The thread about cool watches

That's quite striking, and I started looking at similar style watches online, especially if there were automatic-winding variants. Found the following:

Along the same line as that burnished-gold Fossil Machine watch is this Fossil Nate watch (non-automatic):


Also this Stuhrling automatic skeleton watch:


And this Bulova automatic:

BTW, Talorc Inigima or anyone else interested in a new/interesting watch, Groupon's deal for today/tomorrow is on Sturhling watches, including this one that I'm sorely tempted to get for $69 (regular price $395):


Interesting in that Amazon shows it at $144 (MRSP $495).

Thanks for the heads up. IIRC Stuhrling is one of those companies that makes watches with a "list price" of $A ZILLION but that are never ever sold for that much. Not that there is anything wrong with the watch, but I would advice skepticism about that $495 MSRP.

I picked up that rose-tone skeleton watch on the Groupon deal, because I wanted a watch with a different tone than my usual bright silver or dark grey. Yeah, I know most of the MSRPs on Amazon and Groupon are pretty inflated (watches, jewelry, and other luxury items especially), but $69 vs $144 is still a good deal.

EDIT: And I cancelled the order. Found out the automatic movement on those watches only hold a charge for about 38 hours, which means unless you wear it and move it every day or so, you'd have to manually wind it to keep the time.

Tempted, but that brand gets some seriously crap reviews. I need a dress watch, but want one that won't fall apart.

Groupon also has a bunch of Timex Weekenders for $17. Great quality for the price.

And a bunch of Invicta Sea Spiders and Cordubas that I know nothing about for $89-$99.

Invicta is another of the "name really high MSRP but run huge discounts 100% of the time" brands.

And Orient.

You're not going to find an automatic that holds more than about 48 hours. You can either wear it every day, buy a watch winder, or just shake it a few times and then set it before you wear it. I do the third thing with my automatics.

I guess I was hoping for more of an automatic quartz style, like my Seiko Kinetic that will go several months once it's been charged enough.

I was sorely tempted to buy one of the Stuhrlings, because I don't have a skeleton watch, but besides the mediocre reviews, the men's models are freaking huge (and the women's ones looked stupid). Still, good find.

A new watch turned up and whilst it's sort of cool (automatic dual timer with inner rotating bezel), it's not as cool as the packaging.



I've had some really nice leather and wood boxes in the past, but this one is cool. Plus, extra straps.

Limited edition Star Wars watches

There's even a digital one with R2-D2 on it. They are really expensive though (between about $1740-$1800).

Haha, good christ, is there anything they can't stamp STARWARS on to push?

Where's the jarjar model!?

I don't know if my recent purchase counts as a cool watch, but I thought it was kinda neat-looking, as a blend of new and old:

That is a very cool watch. I want!

Thoro - what's the model number on that one? I'd love to get it. Diesel watches are ballin.

That looks a little large for my personal preference, but it is neat looking.

DZ1399.

Inigima: yeah, it is fairly large, but once I saw it on the wrist it didn't seem to dominate as much as I thought it would.

This thread seems to have died. Fortunately, I got a new watch this week so we can get it going again! I picked up a Seiko Alpinist. I had my eye on it for 6 months at least. Most of my watch collection is divers so it's nice to have something a little more formal. I got a new leather strap from Crown and Buckle because the Seiko one was horrible. I love the reflection of the dial in the sunlight.

Amazon currently has a bunch of watches on for super duper cheap! I may order one or two for myself.

I've never worn a watch for more than a week but I've considered it more recently and I've got a question. I see a lot of fancy watches that have features for specific roles, basically divers and pilots watches. My guess is that these functions are usually superfluous (how many Rolex Submariners ever actually go diving?). So, are their watches with "city" functions (beyond the calculator watch)? Cool features that would be useful for living in a city, working in an office, etc.? r is it just pre-order a Pebble?

Good question. My new Alpinist has a inner bezel compass but I don't plan on using it other than to see if it works. And my divers never see the water (almost). Pebble is probably your best bet although to be honest I like watches because they tell me the date and the time and I love the idea of all those tiny little parts keeping such accurate time without using any external source of energy (unless it's a quartz). Pebble seems cool but if I want to check my email I'll just look at my phone.

I am tempted by this Fossil watch, especially since I got a small Christmas bonus:

EDIT: Found the Amazon watch deals page.

Okay, I just bought the watch I posted about above. It was about $140 on Ebay.

I should probably report to the frivolous purchases thread.

(hanging head in shame)

That is an awesome watch. I love skeleton watches. I feel like I'm looking into the soul of the watch.

Like Canuck I have a watch with an internal compass bezel that I never use, but it's also a divers with an outer rotating bezel and those features are handy at times. The rotating bezel can be used as a timer if needed. I don't dive, but I buy divers because I know they're waterproof. Some "water resistant" watches are ok in the rain, but I wouldn't submerse them in water. I have a couple of dual-time (GMT) watches that can be handy if you want to keep track of a second time zone. My Navitimer has a slide-rule that can be very handy to the right person, but I have never had the need. I just love the look of them. I mostly buy chronographs for that reason. I like the look, but I find that it's the one complication I use above all others other than a date function.

The only complications I can think of that would be aimed at city living, would be a perpetual calendar function, an alarm and dual-time if you have that need. My wife has a Citizen Campanola Grand Complication that has a perpetual calendar, chronograph, dual-time and minute repeater, and she uses all of the features. If none of those are of any use, then I would say the Pebble or just something nice and clean with a date function.

Can I ask the model number? I'd like to get one for my wife as I heard "Ooh, I really like that" from behind me when I looked at your post.

And if anyone should be ashamed about another frivolous purchase, it should be me, as this Sothis Spirit of Moon Prestige is on its way. My excuse is that I've wanted one for a few years and it's gorgeous.

Fossil ME3023

Does she like big watches? That's a men's watch, and I think it's pretty chunky.

Oooo, I really want that Reactor watch. Sadly even that price is currently out of my range.

Thanks for that.

She only likes big watches. Her Citizen is a large men's watch and when she's not wearing that, she wears my Navitimer which is 42mm. Looking at that Fossil on their site, it looks like it will be just the right size.

The back is just as cool.



Sadly, for that much, I'm in for a Trident console before I'm in for a watch so very nice, but man, that is probably the most beautiful watch I've ever seen.

Uh...those are on pretty different cost scales, right?

The silver dial version (Ikarus) is possibly even better looking (the moonphase dial really stands out) but I prefer dark dials when given the choice. I'm very happy as it's in my top 5 list of most beautiful watches and the only one out of those that I could ever afford.

According to Google, fuck yes. That was new consoles though.

Well, I could pick up a used Trident for around $2-3k depending on series and condition. I'm assuming you guys are looking at the new 8x series. In which case, no, not quite in the same price range. :)

Yeah, I immediately went and looked up the watchmaker and saw the Ikarus and Prestige versions. Our tastes are very similar as I think the Osiris (the dark dial, right?) is the most beautiful of them all. I don't wear watches very often (aside from my grandfather's mil watch), but what compelled me to make that post (and draw the comparison with something similarly priced that I would use EVERY DAY) is that I can say, unequivocally, I would wear that Spirit of Moon watch all of the damned time. It is something most watches aren't: a work of art.

Do you mind sharing the other watches in your top 5 list? Given that you are a craftsman yourself, I'm going to guess that they are all similarly beautiful.

Watch that I am wearing today, picked it up used about a year ago. (someone elses photo)

Bryce I would take any of the Spirit of Moon models, but one of the things I like about the Prestige is that each of the roman numerals and minute markers are individual appliqués that are hand set and riveted to the face from behind. That sort of detail in the workmanship is usually only found in watches that are 10x the price, at the very least.

My top 5 list (because as musicians, we fucking love top 5 lists) with an honourable mention.

5. The Spirit of Moon as you've seen. So here's the prettiest watch I have after that.
Longines Master Collection Chronograph. One of three white dials I have. Classic looking chrono that isn't quite as elegant as the IWC, but not that far off as I actually prefer the case on this over the IWC. Blued hands against white is always pretty and makes it easy to read. I have always preferred sporty looking chronos, but the older I'm getting, the more I like this style. My Tag Carrera is quite elegant for a sporty chrono (as is the Speedmaster), but it's still sporty thanks to the bezel and red hands.




4. IWC Portuguese Chrono. They do a dark dial version, but this is one of the few where I prefer the silver/white. Possibly the most elegant chronograph you can buy. Retail is around $10k which is a fraction of the others, but still beyond me at this point. I would like to buy one for my 50th, so hopefully they will be cheaper in 10 years.



3. F.P. Journe Tourbillon Souverain. Very french and unique. Most brands borrow from each other, but you won't find a similar looking watch from anyone else. They don't have a single model I don't like, but this stands out to me. It has an almost painted look.



2. A. Lange & Sohne Datograph Perpetual. A perfect example of form and function working together. They call this movement a masterpiece in 556 parts, and they're not wrong. It has a flyback chrono that is accurate to one fifth of a second, a perpetual calendar that will only need to be adjusted (forward by one day) in 2100 and a moonphase that won't need adjusting for another 122 years. The dial is solid silver, as are the foundations of the movement and the finishing is second to none. And it just looks pretty. I've added two photos of it to show the difference under natural lighting (gives it an almost salmon colour at times), as well as a close up of the finishing.





1. Breguet Tradition Fusee Tourbillon. The thing with this one, is that you have a very modern styled movement that is proud to show it is mechanical, and yet they have added classic Breguet touches such as the blued Breguet hands on the hand-engraved dial and fluted case and the whole thing, to me, looks stunning. It's also a showcase in mechanical watch technology as it has a fusee-and-chain (actually looks like a miniature bike chain) transmission, silicon balance springs and the minute tourbillon all sitting under a domed crystal. I've added a closer shot where you can see the chain.




The Honourable Mention - A. Lange & Sohne Tourbograph Pour Le Merite. A beautiful rattrapante (split-hand) chrono (accurate to one sixth of a second) that shows off its tourbillon. The flaw for me, is the bridge on the tourbillon that attaches to the dial. It looks like one of those cheap open-heart watches. On a watch that cost just under $600k, it should be floating in that space.



I know that a lot of people probably wouldn't agree with this list, possibly because they would find the dials too busy, but I'm not a big fan of simple, clean dials. It's easy to make them look pretty. I like watches that have more than one complication and if they can show that workmanship off, whilst making it look good, then they've sold me on it. The thing with these, is that I've seen them all in person and all I could say at the time was "Wow"

Holy fucking shit that Breguet. That is one of the coolest things I have ever seen.

Watches and clocks are fucking amazing pieces of engineering.