Fosgate Posted December 30, 2014 Posted December 30, 2014 I have not worn a watch in over 15 years since I had a cell phone with me at all times. However, the last few years I gave up the electric and cartridge razors in favor of the double edged luxury safety razor, collecting and smoking Cubans, stopped drinking mixed drinks in favor of rum neat or on rocks and also going back to nice leather shoes (Allen Edmunds). All this has me craving going back to wearing a watch. I once had a nice $4k Rolex I won at work only to have it go missing one day. I would have been really upset had I paid out of pocket for it. So that has me looking for a new watch. No way will I invest $1k+ (US)on watch at this point in my life so I was looking at lower end Seiko for $100-500 (US) and a few others. I stumbled accross Jiusko our of China (Yeah, I thought instantly low quality junk). However, I also have heard many businesses have started pushing for higher quality products and that this watch company is one of them that has stepped up and just entered the North American Market. They are not simply knocking off another watch, they put the own design and spin on it. (with exception of their Deep Blue model which looks like a Deep Blue).From what I can gather is that they are decent quality and a bargain at the price (between $300-500). I found a few reviews that seem very positive. Anyone want to share their thoughts, feelings, experiences, opinions about them? Here are a few reviews http://forums.watchuseek.com/f71/impressions-jiusko-speedmaster-1094933.html http://walletfriendlywatchforum.com/read.php?7,546675,546675 http://oceanictime.blogspot.com/2012/01/jiusko-deep-sea.html http://watchreviewbest.com/?p=38658 http://wristsushi.proboards.com/thread/5202/jiusko-model-70lsb0202-arrives-amchpr
Rushman Posted December 30, 2014 Posted December 30, 2014 Try Hamilton. I prefer automatics and have about 5 of them from Hamilton over the years. 2
Colt45 Posted December 30, 2014 Posted December 30, 2014 I can't comment on these as I'd not heard of them until now Were I able to drop between $500 and $1000 on a watch, I'd probably go for a Citizen Grand Touring. Yes, they are Panerai derivative, but I've been wearing a Citizen Eco Drive diver for at least fifteen years with zero - repeat - zero issues. I only wish I'd bought a Citizen bm-6400 before they were discontinued...... Oris makes a pretty nice automatic, and I know of a somewhat reputable dealer - but the guy now running the show........ Wazza! 1
Geo17pip Posted December 30, 2014 Posted December 30, 2014 I agree with Rush, but the Seikos are great for the price. I own three and love them all. Two of them were my fathers and they are still working great! 1
Fosgate Posted December 30, 2014 Author Posted December 30, 2014 Try Hamilton. I prefer automatics and have about 5 of them from Hamilton over the years. They are automatics. I believe NH25 or NH35A. Can't remember which I saw. Forgot to mention I am looking for a sport/dive watch between $300-500 U.S.
El Presidente Posted December 31, 2014 Posted December 31, 2014 Hamilton's are great value for money. You should be able to get a Dive Watch for $500.
Fuzz AI Posted December 31, 2014 Posted December 31, 2014 Check out Kickstarter. Some good looking watches on there, though a few are bloody odd.
Fosgate Posted December 31, 2014 Author Posted December 31, 2014 I've been hesitant about crowd funding at times. It's a great concept and idea but it is also a way to get burned. This confirms my reasoning to be cautious. http://dappered.com/2014/02/a-cautionary-kickstarter-tale-the-field-crew-watch/
Fuzz AI Posted December 31, 2014 Posted December 31, 2014 True, there's more risk than buying from an established company, but 99% of the time there isn't a problem. I backed a project 18mths ago, way past the original delivery date, but there's still progress updates coming through from the project creators. They have been upfront with their backers and given additional rewards as way of an apology.
PigFish Posted December 31, 2014 Posted December 31, 2014 I have yet to find a watch that does not keep better time than my Rolex(s). I bought my first one for my own birthday in 1985 and have enjoyed it ever since. This was when 'big' watches were out and skinny was in. I thought the Rolex was big but now people are wearing "big ben" on their wrists... That watch will turn 30 in a few days, if watch years are like race horses! I think it all depends on what you want and like. My dad wore a Rolex though WWII and I had my eyes set on one once I understood what a good watch was. I wore a Seiko (and loved it) until I bought my Rolex. That was shortly after I discovered that water proof, and water resistant are two different things...! I bought the Seiko myself $147.00 and owned it from (if my memory is right) when I was in the 8th grade! I don't really know the better from the best to be honest. I smoke Cuban cigars because I have a taste for them and I think that they define a great cigar. I kind of feel the same about my Rolex. It is hard for me to believe that I have had that watch for 30 years! It has out lasted cars, homes, jobs and even wives... I age and it is timeless! Forgive the pun... Post up what you buy. I think there are quite a few watch whores on the site and I am sure there will be plenty of good tips. I have never regretted buying a great watch. At the time, my Seiko was a great watch! I am not really into them like some, but a great watch is a pleasure to own. (IMHO) -Piggy
Fosgate Posted December 31, 2014 Author Posted December 31, 2014 Totally agree piggy. I loved the Rolex I had and really took it for granted as the cash to buy it never really entered my hands. I knew it was valuable so I rarely wore it simply because of the fact I'm really hard on watches. When I was in the service I would go through at least 4 or more so called tough watches a year and that was just part time because I had this ugly little green watch with a green nylon band I bought in the PX for maybe $10-15 that just would not die. I lived with my cousin when it went missing. He broke up with his girlfriend and she took a bunch of music CD's and other things I hand lent her at some time or another. The day I realized my Rolex was gone I was more upset that she felt entitled and bold enough to lay claim to my property though I could not prove it to the law she had taken them. To me it was not that big of a deal since I no longer wore watches very often since cell phones became more compact and had accurate time on them with everyone else and the cash never entered or left my hands to pay for it. Looking back at it I should have pressed the issue and gone out and looked for it in pawn stores as there were not many. So fast forward 15yrs and with this company using the same automatic movements as many others out there and what I'm finding why not for under $500. As far as collecting goes, I have pretty much liquidated my firearms collection and one thing I learned with them. It may not hurt to pick up a product when a new manufacturer enters the market and something new rolls out and starts getting good reviews but is little known by the rest of the market. The up in comers so to speak. We see it all the time in firearms. New maker comes to market trying to make a name for themselves. People buy in early buy and a little while later prices double, then triple as their demand increases. Some time goes buy and the most valuable ones are the ones that are owned by those first buyers as it is like finding an artists early work. From a collectors standpoint this is what also appeals to me. Not much is known about them but what I can find is very positive news and the negative news I am able to find are from people who just look at the "Made in China" and dismiss it to the stereotype that China builds nothing of quality. But dismiss this not only because of the reviews I find but also the news I have heard coming out of companies contracted with Chinese manufacturers. I have heard many U.S. manufacturers got fed up with poor quality that they have collaborate either collectively or through a third party to keep records of Chinese manufacturers to do business with and those to avoid. The Chinese have responded by taking the steps to increase quality. They have had to do this not just because of foreign manufacturing but due to the increase in the standards of living and wages in China are creating a more educated and skilled work force. Sooner or later it will not be able to compete with simple cheap labor and will have to start going head to head with skilled labor and quality products as well. I may be total wrong but this is what I have heard spoken directly from someone who has a manufacturing facility located in China. As far as the watch goes, I will probably buy one of these and form my own opinion on it and see if I can get back into wearing one daily. If that goes well I will probably look at upgrading past the $500 barrier at some point.
Fosgate Posted January 3, 2015 Author Posted January 3, 2015 I'm also considering an Obris Morgan Explorer II. Sapphire Glass and Automatic.... http://www.obrismorgan.com/explorerii.html
cigardoc Posted January 3, 2015 Posted January 3, 2015 I'm a Tissot fan. Even cheaper and they look like milion dollars on your wrist 2
dicko Posted January 3, 2015 Posted January 3, 2015 Happy with my oris aquis. Ceramic bezel is indestructible. I've beaten it up not a scratch on the face or bezel area. Looks equally great with a suit or wetsuit. Automatic is good it's like the watch has it's own life but the power reserve isn't great only a day and a half. From our hosts of course. 1k + range though. I have a rip curl surf watch as well the seikos look good.
Cohiba Stevie Posted January 3, 2015 Posted January 3, 2015 Tag and oris wearer here. My suggestion would be to pick up a tag f-1, you can get a 3 - 4 year old model brand new in your price range.
cigarbreak Posted January 3, 2015 Posted January 3, 2015 Can anything be said regarding the quality of Shinola?
SCgarman Posted January 3, 2015 Posted January 3, 2015 Love my 2 Rolex Submariners. Wore the Bluesy every day for 17 years until I bought the Hulk last April. With proper care these watches will last for generations instead of a few years. 1
gigabyte056 Posted January 3, 2015 Posted January 3, 2015 I own a few watches, A Rolex I got from my late father. A Sinn diver watch I picked up on my travels and an IWC dress watch I use for those days I need to suit up. The Rolex is amazing, it is 30 year old and works very well, the Sinn is a very good diving watch, never had a problem with it in the past 5 years I owned it. The IWC was a pain the first year I owned it, needed to completely overhaul the mechanism , 3 years later, it works great, it was not new so the cost was lower for initial purchase but the repair was almost the same cost of the watch so... Here they are, the IWC is not my image, I took it from the original ad from the seller:
Fosgate Posted January 4, 2015 Author Posted January 4, 2015 You guys are making me want to hunt down that witch for my Rolex back!
polarbear Posted January 4, 2015 Posted January 4, 2015 I've never been a huge watch guy. I have an immersion H2O dive watch I got for my 21st birthday that has a built in depth meter and dive timer (that feature has saved memail from a trip to the chamber a couple of times oover the years), but the band on it broke a couple of years ago and they even since gone out of business, so finding spare parts for it is getting harder and harder. I've been keeping my eye out for a new watch for a while as I like the idea of spending good money on somthing that will last. I've been eyeing off the Oris Pro Dive Chronograph for a year or so. Its got everything I look for in a watch and a few features I've never thought of. Just gotta save my pennies for another year or two til I can afford it. Maybe I'll buy it for my 30th in 2016...
polarbear Posted January 4, 2015 Posted January 4, 2015 Just weighing on in the 'made in china' debate I once had a friend who did a lot of business in China dealing with manufacturing firms and the like. I once asked him (partly in jest) if China was knocked down and rebuilt every 2-3 years cause everything they make there is crap. He laughed and told me "dude, in China, Made In China means quality. Its a country where you can find some of the best manufacturing in the world. They can pull a Swiss watch or German car apart, figure out what makes it good and then make it better. That being said, if you want to get somthing that should cost $2 to make, made for 20c, you can find that too if you look hard enough"
CanuckSARTech Posted January 4, 2015 Posted January 4, 2015 Can anything be said regarding the quality of Shinola? Don't know, but I myself have been eyeing them up lately. I love the look of a couple of theirs. Nice pocket watches too - I started looking at them after Mika posted about them in his Stuff thread: http://www.shinola.com/shop/watches/mens-watches/the-brakeman-leather-band-watch-s01122.html#color=THE%20BRAKEMAN%20CHRONO%2046mm http://www.shinola.com/shop/watches/mens-watches/therunwell48-sport-s0183.html#color=THE%20RUNWELL%20SPORT%2048mm http://www.shinola.com/shop/watches/mens-watches/therunwell47-contrast-chrono-s0175.html#color=THE%20RUNWELL%20CONTRAST%20CHRONO%2047mm I'm REALLY keen on getting that first one, the blue-faced Brakeman Chrono 46mm, and then to put on a black rubber NATO strap with stainless hardware and orange stitching from Yellowdog Watchstraps: http://www.yellowdogwatchstraps.com/shop/4577904755/waterproof-rubber-nato/6139007 I'm really keen on getting that Shinola watch for three very simple reasons - 1, the name is funky cool to say; 2, the BACKSIDE of their watch is very interesting looking and eye catching (aside from open-back/glass-back watches, not many companies waste design points there); and 3, almost solely just to buy a cool Made In Detroit watch (as a close neighbour, with my wife's family having relatives there, and a number of us involved in the auto industry in one way or another, past or present, it's a cool thing to see the changeover and to be able to support that). After not really being into watches for years, I'm finding that since my Dad died, I'm kinda getting into them, after a few cherished jewellery items of his was given to me by my Mom. Really not into $1000+ watches though - they're just a daily-use tool, after all. But, for years I've just had a simple Seiko Arctura kinetic (stainless with white face), a wedding present from my wife. In the past few months though, I've bought a Luminox Atacama Field 1833 Day Date, and put on a vintage brown leather Nato strap from Yellowdog Watchstraps. It's my daily-wear item for work, domestic and otherwise (needed something that glowed, but wasn't gonna be an Indiglo spotlight if inadvertently touched when out in the field). I was so impressed by it, I also bought a Luminox Atacama Field Chrono 1881 Blackout - I wore that one to Cuba, and a couple guys checked it out. That sucker is a big watch, but really only looks "normal" on my wrists, LOL. Definitely keen with this watch talk though guys. Very interesting to see what all of you are wearing out there. And Rob - don't worry. If my habits keep up, I'm sure I'll end up jumping the shark, and going over my $1000k threshold, and getting one of those nice Oris divers! LOL.
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