The Watches Thread

[duncs500]

I'm still a sucker for a Seiko and always liked the 62MAS recreations. They're over £1000 now so not really a whim purchase. However, when I spotted the teal dial special edition (a Save The Ocean one though quite a different colour to the blues they've done of other models) at a serious discount I placed an order: https://www.firstclasswatches.co.uk/sei ... -p-205039/

They now come with a 72 hour power reserve and a clasp with on the fly micro-adjustment like a Rolex Glidelock, so perhaps justify the price a bit better. I've not bought any watches for a couple of years so look forward to this one.

I like that.

[Jobbo]

It's quite hard to get a good photo of it but it's lovely in the flesh. Also a rare Seiko where it's worth keeping the bracelet on; it feels much higher quality than I'm used to and the fold-over part of the clasp is buttery smooth with two sprung ball bearings holding it shut, as my Tudor Black Bay had.



Photos all seem to show the bezel as black, but it's not - it's very hard to tell what it is exactly but as far as I can tell it's a sort of frosted reflective grey. Even the bezel catches the light in different ways as your wrist moves so it's quite a dynamic watch in the flesh. Finishing is good too. And so it should be for the RRP.

[DeskJockey]

Came across Dawsey Watches, a previously unknown to me, brand. They're quite cool.

Like this one a lot.

https://dawseywatches.com/product/dawsey-model-525-dg

[DaveE]

Came across Dawsey Watches, a previously unknown to me, brand. They're quite cool.

Like this one a lot.

https://dawseywatches.com/product/dawsey-model-525-dg

£825 for a Seiko NH35 movement?!

[DeskJockey]

Came across Dawsey Watches, a previously unknown to me, brand. They're quite cool.

Like this one a lot.

https://dawseywatches.com/product/dawsey-model-525-dg

£825 for a Seiko NH35 movement?!

It is the handmade case and materials that's the value in these, the movements aren't anything exciting.

[Jobbo]

There's plenty I like about that watch - the picture of the case after milling is cool - but it's not for me.

My new Seiko has a 72hr power reserve which is nice, but from the box it's running at +15s per day. I will get it regulated I think; it's such a nice watch I want it to be decently accurate over a week, or ideally a month, like my Seamaster.

[DaveE]

Came across Dawsey Watches, a previously unknown to me, brand. They're quite cool.

Like this one a lot.

https://dawseywatches.com/product/dawsey-model-525-dg

£825 for a Seiko NH35 movement?!

It is the handmade case and materials that's the value in these, the movements aren't anything exciting.

It's a near £1000 watch with a £20 (retail cost) movement

That seems daft to me

I've had £50-60 watches from AliExpress with that movement...

[DeskJockey]

I guess it depends on what you perceive the value to be.

I'm not particularly bothered about the movement as long as it keeps time and works as expected. I get that on a skeleton style watch the movement is part of the artwork, but for this one other factors drive the cost. Perhaps it can (unfairly in my view) fall into the style over substance category?

[DaveE]

I guess it depends on what you perceive the value to be.

I'm not particularly bothered about the movement as long as it keeps time and works as expected. I get that on a skeleton style watch the movement is part of the artwork, but for this one other factors drive the cost. Perhaps it can (unfairly in my view) fall into the style over substance category?

As a general rule, not just with watches, I'm always wary when people over-explain and describe features to try and make things sound more impressive than they really are

And there are some red-flags in the description of this watch

All hands applied with non-radioactive alkaline rare earth metal phosphorescent “lume” (silicate-aluminate oxide, doped with europium ions).

So, luminous coating on the hands, like pretty much every tool watch in the whole world

SSI/TMI calibre NH35A 12 ligne Japanese automatic self-winding mechanical movement. Specifically chosen by us after extensive testing, for its robustness, reliability, and accuracy

Lots of words for a £20 mass-produced Seiko movement that can be found in £50 watches

Fully machined in-house from 6082-T6 aluminium alloy (for silver dials),

I'm wearing a T6/Grade 5 Watch Dives watch at the moment - it cost less than £100

Oh, and this £825+ doesn't even have a sapphire crystal - it's an acrylic one - just noticed this

IMO this 100% form/cost over function/value - of course it's a personal thing in terms of design, but the materials, movement etc is in no way special or worth the price that's being charged...

[DeskJockey]

All good points. That leaves the handmade bit to carry a lot of weight.

[DaveE]

As a random alternative, but along similar lines...

This is a San Martin made of Grade 2 titanium (which is much better than T6/Grade 5 in terms of corrosion resistance), has the same NH35 movement, but has sapphire crystal (plus all the rest, lume etc)

It was £175 though...

[duncs500]

I guess it depends on what you perceive the value to be.

I'm not particularly bothered about the movement as long as it keeps time and works as expected. I get that on a skeleton style watch the movement is part of the artwork, but for this one other factors drive the cost. Perhaps it can (unfairly in my view) fall into the style over substance category?

As a general rule, not just with watches, I'm always wary when people over-explain and describe features to try and make things sound more impressive than they really are

And there are some red-flags in the description of this watch

All hands applied with non-radioactive alkaline rare earth metal phosphorescent “lume” (silicate-aluminate oxide, doped with europium ions).

So, luminous coating on the hands, like pretty much every tool watch in the whole world

SSI/TMI calibre NH35A 12 ligne Japanese automatic self-winding mechanical movement. Specifically chosen by us after extensive testing, for its robustness, reliability, and accuracy

Lots of words for a £20 mass-produced Seiko movement that can be found in £50 watches

Fully machined in-house from 6082-T6 aluminium alloy (for silver dials),

I'm wearing a T6/Grade 5 Watch Dives watch at the moment - it cost less than £100

Oh, and this £825+ doesn't even have a sapphire crystal - it's an acrylic one - just noticed this

IMO this 100% form/cost over function/value - of course it's a personal thing in terms of design, but the materials, movement etc is in no way special or worth the price that's being charged...

To be fair Dave, the same could be said about anything which is part functional part fashion accessory. It's not like a Louis Vuitton bag is worth the sum of its parts either, but they sell them by the bucket load.

Some people pay a premium for quality and function, others for form, tactility or scarcity.