Just picked up my first "timepiece."

[daze23]

All the seiko watches in that price range have Hardlex crystal, not sapphire.
Did some research on it. Seiko uses Hardlex on their diver watches because it doesn't burst apart on hard impact, like sapphire would. Hardlex will crack but not break apart. The trade off is that Hardlex is easier to scratch than sapphire.

yeah YMMV, but Hardlex can get scratched. my skx007 has a big scratch on the crystal (hit it on one of those steel door knobs), and if you look close there's several little micro-scratches. I've debated about replacing the crystal, but I decided to just let it be my beater watch. that being said, you'll find several people that have had Seiko's for years, and they never got scratched

it is true that Hardlex is less likely to crack and break, because it is softer (like a tree that bends in the wind). but it's the kind of thing where if your watch is taking an impact strong enough to break sapphire, you probably got other shyt to worry about. most examples I've seen of sapphire getting damaged come from a car accident, being dropped off a building, or some crazy shyt

most watches in your price range (< $250) are going to have a Hardlex or other mineral crystal. but there are a few with sapphire, and you'll find a lot more in the $400+ range

 

[unit321]

yeah YMMV, but Hardlex can get scratched. my skx007 has a big scratch on the crystal (hit it on one of those steel door knobs), and if you look close there's several little micro-scratches. I've debated about replacing the crystal, but I decided to just let it be my beater watch. that being said, you'll find several people that have had Seiko's for years, and they never got scratched

it is true that Hardlex is less likely to crack and break, because it is softer (like a tree that bends in the wind). but it's the kind of thing where if your watch is taking an impact strong enough to break sapphire, you probably got other shyt to worry about. most examples I've seen of sapphire getting damaged come from a car accident, being dropped off a building, or some crazy shyt

most watches in your price range (< $250) are going to have a Hardlex or other mineral crystal. but there are a few with sapphire, and you'll find a lot more in the $400+ range

I think they use Hardlex because there's a chance some people will use it for actual diving, and not just being a poser. If you are underwater and smash the watch on a rock, you don't want it to shatter underwater. Their diving watches are rated for 100 to 200 m underwater. Where someone like me who is a poser, will probably only go 2 meters deep at most, like when I'm at a swimming pool.

 

[daze23]

I think they use Hardlex because there's a chance some people will use it for actual diving, and not just being a poser. If you are underwater and smash the watch on a rock, you don't want it to shatter underwater. Their diving watches are rated for 100 to 200 m underwater. Where someone like me who is a poser, will probably only go 2 meters deep at most, like when I'm at a swimming pool.

yeah, but Seiko also uses Hardlex on plenty of their non-diving watches. and Seiko does make ISO Certified Divers that do have a sapphire crystal. but again, it is true that Hardlex is ultimately the 'safer' option for surviving a very hard impact

I know it drives people crazy that Seiko's $2500 Marine Master divers have a Hardlex crystal

 

[unit321]

yeah, but Seiko also uses Hardlex on plenty of their non-diving watches. and Seiko does make ISO Certified Divers that do have a sapphire crystal. but again, it is true that Hardlex is ultimately the 'safer' option for surviving a very hard impact

I know it drives people crazy that Seiko's $2500 Marine Master divers have a Hardlex crystal

I'm looking at a Citizen watch with sapphire crystal. It's in the $300 range. Has a bunch of crazy dials on it, but looks okay.

 

[Black White Sox Hat]

Shorty got me this ..

 

[Heafcliffe]

Sold the Steinhart Ocean Black One and the Sea-Gull Aqua Homage.....

Picked up a Armida A7 with the ceramic bezel

Looking forward to changing the band. Maybe a tan with deployant.

Now down to 3 watches: This, Steinhart Aviation Vintage and Bell & Ross.

 

[unit321]

I've been looking a bunch of watches on ebay and amazon and jomashop.
After looking at watches out of my price range (Omega, Breitling, Tag Heuer), I feel like every watch I look at in my price range is a cheapo kids' watch.
This one has a numbered bezel, rolex submariner copy band, and stainless steel body.

I have to stop being materialistic though and keep on looking at watches in my price range.
There are a bunch of ebay sellers who sell watches that were showroom display watches at department stores, but they resell them with some kind of minor defect, like a scratch. Anyone ever buy that?

 

[unit321]

Sold the Steinhart Ocean Black One and the Sea-Gull Aqua Homage.....

Picked up a Armida A7 with the ceramic bezel

Looking forward to changing the band. Maybe a tan with deployant.

Now down to 3 watches: This, Steinhart Aviation Vintage and Bell & Ross.

I've never heard of this brand. Where did you hear about them? They seem to be like Seiko copies, but with minor differences like using sapphire crystal instead of Hardlex.

 

[Heafcliffe]

I've never heard of this brand. Where did you hear about them? They seem to be like Seiko copies, but with minor differences like using sapphire crystal instead of Hardlex.

Yeah, they are a micro brand. This recent pickup has a better movement and features than many well-known brands. I have had a penchant for watches for maybe 20 years now. I get a lot of my knowledge and keep up-to-date via watchuseek and watchrecon websites.

 

[unit321]

I ordered a Bulova Sea King. Not sure how it is going to turn out since it is a remanufactured showroom watch because i'm cheap. There are sellers on eBay who sell showroom watches at a discount.
It's got features that I like: diver style with spinning bezel, water proof to 300 meters, screw-down crown, sapphire crystal, and its a chronometer with sub-dials.

 

[unit321]

Yeah, they are a micro brand. This recent pickup has a better movement and features than many well-known brands. I have had a penchant for watches for maybe 20 years now. I get a lot of my knowledge and keep up-to-date via watchuseek and watchrecon websites.

I checked out watchuseek.
Interesting, a forum on wristwatches.
It's almost like the coli, minus the sports, hip-hop, and piff.

 

[unit321]

Well, I got my new-to-me wristwatch. Bulova Sea King. (model 98B244). Diver type, stainless steel body and band, chronograph.
It's a factory refurbished watch sold on eBay. The case back was scratched a bit. I had to wiggle the crown a bit in order to change the date because it wasn't changing the date otherwise.

The pluses:
+ It was cheap. $220.
+ Everything seemed to be in mint condition. I wear watches daily so little scratches don't bother me. My last daily watch was scratched so much I didn't care if I wore while doing car repairs.
+ The crown and chronograph buttons are all screw down. Can't press the chronograph buttons by accident.
+ The illuminated parts are bright in a totally dark room.

The minuses:
- This thing is heavy. The body is almost 50 mm wide. Band is 24 mm wide I removed four links with my watch repair kit so it would fit. That didn't alter the weight by that much.
- It's a chronograph so the second hand only moves when you are using the chronograph. There's a smaller second hand that moves in one of the sub-dials. It looks strange for the main second hand to be stuck at the 12 o'clock position all the time.

Anyway, think twice about huge stainless-steel diver watches in you don't want a heavy piece of jewelry on your arm. I feel like this thing can deflect a bullet like Wonder Woman's bracelets or something.

I was thinking in the back of head to get a titanium Citizen watch, but it didn't have enough pizzazz, or wow factor. I have a titanium ring and it had a glossy finish in the beginning. After years of weight lifting and whatever else, it's got a matte finish now. I figured the watch band would get all scratched up. There's a part of me that is kicking myself in the butt for not getting titanium because it would have been way lighter. Now, I have a mini-dumbbell attached to my wrist.

 

[P90]

Any knowledgeable watch brehs have any intel on Bremont?

 

[pickles]

Coli brehs tell me what you think about this watch?





I always loved Tag heuer, and own 2 watches but I always wanted a limited edition one. This is a watch (WAF111T) that tag did to benefit a organization for ocean research in Colombia.

 

[Heafcliffe]

Cool watch for sure. As a consumer, you like what you like...

Because I purchase on the grey market (secondhand), I always remain cognizant of a watch's resell value in the case I grow tired of it and need a change.

Given the shark dial, this watch strikes me as too particular thus causing me to pass on it.

Nice watch nonetheless, breh.

Coli brehs tell me what you think about this watch?





I always loved Tag heuer, and own 2 watches but I always wanted a limited edition one. This is a watch that tag did to benefit a organization for ocean research in Colombia.