[Gansan]

Originally Posted by somspaple

Probably after HMT Pilot (Black dial) this is my favorite watch from the house of HMT!

I thought HMT watches closed down some years ago. Who is running the brand now?

I bought a few around 2009 - 10 for nostalgia value before they closed, including an automatic. I have retained only one green dial pilot out of the lot, and my wife retained one Deepti hand wound. Sent a few abroad to WUS forum friends. Threw away the rest.

Btw the new parrot green shade of the Pilot watch looks fake. No pilot watch will ever have a glossy, shiny dial.

[somspaple]

Originally Posted by reihem

let me share a few !

Attachment 2193543

Wow!! Love your collection. Two of my favorites are : Junghans Max Bill and the Speedy !!

Even I was eyeing Junghans [not the chrono] but ended up getting Tissot Heritage Petite Seconde. Hopefully will get a Speedy in near future. Recently I happen to come across few pics of squarish Speedy - looks really cool. Not sure if it was limited production.

Originally Posted by Gansan

I thought HMT watches closed down some years ago. Who is running the brand now?

I bought a few around 2009 - 10 for nostalgia value before they closed, including an automatic. I have retained only one green dial pilot out of the lot, and my wife retained one Deepti hand wound. Sent a few abroad to WUS forum friends. Threw away the rest.

Btw the new parrot green shade of the Pilot watch looks fake. No pilot watch will ever have a glossy, shiny dial.

I have had Dad's HMT Rajat Automatic with me for some time - it's atleast 35 years old and still going strong! Couple of years ago I started looking for the same Classic Pilot as yours and that's when I discovered that hmtwatches.in is active and they have been manufacturing few watches here and there. Luckily I could get a Classic Black Pilot as well.



And yes, so far we have seen only matt finish Pilots like the one below:




Of late their production has increased and they have added new options like sun burst dial Pilots. Heck they have even come up with a brand new Automatic watch!!


And this is my latest addition:

[R2D2]

This is the first time I heard about this watch company and I am so enthused about their products. I think it's an advert but worth a read.

Bangalore Watch Company

[Gansan]

Did anyone buy an Orient watch from their India site? Are they Japan made watches or from China/Malaysia? Because when I magnify a few images Idon't see "Made in Japan" on the dial but "Movement Japan". The prices seem very high when compared to Amazon USA site, almost double. Import duty perhaps.

https://orientwatch.in/

[download2live]

One cheap way of enjoying the thrill of almost new watches is to change strap. Not only it changes the look it also dulls that itch of getting a new watch !!

You will need a strap changing tool which can be easily bought online. It is a simple thing.



Though there are straps which now come with a tiny lever (which you slide to side) to fix them without the need of tool.


But given that the tool is cheap I will recommend getting it. It increases the choice of straps. Straps can go from dirt cheap to very expensive. My choice is to go for plenty of not very expensive but still well made straps of various colors. I try various materials like Sailcloth, Canvas, Leather, Fake Leather and Rubber.

TIP 1
Make sure that you always buy the strap with right lug width !!

TIP 2
Whenever you change straps put the watch face down on a soft cloth. You will then scratch the underside of the lugs if you make a mistake.

TIP3
Always check twice that you get the left and right strap right.

SOURCE:
I made all three mistakes. :-)

Result is an almost brand new watch.

[.sushilkumar]

Found this site and wondering if anyone have ordered from them. Prices are too good to be true.

https://swisstimes.co/shopping-fashi...ssories-mens41

[sumobom4]

Originally Posted by .sushilkumar

Found this site and wondering if anyone have ordered from them. Prices are too good to be true.

https://swisstimes.co/shopping-fashi...ssories-mens41

Just checked out the site. One very simple adage to live by. If it’s too good to be true, it most likely is. Besides, these guys are so lazy that they haven’t even researched the original price correctly. For example, the Longines Master Collection Moonphase watch retails for two lakhs plus. The MRP they are listing is ₹36,780! Now imagine how impressive that discount would look against a base price of ₹2L!

[meta]

From the time I took a Breguet to visit Abraham-Louis Breguet's original home and workplace on Quai de l'Horloge in Paris...

[AtheK]

Got couple of new watches.

[hareshjethwani]

Got the HMT Vijay

[arindambasu13]

Originally Posted by R2D2

This is the first time I heard about this watch company and I am so enthused about their products. I think it's an advert but worth a read.

Bangalore Watch Company

Have been following their products for over a year now. However, I feel they are way overpriced for what they offer and quite a bit above what similar microbrands should be charging. I prefer getting microbrand watches from overseas. They need to rationalise prices more for me to put my money on them. The Hodinkee article is most certainly a paid promotional campain.

[Sheel]

How should one store a watch? Let it run or pull out the winder & let it stay?

[Electromotive]

Originally Posted by Sheel

How should one store a watch? Let it run or pull out the winder & let it stay?

Storing watches with the crown pulled allows for air and moisture to get into the watch and can lead to corrosion. It is best to keep mechanical/automatic watches running, at least periodically, if not continuously.

Mechanical watches need periodic servicing and lubrication after every 5-10 years or as specified by the manufacturer. High beat watches need more frequent maintenance.

Best to store automatics in an air tight container with silica gel. And wind them up every couple of months if not in regular use.

Also, what's up with people buying HMTs? I am under the impression that these were never really good watches. Don't they use a sub-par replica of a Miyota movement?

[saket77]

Originally Posted by Sheel

How should one store a watch? Let it run or pull out the winder & let it stay?

I would rather leave them running . One because a stopped watch is more likely to get 'jammed' & need frequent service. I have suffered this issue with my Titan Edge when I used to pull the crown when in storage.

Next, some watches have no effect of pulling the crown on the battery consumption as the watch continues to draw same power- just the gear disengages and hands stop moving. So, there is no benefit on the battery front; but some watches do stop consuming battery depending on the construction design.

Lastly but most importantly, if you have kept the crown pulled out, you will not notice if the battery has depleted. A depleted battery is prone to leakage and can destroy the watch entirely if it leaks inside. If you keep it running, you will notice when battery runs out and hence it can be replaced timely.

So, I let the watch run at the expense of the battery. Get batteries from Amazon- Renata or Seizaiken. They are much cheaper there as compared to what most local watchmakers or the showroom guys charge.

Regards.

[arindambasu13]

Originally Posted by Electromotive

Also, what's up with people buying HMTs? I am under the impression that these were never really good watches. Don't they use a sub-par replica of a Miyota movement?

Its more of nostalgia and vintage charm when it comes to HMT. Growing up in India, it was THE brand which graced the wrists of fathers and uncles and it was pretty much the last word when it came to affordable watches.

I did buy a couple to see what the hype was all about last year, but very quickly sold them in unused condition because I was quite disappointed at the flimsy build quality and overall lack of finesse. Some specific pieces are somewhat collectible, but with pieces becoming regularly available now, the collectibility quotient is bound t go down.