The Watch Thread - Part 5

[Lurker_13]

new lum-tec titanium. only 75 pcs produced

Like everything abt the watch except the bezel!

 

[rboyboy]

This is a classic. I got this last year. Loving it.

I bet all the bambinos owners love their bambinos as well.

 

[Henabi]

No miu mius for now

Just a lovely smile.... Sorry OT

Cp near boon tong kee???
Nice shoot
Cant makeout the watch she is wearing..

 

[Paladium]

was looking at this, dunno if 5.7k is a good price to pay for without its box and papers. At its oldest this watch would be perhaps 6 -7 years old. any recommendations for watches???

I think you can find better alternatives with that amount of money. You can do better than that.

Incoming!!!

Very nice! Saw it in real life and it's a stunner. Always felt this one of the "must own" in some point of any serious collector's life.

A very good alternative to the sub as a dress diver.

 

[Azrielsc]

ohhh. haha that's quite good too! i wanna upgrade. waiting for money!

btw, anthony from strap 66 fast hand fast leg.
ready in 2 days. haha money fly again!
but his email replies not friendly one. abit guai lan

haha "hand-stitch", "hand-made", "customised" so yea. haha but first time buying, try try lor. may revert to normal straps if i see no difference.
OEM is way way over-price. so straps maker price it slightly lower and people go wow and since they think people who can spend thousands on pam, don't mind paying.
anyway, straps uses very little leather material. i think cost of it is $50 and $130+ for "workmanship"

i see those more than $200, hell no! haha

btw this anthony replies quite guai lan. i tried to be nice, ask questions but he give me one word replies or the way he speaks or portray himself. like he is popular and he doesn't give a f about another singaporean buyer.

let's see after i meet him up, his attitude better anot. afterall i paying him good money to make a strap for me.

so far, not a very good experience.

Hey Gaoxing84,

Yes, I have ordered and met up with Ant of Straps66 a couple of times to collect my straps.

I know 1st impressions count but as you know, emails can de-sensitize how people really are.

I have had email exchanges with him and it has always been the same, straight and to the point. Imagine him having to answer tens and hundreds of emails with requests of their straps, as well as taking photos of their personalised straps to whet your appetite before sending them out. If anyone of them turned out to be wrong, the strapmaker's reputation gets a big hit.

Not all of us are of similar nature and personality, not all of us are outgoing and extrovert. Some of us are mild mannered, reserved etc. Maybe guai lan is too strong a word, no?

Any how, I am also getting a strap from him too, collecting it this weekend in this colour, for my wife to match her bag:

I am surprised at how quickly he is getting it done and I haven't even received my new Pam yet! Thought he would take his usual 10-14 days, which my Pam will arrive then.

I wonder where he finds his time because of his full-time job whilst juggling this strapmaking business.

Have a chat or smoke with him whilst collecting your strap, he's a nice and quiet dude. He even helped me swap the strap for my wife's Pam and told me what and what not to do.

Live and let live, bro.

After buying myself a pair of shoes for $100+ and for my wife a leather braun buffel purse/wallet today (cost price $200+) it dawned on me how really high a price we are paying for a simple stitched watch strap typically > $150. What do these online self-made strap makers think man....just because we paid $10k for a Panerai means we think nothing about splurging $200-300 on a strap? Or its that they peg prices just under the the OEM prices. I think the latter. Easy money man.....

Hello Rachdanon,

Personally, I don't think handmade/custom straps are easy money. Yes, to the layman, they just look like leather straps, but if you notice, these craftsmen are what they are, craftsmen. They don't have machines/factories that buy leather in bulk and have them machined out 24/7 and then charge high prices for them.

I honestly believe that they spent quite a deal of time learning how to make straps, buy the tools, set up a website, searching for leathers, personalise every strap and ensuring the customer is happy. On top of that, they are constantly improving their skills in making good straps.

Handcrafted straps by these strapmakers are tailored to your wants, like how I typed out a long list of what you can ask for to Gaoxing84. It is something that no one has the exact same strap and you may find "flaws" in them, maybe 1 particular stitch is out of alignment, etc, but that is the beauty of a handmade strap. Knowing that it is done by a person, not by a machine!

It is like picking a shirt out of a rack at Uniqlo and going to a tailor and getting a tailored made shirt.

Have a great night and happy strap hunting!

 

[wobbpia]

Hi, i am currently stationed in the UK but ill be coming back to sg in a few months time.

Could anyone tell me if its cheaper to buy in the UK or singapore? I heard it's cheaper to buy in singapore as the ADs give a much higher discount. The watch shops in the UK dont really seem to give any discount and the watches on sales are usually quite ugly.

I am interested in getting an omega watch. I dont have enough post counts to post links though Its the AQUA TERRA 150 M OMEGA CO-AXIAL 41.5 MM. How much would thiswatch cost in singapore?

Cheers.

 

[meggidodimus]

I think you can find better alternatives with that amount of money. You can do better than that.



looking at omega speedmaster professional as an alternative but well i guess its a different look altogether. seeing that its the hesalite crystal, duno is it worth getting or not, trying to find out more.

yea considering im going to blow that amount of money, got to see which option is best but here and there all the same things

 

[a562140]

was looking at this, dunno if 5.7k is a good price to pay for without its box and papers. At its oldest this watch would be perhaps 6 -7 years old. any recommendations for watches???

just noticed the small print "st moritz" that piqued my interest

of course this is a popular swiss resort for the rich, and did some light surfing and this is a very interesting model indeed - a limited edition st moritz de ville.

incidentally omega also has a boutique there - alongside a slew of high end brands serving the high-net-worth visitors to st moritz while they recover from their skiing runs.

back to the watch - from my light reading it uses an early version co-axial, so its a bona fide in house movement, swiss designed. for purists this is a curiousity that would just grow over time.

this is the limited edition version too, right?

my sense of pricing for these kind of watches is that its established by the used watch stores. you get the odd pricing on the forum by a private seller that may just be out of whack, but it will be snapped up quickly. but its all about chasing limited stocks so you need to make a judgement call

if you're buying for yourself i think this is a very interesting find. not like a mass-luxury popular piece. but a truly unique specimen. if you're concerned about resale then you need to understand the purist market is but a fraction of the entire market, but if you're patient enough these are the type of watches that truly consistently hold their value if you can find the right buyer.

also with short supply of unique movements these stand a chance of appreciation due to the very limited supply. e.g. if Omega starts a new mainstream St Moritz range.

finally its an Omega so you won't have to worry 20-30 years down the road as its a big company and well known to keep parts even for their vintage models.

my 2 cents worth... but curious what draws you to this watch? why this particular model/brand?

 

[yattokame]

Wife saw this on google. Now she wants the 53 mod for herself.

 

[gaoxing84]

Hey Gaoxing84,

Yes, I have ordered and met up with Ant of Straps66 a couple of times to collect my straps.

I know 1st impressions count but as you know, emails can de-sensitize how people really are.

I have had email exchanges with him and it has always been the same, straight and to the point. Imagine him having to answer tens and hundreds of emails with requests of their straps, as well as taking photos of their personalised straps to whet your appetite before sending them out. If anyone of them turned out to be wrong, the strapmaker's reputation gets a big hit.

Not all of us are of similar nature and personality, not all of us are outgoing and extrovert. Some of us are mild mannered, reserved etc. Maybe guai lan is too strong a word, no?

Any how, I am also getting a strap from him too, collecting it this weekend in this colour, for my wife to match her bag:

I am surprised at how quickly he is getting it done and I haven't even received my new Pam yet! Thought he would take his usual 10-14 days, which my Pam will arrive then.

I wonder where he finds his time because of his full-time job whilst juggling this strapmaking business.

Have a chat or smoke with him whilst collecting your strap, he's a nice and quiet dude. He even helped me swap the strap for my wife's Pam and told me what and what not to do.

Live and let live, bro.



Hello Rachdanon,

Personally, I don't think handmade/custom straps are easy money. Yes, to the layman, they just look like leather straps, but if you notice, these craftsmen are what they are, craftsmen. They don't have machines/factories that buy leather in bulk and have them machined out 24/7 and then charge high prices for them.

I honestly believe that they spent quite a deal of time learning how to make straps, buy the tools, set up a website, searching for leathers, personalise every strap and ensuring the customer is happy. On top of that, they are constantly improving their skills in making good straps.

Handcrafted straps by these strapmakers are tailored to your wants, like how I typed out a long list of what you can ask for to Gaoxing84. It is something that no one has the exact same strap and you may find "flaws" in them, maybe 1 particular stitch is out of alignment, etc, but that is the beauty of a handmade strap. Knowing that it is done by a person, not by a machine!

It is like picking a shirt out of a rack at Uniqlo and going to a tailor and getting a tailored made shirt.

Have a great night and happy strap hunting!

Haha haven't put him down yet. Just waiting to meet him and hopefully my impression will change. Really hope so. Cause this is my first custom strap and don't want my first experience to be a bad one. It's good to get straight to the point but you know sometimes I am being nice and all, trying to chat him up a little and ask more questions, even apologise to him for the amount of questions asked.
For one, I ask if tubes are included and if not I don't mind paying, his reply was it's included lar..and I said oh didn't know cause description never state and I am just asking. He replied any decent strap maker will included lar. Haha so fierce the reply. Haha.

But I am impressed by how fast he finished my strap even thought he say lead time is 2-3 weeks (took him 2 days! Sunday ordered, Tuesday ready!) I think he tries to clear out as many local orders asap. Haha let the ang moh wait a little longer.

He even send me a picture of the strap made. So all is forgiven and I hope meeting him will be a good experience. Haha.

If good, this may not be the last strap I am getting from him. The next one will be the green strap you're wearing. Haha
But will be giving kain heritage a try. Free sub buckle and they have the grey leather I am looking for. Haha. Then can swap the buckle around. Lol.

How you feel matching brushed buckle with polished case? Not too bad right?

Customising = hefty price tag. Workmanship and craftsmanship. The very first reason why we are paying so much for a watch right?

What's your next pam?!
Will be collecting this coming Saturday noon after my exams. Haha taking circle line to amk then circle back to tampines. Phew! Any idea what bus to his place from amk interchange? Long shot cause I am not sure if you drive. Haha

 

[gaoxing84]

Wife saw this on google. Now she wants the 53 mod for herself.

Lai liao lai liao! Looks good on nato!

 

[ecan07]

Wife saw this on google. Now she wants the 53 mod for herself.

lol ur wife also poisoned!

 

[a562140]

I think you can find better alternatives with that amount of money. You can do better than that.



looking at omega speedmaster professional as an alternative but well i guess its a different look altogether. seeing that its the hesalite crystal, duno is it worth getting or not, trying to find out more.

yea considering im going to blow that amount of money, got to see which option is best but here and there all the same things

can't go wrong with a rollie or a speedy they say

i have many watches that are not sapphire crystal and never found them to be an issue. of course the odd scratch here and there but you can polish them off more easily.

the real decision to me when considering speedy pro is manual winding - you have to be diligent otherwise risk getting caught out when it (un)winds down to a stop. the next one is whether to go with a less common model, or to blend in with the crowd.

from my experience "best option" is elusive when we have so much choice today. sometimes i like rolex other times seiko, sometimes i like new other times vintage, other days even quartz!

so best option is buying what you can afford, and taking the time to enjoy what you buy. in EDMW parlance - "hoot first talk later"

 

[sharkapl]

i think the dagaz watch will be thinking why suddenly the dials are selling faster than usual.
and maybe he will be thinking why this address must send so many times within 1 week (yattokame)

anyway any NATO to recommend for SNZH55 ?

 

[Azrielsc]

Haha haven't put him down yet. Just waiting to meet him and hopefully my impression will change. Really hope so. Cause this is my first custom strap and don't want my first experience to be a bad one. It's good to get straight to the point but you know sometimes I am being nice and all, trying to chat him up a little and ask more questions, even apologise to him for the amount of questions asked.
For one, I ask if tubes are included and if not I don't mind paying, his reply was it's included lar..and I said oh didn't know cause description never state and I am just asking. He replied any decent strap maker will included lar. Haha so fierce the reply. Haha.

But I am impressed by how fast he finished my strap even thought he say lead time is 2-3 weeks (took him 2 days! Sunday ordered, Tuesday ready!) I think he tries to clear out as many local orders asap. Haha let the ang moh wait a little longer.

He even send me a picture of the strap made. So all is forgiven and I hope meeting him will be a good experience. Haha.

If good, this may not be the last strap I am getting from him. The next one will be the green strap you're wearing. Haha
But will be giving kain heritage a try. Free sub buckle and they have the grey leather I am looking for. Haha. Then can swap the buckle around. Lol.

How you feel matching brushed buckle with polished case? Not too bad right?

Customising = hefty price tag. Workmanship and craftsmanship. The very first reason why we are paying so much for a watch right?

What's your next pam?!

All's well that ends well yah?

The green strap is really nice. It was actually my very first strap, I think... Also was ready a few weeks/months before my 1st Pam (351) arrived! Hahaha!

Have you seen the Amazon series by Gunny? OMFG!

I haven't tried Kainheritage even though they do give good discounts over at SG-ROC. Personally, the straps seem more machine-made rather than handcrafted. I hope I am wrong. I am trying to pull the trigger on them but nothing attracts me at the moment. Maybe I should just save up and go for Wotan instead...

Polished case with brushed buckle? I have tried the combo with my 219 but it just seem "off" to me. No right or wrong, if you don't like it, swap out the buckle, unless your buckle is a GPF one!

As for the next Pam, it will be revealed in due time... IF IT EVER COMES!!! A big fat clue... it is different from what I have at the moment!

 

[yattokame]

i think the dagaz watch will be thinking why suddenly the dials are selling faster than usual.
and maybe he will be thinking why this address must send so many times within 1 week (yattokame)

anyway any NATO to recommend for SNZH55 ?

LOL!!!
Can ask our in-house vanilla way for nato straps!

 

[Henabi]

Wife saw this on google. Now she wants the 53 mod for herself.

Yatto... highly doubt your wife's objective is JUST this watch =P
gut feeling its something else lolx...

keep us informed yeah ^.^

 

[Lurker_13]

Wife saw this on google. Now she wants the 53 mod for herself.

O no! U spread your poison to your wifey liaoz!

 

[yattokame]

No miu mius for now

Just a lovely smile.... Sorry OT

Anybody else like me secretly hoping this is triste? Cos he/she promised to hold hands with me leh.

 

[yattokame]

Aiya. Ord personnel all is abit broke one. Haha been there so I know and you're offered, must as well and I get to meet a yandao in real life! Win win for me!

Eh pal
Quite a few ppl have seen me before and only u say I YD. U need new glasses lol

I assure everyone else gaoxing is yd. Model calibre.