Possible new watch?

chillidoggy

The wife is mulling getting me a new watch for my 60th birthday later this year, so I've been having a look around to see if there's anything I fancy in her price range. Sadly, I've come up blank, and realised that I will probably have to make a contribution to get something I like.

Anyway, whilst wasting hours of Company time surfing, I stumbled on the Bremont brand, which looked to have some nice watches. Any of the watch fans here had any experience with them, or got any views on them?

danishbacon

I don't like Bremont personally. I find them to be overpriced for what you get and seemingly rely on a whole lot of marketing/hype. It's also a relatively new brand which came into the business during the Swiss automatic hype of the 00s. You are probably into used IWC/Omega or in-house tudor money there. 

stickyfiddle

They’re ok but all the designs seem just a fraction “clinical” to me. 

Id also prefer IWC/Omega, personally - at that level you’re into Mk XVIII or Speedmaster Pro money anyway. 

What do you alr3ady have? Yacht master, iirc?

chillidoggy

Yes, I already have a Yachtmaster 2, which I bought new in a cracking deal about 3 years ago, and to be honest, there's not much else in the Rolex range that tickles the fancy, new or used.

I have tried on load of IWC watches, and thought they were nice, although the prices for some were way over what I might pay. I also quite like the Breitling Navitimers, particularly the blue-faced GMT or World versions. and I see there's a new Navitimer 01 movement in the range for a bit more money.

An outsider I really like the look of is one or two of the Corum Admirals Cup watches, although the ones I like are not in the current range, so would have to be secondhand.

But are you guys saying you feel the Bremont range is simply overpriced by comparison with IWC/Omega etc? Is that due to quality, or cachet, perhaps? If it's the former, then I agree that's a factor in the decision. If it's the latter, I'm not too worried about it.

oaf

It is stuff like this:

https://www.ft.com/content/5302fa1c-0382-11e4-817f-00144feab7de

http://www.woundforlife.com/2014/07/28/opinion-bremont-debacle-update/

that hasn't done them any favours. They're a new company with little "heritage" but quite a few tie-ins/special editions (with associated marketing). If you like it buy it but I understand you should be able to achieve a significant discount from RRP.

Travisthedog

I see you with one of them massive Hublot watches

You know, subtle just like you 

chillidoggy

oaf said:

It is stuff like this:

https://www.ft.com/content/5302fa1c-0382-11e4-817f-00144feab7de

http://www.woundforlife.com/2014/07/28/opinion-bremont-debacle-update/

that hasn't done them any favours. They're a new company with little "heritage" but quite a few tie-ins/special editions (with associated marketing). If you like it buy it but I understand you should be able to achieve a significant discount from RRP.

Cheers for that, although I couldn't open the FT link without a subscription.

From that, I read that aside from  Bremont employing Russ Andrews to do their marketing, there's nothing inherently wrong with the product, although the general feeling amongst the community is that they're overpriced and a reasonable discount should be had off RRP.

How's that sound?

Phil_aka_Pip

Time is an illusion. Lunchtime doubly so.

rocktron

I loved the "panda face" Breitling Navitimer due to its size. 

Subsequently, there have been cheaper copies available from Rotary, and even Sekonda. Google for Rotary Chronograph. 

Check here for high-end watches :-   https://www.wempe.com/en/watches/selection/mens-watches

  

dbphoto

Fairly inexpensive in the world of watches but I added another Bell & Ross to my collection last week:

https://www.bellross.com/our-collections/vintage/br-v/br-123/br-123-commando

I also have my eye on this from Baume & Mercier:

http://www.baume-et-mercier.co.uk/clifton-10054.html

chillidoggy

rocktron said:

I loved the "panda face" Breitling Navitimer due to its size. 

Subsequently, there have been cheaper copies available from Rotary, and even Sekonda. Google for Rotary Chronograph. 

Check here for high-end watches :-   https://www.wempe.com/en/watches/selection/mens-watches

  

Checked that site, no prices shown anywhere, though.

mbe

I would pick something from the Oris brand range. They do have enough heritage to be worthwhile investing in. I think Bremont are still regarded as a 'mushroom' brand in the watch trade.

chillidoggy

dbphoto said:

Fairly inexpensive in the world of watches but I added another Bell & Ross to my collection last week:

https://www.bellross.com/our-collections/vintage/br-v/br-123/br-123-commando

I also have my eye on this from Baume & Mercier:

http://www.baume-et-mercier.co.uk/clifton-10054.html

Kind of begs the question "Do you go Commando"?

I do like the simplicity of both those designs and a friend of mine is very pleased with his B&R, although he's a bit eccentric and it's a square one. That said, the square Tag Monaco watches look pretty cool. Wear one in the Gulf Team colours and I could be Steve McQueen. No, maybe, not.

These are the Corums I like, both 'tides' watches, and compass markings, which I would find handy.

https://i.imgur.com/1ml1QcI.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/meaVqTm.jpg

chillidoggy

And the Bremont I like is the America's Cup regatta, which is a lot more plain and simple, but it has a 5 minute countdown timer in the face.

https://i.imgur.com/YyTI88a.jpg

dbphoto

It’s my third B&R, but none are that horrible square design, and I like my watches without too many ‘complications’

I look forward to the day where I can hopefully justify and afford something like this:

http://www.watches-of-switzerland.co.uk/Vacheron-Constantin-Patrimony/p/17510064/

BigMonka

dbphoto said:

Fairly inexpensive in the world of watches but I added another Bell & Ross to my collection last week:

https://www.bellross.com/our-collections/vintage/br-v/br-123/br-123-commando

I really like that B&R, really stylish. So much of the more expensive watches end up being huge and garish, but that's lovely.

Sporky

I have a Bremont Solo and I am very fond of it.

I went for it because I thought it was very pretty - simple, easy to read and fine for work, not-work and dressing up. I know it's totally subjective, but I still think it's the best looking watch I've seen.

Also a bit of me wanted something that would annoy watch snobs. I'm not fussed about heritage, that's just the emergent consequence of being in business for long enough.

(Edit) on the pricing front, the Solo is the cheapest in the range, and even if I liked the others more I don't think I'd have stumped up the extra. They do get spendy.

I quite like some of the Christopher Ward range, and they elicit similar negativity from the hardcore watch fraternity.

fields5069

I have a Zenith, which is probably as unfashionable as a Swiss watch can get. They are, or at least were, one of the few true manufacturers in that they make the movements for some of their watches. Rolex, for example, used to use various third party movements including a modified Zenith El Primero. I have an El Primero Chronograph, nice watch but not a name.

dbphoto

I think we have similar tastes @Sporky as I have been close to buying a Bremont Solo a few times and for the money I think the Christopher Ward C5 Malvern 595 is lovely.

Sporky

I like the C1, C5 and C8. Probably the C8 best.

Dominic

Breguet ?