Oops my bad.. bad memory..
for the price u paid for a Glycine can get a MKII right?
I am those ppl if ask me to pay > US$400 for a non sapphire crystal.. its a big No-No

Thanks a lot!

I was quite picky in terms of the day-date vs the date.
I can't choose the right one to fit. (the day-date is extra rm2k+ just for the day indicator)
That day i saw Omega  watches De Ville Hour Vision never know is so exp also

Btw, what leather watches can i look for (i'm open for suggestion  )
Budget not more than rm10k

Anyone here got any good recommendations? I'm looking for:

- automatic movement (preferably swiss)
- aviator style (something like Steinhart Nav-B Chrono series, altho chronograph is not compulsory)
- with date (even better if comes with day and date)
- 45mm and above (preferably in black PVD case)
- good lume
- leather strap
- preferably with power reserve indicator
- preferably with transparent case back

Checked out Getat cos I kinda like the marina militare style, but most of them don't have date except Parnis (which seems to have everything!). 
I like this Steinhart model: Steinhart Nav-B Chrono 47mm
But unfortunately it doesn't come with black PVD case, no power reserve indicator and no transparent case back.    I don't really mind all these but does anyone have any recommendation for other brands?

Another things is I noticed there are quite a lot of automatic watches using Unitas movement. Are Unitas swiss or asian made? Some site says swiss unitas...some says asian unitas. So i'm confused. 

Help anyone? 

something like this feels like swatch?

this perhaps. Its a Chrono, Pwr reserve, date, black, 46.5mm, water resistance to 1000m issue here no display back and no day display.
cost b4 discount ~$20Kmg]

not all Zenith El Primero are crazy.. Defy Xtreme series are crazy/funky looking. Design wise U find more ppl loving swatch design vs Zenith.
price wise.. can buy 100 to 300 swatches to 1 Zenith Defy Xtreme. Its also non plastic.. extremely heavy.

r/photos/03_2006/magazine206/gall_zeno206.jpg[/img]

true... 

how about these? swatch? no swatch?

I like this post!
ya.. that Ball Aviator may become lonely...

The Oris BC4 will easily set me back RM10k+ after discount!! But what to do....gatal....if nothing to do this weekend then maybe go 'look-see loo-see' la. 

Its not that the brand sounds cheap to me....but dunno how to explain la....like I can't see myself wearing the brand I guess. In fact, I quite like their design (Swiss Army)...plus I know that particular model has pretty good movement...quality and all. Well, like I said...the brand doesn't appeal to me. Like Tag...its doesn't sound cheap and it isn't cheap either....but it doesn't appeal to me. B&R too...Montblanc (don't mind their pens actually  )...Longines too..to name a few.

Actually I just like that particular Oris....the BC4...the rest of their line, well not so much.

In fact, when I got the Ball Aviator, I was contemplating between Oris TT3 and Maurice Lacroix Pontos Chronographe. The TT3 is titanium...really light...and I dunno...it feels plasticky to me...I mean the weight of course!    I prefer something heavier I guess. I was really really tempted by the ML but then I was actually looking for something I can wear everyday...a 'workhorse' so to speak...and I don't think I can wear the ML everyday. So I finally settle for the Aviator...plus the sales person was going on and on about how great the lume is.    Well, after buying it...its now more like a 'retired horse' than a 'workhorse'!!! 

You asked which brand I have a thing for? Well, to be honest, there are a few brands that I stay away from (as mentioned above) as they don't appeal to me (again, no offense to any fans)....but I quite fancy IWC particularly the pilot models, Omega, Panerai, Sinn....sigh, if only can afford!!....but in general, I like Aviator/Pilot styled watches. 

What about yourself...I gotta feeling you have a thing for Zenith. 

Jason: Tags are everywhere because of their strong marketing and versatility; but not those models with the RRP of 5 figures like GC. Its just like comparison of honda and toyota, where toyota are more sellable as they have cars of lower range in the 60k+ range while honda starts from 85k+ onwards. Longines do make a lot of nice watches, those nice ones you can hardly find them in malaysia. As far as what I saw from those AD selling longines, mostly are dress watches. By the end of the day, I don't really care if Tags are everywhere cause the model I'm having is a higher end of TH rather than those common models. Cheers.

@6.5K either get Jean Richard or add more ### and get the omega co-axial!!!!!!
get Oris + Ball both end up entry level, double the cost of servicing.
check around, hope this yr increase didn't happen yet.

haha... Zenith... manufacture.. I will tell U, I like anything that is manufacture!!!! always eyeing on the next inhouse movement. not that inhouse is always better. but so far swiss/German inhouse movement did perform better (when its done right)
El Primero is a famous movement too, was in Rolex Daytona for a number of yrs. Today in Tag's most expensive chrono on the market.
Zenith didn't really win the Chrono race, its complex.. there is long article on watchtime.com on it.

in fact many manual wind manufacture are fun to watch.
http://www.watchtime.at/archive/wt_2003_06...2003_06_042.pdf

not the kind that would pay unmod movement at a premium price if i can find something not so branded ( or known by everyday ppl) with the same inside and design I like. don't even care if no one notice what I am wearing.

Sinn makes good watches. alot of technology going into making a watch.

in fact VC do allow U to walk into the swiss office and design a complete watch to your liking.. so long U are willing to part with US$100K and up.
they will even make extra parts for future repairs or servicing.

somehow Longines is under appreciated in this part of the world. Read Longines CEO interview, Longines is big in Europe (esp France).

love those PVD watches, some models listed with retail price.
http://www.watchtime.at/archive/wt_2008_05/WT_0508_162.pdf

a nice but old article on affordable complications.
http://www.watchtime.at/archive/wt_2005_03...2005_03_104.pdf

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Added on March 3, 2010, 8:16 am

so much diamonds and still US$1995! thats cheap!
unlike the prev posted.. min starts around US$6K and still no diamonds.

@khopl

Hi bro, can let me know what price for Oris BC4 after your visit on the weekend?
Would like to know the actual figure. Thanks

@patryn33

Oh bro thanks for all the queries. Appreciate it
I was asking the price for both watches
-Maurice Lacroix
-Longines GrandeVitesse

This ML 112 based 7750 does looks good. But i would like something round

Very knowledgeable Hierarchy chart, so where does Oris stand? High-Middle or High-End?

Btw, Im planning to get for my "Once a life time Event" too

P/s: Can i know where can i get the best deal for Oris/Tag at KL/Pj area? Probably with good customer service.

Thanks

well... it could still mean the workers working on IWC Portuguese Chronograph (IIRC its a heavily mod 7750) is doing a better job regulating the watch than those working on Portuguese Automatic (calibre 5000) with in-house movement. diff ppl meant they wear it differently. a small sample size does not prove anything. diff btw +1 and +3 isn't that big of a deal anyway. so long its constantly do so.
http://people.timezone.com/msandler/Articl...000/Review.html

likewise those ppl who claim watch XYZ is within COSC specs, iirc I read a guru post stating its a empty claim. to be strict COSC U got to test in various positions and varies temp... and yada yada.. heck its a forum, just take it as pinch of salt.

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Added on March 4, 2010, 8:29 am

ML 112 is found in something round. Didn't the pic on the movement in a round case?
as for rect/square watch is for those looking for a PVD.

Oris is like a Louis Erard. maybe alittle better than Hamilton.

my love still goes out to Guinand if one seeks a good value for $$ 7750. Helmut Sinn founder of Sinn owns it today. love the philosophy of keeping prices down!
http://forums.watchuseek.com/showthread.ph...ghlight=guinand
http://forums.watchuseek.com/showthread.php?t=158528

Maurice Lacroix which range? pontos Chronographe Valgranges ? retail ~RM$15.5k
Longines Grande Vitesse  (on rubber/leather) retail ~RM$8k.
somehow I find Longines Spirit kinda cool, i heard this line is discontinued.

I think something like this also no bad. ~rm$13k, for some reason gray market is letting it go at 50%. maybe NOS.

PVD lovers! HAMILTON KHAKI X-MACH on 44mm case cheap retailing ~RM$6.5k also on 7750.

In bold can provide a link to the post?

ETA move on supplying ebauche is a known fact. iirc ETA did officially release this new. no need IWC to confirm that.

interesting read on IWC for those interested. interesting, even if ETA don't sell ebauche, but complete movement. other watch company are still welcome to buy and mod them! its like Stowa buying complete movement and still take the time to tear them apart, go thru their internal inspection and then reassembling it back. U would think it would be easier to by ebauche, cut the time of having to take it apart,
http://forums.watchuseek.com/showthread.php?t=256887

COSC didn't mean much even in the past. LOL...

ya.. ML seem to have increased the retail price.. but end up giving steep discount.. maybe can find 30%+ off!

the ML Pontos Chronographe Sport Full Black. maybe retailing ~RM$12K
http://www.sibaritissimo.com/maurice-lacro...ort-full-black/

Jazzmaster Maestro? like this??? the back of a unmod, undecorated 7750 behind Hamilton.
I still find the unmod blue screws, gold plated 7750 on Guinand darn pretty. price wise pretty close. if u can get on a super discount like I did for my Hamilton Khaki chrono then thats different case.  btw I paid only ~RM$1.8K.
http://forums.watchuseek.com/showthread.php?t=158528

I can afford up to SEIKO watches only  looking at my current salary slip.

hmmm....i think more people like Tag `design'...
as for Ball watches, its either you like it or not..especially the one you just showed...
As for quality, a lot of people seems to think Ball make good quality watches...

price/quality aside..ask yourself...can you look at the Ball dial everyday and still get excited? if yes, i think the Ball's the choice...

also, how often will you use the Tag subdials anyway?

most important...buy what YOU will like...all the best!

Archimede? not much history.. just 80yrs in the industry. kinda like Laco, Stowa, Oris just buy case, decorate the rotor, regulate and assemble it.

Nomos Glashütte.. founded in 1990. very new among all these big names. has their own movement, in fact the 1st batch of inhouse movement watches were given free to the public to get them to test and report issues.
http://www.glashuette.com/index.php?id=25&L=1

ya Sinn is young but not as young as Nomos... est in 1961 by Helmut Sinn sold the biz in 1994. Helmut Sinn went on later to GUINAND.
Sinn also started off as a watch assembler, case, oil etc are do nothing to the movement, more like in the lines of Bell and Ross. only in 1995 went on do R&D in escapement.

Bell and Ross was founded in 1992, Sinn was "making" their watches until 2002.

GUINAND is also what U term as "watch assembler", didn't mod the movement just plated and decorated it. surprising they are found in 1865, and had been producing all Sinn watches up until 1994! **** Could it mean Guinand made some of Bell and Ross watches during 1992-1994 ??? ***

Guess, only brands which did some reasonable R&D in movement and have a decent history would interest U. TAG sure fits the bill. The Ball U were looking at uses a ETA 2836-2 unmod. ad shock resistance at 7500G some dude here also got his ball damage by Shock. Legal they are covered its shock resistance not shockproof!

limited budget wanted value for $$$, only can go with watch assembler..
go with brands like Hamilton, Mido, Oris, Ball, Titoni they do have some history behind them as watch makers. Today they also just make the case. at times these case also bought it from far east. All they did decorate the rotor, regulate it and call it good. at times just get ETA movement and buy a add on for chrono or moonphase slap them together and name it their own movement.

have $$ then go for TAG, Breitling, Nomos, Pammy!

I find date and pwr res best combo!
would like to have a clean moonphase and a GMT watch some day...

26k?fuhh...ur watch is awesome!

Pammy heavily mod the 775X movement... 1000 pcs limited edition with that model, if bought 2-4 yrs ago.. no discount on these watches.
b4 getting their today brand recognition, I read somewhere those basic models are sold less than half their today's retail price.

by Guinand Info? its on their site.. wouldn't think Helmut Sinn (founder of Sinn) to be BSing..
http://www.guinand-watch.com/index.php?opt...&id=153&Itemid=
Accurate all depends on how well its regulated.. A Seiko mechanical can be "COSC" like accurate. even a Russian Poljot when its work well perform that well.

r3kahsttub!!!

i am impressed you recognized my UNDFTD's!!  You must have very good taste in shoes!

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Added on March 20, 2010, 8:09 pm

patryn33 - i can tell by your posts that you know watches very well.

you are correct, these's PAM's were selling for less than half price until Stallone made them popular.

the model has gone under several revisions over the last four years - actually there was a PAM 00196, which was replaced by the PAM 00250.  Nearly identical with a few differences.

My model was made in 2008, and I just recently sent it to service (still under warranty).  Without warranty, minimum service costs about RM 2000.

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Added on March 20, 2010, 8:26 pm

hehe Jason - I think he was just trying to find a way to complement.

I chose the watch because of its history, presence, and also because it's not too "mainstream" but not too exclusive where most people do not know what it is.  Also, fellow Paneristi are a bit different from other watch guys.  It's quite common to see some with a box full of a dozen or more Panerai.  They'll own a few IWC, AP and other marque's, but seriously, a box full of Panerai's. 

As far as a timepiece, there are watches that are 1/10 the price (Hamilton) that use the same exact ETA Valjoux movement.  In fact you have to spend RM 100k to get a true Panerai movement.

For me a watch is a symbol of status.  Women wear handbags, jewelry and shoes.  Men only have watches...and perhaps pens ( I collect pen's as well ).  Sometimes at my age, it requires something substantial, like an expensive watch, to gain credibility from people twice my age, that I have to do business with.

HT does not sell rolex, but the boss can get it for you either new or pre-loved. yeah omega's price going up on 1st april. Btw, anyone knows the RRP for Ball spacemaster and the spacemaster glow / x-lume. Wanna workout the difference n see which to get =x

if they lc ly just bang them with those brand that not popular in malaysia... I wore G-shock into sincere last time. One of the auntie sale person was like wtf....   I had met some nice sales person and bad sales person too...

actually, do you guys find a `half' Arab numerical (as in the number being `eaten' up by a sub dial) disturbing? i read that to many watch lovers, this is a no-no..

Wearing my Maurice LaCroix Calendrier Retrograde today.  Took this shot using a D40 with a softbox on the right if anyone cares about the photography involved.

I miss my Panerai, but it's good to mix things up a little.

Beautiful details from a not so mainstream watchmaker at a good price.  Blued steel hands and arabic numerals, genuine silver face details, and a pretty cool retrograde, power reserve and seconds complication.  Also has standard AR coating, and an exhibition back.

I accidently dropped this watch in '08 on the same teak hardwood floor photographed and busted the movement.  All this marketing about the Incabloc Shock Protection blah blah, but it couldn't withstand the acceleration of 9.8m/sec2 from torso height.  A month in the shop and RM ~1000 to fix. =/

Uses a heavily modified Unitas 6498-1 base movement which Maurice LaCroix calls the ML76 calibre.  Very audible tick-tick-tick from the escapement.  About 39mm face.  I switched the black leather strap with a brown crocodile strap - looks really appropriate with the white face.
Here are some watches I am considering:

Bell & Ross BR03-51 GMT - love the carbon fiber and titanium case.  Tried on a similar sized BR03 two years ago and fell in love.
IWC Portuguese Chronograph - classic and timeless design, great brand reputation and easy to find watch and at a reasonable price.
Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean - with the orange bezel and orange strap, looks sporty, a bit loud, but beautiful.  Tried it on at least three times and various retailers and almost took it home each time.  Love the hands.  Comes in two sizes, but the larger 46mm is "monstrous" and looks ridiculous on me.  Smaller one (I think 42mm?) is perfect.  Excellent build quality, reliability and for the price, IMO better looking than any Rolex (except maybe the Daytona Chrono). =)

Curious - what would LYN choose if from this list above (not saying you will agree with my choices, but if you had to choose =)
I would have posted pictures, but did not want to detract from the original meaning of the post which was to share my ML.

Of course I'd like to load the list up with my long time favourites like the Hublot Big Bang, or AP Royal Oak Offshore, but I can't justify the expense given this economy.

IWC.... not sure if much Mod going on in the movement, if its finishing ya.. alot of effort is put into finishing the movement. more Mod is done on those 7750 base Pammy than IWC will be my take.  perhaps with time IWC may fit it with their new inhouse Caliber 89360