[bigfatpaulie]

Hi Paul hope all is well with you

I do have a couple of other options from Creation that I'm looking at as well, on the mailing list waiting for them to get some new stock in.

Always a pleasure, Jamie!

Out of interest, do you have a budget? Are their any particular features you are looking for in a watch?

I would be extremely, extremely careful about buying a Sub on eBay. Sub reproductions can be so good that you will not be able to tell any difference from images, and when you have the actual watch in hand and find out that it's a rep, you could be stuck for months without your money as Paypal sorts out the issue. And you need to have the watch examined by a certified expert to verify that it's a fake, etc. Some watches simply don't have convincing fakes (skeletons, exotic materials, small-time brands) and those you can probably buy on eBay without too much concern.

A sub or speedmaster? No way I'd buy one on eBay unless it's the eBay store of a dealer I trust. I've seen Submariner reps in Hong Kong, with a small amount of genuine parts mixed in, that are so good that a Rolex AD had to open up the watch to confirm that it's a rep. No way you'd be able to tell from eBay pictures alone.

No kidding. I am 1000% with you. John Mayer knows more about watches than most people and he bought from a really big, reputable dealer and still ended up with a fake. If that dealer and Mayer couldn't tell, there is little chance you (as is anyone reading this) can tell.

I mean look at this:



And they have become even better...

Never mind the ones that are semi-real... I've seen legitimate 5513's with a real cal. 1130's inside. Real dial, real hands, real case, real movement. Fake watch. How many "1016's" have come up for sale that are just 1605's with service dials? Like a bajillion. From photo's, there is no way to know if a watch a legitimate or not from eBay or anywhere else and as nice as PayPal protection may or may not be, you may buy the watch, have "your guy" look it over and pass it, so you wouldn't know you have a fake. I've been an avid watch nut for 25+ years and I won't buy a Rolex from anywhere BUT a dealer. The same goes for a Speedy, and some Patek's and AP's. The fakes are just too accurate now.

Long gone are the days being able to easily tell. There is too much money at steak for fakers not to try and take advantage. It's a shame really.

 

[iFi audio]

Ebay is probably the most dangerous place on earth to buy a watch.

We'd remove the 'probably' bit from this sentence

 

[JamieMcC]

Always a pleasure, Jamie!

Out of interest, do you have a budget? Are their any particular features you are looking for in a watch?

Paulie

Budget probably $500-$1000 tops as it will be get some abuse needs to be waterproof preferably 38-40mm not to thick and not a OTT tool watch or a homage style.

Looking for something that has some originality rather than something that might be mistaken for something else. Got to have some interesting features, applied indices preferably. I have owned budget Seikos and Orients divers in the past (actually used for diving) they would be a easy solution but don't really fancy going down that road again and it would be nice to have something a bit more interesting.

The other criteria is I need to be able to have it in the hand within the next couple of weeks..

Squale 1521 is on the list and maybe the Seiko Alpinist (but keep changing my mind about that one)

If time runs out I will probably just pick up a budget Seiko or Orient diver again from creation as shipping has normally only taken a few days when I 've used them in the past.

 

[Zhanming057]

Paulie

Budget probably $500-$1000 tops as it will be get some abuse needs to be waterproof preferably 38-40mm not to thick and not a OTT tool watch or a homage style.

Looking for something that has some originality rather than something that might be mistaken for something else. Got to have some interesting features, applied indices preferably. I have owned budget Seikos and Orients divers in the past (actually used for diving) they would be a easy solution but don't really fancy going down that road again and it would be nice to have something a bit more interesting.

The other criteria is I need to be able to have it in the hand within the next couple of weeks..

Squale 1521 is on the list and maybe the Seiko Alpinist (but keep changing my mind about that one)

If time runs out I will probably just pick up a budget Seiko or Orient diver again from creation as shipping has normally only takes a few days when I 've used them in the past.

You know what, I just recently discovered these guys:

https://usd.farer.com/

39mm, very thin, the chrono's are at around $2k but I noticed that the used ones go for under $1,300, normal automatics are well below $1,000 used. Definitely not homage, definitely more interesting than your average Seiko.

I love the styling, except 39mm would look a bit comical on me, and I prefer large watches relative to my size as well. If they made the Cobb in a 44 or even 42, I'd be in line for one...

 

[JamieMcC]

You know what, I just recently discovered these guys:

https://usd.farer.com/

39mm, very thin, the chrono's are at around $2k but I noticed that the used ones go for under $1,300, normal automatics are well below $1,000 used. Definitely not homage, definitely more interesting than your average Seiko.

I love the styling, except 39mm would look a bit comical on me, and I prefer large watches relative to my size as well. If they made the Cobb in a 44 or even 42, I'd be in line for one...

Not heard of them will take a look

 

[jksoon]

..... I've been an avid watch nut for 25+ years and I won't buy a Rolex from anywhere BUT a dealer. The same goes for a Speedy, and some Patek's and AP's. The fakes are just too accurate now.

Long gone are the days being able to easily tell. There is too much money at steak for fakers not to try and take advantage. It's a shame really.

Completely agree. The few times I almost pulled the trigger on a 2nd hand Rolex I held back since there was no way to tell if the watch had serviced with aftermarket parts, pieced together, etc. Easily viewed parts on the movement can be spotted with a loupe, but what about the mainspring inside the barrel and other parts obstructed by the bridges? I got to the point that I would only buy new one from an AD, even if it means being on a long waiting list.

Paul - Congrats on the Rolex Sub Hulk, a truly nice watch that looks stunning in person.

 

[Tinnitus Man]

I sent the vintage Sub I bought into an AD for a service quote. They wanted a huge amount to replace "worn" parts with new, so I refused, but they didn't point out that anything was fake about it. I knew when buying it that it had already gone through this "new parts for old" servicing through Rolex (5513 with an 80's dial), but I was ok with that. As was the person I sold it to.

I still have my Speedmaster, which was visually verified by a specialist Omega forum. It was sold to me as a 1971 vintage, but it actually looks more like a 1978 but that's ok with me - it's still an incredible watch for the money I spent on it.

Having said that, I agree that eBay is a risk, even when the sellers are selling in good faith. The only way to be absolutely sure of provenence is to buy via a dealer.

 

[bigfatpaulie]

Paulie

Budget probably $500-$1000 tops as it will be get some abuse needs to be waterproof preferably 38-40mm not to thick and not a OTT tool watch or a homage style.

Looking for something that has some originality rather than something that might be mistaken for something else. Got to have some interesting features, applied indices preferably. I have owned budget Seikos and Orients divers in the past (actually used for diving) they would be a easy solution but don't really fancy going down that road again and it would be nice to have something a bit more interesting.

The other criteria is I need to be able to have it in the hand within the next couple of weeks..

Squale 1521 is on the list and maybe the Seiko Alpinist (but keep changing my mind about that one)

If time runs out I will probably just pick up a budget Seiko or Orient diver again from creation as shipping has normally only taken a few days when I 've used them in the past.

Both the 1521 and Alpinist are great options.

For me personally, I would also consider;

Seiko Prospex SPB0079 (I know this doesn't tick the applied indices box, but it such a sharp looking diver)
Halios Seaforth GMT
Hamilton Jazzmaster (they make a time old, a chrono and a GMT)
Mido Multifort GMT (it has small applied indices, but the dials are so interesting)

I don't know if you have already, but Glycine may be worth looking at to see if anything jumps out at you as well.

I tried to suggest a few GMT watches with some water resistance as you mentioned you would be travelling with it so I read that as changing time zones and possibly swimming.

So many great options in that price point! Good luck and please let us know where you land

 

[bigfatpaulie]

I sent the vintage Sub I bought into an AD for a service quote. They wanted a huge amount to replace "worn" parts with new, so I refused, but they didn't point out that anything was fake about it. I knew when buying it that it had already gone through this "new parts for old" servicing through Rolex (5513 with an 80's dial), but I was ok with that. As was the person I sold it to.

I still have my Speedmaster, which was visually verified by a specialist Omega forum. It was sold to me as a 1971 vintage, but it actually looks more like a 1978 but that's ok with me - it's still an incredible watch for the money I spent on it.

Having said that, I agree that eBay is a risk, even when the sellers are selling in good faith. The only way to be absolutely sure of provenence is to buy via a dealer.

Your watch may be totally genuine. It may not be. As serendipity sometimes works, if you are interested, I just saw this this morning by chance:

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=682962

Here's a guy with a 'Rolex' who sent it to Rolex, they said it was genuine.... But then it wasn't.

All I'm saying is buyer beware and fakes and frankens are rampant. Members looking at pictures on a forum, and even inexperienced Rolex service center people can be fooled. The reality is, unless you bought new from an AD, or real experts have physically disassembled and inspected the entire watch, you just don't know.

 

[JamieMcC]

Paul thanks for the suggestions I was very tempted by both the Glycine combat 6 classic and Orient Triton they were both available on massdrop recently unfortunately the timing of their shipping was to close to my departure date and I am pretty sure either would not have arrived in the UK in time.

While both are available over here UK retailers are asking significantly more the Glycine is £690 over here! And the Triton about £200 more than on Creation (out of stock) or Massdrop .

 

[iFi audio]

You know what, I just recently discovered these guys:

https://usd.farer.com/

39mm, very thin, the chrono's are at around $2k but I noticed that the used ones go for under $1,300, normal automatics are well below $1,000 used. Definitely not homage, definitely more interesting than your average Seiko.

I love the styling, except 39mm would look a bit comical on me, and I prefer large watches relative to my size as well. If they made the Cobb in a 44 or even 42, I'd be in line for one...

Very nice!

 

[the chemist]

Excellent buy for smaller wrists. Omega speed master but without the reduced movement yet keeping the reduced size. Specifically designed for Japanese market

 

[bigfatpaulie]

Excellent buy for smaller wrists. Omega speed master but without the reduced movement yet keeping the reduced size. Specifically designed for Japanese market

Are you talking about a ref. 3510.50.00 or the 324.30.38.50.06.001? I'm unaware of an Speedy with a cal 1863 (or other).

 

[iFi audio]

Excellent buy for smaller wrists. Omega speed master but without the reduced movement yet keeping the reduced size. Specifically designed for Japanese market

Yup!

 

[KcMsterpce]

I have lotsa watches, but most are reasonably priced.
However, since I saw an Omega blue face De Ville in 2007, I was obsessed with getting a nice Omega De Ville or Aqua Terra. However, I spent many years waiting for the design, price, and movement that checked all the boxes.

One day in February 2016, I saw the Omega James Bond Spectre Aqua Terra.
Blue face. The James Bond touches did not interfere with the classy, business OR casual design that lets it still be "Omega", and not "JAMES BOND (by omega)".
Also, it was the first "15,000 gauss" silicon-parts based 8507 movement (8500 movement for other, 'normal' watches, since it isn't 007-based).

I thought "Well, it's been nine years and I still love the design, and I still want it." Also, the yellow accents really added some "pop" the way previous blue face Omega designs haven't done for me.
So I called every Omega store in Korea (all "Seouled" out), Vietnam, Thailand, and Japan.
Thailand had the best price BY FAR. So, I flew there for a weekend and bought it.
Three years later, and I'm still happy.

I like that it has the blue bracelet, AND a metal bracelet included with purchase. Five year warranty is nice. Also, the open back and Bond insignia is gorgeous.

I wear it to work about three days a week.

Also, I have my grandfather's watch. It's a Seiko, but it has been modified with a gold nugget case, and wristband.
I tried to find out its origins, and there is a store that does this type of modification to Seiko watches to this day. I inquired about where THIS might have come from, and they said it could have been from a store in Seattle, WA that went out of business several years ago.
I know my grandfather owned this watch since some time in the 70s. He used to tell me, back when I was 5 years old "I went into the mines and hand picked the gold myself to make this watch!" Even then I knew he was jerkin' my chain, but I still liked the idea of that story being true.
Personally, it's not really my style. However, my father gave it to me about 7 years ago because he knows I have a hobby/love of watches. The watch doesn't work anymore, and I can't replace the movement because Seiko no longer has replacements for this model.
I wonder if I can replace the internals of the watch with a more modern movement. I haven't looked into it extensively, but regardless, I will keep this watch simply because it is a "family heirloom".

Also, I have a Rolex mid-sized datejust, black dial, roman numeral numbers, fluted gold bezel and jubilee bracelet from 1992. It was my OTHER grandfather's watch. My grandmother gave it to me after he passed away, saying "I know you like watches, so here is your grandfather's watch." Back in 2005 when I got it, I thought it was fake. The second hand stopped working so I took it to a shop. They opened it up and said "no, it's official. 1992 model. It'll be $550 to fix it."
I said "Nah, but thanks" and just keep it sitting around somewhere. I don't really like it. I'm not too fond of Rolex watches.