Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Interesting Wrist Watches?

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the different-ways-to-tell-time dept.

brobak asks: "I've always been interested in interesting, wearable timepieces, and lately I've been wanting to start my own collection. They needn't be wiz-bang, high tech gizmo's, so much as interesting ways of displaying the time. What are some unique, or interesting time pieces that Slashdot readers own? Where should I start my collection?"

2 of 231 comments (clear)

  1. Some suggestions... by mmclure · · Score: 5, Informative

    First I'd take a look at getting at least one mechanical automatic in your collection. You can get brand new mechanical Seikos using their 7S26 movement (a real workhorse) off eBay for around $50. These usually have glass backs so you can see the movement and the hairspring ticking. Another option is a skeletonized automatic - Swiss versions of these are quite expensive, but recently there have been a lot of lower-cost mechanical automatics available.

    Another good option is an ana-digi - i.e. a watch with hands over an LCD dial - the LCD dial can show the time digitally while the hands show it as analog.

    It's sort of embarassing to say this, but if you have the ShopNBC channel on your lineup, you might want to look for their watch shows. The guy who runs them (Jim Skelton) is knowledgeable about watches, and they often have interesting watches available. If you're looking for "funky", watch out for shows with Android Watches. Often they will have inexpensive (relatively - note that in the watch world anything under $1000 is considered a "poor man's watch") skeletonized automatics ($100 - $500 depending on the complications and the quality of the decoration on the movement.)

    Of course, if you want really funky and price is no object, take a look at either the Ulysse Nardin Freak or the Harry Winston Opus V.

  2. Japanese Domestic Market Watches by mr.henry · · Score: 4, Informative
    As with everything else, Japan keeps the best watches for itself and ships the merely OK watches to the US. A Seiko in America is nothing special, but the "Grand Seiko" line in Japan is higher quality than Rolex/Omega/etc. I think the best bang for the buck in Japanese domestic market watches is the Seiko Alpinist -- $300 -- and includes auto calendar, GMT hand, titanium, and 5 year battery. They are "interesting" -- it is unlikely you will see anyone else with one.

    Higuchi is a great place for Japanese watches, BTW. They ship to USA.