The watch (timepiece) thread

[Maddmatt]

All right, lets talk about watches. Watches are a mans diamonds, I will happily buy jeans at Costco and wear them to somebody's wedding, but watches are the one clothing item that actually interest me. Given a larger budget, I would have many more, but getting them to fit can be an issue, for my size (6', around 200lbs) I have relatively skinny wrists, so I feel like Run DMZ (that dates me pretty well) when I wear those big Suuntos, as much as I love them.

My daily driver is this freestyle, been wearing it for about 18 months. Keeps good time, never scratches, comfortable.

Fancy dress up/important meeting watch is an older version of the white face Rip Curl in the picture below. It tells the tides, which does me a whole lot of good ********** dab in the middle of Colorado. When I am at the ocean I have no idea how to use the tide part, but it was gift and I like how it looks.

Expedition watch is an older Nike with the altitude / tem / barometer functions. I don't usually like digital, and the altitude is based on atmospheric pressure, so a change in the weather can move you up or down quite dramatically. I have found that if I set the altitude to a know level at the start of a trail, it will stay fairly accurate for the next few hours.

Then there's a whole drawer full of cheaper Timex / Dakota / anything else watches that I pick up from time to time.

And then theres the gold Bulova pocket watch, that my grandfather gave to my dad, who gave it to me, and I will eventually pass it on to one of my daughters. It sits in a box not being used, but I wind it up every once in awhile, seems to keep great time.

Fun thread, lets see some more.
-Matt

 

[justfred]

Apropos, my Luminox just died

I picked up a Luminox "Navy Seal" off Ebay for around $130 (list price, around $230). Tritium indicators (also used by Rolex) are amazingly bright.

Then last week it stopped. Replaced the battery, still no go. Warranty no good because I bought it from a non-certified shop.

So I'll probably go back to my Russian Submarine Commander watch.

$50 or so on Ebay.

Yes, I'm a poser. I'm not trying to pass myself off as one of these folx, I just think the watches are cool. Though if some stranger thinks I escaped from a Russian sub, so much the better.

I have a 20-year-old Citizen pilot watch - but it was hard to read.

My Dad and I just got back from China, he picked up (from a street vendor) a dozen fake Rolexes for $20. Varying degrees from "looks okay, don't look too close" to "the whole mechanism shakes when you move it". I was looking for good quality fake Lumnix or Tag Heuer, but didn't see any - all the vendors are into the Rolex.

By the way, I had an old gold Waltham pocket watch, with a heavy gold chain, that belonged to my great-grandfather, something like the one below. It was stolen last month when someone broke into my house. I'm sure it's of no value whatsoever to them, and probably not worth much if they can pawn it.

 

[ChuckB]

Currently have your standard G-shock. I have my eye on a the Rolex in the future...

 

[Freezer]

Since i got one of these with a Rhino-band, my other watches have become somewhat obsolete:

Seikos are the Toyotas of automatic watches.:smiley_drive:

 

[Blair G]

so I feel like Run DMZ (that dates me pretty well) when I wear those big Suuntos, as much as I love them.


-Matt

Run DMC, maybe? I was thinking of NWA with Flavor flav. when I got my Suunto from Ebay. They did not post a picture for size reference. With a brick perhapes. My wife calls it the Pepper mint patty watch.

Blair

 

[Colorado Ron]

Heres a real problem, Im trying to find a place that sells good quality bands. I seem to go thru those the most. I have a great watch, but always seems to be in my pocket because the band is broke. I want one that has a GOOD, ok decent compass and something that will last more than 6 months.

 

[erin]

Interesting, anyone know what time it is??

 

[DaveInDenver]

Run DMC, maybe? I was thinking of NWA with Flavor flav. when I got my Suunto from Ebay.

Flavor Flav was in Public Enemy. Yo.

 

[Blair G]

Flavor Flav was in Public Enemy. Yo.

Boyyyyy

 

[HenryJ]

I am not one of those guys that can get away with wearing a nice watch for very long. I tend to lose my head and do things that are harmful to their lifespan.
When working shifts I have a Timex "Expedition Camper" Indiglo. Easy to read, has a seconds hand and I could throw it away if contaminated without feeling bad.

At the fulltime job, The shock of working with hammers , solvents , welding splatter and the accompanying electrical fields do not work well for some watches.
I have had the "Plain Jane" Casio G-shock for years. It has been through a dozen cheap bands over the years. I still have it in a drawer since my wife picked up a G-Shock with thermometer. I wear that one at work now. It really is just as durable.
Around the same time I picked up one of the Casio Triple sensor watches. Altimeter, Barometer, Thermometer. It also has a digital compass. This was a great watch until the batteries died. I was unable to get it working again. During that time I bought a Casio Pathfinder. This was the new version and has a larger easier to read face, as well as a nice big button for the back light. Easy to hit with a gloved hand.
After a few years the battery went bad on the Pathfinder. I installed new batteries to find it not working. It turns out there is a reset procedure requiring the battery to be shorted to a contact. BINGO! It works, and the older triple sensor was able to be reset as well.

The Casio Pathfinder has been a great watch. I used it extensively while dragracing to keep an eye on the adjusted altitude. While hiking it graphs temperature and altitude changes. Some times I don't realize just how over exerted I am getting, checking the temperature from time to time has been a good way to judge, and a reminder to hydrate.
I have actually had to use the compass a couple times. Caught out without another means and turned around, it really did come in handy to get reoriented.

If you are not into "bling" and don't mind a big watch, I would recommend this one. There are plenty of new versions of the Pathfinder out there now. I am afraid to even look as I might NEED a new one.

 

[Maddmatt]

Run DMC, maybe? I was thinking of NWA with Flavor flav. when I got my Suunto from Ebay. They did not post a picture for size reference. With a brick perhapes. My wife calls it the Pepper mint patty watch.

Blair

Yeah, typing too fast. Got all excited there for a minute. That was cool when they made that video with Aerosmith though..

 

[calamaridog]

Currently have your standard G-shock. I have my eye on a the Rolex in the future...

Last time you had your eye on something you bought that purdy little Land Cruiser

 

[Jonathan Hanson]

I wear a 37-yr old Rolex Explorer I that my dad bought on his honeymoon and gave me on my 18th birthday. I never take it off, but did have it semi-refurbished (mechanism cleaned, lens replaced, couple of chain links replaced) about 5 years ago. Love my watch and plan to give it to my son on HIS 18th birthday.

Very, very cool, Henry.

I too am lucky enough to wear a gift Rolex, an Explorer II which my wife gave me 20 years ago. It has survived continual abuse and some whacks that horrified me. Every time I look at it I'm reminded of what a great wife I have, as well as everything the watch and I have been through together.

It's even engraved:

 

[articulate]

Interesting, anyone know what time it is??

It's time to get ill.


Edit:
Wait a sec....(hey, a pun)

Maybe you meant, "It's Tool Time!"

 

[Colorado Ron]

still no info on where to find a quality watch band? Anyone?