The Watch Thread - Part 6

[rachdanon]

^ think a bike will really benefit from the properties of titanium, more so than a watch. It's anti corrosive and light.

 

[rboyboy]

Literally! I bought this Litespeed frame in the late 80's and it's on it's 3rd set of components.

I remember saving up a looooong time for it. I couldn't afford paying for it at one go, so what I did was, I talked the bike shop owner to buy it for me and hang it in his shop, and I would pay him weekly until it was paid up and he would let me take it home.

Of course, prior to that, I knew the bike shop owner quite well as I bought my chromoly frame (Kona) from him and hung out at his shop daily. We developed a friendship. Although many people hate him, and I can understand why (cos he's pretty mean most times towards people), he seemed to take on a liking towards me.

He didn't have to buy a $3k bicycle frame (from the AD) and hang it in his shop indefinitely for a young punk to hopefully pay it off, without interest.

Ironically, it took me another year to be able to ride the bike cos I had to save up for the components as well.

I have broken my ribs riding it down a massive hill (my handlebar, wheels, fork, seat post were all broken in that fall), rode it from Thailand back to Singapore, it was my mode of transport for 2 years of my life and I rode it everywhere in Singapore.

I seldom ride nowadays. My butt isn't as hardy as it used to be. But whenever I look at it, it makes me smile.

Glad to know there are bike lovers in this thread too. Just like watches,I believe it's worth to get a good ti frame which you could ride for life.

 

[Beepok]

Black leather with white trimmings looks more sophisticated, my fellow PO Bro

Brown is more casual, weekend-ish right?

 

[pwillie]

Finally off work... TGIF

 

[rboyboy]

^ think a bike will really benefit from the properties of titanium, more so than a watch. It's anti corrosive and light.

Light or not depends on the types on titanium used for eg there's 3a/2.5v or 6a/4v which is more expensive and rare. There's also a type of steel which is pretty light as well. Guess I am going OT. oops

 

[chickenbackside]

^ think a bike will really benefit from the properties of titanium, more so than a watch. It's anti corrosive and light.

Definitely. Titanium watches don't age well. Scratches are really obvious.

Glad to know there are bike lovers in this thread too. Just like watches,I believe it's worth to get a good ti frame which you could ride for life.

Like anything in life

Light or not depends on the types on titanium used for eg there's 3a/2.5v or 6a/4v which is more expensive and rare. There's also a type of steel which is pretty light as well. Guess I am going OT. oops

I remember wanting the 6/4 Ti then, but couldn't afford it. Or rather, it would take me too long to save for it, haha. So I settled for 3/2.5. I bought the Merlin later on in life and it is definitely a lot better made than my Litespeed. It's stiffer but still comfortable and the welds are works of art...

 

[a562140]

This is in Bangkok right? I was there 2 weeks back, a lot of malls were having watch exhibitions



How are e reliability of e Chinese movements?

Big topic, but regarding specifically the Seagull ST19 here, the Chinese bought the movement off the Swiss, so the design is as good as any.

- Qualitywise you have different grades, but the top grade ones are pretty good, check out this review on a timegraph:
Review: Sea-Gull 1963 Chronograph | Watch Guy

- Track record - used by RXW circa 2000 for their high quality high price homages and plasmir milgraph range. These watches hold their value well as collectors items today, so I guess the movement is OK.



- Present- established microbrands are using the ST19 or its variant. impressive considering that there are japanese movements to consider e.g. magrette,

review here
worn&wound | New Magrette Chronographs: The Moana Pacific Chrono PVD and the Regattare Chrono

- Future- ST19 looks to cement its place with ETA movements supply restrictions by 2015, Dongfeng Seagull is a very profitable company, and recent release of a tourbillion and a double tourbillion showed the world that Chinese Watch Making industry is alive and kicking.

Trivia: at one of the Basel shows not too far back Roger Dubois made a formal complaint against Seagull for copyright infringement for a tourbillion design, but ended up with egg on their face, as the movement was indeed different.

 

[Beepok]

hahaha seagull st-19 is used in many replicas, but higher quality than DG or Nanning movements though.
Solid hand-wound relatively bomb-proof movement. But end of the day, it is still a copy/clone of the Lemenia Venus 175, which I originally thought was the movement in a562140's watch :/

 

[i_got_a_question_to_ask]

Black leather with white trimmings looks more sophisticated, my fellow PO Bro

You have same "omega" as beepok ah?

 

[Beepok]

You have same "omega" as beepok ah?

my omega is not a replica. people with fake watches can never have a real one?

 

[gaoxing84]

Pam owners, those hand wound, is it ticking loudly?

 

[a562140]

Definitely. Titanium watches don't age well. Scratches are really obvious.

For the easily scratched titanium (grade 1 and 2) its easy to rectify with light brushing.

Scratches depends titanium grade + coating. Seiko is using Grade 5 titanium and has been proven to be as scratch resistant as steel.

Depends on watchmaker to mix and match materials (alloys) and coatings to get the best result. But in general, if following Vickers hardness (HV) as a guide, roughly ranking is something like this:

316L steel < 904L steel < ceramic < titanium < diamond

Titanium is also:
- lighter (less dense without sacrificing strength)
- feels natural/dry to the touch (steel feels cold and tacky relatively)
- almost impossible to corrode under natural environment (i.e. much better vintag watch)

Pros and cons, but its a material you have to experience as a lot of the benefits is not visual and not immediate.

 

[a562140]

this 1 how much?

US4k-US6K..vintage collectible, can be found on ebay sometimes.

otherwise the cheaper option would be the seagull 1963 gold version

comes in two size 38mm (faithful to original) and 42mm.

 

[chickenbackside]

For the easily scratched titanium (grade 1 and 2) its easy to rectify with light brushing.

Scratches depends titanium grade + coating. Seiko is using Grade 5 titanium and has been proven to be as scratch resistant as steel.

Depends on watchmaker to mix and match materials (alloys) and coatings to get the best result. But in general, if following Vickers hardness (HV) as a guide, roughly ranking is something like this:

316L steel < 904L steel < ceramic < titanium < diamond

Titanium is also:
- lighter (less dense without sacrificing strength)
- feels natural/dry to the touch (steel feels cold and tacky relatively)
- almost impossible to corrode under natural environment (i.e. much better vintag watch)

Pros and cons, but its a material you have to experience as a lot of the benefits is not visual and not immediate.

Thanks for the education!

I know the feel and the anti-corrosion property of Ti (as witness by my bikes). I used to have a PAM177, and that's where my impression of Ti watches came from. It looked pretty bad after a year. I was lucky to have sold it to someone who didn't mind it. He probably knew he could easily rectify it.

 

[a562140]

Thanks for the education!

I know the feel and the anti-corrosion property of Ti (as witness by my bikes). I used to have a PAM177, and that's where my impression of Ti watches came from. It looked pretty bad after a year. I was lucky to have sold it to someone who didn't mind it. He probably knew he could easily rectify it.

actually i think Panerai - one of the early adopters of Ti - purposely chose it so that it will collect patina. same reason why they have their bronzo's and this pic off their main site actually shows an "aged" watch !

 

[balzebub]

where to buy this ah? and how much...? it's really quite nice with a vintage touch.
thanks!

The panda dial version in 42mm is available from thomas in HK, formerly from seagull HK, he also carries the reverse panda version in 42mm and the classic champagne dial versions in 38mm and 42mm. His price around 330 SGD after conversion and shipping. Warranty is from him.

Alternative seller would be seagull sg aka David at Adelphi, he carries the same variety as thomas from HK, but his price is higher around 380 SGD to 420 SGD. Warranty is supposed to be from Seagull handled by him as he is the authorized dealer for seagull here.

Alternatively now Segull's official TMALL store also carries the champagne version, but it's expensive, around 600 SGD I think. According to David, the tmall version will have a case made of higher grade stainless steel? Hence th premium. The cheaper versions are not produced by Seagull Tianjin.

 

[rachdanon]

Definitely. Titanium watches don't age well. Scratches are really obvious...

Thanks for the education!

I know the feel and the anti-corrosion property of Ti (as witness by my bikes). I used to have a PAM177, and that's where my impression of Ti watches came from. It looked pretty bad after a year. I was lucky to have sold it to someone who didn't mind it. He probably knew he could easily rectify it.

After reading tonnes of posts on this topic, I could never come to a conclusion....apparently everyone has different experiences with Titanium. A quick Google found this thread...again different experiences but more on the positive side for this one...

Is the PAM 177 a scratch magnet? - Rolex Forums - Rolex Watch Forum

 

[kiosai]

After reading tonnes of posts on this topic, I could never come to a conclusion....apparently everyone has different experiences with Titanium. A quick Google found this thread...again different experiences but more on the positive side for this one...

Is the PAM 177 a scratch magnet? - Rolex Forums - Rolex Watch Forum

Anyone can comment on the different Titanium on the Seiko Shogun and/or Tudor Pelagos?

 

[rachdanon]

Anyone can comment on the different Titanium on the Seiko Shogun and/or Tudor Pelagos?

One thing is for sure, if you open the caseback of old stainless steel watches even Rolex, you will find corrosion. So if you want something resistant to long term corrosion , titanium will show it's advantage in this area. Rolex new 904L steel is supposed to solve the corrosion in its 316L older cases, but not enough years has passed for anyone or at least customers to see evidence of this......yet.

 

[yattokame]

The panda dial version in 42mm is available from thomas in HK, formerly from seagull HK, he also carries the reverse panda version in 42mm and the classic champagne dial versions in 38mm and 42mm. His price around 330 SGD after conversion and shipping. Warranty is from him.

Alternative seller would be seagull sg aka David at Adelphi, he carries the same variety as thomas from HK, but his price is higher around 380 SGD to 420 SGD. Warranty is supposed to be from Seagull handled by him as he is the authorized dealer for seagull here.

Alternatively now Segull's official TMALL store also carries the champagne version, but it's expensive, around 600 SGD I think. According to David, the tmall version will have a case made of higher grade stainless steel? Hence th premium. The cheaper versions are not produced by Seagull Tianjin.

thanx!!!!!
how do i find this thomas may I know....?