Let's Talk Watches - Page 120 - The Lounge Discussion and Review on Literature, Arts, Culture

I just bought the Recon 5 but have been looking for a replacement for my crummy Invicta Pro diver. I think you may have found me one although I was planning to hold off for a few months before buying yet another new watch.

Love the look of those and the fact they are 44.5mm as I find the standard size of 40mm or 42mm that most watches of that type are made in to be a bit small for my liking.

Edit: Guess I can't pull the trigger yet as the link to the black faced version is not working.

For those interested: http://www.halioswatches.com/

Last edited by jws43yale; 05-14-2010 at 04:44 PM.

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05-14-2010 , 05:06 PM

#2977

trplthrt

old hand

Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,317

I know people have purchased the black dial so it's out there, not sure what the deal is with the link currently.

You can definitely catch some wrist shots on WUS if you search.

Watch looks pretty cool for the price point.. and agree with you on size, I have a hard time now wearing anything smaller than 44mm. Rolex Sub gets very little play :-(

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05-14-2010 , 05:22 PM

#2978

pvn

Guest

Posts: n/a

The recent explosion in "boutique" divers has been amazing. Tons of fantastic watches out there now for incredibly cheap prices. And the quality from these companies is jaw-dropping given how small they are. And they're actually innovating, too (check out the wetsuit extension on the Cave Dweller, it's very clever).

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05-14-2010 , 05:27 PM

#2979

trplthrt

old hand

Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,317

Quote:

Originally Posted by pvn

Definitely.. I have only really heated up my watch obsession this past year and I've been all over boutique watches. I still have my big ticket wish list (Panerai, IWC Portugese, etc), but I love snatching these for value and diversity.

Sinn U1 is my next must have.. although it's in a different price range.

I also want to pickup some sort of dressier-ish Hamilton...

Boschett Cave Dweller is a nice one... great price too

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05-14-2010 , 08:48 PM

#2980

jws43yale

veteran

Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 3,193

So far I have found 4 new/smaller companies I really like:

Xetum
Prometheus
Halios
Boschett

Anyone else know of any other places like these with very high quality watches for <$2k.

Quote

05-14-2010 , 08:56 PM

#2981

trplthrt

old hand

Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,317

Quote:

Originally Posted by jws43yale

So far I have found 4 new/smaller companies I really like:

Xetum
Prometheus
Halios
Boschett

Anyone else know of any other places like these with very high quality watches for <$2k.

NauticFish I thought looked ok, although haven't read much about them.

Sinn U1 is one of my favorite watches that I intend on buying still and it's sub 2k.

If you are not familiar with it, I would get on www.watchuseek.com and comb through the Dive Watch threads.

-trplthrt

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05-14-2010 , 09:01 PM

#2982

pvn

Guest

Posts: n/a

Quote:

Originally Posted by jws43yale

So far I have found 4 new/smaller companies I really like:

Xetum
Prometheus
Halios
Boschett

Anyone else know of any other places like these with very high quality watches for <$2k.

When I think of "small-batch" divers, I think Boschett, Halios, Benarus, Bali Hai. Bali Hai is kind of an acquired taste IMO, when I first saw their watches I didn't like them at all but they've grown on me a lot.

There's also a "DWP" (dive watch project) you might want to look into. It's a bunch of people on watchuseek that got together and collaboratively designed a dive watch. It's still vapor right now but seems to be progressing.

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05-14-2010 , 09:03 PM

#2983

pvn

Guest

Posts: n/a

Quote:

Originally Posted by +EV

Yes but why the difference in Citizen prices? Are some of the Citizens lower quality? How can you tell and what is different?

+EV

There's a ton of variables. Some movements are spec'd to higher accuracy levels, there are different levels of materials, tolerances, finishing, and sometimes it comes down to plain old marketing.

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05-14-2010 , 09:05 PM

#2984

cxbxax

journeyman

Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 284

not for everyone, but i love the new iwc aquatimer. big and beefy at 44mm...i prefer the non-busy no chrono version.

will post some wrist shots.

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05-15-2010 , 12:17 PM

#2985

Poolside

veteran

Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 3,243

Quote:

Originally Posted by axel_nld

amazing engineering in this high-end watch, square gear as an hour hand.

this is the kind of thing that makes me excited about mechanical watch design.

Where can I buy this watch?

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05-15-2010 , 01:49 PM

#2986

steamraise

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 9,892

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poolside

Where can I buy this watch?

Yes, and how much?
The square wheel is too cool.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMUMscsuO4Y
http://www.thetimetv.com/news-baselw...carree-1376-16

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05-16-2010 , 12:57 AM

#2987

ICallHimGamblor

old hand

Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 1,486

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poolside

Where can I buy this watch?

Wow. Looks amazing. From what I can tell, it is a limited edition of 99 pieces, about 12k each, just introduced at Baselworld a couple months ago.

I do love me some Maurice Lacroix.

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05-16-2010 , 06:48 AM

#2988

axel_nld

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 6,834

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poolside

Where can I buy this watch?

god i hope you buy this, i would LOVE wristshots.

edit: where you could buy this? probably phone up maurice lacroix and ask. these super limited pieces probably lie in a warehouse and are sent to dealers when people are interested in trying them on. The watch is probably already sold out though if it's 99 pieces :-(

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05-16-2010 , 08:10 PM

#2989

trplthrt

old hand

Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,317

I just couldn't help myself... and with the falling EUR it made it a bit cheaper.

Incoming;

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05-17-2010 , 11:23 PM

#2990

pvn

Guest

Posts: n/a

lol otbac plz

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05-19-2010 , 08:38 AM

#2991

BearHustler

veteran

Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 2,234

Bought the Hamilton Jazzmaster Maestro a couple of days ago:

Last edited by BearHustler; 05-19-2010 at 09:08 AM.

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05-19-2010 , 08:53 AM

#2992

donkeyboy123

centurion

Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 180

v sexy. congrats sir

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05-19-2010 , 10:49 AM

#2993

icepick

old hand

Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 1,756

Hot. I love my Hamilton. Looking to pick up a Jazzmaster Seconds sometime.

Quote

05-19-2010 , 10:56 AM

#2994

jws43yale

veteran

Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 3,193

Quote:

Originally Posted by jws43yale

So far I have found 4 new/smaller companies I really like:

Xetum
Prometheus
Halios
Boschett

Anyone else know of any other places like these with very high quality watches for <$2k.

Quote:

Originally Posted by pvn

I just also thought of two others I like:

Archimede
Seagull

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05-19-2010 , 12:06 PM

#2995

Daddy Warbucks

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 15,764

Quote:

Originally Posted by donkeyboy123

v sexy. congrats sir

First word that came to find. That black face is

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05-19-2010 , 12:15 PM

#2996

pokerplease

adept

Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 1,163

I should be picking up my daytona fresh from it's 5 year service. I'll try to snap some pics before it goes back into my rotation where it will get dinged up in short order..

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05-19-2010 , 02:04 PM

#2997

BearHustler

veteran

Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 2,234

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daddy Warbucks

First word that came to find. That black face is

Hehe, here's a quote from watchuseek: "At 45mm, this beast isn't for the little fellas or the faint of heart. Nicknamed "big sexy," this watch gets more comments than any other watch I've owned at any price point, and I've owned some nice Breitlings, Omegas, and Tags."

I might hang on to that nickname.

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05-19-2010 , 02:17 PM

#2998

dmkai3

veteran

Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 2,619

Very nice Hammy. It's 45mm? It doesn't look that big. It's a little strange that they cut off the slightest amount of the 12 and 6 instead of moving the subdials inward a bit but beautiful watch nonetheless!

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05-19-2010 , 02:39 PM

#2999

BearHustler

veteran

Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 2,234

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmkai3

I don't know enough about watchmaking to say if that's an option when using a stock movement.

And yeah, it's 45mm. The Archimede in the last pic I posted is 42mm. It's a big watch allright.