Anyone else into automatic wristwatches?

[Nedmundo]

As my initial foray into the world of microbrands, I pre-ordered a Traska Venturer a few months ago, and have been wearing it daily since it arrived last month. It has a Miyota movement that's running about +8spd, which isn't bad. It's the most comfortable bracelet watch I've owned, thanks to its modest 38.5mm diameter, 11mm thickness, light weight, and four micro-adjust settings. It has a screw-down crown and 150m of WR, so it's reasonably seaworthy.

The wearing experience reminds me of the 36.25mm mid-sized Omega SMP I wore for almost 20 years. The Traska isn't built or finished to the same standard of course, and it isn't nearly as accurate, but it's similarly compact and versatile for daily wear. It even has the inner bezel crown in the place of the Omega's helium release valve! It's lighter than the Omega, which for me is a huge advantage.

 

[Jeff Scott]

...Traska......

It has a Miyota movement that's running about +8spd...

With these microbrands, what sort of warranty comes with them, and can you send the watch back to them for adjusting the speed better, if needed/desired?

 

[Nedmundo]

With these microbrands, what sort of warranty comes with them, and can you send the watch back to them for adjusting the speed better, if needed/desired?

I'm not sure whether Traska's warranty is typical, but it's three years for material and manufacturing defects, and it's transferrable which is pretty cool (Warranty | TRASKA Watches). Their customer service is excellent, which I think is important for microbrands. My watch initially arrived with a manufacturing defect, and within an hour of my email to the company, the owner called me directly and offered a new watch, which I received within a few days.

Lum-Tec offers post-purchase adjustments, but I'm not aware of any other small brand that does. Most use Seiko, Sellita, or Miyota movements which can be easily serviced. I suppose if a movement was outside stated operating spec, like if mine were +30spd, it could be viewed as defective and repaired or replaced but I'm not sure.

 

[Arie X]

I have a watch addiction. I own and wear daily three boxes worth, am building a prototype quartz field watch, and am moving towards creating and making a complete mechanical watch and movement by hand plus all of the tooling necessary to do so.

Anybody else obsessed with timepieces?

 

[shadowtippy]

I just got this one. It was with some other watches, jewelry, figurines, and other things a couple brought to the antique/resale store where I work. I made them an offer for all of it and they accepted it. It was only afterwards as I was going through the watches putting batteries in them that I noticed what this was. It keeps good time and I can't complain about the price (under$3.00). The band is not original but I'm not worried about that. A little buffing and the watch should look pretty good.

 

[RedVee]

OT

So…. Anyone buy a MoonSwatch?

 

[ElectroVibe]

I just got this one. It was with some other watches, jewelry, figurines, and other things a couple brought to the antique/resale store where I work. I made them an offer for all of it and they accepted it. It was only afterwards as I was going through the watches putting batteries in them that I noticed what this was. It keeps good time and I can't complain about the price (under$3.00). The band is not original but I'm not worried about that. A little buffing and the watch should look pretty good.View attachment 4638242

I can almost swear that is a Casio band.

 

[marchone]

OT

So…. Anyone buy a MoonSwatch?

Apparently every one was sold out. So some people did. j/k

I want to see one but my Speedy Pro will keep me warm till then.

 

[marchone]

I just got this one. It was with some other watches, jewelry, figurines, and other things a couple brought to the antique/resale store where I work. I made them an offer for all of it and they accepted it. It was only afterwards as I was going through the watches putting batteries in them that I noticed what this was. It keeps good time and I can't complain about the price (under$3.00). The band is not original but I'm not worried about that. A little buffing and the watch should look pretty good.View attachment 4638242

Sweet steal.

 

[shadowtippy]

I can almost swear that is a Casio band.

Quite possible. There were a couple of Casio watches in the lot.

 

[shadowtippy]

Sweet steal.

It was on the bottom of the box under Armitron, Casio, and Timex watches. It looked like just another watch at the time but I an not unhappy to have it.

 

[ElectroVibe]

It was on the bottom of the box under Armitron, Casio, and Timex watches. It looked like just another watch at the time but I an not unhappy to have it.

Do you think it's a real Tudor?

 

[shadowtippy]

Do you think it's a real Tudor?

As near as I can tell it is. If it isn't, someone made a very good counterfeit. The only markings I can find that differ from other Tudor watches is a presentation inscription and date (1981) on the back.

 

[RedVee]

Apparently every one was sold out. So some people did. j/k

I want to see one but my Speedy Pro will keep me warm till then.

I’ll check them out could be a bit of fun. If I don’t like them I can always get a Citizen eco drive or Seiko solar chronograph or dual time.

The Speedmaster is extremely attractive to me so the plastic fantastic might be a diversion.

 

[marchone]

I’ll check them out could be a bit of fun. If I don’t like them I can always get a Citizen eco drive or Seiko solar chronograph or dual time.

The Speedmaster is extremely attractive to me so the plastic fantastic might be a diversion.

Swatch and Omega broke the mold with this collab. I can't predict the future but I expect real Speedy Pro sales to go through the roof, and the pre-owned market to increase value.

 

[Arie X]

I just got this one. It was with some other watches, jewelry, figurines, and other things a couple brought to the antique/resale store where I work. I made them an offer for all of it and they accepted it. It was only afterwards as I was going through the watches putting batteries in them that I noticed what this was. It keeps good time and I can't complain about the price (under$3.00). The band is not original but I'm not worried about that. A little buffing and the watch should look pretty good.View attachment 4638242

that's a total score. basically, a rolex family auto for $3

try to get yourself a right sized bracelet or strap kinda quick. those spring bars will pop out on you dropping the watch.

 

[Mudder]

On a side track, I’m really getting interested in railroad pocket watches. I don’t know enough yet to purchase, but I’m finding myself catching my wristwatch on stuff at work.

 

[RedVee]

On a side track, I’m really getting interested in railroad pocket watches. I don’t know enough yet to purchase, but I’m finding myself catching my wristwatch on stuff at work.

I have a Grandfather’s pocket watch. An American Waltham from c1900 with a Hunting case. Great external condition but with a busted mainspring.

 

[Arie X]

On a side track, I’m really getting interested in railroad pocket watches. I don’t know enough yet to purchase, but I’m finding myself catching my wristwatch on stuff at work.

Burlington seems to be pretty good. They were made by Illinois Watch in the early 1900's. You can find them on ebay but they are often without their cases as originally they were gold. You could probably source a size 6 case for one though

 

[Mudder]

Burlington seems to be pretty good. They were made by Illinois Watch in the early 1900's. You can find them on ebay but they are often without their cases as originally they were gold. You could probably source a size 6 case for one though

I’m watching a Waltham and an Elgin, but there’s a pretty neat Illinois on ebay. I’ll keep an eye for Burlington.