Do you wear a watch?

Wibbs

Cienciano wrote: »

Yeah, anyone with a touchscreen in their car will know. Physical buttons are better.

Yep, though touchscreens are cheaper to implement across a range so that's why we get them in cars.

fryup wrote: »

whats it knocking off?

1960's/70's pilot's flyback chronograph made by Heuer, not available directly to non military, though the overall design goes back to the 40's.

Hillmanhunter1

banie01 wrote: »

Wibbs has a photo of the original up earlier in the thread.

Heuer Bund, a military issue twin register chrono from the 60's.
A watch that when I started looking, I wanted but couldn't afford.
So I went with an homage that's quite a lovely watch too imo.

I could never take to these kind of watches. I'm not a pilot or a diver or an adventurer of any kind, I'm a desk jockey.

I don't need a second hand - nothing in my life is measured in seconds. I don't need the date - I know it already, and I don't need it to be water resistant to 200m. If ever I'm 200m below the surface of the water I will not be wondering what time it is.

Cienciano

Hillmanhunter1 wrote: »

What do the cognoscenti think about Vostok watches?

They seem to make mechanical watches at exceptionally low prices - what's the catch? (Quality I guess?)

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=vostok&crid=2EJE5AM1PKR6B&sprefix=vosto%2Caps%2C384&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_2_5

The main problem, what hitemfrank said is setting the date is annoying. If you leave it for a while and it stops and you need to cycle through days to get the correct date, it's a pain. But the watch is good, if you want an automatic it's great value. I got one for travelling, easy to set the time, cheap so I don't mind if I lose it, waterproof and generally bullet proof. They look good too imho
Full selection here: https://meranom.com/en/amphibian-classic/

banie01

Hillmanhunter1 wrote: »

I could never take to these kind of watches. I'm not a pilot or a diver or an adventurer of any kind, I'm a desk jockey.

I don't need a second hand - nothing in my life is measured in seconds. I don't need the date - I know it already, and I don't need it to be water resistant to 200m. If ever I'm 200m below the surface of the water I will not be wondering what time it is.

It's horses for courses.
I use the chrono function on my watches for timing paid for work at my hourly rate (when I worked).
It was a handy back up tool to software tracking.
It also ties in nicely with a grá I have for aviation and aviation history.

I do dive and have a few dive watches, one of which even has depth gauge and dive computer built in.
I still check all those against my bezel times and NDC charts.
That said, lately my bezels are used far more for cooking times than they have been in the water.

They are my "jewellery" with the added spin of either a story or a mechanical or electronic interest that sparks a bit of curiousity on my part.

I wear watches, I own @7, I have 3/4 that will be constant and never traded out and a few that I trade in and out as something catches my eye.

The watches forum has really exploded my interest over the last few years.
From 3 that were constant and rarely worn to a peak of @10 and now back down to something more rational again.

fryup

Hillmanhunter1 wrote: »

If ever I'm 200m below the surface of the water I will not be wondering what time it is.

you'd be dead?

OldRio

Hillmanhunter1 wrote: »

I don't need a second hand - nothing in my life is measured in seconds.

Not what your wife says.


Boom boom.

Hillmanhunter1

OldRio wrote: »

Not what your wife says.


Boom boom.

I guess I deserve that for leading with my chin:)

Wibbs

Hillmanhunter1 wrote: »

I could never take to these kind of watches. I'm not a pilot or a diver or an adventurer of any kind, I'm a desk jockey.

I don't need a second hand - nothing in my life is measured in seconds. I don't need the date - I know it already, and I don't need it to be water resistant to 200m. If ever I'm 200m below the surface of the water I will not be wondering what time it is.

True enough. I'd reckon 90% of diver watches never get closer to the deep than the office water cooler. Seconds hands were often on watches just to let you know the thing was still running. There was a time when some watches were precision tools required for some pursuits. Diving an obvious one, flight navigation another, missile release to target timing etc. These days no, though they are still used as backups in some places. So that mechanical 1960's Heuer chronograph is still issued to a small number in the German military(another reason was in the threat of nuclear war, mechanical watches aren't affected by EMF bursts).

I've been collecting "old watches" since I was a kid and it was all about the curiosity and history in many of them. Snapshots on my wrist of a different time and place kinda thing. EH these two:



Both from the same brand, the one on the left from 1916, the other 1970. One mechanical with tech going back centuries and would have been understandable to a 17th century clockmaker, the other transistorised and cybernetic using tech even Isaac Newton would be scratching his head about. One made a decade after the first powered flight of 30 metres, the other when men flew all the way to were walking on the moon, using much of the tech within it. All within the span of a human lifetime. And I can wear that on my wrist and they're still doing what they were designed to do. That's what sums up my interest in watches tbh. Temporary values and fashion are much less in play.

I have a few watches but i mostly don't wear them as i hardly think of them. Nothing fancy just normal watches that i took a shine to

peasant

Cienciano wrote: »

The main problem, what hitemfrank said is setting the date is annoying. If you leave it for a while and it stops and you need to cycle through days to get the correct date, it's a pain.

Two possible solutions to this problem:
- buy them without a date
- buy (and wear) enough of them that you always find one lying about where the date is only out by a day or two

07Lapierre

Everyday watch: Garmin Vivoactive
Sport watch: Garmin Fenix 6
Special Occasion Watch: Breitling Superocean.

Potential-Monke

Never got the appeal myself. Had a few when I was a teen, but usually got broken/lost because of shenanigans. Just never replaced a broken one and aside from a few times, never wore one since. The few times was when my then missus bought me a watch for my birthday when I was about 28 or so. I think I did a good job of hiding my disappointment, because to me, buying me a watch was silly as I never wore them or showed any interest in them. Looking back, I can now see that maybe she wanted me to start wearing them, but after a few years of me not wearing them, she could have asked in a throwaway manner if I would wear one. Had to wear it a few times then, but I was also a Garda then so didn't want to wear it to work, saw too many colleagues lose expensive watches in scuffles, or worse, searches.

Can't wear them now, just doesn't feel right. And I don't get the fashion side of it, but I don't get the fashion side of anything. I'll reserve my comments for the amounts of money people drop on them though. Will end up starting a fight!

endacl

McHardcore wrote: »

It doesn't make sense to wear a watch. Functionally, they are surplus to requirements. We now have devices in our pockets that are far better at scheduling your day, and i'm not referring to pocket watches: You are either on a phone right now or sitting at a computer that is superior for timekeeping.
The only reason left for wearing them is for fashion. However, unlike, say, a nice jacket, a watch offers little to no functional use. They are already on their way to becoming the next monocle, tailcoat, wallet-chain or bum-bag.
I don't understand the old men who are into them any more than I understand those into Subbuteo sets, CB radios or painting toy soldiers. I can only imagine that it is an attempt to relive their youth or an attempt at peacocking by using them as jewellery.
A smart watch makes a bit more sense IMHO, in particular for sports.

Yeah, but....

When I want to know what time it is, I glance down at my wrist, and then I know what time it is. Pretty functional. I know, I could look at my phone, but that involves taking out my phone and doing the 'hold it up to your face to unlock' rigmarole. And if I'm out and about, its a bit of a pain in the hoop running home to boot up the auld laptop.

"Surplus to requirements."

Every wall clock in Ireland is surplus to requirements by that logic but I'm sure you still glance at them instead of taking out your phone.

Turquoise Hexagon Sun

Aside from the convenience of not having to take your phone out just to check the time and just being able to check it at a quick glance, watches are a great style accessory. I definitely have more respect for those that make the effort to wear a good watch. Doesnt have to be expensive but certainly completes man's attire.

I don't care much when I see women wear them. They have millions of other things to put on their wrists. But I think its manly to wear a watch.

Ubbquittious

I don't anymore because with the work I do theyll be made sh1t of in no time at all. Have a decent collection of them for special occasions, will throw up a pic later

McHardcore

Wear an wrist watch as jewelry if you want. But let's not pretend it's as useful as it was. It is being superseded by laptops, smart watches, phones, wearables and numerous other electronic devices that tell the time that have made it surplus to requirements.

Deleted User wrote: »

"Surplus to requirements."

Every wall clock in Ireland is surplus to requirements by that logic but I'm sure you still glance at them instead of taking out your phone.

Wall clocks are becoming surplus to requirements. How many wall clocks are being added to public places? I doubt they are as common as they once were. Similarly, old-schools watches are not as common as they once were, not with the current generation anyway.

endacl wrote: »

I could look at my phone, but that involves taking out my phone and doing the 'hold it up to your face to unlock' rigmarole.

What janky phone brand has to be unlocked to see the time?

micar

I have a Garmin which I only wear when I go out a run.

Other than that, I don't have a watch on.

flazio

I used to keep one in my pocket but it kept falling out, so now I have it on a chain buttoned onto my shirt.

fryup

McHardcore wrote: »

Wear an wrist watch as jewelry if you want. But let's not pretend it's as useful as it was. It is being superseded by laptops, smart watches, phones, wearables and numerous other electronic devices that tell the time that have made it surplus to requirements.

can you wear a laptop on your wrist or carry one in your pocket?

McHardcore wrote: »

Wall clocks are becoming surplus to requirements. How many wall clocks are being added to public places? I doubt they are as common as they once were. Similarly, old-schools watches are not as common as they once were, not with the current generation anyway.

every household has a clock of some kind, public places like bus stations, train stations, schools, libraries, health clinics and hospitals will always have them.

dragx

I wear one everywhere except when I'm just lounging around the house.

fryup

just a heads up

a rare rolex will be featured in tonight's million pound pawn on ITV @ 8.00pm

AllForIt

I haven't worn a watch since I first carried a mobile phone.

I still keep my last watch which was a nice analogue timepiece I got as a pressy for my 30th. Who throws away gifts like that.

Neames

I don't really need to near a watch. Just like the look of a nice watch and so have a few that I rotate.

Anyway I find that many of us, myself included are too stuck to our mobile phones.

Nqp15hhu

I do when I go out.

dinorebel

Nqp15hhu wrote: »

I do when I go out.

So not for the last year then.

The DayDream

McHardcore wrote: »

Wear an wrist watch as jewelry if you want. But let's not pretend it's as useful as it was. It is being superseded by laptops, smart watches, phones, wearables and numerous other electronic devices that tell the time that have made it surplus to requirements.



Wall clocks are becoming surplus to requirements. How many wall clocks are being added to public places? I doubt they are as common as they once were. Similarly, old-schools watches are not as common as they once were, not with the current generation anyway.

'let's not pretend they're as useful as they were... what? They tell the time same as always so are exactly as useful as always. And they will never need plugging into a wall or a special wire.

Silly thing to sat imo. Wall clocks will always be around as well.... Why?

Digital devices rely on electricity every few days or they stop working. An automatic, eco drive, hand wound can last forever without any help, a quartz will go years on a single battery.

And they simply look better, are more tangible. It's actual physical objects forming the signals that tell you the time, not just a cartoon like image on a screen.

Watches are still a massive industry, there are numerous very popular watch blogs and sites like hodinkee, watch reviews on youtube are huge, and there are loads of insta accounts of juat watch shots. No offense but you're just lacking in knowledge in this area and basing your claims on your limited daily observations/social circle. For example, there are many, many companies that just make watch STRAPS alone, in various materials, and the ones who make high quality ones make major profits.

Jinglejangle69

What's the point?

They are now rendered obsolete.

Life moves forward.

That's life.

The DayDream

Jinglejangle69 wrote: »

What's the point?

They are now rendered obsolete.

Life moves forward.

That's life.

Obsolete... That word... It doesn't mean what you think it means.

Watches still tell time, how are they obsolete?

The hilarious thing is you probably think smartphones and watches are making them obsolete, when in fact THOSE products are the ones that quickly go obsolete, which is why they are replaced every year with a new model.

You've probably updated the software on your current phone more times than most watches would need servicing over their entire life, which can be not just several decades, but several generations.

You haven't a clue what you're on about tbh. If you think watches are undesirable, old hat, etc. Try walking into a Rolex dealer and say you want a stainless steel GMT master.

You'll be laughed at, because people are on waiting lists for months or even years to get one. They must be obsolete, yeah?

kowloon

I don't wear a watch myself, as much because my eyesight is poor enough to make them hard to read as for any other reason. I get the time off my tablet in giant text. Still have to respect the craftsmanship. Got a random fob watch in an auction lot that someone identified for me on the watches forum. It started ticking by itself randomly the other night and scared the bejesus out of me. I hop it's not haunted by the guy I had to kill to get it.

Jinglejangle69

The DayDream wrote: »

Obsolete... That word... It doesn't mean what you think it means.

Watches still tell time, how are they obsolete?

The hilarious thing is you probably think smartphones and watches are making them obsolete, when in fact THOSE products are the ones that quickly go obsolete, which is why they are replaced every year with a new model.

You've probably updated the software on your current phone more times than most watches would need servicing over their entire life, which can be not just several decades, but several generations.

You haven't a clue what you're on about tbh. If you think watches are undesirable, old hat, etc. Try walking into a Rolex dealer and say you want a stainless steel GMT master.

You'll be laughed at, because people are on waiting lists for months or even years to get one. They must be obsolete, yeah?

I don't own a watch and didn't pre I phones or smart technology.

French Toast

In certain situations it is deemed as unprofessional to take out your phone to check the time.

Watches are terribly efficient in fairness.

Capt'n Midnight

The DayDream wrote: »

Watches still tell time, how are they obsolete?

I can remember when everyone had a watch.

They were as ubiquitous as mobile phones are now.

Everyone used to have a film camera. Flights were booked through a travel agent. Every house had a VHS recorder and a CRT television. Every car had a radio with a cassette player.


I *hate* setting the time on ovens and microwaves. And yes I hated changing the day of the month on watches. Real PITA, it's so much better with clocks that use time signals, teletext etc.


As jewellery they still have a niche. But like vinyl they aren't coming back. IIRC Vinyl peaked at 2% of the previous volumes.


Yes I did change the battery in a watch recently, but I'll need to get a new strap. It's one of those Timex ones with the electroluminescent displays. Cool at the time, but a wee bit noisy.

PoisonIvyBelle

Haven't worn a watch in years. But I'm forever looking at my phone to check the time and then looking twice because I never checked the actual time at all.

Capt'n Midnight

French Toast wrote: »

In certain situations it is deemed as unprofessional to take out your phone to check the time.

Watches are terribly efficient in fairness.

Especially the self winding automatics

fryup

are wind-up watches still being made?? wouldn't mind getting one for old time sake

jimgoose

I do, although rarely these days since the whole pandemic situation started. I may invest in something nice shortly. I currently have a rather nice Rotary that I gave my Dad for his 80th birthday and which came back to me when he died in 2013, God be good to the good and kind man. I also have a 22-year-old gold-plated Citizen that has served well and is battle-hardened, and last but by no means least a much loved fake Rolex that I bought for 20 squid from the legendary Jimmy Barry Murphy in a pub in Lanzarote!

peasant

fryup wrote: »

are wind-up watches still being made?? wouldn't mind getting one for old time sake

plenty different ones still around.
One nice example I can think of:
https://www.poljot24.de/en/uhrtypen/handaufzugsuhren/2609-3745128.html

EDITED to add:
Of course there's more than just Russian watches that are still made with handwind movements.
The famous Omega moonwatch for example is still handwind . Countless other still are as well. And then there are lots of exclusive pieces made with old pocket watch movements or refurbished old handwind movements.

saabsaab

I like the old pocket watch, on a chain.

Nqp15hhu

dinorebel wrote: »

So not for the last year then.

No a few times this week actually.

Snickers Man

Just got a rather nice Tissot from herself for a landmark birthday and am really looking forward to wearing it. (I know, it's only "entry level" to you connoisseurs but if I had €18k to spend I'd buy a decent car!)

Of course I have to wait for lockdown to end so I can get the bracelet resized.....:(

Is the default size of a watch wearer's wrist that of a gorilla?

chinwag

Snickers Man wrote: »

Just got a rather nice Tissot and am really looking forward to wearing it. (I know, it's only "entry level" to you connoisseurs but if I had €18k to spend I'd buy a decent car!)

Of course I have to wait for lockdown to end so I can get the bracelet resized.....:(

Almost ditto here, modest but nice watch, waiting for bracelet adjustment too:(

Manic Moran

I wear a smart watch on a daily basis, I have some accessory watches for when I want to get dressed up, and I have a simple “It does not look fashionable, but it tells me the time quickly and easily” in places where electronic devices are prohibited or just not practical.

The inconvenience of reaching into a pocket to pull out a ‘phone in the event that I may wish to know the time (or impoliteness in certain circumstances) well merits having the time on my wrist.

deisedav

Snickers Man wrote: »

Just got a rather nice Tissot from herself for a landmark birthday and am really looking forward to wearing it. (I know, it's only "entry level" to you connoisseurs but if I had €18k to spend I'd buy a decent car!)

Of course I have to wait for lockdown to end so I can get the bracelet resized.....:(

Is the default size of a watch wearer's wrist that of a gorilla?

You could have a go doing it yourself, there are arrows on a lot of watches to tell you which way to push out the pins. I'm sure YouTube have videos on it. Also you should check if the pins are screw in. I recently got a watch that had those pins and I had the the links taken out in 5 minutes it was so easy I'd like to see all bracelets have them.

chinwag

Might be no harm to try adjustments on an older watch first? Handy to be able to do adjustments yourself, some people need extra link in summer or in warmer weather as wrist can expand from the heat. Must check YouTube myself.

Sheep Shagger

Wear a Fitbit watch daily, dead handy to be able pay for stuff in shops by tapping it.

Have a tag and mont blanc too but don't get to wear them much these days

Markus Antonius

Watches tug on my wrist hairs so can't wear one.

Esel

Markus Antonius wrote: »

Watches tug on my wrist hairs so can't wear one.

Did you hear about the tugger who over-wound his automatic watch?

















He had to buy another watch and wear it on his other wrist...

Vestiapx

Snickers Man wrote: »

Just got a rather nice Tissot from herself for a landmark birthday and am really looking forward to wearing it. (I know, it's only "entry level" to you connoisseurs but if I had €18k to spend I'd buy a decent car!)

Of course I have to wait for lockdown to end so I can get the bracelet resized.....:(

Is the default size of a watch wearer's wrist that of a gorilla?

I always have to check that a bracelet will fit, I'm in the lucky position that all links and all micro adjusts is a good fit most of the time.

grassylawn

I wear a garmin watch because I have an extraordinarily bad sense of direction so I like to maintain redundancy in sat navs.