The Watch Thread (4 Viewers)

[Cratty]

I'm sure there are people who think that, but that's like saying only compression clays are considered "real" poker chips, and to suggest that thinking otherwise disqualifies one as part of an enthusiast community is gatekeeping and dumb. The "quartz crisis" from '70s to '80s forced a shift for mechanical watch makers to focus their marketing towards the luxury segment and if someone drank that Kool-Aid as a teen or a young man, today many of those people would likely consider mechanical watches to be superior without a second thought. I think that kind of attitude has started to change though, as quartz and mechanical are now both well represented on an enthusiast forum like watchuseek.

Virtual poker is better than poker chips. We should all be using tablets to play vs these inferior methods that take too long to count, are prone to counting error, are 100x more expensive, and can break or be stolen.

And while I semi-jest and not a perfect comparison, likely a reality coming for us/casinos. There are board games today that I used to love that I refuse to play these days with actual pieces.. only a matter of time before the masses migrate this way due to efficiencies.

 

[mipevi]

I don't know about that. Some people don't wear a watch at all, they just check the time on their phone that they are carrying around anyway. Been that way for decades now, but watches are still around. Maybe chips will be too.

 

[Cratty]

I don't know about that. Some people don't wear a watch at all, they just check the time on their phone that they are carrying around anyway. Been that way for decades now, but watches are still around. Maybe chips will be too.

Both will be for sure, as there are always holdouts, but Casinos will unquestionably be the first to shift. They don’t care about chips, just security and throughput.

 

[mipevi]

The way I read that, is once the casino table games turn digital, Paulson has no choice but to either close doors or re-enter the public luxury market.

 

[Old State]

I'm sure there are people who think that, but that's like saying only compression clays are considered "real" poker chips, and to suggest that thinking otherwise disqualifies one as part of an enthusiast community is gatekeeping and dumb. The "quartz crisis" from '70s to '80s forced a shift for mechanical watch makers to focus their marketing towards the luxury segment and if someone drank that Kool-Aid as a teen or a young man, today many of those people would likely consider mechanical watches to be superior without a second thought. I think that kind of attitude has started to change though, as quartz and mechanical are now both well represented on an enthusiast forum like watchuseek.

The overwhelming majority of watch enthusiast are only watch enthusiasts because they like that they are little machines powered by springs. Battery powered watches are not something that usually interests watch people.

 

[mdt11]

Just returned from a two-week trip to Japan, and wanted to pick up a Grand Seiko Shunbun to celebrate some life milestones, including a first kid due in September.

Much like my hunt for Angels, though, this proved tougher than I thought it would be. Apparently these things are popular in Japan in April.

Every boutique and authorized dealer we went to in Tokyo and Kyoto were sold out. Eventually, I emailed a shop in Osaka and they had one in stock that they held for me until I arrived.

Between the exchange rate + tax free for foreigners I was able to get this around 25% less than the US sticker price. I’m very happy with it.

The finishing on the dial is stunning, and watching the sweeping second hand on the spring drive is mesmerizing. The titanium is much lighter than my steel watches. And it really is amazing how subtle the color changes are on the dial in different lighting.

 

[mipevi]

The overwhelming majority of watch enthusiast are only watch enthusiasts because they like that they are little machines powered by springs. Battery powered watches are not something that usually interests watch people.

I must be in the miniscule minority then, as I don't feel a special connection to these little machines any more than I do to quartz watches. Or maybe I wouldn't count as a watch enthusiast by your definition then, even though I have changed a crystal and regulated a watch by myself. Thinking of the time and effort I have put into researching and acquiring my watches, enthusiast is the exact word I'd use though. But I'm sure there are plenty of real "watch people" happy to tell me I'm doing it wrong.

 

[Old State]

I must be in the miniscule minority then, as I don't feel a special connection to these little machines any more than I do to quartz watches. Or maybe I wouldn't count as a watch enthusiast by your definition then, even though I have changed a crystal and regulated a watch by myself. Thinking of the time and effort I have put into researching and acquiring my watches, enthusiast is the exact word I'd use though. But I'm sure there are plenty of real "watch people" happy to tell me I'm doing it wrong.

you are absolutely in the minuscule minority. Go on YouTube and watch the context of all the top …and even smaller watch channels. It’s probably 95%+ mechanical watches….probably 99%.

If someone says they at a car enthusiast and collect cars you assume they mean exotic or sports cars, antique or classic cars etc. You wouldn’t expect them to say their car collection consists of a 2023 Honda Civic, a 2019 Chevy Blazer, and a 2021 Subaru Forrester

 

[DirtyTIVA]

Went to the Windup Watch Fair today and found something fun.

 

[JeepologyOffroad]

@DirtyTIVA on some buzz lightyear shit

 

[mipevi]

If someone says they at a car enthusiast and collect cars you assume they mean exotic or sports cars, antique or classic cars etc. You wouldn’t expect them to say their car collection consists of a 2023 Honda Civic, a 2019 Chevy Blazer, and a 2021 Subaru Forrester

Of course not, but I don't buy watches from Walmart any more than you do. Below a classic car, and I suppose a sports car due to the GS being +/- 10 seconds per year.

 

[Budha]

Technically Ferrari is about to unveil exactly this with a 647k base price.

 

[Budha]

Just returned from a two-week trip to Japan, and wanted to pick up a Grand Seiko Shunbun to celebrate some life milestones, including a first kid due in September.

Much like my hunt for Angels, though, this proved tougher than I thought it would be. Apparently these things are popular in Japan in April.

Every boutique and authorized dealer we went to in Tokyo and Kyoto were sold out. Eventually, I emailed a shop in Osaka and they had one in stock that they held for me until I arrived.

Between the exchange rate + tax free for foreigners I was able to get this around 25% less than the US sticker price. I’m very happy with it.

The finishing on the dial is stunning, and watching the sweeping second hand on the spring drive is mesmerizing. The titanium is much lighter than my steel watches. And it really is amazing how subtle the color changes are on the dial in different lighting.


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Nice collection - LOVE the GS, I’m a huge fan! I also love Hamilton’s - hands down one of the best value watches IMHO.

The GS is a fantastic choice!!

 

[Old State]

Of course not, but I don't buy watches from Walmart any more than you do. Below a classic car, and I suppose a sports car due to the GS being +/- 10 seconds per year.

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A hand made in house precision quartz movement is a completely different thing than a mass marketed movement cheaply made, sold in bulk, and slapped in a watch case. Same as I would imagine Ferraris electric motor will be more interesting than a golf cart motor.

That being said, even Grand Seiko doesn’t feel comfortable with a battery powered traditional quartz movement in their most premium watches. A watch needing a battery is the point that disinterests the overwhelming majority of people that consider themselves “watch enthusiasts”.

Grand Seiko’s Spring drive uses mainspring power, like a traditional automatic watch, to generate a current for the quartz oscillator. It’s very cool technology but to be honest, I’m more impressed that my 100% mechanical Tudor Pelagos and Rolex Explorer are just around +/- 0.5 spd….almost as accurate.

 

[ekricket]

https://estatesales.org/estate-sales/ca/newhall/91321/newhall-luxury-jewelry-watch-auction-2438191/gallery?from=https://estatesales.org/estate-sales/ca/newhall/91321/newhall-luxury-jewelry-watch-auction-2438191/gallery?from=https://estatesales.org%2Festate-sales%2Fca%2Fnewhall%2F91321%2Fnewhall-luxury-jewelry-watch-auction-2438191%2Fgallery%3Ffrom%3Dhttps%3A%2F%2Festatesales.org%252Festate-sales%252Fca%252Fnewhall%252F91321%252Fnewhall-luxury-jewelry-watch-auction-2438191%252Fgallery%253Ffrom%253Dhttps%253A%252F%252Festatesales.org%25252Festate-sales%25252Fca%25252Fnewhall%25252F91321%25252Fnewhall-luxury-jewelry-watch-auction-2438191%25252Fgallery%25253Ffrom%25253Dhttps%25253A%25252F%25252Festatesales.org%2525252Festate-sales%2525252Fca%2525252Fnewhall%2525252F91321%2525252Fnewhall-luxury-jewelry-watch-auction-2438191%2525252Fgallery%252526sid%25253D2438191%2526sid%253D2438191%26sid%3D2438191&sid=2438191&sid=2438191

 

[mipevi]

A watch needing a battery is the point that disinterests the overwhelming majority of people that consider themselves “watch enthusiasts”.

You keep repeating that as if doing so makes it true. Got any poof of this "overwhelming majority"? Personally I find this reply from AI to be much more in line with what I've witnessed in the last four years or so.

I'll even provide the links mentioned for further reading:
https://www.quora.com/Why-is-everyone-hating-quartz-watches
https://www.watchhunter.org/2018/09/collecting-quartz-watches.html
https://jameskty.medium.com/thoughts-on-the-watch-community-6f6aa805659a
https://hespokestyle.com/whats-wrong-quartz-watches/

Grand Seiko’s Spring drive uses mainspring power, like a traditional automatic watch, to generate a current for the quartz oscillator. It’s very cool technology but to be honest, I’m more impressed that my 100% mechanical Tudor Pelagos and Rolex Explorer are just around +/- 0.5 spd….almost as accurate.

That is indeed impressive as far as mechanical watches go. Of course for real accuracy you should get a nice quartz. If you don't want to that's fine, you are free to like what you like. But so is everyone else. Gatekeeping is dumb.

 

[Old State]

You keep repeating that as if doing so makes it true. Got any poof of this "overwhelming majority"? Personally I find this reply from AI to be much more in line with what I've witnessed in the last four years or so.

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I'll even provide the links mentioned for further reading:
https://www.quora.com/Why-is-everyone-hating-quartz-watches
https://www.watchhunter.org/2018/09/collecting-quartz-watches.html
https://jameskty.medium.com/thoughts-on-the-watch-community-6f6aa805659a
https://hespokestyle.com/whats-wrong-quartz-watches/


That is indeed impressive as far as mechanical watches go. Of course for real accuracy you should get a nice quartz. If you don't want to that's fine, you are free to like what you like. But so is everyone else. Gatekeeping is dumb.

Dear Lord! You are just like the other guy with the AI. You can get AI to say all types of stuff based on how you ask it.


What’s the definition of premium Quartz?? Not a term you really hear in the watch community. Grand Seiko would likely be the only brand considered that and they are far from 42%. They are a small segment of the luxury watch market…part of the “other”

And what is your point with all this? To be clear you are attempting to argue that the watch enthusiast community does not heavily favor mechanical watches?

Teddy Baldassarre is one of the fastest growing watch channels on YouTube. Go to his channel and look at all the videos. What percentage of his content is cheap quartz watches? He got all those subscribers by producing content people are interested in. Now also do that with any other large watch channel. It’s the same thing. This conversation is insane and you seem to be arguing for the sake of arguing at this point

I don’t need further reading. I watch YouTube watch videos every single night on my feed. I’ve been reading about and following the watch community for 25+ years. I’ve been active on watch forums for two and a half decades. It’s a major interest and hobby of mine. I’ve immersed myself in this topic. If you are trying to convince me Quartz watches as popular as mechanical watches within the greater watch enthusiast community just stop. It’s an absolutely insane premise.

Another “water isn’t wet” argument

 

[Old State]

I can search use a search engine to find all types of articles too

https://sonerwatches.com/blogs/watch-blog/what-are-the-downsides-of-quartz-watches-soner-watches. From this article…

• The purist objection: For serious collectors and enthusiasts, relying on a disposable battery to power a timepiece feels fundamentally at odds with the craft of watchmaking. A mechanical watch is self-contained. A quartz watch is dependent on an external consumable.
• Collectibility: Watch collectors rarely pursue quartz movements. The conversation around horology covers the complications, the finishes, the watchmakers, and it is almost entirely focused on mechanical and automatic watches. Quartz is largely absent from that world.
• Collector indifference: The secondary market for watches is driven by collectors, and collectors largely ignore quartz. Auction houses, watch fairs, and serious dealers focus almost exclusively on mechanical pieces.

For those buyers, quartz is a starting point rather than a destination. It is where most people begin, and it is perfectly valid to stay there. But knowing what you are trading away is the difference between a default purchase and an informed one.

 

[mipevi]

@Old State since you are now trying to put words into my mouth, intentionally or not, we are just about done. Here are my two points, just to be clear:

(1) One does not need to have an expensive watch collection to be a watch enthusiast.

For example, someone may only buy sub $500 watches but knows every little detail about them. Someone else may like to mod their $150 Seikos in fun ways. And someone else could be building an obscure collection of Braun quartz watches. If the passion is there, these people are all watch enthusiasts in my book.

(2) Higher end (>$1000) watch enthusiasts are now much more accepting of quartz watches than they were 10-20 years ago.

While mechanical watches are of course more sought after, many people with such collections these days own a quartz or two as well.

If you agree, great. If not, then it is what it is.

 

[Old State]

@Old State since you are now trying to put words into my mouth, intentionally or not, we are just about done. Here are my two points, just to be clear:

(1) One does not need to have an expensive watch collection to be a watch enthusiast.

For example, someone may only buy sub $500 watches but knows every little detail about them. Someone else may like to mod their $150 Seikos in fun ways. And someone else could be building an obscure collection of Braun quartz watches. If the passion is there, these people are all watch enthusiasts in my book.

(2) Higher end (>$1000) watch enthusiasts are now much more accepting of quartz watches than they were 10-20 years ago.

While mechanical watches are of course more sought after, many people with such collections these days own a quartz or two as well.

If you agree, great. If not, then it is what it is.

You are doing just that. And I have no idea why you decided to argue this. My original comment about quartz watches was a response to that habitual shit posters comment on $130 Braun watches.

What this has to do with anything I said is a mystery. I never said I felt that way. I made an objective observation…that is 100% true. In the watch enthusiast community there is very little attention paid towards inexpensive quartz watches. You are attempting to claim that isn’t the case.

I own several quartz watches in my life. But that was before I became interested in watches. What interest me in watches was mechanical movements. That turned me into a “enthusiast“. And understand you can buy automatic mechanical watches for $200 or less some times


It’s like trying to claim true clay chips like Paulson are not the most discussed and coveted chip on this forum when the “market place’ is almost exclusively those. You don’t have to own those chips to be a Poker chip enthusiast but almost all Poker chip enthusiast talk about those chips and either own them or aspire to own them.

 

[Taghkanic]

Everyone knows this guy. You just found him searching YouTube.

This is one of your top 10 dumbest posts ever. It’s literally first on the list ONLY because it’s the cheapest I’m starting to realize the major reason behind your dopey posts is a low IQ combined with laziness


He does cheap watch videos like everyone to get viewers. One of the main reasons watch people like watches is because they are little mechanical machines powered by a spring. Quartz watches are not interesting. It’s like building a car that looks like a Ferrari but isn’t…,and has a electric electric motor in it

You would be better just giving up here. You are making an even bigger ass of yourself…but keep going. Your reputation has been cemented already

Yeah, and that’s the point: Everyone knows this guy, because he is a very active and knowledgeable watch reviewer and retailer, who has built an audience. And no, I did not just google him—I had this video saved for a long time.

The truly wondrous thing here is the massive extent to which you illustrate the Dunning-Kruger effect.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning–Kruger_effect

Meanwhile, here is the owner of multiple Rolexes — one who is not just a clout-chaser, who is able to make objective evaluations — admitting that his Apple smartwatch is as good as his Rolex, maybe better.

Bonus: Like Baldessarre, around 05:25 he specifically cites the influence of Braun design legend Dieter Rams on the Apple watches as a reason they are so good.

 

[Taghkanic]

@Old State since you are now trying to put words into my mouth, intentionally or not, we are just about done. Here are my two points, just to be clear:

(1) One does not need to have an expensive watch collection to be a watch enthusiast.

This ^^^. It’s pure snobbery to think someone has to collect mechanical watches with five-figure pricetags to be a “real” watch collector.

I know a guy who has a large collection of Casio G-Shocks, gathered over many years, with a ton of skins and alternate bracelets etc. He can look at an older G-Shock and tell you the type of detailed history that someone like BGinGA recount about a LCV Paulson THC.

Now just imagine if someone on PCF tried to argue that people who collect ceramics are not real chippers. And that you have to collect the most expensive TRKs to become a genuine chipper. I have no interest in ceramics. But people who collect ceramics are real chippers.

(2) Higher end (>$1000) watch enthusiasts are now much more accepting of quartz watches than they were 10-20 years ago.

While mechanical watches are of course more sought after, many people with such collections these days own a quartz or two as well.

100%.

 

[Taghkanic]

If someone says they at a car enthusiast and collect cars you assume they mean exotic or sports cars, antique or classic cars etc. You wouldn’t expect them to say their car collection consists of a 2023 Honda Civic, a 2019 Chevy Blazer, and a 2021 Subaru Forrester

A stone mason I have employed in the past is a car enthusiast. In addition to being a great mason, he also is a skilled mechanic. He spends his weekends modding cheap used cars for off-roading and small track racing.

He has done this with everything imaginable, from old beater Hondas to 1980s Volvos DL sedans.

He could run circles around 99.95% of car collectors on technical aspects of engines, axles, tires, etc. But apparently to certain snobs he should not qualify as a “car enthusiast,” a term whose first qualification is “someone who overspends to impress people.”

 

[Old State]

A stone mason I have employed in the past is a car enthusiast. In addition to being a great mason, he also is a skilled mechanic. He spends his weekends modding cheap used cars for off-roading and small track racing.

He has done this with everything imaginable, from old beater Hondas to 1980s Volvos DL sedans.

He could run circles around 99.95% of car collectors on technical aspects of engines, axles, tires, etc. But apparently to certain snobs he should not qualify as a “car enthusiast,” a term whose first qualification is “someone who overspends to impress people.”

Of course you are here with the odd ball contrarian take. You just can’t help yourself

 

[Old State]

Yeah, and that’s the point: Everyone knows this guy, because he is a very active and knowledgeable watch reviewer and retailer, who has built an audience. And no, I did not just google him—I had this video saved for a long time.

The truly wondrous thing here is the massive extent to which you illustrate the.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning–Kruger_effect

Meanwhile, here is the owner of multiple Rolexes — one who is not just a clout-chaser, who is able to make objective evaluations — admitting that his Apple smartwatch is as good as his Rolex, maybe better.

Bonus: Like Baldessarre, around 05:25 he specifically cites the influence of Braun design legend Dieter Rams on the Apple watches as a reason they are so good.

Back with the “Dunning-Kruger effect” . I was wondering how long that would take before you whipped that out. I almost preemptively called you out on it last week It’s like you practice this. You whip that out whenever you get into a bind

The best was when you used in a post not realizing you were demonstrating it yourself.
You are just making it even more clear you have no clue what you are talking about. It’s also interesting you “saved” certain videos to confirm your bias.

Post in thread 'Donald Trump, Your 47th President'
https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/donald-trump-your-47th-president.125763/post-2770759

You are just rambling all over the place with counterpoints to things never said or implied.

You just embarrass yourself more. Zero self awareness. Anyone can go to Teddy Bs channel…look at all his content…and see it’s almost all about mechanical watches. . I have watched him since his channel started. I know exactly what he talks about.

 

[Taghkanic]

I don't know about that. Some people don't wear a watch at all, they just check the time on their phone that they are carrying around anyway. Been that way for decades now, but watches are still around. Maybe chips will be too.

It’s not just some people... More than half of Americans never wear any type of wristwatch ever anymore, and the ones who do mainly wear smartwatches. The percentage of people wearing traditional watches keeps getting smaller, and a lot of these don’t wear them full-time.

P.S. I saw a comment somewhere in this thread dismissing people who buy watches at Walmart. TBH you can buy quite decent Timexes (e.g. their Expedition models) at Walmart. I got a solar Timex there and upgraded it with a matching Milanese-style magnetic mesh band.

This is the watch I mainly wear for outdoor work, and as long as it gets some sun it keeps perfect time. It does everything I need it to do: Tell me the time and date, and be durable. If it gets damaged, I can replace it for the fraction of the price of a “real” watch.

And actually I think it is perfectly handsome, with its dark titanium color and army green face...

Of course you are here with the odd ball contrarian take. You just can’t help yourself

“Anything which isn’t 1000% conventional and mainstream, and different from what I was trained to think by advertising, is de facto a bunch of weird gibberish”

—Old Guys Who Never Developed Their Own Taste

 

[Taghkanic]

The best was when you used in in a post not realizing you were demonstrating it yourself

Seems that back in 1957 when you were in 3rd grade, you learned to say “I know you are but what am I” whenever you were called out. Really snappy comeback.

In your next post please also cite dialogue from Leave It To Beaver and how Camels hit your T-Zone

 

[Old State]

Seems that back in 1957 when you were in 3rd grade, you learned to say “I know you are but what am I” whenever you were called out. Really snappy comeback.

In your next post please also cite dialogue from Leave It To Beaver and how Camels hit your T-Zone

Hahaha…keep digging. You even suck at humor. The old guy jokes are super bizarre. I’m probably younger than you…though you do exhibit behaviors more commonly found in 14 years olds

I think you need a new thread to shit post. it’s been over a week in this one. You usually move to another thread by this point

How about the beer thread? You can go on there and post how craft beer is a joke. I saw there was a steak thread too. Maybe go post about how everyone has been conditioned to order their steaks medium rare and that well done is actually superior. Use AI to support it

I’m assuming you had a really hard time socially growing up.

This ^^^. It’s pure snobbery to think someone has to collect mechanical watches with five-figure pricetags to be a “real” watch collector.

I never said that. And you are a total scumbag piece of shit for inferring that . You added the five figure part. Total dirtbag low life move.

Again you remind everyone how little you know about watches and how dishonest of a person your are. Pure jackassery. You don’t seem to realize that you can buy mechanical watches less than $500. I own a Gylcine Combat I got at Costco for $240. I own two Seiko automatics I payed under $300 for. Tons of watch enthusiasts own sub $500 mechanical watches…but many wouldn’t buy a quartz watch at the same price points.

Actually…could it be you don’t even know your can buy an automatic watch that cheap?

You want to make this about “snobbery” when it’s about what interests people. A $200 mechanical watches is more interesting to most watch enthusiasts than a $200 quartz watch.
More projection and strawman arguments. Like in other areas where you go to shit post…when your arguments gets torn apart you make up positions for people they never had.

How every thread you argue on ends.

 

[ekricket]

Measuring “time” is an artificial prison that humans have built to constrain the masses and monetize their labor.
Break free from your self-imposed prisons. Time is just one of them

 

[Old State]

Measuring “time” is an artificial prison that humans have built to constrain the masses and monetize their labor.
Break free from your self-imposed prisons. Time is just one of them

I actually just got sucked into the YouTube rabbit hole on how gravity is not a force but the result of curvature of space time. (Einstein’s General Relativity). It makes my brain hurt.

I’m sure @Taghkanic will jump in to tell us how Einstein was wrong