Show us your watch Collection.

[Reynard]

I have a vintage Brazilian-made ladies Mirvaine heading my way after I won an auction on the Bay of E the other night. I broke my "no quartz" rule to try out a diver-style watch, because a mechanical one would be an expensive mistake if I don't get on with it. They're larger and chunkier than what I normally wear, and I've got really small wrists.

My dad's Longines, at 35mm is too big and flat, which makes it uncomfortably awkward at the best of times. This incoming Mirvaine is 30mm, and well, £3 plus P&P for an all-stainless steel watch, it's worth a punt if nothing else.

 

[Gunk]

Yesterday’s trawl of the charity shops turned up this, a rare luminous model Montaine

View attachment 756309

for £30

Around £500 new, you did very well!

 

[Reynard]

Well, my £3 Bay of E Brazilian-made Mirvaine diver watch (well, strictly speaking, it's a GMT with a pepsi bezel) turned up. I wasn't expecting a brand new watch, as the photos on the listing were pretty ropey, but a brand new all-stainless steel watch is what I got.

Bracelet needs a link or two out of it to make it comfortable. It's a nice thing though, very readable with its big hands and bright lume. I like it and I think I'll wear it a fair bit. But at at 30mm case size and 40mm lug-to-lug, it's as big as I'd feel happy wearing.

Would I swing for a mechanical diver-type watch on this basis? Probably not. It sits rather ostentatiously on the wrist, and kind of reminds me how nicely discreet the smaller vintage watches are.

Which for me, is kind of the point. The ability to wear something nice without being flashy.

 

[Regular.Cyclist]

Nice find Reynard. With a bit of proper marketing it’s one you should certainly make a profit on if / when you want to move it on.

 

[Reynard]

Nice find Reynard. With a bit of proper marketing it’s one you should certainly make a profit on if / when you want to move it on.

Ta muchly

There's a different seller who has three of them (same case but slightly different bezel) up for grabs at £19.99 each. Best I managed to find out from a furkle on Mr Google is that these are all NOS left over when the company ceased trading around 30 years ago, and that small batches of them do pop up every now and again. Originally Swiss, Mirvaine then moved production to Brazil. They apparently have a citizen / miyota movement inside.

FWIW, I'm currently wearing a 23mm Eberhard, so decidedly smaller LOL

 

[Vlad the Impala]

Any other watch fans here fallen down the Ali Express rabbit hole? My modest collection has 8 from there. (The Seikos/Grand Seiko are all "Feikos" that I built myself from AliX parts).

The value for money is astonishing. The Pagani Air King homage (bottom right, one in) and the pale blue Addiesdive (top right) are cracking watches. Both currently on Ali Express at under £60 (inc. VAT, UK delivered). Seiko NH35 movements, regulated to <5 secs/day, really well built, lovely dials, reasonable bracelets - I can't fathom the economics.

 

[biggs682]

So it looks like I have a choice between a 1960's Tissot and an 80's Certina mens watch.

Neither have been worn for a few years.

I need to try both on see which one I prefer

 

[Drago]

And today I've gone all Captain Willard. Will probably stay that way until I return from my camping trip at the weekend, just in case I bump into Colonel Kurtz.

 

[Reynard]

So it looks like I have a choice between a 1960's Tissot and an 80's Certina mens watch.

Neither have been worn for a few years.

I need to try both on see which one I prefer

Do you have to choose?

It would depend very much on what either of them are, tbh. I'd personally go mechanical Tissot over (likely) quartz Certina, although if the Certina is a DS, then that would swing it for me.

In terms of "level" they are both about the same, although Certina is more niche and under-the-radar compared to Tissot.

 

[Reynard]

And today I've gone all Captain Willard. Will probably stay that way until I return from my camping trip at the weekend, just in case I bump into Colonel Kurtz.

I've gone the other way this weekend, rocking a dress watch!

 

[Reynard]

P.S. Looks daft teamed with a onesie, but I've only myself to please LOL

 

[Drago]

I've gone the other way this weekend, rocking a dress watch!

You're a chick and can get away with that. I'm Bezel Man, and it's my duty to look like im ready at the drop or a hat to storm an embassy and rescue some hostages.

Which reminds me, I'm after a Heuer (pre-Tag) Passdena, just like Lewis Collins wore in The Professionals.

 

[biggs682]

Do you have to choose?

It would depend very much on what either of them are, tbh. I'd personally go mechanical Tissot over (likely) quartz Certina, although if the Certina is a DS, then that would swing it for me.

In terms of "level" they are both about the same, although Certina is more niche and under-the-radar compared to Tissot.

Yes i do and have the first choice , both were presented to my late dad by his workplace , the tissot one in 1964 after 21 years service and the Certina was presented just before he retired after doing best part of 50 years service .

I will get some pictures next time i am over there and have a better look at them

 

[Reynard]

You're a chick and can get away with that. I'm Bezel Man, and it's my duty to look like im ready at the drop or a hat to storm an embassy and rescue some hostages.

Which reminds me, I'm after a Heuer (pre-Tag) Passdena, just like Lewis Collins wore in The Professionals.

On my teeny, tiny wrists, anything above 30mm makes me look like I'm wearing a dinner plate strapped to my arm! Although I don't "do" the diddy bling cocktail watches either, don't want to be putting my glasses on when I want to check the time LOL.

OK, admittedly a gold Omega Saphette would be nice to have, but they are well out of my budget...

 

[Reynard]

Yes i do and have the first choice , both were presented to my late dad by his workplace , the tissot one in 1964 after 21 years service and the Certina was presented just before he retired after doing best part of 50 years service .

I will get some pictures next time i am over there and have a better look at them

Shame you've got to make a choice, but first dibs isn't to be sniffed at.

Both sound lovely, especially if they're "milestone" presentation watches. You could get lucky and find yourself a gold or a gold-capped case, so do check the case backs. You may well find an engraved inscription as well.