What watches do you have / wear / love?

[Dos_Box]

I'm definitely in the analogue watch camp, tried a smartwatch (Moto 360 V2 a few years ago) and ending up hating it as it meant that every notification I was drawn away from what I was doing, be it a conversation, piece of work, relaxing... You get the idea.

 

Now I have a collection of watches I change almost daily to suit my mood. Most are the larger oversized ones (feel better on my wrist), love the older designs by Newgate (inspired a lot from old railway clocks) and pop swatches (new and old styles) for something more fun. Also have a G Shock for when I'm doing more physical work.

 

I have a problem with G-Shock watches now. They are rapidly turning into a fashion brand with very little of the rough and functional models from, say, 10 years back.

I still need to buy a new one (had one when I was in the army years back) and really regretted handing back my G10 watch a few years later.

[jthompson]

Don't the more expensive watches need special pressure chambers to ensure water resistance? I know most places will say that they can't guarantee water resistance after a battery change. I have my own tools, but then I don't have any expensive watches!

 

I bought my own tools in the end for under a tenner and saved myself £200-£300. I never go swimming or diving with it, so it just needs to be weatherproof, really. I did put a little silicone lubricant on the rubber seal before closing it back up, to try to avoid the seal getting snagged at all.

 

I'm loving having it working again.

[SpuffMonkey]

I am mostly wearing this

 

 

which was £7 off eBay and was recommended on Edugeek a few years ago. Still working fine - but getting the back off to change the battery was a right sod!

[admars]

I like this:

 

https://www.fastcompany.com/90368469/a-facebook-designer-creates-the-most-delightfully-absurd-way-to-tell-time

 

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/221213970/redundant-watch-time-two-times-it-says-time-twice

 

[theeggmaster]

I have an Amazfit Bip. Month-long battery life, has GPS, heart rate monitor, sleep monitoring, step counter, always-on screen, customisable faces.. It's small, light and cheap. Best thing I could find to replace my Pebble.

 

[mole]

Rock a gold Casio F-91W

 

[LeMarchand]

This may be of interest to those in this thread. Price gone up a bit since this morning, and may not fit chunkier watches (see comments).

 

https://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/mysracing-watch-box-12-bit-aluminum-box-for-685-at-amazon-3345798

[mikeprice]

I have a selection of watches - mostly inherited - including my Grandad's old gold watch

 

I remember him getting worried about it many years ago and telling my Dad that he had been winding it for (about) 72 turns ever night for the last 40 years - but it had gone up to 75 now so there might be a problem

 

that was probably over 30 years ago

 

still works

 

I also have my Dad's old dual function watch that he got when he started going blind - it looks like a slightly thick normal analog watch - but there is an extra button - press that and it uses a small speaker to tell you the time

Weird think is that the 2 things are totally separate - so when the clocks change you need to change both parts!

 

Normally I wear one of 2 analog watches - a Dreyfus gold watch and a Bulova Gold watch

I bought them when we won some money on the lottery a few years ago - my wife got an eternity ring (so named 'cos that is how long it took to persuade her to go shopping for a diamond ring!!!)

 

I don't need a watch box - the Dreyfus came in a box 1 foot square and 3 inches deep with storage for 9 watches

beautiful thing but a bit OTT

[SamanthaD]

I have a problem with G-Shock watches now. They are rapidly turning into a fashion brand with very little of the rough and functional models from, say, 10 years back.

I still need to buy a new one (had one when I was in the army years back) and really regretted handing back my G10 watch a few years later.

I have to say, after giving it a fair go, I now agree. The GA-100 I've got looks nice but the backlight on it is poor, and can be difficult to read at times. Just bought a Protrek PRG-40 model where the LCD numbers light up instead, much easier to read in the dark!

[hardtailstar]

Just bought a Garmin Forerunner 735XT

 

Not had a watch since the original LG Android wear watch.

[NotSoFast]

I have an Amazfit Bip. Month-long battery life, has GPS, heart rate monitor, sleep monitoring, step counter, always-on screen, customisable faces.. It's small, light and cheap. Best thing I could find to replace my Pebble.

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]54365[/ATTACH]

Exactly the same story here. Replacement for Pebble. I love it. Not sure why they're not more popular.

[Sheridan]

I was wearing my G Shock GA-100 until I gently knocked it against the desk, which popped the strap retaining pin out. Pin was slightly bent so I thought 'no problem' I'll buy a new strap and pin on ebay.

 

After spending a princely £5 for this it arrived and I found I could no longer fit the pin into the watch body , as the old pin scratched a 'track' in the soft plastic when I knocked it, meaning the new pin won't stay put. Have to say for a G Shock it was a bit disappointing!

 

Still on the plus side, it means I can now spend hours on ebay looking for another bargain, I'm a big fan of analogue & digital crossover watches

[jthompson]

Exactly the same story here. Replacement for Pebble. I love it. Not sure why they're not more popular.

 

I feel like Pebble owners, generally speaking, weren't interested in fitness tracking.

[PrimaryTech]

I've got a Casio 5 alarm Solar as my 'daily' watch, £20 from an outlet store and tough enough for classroom bumps. 'Fancy' watch is an Accurist Grand Prix (Fancy = £50). Bought one for my old man as a birthday gift and liked it so much I bought another for myself. If I win the lottery I'd get a Tag Heuer Monaco Gulf.

[Dos_Box]

I grabbed one of these (the white dial version though) a few months back - https://www.amazon.co.uk/STARKING-AM0184SS12-Automatic-Stainless-Bracelet/dp/B01AYUXAWA/ref=sr_1_3?crid=2QUEWQ7CHL8FU&keywords=starking+automatic+watch&qid=1575808332&sprefix=starking%2Caps%2C149&sr=8-3

They have been very well reviewed (in general) and for such a low price you get a stainles case, sapphire glass and an in-house hi-beat movement and really good bracelet.

You can get them cheaper elsewhere but I think they may have stopped making them now so they are getting increasingly hard to find.

As one watchmaker who reviewed them said, the case and bracelet alone are worth the price and you can always stick in a cheap Miyota automatic movement if it dies suddenly.

 

 

I'm contemplating getting a hi-beat ETA movement for mine.

[Protec]

Casio F-91W anyone?

[DrBeaker]

Casio F-91W anyone?

 

 

I have a WV-58U and a W-96H. For me the W-96H was a more updated versions of the legendary F-91W.

 

All cheap enough to replace if they get badly damaged. Don't have to charge them either.

[andola]

I've got a Casio 5 alarm Solar as my 'daily' watch, £20 from an outlet store and tough enough for classroom bumps.

[pete]

Everyday: Garmin Instinct Solar v1. IMO the best smartwatch ever as it only needs charging every 3-4 weeks. In decent sunshine it can go a couple of months (decent sunshine everyday effectively pauses the battery use. Very bright sunshine can add extra days). Like a smart G-Shock.

 

On the water: Citizen Eco-Drive Divers. A bit battered and mainly used when diving or boating. Fairly unkillable, but the screw-down crown has been repaired once (after a while it stops locking down and then it's not water-tight).

 

Formal / more sleek option: Skagen Gents Titanium Quartz.

[Ditto]

Fitbit charge 2 - does all I need, is mostly readable in daylight/sunshine. Had to replace my old one with one from CEX. Only needs charging at most once a week. Later models just seem to need charging way too often, and are hard to read in brighter light conditions - well my OH's later model is like that. So many products just don't seem to be genuinely advancing like they did in the past. Monetisation has taken over technological advancement in my opinion, but that's probably a thread worthy of it's own!

[3s-gtech]

Garmin Forerunner 955. Love it. Real money for something I never thought I’d need, but running trails and being able to see the route is a game-changer. It’s a decent general watch and lasts me about two weeks between charges.

 

The newest model has an OLED screen and the battery doesn’t last as long.

[Dos_Box]

Just bought a Baby Dreadnought from Timefactors who I have been buying watches from (they design their own) for some years now. It's very pretty and very well specced for the price.

 

[Andycat]

Daily - Withings Scanwatch Nova (I prefer a vibrating alarm for the marital harmony...)

 

Daily if no alarm needed - Citizen Skyhawk

 

Dress - any my dad left me! 1980's engraved Tissot, a Seiko Military, or an old Russian automatic are my favourites, although there are about 10 others (Rotary, Seiko, Citizen etc.)

[VeryPC_Colin_M]

I absolutely adore a good watch. I amassed a collection of odd ones, nothing fancy nor pricey, mainly just ones I enjoyed the look of. Mrs Colin even bought me a nice watch box and all the tools to repair them and change the batteries etc. For a period I couldn't get enough of a brand I'd been following on Twitter/X called Omologato® (omologatowatches.com) and my goto fave is the Raching Chrono. However, I hurt my wrist being a plonker on a night out and wearing one hurt. Since then I've not used one. I rely on my phone now and have done for over 2 years. I'm tempted by Smart watches, and use a Google Pixel 7, so would likely go for a Pixel watch for stability.

[Dos_Box]

I absolutely adore a good watch. I amassed a collection of odd ones, nothing fancy nor pricey, mainly just ones I enjoyed the look of. Mrs Colin even bought me a nice watch box and all the tools to repair them and change the batteries etc. For a period I couldn't get enough of a brand I'd been following on Twitter/X called Omologato® (omologatowatches.com) and my goto fave is the Raching Chrono. However, I hurt my wrist being a plonker on a night out and wearing one hurt. Since then I've not used one. I rely on my phone now and have done for over 2 years. I'm tempted by Smart watches, and use a Google Pixel 7, so would likely go for a Pixel watch for stability.

 

I'd not heard of them Colin, thaks for the heads-up, I'll have to give them a good look at after the conf.

You may be interested in Timefactors as they are Sheffield based, from a garden shed!