A GMT complication has ruined many a watch.
Its like a sign saying "Simple arithmetic is beyond me".
Probably not an unpopular opinion, but this seems like a general gripe thread now. What is it with the number of watch companies that indulge in simply ludicrous marketing hype?
I got an email today about a new release that contained the following: “The moment has arrived…a true masterpiece that redefines timeless elegance. Immerse yourself in a symphony of craftsmanship…”. Clicking through to the web site I further learned that this was the manufacturer’s “latest masterpiece” which (repetition!) “redefines elegance and sophistication”. And more: “mesmerizing…opulence…a unique work of art…a rare treasure…blending horological history with refined taste”.
Yes, you guessed it, it’s a new $425 dive watch from Spinnaker containing an (unspecified!) Japanese automatic movement. Perfectly decent watch but really, **** RIGHT OFF.
A GMT complication has ruined many a watch.
Its like a sign saying "Simple arithmetic is beyond me".
This made me smile. It's the same in the world of fine writing instruments (pens), that are made, according to one (creator) manufacturer, created (made) from precious resin (plastic) in a high-tec environment (factory). If you go into a high end (expensive) fine writing instrument boutique (pen shop), you will find the plastic pens in an area away from the other, presumably lesser pens, and you will be attended to by a young lady, usually slim, attractive and feminine, who only works with these fine writing instruments (pens) of this outlet (bazaar) lest she become soiled by the other plastic pens on display elsewhere in the establishment.
The irony of the above is that whenever I visit this particular branch there are few people in the shop, and none at the vendors exclusive counter.
To test how valuable the precious resin in please feel free to melt it down and see how much your jeweller will give you for it!
This is all tongue in cheek of course. Some of my "favourite acquaintances" have been lured in by the marketing hype of this pen shoveller!
Personally I like the aesthetic of GMT hands, typically their splash of colour. I've got a 16570 and a Seamaster GMT (you don't see a lot of those - with clear caseback to boot) for that reason. But I completely agree that the function is otiose and can't imagine the circumstances in which someone would work out the second time quicker from the hand position than maths. In my case for family reasons I often set the GMT hand to Italian time; and although I'm not the most numerate, I can do +1 ...
Red writing on a dial
Red on the tip of a seconds hand
I know there are highly coveted references like ‘Red line’ Submariner
Only exception I’ll make is for a Rolex Pepsi
Not that it’s readily available 😀
I don't really use my watches to tell time.
I went through a phase of checking it against time.is , but then lost interest after a while.
Now I just like retro designs from 2005 and earlier.
Now I don't even wear them, I just have them because they're fun to look at.
Quartz..... it's just better...... better accuracy, better robustness, better anti magnetic qualities...... it's just better.
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Get out the pitchforks:
I dislike the colour (actually not a colour) black on any watch.
I therefore currently have watches with green, white and blue dials. And despite loving everything else about it, had to sell an otherwise very nice Rolex GMT TT Rootbeer because if it’s dial colour and 50% of its bezel :)
I understand I am probably the only watch geek in the world to feel this way, but I can live with that :)
Phew, that felt so good admitting :D
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I never buy watches with round hour markers, the ones I have bought in the past I've never bonded with and have flipped quickly.
I somehow missed your reply at the time...but yes, I too own a few fountain pens crafted from the most exquisite artisanal plastic by gnomes in Germany. Sadly I missed out on the young lady experience, as I used to buy them online, which seems a bit of a shame.
These days I am far too sensible to spend a lot of money on fountain pens made out of posh plastic. Instead I spend a lot of money on biros made out of titanium, which is a very different thing indeed. A biro absolutely needs to be made out of titanium, otherwise it might get damaged if you accidentally run it over with a tractor. And we can't have that, can we?
Last edited by Fullbreakfast; 17th January 2024 at 18:09.
Patek’s Nautilus is only bought by people due to its exclusivity and perceived brand values, when the design is 70’s chintz.
I’d love a green Aquanaut at rrp if anyone wants to indulge me though?
Watch companies! I'm very happy for you that in just ten days you are going to be launching an epoch-making new model. But please don't send me a teaser email with no actual information or meaningful images in it to tell me that, and then another, and then another. Just save it until you launch the damn thing, then send me an email with a link to the full details. You're not creating excitement and anticipation, it's just spam, and by the time you actually launch the watch I will probably have unsubscribed.
Thank you, much appreciated.
Is it wrong that I don't like either of them, but I do like the cheap Maen knock off job (Manhattan 37)? Somehow it seems to strike a balance that neither of them have.
(OK, I know it's supposed to be a knockoff of a VC 2215, but it's same difference really. I don't like the VC either).
Last edited by Fullbreakfast; 25th January 2024 at 15:55.
The Tag Heuer Monza is a far better watch than the Monaco.
(I know there are good and bad versions of both but I stand by my statement)
It’s probably been said previously but I absolutely love a dive watch on a leather strap.
I know, I know, and I apologise.
Tourbillons are ugly. May be a clever complication, but in real life its main purpose to serve when visible on a dial is to let everybody know that the wearer is considerably richer than you.
- My 2015 Omega SMP ceramic has a better build quality than any Rolex I have owned. I could not replace it with anything as good for what I'd get for it.
- NATO straps cheapen every watch they are used on. Yes they do, stop fooling yourself, they look sh*t.
- No Seiko is worth more than £300, not even the over hyped and over priced GS & SD models....it's a Seiko end of.
- Moon phase complications are pointless and don't even look good. No they don't stop fooling yourself.
- Don't abuse and f*ck your watch up and then try to sell it on SC as 'patina' or 'well loved'! If it was loved at all you wouldn't have f*cked it up. Did you wear it whilst angle grinding or welding FFS?
- White dial divers look shit, nobody wants them so why did you? What were you thinking?
- 45mm+ divers look too big for most people, that's why nearly of of the ones on SC are that size, rather than the 40-42mm versions. What were you thinking?
- I think some people literally and deliberately buy fugly watches.
- Yes, if you have to ask it does look too big. Is that your Dad's watch son?
Anyone who enjoys winding a watch daily needs to find a more exciting life.
Snoopy on an adults watch is cringe
Bond nato straps are ugly. The fact a factional character once wore it doesn't hide the fact.
Natos in general are rubbish. They go under the watch and lift it so it appears thicker. And add extra wrist bulk on the side. I've worn on 'single pass' style in the past which I found just about acceptable
Lume means nothing to me. I don't care one ounce about the lume quality. What if I need to tell the time within 15mins of going from a very bright area to a dead black area!? Pfffff. Why people review it, care, do lume shots is a mystery to me.
Last edited by alzone; 1st April 2024 at 20:05.
Snowflake hands don’t do it for me or slab sided watches, so unfortunately that rules out most Tudor watches, a brand I have never owned.
Watches with arrow tip hands are another dislike of mine.
Cases that have things that enclose or cover the crown, might protect it, but not for me.
Skeleton dials as in holes in it so you can see the movement. I’m okay with skull dials, even owned one years ago.
Rubber straps, my wrist just gets hot and sweaty under them all year round.
NATO straps - uncomfortable and as mentioned raise the watch head up.
Chrono pushers that look like they have rubber bands around them.
Notwithstanding I've no desire to sell my watches, the value of my collection Vs the cost of my collection, makes my hobby more rational.
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Sinn are massively over rated by the community.
The case designs are basic, the bezel actions are wobbly and their chronos are unbelievably thick. Things like argon filling and copper sulphate dehumidifying capsules are solutions for problems that don’t really exist and just add to the servicing costs. I’ll give tegimented cases their due but I did manage to scratch one after a week of ownership.
They get away with it by appealing to the tough guy action man collectors seem to want to be and passing it off as utilitarian but utilitarian doesn’t wash at the prices they’re charging nowadays.
Only bananas look good in yellow. Watches and cars not so much.
The idea of AP, VC, PP being the trinity of the greatest watch manufacturers is a 50 year old construct that has no relevance to the present day.
The hyped models don’t represent their greatest work, and have less hand finishing than one might hope.
D
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Watch designers have run out of ideas.
There are only so many aesthetically pleasing things you can do with 4cms before it looks like something Max Busser would 'create'.
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I agree with you, I like GMTs even though I don’t travel much.
How many on here have a divers watches and only use the bezel to time how long their car has been in the local car park or the like, certainly nothing that involves getting wet, unless it rains.
Live and let live and all that crap…