211 replies to this topic

[Stephenson]

That's a very nice looking watch f1, but the face to band ratio seems a little off to me. Maybe I'm just used to seeing the weight of a bezel.

[Lady Rose]

Personally, I don't mind the TOG, but I find the repetitive ROLEXROLEXROLEX around the outer edge of the dial annoying. I realize it is a ploy to stay one step ahead of fakes, but it's a little bit of overkill.
Just my 2c.

Vodka Martino

It is also hardly noticable in the flesh (so to speak).I like the Omega Aqua Terra but I think it is very similar to the Explorer 1.I hate to go on about Rolex but I do think so many of the other makes just immitate them.

I also like the Zenith Class El Primero ,though again its not very suitable as a Bond watch.

http://www.pacificti...0501.400-24.jpg

Edited by Lady Rose, 14 March 2005 - 07:43 PM.

[Vodka Martino]

  I wouldn't get one for myself as I've heard many bad things about the omega co-axial movement. 

f1, I don't know where you've gotten your information about the co-axial movement, but I have sold many of these and have yet to hear one bad thing about them.

VM

[f1realtor]

I've read lots of complaints about them on timezone.

[Vodka Martino]

I respect your opinion, f1, but I remain unconvinced. Take care and have a nice day.

Vodka M

[Vodka Martino]

[quote name='Lady Rose' date='15 March 2005 - 05:38']

[/quote]

I hate to go on about Rolex but I do think so many of the other makes just immitate them.

[/quote]

But, LadyRose, if other brands imitate Rolex, it is only because Rolex designs have changed little in half a century. I have noticed that watch design in recent years has come full circle and we now have numerous brands replicating models from their archives. Hence the similarity in design between the Aqua Terra and the Rolex Explorer 1.

VM

[Agent 76]

something in this style..

[f1realtor]

That seiko is too low end for Bond. Something like the watch below is much more suitable.

Edited by f1realtor, 15 March 2005 - 10:37 PM.

[Vodka Martino]

Agent 76, I have that watch. It's the SKX031. At about $100USD, it's a great knock-around watch.
And f1, the MarineMaster is a mean looking watch. I quite like Seiko dive watches. They don't have the cache and mystique of the Swiss brands (in the eyes of collectors), but they're virtually bullet-proof. Nice watch.

Vodka Martino

[Blofeld's Cat]

I suppose Bond wearing a Swatch is out of the question?

[Stephenson]

Hey, at least it would still be Swiss.

[f1realtor]

I really don't like this watch, but it used to be the Royal Navy issued watch. If they are gonna go with a rookie Bond then maybe he should get what every other civil servant gets. =P

[Vodka Martino]

Good call, f1. Yeah, this watch doesn't thrill me either, but it would suit a young Bond before he fully developed a taste for the finer things.

Vodka Martino

[f1realtor]

I miss this thread.

[spynovelfan]

I really don't like this watch, but it used to be the Royal Navy issued watch.  If they are gonna go with a rookie Bond then maybe he should get what every other civil servant gets. =P

Looks a little too large to me.

[ACE]

...whichever type of watch the production company receives the most moolah (or moolah-in-kind) from!

Why fix it if it ain't broke? Stick with Omega or, if he has to change, Rolex. Something chunky, not in gold, which could double up as a knuckleduster.

Did you know that Pierce Brosnan is a horologist and collects watches? As did Gottfried John? They bonded over their timepieces.

[Skudor]

Something nice, expensive, elegant and exclusive. Like a Swatch.

[Byron]

[quote name='sidspappy' date='16 December 2004 - 00:41'][quote name='Agent76' date='15 December 2004 - 14:22']this one fits

[cvheady007]

Pierce should put on whatever type of watch that John Cleese gives him! Cleese doesn't have to be in much, but just because it's a "gritty Bond movie" doesn't mean we have to silence Q branch.

[Vodka Martino]

Hi Byron, here's the short answer (!)
It's the Omega Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch. In its current incarnation, it bears the most resemblance to the Speedmasters of the mid 60s. NASA chose this watch for its lunar astronauts because it failed the least amount of testing as opposed to the Rolex GMT Master and a Hamilton watch (model name escape me)which was also tested.
Four things to bear in mind if you're considering buying this watch-
*It's hand-wound.
*It's 30 metres water-resistant ONLY. You can't swim with this watch on. It can't be submerged in water. Hell, don't even drink a glass of water with this watch on. Just kidding. It will handle being splashed with water, but you should dry it off as sson as you can.
*It has no date window.
*And finally, it has a mineral crystal glass on it, which means it will scratch easier than a sapphire crystal (which most modern watches are equipped with)and a good knock will shatter the mineral crystal. On the plus side, mineral crystals tend to craze, i.e. the glass shatters into a spider web pattern, but doesn't break into little pieces which can get into the watch movement and cause all sorts of havoc.
Another tip if you really want to get one; Like the Rolex Submariner, the Omega Speedmaster Pro hasn't really changed much in design over the last 20 years or so. This means that you could buy one on the vintage or second-hand market and save yourself some money. You could then get it serviced by an Approved Omega watch repairer and you would have a watch that runs virtually like a brand new one.
Hope I didn't go on too much!

Vodka Martino

Edited by Vodka Martino, 07 June 2005 - 07:11 AM.

[f1realtor]

nice seeing you again vodka.

I can see this watch as a great buzzsaw.

Edited by f1realtor, 08 June 2005 - 02:21 AM.

[Byron]

Hi Byron, here's the short answer (!)
It's the Omega Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch. In its current incarnation, it bears the most resemblance to the Speedmasters of the mid 60s. NASA chose this watch for its lunar astronauts because it failed the least amount of testing as opposed to the Rolex GMT Master and a Hamilton watch (model name escape me)which was also tested.
Four things to bear in mind if you're considering buying this watch-
  *It's hand-wound.
  *It's 30 metres water-resistant ONLY. You can't swim with this watch on. It can't be submerged in water. Hell, don't even drink a glass of water with this watch on. Just kidding. It will handle being splashed with water, but you should dry it off as sson as you can.
  *It has no date window.
  *And finally, it has a mineral crystal glass on it, which means it will scratch easier than a sapphire crystal (which most modern watches are equipped with)and a good knock will shatter the mineral crystal. On the plus side, mineral crystals tend to craze, i.e. the glass shatters into a spider web pattern, but doesn't break into little pieces which can get into the watch movement and cause all sorts of havoc.
Another tip if you really want to get one; Like the Rolex Submariner, the Omega Speedmaster Pro hasn't really changed much in design over the last 20 years or so. This means that you could buy one on the vintage or second-hand market and save yourself some money. You could then get it serviced by an Approved Omega watch repairer and you would have a watch that runs virtually like a brand new one.
Hope I didn't go on too much!

Vodka Martino

Thank you very much for the info VM. I was considering an IWC but thankfully read your earlier post about them not being that mechanically sound. For a $4-$5K watch you would want it to be reliable!

What is a good brand watch for scuba diving (no more than 100m depth or $4K)? Something that pro divers would use and recommend? Also what do you think of Baume & Mercier?

Thanks again,

Byron

[inSPECTRE]

ROLEX!

[Vodka Martino]

nice seeing you again vodka.

I can see this watch as a great buzzsaw.

Thanks f1. I haven't been on these forums for a while for two reasons- firstly, since there has been no real new news on 'Casino Royale', I didn't want to add to all the discussion that's been going on over who will be the next Bond, will it be a straight-out adaption of Fleming's book, will it out-Bourne the Jason Bourne movies, will it star a much younger actor, etc,etc.
And secondly, I've been blasting and sneaking my way through Metal Gear Solid 3 on the Playstation 2. Now THAT has kept me busy!
Good to be back, though. I gotta say that Seiko looks like it might kill you if you looked at it the wrong way.

Thank you very much for the info VM. I was considering an IWC but thankfully read your earlier post about them not being that mechanically sound. For a $4-$5K watch you would want it to be reliable!

What is a good brand watch for scuba diving (no more than 100m depth or $4K)? Something that pro divers would use and recommend? Also what do you think of Baume & Mercier?

Thanks again,

Byron

Byron, no scuba diver in his right mind tends to wear an expensive dive watch when he/she dives. Unless they are so rich that they don't care if it gets damaged or lost while they're under water. Also, from what some recreational divers have told me, these days, they have a dive computer strapped to their wrists which gives them a readout of dive-time, depth, etc, so they consider the dive watch to be a secondary or tertiary back-up in case their primary equipment fails.
It is a romantic notion to think that the guys who dive beneath oil platforms and military divers are all wearing Rolex Submariners/SeaDwellers or Omega Seamasters or Breitling SuperOceans and on, and on. Again, it's a lot of money to have on your wrist when there is a risk of damaging or losing it. Back in the '50s and '60s, a Rolex dive watch would set you back a few month's pay. Nowadays, they tend to take a lot longer to save for.
Here's a tip- for actual diving, wear a Seiko dive watch. A quartz one will set you back less than $100USD. They are sturdy, reliable and low-maintenance. To let the world know that you dive, and that you should not be messed with, get a 4K dive watch. Rolex are great, but too many guys rush out and buy one when they get their first decent pay-check without really knowing why they want one.And sadly, that type of guy far outnumbers the watch connoisseur/collector who buys a Rolex because he/she is aware of the brand's quality and reputation.
As I stated in an earlier post, IWC are a fine watch, but I saw half-a-dozen of them come back to me for warranty work within their first year. And sorry, but if you pay those kinds of bucks for a watch, then this is just not good enough. To a slightly lesser extent, the same could be said for Breitling. Great watches, but they, like IWC, can take ages to get repaired. As for Baume & Mercier, I spoke to the brand manager about them six years ago and he said that Baumes were for the type of customer who wanted something different to everything else that's out there. True, their designs look like an up-market dive watch (the Capeland S is the model I'm referring to here), but the thing is that dive watches were always considered a "tool watch" because they offered another function beside just telling the time. And for me, the Baumes look a little too dressy for their intended use. Again, like any other dive watch on the market, they are sturdy, but they always look to me like a guy who turns up for boot camp dressed in a suit.
Like I stated in earlier posts, an Omega Seamaster Professional (Black dial, model number 2254.50.00 or the Bond watch 2531.80.00) or the new Omega Planet Ocean are a great watch. They are an ideal watch for you and I. The standard Seamaster is available at a good price and design of the black dialled model harks back to the mid '60s when they were standard issue to Royal Navy Divers.The Planet Ocean is a little pricey, although 4K will get you one and leave change in your pocket, but it's long-term benefits will prove that it was money well-spent. Most automatic watches require servicing every 4-5 years or so. The Planet Ocean feature Omega's Co-Axial Escapement attached to the movement. In a nutshell, the escapement stones are positioned and shaped in such a way so that there is less friction occuring within the movement. Less friction means less wear-and-tear, less servicing required and greater accuracy over a longer period. According to Omega, any watch fitted with the Co-Axial Escapement should easily go ten years before it needs a service.
Again, Byron, I hope I haven't thrown a spanner in the works for you.

Vodka Martino

Edited by Vodka Martino, 08 June 2005 - 12:26 PM.

[Byron]

Byron

[/quote]
Byron, no scuba diver in his right mind tends to wear an expensive dive watch when he/she dives. Unless they are so rich that they don't care if it gets damaged or lost while they're under water. Also, from what some recreational divers have told me, these days, they have a dive computer strapped to their wrists which gives them a readout of dive-time, depth, etc, so they consider the dive watch to be a secondary or tertiary back-up in case their primary equipment fails.
It is a romantic notion to think that the guys who dive beneath oil platforms and military divers are all wearing Rolex Submariners/SeaDwellers or Omega Seamasters or Breitling SuperOceans and on, and on. Again, it's a lot of money to have on your wrist when there is a risk of damaging or losing it. Back in the '50s and '60s, a Rolex dive watch would set you back a few month's pay. Nowadays, they tend to take a lot longer to save for.
Here's a tip- for actual diving, wear a Seiko dive watch. A quartz one will set you back less than $100USD. They are sturdy, reliable and low-maintenance. To let the world know that you dive, and that you should not be messed with, get a 4K dive watch. Rolex are great, but too many guys rush out and buy one when they get their first decent pay-check without really knowing why they want one.And sadly, that type of guy far outnumbers the watch connoisseur/collector who buys a Rolex because he/she is aware of the brand's quality and reputation.
As I stated in an earlier post, IWC are a fine watch, but I saw half-a-dozen of them come back to me for warranty work within their first year. And sorry, but if you pay those kinds of bucks for a watch, then this is just not good enough. To a slightly lesser extent, the same could be said for Breitling. Great watches, but they, like IWC, can take ages to get repaired. As for Baume & Mercier, I spoke to the brand manager about them six years ago and he said that Baumes were for the type of customer who wanted something different to everything else that's out there. True, their designs look like an up-market dive watch (the Capeland S is the model I'm referring to here), but the thing is that dive watches were always considered a "tool watch" because they offered another function beside just telling the time. And for me, the Baumes look a little too dressy for their intended use. Again, like any other dive watch on the market, they are sturdy, but they always look to me like a guy who turns up for boot camp dressed in a suit.
Like I stated in earlier posts, an Omega Seamaster Professional (Black dial, model number 2254.50.00 or the Bond watch 2531.80.00) or the new Omega Planet Ocean are a great watch. They are an ideal watch for you and I. The standard Seamaster is available at a good price and design of the black dialled model harks back to the mid '60s when they were standard issue to Royal Navy Divers.The Planet Ocean is a little pricey, although 4K will get you one and leave change in your pocket, but it's long-term benefits will prove that it was money well-spent. Most automatic watches require servicing every 4-5 years or so. The Planet Ocean feature Omega's Co-Axial Escapement attached to the movement. In a nutshell, the escapement stones are positioned and shaped in such a way so that there is less friction occuring within the movement. Less friction means less wear-and-tear, less servicing required and greater accuracy over a longer period. According to Omega, any watch fitted with the Co-Axial Escapement should easily go ten years before it needs a service.
Again, Byron, I hope I haven't thrown a spanner in the works for you.

Vodka Martino

[/quote]

Lots of food for thought. Thank you for the above VM.

[Gri007]

If its a new Bond then EON are obvoulse tyring to refresh the character. I think a diffrent watch is agood idea as it's a diffrent actor.

[Lady Rose]

Like I stated in earlier posts, an Omega Seamaster Professional (Black dial, model number 2254.50.00 or the Bond watch 2531.80.00) or the new Omega Planet Ocean are a great watch. They are an ideal watch for you and I. The standard Seamaster is available at a good price and design of the black dialled model harks back to the mid '60s when they were standard issue to Royal Navy Divers.The Planet Ocean is a little pricey, although 4K will get you one and leave change in your pocket, but it's long-term benefits will prove that it was money well-spent. Most automatic watches require servicing every 4-5 years or so. The Planet Ocean feature Omega's Co-Axial Escapement attached to the movement. In a nutshell, the escapement stones are positioned and shaped in such a way so that there is less friction occuring within the movement. Less friction means less wear-and-tear, less servicing required and greater accuracy over a longer period. According to Omega, any watch fitted with the Co-Axial Escapement should easily go ten years before it needs a service.
Again, Byron, I hope I haven't thrown a spanner in the works for you.

Vodka Martino

Guess what Lord Rose picked up yesterday!!! The 45mm Planet Ocean and he is very pleased with it.It could be a good watch for Bond but perhaps he should use the 42mm as it is a fraction smaller.

Here is a picture next to his green sub ...look at the difference in size.

[Gri007]

I do like that Rolex as seen above, very good

[Vodka Martino]

If its a new Bond then EON are obvoulse tyring to refresh the character.  I think a diffrent watch is agood idea as it's a diffrent actor.

But Eon kept the Rolex Submariner for both Roger Moore and Timothy Dalton, although they must have been snorting something the day Roger strapped on that Seiko digital for TSWLM.

Guess what Lord Rose picked up yesterday!!! The 45mm Planet Ocean and he is very pleased with it.It could be a good watch for Bond but perhaps he should use the 42mm as it is a fraction smaller.

Here is a picture next to his green sub ...look at the difference in size.

I think the Planet Ocean is destined to be a classic. I glance at them every day at work (I work in a watch store) and the 42mm model is a knockout. I would bet that your husband doesn't have one bad watch in his collection. Lord Rose strikes again!

I do like that Rolex as seen above, very good

The green bezelled Rolex Sub was released 2 years ago to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Submariner (1953). I was kinda hoping that Rolex would have been a little more creative or adventurous with the design. Still a nice watch, but I don't think it's worth what collectors are willing to pay for it.


VM

[Melanie]

Interesting reading.

I'd like to put forward another manufacturer.


Audemars Piguet deftly combines high tech materials and state-of-the-art computer aided design with superb old-world watchmaking. The result is masterpiece after masterpiece. To remain exclusive, Audemars Piguet creates only about 17,000 watches per annum.

Sports Collection
Royal Oak Offshore

Water-resistant to 100 metres.







Link

Edited by Melanie, 12 June 2005 - 03:59 PM.