Whatever this cat says......always spot on.
watches...
- Thread starter MtnT4R
- Start date
Whatever this cat says......always spot on.
Victor_inox
New member
I see
stanleybb50
New member
Here's my Movado. I've had it for 5 years now, and somehow the original battery is still going strong.
TheeMikeB
New member
stanleybb50
New member
Agreed those are some great pics, and beautiful watches!
Thai
Elite Member
And this is my all-purpose Seiko Kinetic SKJ076 with ulra-comfy silicone band...and due to titanium construction, it weighs half of my Rolex!
Kinetic technology in the back...Jan 2000 built...still running +0.5 seconds/day:
And why is it special beyond the titanium construction and Kinetic? This is what it looks like in the dark!
And yes, it glows the WHOLE night...i can easily tell time at 5am as I do when i go to bed. Now, you can see why I like this watch so much! It is as much of a holy grail as my Rolex TOG.
Kinetic technology in the back...Jan 2000 built...still running +0.5 seconds/day:
And why is it special beyond the titanium construction and Kinetic? This is what it looks like in the dark!
And yes, it glows the WHOLE night...i can easily tell time at 5am as I do when i go to bed. Now, you can see why I like this watch so much! It is as much of a holy grail as my Rolex TOG.
Last edited:
Thai
Elite Member
Hahaha, that is what happens when you have 3 kids...all under 6 years old and in daycare!
Victor_inox
New member
Nothing saddens me more then ill children, I wish you and yours to be healthy!
hikenbike
New member
Thoughts? I think its very unique and attractive. Just saw one in person.....
Hamilton Men's H77525553 Khaki Automatic Watch: Watches: Amazon.com
Hamilton Men's H77525553 Khaki Automatic Watch: Watches: Amazon.com
Attachments
Thai
Elite Member
$900 and mineral crystal?! No way! The heart of any automatic watch is the movement. How is this better than Tag? You're spending here and there on lesser watches...and in the end you spend more than the Tag. Hamilton generally uses the lower-end ETA movements. They are good value if you can get one cheap ($500-700 range). When you get to $900, I would pass on it. They don't do much modifying nor quality checks/adjustments once they get the movement from ETA to put in your watch. (This is why you pay a lot more for something like Tag.)
Last edited:
hikenbike
New member
I'd say so too, but its not. Its surely crystal. A mistake by Amazon.
Thai
Elite Member
I bought my brother a Hamilton many years ago...with sapphire crystal for around $700. It was a lot at the time. The problem was that it was very poorly regulated...well over COSC standards! Luckily, my brother did not care.
Thai
Elite Member
Here is the official info: Hamilton Watch · UTC Auto
It uses 2893...a very good movement. So, this is nice. However, again at $900, I am not sure that I would want to get it. Even though the movement may be nice (e.g. 2892 variant), the regulation that comes with this watch can be very bad to very good...all depending on how much Hamilton spent.
Last edited:
Thai
Elite Member
An old post worth reading and considering: Smoke and Mirrors - part 1 (ETA grades explained)
"ETA sells their ebauchés in 4 grades, and not all of the grades are offered for every movement. They are Standard, Elaboré, Top, and Chronometre. The Valjoux 7750 does not come in the Standard Grade. Each grade has set performance parameters, and 95% of the ebauchés delivered in a lot must be within these limits.
Standard
- adjusted in 2 positions: CH and 6H (click HERE for details on positional timekeeping terminology)
- average daily rate: +/- 12 seconds
- maximum positional variation: 30 seconds
- isochronism between 0 and 24 hours: +/- 20 seconds
Elaboré
- adjusted in 3 positions: CH, 6H, 9H
- average daily rate: +/- 7 seconds
- maximum positional variation: 20 seconds
- isochronism between 0 and 24 hours: +/- 15 seconds
Top
- adjusted in 5 positions: CH, FH, 6H, 9H, 3H
- average daily rate: +/- 4 seconds
- maximum positional variation: 15 seconds
- isochronism between 0 and 24 hours: +/- 10 seconds
Chronometre
- adjusted and timed per COSC specification (see above link under Standard) which is not much different from Top Grade
There are also upgraded parts made with different alloys and materials in the higher grades. The Standard and Elaboré calibers use Etachoc shock protection, a nickel balance wheel with a Nivarox 2 alloy hairspring, a Nivaflex NO mainspring, a steel pallet lever and escape wheel, and polyruby pallet jewels. The Top and Chronometre calibers use Incabloc shock protection, a Glucydur balance wheel with an Anchron alloy hairspring, a Nivaflex NM mainspring, a Nivarox pallet lever and escape wheel, and ruby pallet jewels."
"ETA sells their ebauchés in 4 grades, and not all of the grades are offered for every movement. They are Standard, Elaboré, Top, and Chronometre. The Valjoux 7750 does not come in the Standard Grade. Each grade has set performance parameters, and 95% of the ebauchés delivered in a lot must be within these limits.
Standard
- adjusted in 2 positions: CH and 6H (click HERE for details on positional timekeeping terminology)
- average daily rate: +/- 12 seconds
- maximum positional variation: 30 seconds
- isochronism between 0 and 24 hours: +/- 20 seconds
Elaboré
- adjusted in 3 positions: CH, 6H, 9H
- average daily rate: +/- 7 seconds
- maximum positional variation: 20 seconds
- isochronism between 0 and 24 hours: +/- 15 seconds
Top
- adjusted in 5 positions: CH, FH, 6H, 9H, 3H
- average daily rate: +/- 4 seconds
- maximum positional variation: 15 seconds
- isochronism between 0 and 24 hours: +/- 10 seconds
Chronometre
- adjusted and timed per COSC specification (see above link under Standard) which is not much different from Top Grade
There are also upgraded parts made with different alloys and materials in the higher grades. The Standard and Elaboré calibers use Etachoc shock protection, a nickel balance wheel with a Nivarox 2 alloy hairspring, a Nivaflex NO mainspring, a steel pallet lever and escape wheel, and polyruby pallet jewels. The Top and Chronometre calibers use Incabloc shock protection, a Glucydur balance wheel with an Anchron alloy hairspring, a Nivaflex NM mainspring, a Nivarox pallet lever and escape wheel, and ruby pallet jewels."
Last edited:
hikenbike
New member
Who is comparing this to a Tag? Its simply a very unique, stylish watch (the picture here is crap in comparison to having it on your wrist) that would be a very fitting addition to a collection. I've spent on 4 watches so far, truly enjoy each of them, and I'm still $800 shy of the 33% discounted cost of the discontinued Tag. In hindsight, I'd buy each of them all over again.
The one thing I've learned in this short time (after I learned to appreciate the artistry that is the automatic) is that there are way too many fantastic watches around to only own one Tag - let alone a Tag model with a history of issues that I see being re-sold with regularity.
And its so true that there is no substitute for actually seeing, holding, and wearing watches in the flesh. I'm fortunate to be within 5 blocks of some of the worlds best, most comprehensive watch shops and taking an hour and browsing on a slow summer Friday is awfully fun and interesting. There is no brand other than online-only micros that is not well represented in that 5 block radius. If they don't have them, with a call 24 hours in advance they will get one. Amazing that watches that you think are outstanding in pictures are nothing special in person and vice versa.
What I now need to learn, however, is how to slow down and thats tougher than it sounds.
Thai
Elite Member
I think that is what Victorinox and I have been saying! You're buying all sorts of stuff with no real direction (in our opinions).
You think that your (future) Hamilton does not have issue(s)? The ONLY reason that you don't read about it on Googling is because it is not very popular, much less have its own forum like Tag. 4 reviews on Amazon do not really mean much!
You think that accuracy and precision are free? Quality costs money. You get what you pay for. Nothing is free when it comes to mechanical watches.
Why do you think Omega costs more than Tag? In the old days, both Omega and Tag use ETA movements. Omega modifies their ETA movements more with unique parts and also sends almost all their movements to COSC for certification (thus, another quality control check). Omega also uses higher quality designed bracelets and more angling/polishing/etc. on their cases.
Why do you think Omega prices have skyrocketed recently? It is because they make their own movement now from scratch ("in-house" caliber 8500; no more reliance on ETA2892 movements) and use exotic design/materials. (They are now eliminating "mom & pops" stores and making you buy Omegas thru their shops and adopting Rolex policies of strict pricing.) These things cost money.
hikenbike
New member
I think that is what Victorinox and I have been saying! You're buying all sorts of stuff with no real direction (in our opinions).
You think that your (future) Hamilton does not have issue(s)? The ONLY reason that you don't read about it on Googling is because it is not very popular, much less have its own forum like Tag. 4 reviews on Amazon do not really mean much!
You think that accuracy and precision are free? Quality costs money. You get what you pay for. Nothing is free when it comes to mechanical watches.
Why do you think Omega costs more than Tag? In the old days, both Omega and Tag use ETA movements. Omega modifies their ETA movements more with unique parts and also sends almost all their movements to COSC for certification (thus, another quality control check). Omega also uses higher quality designed bracelets and more angling/polishing/etc. on their cases.
Why do you think Omega prices have skyrocketed recently? It is because they make their own movement now from scratch ("in-house" caliber 8500; no more reliance on ETA2892 movements) and use exotic design/materials. (They are now eliminating "mom & pops" stores and making you buy Omegas thru their shops and adopting Rolex policies of strict pricing.) These things cost money.
You don't get it. Not having the Tag is like Ilya Kovalchuk "retiring" from the Devils - no more big $$ hanging over your head and new found financial freedom to play - the concern about the crown just simply made it a no brainer.
Watches are not a construction project with plans and a direction. THATS the fun part. Its simply a hobby. I like that Hamilton today. Tomorrow I may see something else that makes me completely forget about it. Its spontaneous and, yes sometimes reckless which could make it moderately costly depending on the $$ pool you decide to swim in and how undisciplined you are. Sometimes you get something, find it doesn't suit you, and you flip it. That doesn't make it a "mistake". If you cap your watch fun "fund" at $2k for example and play within that $$ then all is good - can't buy another until you flip one (or two) to make up for it. Just part of the fun of learning what you truly like and don't like. How else will you know? Will it cost you sometimes? Yes. But don't play the game if you can't stomach the occasional hit.
Its not all reasoning, engineering, and mechanisms. Certainly quality and craftsmanship are a major part of the allure, but its all starts with how attractive and suitable you think the watch is to YOU and your personality that would even entice you to consider it in the first place. You can hand me a Breitling for free that I think is ugly and I won't ever wear it if I don't like the way it looks. I won't wear it on its high value, craftsmanship, and quality materials merits, thats for sure.
Tag = one watch = no fun. Simple.
Last edited:
Similar threads
