Watch for £500

[Dan 80]

Hi all, I have just been having a good read of the "Watch for £1000" thread and it has got me thinking - It's my birthday not long after xmas and was thinking of asking for a new watch from the mrs as my current Diesel timepiece has seen better days. Am looking for a smart chronograph but with a maximum budget of £500.

A few that I have seen so far

Citizen Eco-Drive Skyhawk Atomic Watch
http://www.goldsmiths.co.uk/product.asp?cid=1&...

Seiko Pilot
http://www.goldsmiths.co.uk/product.asp?cid=1&...

Oris Williams F1 (bit out of budget but I'm sure I could ask nicely!)
http://www.goldsmiths.co.uk/product.asp?cid=1&...

Any comments on the above / other suggestions I should look at would be appreciated..

Thanks !

[Wadeski]

If you like the seiko pilot, you would probably like a Premier, or an imported Alpinist.

http://www.seikowatches.com/products/premier/index...

http://www.higuchi-inc.com/alpinist-new.html

I would also be looking at less well-known European watches like Sinn and Ollech & Wajs.

Edited by Wadeski on Saturday 1st December 23:42

[speedtwelve]

Dan80

Sorry, chap, but I reckon the Seiko & Citizen 'pilot' watches you've listed are horrendously overstyled cheap quartz tat.

I was in a similar situation recently with around a £500 budget. I also looked at Oris, O & W and Sinn. Consider also Fortis and Glycine. Both Swiss companies make excellent mechanical military/aircrew watches for £500 or less. Have a look at the Damasko site for an individual, built like a brick shithouse mechanical pilot watch option. You aren't likely to meet anyone else with one either.

[Wadeski]

I was being polite.

but yeah, they are a bit "busy" on the design front for me!

[voyds9]

Just bought this one
http://www.goldsmiths.co.uk/product.asp?cid=1&...


Love it to bits. Yes its very fussy but I like that.

Only problem I've noticed is that it doesn't glow in the dark very much compared to my old citizen

[HarryW]

speedtwelve said:

Dan80

Sorry, chap, but I reckon the Seiko & Citizen 'pilot' watches you've listed are horrendously overstyled cheap quartz tat.

I was in a similar situation recently with around a £500 budget. I also looked at Oris, O & W and Sinn. Consider also Fortis and Glycine. Both Swiss companies make excellent mechanical military/aircrew watches for £500 or less. Have a look at the Damasko site for an individual, built like a brick shithouse mechanical pilot watch option. You aren't likely to meet anyone else with one either.

Great tip about O&W watches, very affordable and very nice if you like the military style watches too.
Under £400 for this is a bargain (so long as you don't mind wind up and not auto)

[uktrailmonster]

The Oris you linked to is not a chronograph though. Or was that part not very important?
Nice watch though, I've got one myself. You should be able to haggle at least 20% off full retail.

[MG511]

If you want a Citizen eco-drive there is no need to pay £300+, some massive discounts are available. Argos are currently selling this for £66 (lists at £200) http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/2...

[WTD]

I'd ship in one of these fella's



from: http://www.chronomaster.co.uk/sinn_current_stock_2...

[tobeee]

Always loved that Sinn! I had a look at the Chronomaster website, but it doesn't appear to accept online ordering. Is it a case of phoning to order one, and are they open to negotiation?!

[uktrailmonster]

Just send him an e-mail. Chronomaster (Neil) seems quite helpful, but I haven't actually bought anything from him. As for discounts, you can always ask.