Hey folks, sorry wanna ask further about grey market dealers vs AD, coz I’m not so familiar. If I understand correctly from the previous posts, if it’s not AD, it’s grey market.

So I’m looking to get the Omega Speedy. From Omega’s website I only see Cortina Watches as the only 3rd party AD. Does that mean even those other big shops carrying Omega like The Hour Glass and Swiss Watch Gallery (by the Valiram group) are grey market dealers for Omega, since they’re not listed on Omega’s main website?

Ah got it. Thanks so much, appreciate the info!

Curious question for everyone here: Has anybody moved away from smartwatches and gone back to mechanical watches? Why did you do it and how was your experience like with that transition? Are you still tracking your fitness and how?


I've bought my first mechanical watch, a Montblanc Timewalker Chronograph UTC, when I hit a life milestone back in 2014 or so. Loved it to bits. And then I got bit by the Apple Watch bug. I bought Gen 2, and then upgraded to Gen 4 and have been using that ever since, while my mechanical watch just sat in its box untouched.

Now I feel like I'm just tired with the Apple Watch. Realized I don't use much of the smart features except for fitness tracking when I'm working out. And I'm kinda tired staying hyperconnected with all the notifications etc. I have my phone for that and I seriously need to reduce the "digital noise" around me. Maybe it's also because I'm in IT and I'm a huuge tech nerd who's constantly dealing with tech, and now I really feel a need to draw a line somewhere. I suddenly feel "too much tech" is a thing now. Or maybe it's just me aging LOL.

So, for the past 2 weeks, I did an experiment. I took out my old mechanical from its box, wound it up and wore it around daily to see whether I can get used to it again. Now I'm back in love. Things are waaaaay more peaceful, I don't feel a need to be super reactive to digital noise, and the feeling that there's something alive on my wrist ticking away is really something that a smartwatch cannot replace. I loved it so much so that I'm now looking to add one more mechanical soon.

As for the Apple Watch, I'm still using it when I'm working out and when I'm sleeping (for sleep tracking). Although I'm thinking of getting something that is less obtrusive for fitness tracking, so that I can wear together with my mechanical without looking weird

So back to my question above - wondering if anybody has had any similar experiences. Aaand if you have any suggestions for "minimalist"/less obtrusive fitness tracking alternatives too

This post has been edited by jackhammer84: Sep 19 2023, 12:18 PM