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Swiss on the cheap...

69.158.173.108
Posted on September 18, 2023 at 08:16:37
Jim Pearce
Audiophile

Posts: 23880
Joined: January 4, 2002
 $66.05 Canadian is $48.95 US. From the Swiss army knife people a very nice watch including a sapphire coated element and a slim 8mm profile with curved back that makes its 43mm wearable even on my slim 6-3/4" wrist. Weaknesses: the movement could gain up to 20 seconds a month, the lume on the hands is good but there are no luminescent indexes on the dial, the crown is smallish and the date is small despite the 43mm face.

 

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I'm not a watch collector type but...., posted on September 18, 2023 at 09:02:28
AbeCollins
Audiophile

Posts: 47274
Location: USA
Joined: June 22, 2001
Contributor
  Since: February 2, 2002
In traditional style watches I prefer thin titanium cases with titanium band along with a simple face and sapphire crystal and quartz crystal (electronic) time base. These are very light and the sapphire crystal seems less prone to scratching vs mineral glass or hardex thermoplastic.

Next step up for me would be my favorite line of watches from Citizen. The EcoDrive radio controlled watches require no batteries and are always accurate as they are sync'd to a time signal transmitted over the air out of Fort Collins Colorado (which is sync'd to an atomic clock in Boulder Colorado).





 

I took a look at an Eco Drive..., posted on September 18, 2023 at 09:16:34
Jim Pearce
Audiophile

Posts: 23880
Joined: January 4, 2002
 The one below: it was crap. I've always been very averse to watches (among other items) whose value is largely driven by snobbery. But I got tired of my Timex digital Expeditions and set out in search of an inexpensive alternative.

 

At least 50% Swiss, to be exact :), posted on September 18, 2023 at 10:46:57
Victor Khomenko
Manufacturer

Posts: 55614
Joined: April 5, 2000






The rest could come from other places.

But why be obsessed with Swiss? There are interesting watches made in other places. Today with proliferation of inexpensive CNC and 3D machines it becomes shooting fish in a barrel.

30 years ago I was given a nice Swiss watch made by Auguste Reymond - it was very well made and quite inexpensive by 1995 standards - I think it was about $150 then. I liked it but it was too small for my wrist, even its strap too short.


 

My Eco Drives function perfectly..., posted on September 18, 2023 at 10:55:48
AbeCollins
Audiophile

Posts: 47274
Location: USA
Joined: June 22, 2001
Contributor
  Since: February 2, 2002
 Never had a problem with my Citizen EcoDrive watches, the two Radio Controlled versions are shown below. My wife owns a couple Citizen watches too. They're not exactly high-end watches. My most problematic watches have always been Tissot. I like their styling but I stopped buying them.

The only possibly snob appeal watch I have is the Tag Heuer that was given to me by my company in 1995. It's probably one of their entry models. It crapped out 15 years ago but I had the internals completely replaced a couple years ago.

The last time we went on a Caribbean cruise trip I bought a cheapie $10 "waterproof" Timex for me and a similar one for my wife. No sense in bringing a good watch and scuffing it up on shore excursions and water activities. My Timex lasted about a year before it went in the trash bin.

Notice the top row watches all show precisely the EXACT same time. These are either
radio controlled and sync'd to WWV/WWVH radio transmissions or get accurate time over Wifi.

None of these are what I would consider snob appeal watches.

Interesting fact: I can barely read the huge red character digital clock in the bedroom at night. My Apple Watch on my writs is legible in the dark w/o my glasses and it also tracks the quality of my sleep along with resting heart rate. The gentle silent alarm that vibrates my wrist will wake me w/o waking my wife.



 

Hey, I just got a new watch too last week!, posted on September 18, 2023 at 12:52:39
Chris from Lafayette
Audiophile

Posts: 27220
Location: SF Bay Area
Joined: February 17, 2004
Contributor
  Since: February 6, 2012
 Man, I thought these were sanctioned now, but Amazon is still selling them.

Of course, I'm sure customs put in a tracker - but since I've already been vaccinated, I'm no worse off! ;-)

 

There's a much better watch that matches your posting style! Check it out!, posted on September 18, 2023 at 13:26:00
vacuous
Audiophile

Posts: 4674
Location: Corvallis, Oregon
Joined: August 25, 2000
Contributor
  Since: November 7, 2020
 Perfect for you!

 

As usual, you're confused, vacuous, posted on September 18, 2023 at 13:35:43
Chris from Lafayette
Audiophile

Posts: 27220
Location: SF Bay Area
Joined: February 17, 2004
Contributor
  Since: February 6, 2012
 That watch is for Scumlenski! (Notice how I changed Nazilensky's nickame? Just for you I did this!)

 

yes, they are known to use Chinese parts..., posted on September 18, 2023 at 13:35:46
Jim Pearce
Audiophile

Posts: 23880
Joined: January 4, 2002
 But the movement is Swiss and the strap is real leather so I can't complain.

 

Vostok?, posted on September 18, 2023 at 13:41:56
Jim Pearce
Audiophile

Posts: 23880
Joined: January 4, 2002
 Whatever, looks nice. Another good alternative to Timex.

 

:) nt, posted on September 18, 2023 at 14:07:10
Victor Khomenko
Manufacturer

Posts: 55614
Joined: April 5, 2000
 .


 

RE: Swiss on the cheap..., posted on September 18, 2023 at 14:10:19
Inmate51
Industry Professional

Posts: 2720
Location: Dallas, TX
Joined: August 12, 2022
 Although Wenger is owned by Victorinox, they are separate brands, kind of like Chevrolet and Cadillac are both owned by GM. Victorinox brand watches are considerably more expensive than $49 US.

Just for fun, here's a pic of a SmartCar parked at the Victorinox factory store in Ibach.






*********

We are inclusive and diverse, but dissent will not be tolerated.

 

More on subject, posted on September 18, 2023 at 14:38:49
Craiger56
Audiophile

Posts: 5630
Location: San Jose CA
Joined: April 3, 2002
Contributor
  Since: December 29, 2003
 I really enjoyed this post by Reelsmith

 

outstanding post..., posted on September 18, 2023 at 15:05:20
Jim Pearce
Audiophile

Posts: 23880
Joined: January 4, 2002
 Although I can't believe that he didn't design his watch after a fly reel!

 

it could have been bad luck..., posted on September 18, 2023 at 15:10:32
Jim Pearce
Audiophile

Posts: 23880
Joined: January 4, 2002
 It strikes me that it is very typical of the watch market that not all watches agree on the time and most need to be manually set - after all the technology is hardly new. I'm really something of an anti-enthusiast - although I admire the historical achievements of purely mechanical clockworks.

 

If it breaks, don't bother getting it repaired - just get a new one! [nt] ;-), posted on September 19, 2023 at 00:57:33
Chris from Lafayette
Audiophile

Posts: 27220
Location: SF Bay Area
Joined: February 17, 2004
Contributor
  Since: February 6, 2012

 

hell, if the battery runs out..., posted on September 19, 2023 at 06:00:13
Jim Pearce
Audiophile

Posts: 23880
Joined: January 4, 2002
 Just get a new one.

 

RE: Swiss on the cheap..., posted on September 19, 2023 at 10:40:39
pictureguy
Audiophile

Posts: 22597
Location: SoCal
Joined: October 19, 2008
 30 meter water resistence is a non-starter for any even semi-active person.

That is 'wash your hands' territory......

I'd start at 100 meter which at least is good in a swimming pool or shower.....Maybe down to 20 meters.

The most common dive watch is 'rated' to 200 meters, by which time you get such features as a screw-down crown and certainly OK for light recreational scuba......
Too much is never enough

 

RE: More on subject, posted on September 19, 2023 at 11:19:34
pictureguy
Audiophile

Posts: 22597
Location: SoCal
Joined: October 19, 2008
 Do you have an opinion concerning the Grand Seiko line? Expensive, but worth it?
Too much is never enough

 

not a concern..., posted on September 19, 2023 at 16:15:57
Jim Pearce
Audiophile

Posts: 23880
Joined: January 4, 2002
 I wear a Timex Expedition on the bicycle.

 

RE: not a concern..., posted on September 20, 2023 at 11:20:02
pictureguy
Audiophile

Posts: 22597
Location: SoCal
Joined: October 19, 2008
 Perfect. And inexpensive.

I have a NIKE watch from a decade and change ago which I just rescued from a drawer. New battery took me 10 minutes to install...and I lubed the seal with a silicon hi-vacuum grease. I've worn while hiking / walking and so far.....sweat intrustion has not happened. I may have gotten away with it....
It is the TRIAX C3 model....bottom of the line.....On the back....it says 'IPX8' which is a waterproof rating of 1.5 meters for 30 minutes. Should be OK in light rain or for handwashing.....
Keeps good time and the stopwatch function comes in handy.....

I had a Timex Triathlon many years ago....and long enough to wear out the buttons....IT ended its days strapped to the handlebars of my bike.......
Too much is never enough

 

RE: it could have been bad luck..., posted on September 20, 2023 at 11:26:15
pictureguy
Audiophile

Posts: 22597
Location: SoCal
Joined: October 19, 2008
 To have even a chance at 'seconds accuracy' you need a watch with the 'hacking' function.

I wait until the second hand is 1 second after the minute. Pull out stem and watch STOPS.
Adjust minutes to suit than, using my CellPhone, push the stem back IN when it clicks the minute.

Good for 6 months or longer......

Those WWV adjustible are a neat addition. My aspirational watch has a built-in perpetual calendar which NEVER needs adjustment....
Too much is never enough

 

my two Heritor Ashtons hack..., posted on September 20, 2023 at 19:52:37
Jim Pearce
Audiophile

Posts: 23880
Joined: January 4, 2002
 The one I bought and the new one they sent me. The new one keeps better time, but it is losing some seconds. I almost prefer the first one. A 25 second gain just means I need to set it at 7 A.M. and setting it to my cell phone takes about a 25 second pause. With the hacking the setting is exact out of the gate. And then I know it gains 1 second per hour, so I really know the exact time at a glance.

 

RE: my two Heritor Ashtons hack..., posted on September 20, 2023 at 22:00:04
pictureguy
Audiophile

Posts: 22597
Location: SoCal
Joined: October 19, 2008
 Can you 'self regulate'?
PLace watch on stem.....or flat on back or whatever.....
Some instructions I've seen IF timepiece is a little fast or slow consistently....
Too much is never enough

 

slowing by resting hasn't worked..., posted on September 21, 2023 at 04:53:40
Jim Pearce
Audiophile

Posts: 23880
Joined: January 4, 2002
 Either crown up or crown down. I've only had the new watch for 36 hours, but it does look like face up may speed it up a little. But as I intimated I find a watch that loses even a little time very problematic. I need to redouble my efforts to find a watchmaker to regulate one or both.

 

RE: slowing by resting hasn't worked..., posted on September 21, 2023 at 14:10:28
pictureguy
Audiophile

Posts: 22597
Location: SoCal
Joined: October 19, 2008
 I would leave 'in the position' for at least 18->24 hours......
than wear 'normally' for a few hours before checking.....

Keep good records so a non-obvious pattern may emerge.
Too much is never enough

 

looks like the local jeweller may regulate the +25 one..., posted on September 22, 2023 at 05:49:20
Jim Pearce
Audiophile

Posts: 23880
Joined: January 4, 2002
 They have it in to take a look. I'm still persisting with face up with the brand new -11 watch.

 

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