I really like the look of this except WTF time is it? Nobody uses the secondary functions so I would at least like the primary function to be...well... functional. Call me old fashioned I guess.

Cabestan unveils the world’s first timepiece to use solar energy

http://www.bornrich.org/entry/cabest...-solar-energy/

$560,000

wat

that's what i said

The first $500k+ watch powered by solar energy.

Also, sorry to spam up the thread, but why are these watches so popular?



I prob see these watches (or a variant thereof) on people more often than any other 300+ watch. Why does everyone buy them? I don't get it...

So I'll preface this by saying I know pretty much nothing about watches except what I've read in ~1000 posts of this thread, and maybe a few other watch threads.

I had always had it in my mind ever since I started making real money that I would get a Breitling Bentley GT. Loved the look of it, still do. However, when the time came and I had the funds lying around, I finally went to try one on. Thing is huge. I'm not a small guy, but I could never imagine wearing it. Totally turned me off. Pretty much every Breitling I've seen in person was way too big and shiny, not for me.

Since then, and while looking at this thread, I've developed a taste for a more "classical"(?) looking watch and a leather strap rather then steel. I also like the glass back that shows the inner workings as well as maybe a little spot on the face that shows it as well.

Some watches in the thread I like:





Now obviously I would rather not spend this much, but a general idea.

Other brands I like that aren't quite so expensive:


Lots of IWC ones suit my taste, though I'd prefer a "skeleton" type piece and don't see too many of those.



I like the look of some Hamiltons as well, but again would prefer some of the inner workings to be showing. The skeleton version is a bit excessive, as pretty much everything is showing..too much.

Which brings me to my big question. Sea-Gulls. Someone posted a very nice one and I was shocked to find that it was less then 400$. Upon further investigation on their site usseagull.com, I found that half their watches were 300-400$ range and the other half was 3000$+. Wtf. Obviously the ones I like more are in the upper range, though I don't like them THAT much more. My favorites are specifically the tourbillon models, which are in the 4-5k range. So what am I getting with one of these rather then 400$ models? Different materials? They still seem to be made out of SS. Different technology? Again I know nothing about watches. Is this even a good brand? Should I not be buying a 4k watch from them? I dunno.

Also, the whole manual or automatic thing. How exactly do you wind these watches? I really don't have a preference as long as it's not too much effort. I would rather base my decision on the style of the watch rather then to have to sort by manual/auto.

I don't mind spending 5k on a watch if that's what it takes, just that I also wouldn't mind spending 400$ on one that looks pretty much the same and works similarly.

Almost certain its a Curtis & Co, the timepiece of choice for trashy celebrities!

The ultimate Diver, water resistant up to 5000 meters(obv nobody is gonna test that for real). And I think it looks very nice.
A bit outta your pricerange though

Basically, you're getting a tourbillon with a $5k Seagull. And you're not getting one with a $400 Seagull.

The Hamilton actually shows the inner workings on the back of the watch, also check out the model Hamilton Jazzmaster open heart. It kind resmebles a Zenith showing the partial inside of the watch in the face.

What is a tourbillon exactly? Is it really worth 10x the price of a regular watch?

If you don't know what it is, it probably isn't.

Cigar Aficionado had a nice write up on them a few months ago. Basically they were invented with utility in mind but in reality don't provide much.

But they are a novelty and decoration in a watch. Highly technical and difficult to create...

Saw an expensive watch recently where the tourbillon was hidden. You couldn't see it unless you opened the watch's case, but the watch's price still reflected having one in it. Talk about baller...

You're probably right, but they are much more appealing to my eyes. That alone has to be worth something.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourbillon

hope this helps! i think this was posted earlier in the thread but very interesting if you didnt see it

a tourbillon is more about status and prestige than usefulness...so following that line i would not spend 5k on a chinese tourbillon (even though i've read those chinese brands are making great strides with in-house movements/complications etc). i'd rather spend 5k buying another watch. don't quote me cuz i have spazzy memory but the cheapest tourbillon from a respected swiss brand is JLC at around 40k.

Thanks cx, that's what I wanted to hear.

Really the watch that I want is the Zenith moonphase, just reluctant to pay like 10k for it is all. Also I'd have no way to try it on first (which I know is not advised). Not sure I can rock the 45mm. I guess there's no moonphase 40mm eh. There are several of the chrono opens or class open el primero ones for 5-6k that are 40mm, just no moonphase which I'd really like to get. Unreal that's it's an extra 4k+ for what seems to me to be a simple feature.



This one is a pretty sweet 40mm, 7500$ though.

Same.. I stopped asking though, since everyone says fossil or pulsar or something.

can you please tell me the exact model number of this?? i cant seem to find it. ty

sweet ty

my fav one from Curtis & Co.:



but ya i think these big watches are so obnoxious and trying way to hard to get some attention imo.

Zenith Chronomaster T Open Grande Date

Think this is one of the more interesting grandiose gimmick watches I've seen, UNs appropriately named "Freak 28800 VH"

No crown, manual wind is accomplished by turning caseback, time setting accomplished by triggering some lock thing and turning bezel. 65kish.

10+ racks of purple for that i assume

I like.
Now this is really weird, I think I like it.