pvn,

Thanks for remembering. I'm impressed! Yeah, I saw that Seiko was going to do that. The Tuna is a cool watch, but I like the look of my Sumo better. Plus, b/t it and the PO I have two watches that I love wearing and I wouldn't want to lessen the time I'm giving either one.

Also, re Frogman watches, you may be right about it being a beanie baby type of situation. Maybe there's nothing more to it than that. I was just wondering if people had any different explanation for it. I think a lot of the Frogmen are pretty cool, but some of the prices--yikes! Even the new one coming out next month is going to go for like $350.

I do like the ideal of a solar, atomic watch though. Maybe I'll get a Gulfman or a Mudman instead.

Cheers

I usually don't like dive watches from a aesthetic standpoint, but those two are sexy. I dig the captain nemo look to the panerai.

The new Mudman Rally is really, really nice IMO. If you go to the beach the tide function of the Gulfman might be compelling, but since I go once a year it's not really worth it to me.

The new Mudman is nice, though, since they've significantly reduced the amount of real estate the various radio indicators take up.

old:



the five "eyes" are indicators of the five different radio signals the watch can receive. Insane to devote that much space to that function IMO.

new:



much nicer.

Me neither, but I agree those two look nice. My boss has shown me his Doxa's....and I like them as well.

Good point about not all Casios and Seikos having a cult following. I should have been more clear in specifying the G-Shock Casios and in particular the "Masters of G" series with "man" as the suffix for all the models.

I had a Casio (pre G-Shock, I think) from the early 80s that would fire right up with a new battery, but I'd need a new strap for it. The resin one failed years ago. The only downside for the Casios IMHO. I remember paying $20 for it that long ago.

I think the atomic Gulfman traded the tide/moon graphs for the atomic function. I also think the atomic Gulfman looks nicer than the non-atomic version.



I agree with your assesment of the Mudman though. The 5 eyes are just wasted space since only one could ever be used at any given time. The rally model is nicer and much more utilitarian from that standpoint.

Then there is always the Riseman too. As I said before; too dang many choices.

Here's my options:

Oris Classic Date (~ €600)


Hamilton Jazzmaster Auto Chrono (~ €1100)


Oris Big Crown Telemeter Chrono (~ €1600)



Thoughts?

There's a certain amount of glory in the well designed industrial product. I definitely don't collect them, but I can understand how some people would.

A $40 watch is 100% utilitarian.
A $40,000 watch is 0% utilitarian.

One is buying the function, the other is buying the artistry. There is no accounting for the value of art and what impact it has on the human soul. Be it a painting or a finely crafted timepiece, they all strike at the same elements.

I know it's not a baller watch by any means, but I picked this up last year:



Jaques Lemans Men's Geneve Tempora Collection Watch #GU199D

I really like the watch and get a lot of compliments on it. Some might not like it because it is larger than most watches, but it fits me really well. It retails for $850, but I found it on sale for under $300.

All pretty cool watches. Have you considered the Hamilton Jazzmaster Maestro?



45mm, so it's on the big side, but I love it. It's on my short list.

Probably looking at $1100USD.

Where can I get one of these?
Argos.co.uk delivers only to mainland UK

I have, but the red in the face is a dealbreaker for me. I also don't like the day and date, but there's a version without those.

Great points, and very, very well stated. Your presence on this (and the other) thread is greatly appreciated. I've learned more about watches than I ever thought I would just reading the threads here on 2+2.

BTW, how's the ninja watch coming?

I like them all, but for the money, I think the Oris is hard to beat. Beautiful, classic look.

The Hamiltons kind of look like the IWC Portos, which is also a great look. So if you like it get one of the Hamiltons.

pm me an address and i'll buy it and send it to you in the mail. They come in a tiny box and it's pretty light so shouldn't cost too much extra. I wouldn't charge you.

I actually did a little work on it the night before last.
Result: Fail (short term process failure, not a total project failure)

I'm still having trouble with the nylatron material I'm using for the case.

Here's nylatron



I can get nice shapes (adequate for anything but a watch), but I can't get those 'perfect dimensions' that are required for respectable timepiece. I think someone with lower standards would be OK with the results so far, but I'm kind of a perfectionist and little mistakes drive me bat**** crazy, so it's been no good. I hate nylatron and nylatron hates me but we're locked in a mutual death-spiral kinda like the US and China. Also, I'm only using a Taig lathe w/ milling attachment, so big RPM's and deep cuts aren't happening. This summer I'm upgrading to shop sized gear.

Here's my Taig with its signature "fire hazard" unboxed switch w/ exposed wires (milling attachment not shown) that I've only been using for a short time.



And here's an animated gif that reflects my "resigned yet mindlessly enthusiastic" attitude towards this project



Will I quit nylatron and use something easier/more conventional?
No.
Does this make me an idiot?
Possibly. Odds are, yes.

[/pointless off-topic stream-of-consciousness drivel. We now return you to the regularly scheduled watch thread]

I don't quite know what you mean by the real value of a tourbillon. If you mean its usefulness then I'd agree it is limited. But, then again, so is a minute repeater.

IIRC, the Chinese finally started making a production one.
I don't care enough to go to ebay and type in "tourbillion" with "Buy It Now" and "Lowest Price First" to find out, but I'm pretty sure they do.

The usefulness in a tourbillon is its ability to discreetly signal to other people that you have a lot of money.

FMP

Yeah but if your the type of person who wants to let other people know you have a lot of money, discreetness would not be a priority.

this is just wrong.
one could want to let one set of people know you have lots of money, but not everyone.

consider the difference between wearing a gigantic diamond crown, and purchasing a picasso. both let people know you have money, one conveys you are a wealthy person with taste and class.

i suggest we drop this topic of conversation before we get too close to derailing a thread about watches into a thread about people spending more money than others think they should on watches, again.

-----

anyone got any suggestions for me? i love the the reverso squadra, i love the aesthetics of the jaeger that was posted frequently toward the end of the last thread (i think it was the master hometime?), i love the clean look of panerais. i don't love circular faced watches, and i don't love large watches. i haven't measured my wrist, but i would think that things >40mm are probably not for me. if i could afford the squadra, i'd buy that, but i am wondering if there's anything people would suggest in the <$2500 range.

How do you feel about the plain backsided Reversos? I've seen them for under 2.5k online I'm pretty sure.

You prefer rectangular watches? With an ideal budget of 2500 or under imo a classic looking Reverso (one that probably has a plain steel back) would be a pretty much ideal pick.

When I think of rectangularish shaped watches though, I think Reversos, Parmigianis, and Mullers, so I admit remotely cheap watches of that shape I know little about.

What's your favorite circular cased watch ever?

I think you are wrong. It is gauche and tasteless to buy a watch or a painting or a crown for the purpose of letting people (general or subset) know you have a lot of money. I maintain that type of fellow would want a watch that looked more "obviously" expensive than a tourbillon.

The watch I like but will probably end up not getting is the Lange Cabaret Moon Phase.



I don't care for most complications but I really like the aesthetics of the moon phase.