Recommend a good MECHANICAL watch

[Midget]

Thinking about a mechanical movement...

I'm already looking at a Marathon Red Box, but plastic case/crystal is just a huge turnoff.

Here's some specs of something very ideal:
Mechanical movement
Tritium
Domed sappire crystal
Titanium case
Military style face

I've willing to put out no more than 200.00. Anyone know of a watch that meets all or most of these specs?

Thankeeee

 

[psdrew]

Tough set of specs for under $200... The sapphire domed crystal and tritium are the stoppers... Automatics under $200 limit you pretty much to the Seiko line. You might want to check out some of the Singapore and Taiwan Seiko sights for a very broad view of their product line. Some things on your list, you're just not gonna get with your price cap...

 

[MikeGram]

What you really want is a Sinn, but you won't find one for that price.

Start saving...


Other than that, I have a few questions to try to help you.

1) Why titanium?

2) Why domed sapphire? For that matter, why sapphire at all?

I can understand wanting a mechanical movement and maybe even tritium, but there is no way that you are going to get a well-made watch for $200 that has titanium, tritium, AND domed sapphire. Fortunately for you, there are a ton of military styled mechanical watches.

You are going to have to compromise on some of your specs unless you know somebody who has access to stuff that "falls of the back of a truck".

 

[MikeGram]

Will this do?

Sinn EZM-1

Domed sapphire, Ti, not sure about the tritium....

Way more than $200.

 

[Jazzman]

Check out Poljot! Big Russian mechanicals that can be found from 60-250 dollars. Very durable.
Matt

 

[BobHWD]

Titanium and domed sapphire crystals are not generally found on watches less than $200. For that matter, very few mechanical watches are available for less than $200.

As for tritium, there are two types: 1) Gas vial like the Marathon and Luminox, and 2) paint. Gas vials are found on Marathon watches and Luminox watches. There really aren't any gas vial *and* mechanical watches unless you get one custom made or wait for the tritium gas SAR. Either way, it's going to cost more than $200.

Good luck on tritium paint. Almost every watchmaker, Seiko, Rolex, Omega, Sinn, et al have switched to Strontium Aluminate. In fact, I would say very darn few manufacturers still want to mess with radioactive materials, especially after 9-11.

You get what you pay for. You can buy five $200 watches in the next few years or just buy one $1,000 watch to last you.

 

[BobHWD]

Originally posted by MikeGram
Will this do?

Sinn EZM-1

Domed sapphire, Ti, not sure about the tritium....

This meets all of his specs except price. If you can find an older EZM-1, it will have tritium. All of the new ones come with Luminova.

 

[MikeGram]

Here - less than $200 on eBay, but the stainless bracelet costs extra. It's worth it, though.

Flat glass crystal, stainless case, no tritium, and I couldn't be happier...

 

[icarian]

Originally posted by BobHWD
There really aren't any gas vial *and* mechanical watches unless you get one custom made or wait for the tritium gas SAR. Either way, it's going to cost more than $200.

Bob,

Haven't been keeping up with the evolution of the SAR...so the next batch/model is going to have the tritium gas vial? Also, any other changes to it? And lastly, when are they going to hit the market?

Thanks,
Glenmore

 

[Sid Post]

Keep an eye on Fortis. No, not a big name watch maker like Sinn but, they make good watches.

 

[psdrew]

Whooyah.. now we're talking

Just a tad more than $200 though...


Back on topic, you may want to check out WestCoastTime as he has THIS watch that comes close to your specs...