Accie's fake Rolex.

[Regular.Cyclist]

Cripes £3k for an old one, seemingly a mainstream production one at that. How much is a new one ? Fair enough certain old things are deemed antique or whatever, but if they are still making them, or making something very similar, hopefully better ...

The current Air King is a completely different style from these older units and will set you back £6,250 if you can get one at RRP. There are examples of 2022 and 2023 Air Kings online in the £7k and up range.

 

[Reynard]

One of my nephews recently bought a Hublot watch online. It's lovely but I'm sure it's a ladies watch but he wont admit it and is too embarrassed to send it back

A genuine question - what does a watch have to do to be a man's watch, or a ladies? If it's a size thing I don't follow, as I've narrower wrists than a lot of the women I know. Styling I kind of understand.

Outside of the obvious styling differences, it's mainly size and movement. Tend to be smaller and mostly quartz or solar / eco-drive. I get the impression that the people who make typical ladies watches (I'm talking high street / affordable here as that's my experience) seem to think that we don't like the faff of mechanical movements. I can't see the problem myself, I'm glad to be battery and electronics free...

As for size, IMHO it shouldn't really matter. Buy what sits comfortably on the wrist and what pleases the eye. Narrower wrists lend to curved lugs and smaller sizes, but industry marketing and social media influencers have a lot to answer for TBH.

Also, it's much easier from a manufacturing perspective to make a bigger movement than a smaller one which in part explains the gradual increase in watch size over the years. That's why BITD ladies watches tended to cost around three times as much as the man's equivalent.

 

[Gunk]

I spoke to my goldsmith/jeweler/minor watch repairer friend today. He said https://www.bqwatches.com/ is the best place to buy 'pre-loved' watches. He said buying from even reputable jewelers/watch sellers means you're paying the middle man, when you don't have to. He had a look at the BQ Watches site and said this Rolex is far better than the Omega I saw yesterday at the same price.

View attachment 689031

https://www.bqwatches.com/product/rolex-air-king-40/

But the Rolex was made in 1960 making it as old as me! He said it'll have been serviced, cleaned and polished before being put up for sale. Plus they offer a 2 year warranty and 14 days free return if you're not happy with it.

I’ve got a 1965 version - year I was born

 

[Regular.Cyclist]

Outside of the obvious styling differences, it's mainly size and movement. Tend to be smaller and mostly quartz or solar / eco-drive. I get the impression that the people who make typical ladies watches (I'm talking high street / affordable here as that's my experience) seem to think that we don't like the faff of mechanical movements. I can't see the problem myself, I'm glad to be battery and electronics free...

As for size, IMHO it shouldn't really matter. Buy what sits comfortably on the wrist and what pleases the eye. Narrower wrists lend to curved lugs and smaller sizes, but industry marketing and social media influencers have a lot to answer for TBH.

Also, it's much easier from a manufacturing perspective to make a bigger movement than a smaller one which in part explains the gradual increase in watch size over the years. That's why BITD ladies watches tended to cost around three times as much as the man's equivalent.

I bought my wife a Rolex from 1914 a few years ago. Obviously mechanical and in a 26mm case. No reason they need to fit a quartz movement just because it’s small.

A lot of low end mechanical watches today will have a plastic spacer inside to fill the gap between the movement and the case.

The prevalence of quartz movements really annoys me and puts me off certain brands l

 

[Drago]

Although certain quartz movements, like Bulova's 60s and 79s accutron, have a particular vintage charm of their own.

 

[Gunk]

Here is my 5500

and a good resource here if you are thinking of buying one.

https://www.bobswatches.com/rolex-blog/buying-guides/rolex-5500-review-ultimate-guide.html

 

[Regular.Cyclist]

Although certain quartz movements, like Bulova's 60s and 79s accutron, have a particular vintage charm of their own.

I’ve got a couple of quartz watches simply due to a link to cycling. I’ve also got a ‘hummer’ in an Omega de ville f300 from the early ‘70s.

 

[Reynard]

Although certain quartz movements, like Bulova's 60s and 79s accutron, have a particular vintage charm of their own.

Accutrons (and similar) use a tuning fork vibrating at 360Hz to regulate the movement. Interesting, clever and rather weird. Quartz is a crystal that does the same thing but more simply - down to the piezzoelectric properties of the material.

 

[Gunk]

I bought my wife a Rolex from 1914 a few years ago. Obviously mechanical and in a 26mm case. No reason they need to fit a quartz movement just because it’s small.

A lot of low end mechanical watches today will have a plastic spacer inside to fill the gap between the movement and the case.

The prevalence of quartz movements really annoys me and puts me off certain brands l

Even Rolex had a stab at it

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolex_Oysterquartz

 

[Reynard]

I bought my wife a Rolex from 1914 a few years ago. Obviously mechanical and in a 26mm case. No reason they need to fit a quartz movement just because it’s small.

A lot of low end mechanical watches today will have a plastic spacer inside to fill the gap between the movement and the case.

Quite often the case with vintage as well, again at the cheaper end of the scale. Or with watch styles like skin divers.

The prevalence of quartz movements really annoys me and puts me off certain brands l

I don't mind quartz - have a much loved Seiko I bought myself nearly 30 years agi - but it was what my father wanted me to buy, not the automatic that I'd actually saved up for. (A long story, but not relevant here). But what does miff me is the amount of money I've piddled away on batteries since. When it finally keeled over, I switched to mechanical watches and haven't looked back.

 

[Regular.Cyclist]

Even Rolex had a stab at it

View attachment 689244

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolex_Oysterquartz

Came out of concern about the future of mechanical movements during the quartz crisis.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quartz_crisis

 

[AndyRM]

Outside of the obvious styling differences, it's mainly size and movement. Tend to be smaller and mostly quartz or solar / eco-drive. I get the impression that the people who make typical ladies watches (I'm talking high street / affordable here as that's my experience) seem to think that we don't like the faff of mechanical movements. I can't see the problem myself, I'm glad to be battery and electronics free...

As for size, IMHO it shouldn't really matter. Buy what sits comfortably on the wrist and what pleases the eye. Narrower wrists lend to curved lugs and smaller sizes, but industry marketing and social media influencers have a lot to answer for TBH.

Also, it's much easier from a manufacturing perspective to make a bigger movement than a smaller one which in part explains the gradual increase in watch size over the years. That's why BITD ladies watches tended to cost around three times as much as the man's equivalent.

Thank you, that makes a lot of sense.

 

[Poacher]

Although certain quartz movements, like Bulova's 60s and 79s accutron, have a particular vintage charm of their own.

The Omega Incabloc Oyster Accutron .. 72 is the only wristwatch for a drummer. It tells true, and it ain't no bummer.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWl-4lLFrBM

 

[Accy cyclist]

While in the retro clothing shop this aft, I mentioned the Rolex to a woman who 'hangs out' in the shop. She told me that she has two Cartier watches for sale. Well, one really as she wants to keep one. She said she wants around £2,500 for either of them. I asked her to bring them to the shop tomorrow so I can have a look. She said one is a 'tank' like the one below and the other one I can't remember what she called it. She said both are around 20 years old, with papers and their original boxes. I took that photo below last Tuesday, outside the jewelers who are selling the Omega I posted about. She said that both watches are unisex. When I saw the one below i did and still do think it's more a ladies than a gents. What do you reckon to it? It's certainly different to the Rolex Air king. Do Cartier watches hold their value? Are they as well made as Rolex watches and is the one below a gents as well as a ladies watch?

 

[Regular.Cyclist]

£2.5k for a 20 year old Cartier tank watch, even with box and papers, sounds on the high end for a private sale. Get more details and comp prices with others before committing to anything.

Personally I’d say the diamonds would make that a ladies watch.

Both Cartier and Rolex are pretty equal in terms of quality but Rolex will retain its value better.