Everyday - Omega Seamaster Quartz 2221.80.00

Gym - Tag Heuer 2000

Casual outings - Rolex Air King

Formal - no watch 

As per the plexi versus saphire, speaking to a salesperson, she stated that some watches are plexi because some people don't wan to wear something heavy on their wrist. Personally, I like the weight of a watch and the scratch resistance of saphire glass/crystal.

Hi all.  I just found this thread, and hope you don't mind me resurrecting it.

Like you, I am a fan of the Cartiers, Breitlings, Rolexs, Patek Phillippes et al, but I don't have anything like the budget 🙁

 So, I've looked elsewhere, and still have a small but interesting collection of classics. I'd like to share them if I may (not physically, just in this message) 😕

1973 Pulsar P3 Datecommand

When the Pulsar P1 was launched in 1972 it completely changed the way we told the time, as it was the first ever commercially available digital watch, and cost $5 more than a brand new Toyota!

Adding to the capabilities of the Pulsar P1 & P2, the Datecommand  was the first completely solid-state watch to also show the date. Its red LED display, stainless steel and retro/futuristic styling make it a great companion to B&O stuff. Mine is still going strong, and is the most accurate watch I have ever owned...< +/- 1 sec per week!

1965 Bulova Accutron Spaceview 

Bulova was the pioneer of electronically regulated clocks and watches, using an electronic "tuning fork" that oscillated at a fixed frequency, thus regulating the timepiece.  Predating quartz oscillators by years, these watches are a marvel of miniturisation of such a mechanism. Many were in conventional cases, however I like the Spaceview variants as they clearly show that amazing movement.

1972 Seiko 7016 "Monaco" 

Another forgotten pioneer of watch movements is Seiko.  In 1971 they presented an self-winding chronometer with unique 2 handed subdial for the chronograph hours and minutes that was much ahead of its European contemporaries.  Shortly after Seiko, like many others, moved into the production of digital watches, leaving the ground free for Tag, Breitling, Omega etc to produce the quality chronographs. Although sporting a plastic dome rather than a tougher glass, the 7016 chronos, in particular the "Monaco" variants provide a rare chance to own a high quality and attractive self winding chronograph from the early 1970s that is cheap enough to be an everyday watch. Practical and yet interesting - it remains a classic.

Well, I hope I've not bored you all to death, and I hope you'll find these watches as interesting as I do. (But, of course I'd happily give a steel & gold Cartier Santos a home) 😕
 

Hi Ray

I really enjoyed reading your post, and was interested to see what's in your collection. I was talking to a wealthy academic a couple of years back who thought he was well into collecting watches, but it turned out that he really didn't like them for their aesthetic appeal, but more for what he thought the fact that he collected them in the first place said about him as an individual. He had a couple of Panerias and a couple of IWCs, but knew nothing really about them. Your collection says much about you as an individual, and makes me think I'd like one of those Pulsar P1s myself :)

As an aside, I have a Smiths mantlepiece clock that has a tuning fork mechanism. Unfortuately one of the pinions has gone in the movement and it needs repair, but I wondered if you can hear (or even feel) the vibrations from the fork as I can/could with my Smiths clock?

John

Hi John

Thanks for your kind words.  The Pulsars are indeed wonderful pieces, and I wanted one for years.

The Accutron has a nice "hum" which I somehow never get tired of listening to every now and then 🙂

I hope you get your Smiths mantel clock fixed, as it is great to keep these interesting pieces working and on show.

I have a kit-made nixie clock, which never fails to enchant guests. 

Best wishes 

CWC from her majesty's army, cheap, solid, and discreet too

Well priced but good design - Skagen

Dearer - Rado

I also love this Pasha C 38 mm form Cartier :

such a great beautiful watch to have (IMHO).

Guy

The titanium Ocean 2000 by Porsche Design! 

Love this TAG Heuer Grand CARRERA Calibre 17 RS Chronographe Edition Limitée en or rose

I absolutely adore Ventura's "the watch", designed by danish Bo Hansen. Very B&O-ish :-)