What Watch ... For £250!

[Ikemi]

I don't usually browse these parts of the forum, but I'm looking for a new watch up to the value of approximately £250. The bracelet and casing must be made of titanium and that the watch face is not absolutely massive! I do like diving/surf style watches ...

I have my eye on this, but any suggestions from the watch gurus would be much appreciated

Seiko SND451



Also, out of curiousity, what are the differences between a £200 watch and a £2,000 watch? I'm guessing build quality, movements and accuracy?

Edited by Ikemi on Friday 22 February 13:45

[glazbagun]

I always liked those Seiko's when they came out, I dont think you'd be disappointed with one. Theres also the Citizen Eco Drives which look a little more traditional. This one is titanium cased for about £220:



Bezel doesnt rotate(1), though. I dont think. Does it have to be titanium? it does limit your choices somewhat.

Regarding cost of watches, part of it is movements, material quality and of course branding, but much is the attention to detail paid. Like most things expensive (guitars, cars etc), its a case of diminishing returns. A £10K watch isnt ten times "better" than a £1K watch, but a £1K watch is a higher ratio better than a £100 watch. One may be well built, but not beautifully made.

But if you want the feel and finishing of a £20K watch, you'll have to pay for it. Few are so anal about it for it to matter, but if you do care enough then you'll appreciate the difference. Same way some people like comparing fine wines while I chuck any old gash down.

(1)It would if it cost £1k

Edited by glazbagun on Friday 22 February 17:07

Edited by glazbagun on Friday 22 February 17:18

[glazbagun]

Compare these, for instance:

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

http://allbrandnamewatches.stores.yahoo.net/cl1112...

[kiwisr]

Ikemi said:

Also, out of curiousity, what are the differences between a £200 watch and a £2,000 watch? I'm guessing build quality, movements and accuracy?

Yes, the £200 watch will more than likely be more accurate as it will usually be a quartz movement.

I think certain brands like Tag and Omega are overpriced for what they are and that there isn't much difference a £1500 one of these and a £300 Seiko.

[sonnyb]

kiwisr said:

Ikemi said:

Also, out of curiousity, what are the differences between a £200 watch and a £2,000 watch? I'm guessing build quality, movements and accuracy?

Yes, the £200 watch will more than likely be more accurate as it will usually be a quartz movement.

I think certain brands like Tag and Omega are overpriced for what they are and that there isn't much difference a £1500 one of these and a £300 Seiko.

Agreed, I would get a Casio Waveceptor for £100 and have both accuracy and exceelent build quality, at least as good as a £100-200 Seiko or Citizen, I believe.

[Wadeski]

titanium watches are great, I love mine.

Seiko do titanium divers too...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Seiko-Titanium-Sports-Vers...

[jules_s]

sonnyb said:

kiwisr said:

Ikemi said:

Also, out of curiousity, what are the differences between a £200 watch and a £2,000 watch? I'm guessing build quality, movements and accuracy?

Yes, the £200 watch will more than likely be more accurate as it will usually be a quartz movement.

I think certain brands like Tag and Omega are overpriced for what they are and that there isn't much difference a £1500 one of these and a £300 Seiko.

Agreed, I would get a Casio Waveceptor for £100 and have both accuracy and exceelent build quality, at least as good as a £100-200 Seiko or Citizen, I believe.

So you have ten of them then?

Have you considered selling any of them while bigging them up on a forum?

[sonnyb]

jules_s said:

sonnyb said:

kiwisr said:

Ikemi said:

Also, out of curiousity, what are the differences between a £200 watch and a £2,000 watch? I'm guessing build quality, movements and accuracy?

Yes, the £200 watch will more than likely be more accurate as it will usually be a quartz movement.

I think certain brands like Tag and Omega are overpriced for what they are and that there isn't much difference a £1500 one of these and a £300 Seiko.

Agreed, I would get a Casio Waveceptor for £100 and have both accuracy and exceelent build quality, at least as good as a £100-200 Seiko or Citizen, I believe.

So you have ten of them then?

Have you considered selling any of them while bigging them up on a forum?

No, I like them too much. There is no such word as "bigging". Talk English.

[speedychrissie]

i have been looking at a very similar thing recently and have decided to go for almost the exact same watch as you (the seiko). my girlfriend has said she will get it for me as a joint birthday and anniversary present which is nice.

for seikos, have a look on ebay, there are a number of shops with very good ratings that are selling them for a fair bit less than the high street stores.

[sawman]

I bought a seiko a few years ago, it worked great for 18 months or so, then it became very erratic, and eventually stopped altogether, I considered getting it fixed, but it was a fair bit of cash just to send it away, before the cost of repairs so I lost interest and went back to my 14.99 casio that i had for 10 years, I only used it for timing starts in dinghy regattas.

I eventually replaced it with a victorinox airboss:
http://www.victorinoxswissarmy.com/index.cfm?site=...

[cottonfoo]

I have the T65.7.587.91 as shown on http://www.mister-wolf.net/tissot-watches.htm (fourth from top) which I've been pretty happy with.

[gun12b]

have a look at this one, Seiko Sportura Chronograph Alarm

B.A.R. Honda Edition.ive got one.

[eljordo]

gun12b said:

have a look at this one, Seiko Sportura Chronograph Alarm

B.A.R. Honda Edition.ive got one.

I've got that watch as well, very nice but costs £350 and the thread says £250

[eljordo]

gun12b said:

have a look at this one, Seiko Sportura Chronograph Alarm

B.A.R. Honda Edition.ive got one.

I've got that watch as well, very nice but costs £350 and the thread says £250

[Wadeski]

you can get them for a lot less than £250 nowadays - just look at the watch dealer Ebay shops.

[eightseventhree]

Hve you had a look at nixon watches?

http://www.nixonnow.com/

great watches i have had my "player" for 4 years trouble free

[Justayellowbadge]

Take a look at the SDW Hyperbar diver's watches - this one is on sale at the moment.

£250, all Titanium and water resistant to 12,000M!

http://www.watch-heaven.com/store.php/modname/Tita...

[Ikemi]

Cheers for the replies - Much appreciated! It was a tough decision between the SND451 black/gold and the Citizen that Glazbagun suggested, but I opted for the SND451 in the end.

However whilst looking around I noticed the Tag Heuer Link Automatic Chronograph - Completely out of budget, but the grey faced variant is absolutely stunning! Reminds me of the dials on the Aston Martin DBS. There is a website selling them for £1,600, although on eBay there is an American seller who has one listed for £850 (Don't think it has the tachymetre bezel) ... Would customs and import tax be huge on such an amount? Worth the risk for such a watch? Fake possibly?

Hmmm!

Edited by Ikemi on Friday 7th March 14:42

[alfabadass]

It's worth a risk but every single watch I've bought from the US in the past 18 months has been intercepted.

On £900, you're looking at about £180 in tax and fees.

99% it will be intercepted from America.

[Steve E]

Hi all

a very interesting subject.

am I correct in saying if your into hi-tech cars (Evo 8 etc.) then its a quartz watch for you?

I'm a TVR man and seem to be looking at traditional mechanical movements more!

Does this hold true? OR am I totally off the plot?