watches

[Harry mac]

.Outwith budget - but worth it - Argos do/did a Citizen Eco-drive - WR 100, good glowing hands and four years on still going strong. Think it was about £60.Andy

My eco-drive watch just died on me after about 16 years continuous wear. I sent it back to the sevice centre, but they returned it with a not saying "obsolete model, repair not possible". I was a bit cheesed off at that, but I've ordered another Eco-Drive. They never need batteries or winding up, they're waterproof and the hands glow in the dark.

 

[Brithunter]

I agree with willie_gun, a quartz movement always is the most accurate. The automatic movement is like a Mauser 98, you like it or you don't. I might be lucky to have two very able man in town wich can repair automatic watches ( and others). The dutch man who sells the seiko's has saffire replacement glass for his watches for 50 euro ( 45£ ??? ). Not a huge ammount of money. Up to now the Seiko's have been the most affordable quality automatic movement watches available. This with a "Hirsch" leather strap just has the looks.

I see seiko are still expensive for replacement bits then.. £45 for a replacement glass it a lot of money to me now.

 

[Brithunter]

Harry just did a web search and the cheapest eco drive watch I could find was about £80. Most of them are closer to £200 and go up from there. For instance the :-

[h=1]Citizen Men's Eco-Drive Skyhawk A-T Titanium Watch #JY0010-50E[/h]
is £403 .

 

[pj1]

Thanks for replies guys. Will look into all suggestions when back home. Away for a few days and have rubbish signalRegards pj

 

[Monkey Spanker]

Have a look at the Casio G-Shock 'Mudman', probably made for stalkers!

 

[Apache]

Haven't worn a watch for ~15 years. Since I always have a mobile phone with me I just use that to tell the time. Nothing on the wrist to mess up, get bloody or muddy. Works very well AND you can make phone calls with it.

 

[Paul 600]

I brake watches! They can't take the vibration from chainsaws or they get crushed!

 

[Harry mac]

Harry just did a web search and the cheapest eco drive watch I could find was about £80. Most of them are closer to £200 and go up from there. For instance the :-[h=1]Citizen Men's Eco-Drive Skyhawk A-T Titanium Watch #JY0010-50E[/h]is £403 .

Don't worry Brit, the one I've ordered is A LOT closer to £80 than it is to £403

 

[willie_gunn]

I see seiko are still expensive for replacement bits then.. £45 for a replacement glass it a lot of money to me now.

It may be a lot of money, but I doubt they are ripping people off if it is £45 fitted. Replacing a crystal on a watch is not a simple job. Typically the watch will have to be dis-assembled and the old crystal removed, then the new one has to be fitted, then it has to be tested (presuming the watch is waterproof). This isn't a 5 minute job like replacing the battery in a quartz watch. Given the labour hours involved and - very often - the specialist tools and materials, £45 doesn't seem unreasonable. Generic crystals can be bought which can make it cheaper, but many manufacturers (and I believe Seiko is one) restrict you to their own make. That is why it is sadly often not economic to repair a watch with a broken crystal.

willie_gunn

 

[Brithunter]

It may be a lot of money, but I doubt they are ripping people off if it is £45 fitted. Replacing a crystal on a watch is not a simple job. Typically the watch will have to be dis-assembled and the old crystal removed, then the new one has to be fitted, then it has to be tested (presuming the watch is waterproof). This isn't a 5 minute job like replacing the battery in a quartz watch. Given the labour hours involved and - very often - the specialist tools and materials, £45 doesn't seem unreasonable. Generic crystals can be bought which can make it cheaper, but many manufacturers (and I believe Seiko is one) restrict you to their own make. That is why it is sadly often not economic to repair a watch with a broken crystal.

willie_gunn

Did you know that if your watch is waterproof then you are supposed to send it back to the makers for even battery changes.. Found this out when i needed a replacement battery for the Avia.. As i could not afford the £60+ price quoted I went to the little watch shop that only sells cheapies and got him to fit a battery. It's not guaranteed waterproof now but that does not really matter to me as I don't dive and don't swim with it on.

With my original Seiko they just returned it saying they would not fix it. Even the jeweller was surprised.

 

[Brithunter]

Don't worry Brit, the one I've ordered is A LOT closer to £80 than it is to £403

Harry I was shocked at the prices of them. A bit of an eye opener to say the least...

 

[willie_gunn]

Did you know that if your watch is waterproof then you are supposed to send it back to the makers for even battery changes.

Funnily enough, yes, I did. I have an old Heuer (from before they became TAG Heuer) that used to have to be returned to the manufacturer for battery changes. I then used an ex-Rolex engineer in Kent who had all of the necessary equipment, including the vacuum tester. Unfortunately the gaskets are no longer available for the watch, so it is no longer possible for it to be truly waterproof, which is very frustrating.

You can of course get a battery fitted by someone other than the manufacturer but, as with a car, you then will normally invalidate any remaining warranty. For most of my quartz watches I now replace the battery myself.

willie_gunn

 

[Brithunter]

That original Seiko was one of the first with a 5 year battery life... shame about it really. Next year I'll get myself a waistcoat and have a fob watch instead............

 

[Hales Smut]

I wouldn't say that Seiko is better than others. What I read about them, was mostly possitive. I bought a cream coloured SNK803, automatic watch and put a Hirsch Liberty leather strap on it. It realy has the looks and still is very reasonable priced for an automatic watch. I just like it.
50 euro, labour included, for a sapphire crystal isn't to bad. When your car goes to the garage they charge about 45 euro for 1 hour work.

 

[Brithunter]

I wouldn't say that Seiko is better than others. What I read about them, was mostly possitive. I bought a cream coloured SNK803, automatic watch and put a Hirsch Liberty leather strap on it. It realy has the looks and still is very reasonable priced for an automatic watch. I just like it.
50 euro, labour included, for a sapphire crystal isn't to bad. When your car goes to the garage they charge about 45 euro for 1 hour work.

Car............. garage only time is for the MOT if I can help it. There is a local mechanic if we cannot do the job ourselves which usually means it tied up with some electronic gizmo. he did fit the exhaust. I got the middle bit he got the rear and fitted it. Cheaper than the exhaust place too. I do not trust main dealers etc their nowt but rip off merchants.

 

[diverdave]

When i worked as a diver i destroyed watches. I spent hundreds of pounds on decent watches and expensive ones lasted little more time than cheap ones. This will not help the OP, but i now suggest to all my pals to look on ebay or similar for a genuine quality watch. It should last a lifetime.

I bought a rolex submariner some 20 years ago now, for £80. It was really beat up. I had it serviced and although it cost a few hundred pounds it has been on my wrist ever since. I have had it serviced once and rarely dive now, but it has been watertight without a problem. It has the plastic (acrilic?) face and when i scratch it i simply brasso the scratches out, or both the face and case. It has, over the years been my cheapest watch, and no doubt will end on the wrist of my son.

I am on the look out for a good tudor now, basically a rolex but made by the rolex apprentises. they are way cheaper and last just as well.

 

[willie_gunn]

For anyone who's even vaguely interested in watches, George Daniels CBE - certainly the greatest watchmaker of the modern era - died yesterday (http://www.danielslondon.com/).

He lived in the Isle of Man and was responsible for some of the finest innovations in watchmaking, including the invention of the Co-axial Escape Movement. If you want to understand how revolutionary this was, check the Omega website: http://www.omegawatches.com/spirit/watchmaking/co-axial/technology

willie_gunn

 

[neil_r]

I have a couple of Breitlings, they go in for a service every 3 years or so and I effectively get a new watch back.

 

[Cyres]

I have worn Casios for years, waterproof cheap and easy to read. Illuminator series are excellent. Currently wearing a fish in time, USA model, gives moon phases. The Sea Pathfinder is excellent and gives Sunrise/set times.

All highly recommended.

D

 

[HME]

WG/Dom

If you still collect watches I have something you will almost certainly need when you see it!

HME

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