Stuck with a decision - any advice useful
Stuck with a decision - any advice useful
Author
Discussion

blueg33

Original Poster:

46,734 posts

254 months

Monday 12th December 2016
quotequote all
Hi folks

I am looking for a watch that will at least hold its value and will be appropriate to wear for work and in the evenings etc

I have a budget of circa £2600 but can go up about £6000 (if I sell my piece of the Hubble space telescope)

I was certain that I wanted a Tudor Heritage Black Bay in either black or red, but having tried one today it felt too chunky and thick and I didn't like the domed glass

I also tried:

Tudor Pelagos (black) Similar size to the Black Bay, but felt better balanced and felt slimmer, plus I think it looks pretty good in the flesh £3k. I like the brushed titanium case

Rolex Sub (no date) black bezel. Felt nice, was nice a slim compared to the others, but is top end of budget

Omega PO. Feels ok, but quite common (at least in my little bubble world)

So its looks like my decision is Sub or Pelagos one is twice the price of the other. I also like the Milgauss but haven't tried one on yet as the dealer didn't have one.

Thoughts?

utgjon

713 posts

203 months

Monday 12th December 2016
quotequote all
blueg33 said:
Hi folks

I am looking for a watch that will at least hold its value and will be appropriate to wear for work and in the evenings etc

I have a budget of circa £2600 but can go up about £6000 (if I sell my piece of the Hubble space telescope)

I was certain that I wanted a Tudor Heritage Black Bay in either black or red, but having tried one today it felt too chunky and thick and I didn't like the domed glass

I also tried:

Tudor Pelagos (black) Similar size to the Black Bay, but felt better balanced and felt slimmer, plus I think it looks pretty good in the flesh £3k. I like the brushed titanium case

Rolex Sub (no date) black bezel. Felt nice, was nice a slim compared to the others, but is top end of budget

Omega PO. Feels ok, but quite common (at least in my little bubble world)

So its looks like my decision is Sub or Pelagos one is twice the price of the other. I also like the Milgauss but haven't tried one on yet as the dealer didn't have one.

Thoughts?
Are you set on only dive watches?

If not, I am very happy with how the Speedmaster Pro deals with being a work/evening/casual watch.

I've got a few different straps for mine which certainly aids versatility - a leather 'rally' style strap, and a couple of different NATOs - most of the time it lives on the leather strap as I'm not so keen on the bracelet design.

blueg33

Original Poster:

46,734 posts

254 months

Monday 12th December 2016
quotequote all
utgjon said:
blueg33 said:
Hi folks

I am looking for a watch that will at least hold its value and will be appropriate to wear for work and in the evenings etc

I have a budget of circa £2600 but can go up about £6000 (if I sell my piece of the Hubble space telescope)

I was certain that I wanted a Tudor Heritage Black Bay in either black or red, but having tried one today it felt too chunky and thick and I didn't like the domed glass

I also tried:

Tudor Pelagos (black) Similar size to the Black Bay, but felt better balanced and felt slimmer, plus I think it looks pretty good in the flesh £3k. I like the brushed titanium case

Rolex Sub (no date) black bezel. Felt nice, was nice a slim compared to the others, but is top end of budget

Omega PO. Feels ok, but quite common (at least in my little bubble world)

So its looks like my decision is Sub or Pelagos one is twice the price of the other. I also like the Milgauss but haven't tried one on yet as the dealer didn't have one.

Thoughts?
Are you set on only dive watches?

If not, I am very happy with how the Speedmaster Pro deals with being a work/evening/casual watch.

I've got a few different straps for mine which certainly aids versatility - a leather 'rally' style strap, and a couple of different NATOs - most of the time it lives on the leather strap as I'm not so keen on the bracelet design.
I think I prefer a dive style watch, I have a couple of dress watches and a chronograph

klmhcp

247 posts

122 months

Monday 12th December 2016
quotequote all
You might think the Pelagos and the Sub are comparable but they're really not. IME, the sub is worth the extra premium, and then some, over the Tudor. It's a different league of quality and watch overall.

Get the Sub, you'll only buy a lesser watch and keep thinking about it.

Jimmy Recard

17,551 posts

209 months

Monday 12th December 2016
quotequote all
klmhcp said:
You might think the Pelagos and the Sub are comparable but they're really not. IME, the sub is worth the extra premium, and then some, over the Tudor. It's a different league of quality and watch overall.

Get the Sub, you'll only buy a lesser watch and keep thinking about it.
I'm not sure about that. I used to have a ceramic Sub and I no longer have it.

Since selling it, I've bought a blue bezel Black Bay. I've not once felt that way about it.

I didn't buy the Tudor to replace the Sub though or as an alternative either

ellroy

7,848 posts

255 months

Monday 12th December 2016
quotequote all
If 'at least hold its value' is a criteria then the Tudor ain't the answer, it has to be the Sub.

Jimmy Recard

17,551 posts

209 months

Monday 12th December 2016
quotequote all
That's definitely true

Nigel_O

3,882 posts

249 months

Monday 12th December 2016
quotequote all
I bought a no-date Sub a couple of years ago after considering several alternatives. after a similar thread to this one, I realised that if I didn't buy the Sub, I'd only end up wishing I had.

Get in touch with Dominic from Hackett Watches - you may find he's able to source you one for less than AD money - he got mine for me

AndrewCrown

2,501 posts

144 months

Monday 12th December 2016
quotequote all
Blue

I'm another proponent of the Sub...it's hard to get bored of, it is incredibly robust and always looks great... As an added bonus they do without question tickle up in value over the years...

The others are tempting, I too like the Pelagos. I ended up buying couple of Steinharts as knock about watches...perhaps buy the other ones later.... Future birthdays?

A

AlexC1981

5,851 posts

247 months

Monday 12th December 2016
quotequote all
I like watches, but I would rather have a £2600 watch plus a piece of Hubble (which is really cool), than a £6000 watch.

What about an Oris Aquis? I like the orange lume and the clean dial. They also do one with a green bezel and white lume, which is also very nice. Way under your budget, but you would probably lose money if you sold it unless you bought it used in the first place.


(googled image)

The Oris Sixty-Five also looks the part with a more retro feel, but it's not a proper diver.

Edit!....just noticed you don't like them chunky....you wont like this then. hehe



Edited by AlexC1981 on Monday 12th December 21:01

klmhcp

247 posts

122 months

Monday 12th December 2016
quotequote all
Jimmy Recard said:
klmhcp said:
You might think the Pelagos and the Sub are comparable but they're really not. IME, the sub is worth the extra premium, and then some, over the Tudor. It's a different league of quality and watch overall.

Get the Sub, you'll only buy a lesser watch and keep thinking about it.
I'm not sure about that. I used to have a ceramic Sub and I no longer have it.

Since selling it, I've bought a blue bezel Black Bay. I've not once felt that way about it.

I didn't buy the Tudor to replace the Sub though or as an alternative either
My Pelagos soon lost some bits of lume from the bezel and didn't feel at all high end. My ceramic sub however still feels sublime so we differ hugely in opinion.

Flying Penguin

326 posts

189 months

Tuesday 13th December 2016
quotequote all
Seamaster 300 master?

sidicks

25,218 posts

251 months

Tuesday 13th December 2016
quotequote all
blueg33 said:
Hi folks

I am looking for a watch that will at least hold its value and will be appropriate to wear for work and in the evenings etc

I have a budget of circa £2600 but can go up about £6000 (if I sell my piece of the Hubble space telescope)

I was certain that I wanted a Tudor Heritage Black Bay in either black or red, but having tried one today it felt too chunky and thick and I didn't like the domed glass

I also tried:

Tudor Pelagos (black) Similar size to the Black Bay, but felt better balanced and felt slimmer, plus I think it looks pretty good in the flesh £3k. I like the brushed titanium case

Rolex Sub (no date) black bezel. Felt nice, was nice a slim compared to the others, but is top end of budget

Omega PO. Feels ok, but quite common (at least in my little bubble world)

So its looks like my decision is Sub or Pelagos one is twice the price of the other. I also like the Milgauss but haven't tried one on yet as the dealer didn't have one.

Thoughts?
You'll see from a recent thread that I've just bought a Tudor Pelagos and an Omega Seamaster. Combined it was still less than a Rolex Sub.

I don't regret my choice!


Edited by sidicks on Tuesday 13th December 09:38

kmpowell

3,549 posts

258 months

Tuesday 13th December 2016
quotequote all
klmhcp said:
Get the Sub, you'll only buy a lesser watch and keep thinking about it.
This. If you like/want Rolex then nothing else will suffice until you properly scratch the itch. You'll always be wondering and craving.

WOS have a non-date Sub in their window at Canary Wharf if you're in that area.

blueg33

Original Poster:

46,734 posts

254 months

Tuesday 13th December 2016
quotequote all
kmpowell said:
klmhcp said:
Get the Sub, you'll only buy a lesser watch and keep thinking about it.
This. If you like/want Rolex then nothing else will suffice until you properly scratch the itch. You'll always be wondering and craving.

WOS have a non-date Sub in their window at Canary Wharf if you're in that area.
Thanks I am a little way away over at Bank. Meeting in Bond Street this afternoon so may have a peruse whilst I am over there.

I am leaning towards the sub as it is a Rolex, will hold value fits better under shirt cuffs.

I like the tech in the Tudor, arguable the movement is as advanced as the absolute latest rolex movement.

kmpowell

3,549 posts

258 months

Tuesday 13th December 2016
quotequote all
blueg33 said:
kmpowell said:
klmhcp said:
Get the Sub, you'll only buy a lesser watch and keep thinking about it.
This. If you like/want Rolex then nothing else will suffice until you properly scratch the itch. You'll always be wondering and craving.

WOS have a non-date Sub in their window at Canary Wharf if you're in that area.
Thanks I am a little way away over at Bank. Meeting in Bond Street this afternoon so may have a peruse whilst I am over there.

I am leaning towards the sub as it is a Rolex, will hold value fits better under shirt cuffs.

I like the tech in the Tudor, arguable the movement is as advanced as the absolute latest rolex movement.
There's not much by Bond Street anymore, the only AD's are WOS and Selfridges. All the other AD's and grey dealers are on Old Bond Street and Burlington. Head to Old Bond Street would be my advice if you want to look and compare. smile

joshcowin

7,632 posts

206 months

Tuesday 13th December 2016
quotequote all
Over budget but in my opinion the nicest diver - http://www.chisholmhunter.co.uk/blancpain-fifty-fa...

Bremont - http://www.chisholmhunter.co.uk/watches/swiss-watc...

Ball do some nice divers - https://www.ballwatch.com/global/1/collections/ser...

Iwc aquatimers are different - http://www.iwc.com/en/collection/aquatimer/?mid=23...

Breitling do the superocean

I have no idea on residuals I would guess Ball and Breitling would loose a fair amount of money, however if you like them look for them 2nd hand?

joshcowin

7,632 posts

206 months

Tuesday 13th December 2016
quotequote all

klmhcp

247 posts

122 months

Tuesday 13th December 2016
quotequote all
blueg33 said:
I like the tech in the Tudor, arguable the movement is as advanced as the absolute latest rolex movement.
I'd take the other side of the argument, the Tudor movement is in its 2nd year (?) - compare that to the evolution of the Sub's movement.

I can't stress enough that the quality difference between Tudor and Rolex is vast. You might not notice it in the showroom (although you should do if you handle a ceramic sub) but live with both for a year or two and you'll see what I mean.

blueg33

Original Poster:

46,734 posts

254 months

Tuesday 13th December 2016
quotequote all
klmhcp said:
blueg33 said:
I like the tech in the Tudor, arguable the movement is as advanced as the absolute latest rolex movement.
I'd take the other side of the argument, the Tudor movement is in its 2nd year (?) - compare that to the evolution of the Sub's movement.

I can't stress enough that the quality difference between Tudor and Rolex is vast. You might not notice it in the showroom (although you should do if you handle a ceramic sub) but live with both for a year or two and you'll see what I mean.
I think I get the quality point in terms of the case. The Tudor bracelet clasp is excellent, the Tudor ceramic bezel appears good. Even the watch reviews rate the Tudor in house movement up there with the very latest Rolex movement (designed by the same team), Tudor has silicon hair spring and is less prone to magnetic effect t

Rolex is a Rolex