Extreme Watch Nerdery

[sabrage]

I hate making big purchases, by I mean anything around or above the $40 mark. I wouldn't say that I'm particularly stingy, but I absolutely hate wasting my money.... Which is a big part of the reason I don't own a watch right now: I had some shitty Fossil watches as a kid and a couple girly ones my grandma gave me that I never wore, but I've never found a nice, quality watch that actually fit me in a price bracket I could afford (and I'm not about to waste money on a piece of shit watch that a) I'll never wear and b) would break if I did). I've spent several hours each over the past few days trying to home in on the perfect watch in the $100-300 range, but I don't think I've quite found it yet.

Or more accurately I have, but the damned watch is simply impossible to find. As infinitely jealous as I am of fastbilly's Rolex Submariner, I can't stop obsessing over Techné's superbly beautiful Sparrowhawk II. And apparently neither could afficionados; Techné completely sold out of the watch about a month ago, as did all their distributors. I was discussing my dilemma with my sister and she noted that, compared to the other watches I'm considering, the Techné is "definitely in a class of its own." There's been, as far as I can tell, precious few secondhand ones going around. Now, the good news is that Techné is not unkown to re-issue some of their popular designs... Like the 2009 Goshawk that was re-issued just 3 days ago. So, it would seem that the Sparrowhawk II will likely elude my grasp (for now.)

The most obvious substitute is the Seiko SNDA65, which looks very, very similar... However, in addition to falling just short in terms of industrial design, the SNDA65 also uses an inferior movement to the Sparrowhawk II's interesting hybrid Meca-Quartz system. And while it's a Franklin cheaper than the Sparrowhawk, the SNDA65 is also a good deal more expensive than other comparable Seikos... There's also the question of what I'd do with it if I eventually d find a Sparrowhawk II (a watch I fully intend to own someday): I'm left with two extremely similar-looking watches and one would be of a markedly higher quality than the other. I could sell the Seiko, but I'd rather avoid the issue by having a more distinct style of watch at a cheaper price.

Now, Seiko is downright prodigious with the number of designs they come out with each year. The number of options and variations available is incredibly daunting. I kept falling into this trap of assuming that I'd found the right watch, only to find several new designs that I'd never seen before. I think my current favorite is the SNDB11, especially with that brown leather strap (though this one caught my eye too.)

...And this is all just windowshopping. I'll need to make the trip down to the mall one of these days and see what they have on display. I'm not really going too much into movements here because Seiko is well-known for their quality; I'm not too picky about whether it's automatic or kinetic or battery-powered.

But anyways, some of you guys definitely seemed to be at least a fraction as interested in watches as I am, so feel free to discuss whatever watch-related business you please in here.

[jay_red]

I was never a fan of watches until about a year ago when I bought my first "real" watch. I was always saying i didnt need one because checking the time is free lol. When I realized that watches are just as much an accessory as a time piece I looked at them a little differently. I currently own a Tissot PRC-200:

$(KGrHqJHJD!E-lNe4wtkBPp9spkeUw~~60_1.jpg (30.71 KiB) Viewed 1983 times

I picked it up for $350 I think, and I get compliments on it all of the time. I have to have a watch with a metal band, I cant stand leather/rubber bands, they feel kind of cheap to me, and I even am picky about how the band feels, it needs to be "weighty" for me.

My dream watch is a Movado that costs $1600, I could never justify that kind of cash on a watch, but its nice to dream lol.

[markeconrad]

…

[Valkyrie-Favor]

I like watches, but I can't actually wear them. Everything I wear gets beat up. Even if I got a nice watch, it would look silly with everything else almost worn out. And a watch that I don't care about beating up? Pass.

[sabrage]

I use a cheapie $25 Timex from Target with some cloth watch bands from Brooks Brothers. Cheap and stylish!

I definitely think that Timex watches look a lot nicer than they have any right to, considering how cheap they are. Plus, if you lose it or break it, you're only out a couple of bucks.

I contacted Techné directly about the Sparrowhawk II, and they said that they were correcting a few details and that the collection should be available again by the end of summer. In light of this, I might just grab a cheap Timex as well to sate my actual need for a watch. I don't want to drop much more than that on a temporary watch that is oh-so-very temporary.

[cookie monster]

When i wear a watch i like to represent . My bowser watch is not pictured cause it is in my purse.

[sabrage]

That STARS watch is awesome.

[Hobie-wan]

When i wear a watch i like to represent . My bowser watch is not pictured cause it is in my purse.

A friend of mine had a Pac Man watch when I was little. Not the one with 4 buttons that was more common in stores (at least around me), but the one with the tiny joystick.

http://www.handheldmuseum.com/Nelsonic/PacMan.htm

[dsheinem]

already a thread for this: http://racketboy.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=44&t=27496

[sabrage]

already a thread for this: http://racketboy.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=44&t=27496

2012's flagship indie watch.