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

[Bobberoo]

Marquezs Stabilisers said:

This seems like the place to ask as I venture out of some of my usual PH haunts in Readers Cars and Biker Banter...thanks in advance for advice.

I'm nearing the end of couch to 5k and I'm thinking about getting a sports watch. I have neither the time or the inclination to do long runs but I am thinking about getting a smartwatch for tracking and stopwatch purposes. I know I could run around using my phone, but I live just outside Glasgow and Scotland isn't known for its constantly dry climate.

Are there any decent sports smart watches at thread budget? Preferably a brand that isn't like Xiaomi or whatever that will immediately share all my details with Xi Jinping.

I've had both Withings and Fossil smart watches and loved them both.

[Drooles]

Marquezs Stabilisers said:

This seems like the place to ask as I venture out of some of my usual PH haunts in Readers Cars and Biker Banter...thanks in advance for advice.

I'm nearing the end of couch to 5k and I'm thinking about getting a sports watch. I have neither the time or the inclination to do long runs but I am thinking about getting a smartwatch for tracking and stopwatch purposes. I know I could run around using my phone, but I live just outside Glasgow and Scotland isn't known for its constantly dry climate.

Are there any decent sports smart watches at thread budget? Preferably a brand that isn't like Xiaomi or whatever that will immediately share all my details with Xi Jinping.

Garmin Instinct on sale at Argos at the moment creeps just under thread budget. I’ve had one for years - not as technologically advanced as many but it has served me well. Has a bit of a G Shock vibe. I wear it when cycling but not sure it would suit smart clothes if you wanted a ‘do it all’ option

[Marquezs Stabilisers]

Thanks much - my watch taste is things like the Rotary Commando, so will look at the Fossil too. Suppose I can change the strap, as I am not a big fan of plastic ones or the G Shock look myself.

[blue_haddock]

Barchettaman said:

blue_haddock said:

Well from the refined Tissot to something a little bit 'out there's



The nubeo space invader!

Good grief.

I mean, I’m delighted you own it but equally delighted I don’t. I’m not brave or fashionable enough to rock that. Pass me a generic dive watch (although I’m wearing my Laco Fliegeruhr this week and very nice it is too!)

I was born in 1978, the year space invaders was launched so it's kind of my birth year watch as I don't really do vintage.

I grew up with these early video games and can remember playing the table top version on space invaders in the pub my mum used to work at in the early 80's so for me it's just a total blast from the past.

And from a horology point of view it's just so different to my mainly generic dive watch collection.

I may not wear it that often but I'm pretty sure it's a keeper!

[phil-sti]

WayOutWest said:

How are you finding the Invicta 1953? I have been pondering whether to add one of those or their least gaudy regular pro diver.

I really like it, has about 3 days of reserve.

[Drooles]

Strap repaired

[poppopbangbang]

blue_haddock said:

Well from the refined Tissot to something a little bit 'out there's



The nubeo space invader!

I absolutely love that!

[blue_haddock]

poppopbangbang said:

blue_haddock said:

Well from the refined Tissot to something a little bit 'out there's



The nubeo space invader!

I absolutely love that!

Its definitely a marmite watch!

[FreeLitres]

Wallace12R said:

FreeLitres said:

I've been tempted by the deals on Aliexpress again.

Pagani Rollie GMT Pepsi homage for sub £50. I've been after one of these for a while.

As Redrabbit has said that will the the Chinese Pearl DG movement which isn’t the best, I have a Batman GMT with that movement which I’ve had for around 3 yrs now. Whilst it does work ok, it’s a very problematic movement and prone to dying. I also have the Pepsi GMT with the NH34 and it is definitely worth spending a little extra for, the movement is great and reliable with 0 issues and you also get a nice lumed bezel also. All in all the NH is the one to buy.

I was really excited about this watch arriving, but I ended up sending it back for a refund.

Overall, the watch felt quite nice and had a nice display back with a Pagani decorated rotor. The date window had a decent magnification. The bezel was a little bright and metallic/shiny which looked a bit tacky but I could have probably lived with. The main issue was that the GMT hand was always misaligned and never lined up with the hour markers when the hour hand did. I tried setting it several times but it was always shifted by a few degrees.

[Mammasaid]

That would do my head in also, even on a cheap watch, it's a lack of QA that's inexcusible.

[FreeLitres]

Also, note how the generated image in the advert shows a nice ceramic bezel but the actual watch has a very bright aluminium one. I guess if Rolex has difficulties producing the ceramic red/blue bezel, how can a guy in China do it for £40 (including the rest of the watch).

[Alex_225]

Had a bit of an AliExpress result again. Had my eye on this Sugess for a while now, it's got the ST19 movement and is very very similar to a vintage style Breitling I'd spotted. I have another Sugess with this movement and a Seagull 1963 with it too.

I'd seen prices for this around the £150-180 mark but saw this come up at £98! So for just under £110 delivered and here in little over a week, very pleased.

[21st Century Man]

That's genuinely a great movement. Iconic even. I have it in a few. 1901 Gooseneck

[Alex_225]

21st Century Man said:

That's genuinely a great movement. Iconic even. I have it in a few. 1901 Gooseneck

It really is iconic, although I've tried explaining it to a non-watch person and just get an odd look haha.

[Drooles]

Alex_225 said:

Had a bit of an AliExpress result again. Had my eye on this Sugess for a while now, it's got the ST19 movement and is very very similar to a vintage style Breitling I'd spotted. I have another Sugess with this movement and a Seagull 1963 with it too.

I'd seen prices for this around the £150-180 mark but saw this come up at £98! So for just under £110 delivered and here in little over a week, very pleased.

That’s a lovely watch and an unbelievable bargain!

[Alex_225]

Drooles said:

Alex_225 said:

Had a bit of an AliExpress result again. Had my eye on this Sugess for a while now, it's got the ST19 movement and is very very similar to a vintage style Breitling I'd spotted. I have another Sugess with this movement and a Seagull 1963 with it too.

I'd seen prices for this around the £150-180 mark but saw this come up at £98! So for just under £110 delivered and here in little over a week, very pleased.

That’s a lovely watch and an unbelievable bargain!

Really is, I paid at least £50+ more for the other two with the same movement.

[Bobberoo]

Cracking looking watch that!!!

[zedx19]

https://cestrianwatches.com/pages/cestrian-dive-se...

Currently some good savings to be had here, on both Dive and Field series watches, although a lot of Field Series are now out of stock? Whether this means they're shutting up after selling current stock? I have a Field Series on my wrist currently and I'm pleased with it for what it cost.

[rider73]

zedx19 said:

https://cestrianwatches.com/pages/cestrian-dive-se...

Currently some good savings to be had here, on both Dive and Field series watches, although a lot of Field Series are now out of stock? Whether this means they're shutting up after selling current stock? I have a Field Series on my wrist currently and I'm pleased with it for what it cost.

the field series looks like just what i'm after, for an automatic thats cracking value. if only they had a GMT

[Barchettaman]

I’ve always liked the Breitling Aerospace Ana-digital pilot’s watch. Obviously I wasn’t going to buy one. Where’s the fun in getting what you really want, when you can set yourself up for disappointment by getting a cheap substitute?

So having seen it recommended I got the Accurist equivalent for £60.



Good points:

Cheap.
I like the colour.
The second hand hits the middle of the indicies.
Nice fitted strap with a branded buckle.
Very legible.
It has lots of buttons, not that I really know what they do.
It has multiple time zones (again, I haven’t really worked out how to set them)
It’s pretty chunky but light on the wrist.
Smart enough for a suit, casual enough for Lederhosen and sandals.

Bad bits:

Dive-time bezel, but the bloody thing is fixed.
Lume ain’t great but the LCD time is back lit (assuming that it’s correctly set, unlikely)
Only 50m WR but I am unlikely to swim with it.
I can’t ever remember how the bloody LCD module is programmed, not that I can blame the watch for my stupidity.