Jump to content

Watch buying

thesaint sfc

By thesaint sfc,
in The Lounge

 Share

Recommended Posts

OldNick

OldNick

Posted
Posted

I looked to send you a pm but for some reason I could not do so! I have some watch dealer contacts who may help. Are you looking for top end 2nd hand, brand new or good vintage. I would recommend not to buy off the internet, Im sure you know that already. Nick

Link to comment
Share on other sites
OldNick

OldNick

Posted
Posted
I'm looking at buying a watch to, specifically a Rolex, final present to myself before kids! Any view on new vs second hand/vintage?
I would strongly recommend that you avoid buying on the internet. The fakes are so good now that it is becoming very difficult for a layman to buy. The fakes come with boxes certificates etc etc. The landlord of a pub locally didnt take notice of advice and bought a watch that would be worth £3k in the trade for £1800 online and was proudly bragging to his clients how clever he was. It would not be classy to point out he was wearing a fake. Greed took over his brain sadly.

I personally dont rate Rolex as they bang out thousands of them a year, but they have wonderful marketting, and by raising prices every year keeps the 2nd hand market up and so good if you wish to resell. If you are looking to buy a secondhand vintage model Gardiner Houlgate are having a watch auction on Wednesday.

Try www.gardinerhoulgate.co.uk where you will see their catalogue online. If you need help bidding/ buying at an auction I would be happy to give you help if required. Remember all the auction add ons when you are bidding and remember you will be up against professionals. It is not like those goons you see pretending they know about stuff on the tv.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
ecuk268

ecuk268

Posted
Posted
I would strongly recommend that you avoid buying on the internet. The fakes are so good now that it is becoming very difficult for a layman to buy. The fakes come with boxes certificates etc etc. The landlord of a pub locally didnt take notice of advice and bought a watch that would be worth £3k in the trade for £1800 online and was proudly bragging to his clients how clever he was. It would not be classy to point out he was wearing a fake. Greed took over his brain sadly.

I personally dont rate Rolex as they bang out thousands of them a year, but they have wonderful marketting, and by raising prices every year keeps the 2nd hand market up and so good if you wish to resell. If you are looking to buy a secondhand vintage model Gardiner Houlgate are having a watch auction on Wednesday.

Try www.gardinerhoulgate.co.uk where you will see their catalogue online. If you need help bidding/ buying at an auction I would be happy to give you help if required. Remember all the auction add ons when you are bidding and remember you will be up against professionals. It is not like those goons you see pretending they know about stuff on the tv.

 

I was told that on a real Rolex, the second hand moved in increments whereas, on a fake, it moved smoothly (or the other way round). Is this no longer the case?

Link to comment
Share on other sites
OldNick

OldNick

Posted
Posted
I was told that on a real Rolex, the second hand moved in increments whereas, on a fake, it moved smoothly (or the other way round). Is this no longer the case?
Some fakes are now so good that some use proper movements.
Link to comment
Share on other sites
John Boy Saint

John Boy Saint

Posted
Posted

I have a TAG that is an insurance replacement for a previous one that was ripped from my wrist by the sea in Spain and lost forever (I like to think that some lucky soul found it many months or years later). It's only an Aquaracer and not uber expensive in the grand scheme of their range. The only thing of note, when I chose it there was not one in the UK and it had to be sent from Switzerland.

Strangely whenever I have been looking at watches out of curiosity, it sometimes gets commented on but more often watched by the shop staff like a kitten following a length of wool. The strangest was in a TAG shop abroad, a Russian already had 2 different his and hers styles being prepared for the bag, he suddenly was the kitten after the thread, and followed me round the store as I looked in the cabinets, my Daughters said afterwards that he couldn't take his eyes off it, my daughters, who were watching him, said later that they thought he was going actually make me an offer for it.

I chose it because it looked like the lost original that my Wife bought for me as a surprise, after she had seen me looking at it more than once in the Jewellers, the only thing swish about it is the brand. But at the end of the day if you are buying it as a treat to yourself you have to firstly like the look of what you are buying and not be driven solely by the name on the face.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
lloydie

lloydie

Posted
Posted

As someone who used to work in the watch trade, Goldsmiths despite the large, national brand are quite actually quite good and have a wide selection, however if you are after a better deal £££ wise, go to Parkhouse (assuming you are near Southampton) as easier to negotiate a lower price there. I've got a Breitling Superocean Heritage myself, and quite prefer them over rolex as the movement is better (again probably i'm biased but, meh) but if purchsaing a second nice watch i'd look at Bell and Ross (because they look cool) or Omega.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
ecuk268

ecuk268

Posted
Posted

Mrs ecuk268 gave me my Omega as a wedding present over 40 years ago and I still wear it virtually every day.

 

It packed up once when I wore it whilst swimming in the Med but my local watchmaker in St James Road restored it to full health.

 

I have it cleaned and the oil changed every 3 or 4 years and it still keeps very good time and looks as good as new.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
St Chalet

St Chalet

Posted
Posted

I was really into watches as a kid. When I finally got some decent pay packets I treated myself to a Rolex. Since then I've bought 4 more and will wear / trade them for enjoyment.

 

Asking what watch to buy is such a wide question! The first question I'd ask is what you are going to use it for? Before some wag says "to tell the time", every watch does that, most mechanical watches offer a 'complication'. These range from Date, Day, 2nd timezone (GMT) or stopwatch etc.

 

Also you want to consider which brand to buy if you want to get your money back. Watches are not good investments, but buying the right ones can just about be inflation proof. Personally I've gone for a blend of what I like and what I think will do better than my bank interest rate over the next 10 years.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
St Chalet

St Chalet

Posted
Posted
Hi Guys,

 

I'm looking to buy a fancy watch and wondered if anyone knew of any jewellers who were good at the sourcing and pricing of watches?

 

I've only been able to find the one that I want in the US so far.

 

PS which watch did you want? I might be able to recommend some people.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
buctootim

buctootim

Posted
Posted
I've been looking for some time for a chronometer which is thin and has a clean face. Any suggestions are welcome.

 

High end watches arent my thing but a friend has a Bremont 247 with white face that I really like. Nearly £5000 apparently though.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Wade Garrett

Wade Garrett

Posted
Posted
As someone who used to work in the watch trade, Goldsmiths despite the large, national brand are quite actually quite good and have a wide selection, however if you are after a better deal £££ wise, go to Parkhouse (assuming you are near Southampton) as easier to negotiate a lower price there. I've got a Breitling Superocean Heritage myself, and quite prefer them over rolex as the movement is better (again probably i'm biased but, meh) but if purchsaing a second nice watch i'd look at Bell and Ross (because they look cool) or Omega.

 

Beat me to it. Goldsmiths have a fantastic selection.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Trader

Trader

Posted
Posted

What's the matter with you lot. What's a watch for? - it's for telling the time, right?

 

Get yourselves something like this - solar powered, radio controlled, titanium, sapphire glass, alarms and stopwatch if you really must and all for just over 300 quid - what's not to like?

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B005HVBCCC/ref=s9_simh_gw_p241_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=desktop-1&pf_rd_r=9YN4KM5W7PV0N1967JEZ&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=867552067&pf_rd_i=desktop

 

Or if you just want a piece of jewellery on your wrist, why no admit it?

Link to comment
Share on other sites
lloydie

lloydie

Posted
Posted
When it comes to Chronometers I'd generally say Rolex Daytona, although it's quite fussy and not very thin. Omega Speedmaster probably a better bet.

 

I'd love a Rolex Daytona... however last time i checked you need to pay for it 100% upfront then wait 5 years for it to arrive such is its popularity!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
scotty

scotty

Posted
Posted

I've got very slim wrists, always fancied a rolex but they'd look stupid on me. Found a a raymond weil tango in Switzerland 20+ years ago, never changed it, never will. Get something that fits you well, the rest is just window dressing, but loads of people have commented on how good the watch looks.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 3 weeks later...
Shance

Shance

Posted
Posted

I love watches. My favourite brand is Breitling. I had a breitling bently some years ago but now i'm on a chronomat which I love.

 

I like the look of some of the Rolex's like the submariner and the yacht master (not the yach master 2 though!!) but everyone seems to get a rolex. They are everywhere.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 1 month later...
St Chalet

St Chalet

Posted
Posted (edited)
LOL, as you do.

 

It's not really the "hi hun, i got an i phone 5 s 4 free wich im sellin 4 £250. inbox me xoxoxo" that you normally get on forums

 

It's become a bit of a hobby buying and selling these things. I am looking for £14k, so agreed, not really your standard clickbait scam.

 

To be fair, I didn't genuinely expect to sell it here....

Edited by St Chalet
Link to comment
Share on other sites
OldNick

OldNick

Posted
Posted
It's become a bit of a hobby buying and selling these things. I am looking for £14k, so agreed, not really your standard clickbait scam.

 

To be fair, I didn't genuinely expect to sell it here....

its a bit of a look at me watch, are you a lottery winner lol:)

Link to comment
Share on other sites
benjii

benjii

Posted
Posted

To my mind, Rolex, Breitling and the like are ugly. Big, crude, ugly dollops of unrefined metal. The sort of overpriced tat you flog to perma-tanned car dealers / golf-club bores and the like who wouldn't know class if it rimmed them.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
thesaint sfc

thesaint sfc

Posted
  • Author
Posted
I have done so. Did it arrive?

 

Sorry Nick. I never got your email and only just noticed this thread was still going.

 

I ended up flying to New York and buying it from a watch dealer. Very pleased with it. It was pretty nerve wracking going to meet the guy but all worked out for the best in the end.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
OldNick

OldNick

Posted
Posted
Sorry Nick. I never got your email and only just noticed this thread was still going.

 

I ended up flying to New York and buying it from a watch dealer. Very pleased with it. It was pretty nerve wracking going to meet the guy but all worked out for the best in the end.

Ok no problem. Odd that my e-mail never got to you but Im pleased you got what you wanted.
Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 5 months later...
  • 2 weeks later...
Shance

Shance

Posted
Posted (edited)

Had to send the watch back as soon as it arrived. Big scratch on the face that wasn't there in the description and it was quite frankly very dirty. Didn't show the business in a good light BUT the guy took it back, polished it, changed the crystal and serviced it for £100. Bargain. I get it back next week but from the pictures, it looks good as new!

Edited by Shance
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Whitey Grandad

Whitey Grandad

Posted
Posted
Had to send the watch back as soon as it arrived. Big scrath on the face that wasn't there in the description and it was quite frankly very dirty. Didn't show the business in a good light BUT the guy took it back, polished it, changed the crystal and serviced it for £100. Bargain. I get it back next week but from the pictures, it looks good as new!

 

Nice :)

 

How thick is it? I like chronometers but they must be thin with a clean dial.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing
×
×
  • Create New...