I need serious help, please...

Wearymicrobe's advice is right on track. Hit the forums at watchuseek.com for some great classified ads as well as lots of lower budget (but very high quality) options. $200 can definitely get you a decent watch, but I'd suggest you sock that away and save up more like $600 or $800 and get something truly nice. Of course, that is coming from a watch geek. Bottom line- do some homework, but get what you like.

C

JohnRW1621 wrote: 1 is the most legible while still showing function. 4 shows much more function but not at the compromise of legibility. 5 lacks legibility, more like a puzzle. I do wonder, "what time is #5 showing?"

It's showing 1:00ish. LOL The minute hand doesn't circle ther perimeter, just that inner circle there (see the 05, 10, 15). The small face to the right is the hours.

I'm an enthusiast of Chinese mechanical watches, which all of the watches in the first post are. Note that all of them can be found for about $100, so don't pay more.

Over the past few years, my contacts and I have worked to establish a library about these watches, their movements and their manufacturers. Whether or not you know much about mechanical watches, you're likely to find some interesting info there: http://www.tractionink.com/watch_wiki/index.php?title=Site_Map

Conquest351 wrote:

JohnRW1621 wrote: 1 is the most legible while still showing function. 4 shows much more function but not at the compromise of legibility. 5 lacks legibility, more like a puzzle. I do wonder, "what time is #5 showing?"

It's showing 1:00ish. LOL The minute hand doesn't circle ther perimeter, just that inner circle there (see the 05, 10, 15). The small face to the right is the hours.

Wait a minute... The large hand in the center is seconds, the jeweled hand in the bottom center is the hours and the one to the right is minutes. As far as I can tell from a video. That's friggin AWESOME!!!!

A favorite from my collection (like the rest, I got it for about $100):

My Lum-Tec M42 Phantom is awesome. I highly recommend them.

nderwater wrote: I'm an enthusiast of Chinese mechanical watches, which all of the watches in the first post are. Note that all of them can be found for about $100, so don't pay more. Over the past few years, my contacts and I have worked to establish a library about these watches, their movements and their manufacturers. Whether or not you know much about mechanical watches, you're likely to find some interesting info there: http://www.tractionink.com/watch_wiki/index.php?title=Site_Map

Very friggin cool!!!

nderwater wrote: A favorite from my collection (like the rest, I got it for about $100):

In. Love.

What's the name of that watch? Absolutely beautiful!!!!

wearymicrobe wrote: These are nice as well and can be had sub 500$ all day long.

This is the manliest and most gear-porn-tastic watch so far, but also the least readable.

Conquest351 wrote: #1

Number 1 would be cool in the box, but in reality, you're probably going to be looking at a bunch of arm hair.

N Sperlo wrote:

Aeromoto wrote: They all look (especially #3) a bit fragile and maybe a bit frou-frou for a car guy to wear. Just sayin'

I don't wear anything when working on cars. I mean jewelry....

You're a naked wrencher, too?...oh wait...

DukeOfUndersteer wrote: My current watch want: Nixon Ceramic 51-30

That is awesome! When did Nixons become expensive?

I like #2 out of the original choices, but that second one nderwater posted is AWESOME! I really want to be a watch geek, but I lack the funds. Much like cars.

I have not read the entire thread at this point, so my argument may be invalid.

I have owned 2 self winding watches, both showed the movements. Both would intermittently bind up internally, and would have to be "freed" by turning the adjustment knob. They look great, but I couldnt depend on them. I need a watch to be functional before its stylish. These were decent watches (Kenneth Cole and I cant remember the other), both in the $200 range, and both ended up having to be returned because of the issue. I ended up with a regular battery driven Fossil because I could depend on it, and I spent the other $90 I had left over on brake stuffs.

Conquest351 wrote:

Conquest351 wrote:

JohnRW1621 wrote: 1 is the most legible while still showing function. 4 shows much more function but not at the compromise of legibility. 5 lacks legibility, more like a puzzle. I do wonder, "what time is #5 showing?"

It's showing 1:00ish. LOL The minute hand doesn't circle ther perimeter, just that inner circle there (see the 05, 10, 15). The small face to the right is the hours.

Wait a minute... The large hand in the center is seconds, the jeweled hand in the bottom center is the hours and the one to the right is minutes. As far as I can tell from a video. That's friggin AWESOME!!!!

I am still lost here.
Is that a pointer at the roman number 12 because I see no hands for that dial?

Why are there harsh marks or a scale around the entire perimeter? Is there some sort of hand that follows these marks?
It is not the hand that is at rest at "60" because that hand works it's own inner dial. It seems that that dial intersects the right dial (1-12) and oddly in the center of that dial they see it important to put a "15" from the "60 dial"

I am not sure what the left dial does at all.

So is this really showing 1:00ish?
"Ish" seems like an odd answer for a precision instrument??

Video??

This one ups your man card: Richard Mille RM039 Aviator E6-B Tourbillon Flyback Watch. You can see the guts, which seems to be a theme with your selections. And it's got a built in E6B flight computer. Not only will you be able to say that its a computer, but you'll also know how to use a slide rule.

Richard Mille watches are on my bucket list fo sho, but at 10's of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars a piece, I'll have to be a millionaire many times over before I ever consider owning one.

As for the one we've been trying to figure out, #5, I'll let you know how it all works. I ordered it. LOL I'll take video of it too, I searched teh Googles with no luck. There are some videos of it that is a colaboration of pictures, and you can see that bottom mechanism turned. Yes, that's a pointer that's aimed at the XII in that dial. The dial on the left is the power reserve. The one to the right is the minutes I'm guessing and the one in the center is the seconds. I'll let you know next week when it shows up.

It's called the Urs Auer BA-505.

So yes, basically I ignored you all. LOL Still love y'all though.

Conquest351 wrote: Richard Mille watches are on my bucket list fo sho, but at 10's of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars a piece, I'll have to be a millionaire many times over before I ever consider owning one. As for the one we've been trying to figure out, #5, I'll let you know how it all works. I ordered it. LOL I'll take video of it too, I searched teh Googles with no luck. There are some videos of it that is a colaboration of pictures, and you can see that bottom mechanism turned. Yes, that's a pointer that's aimed at the XII in that dial. The dial on the left is the power reserve. The one to the right is the minutes I'm guessing and the one in the center is the seconds. I'll let you know next week when it shows up. It's called the Urs Auer BA-505. So yes, basically I ignored you all. LOL Still love y'all though.

Bucket lists are the best, one of these days I am going to liquidate my collection and get a Patek WorldTimer. Every time I think about doing it though I alsway find a car I would prefer over the watch.

But serious lusting after a Martin Braun Selene or Eos. If I could find a EOS in meteorite at a good price I think I would tkae it over the worldtimer.

.

My everyday is a Casio from Walmart, My dress is a Stauer Dashtronic. You can pick them up for about $100.

If you're a bigger guy, its tough to argue with an Invicta Russian Diver.

http://www.ballwatch.com/html5/index.php?option=com_main&lang=en_US

Call me crazy but i'm not a fan of skeleton watches nor automatics. My recommendation is a Citizen Eco Drive and call it a day. I have had a BM8180 model for almost a year and have had no issues with it at all. I'm not easy on watches either.

4cylndrfury wrote: I have not read the entire thread at this point, so my argument may be invalid. I have owned 2 self winding watches, both showed the movements. Both would intermittently bind up internally, and would have to be "freed" by turning the adjustment knob. They look great, but I couldnt depend on them. I need a watch to be functional before its stylish. These were decent watches (Kenneth Cole and I cant remember the other), both in the $200 range, and both ended up having to be returned because of the issue. I ended up with a regular battery driven Fossil because I could depend on it, and I spent the other $90 I had left over on brake stuffs.

For reassurance of quality, go with a proper watch brand over a 'fashion' brand that also sells watches, and you can totally have a reliable mechanical watch (for cheap). Try a Seiko 5 for < $100, or an old Russian watch off Ebay. I've been rocking a 1950s hand-wound Vostok I picked up for $60 in mint condition, and it doesn't miss a beat. Eg: http://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-VOSTOK-WOSTOK-Vintage-Soviet-USSR-RUSSIAN-Wristwatch-cal-2209-1970s-/181034340392?pt=Wristwatches&hash=item2a267cd028

92dxman wrote: Call me crazy but i'm not a fan of skeleton watches nor automatics. My recommendation is a Citizen Eco Drive and call it a day. I have had a BM8180 model for almost a year and have had no issues with it at all. I'm not easy on watches either.

I have one of those. Love it. Just looking for something else.

In reply to Luke:

I had no idea something like this existed. These are Great! Thanks for the tip.