I've got 3 Swiss made watches, two are made by Victorinox, the other by Wenger. I agree with an earlier post that if I like the look of a watch I will go with it, not just get it because of the brand. My wife has just bought me a Victorinox with a green face. Bought it on Amazon, it was a good 400 quid cheaper than in the shops.



Only problem I have is that I have thin wrists, the watch looks a tad large but I like the look of the green face. Black MY2013 SD4 GS Auto, Wood Company Armrest, Freel2 sticker.
Gone MY2010 Freelander 2 Manual TD4.e S, Alaska White.

Some years ago I was burgled and lost a Tudor that my now late Father bought me. I was devastated at the time as it meant a lot to me. With the insurance money I wanted a Rado, but had to add money to get the one I wanted. It only gets worn occasionally but I really like it. Some years later when I moved house, the watch turned up and hadn't been stolen after all.
If you see something you really like, pay the extra it will be worth it in the long run, especially if you're going to pass it along.
"The year my son was born, which in my mind, it will mean more to him when he receives it " Perhaps he might like to receive what ever watch you choose, whilst your still around, my Dad gave me the Tudor when I was 40, it gave me a lot of pleasure wearing it when he was around and seemed to give him a lot of pleasure seeing me with it on my wrist.
I still wear both watches from time to time (pun intended) and they both make me smile for different reasons.

npinks wrote:

Might go second hand,

A good, safe place and within travelling distance for you is Ian Blowers
www.blowers-jewellers.co.uk

If you find something you really like then they enjoy a good haggle too

I too have a bit of a watch fad and like others have said, buy it because you like it. I have a Rolex, bell and Ross, omega and three different suunto. I also have a cheap G1098 watch from a previous life. The only advice I will give is, Wear it. Enjoy it. Don't just strap it on for special occasions.

i know of blowers and plan to have a visit one day

The other thing i need to consider is as shamus5178 says it will be worn and a everyday watch too  Former Mod/Member, with the most post & Chicken George Arch nemesis

I have a Breitling Professional Aerospace and the owner's handbook says it should be "serviced" at intervals. Being a cynic, I take this as more likely an opportunity for me to be ripped off!

Has anyone here had an expensive watch serviced? If so how much? 2013 RR Evoque Pure Tech
2012 TD4 GS Auto Orkney Grey - gone

I saw a post somewhere saying £300 -£750 depending on what needed and brand

Never had my Seiko serviced in 10 years? I was told that only open it up if it missing a beat

Might have a different view on £1k + watch though as need to look after the investment Former Mod/Member, with the most post & Chicken George Arch nemesis

Re the Aerospace service cost: if you send it back to Breitling UK there are 2 service types, maintenance and complete overhaul. I paid around £100 for a maintenance service on my Breitling Airwolf last year, and suspect the aerospace will be similar as its Quartz. Its a lot really for essentially a battery change but as I was thinking of changing it anyway it helped with resale value as you get a letter back from B saying alls okay. Have a look here http://www.breitling.com/multimedia/pdf/sav/sav-1219.pdf

Not serviced my 5 year old Omega Seamaster yet and until it goes wrong I don't think I will, but I fully expect to pay more for that to be sorted than the quartz Breitling simply as its mechanical.

Slaneydore wrote:

Can't say I've ever heard of the brand, Not a watch person my self my phone tells me the time
Wife bought me a Rolex Explorer I last year for Christmas and I think I've worn it 3 or 4 times...

Have you thought about a Rolex pinks, they have some nice looking ones in their titanblack collection

http://www.titanblack.co.uk/collection/rolex

28 years ago in lieu of a wedding ring ( can't bear any sort of ring) I got a stainless GMT Master with the original Pepsi Dial and acrylic crystal, it has never been off my wrist except for 3 services, what ever I've done fishing, swimming, shooting, digging snow, it just soaks up the punishment ad keeps ticking, it is now worth at least 6 times what it was bought for, and when the local dealer returned it last time he commented on how well looked after it was and he would retail it as a classic for not a lot less than a new one..... So NP if you want a "blokes" watch that will stand the test of time and never go out of style Submariner or GMT Master II is the way to go

Ps BB a Rolex service around 230 quid, gets the service a new crystal on the GMT and the whole case and bracelet polished like a jewel, returned with a guarantee, it is worth doing as I hope to have had at least 60 years service from it when I turn my toes up  2009 GS Auto Zermatt Silver - Sold June 21 after 10 years of ownership

2016 Subaru Outback SE 2.0 diesel SE Premium Lineartronic Sold 2024 after 8 years and 80k miles . Best Car I ever owned !

2023 Toyota Hilux invincible X 2.8 Auto .

This is the watch i have, omega, speed master moon watch. i gave up smoking, saved the money then paid cash for it after a bit of haggling. lovely watch, fantastic heritage with a classic manual movement. the value has gone up as well in the time i have owned it.

MartynB wrote:

So NP if you want a "blokes" watch that will stand the test of time and never go out of style Submariner or GMT Master II is the way to go

majorguk wrote:

This is the watch i have, omega, speed master moon watch. i gave up smoking, saved the money then paid cash for it after a bit of haggling. lovely watch, fantastic heritage with a classic manual movement. the value has gone up as well in the time i have owned it.

That looks good to me, I like Omegas (thanks to my granddad )
I may need to go shopping soon Possibly at http://www.hackettwatches.com/ SD4 HSE Lux Orkney Grey,Full size spare tyre,Ugly kid glass.

DonkUK wrote:

Re the Aerospace service cost: if you send it back to Breitling UK there are 2 service types, maintenance and complete overhaul. I paid around £100 for a maintenance service on my Breitling Airwolf last year, and suspect the aerospace will be similar as its Quartz. Its a lot really for essentially a battery change but as I was thinking of changing it anyway it helped with resale value as you get a letter back from B saying alls okay. Have a look here http://www.breitling.com/multimedia/pdf/sav/sav-1219.pdf

Not serviced my 5 year old Omega Seamaster yet and until it goes wrong I don't think I will, but I fully expect to pay more for that to be sorted than the quartz Breitling simply as its mechanical.

Thanks for that. £100 isn't too bad I suppose for a watch which now retails for £3k. I fancied a Rolex, but the ones I liked were a tad pricey at the time.

BTW, anyone contemplating buying an up market watch, don't forget to haggle! I got £425 off just for asking.

I have warned swmbo that I might treat myself to a Rolex when I retire!  2013 RR Evoque Pure Tech
2012 TD4 GS Auto Orkney Grey - gone

I've got a common as muck Tag Aquaracer that my wife treated me to in the duty free at Heathrow airport on 11/11/11. I'll always remember the time and date she bought it as we came out of the shop just in time to observe the two minutes silence - a very eerie and emotional time in a busy airport. Anyway, I wear it every day that I am not working. Keeps very good time and never had it serviced. Recently come into a bit of money and may spend that on a nice Swiss made watch - like NP, something I can pass on to my son. My mate's got a collection of watches including a few Rolex's and reckons they keep the worse time of all of 'em and thinks they are a tad overrated. Still looking around, no rush at all and may even buy secondhand which reminded me of this thread.

So, NP, did you make your mind up and what did you get or are you still looking?