Watches when cycling
DonDaddyD
Posts: 12,689
Spinning out of the hit by a car (and because I don't think it's fair to derail Il Prince's thread any further) here is a chance to talk watches.
OK to begin.
In regards to our recently felled Prince, I recommended that he take his watch to Ernest Jones, not because they can repair his watch, god no, but because they can send his watch directly to Omega (the people who make his watch). Back when I worked as a Jeweller, Omega allowed no one qualified or otherwise to repair their (automatic) watches (especially the ones with co-axial movement, like Prince's watch) other than Omega employed staff, had something to do with assuring standards or something. For that very reason Omega parts are hard to source. This may be folklore or a means of Ernest Jones to jack up the price of an Omega/Rolex and Breitling repair. - God I love watches.
Personally it doesn't matter where you buy the watch but for the watch itself. Same with diamonds, if you know what you're buying you'll know what quality is (and hopefully without the additional cost generated by the shops brand, which usally has nothing to do with the diamond itself - unless they've cut it and made the ring) - My advice, fly to antwerp for the day where most diamonds seem to be graded/certificated and fitted to rings by a ring at less the cost than it will be sold in England fly back the same day.
OK so watches:
Automatic vs Quartz. I'll make this quick. There is no way that an automatic watch can meet the accuracy of a quartz watch. Mechanical watches, the proper wind-up ones, are even worse. What makes an automatic and mechanical watch so special is the care and attention that goes into building them. It's the movement symbolised by the second hands ability to 'sweep' across the dial. I will say that it is possible to make a quartz watch do the same. Think of it like this, if electric or hydrogen fuel cell engines took off, people would still love and appreciate the engineering that goes into building a combustion engine. Bridges vs processors.
I like technology, so I'm Seiko Kinetic Auto Relay and Citizen Eco drive 8700 calibre
My Dad (now 48 ) prefers Automatic watches, I suppose those were the watches of his generation.
I like watches that do things other than tell the time and has decent styling. I don't like huge watches, Breitling (who I believe make a automatic movement capable of vibrating at or near quartz watch level) but then I don't like thin watches either.
I'm a sucker for tag with bezel's and chronographs. The only Rolex I like is the Sub Mariner. The Daytona everyone has gone so crazy for is too big. Love Raymond Weil Parsifal. But part of the reason why I wouldn't 'drop a grand or more' on a watch (even when I had 40% discount working in Ernest Jones is that I couldn't justify the repairs or services.
This brings me to cycling. Of all the watches I've mentioned, they all cost (with the exception of my Citizen, which is my favourite watch) more than the bike I commute on. Now I like nice watches but any clipless moment or accident could see me damaging, or annoyingly scratching a watch with a repair cost that could be more than my bike (if I owned a Omega, Rolex et al) or half the cost of my bike if I owned a Tag or Raymond weil. To each his own and all that but given the risks and the potential costs I rather use a Casio G-shock that is designed to take knocks (it ain't pretty but it does the job better than any named above).
OK to begin.
In regards to our recently felled Prince, I recommended that he take his watch to Ernest Jones, not because they can repair his watch, god no, but because they can send his watch directly to Omega (the people who make his watch). Back when I worked as a Jeweller, Omega allowed no one qualified or otherwise to repair their (automatic) watches (especially the ones with co-axial movement, like Prince's watch) other than Omega employed staff, had something to do with assuring standards or something. For that very reason Omega parts are hard to source. This may be folklore or a means of Ernest Jones to jack up the price of an Omega/Rolex and Breitling repair. - God I love watches.
Personally it doesn't matter where you buy the watch but for the watch itself. Same with diamonds, if you know what you're buying you'll know what quality is (and hopefully without the additional cost generated by the shops brand, which usally has nothing to do with the diamond itself - unless they've cut it and made the ring) - My advice, fly to antwerp for the day where most diamonds seem to be graded/certificated and fitted to rings by a ring at less the cost than it will be sold in England fly back the same day.
OK so watches:
Automatic vs Quartz. I'll make this quick. There is no way that an automatic watch can meet the accuracy of a quartz watch. Mechanical watches, the proper wind-up ones, are even worse. What makes an automatic and mechanical watch so special is the care and attention that goes into building them. It's the movement symbolised by the second hands ability to 'sweep' across the dial. I will say that it is possible to make a quartz watch do the same. Think of it like this, if electric or hydrogen fuel cell engines took off, people would still love and appreciate the engineering that goes into building a combustion engine. Bridges vs processors.
I like technology, so I'm Seiko Kinetic Auto Relay and Citizen Eco drive 8700 calibre
My Dad (now 48 ) prefers Automatic watches, I suppose those were the watches of his generation.
I like watches that do things other than tell the time and has decent styling. I don't like huge watches, Breitling (who I believe make a automatic movement capable of vibrating at or near quartz watch level) but then I don't like thin watches either.
I'm a sucker for tag with bezel's and chronographs. The only Rolex I like is the Sub Mariner. The Daytona everyone has gone so crazy for is too big. Love Raymond Weil Parsifal. But part of the reason why I wouldn't 'drop a grand or more' on a watch (even when I had 40% discount working in Ernest Jones is that I couldn't justify the repairs or services.
This brings me to cycling. Of all the watches I've mentioned, they all cost (with the exception of my Citizen, which is my favourite watch) more than the bike I commute on. Now I like nice watches but any clipless moment or accident could see me damaging, or annoyingly scratching a watch with a repair cost that could be more than my bike (if I owned a Omega, Rolex et al) or half the cost of my bike if I owned a Tag or Raymond weil. To each his own and all that but given the risks and the potential costs I rather use a Casio G-shock that is designed to take knocks (it ain't pretty but it does the job better than any named above).
Food Chain number = 4
A true scalp is not only overtaking someone but leaving them stopped at a set of lights. As you, who have clearly beaten the lights, pummels nothing but the open air ahead. ~ 'DondaddyD'. Player of the Unspoken Game
A true scalp is not only overtaking someone but leaving them stopped at a set of lights. As you, who have clearly beaten the lights, pummels nothing but the open air ahead. ~ 'DondaddyD'. Player of the Unspoken Game
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fwiw I've got a tag link that my lovely lady bought me a couple years back
http://www.goldsmiths.co.uk/content/full/552.jpg
*after a few bevvys on a brompton is the answer, when I went over a car bonnet and scratched it a bit ffs
Very Hairy Roadie - FCN 4
Fixed Pista- FCN 5
Beared Bromptonite - FCN 14
Pretty much every powered object in life has a clock in it. So much so that I remember a great sketch Harry Hill did where him and his "big brother, Alan" (really Al Murray) were competing to see who had the best "clock". It was along the lines of:
"Look at my clock, you can make phone calls on it."
(Holds up a mobile phone)
"Yeah, well look at my clock, you can cook food inside it"
(Points to a microwave)
"Oh yeah, well beat this, I can drive around in my clock."
(Drives up in a car)
Anyway, the point is that there's no requirement to have a time-telling device on the wrist anymore so while it's perfectly fine to wear watches it's already pure nostalgia/style rather than any technological nonsense.
Regarding Seiko or Citizen, they don't sell their best watches outside of Japan. To get the one I like I'd have to travel to Tokyo which is annoying to say the least.
As for using a mobile phone for time, why? What is more conveniant that something accessable on your wrist rather than at the bottom of a bag.
My watch is the most expensie I've had at £50 for a swatch but it keeps time perfectly.
I am humbled by your genius...
A true scalp is not only overtaking someone but leaving them stopped at a set of lights. As you, who have clearly beaten the lights, pummels nothing but the open air ahead. ~ 'DondaddyD'. Player of the Unspoken Game
Define best, I know there is a lot of models (from any Asain manufacturer) that doesn't make it into the European markets. But, for example, Seiko have been selling perpetual calendar watches for years... my watch has that...
A true scalp is not only overtaking someone but leaving them stopped at a set of lights. As you, who have clearly beaten the lights, pummels nothing but the open air ahead. ~ 'DondaddyD'. Player of the Unspoken Game
****fashion police alert*********
I am wearing my casio ts-100 which has like 20 time zones and a dodgy thermometer which were both very important to me almost 20 years ago when it was on my birthday list as a kid! reason I wear it is beacause it seems bomb proof to all the activities I do and my Animal watch ran out of batteries every year, this hasn't had a new battery for around 10 years
FCN 4 sometimes
I like watches and I've got 6 or 7 but I hardly ever wear any of them anymore because the metal straps pinch my skin.
If anyone has a recommendation of a good looking, low profile, comfortable watch that doesn't cost the earth I'm all ears
Voodoo Bizango - 2014 - Dead - Hit by a car
Vitus Sentier VRS - 2017
I haven't worn watches for years I have one nice watch that I wear to posh nights out, but day to day i don't need or want a watch.
Although having said that, Seiko are just starting to offer up some of their higher end products in Europe.
Nothing wrong with Swatch, they own Omega and a host of other Swiss watch brands, so they should know a thing or two about making decent watches!
And as DDD says, a Swatch will be FUNCTIONALLY superior to any high end automatic mechanical watch (i.e., keeps better time, more reliable, less costly to own, etc.).
I had a friend that bought a "bargain" seamaster after seeing my one. After a few weeks his watch stopped running (the movement had rusted due to mositure getting in) and he had to spend £200 having it repaired, serviced and the bad bits replaced.
Another thing to watch out for is the dome glass (which is actually some sort of plastic). This is very very fragile as it is completely exposed around the sides and front of the watch. Many watches have non-official replacements fitted which dont fit properly and allow mositure to get into the dial. The dome is also an integral part of the seating mechanism for the movement, so unless the dome is exactly the right model for the movement it will allow the movement to move around in the body of the case. This will cause all sorts of problems and can damage the internals big time if you do something as simple as shake someone's hand too hard!!
Sorry if the above is a bit ranty, but my mate's experience and the lecture he got from the watchmaker really sticks in my mind!
If you want a good reliable omega then have a look online at some of the more reputable watchmakers and then go and look at the watch before you buy it. If the shop know what they are doing they will more than happily take the back off and show you the internals.
Le Domestique Tours - Bespoke cycling experiences with unrivalled supported riding, knowledge and expertise.
Ciocc Extro - FCN 1
++1!
I think you should always physically see and wear the watch you are going to buy. I don't trust ePrey at all.
Nothing wrong with Swatch, they own Omega and a host of other Swiss watch brands, so they should know a thing or two about making decent watches![/quote]
Yeppers, Swatches are cool and like Seat, Skoda and Volkswagon probably come out of the same factory and share the same parts as Omega and Tissot who are also owned by Swatch.
I think Rolex and Breitling are the only stand alone companies these days... (Though I will always question the quality of the Rolex movement compared to the price charaged). I.e. I always saw more Rolex watches coming in for repair than anyother watch automatic or otherwise...
A true scalp is not only overtaking someone but leaving them stopped at a set of lights. As you, who have clearly beaten the lights, pummels nothing but the open air ahead. ~ 'DondaddyD'. Player of the Unspoken Game
Solid advice, same thing a horlogist said when advising me on mainting a high quality watch. It's notjust the watch itself but the parts used to maintain it. A lot of people overlook that.
+1!
A true scalp is not only overtaking someone but leaving them stopped at a set of lights. As you, who have clearly beaten the lights, pummels nothing but the open air ahead. ~ 'DondaddyD'. Player of the Unspoken Game
Like most areas of eBay, it's easy for the uninitiated to get ripped off. A proper service will set you back about £120 from a good horologist, including a new crown and crystal. You should budget for at least this. On the plus side, good watches of this era will work forever when serviced correctly, they were made to the truly highest spec. Fakes are a lot easier to spot too, because they look so damn poor compared to the real thing.
Oh, and the plastic is marketed as "Armoured Hasselite", it's actually acrylic. They aren't actually fragile, but do scratch relatively easily. They were required for the moon missions, as even sapphire glass can shatter, acrylic can't.
Viner Maxima, Tifosi CK7, Giant Bowery, Old commuter.
But I don't wear it for cycling: first because I can feel the weight of it moving when I hit bumps, and secondly for the reason IP has so recently pointed out. If you have an off, it can turn out to be a great deal more expensive than it needs to me. So I have a cheapie timex for riding.
Bike 1
Bike 2-A
Have yet to replace it and wrist feels odd without it but getting used to the lack of item. I'd definitely get a kinetic again however if I was to.
The Mad Monkey [2013 Hoy 003] [FCN: 4]
1) If I crash, I'm scared of damaging it (it's not in the Omega league, but it's still a nice watch, and not cheap to replace.
2) I don't want to deglove my hand with my watch (in the result of a crash)
Add on to that, the bulk, the way my seams won't sit flush, it'll interfere with my gloves - you can't wear armwarmers over the top, aerodynamics...
Yeah.... my computer has a clock on it - I do like to know the time, and I can read it right off below my speed (Cateye Strada - you can display the clock all the time as the secondary output)
And for the guy down at Palmer Park on Tuesday who was repeatedly checking his watch in the train, losing the wheel and moving all over the place - WTF were you playing at?! You're not going to turn into a pumpkin for fear of not knowing the correct time - move out of the train if you're just going to censored around...
*I fear I have gone slightly OT here... Apologies.
No reason LiT no reason at all. Your point is as awesome as you are.
A true scalp is not only overtaking someone but leaving them stopped at a set of lights. As you, who have clearly beaten the lights, pummels nothing but the open air ahead. ~ 'DondaddyD'. Player of the Unspoken Game
Thanks DDD, I was worried people were beginning to forget just how awesome I am...
Viner Maxima, Tifosi CK7, Giant Bowery, Old commuter.
Yeah I probably didn't word that very well. By fragile I actually mean exposed, in the sense that the dome extends around to the side of the case as well and is not protected from knocks and scratches!
Le Domestique Tours - Bespoke cycling experiences with unrivalled supported riding, knowledge and expertise.
Ciocc Extro - FCN 1
DDD - have you got an ECO drive 8700? snap. I can't stand the idea of a battery running out in a watch because I'm so disorganised, it'd take me 2 weeks to sort out
Get one of these repair kits
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=228858
and you can open the back of pretty much any screw-back watch.
Also get a tube of silicone grease (here's a 50g tube)
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=29006
The main problem is the O ring. If it's dried out or perished, you'll need to get a new one. If the rubber is in good condition, you can re-grease it and re-use it. The rubber O-ring should last indefinitely - if it doesn't, it probably hasn't been re-greased during the battery changes.
You'll need to use silicone grease to coat the O ring - using non-silicone grease would be disastrous as the hyrdocarbons eventually attack the rubber.
If you have a screw-down crown for the adjustment pin, make sure you don't screw it down too tight or you'll deform the gasket (if fitted).
By the way, my watch is a sub-£200 Rotary Aspen divers. If you've shelled out on a five grand watch you might not be as cavalier. I'd leave it to an expert in this case.
.
He will however be narked when he finds it my swatch is essentially as good as his £5k plus watch
The watch is awesome. digital functionality with a analogue display, cannot complain. The alarm is just the icing on the cake.
Battery's running out annoy me because once you've opened the back the watch needs to be sealed to guarantee water-resistency and that's just a hassle.
A true scalp is not only overtaking someone but leaving them stopped at a set of lights. As you, who have clearly beaten the lights, pummels nothing but the open air ahead. ~ 'DondaddyD'. Player of the Unspoken Game