Who's got a nice watch? Traditional watches only, no smartwatches please.

[Scepticalscribe]

Im not a big Quartz fan but I do love my Skagen. Such a beautiful simple design and really comfortable and discreet to wear.
Image

Very nice and elegant watch. Actually, I have always liked the clean lines and solid craftsmanship of the Skagen, understated quality (and affordable) Danish design at its best.

Could it not be agreed that VC, AP, Patek & Jager lecoultre are at the top regardless of preferences.

No, not necessarily. While it would be accepted that your list includes quite a number of watch brands that are very highly regarded by those who are interested in quality timepieces, some might care to add IWC, others Omega, and yet others Tudor, or Longines, to that list, along with a few names I have inadvertently overlooked..

 

[waloshin]

Lovely watch; I had a Skagen with a dark blue face over a decade ago, and gave it to my brother; he still wears it. A solid, well made, sturdy and sharp looking watch, it never gave me any trouble.

Thank you. It sure is light weight, thin and attractive. Sure love it.

 

[MacRy]

Who's got a nice watch?

Could it not be agreed that VC, AP, Patek & Jager lecoultre are at the top regardless of preferences.

They are widely regarded as top of the pile but Scepticalscribe is right - there are a number of other top tier manufacturers out there that could contend the crown. A Lange & Sönne, and Breguet being a couple that spring to mind.

 

[Rob587]

They are widely regarded as top of the pile but Scepticalscribe is right - there are a number of other top tier manufacturers out there that could contend the crown. A Lange & Sönne, and Breguet being a couple that spring to mind.

True... but lets say you had to pick an all around best. Patek wins hands down, right?

 

[Scepticalscribe]

True... but lets say you had to pick an all around best. Patek wins hands down, right?

Well, as as a single, glorious, (utterly unattainable, and, needless to say, of course, quite unaffordable) expression of what might constitute an ideal of horological perfection, I would have to say, yes, that they most probably do…...

 

[Ulenspiegel]

True... but lets say you had to pick an all around best. Patek wins hands down, right?

Rob, it depends on many things. The personal taste for most. Secondly on the owners's needs, for instance if you are a diehard diver, I don't think you will choose a Patek Philippe, like being a licensed or hobby pilot you won't choose a Patek either as an all around best.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Rob, it depends on many things. The personal taste for most. Secondly on the owners's needs, for instance if you are a diehard diver, I don't think you will choose a Patek Philippe, like being a licensed or hobby pilot you won't choose a Patek either as an all around best.

But does Rob's (rhetorical) question actually ask about a planned purchase based on needs, real or perceived, or on some notion of surreal perfection that represents a horological ideal?

 

[Ulenspiegel]

But does Rob's (rhetorical) question actually ask about a planned purchase based on needs, real or perceived, or on some notion of surreal perfection that represents a horological ideal?

Taking into account your post, I would answer the same as perfection for some collector/watch enthusiasts in some cases involves functionality as well. But let me correct: for me it would not be a Patek.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Taking into account your post, I would answer the same as perfection for some collector/watch enthusiasts in some cases involves functionality as well. But let me correct: for me it would not be a Patek.

That is a fair comment. I take your point, and it is well argued - this would not be for you.

Personally, I love the classic beauty of a Patek, but - never even having held one - I have no idea how they perform from a strictly functional perspective.

However, from the perspective of industrial design, that fusion of form and function which many will argue is what really good design should be all about (and on that matter, I can still hear the voice of my art teacher from school, a gifted artist, art historian and philosopher of art, who used to state, coolly: "If something is a beautiful tea-pot, and it fails to pour without dribbling, it has failed the test of design which is: Does it work well? Does it do what it was designed to do? And, if it doesn't, it has failed."

I do not know how well Pateks can tell the time - I have to assume exceedingly well, marking time is a test that they must pass with utter excellence; likewise, I do not know how robust they are, and whether they can be worn daily, or must be kept in vaults, cushioned and protected to be inherited in due course.

From my personal perspective, I must concede that I have a strong preference for that fusion of form and function that mark good design; this means that while I do like the life enhancing thought of handling and using and being surrounded by beautiful things, nevertheless, I also like that they are used, - and used regularly - as well.

 

[MacRy]

True... but lets say you had to pick an all around best. Patek wins hands down, right?

For me.....yes I'd pick Patek. I love the designs and having watched a lot of videos about their manufacturing process that also speaks to me from a technical and engineering perspective. Having said that - I've watched a few high end watch maker's manufacturing processes and they are equally as impressive, I'm sure. There is just something about Patek though that gets my juices going.

I'm also a big fan of Glasshutte Original and they probably wouldn't make the top ten of high end brands in a lot of people's eyes.

I also have a major man crush on JLC and would love to own several of their models.

It's all a moot point really as I don't have the money to buy any of these brands and my goal is currently to own a used Rolex Datejust in the next few years, as that is just about justifiable and achievable on my income.

 

[t0rr3s]

Braun. Form and function.

 

[carjakester]

Added the Moto 360 to my collection of watches.

[url=https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7540/15973879377_0072d06044_c.jpg]Image[/url]Rado vs Emporio Armani vs Moto 360 vs Pebble Steel

It really is a nice watch.

[url=https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7548/16133848986_3c7d2a3b61_c.jpg]Image[/url]Rado vs Moto 360

That moto 360 is very good looking

 

[GerritV]

Image

Braun. Form and function.

This is what I call design.

 

[AppleDApp]

Image

Braun. Form and function.

Shame they are quartz.

This is what I call design.

Because they (Dieter Rams) greatly influenced Apple (Jony Ive)

 

[GerritV]

Because they (Dieter Rams) greatly influenced Apple (Jony Ive)

Because Dieter Rams is Dieter Rams period
Nothing to do with Ive.

 

[cdcastillo]

However, I am struck by the poor quality of many of the images uploaded here, when the picture in question has been taken by a camera phone (usually an iPhone). Quite often, they are poorly shot, with the main subject matter out of focus, and unclear.

Is this because iPhones don't take good pictures, or is it that people do not know how to compose, or focus them? Or is it that the whole process seems to have become so easy that people think it will turn out perfectly fine without any problems....

You do know the concept of thumbnails, don't you? It is a thumbnail. I might be a really bad amateur-photographer, my composition skills might be profoundly lacking, I do not discuss this, but in this particular case, you were not able to even read the dial of the watch because it was a thumbnail. You click it and you see the whole pic.

 

[cdcastillo]

I'd have a Rolex if I could morally afford one because I've admired them since I was a child. I like the Submariner and Sea Dweller because they are subtle and not flash, but the classic diver design.

Are they the best? Well it depends what the parameters of best mean? They will never be as accurate as a quartz or as tough as a g shock for obvious reasons. I think people who like these types of Rolex appreciate the craftsmanship and history of the brand, not necessarily a piece that is going to get them to that meeting in time... There are also so many great watches in existence and there are pieces that are a fraction of the cost that give me immense enjoyment.

Perfectly well put. Everyone will appreciate something different and think of their choices as "the best". I have recently fall in love with the Tudor Heritage Black Bay, the one with the blue bezel and fabric strap. A gorgeous dive watch, from the same house that makes Rolex, but with a spirit of its own and way less expensive.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

You do know the concept of thumbnails, don't you? It is a thumbnail. I might be a really bad amateur-photographer, my composition skills might be profoundly lacking, I do not discuss this, but in this particular case, you were not able to even read the dial of the watch because it was a thumbnail. You click it and you see the whole pic.

No, I don't know the concept of thumbnails, and I've never used them. What are they, and why use them? Why not post a clear, legible easily visible, picture instead?

Besides, I wear spectacles, and thus, dislike small visuals on my screen, particularly small visuals that can take time to download on a bad day; and if - in addition to that - they are difficult to read, and lack the saving grace of a caption to tell me what is depicted there, then it becomes rather hard work.

However, I will add that even after clicking on that picture, - and I had to hunt back several pages - the caption is difficult to read because of the angle of the picture.

Seriously, if you are writing about a watch, tell us what it is. Then, tell us why you like it, because that will be of interest to people who read this thread. Please don't make it that hard to identify. The Mont Blanc I recognised because I write with one. In a way, call it the recognition of recollection, when used daily.

----------

Perfectly well put. Everyone will appreciate something different and think of their choices as "the best". I have recently fall in love with the Tudor Heritage Black Bay, the one with the blue bezel and fabric strap. A gorgeous dive watch, from the same house that makes Rolex, but with a spirit of its own and way less expensive.

Now, while modern 'dive' watches do little for me, (although I do applaud and appreciate and acknowledge the technical excellence that goes into their manufacture), I would happily buy one of the old classic Tudors from the 1950s in a heartbeat, if I could find the right one.

 

[Razeus]

very nice. a classic.

Thanks. I prefer automatics, but this is a good looking watch. It doesn't have a second hand so the tick tick tick (drives me crazy) that a quartz does won't be an issue.

 

[OllyW]

No, I don't know the concept of thumbnails, and I've never used them. What are they, and why use them? Why not post a clear, legible easily visible, picture instead?

The forum software sets the thumbnail size when you post a picture as an attachment. It helps pages load faster and you can simply click on the image if you want to view it at it's full size.

Large sized externally hosted photos are also automatically resized to a standard width so threads are kept tidy and easy to view on all screen sizes.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

The forum software sets the thumbnail size when you post a picture as an attachment. It helps pages load faster and you can simply click on the image if you want to view it at it's full size.

Large sized externally hosted photos are also automatically resized to a standard width so threads are kept tidy and easy to view on all screen sizes.

Ah, thanks very much for explaining this to me; another new thing I have learned. As I have never had occasion to upload anything, this is a field of knowledge about which I knew next to nothing.

My grateful thanks to you for taking the time and trouble to explain this.

 

[Vogue Harper]

Perfectly well put. Everyone will appreciate something different and think of their choices as "the best". I have recently fall in love with the Tudor Heritage Black Bay, the one with the blue bezel and fabric strap. A gorgeous dive watch, from the same house that makes Rolex, but with a spirit of its own and way less expensive.

Tudor seem to be enjoying something of a renaissance of late with some great new releases. The blue bezel Black Bay is very nice. Some prefer it over the original red bezel Black Bay because it does not have the 'faux vintage' features of that version (rose gold hands and chocolate brown dial), but I actually find these features quite charming. I took a photo of mine a little while ago and posted it here https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/19520305/

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Perfectly well put. Everyone will appreciate something different and think of their choices as "the best". I have recently fall in love with the Tudor Heritage Black Bay, the one with the blue bezel and fabric strap. A gorgeous dive watch, from the same house that makes Rolex, but with a spirit of its own and way less expensive.

Ah yes the Tudor black bay! I have a feeling this will be my Grail watch as it's more affordable than a Rolex Sub and one I have admired for some years. I actually really like the red bezel version with its rose gold snowflake hands, but also like the blue too. Not sure which one I would get as they are both stunning pieces. I've seen them for £1900 here brand new but the prices fluctuates up to £2300 for some strange reason. A lovely watch and one I hope I get soon

 

[Rob587]

Tudor seem to be enjoying something of a renaissance of late with some great new releases. The blue bezel Black Bay is very nice. Some prefer it over the original red bezel Black Bay because it does not have the 'faux vintage' features of that version (rose gold hands and chocolate brown dial), but I actually find these features quite charming. I took a photo of mine a little while ago and posted it here https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/19520305/

Ah yes the Tudor black bay! A lovely watch and one I hope I get soon

I'm really liking everything from Tudor right now. It's actually kind of amazing how well they are producing watches. Modern vintage, similar build quality of a Rolex (aside from the in-house movement), yet more affordable. Exactly, what the market wants right now, IMO.

 

[BlakeBrattina]

I'm really liking everything from Tudor right now. It's actually kind of amazing how well they are producing watches. Modern vintage, similar build quality of a Rolex (aside from the in-house movement), yet more affordable. Exactly, what the market wants right now, IMO.

I, too, hopped on the Tudor train. I've taken a recent liking in the Vintage Submariners that are still out there. As an Omega and Steinhart owner (a dive watch fan if you must,) I believe I will be owning one soon.