check out what pre-owned ones go for on TimeZone. Watches are similar to knives in that people buy them, then decide they don't like them as much as they thought, then sell them soon thereafter for a substantial loss. However, other than a few minor scratches on the case and bracelet, the watch remains perfect inside, unlike knives which definitely age quickly with use. I'm sure that both bae and I can help you look for a good price once you decide on a model.
If you plan to use the watch every day, and not just for dress occasions, I definitely recommend getting a SS watch with a SS bracelet. If you like the Fliegerchrono's looks, check it out in person. It has one of the best bracelets on the market. It and most of the IWC's incorporate an ingenious, spring loaded, user replaceable pin system for the bracelet links. It couldn't be simpler to shorten or lengthen the bracelet.
Lenny
 
IWC Flieger vs. GST series? I don't really have a preference, as each watch is aimed at a different niche. I think overall that the Flieger is a bit more versatile, as you can sneak it by as a casual/dressy watch, which is harder to do with the tuna-can profile of the GST series.

The GST series is better if you are looking for higher water resistance, and, in the titanium case, better abuseability. The IWC titanium finish is amazingly hard - it's been surface hardened, and holds up well under all sorts of insults. The titanium is also nice if you have any allergies. The GST line also offers a wider range of functionality than the Fliegers - dive watches, depth gauges, perpetual calendars, and so on.

The bracelets on both are works of art, and nicer than bracelets that come on some watches that are 10x the price. The movements in the two series are essentially identical.

As far as buying IWCs, you should easily be able to get 35% off list price from an authorized dealer for a NIB piece, and there are some dealers who will go to 40%. Notdos should be able to find a nice one in his price range, if he wants to go IWC.
 
Keep in mind that almost all brands can be had for at least 20% off. I brought a mail order catalog with me to the showroom and the manager wanted to make the sale so he matched the price of the catalog. Then sizing was free, and warranty was extended.
 
Indeed, 20% off should be no problem at all on most brands. However, 35% off is easily had on most, not just IWC. Check out TimeZone for information on discounting/sources.

Most dealers won't offer 35-40% discounts to people right off the street, but once they get to know you and realize you are serious, and aren't a manufacturer's spy, you're set.

I've almost completely given up buying grey market these days, as I can get competitive pricing from authorized dealers who are willing to discount intelligently.
 
John its your fault i have a Commander. I love my Omega as i said. I think you will love yours too. All the best with it.
 
I hate to intrude on a great thread, but in lieu of starting a totally new one, I would like suggestions from the watch gurus out there on a watch that I could actually pay less than $1000 for. I like chronographs that have more of a miltary look, yet still being somewhat dressy - if that is possible. Until reading posts here and on Timzone, I was lusting after a TAG Heuer 2000 Exclusive Chronograph. I also have always wanted a Fortis Flieger Chronograph Automatic. After doing some research, I guess I have started to lean stongly toward the Fortis (anyone know a place to find them online, preferably at below MSRP?) which retails for $1300.

I would greatly appreciate it if anyone had any suggestions for a watch that again is in under 1K street, is a chronograph, and has a more rugged/miltary - type look, while still being able to be worn with a suit. I have relatively little knowledge of watches in this price range sans TAG, Rolex, Omega, etc. Any suggestions on "nicer" watches for the money than those above would be appreciated. I also prefer titanium when possible, but it is not a must. I also would prefer tritium vials ala Luminox, or anything that will glow brightly in the dark with minimal charge. My limited knowledge brings to mind Sinn, Fortis and maybe Marathon. What am I missing. Any suggestions as far as brand, model, place to purchase and etc. would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Bucky
 
NICE choice John!
I had a choice between a Seamaster and a Submariner many years ago, and went with the Rolex, but it was a tough choice. Finally came down to price.

For those who say it's a waste of money to buy a high end watch, let me tell you about my "investment"

Bought a used Rolex Submariner back in 1983 for 300 bucks, I've taken it in for Clean/oil/adjust (or whatever they call it) about every three years, and I just figured up the average annual cost of wearing a Rolex Submariner for the last 18 years.

It works out to about 60 dollars a year.
That's about the same as buying a new Timex every year, and it's worth 8 or 9 times what I paid for it.

(Pardon me while I gloat, I don't NORMALLY make such smart decisions!)
:D

Maybe it loses or gains a couple seconds a day, so what? Let's face it, timing is not that critical for most of us mere mortals. I call the Atomic Clock about once a week to check it, when it's a minute off I re-set it and my watch is a lot more accurate than the perfect digital timepiece some guy sets by the clock over the bar down at Moe's Tavern.

Only problem is...
My wife won't let me buy any more watches until this one dies.

At this rate, I'll never get another one.
:(
 
> I would greatly appreciate it if anyone had any suggestions for a watch that again is in under 1K street, is a chronograph, and has a more rugged/miltary - type look

Tutima, Sinn, Limes.

You might want to track down and check out the Military Watch Forum at www.broadarrow.net for lots of suggestions.
 
Thanks for the link and suggestions bae. Any comments on the Fortis Flieger Chrono Auto?
 
The Fortis Flieger? A decent watch, when purchased at the right price. I used to have several of the large-size Flieger autos, and they worked great. Very legible, pretty robust. If I recall, some of the Fortis models are available with a sapphire crystal upgrade - you might want to think about this instead of the mineral glass. I never had any problems with mine.

I prefer the Tutima Fliegers myself - nicer bracelets and a bit more robust IMHO.
 
bae and lenny, I concede that you guys have far more watch knowledge than I would ever hope to have, but there is a couple of points I would like to make, and hopefully offer some insight for a new buyer. It's true a Seiko would do the same job a Breitling would, for time-telling at least, as it would stand up against any "fancy" watch. In the same breath, a hoopty '89 Geo would get you back and forth to work as well as an Aston Martin. But thats not the point is it? Watches, to me at least, are "guy jewelry" just as knives are. We buy something that we feel represents what we are in some way. Therein the cost is justified. In our eyes, anyway. As for the Breitlings, they are extremely popular in the aviation world, and that is where I was originally exposed to the name. Some of the higher end models, such as the Navitimer, do indeed sport seemingly ridiculous amounts of "stuff" to keep your eyes busy. To pilots, these are valid tools. The Flyback mechanism is a neat one, and the numerous sets of numbers one inside of the other actually do have uses for various calculations needed should avionics fail. To the average joe, non-pilot type of guy like myself, they are too busy. Being an air traffic controller, I do appreciate the complications however. My favorite is the Emergency model. That thing has an ELT (emergency locator transmitter) built in. ELT's are essentially homing signals transmitted over internationally recognized emergency frequencies that are set off should an aircraft go down. And they DO fail. Having a backup in your watch is a helluva neat thing to me. I don't even have the use for a chronograph, so I can't justify to myself having extra dials that I don't use. I do dive though, and upon reading about the superocean pro I had to see it. The tabs protruding on top have saved the sapphire more than once. Learned that the first time I banged it on the wall. The movement thing intrigues me. I was told different, but that doesn't surprise me. I have read whatever I can find about the company, and I thought it was kinda neat that every single watch they sell is certified chrono. Anything in the aviation arena is gonna cost, and paying for the name is a fact of life in many arenas. I would recommend the brand to anyone into diving or flying. 1 second every four days is WAY more accurate than my speedmaster pro, and I love the heft of the thing on my wrist. One question though if you can help......I understand somewhat the function of the helium escape valve on the side of this thing, but can you elaborate? I'm told this thing can go WAY deeper than I ever could, is it to help the watch avoid the "bends"? Thanks for lending an ear...........g
 
The helium escape valve is for spending extended periods in pressurized environmental chambers. The helium in the breathing gas used seeps past the gaskets, and blows off the crystal when you come up after your time Down Below. Very irritating.

A sufficiently-strong case and gasket system can avoid this, a la the IWC Aquatimer.

As to the Breitling Emergency, I had occasion to use one of these, after spending half an hour in 45 degree water with no survival suit on after a boating mishap. I was quite happy to have it. It's pretty much the only current-production Breitling I like. It's quartz, and a special purpose tool, not really an interesting timepiece.

The flight computer included in some of the Breitling aviation models is just for show - it seems to me far too small and hard to manipulate for anyone to bother trying to use it for real. It's just a toy.

Hadn't thought about the irritating tabs as a crystal protector - good thought! I'd pretty much assumed their purpose was to destroy your clothing :-)

If you're looking for cool "guy jewelry", why not get something close to the real thing, like an Omega Speedmaster Pro, an IWC Mk XII/XV, a Tutima, a Fortis, a Breguet Type XX, a Rolex, or a vintage Breitling. The current Breitling company is just a pale shadow of the historical one.
 
I think overall that the Flieger is a bit more versatile, as you can sneak it by as a casual/dressy watch, which is harder to do with the tuna-can profile of the GST series.
Click to expand...

Well, you used the dreaded word (tuna). This is what's been disturbing me about the GST ever since I saw one in person. Kind of interesting how IWC ads will never show a GST in side profile. I would like to get a less-dress perpetual, and the GST/Ti is something I really want to like, but I'm afraid of the tuna can thing. I have to put one on--it may look better when worn.

If not IWC, I expect I'm heading to UN for a Perpetual/GMT. Love to see a sport model, black face w/rubber strap. Love the mechanism, have to get used to the dial layout...
 
guinness,
Good points about the "guy jewelry" thing.
One thing I'd like to comment on is the COSC Chronometer Certification thing. I used to think that for any watch to be considered decent, it had to be certified as a "chronometer".
If you'll notice, virtually all of the higher end watches; Patek Phillipe, Audemars Piguet, Blancpain, Jaeger Le Coulter, IWC do not obtain COSC Certs. for their watches. This worried me when I was planning on buying the IWC Flieger. I did some research and found out that most of these watch houses do internal certifications to a much tighter requirement than COSC. JLC, for instance, in their Master series, tests each movement for 1000 hours prior to fitting it in a watch housing. This by far pales what COSC does to a watch. My Flieger runs a consistent +4 sec per day. I always want my watches to run slightly fast because as they age, they slow down and one can tell when an overhaul is required.
About the only thing a COSC Certificate does, is certify that the watch is keeping time to their standards when it leaves the factory. After that, all bets are off. Plus, it adds approx $100 to the cost of a watch.
Food for thought?
Lenny
 
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