Poor man's watch thread

[am55]

After several years without a true ultra slim dress watch (after all of mine were stolen in Switzerland together with the rest of the stuff in my flat) I have finally found a nice PMW in my new HMT Sona. Hand wound, $10 shipping included on eBay. It's a cleaner version of the Luch 2209 (mostly because pristine 2209s are impossible to find today), maybe a bit smaller dial, a bit thicker but still a dress watch. I put it on a brown croc strap which costs several times as much and is currently slowly breaking in on my wrist.

Edit to add image (but still don't know how to make it smaller):

 

[Michigan Planner]

I just picked up a second Helson Skindiver to add to my collection. I'll never shell out the money for a Blancpain Fity Fathoms and I've always been impressed with Helson's quality (though I know they had some snafus a few years back) so when they had a sale with a slight discount during the Chinese New Year, I jumped on it. I know a lot of folks don't like the homage or replica aspect of them, but I love mine.

Helson family photo - Skindivers and Sharkmasters

 

[TheWraith]

The Borealis Sea Storm (an upcoming watch available for pre-order) is also their take on the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms. Looks pretty good, too.

 

[dfwcowboy]

The Borealis Sea Storm (an upcoming watch available for pre-order) is also their take on the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms. Looks pretty good, too.

Interesting watch. Nice specs for the price from a respectable manufacturer.

 

[TheWraith]

I've had three watches from Borealis over the years. I can highly recommend their quality.

 

[Michigan Planner]

The Borealis watches do look pretty great and always seem to get good reviews. I've been really tempted by their Estoril 300 on a few occasions but I'm really just going to waiting on the MKII Project 300.

 

[ickda]

we stiil need more pocket watches.

 

[Weathered]

The Borealis Sea Storm (an upcoming watch available for pre-order) is also their take on the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms. Looks pretty good, too.

Oh great, another watch company for me to keep an eye on. That Sea Storm looks legit, and the price is pretty stellar.

 

[New Shoes1]

^ Looks like Debert is made by Parnis. Quality is probably not high then.
My latest kop btw is a Borealis Bull Shark no date in green, replacing my Christopher Ward as my alternate Sub beater.

I meant to ask earlier how the bracelet is. Is the bracelet fairly sturdy? Is the finishing on the case and bracelet on par with a $500 watch or nicer?

 

[DerangedGoose]

I dislike titanium watches, especially dive watches. If I'm gonna wear a chunky dive watch, I want it to feel like a chunky a dive watch, and that includes feeling its weight.

A steel dive watch turns into really heavy ballast underwater. I would be surprised if divers are wearing full steel + bracelet on dives.

Im keeping my eye on Baltic. Mechanical chronographs incoming:

 

[TheWraith]



I meant to ask earlier how the bracelet is. Is the bracelet fairly sturdy? Is the finishing on the case and bracelet on par with a $500 watch or nicer?

The bracelet is very sturdy, nice and thick and strong. The watch overall looks like it should cost double what it does. Quality is very high, machining of the case is outstanding for the price.

A steel dive watch turns into really heavy ballast underwater. I would be surprised if divers are wearing full steel + bracelet on dives. Im keeping my eye on Baltic. Mechanical chronographs incoming:

Spoiler: Warning: Spoiler!

I've known plenty of divers over the years that use steel watches when they dive or snorkel. Besides, most people that wear dive watches these days don't dive at all (myself included), so the weight of the piece underwater isn't an issue for them. For me, if I look down at my wrist and see a chunky dive watch that weighs nothing...it just doesn't work for me. If it's chunky, I want to feel it, not just see it. Touch is as important a sensation to me as sight in regards to watches, especially dive watches.

 

[Churchill W]



The bracelet is very sturdy, nice and thick and strong. The watch overall looks like it should cost double what it does. Quality is very high, machining of the case is outstanding for the price.
I've known plenty of divers over the years that use steel watches when they dive or snorkel. Besides, most people that wear dive watches these days don't dive at all (myself included), so the weight of the piece underwater isn't an issue for them. For me, if I look down at my wrist and see a chunky dive watch that weighs nothing...it just doesn't work for me. If it's chunky, I want to feel it, not just see it. Touch is as important a sensation to me as sight in regards to watches, especially dive watches.

I actually like how my Titanium Seiko Samurai feels contrary to its chunkiness.

 

[TheWraith]

That's cool. Each to their own.

 

[DerangedGoose]

Digging the Sumo with a ceramic bezel swap. Id prefer a blue sumo and blue ceramic, but FFS I wish people would stop ripping off the rolex bezels! Its just one design among many equally good ones!

 

[Don Murray]

If the silver were more yellow/bronze it would be killer. Green and yellow/bronze is a great combo that isn't seen much.

Not a great photo, but Bronze/Green is lovely indeed!