[shankar.balan]

Became tired of this, because honestly it is very bulky for a slim wrist and I actively stopped liking the Chronograph look.

Though I have always loved the real seahorse engraving on the steel case back and this one was probably the last of its kind, Ive only worn this some 5-6 times in its whole life and it was pristine.



So I vacillated for a while - several weeks of researching and discussing and negotiating via various connects and then finally bit the bullet and traded it in for a very fair price and at the same time, got what I have wanted for a very very long time, again by paying a very fair consideration as the difference. So I said bye to the Seamaster Chrono and got me the Sub.

Again this one was just like mine, hardly ever worn and in pristine condition.




I also got this ‘Homage’ San Martin and forget what anyone may say, it is a first class product when viewed purely as a Product and considering the finish quality and price etc.



I think it worked out well all around.

In these matters, just like in other aspects of life, the ‘time’ has to be ‘right’ and the ‘stars have to align’.

Ending the year nicely and beginning the New Year and a completely New Chapter in Time.

[Gazole]

Hello all, a very happy new year!

a few more watches entered my collection last year - im happy to share them with pride.

1. Omega Speedmaster 300 M professional (polar dial) in red sailcloth straps - I really do not like the Omega bracelet that comes with this watch.

2. Tag Heuer Aquaracer Bamford Edition - a very small batch designed by George Bamford for Tag Heuer in Grey Titanium, love the dive watch aesthetics and organs hints George brings to this design.

3. Panerai Luminor - PAM 00915 - a 44mm beast with the original sandwich dial. 8 days of power reserve - with beautiful cloth straps from bosphurus.

4. Omega Speedmaster `57 - Black dial. The vintage loom / look on this dial is amazing!. A great throwback watch from Omega, with beautiful recessed chronometer dials.

5. Zelos Mako 40 mm Diver - in a sky blue dial, beautiful finish on an oddball dial with a yellow GMT hand. Another oddball small watch maker.

6. Christopher Ward C60 Trident Lumiere - a beautiful titanium piece , again from a small watch company that is making some serious watches! a Pelagos killer in my opinion.

7. Isotope Hydrous California Dial - love the half Roman and Arabic numerals. Love the texture on this dive watch made by a boutique watch brand.

8. An Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional (White Dial) a rare (ish) watch, and a great alternative to the beautiful black dial Moonwatch.

Love to get your perspective!

thanks

[harshaguduru]

Originally Posted by Gazole

Hello all, a very happy new year!

5. Isotope Hydrous California Dial - love the half Roman and Arabic numerals. Love the texture on this dive watch made by a boutique watch brand.

Incredibly gorgeous watch! On my wishlist now !

[AdhikR]

Originally Posted by shankar.balan

So I said bye to the Seamaster Chrono and got me the Sub.

Congratulations. I find the Seamaster lineup's design kind of busy. The Sub, on the other hand, is just classic.

Did you pick it up in India?

[ManasN95]

Hi guys, this is my first post here, and new journey on watch collection.

Right now, I have a Police and two Fossils in my collection; I got a Police from myself in August 2022 as my first watch and ended up spending Rs. 10K on it. I got the inspiration of that brand from my uncle whose Police I had liked some years ago and thought that it is a big watch brand. Nonetheless, I don't regret the decision as it's my first watch, and it looks gorgeous anyway.

The Fossils are gift, and both good looking in their own right. So even they are very dear to me.

Now I want to move to an exclusive watch making company, with Citizen first in my sights, and a HMT later.

Below is the delusional (or not?) list of watches that I want to have in my collection:

10 watch brands and types I want:

1. Fossil
2. Police
3. Red Dial - HMT
4. White Dial Analog
5. Green Dial - Citizen
6. Blue Dial
7. Chronograph
8. Automatic
9. Field Watch
10. Ultra Luxury

Brands:
Fossil ✔️ - ₹4,000
Police ✔️ - ₹10,000

HMT - ₹2000
Casio
Timex
Titan
DWC
Citizen
Tissot
Seiko
Orient
Longines - The Master Collection with leather strap (BEAUTY!!!)

Buying Decision:

So, I recently visited Just in Time boutique near to me to check out the Citizen watches, and I liked one of them - BI5104-57Z - refer image below



While the green dial looks really really cool, I am in two minds over the gold and silver bracelet. It would have been no brainer had it only come in a silver one.

There is one more option in Hyperion Quartz series - BI5110-54X - but they did not have this particular model in stock hence not able to judge how it would look on my wrist - reference image below



The dial size is the same, and I actually like the case design more in this SKU. However, I want the green dial to be exactly the same as the first one, because I am smitten over it.

Other melting points:

The Citizen Tsuyosa is a BEAUTY!! The bracelet, the dial, the weight it carries, it is absolutely gorgeous a watch and I have immediately pinged all my friends on possible trips to Japan because I HAVE to get that. I fell in love today.



I tried the Seiko 5 Sports as well, for the first time, and to be honest, after looking the Citizen Tsuyosa, I didn't feel wowed by either the Seiko, nor the Tissot PRX



So, what do you guys think? Please feel free to give me suggestions about my list of watches to have and also help in your feedback for the two Citizens I am considering!

Feels great to be here!!!

[noopster]

Originally Posted by ManasN95

So, what do you guys think? Please feel free to give me suggestions about my list of watches to have and also help in your feedback for the two Citizens I am considering!

Feels great to be here!!!

They are all gorgeous! With watches, personal taste is a big part of the buying decision, so don't be disappointed if nobody else shares your enthusiasm for a certain make or model. For example I have an all-white Ice watch with green highlights that I absolutely love. Took a lot of grief when buying it but feel so cool wearing it (it's my default weekend/vacation watch). And I've seen expensive watches on people's wrists and wondered how someone with so much money has such little taste

[clutchNgo]

New year, new watch...

So the last watch I got from my niece stopped working and it was time for a replacement.

Since I prefer simplicity, I went back to SKMEI- this time model 1894. It's very light and my new daily driver.

Two of my favorites (I only own one )

[ManasN95]

Buying from eBay? Please help!

Hi everyone, I wanted to buy a Citizen watch, and while looking for it in the retail stores here, I had almost zeroed down on a Quartz variant here. Although, surfing up on the internet, I saw that I can stretch a little bit and get the Eco-drive Peyton series (was it sold in India?) from the USA, either from Amazon or eBay, get it shipped to a friend in the USA who is on his business tour and then get it back with him to avoid customs.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/235869674106 Link to the watch I am talking about. The seller has a lot of reviews and 99%+ positive feedback.

The Eco-drive series has 5 years international warranty right? If anything happens, I can claim here in India as well?

Please suggest.

P.S: I also see some Seikos 5 Sports under 250 dollars on eBay and I am mighty tempted to do the same in this year end.

[omranga98]

Originally Posted by ManasN95

Buying from eBay? Please help!

The Eco-drive series has 5 years international warranty right? If anything happens, I can claim here in India as well?

Please suggest.

P.S: I also see some Seikos 5 Sports under 250 dollars on eBay and I am mighty tempted to do the same in this year end.

Hi! Citizen has their own webshop in India and a few authorised resellers. Try the models you are looking for on these.

I have Cred discount coupon for Citizen that gives 25% off i think on certain models, you can DM me if you want that. Also International warranty should work in India.

Also most Seiko 5 sports are under 250 dollars in india already. Remember, most retailers offer upto 25% on most brands including Seiko. That should bring the price down to about 18k or 200 dollars.

[Abhinav V]

While sifting through the wardrobe my mom found some old watches that my grand father used to wear. I saw a Titan, 2 other watches which he had bought when he had gone to Singapore and then this caught my eye.



I did not take a really good look at it and offered it to my brother. My brother, for some reason, gave it back. This time I took a long glace at it and was stunned when I turned it back.
It read Swiss made!
I was really stunned! I never had known that my grandpa had a Favre Leuba.
Frankly I didn't even know this was even a Swiss brand.
I shared what I found with some of my friends and they shed some light on it and indeed verified that what I had was a genuine Swiss Favre Leuba.
My grandpa had expired in 2005 and for the past 2 decades it was unused.

I am so ashamed to have thought that this worked on a battery

Then my tenant asked me to shake it.
For every 20 second shake, the seconds dial wakes up from the decades of slumber and runs for 5 seconds and falls asleep again.

I went to the nearest neighbourhood shop and he said he would do complete servicing, greasing and what not for 600 bucks.
This got me thinking, "if it can be serviced, why not restore it?"







The glass is cracked.
I want to change the bracelet.
The watch works brilliantly even after such a long hibernation.

Obviously, I did not want after-market replacements so I came back and decided to take it slowly, learn more about the watch and find the right specialist.

If anyone's from Bangalore, who has previously undertaken a restoration project of their Vintage watches, please shed some light on finding the right specialist.

Unexpected reception of this watch has sparked a new fire in me to gain an understanding of mechanical watches and the like!
I need proper initiation into the world of watches.

Any resources that you have to share, are highly appreciated as I am eagerly looking forward to learning!

[Auranator]

BHPians, I require your assistance for my beloved Fossil Automatic watch which is behaving abnormally. When I turn the crown 3-4 times, it ideally should start working but it doesn't fire up. It sometimes work the entire day and sometimes it stops working on my wrist itself. I need to find some reliable shops in Mumbai/Thane to service my watch. Your leads will be appreciated greatly. Thanks

[whencut86]

Originally Posted by Abhinav V

Any resources that you have to share, are highly appreciated as I am eagerly looking forward to learning!

Favre Leuba has changed many hands, most recently from Tatas to Ethos Watches. You can try Ethos Watches service but it may be costly.

[riteshritesh]

Originally Posted by Abhinav V

Any resources that you have to share, are highly appreciated as I am eagerly looking forward to learning!

I would avoid Big chains as the technicians are emotionless. You need a passionate person who is willing to discuss the restoration with you. You'll have to hunt for old watch shops and someone who is willing to let you see his work alongside.
Reddit recommends Time and Me Indiranagar but again they seem like a big name. You could try and have your 1st preview/interview to see if you are comfortable.Facebook has some Indian Watch enthusiast groups, maybe try asking there too. Take it slow.

[akshaymahajan]

Originally Posted by Abhinav V

I was really stunned! I never had known that my grandpa had a Favre Leuba.
Frankly I didn't even know this was even a Swiss brand

I got one 80's Favre Leuba serviced recently from this shop Time&Me - did a great job.

Everything is done behind closed doors and does take time, but I was happy about the end results.

[shankar.balan]

Originally Posted by Abhinav V

Then my tenant asked me to shake it.
For every 20 second shake, the seconds dial wakes up from the decades of slumber and runs for 5 seconds and falls asleep again.

I went to the nearest neighbourhood shop and he said he would do complete servicing, greasing and what not for 600 bucks.
This got me thinking, "if it can be serviced, why not restore it?"

The glass is cracked.
I want to change the bracelet.
The watch works brilliantly even after such a long hibernation.

Obviously, I did not want after-market replacements so I came back and decided to take it slowly, learn more about the watch and find the right specialist.

If anyone's from Bangalore, who has previously undertaken a restoration project of their Vintage watches, please shed some light on finding the right specialist.

learning!

1. Yes watches can be cleaned, restored and rebuilt.
2. Yours looks like a proper vintage piece.
3. I would go ‘authorised dealer’ all the way.
4. 25 years ago I got a new plexiglass for my grand dads Omega Sea-master because the original plexiglass had a crack in it. But I had to send it via Ethos all the way to Switzerland. And it cost a pretty penny.
5. Do NOT change the bracelet.
6. Do NOT get the watch ‘polished’.
7. Let the original Patina remain because thats how it holds its value.
8. For restoration work it would be good to try to talk to Ethos, Zimson, else P Orr and Sons Chennai or C T Pundole in Pune.