The Under £200ish Watch and occasional Opera Thread! Vol2

[r159]

Not strictly sub £200, but I will be moving a few on to fund something...and seeing as posters on here are a level headed bunch... ()

I'm struggling to see past getting a 2nd hand Hydroconquest, does anyone have anything around the £6-700 mark that they would recommend? The only thing I like the look of new is the Christopher Ward C60 Sapphire (based on there usually being £100 voucher knocking about it drops the price). I already have an auto chrono, so 3 or 4 handers only.

Please accept apologies for the stretching of the ish when it comes to value...

[Drooles]

r159 said:

Not strictly sub £200, but I will be moving a few on to fund something...and seeing as posters on here are a level headed bunch... ()

I'm struggling to see past getting a 2nd hand Hydroconquest, does anyone have anything around the £6-700 mark that they would recommend? The only thing I like the look of new is the Christopher Ward C60 Sapphire (based on there usually being £100 voucher knocking about it drops the price). I already have an auto chrono, so 3 or 4 handers only.

Please accept apologies for the stretching of the ish when it comes to value...

They don’t look particularly special, but I love my Seiko Sumo (new style with 70 hour power reserve and sapphire crystal rather than hardlex). Got mine for around £650 two years ago and it has been extremely reliable and versatile ever since

[blue_haddock]

I'm currently contemplating either the tissot seamaster 2000 or the christopher ward Tide model.

Both are close to your target price.

[dave_s13]

TonyTony said:

dave_s13 said:

I've just bought one..

https://www.tkmaxx.com/uk/en/men/accessories/watch...

Looks much better in a YouTube video format.

https://youtu.be/dhBiJyKH6Vs



It does mean I've now got a very lightly used steeldive capt Willard going spare...if anyone's interested, drop me a message.

Looks cool, I found they made a bracelet for it as well when I was googling it the other week as well.
http://www.traser.lt/en/home/121-traser-h3-elite-c...

I knew they were big but on video it looks massive, theres no way my wrist is going to be big enough for it. I'll see in a few days.

I'm excited.

I had a traser chronograph a few years ago. Bought on eBay then sold on eBay for not much less. They are quality things. I can't quite fathom how the ones TKmaxx have are so cheap, taking up space I assume.

I'll report back when it lands anyway.

[TonyTony]

r159 said:

Not strictly sub £200, but I will be moving a few on to fund something...and seeing as posters on here are a level headed bunch... ()

I'm struggling to see past getting a 2nd hand Hydroconquest, does anyone have anything around the £6-700 mark that they would recommend? The only thing I like the look of new is the Christopher Ward C60 Sapphire (based on there usually being £100 voucher knocking about it drops the price). I already have an auto chrono, so 3 or 4 handers only.

Please accept apologies for the stretching of the ish when it comes to value...

I like this. https://www.watchgecko.com/squale-divers-watch-y15...

[magpie215]

r159 said:

, does anyone have anything around the £6-700 mark that they would recommend?

Hamilton Murph really like mine and a great movie too.

[Drooles]

magpie215 said:

r159 said:

, does anyone have anything around the £6-700 mark that they would recommend?

Hamilton Murph really like mine and a great movie too.

Despite my previous Sumo post, this ^^^^

[CharlesdeGaulle]

GWC said:

I like the look of the blue dial one, what's people experiences of kickstarter projects like this?



https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/galowatches/g...

I rather like that.

[gregs656]

r159 said:

Not strictly sub £200, but I will be moving a few on to fund something...and seeing as posters on here are a level headed bunch... ()

I'm struggling to see past getting a 2nd hand Hydroconquest, does anyone have anything around the £6-700 mark that they would recommend? The only thing I like the look of new is the Christopher Ward C60 Sapphire (based on there usually being £100 voucher knocking about it drops the price). I already have an auto chrono, so 3 or 4 handers only.

Please accept apologies for the stretching of the ish when it comes to value...

Some ideas here - https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

I'm waiting on the Mido to turn up, it was under your budget in the end.

[Bobberoo]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

GWC said:

I like the look of the blue dial one, what's people experiences of kickstarter projects like this?



https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/galowatches/g...

I rather like that.

So do I, unfortunately at 38mm it's way too small for my manly gorilla wrists!!!

[CharlesdeGaulle]

Bobberoo said:

CharlesdeGaulle said:

GWC said:

I like the look of the blue dial one, what's people experiences of kickstarter projects like this?



https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/galowatches/g...

I rather like that.

So do I, unfortunately at 38mm it's way too small for my manly gorilla wrists!!!

Perfect for me with my effete elegant bone structure.

[Barchettaman]

r159 said:

Not strictly sub £200, but I will be moving a few on to fund something...and seeing as posters on here are a level headed bunch... ()

I'm struggling to see past getting a 2nd hand Hydroconquest, does anyone have anything around the £6-700 mark that they would recommend? The only thing I like the look of new is the Christopher Ward C60 Sapphire (based on there usually being £100 voucher knocking about it drops the price). I already have an auto chrono, so 3 or 4 handers only.

Please accept apologies for the stretching of the ish when it comes to value...

As so often on this thread I am the best person to turn to for advice (sarcasm voice off)

I’ve owned and enjoyed a HydroConquest, a 39mm Alu bezel one in black. I liked it a lot but I think you can do better for £600-£700. There is the possibility that you’ll get a ceramic one for £700ish but they’re rare.




The reason is, for that kind of money you want a ceramic bezel. Alu is ok but it’s not really luxury. I paid £420 for mine on a bracelet and sold it for a little more than that.

Christopher Ward? Yeah, nice watches. You’ll get something lightly used for 6-700 notes.

Someone on here has a Raymond Weil Freelancer (Harry Flashman?) and rates it as highly as anything he owns.

Objectively a San Martin submariner homage from AliExpress will be as good as anything for the money.

A Steeldive submariner with the NH35 movement and ceramic bezel will also do the job.

Want a Swiss powered diver? Mido Ocean Star are value new AND used. Certina make a decent watch.

Take your time, wait for the deal, learn from my mistakes.

[gregs656]

Ceramic inserts are over rated, I think.

[Macneil]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

Bobberoo said:

CharlesdeGaulle said:

GWC said:

I like the look of the blue dial one, what's people experiences of kickstarter projects like this?



https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/galowatches/g...

I rather like that.

So do I, unfortunately at 38mm it's way too small for my manly gorilla wrists!!!

Perfect for me with my effete elegant bone structure.

I liked it until I read the pitch!

[CharlesdeGaulle]

Macneil said:

CharlesdeGaulle said:

Bobberoo said:

CharlesdeGaulle said:

GWC said:

I like the look of the blue dial one, what's people experiences of kickstarter projects like this?



https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/galowatches/g...

I rather like that.

So do I, unfortunately at 38mm it's way too small for my manly gorilla wrists!!!

Perfect for me with my effete elegant bone structure.

I liked it until I read the pitch!

Yeah, it was a bit cringe.

[FuryV6]

r159 said:

Not strictly sub £200, but I will be moving a few on to fund something...and seeing as posters on here are a level headed bunch... ()

I'm struggling to see past getting a 2nd hand Hydroconquest, does anyone have anything around the £6-700 mark that they would recommend? The only thing I like the look of new is the Christopher Ward C60 Sapphire (based on there usually being £100 voucher knocking about it drops the price). I already have an auto chrono, so 3 or 4 handers only.

Please accept apologies for the stretching of the ish when it comes to value...

Here are a few that are a bit different to the norm

Movado Series 800
Baltic Aquascaphe
Certina Aqua DS Action
Steinhart Ocean 2

[eccles]

redrabbit said:

Seem to recall these being mentioned back in volume one. Anyone got any experience with this brand? Looks like a possible alternative to a Junghans Max Bill which I adore but can't afford. Plus 'Automatik' script looks super cool. €350 ish....

If you're after the 'Max Bill' look I bought one of these, from memory it was under thread budget. They also do white and black dialed variants....

[TonyTony]

dave_s13 said:

I'm excited.

I had a traser chronograph a few years ago. Bought on eBay then sold on eBay for not much less. They are quality things. I can't quite fathom how the ones TKmaxx have are so cheap, taking up space I assume.

I'll report back when it lands anyway.

Mines here already, I like it but it is too big. I've got skinny 6.5" wrists so 42 probably is the biggest I can do, it still doesnt look too massive for a 46 though. I'm not sure if the bracelet would even fit me still if I took out all the links you can as well.

[r159]

Barchettaman said:

r159 said:

Not strictly sub £200, but I will be moving a few on to fund something...and seeing as posters on here are a level headed bunch... ()

I'm struggling to see past getting a 2nd hand Hydroconquest, does anyone have anything around the £6-700 mark that they would recommend? The only thing I like the look of new is the Christopher Ward C60 Sapphire (based on there usually being £100 voucher knocking about it drops the price). I already have an auto chrono, so 3 or 4 handers only.

Please accept apologies for the stretching of the ish when it comes to value...

As so often on this thread I am the best person to turn to for advice (sarcasm voice off)

I’ve owned and enjoyed a HydroConquest, a 39mm Alu bezel one in black. I liked it a lot but I think you can do better for £600-£700. There is the possibility that you’ll get a ceramic one for £700ish but they’re rare.




The reason is, for that kind of money you want a ceramic bezel. Alu is ok but it’s not really luxury. I paid £420 for mine on a bracelet and sold it for a little more than that.

Christopher Ward? Yeah, nice watches. You’ll get something lightly used for 6-700 notes.

Someone on here has a Raymond Weil Freelancer (Harry Flashman?) and rates it as highly as anything he owns.

Objectively a San Martin submariner homage from AliExpress will be as good as anything for the money.

A Steeldive submariner with the NH35 movement and ceramic bezel will also do the job.

Want a Swiss powered diver? Mido Ocean Star are value new AND used. Certina make a decent watch.

Take your time, wait for the deal, learn from my mistakes.

I have seen a ceramic Hydroconquest on a rubber strap for £700 whether it is still there when I can move on it is a different matter. It has been cut to child wrist size (71/4) so I would need to replace the strap. I do like my Certina so another wouldn’t be out of the question.

[redrabbit]

eccles said:

If you're after the 'Max Bill' look I bought one of these, from memory it was under thread budget. They also do white and black dialed variants....

Eccles, cheers - that's looks to be a very good shout. The auto Tapferkeits look very appealing. Does yours have the open back? And is the standard strap satisfactory?