Is the Tag Heuer Carrera my only hope? A tricky 'what watch'

[Speed Badger]

Hi all, I am trying to decide on a daily wearer watch, which must have a particular set of skills. I know a reasonable amount about watches, but I am struggling to come up with options for my criteria below.

It MUST be/feature:

Swiss made
Automatic
Chronograph
Day and Date
Black bezel with Tachymeter scale
Metal bracelet
40-43mm
A combination of sporty and dressy but not overly.
Non-vintage, something from the last 5 - odd years give or take.
Budget anything up to 4k

The only other watch that fulfills these criteria is an out of production Omega speedmaster triple date, which is not bad, but not my favourite design and also hard to get hold of.

Any ideas?!

This is the closest I can get that is half decent, I like the design, the movement is solid and it's well made. I also like the way the chronograph dials remind me of a vintage race car steering wheel.

[Turquoise]

Seiko Ananta Spring Drive Chronograph.

I used to have the non chrono version. The katana polishing and finishing on the case and number indices needs to be seen to be believed, as does the smooth sweep of the second hand. Not Swiss but built far better made than a poxy TAG.

http://www.ablogtowatch.com/seiko-ananta-spring-dr...

Edited by Turquoise on Friday 5th August 00:24

[anonymous-user]

There is a PHer who make a chrono - seems to fit the bill apart from the black bezel.

http://www.classicchronographs.co.uk/


In the flesh it looks really very good, and has the overall feel of a much more expensive watch.

[Speed Badger]

Funnily enough I just sold a Seiko Ananta automatic chronograph last week to a buyer in Hong Kong. I absolutely love Seiko, but I want a full automatic (not a 'hybrid' spring drive). Which is, by the way, a work of genius and I understand it's workings, I just want a full mechanical. Also no day function - I have looked at all the high end Seiko chronographs, but they have no day complication and I really do need a day.

I am not bothered by brand snobbery, I just want a quality watch that fulfills my critera.

I absolutely love the day date complication on that UK watch, I've never seen it displayed like that before. Its a bit dressy for me but great effort!

[h0b0]

I have an IWC GST which meets your criteria. But, they are no longer in production. It's also smaller than the carrera. So, not really ideal but some rate IWC above Tag.

[Speed Badger]

That's a good shout, although I have already discounted it due to size, age and the 'international watch company' text at the top looking a little bit flouncy for me!

I quite like the IWC pilots watches that have a day date, but I need to have a Tachymeter scale and it to look a bit less piloty.

[warren182]

Mido commander, longines heritage chrono, fortis cosmonaut chrono

[Snubs]

OP - going down your list of criteria it all makes sense, but why does it have to be Swiss made? Just personal preference or is there some other reason?

[Podie]

Tudor Heritage chrono?

[Matt172]

Damasko DC66?

https://www.pageandcooper.com/damasko-dc66-bracele...

[dkatwa]

Speed Badger said:

Hi all, I am trying to decide on a daily wearer watch, which must have a particular set of skills. I know a reasonable amount about watches, but I am struggling to come up with options for my criteria below.

It MUST be/feature:

Swiss made
Automatic
Chronograph
Day and Date
Black bezel with Tachymeter scale
Metal bracelet
40-43mm
A combination of sporty and dressy but not overly.
Non-vintage, something from the last 5 - odd years give or take.
Budget anything up to 4k

The only other watch that fulfills these criteria is an out of production Omega speedmaster triple date, which is not bad, but not my favourite design and also hard to get hold of.

Any ideas?!

This is the closest I can get that is half decent, I like the design, the movement is solid and it's well made. I also like the way the chronograph dials remind me of a vintage race car steering wheel.

What is the model number of this watch? To my uneducated eyes, it looks amazing....

[Speed Badger]

The model number is CV2A10.BA0796.

A few great shouts from you guys, although I will stress the watch needs to fulfill all the criteria, just because that's exactly what I want. Also forgot to say I would prefer it to have a black dial.

The Fortis is an excellent suggestion - just did a bit of digging and found they have launched a new one at Baselworld - not sure if that's the one you had in mind Warren? Just need to find out if they do it on steel bracelet.

Yes I would prefer Swiss due to personal preference (heritage, quality etc) but I would consider any high end Seiko mechanical with day date but they aren't making any at the moment dammit!

[Speed Badger]

Well, they do it on steel bracelet and the day date matches the colour of the dial - my only bugbear of the Carrera.

Double coated AR sapphire, display back and official wear of the Russian cosmonauts all for £2.2k, I think I may be sold unless something even more awesome pops up. Thanks to Warren for the suggestion, wouldn't have even thought of Fortis. Out of interest what is the general consensus on Fortis? I've always put them with Oris in my mind, which I also really like.

[warren182]

That's exactly the one I was thinking of. Although I really like the tag as well.

[PJ S]

You might want to look at some of the Ball offerings…

http://www.ballwatch.com/global/en/collections/fir...
http://www.ballwatch.com/global/en/collections/eng...
http://www.ballwatch.com/global/en/collections/eng...

[bigandclever]

Sinn 144 St Sa ? Think it satisfies all your wildest desires

Nicked image (obviously)



http://www.sinn.de/en/Modell/144_St_Sa.htm

[utgjon]

PJ S said:

You might want to look at some of the Ball offerings…

http://www.ballwatch.com/global/en/collections/fir...

The Storm Chaser Pro was in the running prior to me suffering budget-creep and buying the Speedy Pro.



Plus, infinite lume...

[Lorne]

desolate said:

There is a PHer who make a chrono - seems to fit the bill apart from the black bezel.

http://www.classicchronographs.co.uk/


In the flesh it looks really very good, and has the overall feel of a much more expensive watch.

Oh, thank you very much. The price is the build cost plus a small profit margin, rather than the normal approach of 'hmm, how much do we think we can get away with', so it is a much more expensive watch! Partially fits the OP's original spec; Swiss movement, modified of course, but British engineering, and built in Ealing (West London)

Edited by Lorne on Friday 5th August 15:26

[Speed Badger]

As I touched on earlier, love that dial and the way the day and date have been incorporated is such a classy but modern touch. If I was looking for something more dressy, I'd definitely consider it.

The Ball ones are ok, bit busy with the indices for me but another good shout. I do like the Sinn, but it's German and lacking for me in heritage just a touch to square away £1-2k on it, but very decent watches nonetheless.

I've watched a YouTube review on the Fortis and for me it's just edging the Tag. I dug a bit deeper into Fortis as i didn't know a whole lot about them and im very impressed. In conjunction with it's inventor, John Harwood, they produced the first automatic wristwatch, as well as being official spacewear of the Cosmonauts since 1994.

It seems like the company lost their way in recent years, but have been restructured with a clearly defined line-up of watches (Cosmonautis, Aviatis, Terrestis and Aquatis) and from the feedback on various watch sites, they had an impressive Baselworld this year.

[Pupp]

Lorne said:

Oh, thank you very much. The price is the build cost plus a small profit margin, rather than the normal approach of 'hmm, how much do we think we can get away with', so it is a much more expensive watch! Partially fits the OP's original spec; Swiss movement, modified of course, but British engineering, and built in Ealing (West London)

Edited by Lorne on Friday 5th August 15:26

Hello Lorne - will be popping in, thanks for the natter earlier