[ruchirtnt]

I own an apple watch stainless steel model. I have bought milanese loop with it and it looks and feels very premium. The other one I have is a Rado florence.

[14000rpm]

Originally Posted by dark.knight

Ultra-top tier :
Maximillian Busser & Friends (MB&F), Kari Voutilainen , Phillipe Doufour, Richard Mille, Greubel Forsey, F.P Journe, Urwerk, Bovet, Harry Winston, De Bethune

Top tier :
A.Lange & Sohne, Breguet, Vacheron Constantin, Audemars Piguet, Franck Muller, Patek Philippe.

Middle tier :
Blancpain, Jaeger LeCoultre, IWC, Girard Perregaux, Jaquet Droz, etc.

Entry Luxury :
Rolex, Omega, Bretiling, Zenith, Chopard, Carl F Bucherer, Panerai, Cartier etc

Affordable Luxury :
TAG Heuer, Longines, Raymond Weil, Tudor, Rado etc

Interesting. Wasn't aware of this Tier. to me they were and will be in 1 Tier- Unaffordable.

I chanced upon speaking to a Patek Philippe Horologist whilst on a flight. This conversation sparked my interest in mechanical watches and one of them caught my - MB&F HM4 Thundebolt. Pure Art. The attention to details is mind-blowing. In cars, I see this level of attention to details in a Pagani Huayra.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnnUbQ5Xqbs

The other eye-ball grabber is Tread 1 by Devon works. They may not fall in the Tiers above but the imagination is outstanding.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pd9cwK1mI20

[shankar.balan]

Originally Posted by devarshi84

Where do you all get your mechanical watches (including automatics) serviced in India?

Any reliance watchmakers in major cities with a reputed history?

Anecdotal Inputs:

There used to be the old P ORR and Sons in Madras, who in turn used to send off the watch to the respective HQ in Delhi or Bombay or even Switzerland in some cases for the servicing and cleaning - mainly because apparently the cleaning process is done using special processes which are not available in the general service centres.

Then there used to be C H Abrecht and Co in Calcutta and Kapoor Watch Co in Delhi, who again used to do the same as P Orr & Sons.

Nowadays, you can pop over to Ethos anywhere in India- they are trustworthy people. Same with Helvetica in Madras and Zimson and Co as well.

Ultimately if your watch is from a "Luxe-House" like say, Longines, Omega, Tag, Breitling or whatever, depending on the work it needs done, it may need to be sent off to the HQ.

I have an old Omega with a curved plexiglass cover. The plexiglass had a small crack in it, so I had to get it changed, for which I sent it off to Ethos. In turn, they had to procure the Plexiglass of the same model from Switzerland and fix it and give it back. This was around 10 years ago. The whole process of procurement and fixing etc took 2 months and cost quite a bit at the time.

More recently I wanted a leather strap for another of my good watches, a Breitling this time, as a replacement/ alternative to the heavy steel strap that the watch came with.

I ordered it through the Breitling Store in Dubai and he took about 2 months to procure my specifically chosen strap along with a larger selection of straps for his store. It was an expensive purchase, but there is nothing quite like an original.

Strangely and coincidentally, just a month or so after I had bought this leather strap, I happened to be visiting in Connecticut, USA and I realised at the time, that the Breitling HQ is right there in Stamford CT! Saw their huge and stylish office - must try and get a pass to visit them some day! Lovely brand that!

[Aroy]

Kapoor Watch company has a repair centre in South Extension, Delhi where they repair Swatch, Tag and Rolex. They are authorised repair centre for these brands and claim to have regular inspection and appraisal from them.

For Rolex they insist that as per Rolex policy a number of mechanical parts are to be changed during service hence servicing Rolex is a 50K+ affair.

[Jeroen]

Originally Posted by Aroy

Kapoor Watch company has a repair centre in South Extension, Delhi where they repair Swatch, Tag and Rolex. They are authorised repair centre for these brands and claim to have regular inspection and appraisal from them.

For Rolex they insist that as per Rolex policy a number of mechanical parts are to be changed during service hence servicing Rolex is a 50K+ affair.

I have visited several times over the years as well as the other jewellers in that area. I was never impressed by their knowledge. More then, this is a very nice watch Sir, I never managed to get out of them. The same is true for their other branches and other so called high end jewellers in Delhi. Not impressed.

For what it's worth, the folks at Etos was far better. Friendly, knowledgeable and very accommodating.

I'm still not hundred percent sure about servicing our watches. I had a not so good experience with my Breitling. Although ultimately they put it right in a good way.

Back here in the Netherlands I have been looking at more vintage watches. Visited several places in The Hague and Amsterdam. They all have the same opinion on servicing: as long as it runs ok don't do it! Also, when you take it for a service they should accommodate your special wishes. My Breitling was re-polished and all the hands were replaced. (Plus of course all the inner bits got overhauled).

With hindsight I should have told them not to polish and leave the original hands on. But of course that isalso a very personal preference. You want it back looking as new as possible or do you prefer a more aged and or patina look.

My next few watches are definitely going to be vintage. Very pleased with what's on offer for reasonable prices. Several places give you guaranteed trade in prices if you buy from them and upgrade to a new vintage watch every few years.

Jeroen

[dark.knight]

Originally Posted by deerhunter

I agree that Rolex is the ultimate watch brand for most layfolks. But even for horological aficionados, Rolex is one of the best at that price range. This is because movement matters. All of the Rolex movements are in-house since ages. But most of the other brands in that price range either use a ETA movement or started developing in-house movements only recently.
..Because at this price range, history and heritage is what matters more than functionality. So a history of in-house movement making is always a plus point, which many in this price range do not have.

I do agree partially, but I have a twist to add here. What Rolex did was basically, start building a movement based on several inventions of watchmaking giants in those times. This may also be surprising to people but Rolex is kind of a baby when compared to the legit Swiss watches (Rolex orignated in London), its merely 112 years old whereas the likes of VC, Breguet, Blancpain are easily twice that age and few other like JLC & IWC are 150+/-, they all added critical improvements and features to the wristwatch that made it what it is today. Some examples :

- Breguet with their legendary overcoil hairspring, a concept Rolex fully "implemented" in their movements, its a slight tweak to the hairspring such that the winding in and out are more regulated.

- Jaeger LeCoultre invented the ultra-thin calibre, the first watch winding crown, Reverso case, and millionometre benchmark for measuring precision.

- IWC was the first to put a pocket-watch caliber into their Portuguese line for precise measuring of time, they also invented the Pellaton winding (dual side winding system for automatic) and Kurt Klaus perpetual calendar system, both patents they own and cannot be used by anyone else.

Also most of the brands in the first 3 tiers are absolute specialists in complications, they know how to make an annual calendar, perpetual calendar, flying tourbillion, gyrotourbillion (JLC patent), grand sonnerie (gong) and also work with exotic materials like titanium, platinum, carbon fibre, ceramic etc. To me, the expertise in complications are an absolute must to remotely qualify to be a luxury watch, a form of jewelry for men so to speak.

I know Rolex is good, but they aren't THAT good. Their know-how ends at basic time, date and at best, day complication.

Originally Posted by deerhunter

They maybe part of the same group, but they are separate companies. ETA supplies movements to non swatch brands too(eg: IWC). A movement is considered in-house if they are made within the same company. ETA is a different legal entity compared to Omega and Tissot. Anyway, Omega now uses in-house movements for most of their models. Orient is an affordable watch, not a luxury one. Orient, Seiko (not Grand Seiko), Tissot, Victorinox etc can be clubbed together as affordable watches.

The Omega in-house too is very similar to an ETA/Sellita base, their single change is their slightly over-publicised co-axial escapement (which is again, an invention of a private watchmaker). Basically makes the movement last longer and with wider service intervals is all. Agree on the ratings part, Orient is in the league of Tissot, Seiko and others.

Originally Posted by 14000rpm

I chanced upon speaking to a Patek Philippe Horologist whilst on a flight. This conversation sparked my interest in mechanical watches and one of them caught my - MB&F HM4 Thundebolt. Pure Art. The attention to details is mind-blowing.

Its an achievement without doubt, but I feel the precision won't be quite there in models like HM4, it has dual mainsprings driving the vertical gears but still gravity will reduce precision and there's no way a tourbillion will help either given the position of the dial. Max Busser likes to call it mechanical art and I agree. I feel cars and watches are cliched now, here's my favourite from MB&F- the Aquapod, looks exactly like a jellyfish on the wrist.

Here's a video of a Christophe Claret super-fun watch, would cost a bomb (ultra high-end league) but wow, the complications are ridiculous :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2O8-d02khvo

[F150]

Guys,
I need your advice. I have Rs 30K at my disposal.
Please help me choose between Samsung Gear S3 and Victorinox Maverick.

[deerhunter]

Originally Posted by F150

Guys,
I need your advice. I have Rs 30K at my disposal.
Please help me choose between Samsung Gear S3 and Victorinox Maverick.

I wouldnt buy a quartz watch for that price. I would go for a Tissot Le locle or Visodate, or something from the Seiko lineup. If you can source a Seiko SARB017 Alpinist from abroad, then that would be the best choice for your price range.

If forced to choose between the above two, I would pick the Victorinox. But a watch that uses an ordinary quartz movement (as opposed to a high end quartz) for 30K is something I find hard to digest. If forced to pick any quartz at that price range, I would pick a Bulova Precisionist.

[shifu]

I used to hate wearing a watch. Blame it on having a slim wrist and smartphones. I finally bought a 'smartwatch' couple of years back. It was a Garmin Vivofit that tracked the # of steps I took and my sleep quality.

And then last month my wife gifted me a Fitbit Charge2. The device is pretty neat, and in addition to what my Garmin did, it also -
*prompts me to take 250 steps every hour
*measures heart rate
*has a stop watch, breathing exercises, etc (never used in the last few weeks).

And, this morning I got an email that compared my last week with the week before that. It does motivate, even though momentarily.



And I bought my father a GoQii smartwatch through Axis bank that rewards 500 points every week if 70,000 steps are crossed in that week. This is a good motivation for him to go on his morning and evening walks. And on days he is unable to go, he just sits in his chair and waves his hand to and fro

[sandeepsarma]

Hey guys,

Nice to see that many of you are watch lovers as well. Here is a shot of my collection minus two watches - A Moto 360 smartwatch (1st Gen) and a Casio G-Shock.



Note : The AP at the top left, the Breitling (2nd from bottom right) and the Tag Heuer with the Rubber Strap above it are only replicas. The AP Royal Oak is my favourite watch of all time and hopefully someday, I can replace the replica with a real one.

The costliest watch I have in my collection is the Tag Heuer Aquaracer (Top Centre). My favourite is perhaps the Edox Chronorally 9The one with a green button which I use most days but now needs a change of battery) and the latest one in the collection if the Kenneth Cole Skeleton Dial Automatic which I actually got as a gift for my wedding.

[Gansan]

Originally Posted by deerhunter

Another brand which has ultra top tier quality, but middle tier pricing is Credor. I dont think it is available in India yet, but I had the chance to see one with a colleague. It is a horological marvel.

I thought that too was a Seiko brand; or am I wrong?

[deerhunter]

Originally Posted by Gansan

I thought that too was a Seiko brand; or am I wrong?

Yes, Credor is a Seiko division. The watch my colleague owns is "Eichi II". He had to wait for a year, after ordering, to procure one. Only a few tens are produced every year, it seems. Price is in the C-class range. If they ever introduce that in India, the price will probably be in the S-class territory.

It looks so awesome that I lost my sleep for a week

[The Brutailer]

Originally Posted by deerhunter

Yes, Credor is a Seiko division. The watch my colleague owns is "Eichi II". He had to wait for a year, after ordering, to procure one. Only a few tens are produced every year, it seems. Price is in the C-class range. If they ever introduce that in India, the price will probably be in the S-class territory.

It looks so awesome that I lost my sleep for a week

Agreed. Eichi II is an amazing watch. One look at it and you'll pass it off as a simple, nice watch. Turn it over though, and you'll realise it's no simple watch.

It's highly finished and has extreme attention to detail. One remarkable watch!

Read more : https://www.bloomberg.com/news/photo...credor-watches

[reihem]

finally !!! after an endless wait !!

In many ways true to the original Air-King, but I definitely prefer the larger dial.

[Saanil]

Hi Guys,

Need help from experts here. The last time I wanted to buy a watch for myself, I asked here and I got fabulous suggestions. This time, I need to buy a watch for gifting purpose. I need to gift a watch to my wife on our upcoming engagement anniversary.

Can experts kindly help me with some suggestions? My wife currently has watches from DKNY, Michael Kors and Fossil. I know these are all fashion brands but this time, I am thinking of buying her a non fashion brand. My budget is around 20k (maybe 25k in case I like the watch a lot). Any suggestions?