The Watch Appreciation Thread (Reviews and Photos of Men's Timepieces by Rolex, Patek Philippe, Brei

[Betelgeuse]

Can we request a bigger picture? I really can't appreciatte the details.

 

[Concordia]



After a few months of lurking I’m ready to ask for some advice from this knowledgeable crowd. Seeking  suggestions for my son’s college graduation present within the following parameters:

• 
  Appropriate for an everyday business casual environment, but not out of place with a suit
  
• 
  Stylish, but not flashy
  
• 
  Medium case size, with a 6½” wrist I’m guessing 40mm and under
  
• 
  Strap, not bracelet
  
• 
  Automatic movement
  
• 
  Budget of $2,500 – higher than the Poor Man’s thread, but perhaps sub entry level for you guys. Would consider venturing into the preowned market, but would have more comfort if the sellers had a U.S. brick and mortar presence too, e.g., Govberg
  

Thanks for your thoughts. Welcome all suggestions, comments and questions.

Frederique Constant makes some watches that are very classic but in your budget. Perhaps start with the slim-line automatic , at 40mm. Or if you want 37mm, they make one that has quartz, No second hand-- so who's gonna know?

 

[DLJr]

^ I'd second the FC rec. My personal favorite is a 42mm moonphase.

 

[d4nimal]

I have a 6.5" wrist and I tried on the FC Moonphase. I wanted to love it so bad because it's an in house caliber, love moonphases, and the design is rather understated and elegant. BUT it is 42 mm, and wears bigger than that to me in person. At 38 mm it would have been a great match, but it was literally a huge saucer on me. May want to keep that in mind. The blue strap on the blue version is also much bluer than I had hoped, and would have looked better in a brown strap or even black.

Another +1 for Nomos, of which I agree the Orion was the most classy to me. Manual wind, but beautiful on the wrist for me in 38 mm (they also make a ~36 mm I think that seemed a bit small by modern standards). That was my second choice, believe it or not, after the JLC Ultra Thin Reserve De Marche, which are quite a bit apart in pricing. You can probably get a used Zenith Elite Ultra Thin small seconds around that price, if you like that sort of thing. I do.

Good luck and let us know what you end up with.

 

[Betelgeuse]

So I went to the Omega store today and saw the Speedmaster, the one with the story of the trip to the moon, you know which one. It's beautiful! I need to add that one to my collection, so i need to start saving some money for that one. They have the one with the steel bracelet but there are some combos that are really nice.

 

[DLJr]

I bought my wife the 35mm Orion. I wear it often and I think it looks good by modern standards, but I also enjoy more classically sized dress watches. I think the lug length helps to fill the wrist. The dial is a bit more balanced to my eye on the 35 vs the 38 (on the 38mm the sub seconds starts to creep too close to the center) but that is a tiny nit to pick.

The FC I thought wore smaller than it's dimensions because of the lugs, but it is a lot of watch face. I didn't mention it previously because of the size.

If the OP buys new I'm not sure there are better options out there than NOMOS or FC. Still lots of options, but I'd rank those two at the top.

 

[in stitches]



Can we request a bigger picture? I really can't appreciatte the details.

derp hows this for "details"? some spillage going on there.

So I went to the Omega store today and saw the Speedmaster, the one with the story of the trip to the moon, you know which one. It's beautiful! I need to add that one to my collection, so i need to start saving some money for that one. They have the one with the steel bracelet but there are some combos that are really nice.

Spoiler: Warning: Spoiler!

so nice. speedy on that strap is so much nicer than on the bracelet imho.

 

[Betelgeuse]

derp

hows this for "details"? some spillage going on there.

Better. But I still think we need an HD pic to have a clearer view.

so nice. speedy on that strap is so much nicer than on the bracelet imho.

How about this one, estichy?

 

[Betelgeuse]

Forgot to post this one, mom and son wearing Hamilton.

 

[d4nimal]

Just because I went through this same dilemma a while ago, thought you might want to see a few pics of said watches on a 6.5" wrist. Of the two FC, the white wears larger I think because of the contrast/whiteness. Not sure if that shows up in the picture.

 

[rydenfan]

So I went to the Omega store today and saw the Speedmaster, the one with the story of the trip to the moon, you know which one. It's beautiful! I need to add that one to my collection, so i need to start saving some money for that one. They have the one with the steel bracelet but there are some combos that are really nice.

how much?

 

[in stitches]

B, both are nice, i prefer the first strap. great mom/son pic.

d4nimal - i like that last pic the most.

 

[d4nimal]

B, both are nice, i prefer the first strap. great mom/son pic.

d4nimal - i like that last pic the most.

Thanks, me too - a much deserved 2nd place for me. In the end, though, had to suck it up and get the RDM. One of these days I'm going to get the Orion.

 

[DLJr]

Might as well wait for NOMOS to incorporate the swing system. I think the plan is to have it in all their movements within the next couple years.

 

[rydenfan]

Might as well wait for NOMOS to incorporate the swing system. I think the plan is to have it in all their movements within the next couple years.

I believe they said they will swap/upgrade any model down the line if they haven't changed it over. I al hoping they do the Club soon as I have had my eye on that model for awhile