Watch Thread / Wrist Watch Autists - Horology 'n shieeet

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Double posting to help revive the thread.

If anyone is wondering, Seiko has made the perfect watch for shoveling snow. I don’t know if this was by design or coincidence.

The Seiko 5 Sport GMT is really a great watch for the price. I was tempted to add it to my list in the BIFL thread, but I was trying to keep it a “time-only” list of watches that are timeless in design. Since this has complications, it didn’t make the cut.

This watch can be had for about $300-350. It’s automatic with the capability to hand wind. And it comes on a jubilee-style metal bracelet but I’ve paired it with an aftermarket rubber strap from Clockwork Republic. Theirs comes with a matching end link so you don’t get the gap between a regular aftermarket strap and the case. It looks factory. It’s super soft, pliable, and it may be the best upgrade for any Seiko Sport model.

While it’s 42mm in diameter-a size I never shop for - the measurement from lug to lug is very short and it wears like a 38-40mm. One downside: it’s a thickboi. But it’s nicely legible, the like is great, and it runs about +9 seconds a day. I can regulate it down to about +6-7 seconds a day but I’m just not that anal.

Anyway, I present you with the perfect dual time zone Seiko Sport Snow Shoveler Extraordinaire

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Doug S said:
The Seiko 5 Sport GMT is really a great watch for the price. I was tempted to add it to my list in the BIFL thread, but I was trying to keep it a “time-only” list of watches that are timeless in design. Since this has complications, it didn’t make the cut.
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I've got one myself. And picked it up on an ebay auction for $240 new. It's a solid watch but even through it travel a good bit I don't pick it up as much as I should. Its also running around +9 or 8 a day for me too.

It's a good watch but probably they first in my collection to go. I've got a blue seiko 5 sport that is my beater that holds great time at +1 a day and if I want to wear a cheap diver I'm picking it up more than the GMT or I'm wearing my tudor.
 
Stackbodiesbro said:
I've got one myself. And picked it up on an ebay auction for $240 new. It's a solid watch but even through it travel a good bit I don't pick it up as much as I should. Its also running around +9 or 8 a day for me too.

It's a good watch but probably they first in my collection to go. I've got a blue seiko 5 sport that is my beater that holds great time at +1 a day and if I want to wear a cheap diver I'm picking it up more than the GMT or I'm wearing my tudor.
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I’m with you. I don’t wear this that much anymore. And I actually threw this on thinking if I slipped on ice I wouldn’t care if it got fucked up. It’s probably a great entry piece for anyone getting into mechanical watches. I bought this on a whim too. My job took me to E Longmeadow Mass and there’s a little strip mall in the center of town that had a coffee shop. Next to it was Sayegh Jewelers so I popped in and the guy was nice enough and gave me enough off retail that I just bought it.

I was never crazy about the bracelet it comes on because the watch is top heavy and I was always shaking it around to straighten it out. So it sat for a while and I didn’t even start wearing it again until Clockwork Republic released their rubber strap and end link. So this strap makes it a little stickier on wrist and it doesn’t move around.
 
Stackbodiesbro said:
And I'm planning on making a poor financial decision and picking up a Rolex submariner sooner than later.
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Or for a similar price you could pick up a Blancpain Fifty Fathoms, a far superior diver. I recommend their 42mm titanium model.
Doug S said:
Stuff about good Seikos
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Seiko SPB451 is one I have my eye on. I like their 6R movements quite a bit but it's hard to find those in watches that don't have 4 digit price tags.
 
Dean Pentel said:
Or for a similar price you could pick up a Blancpain Fifty Fathoms, a far superior diver. I recommend their 42mm titanium model.
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I hear you but no. I've always wanted a submariner, and there aren't really anything similar to it as far as an investment piece. It's relatively easy to get it served and will continue to be.

I also don't like the look of the Blancpains either. And they aren't the same caliber of investment as the subs are.
 
Dean Pentel said:
Seiko SPB451 is one I have my eye on.
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That’s a great looking piece. And yeah, I don’t think I’ve ever seen those for much less than $1k. I just checked Chrono 24 and there’s a few right at $1k. Which means you can probably get them down to $950 (or less). My only real gripe with Seiko (and even Grand Seiko) is their bracelets aren’t great. And it’s weird because even companies like Traska have decent bracelets.

I could be wrong but doesn’t that one have the clasp with the diver extension? It’s like a fold-out one.

Stackbodiesbro said:
I also don't like the look of the Blancpains either. And they aren't the same caliber of investment as the subs are.
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I’m with you on this. I don’t like the 50 Fathoms enough to spend that kind of money. I’d probably get a vintage Favre-Leuba over a 50 Fathoms. Ever see those? They’re pretty cool. Has a functional mechanical depth gauge. One model has the depth gauge and a barometer lol.


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Doug S said:
I’m with you on this. I don’t like the 50 Fathoms enough to spend that kind of money. I’d probably get a vintage Favre-Leuba over a 50 Fathoms. Ever see those? They’re pretty cool. Has a functional mechanical depth gauge. One model has the depth gauge and a barometer lol.


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I mean that's neat but I want a watch that's jewelry that I can also dive with.

I've got a garmin Descent that I wear on my right wrist. The dive watch is more my redundant back up.

I'm pretty dead set on getting a submariner. Don't blame me, blame my father and Sean Connery.
 
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Stackbodiesbro said:
I mean that's neat but I want a watch that's jewelry that I can also dive with.
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Oh I get it. I wasn’t trying to sway you away from it. I just never heard about that crazy watch until two days ago. It was more of a “check out this weird thing”.

You want the Sub the same way I wanted my Explorer. I just knew I wanted it. I looked at it for years and it never faded. And I have a rule: if I find a watch I want, I give it three months. If after that time it starts to fade, then it’s not something that I need. My interest in the Explorer never faded after years.

And of course, there’s no replacement or alternative. If you try to get something similar, you’ll still end up wishing you got the Sub. So you have to get it.
 
Doug S said:
Jfc.

This guy has had some great pieces but then he also has bizarre ugly shit. I have to hand it to Jacob, he certainly does a good job of getting himself good placement.
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He's getting payed to wear that watch. He switched watches for the broadcast. He had on a cartier tank or something similar during the pregame.
 
Dealer trying to sell me a watch

>it’s been serviced by our watchmaker
>he has decades of xp with this brand
>here’s some photos

Excuse me, but I think there’s an extra screw bouncing around that delicate movement.

Look at how close that is to the balance wheel. The chances of that watch being fucked up by the time it gets to your door is about 100%.

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Stackbodiesbro said:
Holy shit that's bad
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IKR? And btw, I was really close to banging up my credit card to get it too. I already did the math, knew how long it would take to pay off, estimated interest, said “yeah that’s not terrible, just do it.” But I sat around zoomed the pics. I missed this the first few times. What actually got me to notice was that the plates that hold the movement into the case seemed a little misaligned. So I compared it to an identical watch listed by someone else. And it’s that little plate that’s underneath the loose screw (and the properly installed screw) is the thing I was looking at when comparing the two. One dealer had them all straight and proper. This one did not. Now, it’s not the end of the world if they’re not completely straight. But it shows the level of care and attention put in when servicing it.

Also, one of the engravings looked dirty. Like a little bit of oil got in it and they quickly wiped it. Which I thought was weird. If you fully service it that means all of the parts get cleaned.

Check it out. I can’t tell if this is actually oil/dirt or maybe a mistake in photo editing. They were trying to blur half of the number right next to this engraving (the “1907…”) I guess it’s possible they added the blur by accident and just didn’t see it.

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Doug S said:
Also, one of the engravings looked dirty. Like a little bit of oil got in it and they quickly wiped it. Which I thought was weird. If you fully service it that means all of the parts get cleaned.

Check it out. I can’t tell if this is actually oil/dirt or maybe a mistake in photo editing. They were trying to blur half of the number right next to this engraving (the “1907…”) I guess it’s possible they added the blur by accident and just didn’t see it.
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Idk seems super shaddy that's why I prefer to buy in person at an AD. Was that chrono24?
 
Stackbodiesbro said:
Idk seems super shaddy that's why I prefer to buy in person at an AD. Was that chrono24?
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I just checked, they do have it listed on Chrono 24. And that picture that I posted is in the listing. Look at the bottom of the image that shows the movement. It’s Swiss Watch Expo. They’re a pretty popular dealer/reseller too. So it’s a surprising oversight.

Check this out. I love my Seiko 5 Sport GMT but it was always too thick. So I got a slim, solid case back from Namoki Mods. It only trims like .5 mm but it makes a huge difference already. My only gripe is that the gasket that came with it was too big so I’m just reusing my og gasket. Look at how much thinner that bastard is!!

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They also make a thin bezel and slim crystal. I can get this down another 1mm or more. I’m gonna do it. I’ll lose the cyclops for the date window but tbh I’m not all that married to that feature anyway. If you zoom my overhead shot below you can even see it starting to wear around the cyclops. Obviously you can’t see that with the naked eye but it’s another reason why I don’t care if a new crystal doesn’t have it.

IMG_4094.jpeg

The biggest downside to this watch was the thickness. Because the lug to lug is so short, it really makes it look like a hockey puck on the wrist. So I only wore it every once in a while because it didn’t slip under the cuff of any shirt. Of course that also makes it look like you’re showing off your watch.

For anyone else just coming to the thread this is the watch in question and the new case back. I don’t care about seeing a movement of a common watch. I’d rather have it wear well.

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And here is the case back it comes with, below. (Stock photo bc I definitely forgot to take a picture prior to replacing it). This image sort of shows the movement

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Don’t get me wrong, it’s a nice movement for a nice $400 watch. For anyone debating getting a good GMT watch with a date for ~$350-$450, this is a great option. Also they have a good amount of variations in colors.

The bracelet is ok imo. It’s comfortable and sizes well. But it’s a bit top-heavy for me and it moves a little too much on the bracelet. It’s why I wear it on the rubber strap. But almost any review I’ve seen of this watch the majority of people think the bracelet is ok.

Seiko SSK GMT

EDIT: It also comes as a two-tone with a leather bracelet now. Very cool.
 
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I know by today's standards you can find a lot better but I sometimes kick myself for never buying a Seiko SKX when they were $200 on Amazon. I recall several times where I had it in my cart before deciding against it. The current Seiko 5 sport doesn't do it the same for me unfortunately.
 
I wish I knew about this thread sooner, I used to have a few watches but they were lost in the mail (fucking USPS niggers). I used to have a Hamilton Khaki Auto with a black shell cordovan leather strap which was my favorite watch at the time. Also had a couple others but they aren't really noteworthy.
Hamilton Khaki Field Auto
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Recently though I got a Breitling Aerospace Evo. Glad I managed to get one in pretty good condition for a reasonable price because they're discontinued and I think it may be my dream watch.
Breitling Aerospace Evo
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Not a collector, but I got my first watch since about 2012 recently and spent a good 2 weeks at work researching and during that time I discovered an amusing game on amazon where it will recommend an outfit based on the watch which not only provided a peak into the target demographic, but inspired me to start clicking on some of the goofiest looking watches I could find to see if I could find gold.

I didn't actually save anything at work, but I did a quick run just now to grab a few examples.

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Nicholas Gur said:
Not a collector, but I got my first watch since about 2012 recently and spent a good 2 weeks at work researching and during that time I discovered an amusing game on amazon where it will recommend an outfit based on the watch which not only provided a peak into the target demographic, but inspired me to start clicking on some of the goofiest looking watches I could find to see if I could find gold.

I didn't actually save anything at work, but I did a quick run just now to grab a few examples.

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1. The only goofy thing about a g-shock is how they're so cheap given the quality and value of the timepiece.
2. The g-shock outfit is wrong. That's something you wear when a White Tie ensemble just isn't enough.
 
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