Anyone else giving up on their automatic watches at present?

I don’t consider my automatic watches to be bullet proof or a good value proposition. TBH, like most items discussed on the forums, they are expensive, quirky, man-jewelry in almost every way.

A $25 Timex would serve the same role and be more durable and dependable. Honestly, I could build a perfectly useful EDC for $100 all in, less than a 1/10 of the cost of some of my watches. But, I guess, the same is true for custom knives, flashlights and pens.

Actually, that would be a good thread, basic EDC vs man-jewelry EDC and post a pic of both. I have a good mix of both and becoming less and less proud of the man-jewelry stuff.

Do not get into watches, I repeat, do not get into watches.

 

That's why we are here right? This stuff is indeed cool, inexpensive and high dollar.

 

I'll actually try to recap most of what I, to no avail, spent quite some time trying to put down into words during working hours today. It wasn't to far off from where we are now, so why not spend even more time on this...
The fact is that I've acquired an embarrassing amount of watches since I got into EDC just a few years ago. Along the way I've been chasing any number of specifications and combination thereof, but power reserve has never been a big selling point to me. When I decide to wear a certain watch, I'll usually wear it for quite some time until something comes up that makes something else a better choice. In that time, I will rarely take it off for anything other than a workout, shower or going to bed. Basically I would get by with anything that can keep its accuracy for 10hrs + between winding. I was actually very disappointed when I realized that Hamilton had "upgraded" their movements to a 80 hours power reserve at the expense of beat rate just before I got my Khaki Automatic. I can see why some users may find that useful, but to me mechanical watches are not at all about practicality, but more about the appreciation of an old form of craftsmanship and the wonderful tiny machines that evolved from it. All of that while still telling the time with reasonable accuracy is quite a compelling package. And in that regard the smooth sweeping seconds hand of a 4Hz watch brings me more joy than something forcefully trying to appear practical with 80 hours of reserve and a stuttering seconds hand. Mechanical watches are a type of man-jewelry for sure, but with mechanical watches there are more nuances than I would assume there is for instance with diamond rings or designer bags. I, for instance, work with marine positioning and John Harrison is one of my heroes in that domain. To wear something on my wrist that's more or less a direct evolution of his marine clock is quite fascinating. Still jewelry, but I feel there is more depth to it than a watch or other item solely worn as a fashion item. I'm sure there are others who wear watches for similar reasons.

The nerd in me does of course appreciate the inherent accuracy of quartz as well. I really like well made quartz watches. This should really be the technology of choice for much more of the high end market. Unfortunately it seems like those with more money than brains prefer to throw their money at springs and spinning gears, so that's where the watch companies put most of their effort. Still there are some interesting quartz watches out there, but it's a path I've not had the opportunity to fully explore. Yet.

Funny thing, standing here, looking up from this immense rabbit hole. It wasn't even the watches that pulled me into EDC. I had two watches at the time and was quite satisfied; a decent (by my standards at the time) titanium quartz chrono and a digital fitness tracker/watch. However, regular exposure to EDC watch pictures (thanks a lot) would over time plant a seed that led me to consider upping my watch game to a 3-watch collection. If I remember correctly my plan was to acquire a mechanical field watch, a radio controlled solar powered analogue and something more outdoorsy like a casio Pro-Trek. In retrospect I'll say it wasn't a bad plan at all, noob as I was. It soon evolved into a 5-watch concept, and I haven't officially moved away from that yet, it's just terribly derailed. In part because finding the right 3, or eventually 5 watches proved to be harder than anticipated, which also led me to loose sight of my target at times. I counted my watches today, it's a whooping 22. It's not a collection though, just a testing ground. I'm thorough. It will be five. Ish. Eventually.

Do not get into watches

 

I'm down to 5 watches total but have sorted through 50+ in 3-4 years to get here. Never over 10 at one time, 22 is a lot.

I could really get down to 3 but I'm OK with 5, mostly.

The same with knives and lights. Around 5 of each but have owned at least 25+ over the years.

 

My Seiko 5 dropped to my wood floors months ago, starting losing 5 minutes a day. Suddenly now it is gaining 10 minutes or more a day. can't win for losing.

 

I've had that happen elsewhere too, and "irritating" is not the right word for it. I seem to have solved that little bug(ger) by checking the 'keep me logged in' box wherever I log into a forum. Seems to do the trick, thus far Hope this helps you in the future

 

Mine loses about a minute a day; once the current unpleasantness is over, I plan to take it to a Seiko specialist and get it tuned up properly.

 

For future, I'd advise using a text editor when writing longish posts.

 

@RogerStenning It’s checked. Must have been a glitch in the matrix.

Or just write shorter posts ;-) Longish post isn’t often something I plan. I’m just terrible at keeping things short
I do actually use editors when I know I have a lot on my mind though.

 

Often times it’s cheaper to replace the movement than have it repaired. I’ve had them replaced for $50, the NH35/36 movement can be had for $35 or so.

 

I’ve had nothing but autos for years. So, I just wind and set one when I’m ready to wear it. Not a big deal except for one of them.

 

I’ll bite, which one?

 

I had two reasons for going back to an automatic. Many, MANY years ago, I inherited a Tissot Sea Star Automatic that belonged to my grandfather. I have since, to my eternal regret, lost the thing, likely in a home move. However, having used battery operated watches (including British G10 format on issue), and then realising that for any number of reasons, batteries might become unavailable when you need them the most (vis the recent unpleasantness that's ongoing), I got my current Seiko in the last year or so, with the thinking in mind that I wouldn't need a battery for a mechanical (automatic) watch. And lo, I was proven right, when the stores were beset by bloody panicky morons buying up everything in sight, including watch batteries.

And that's why I sport an automatic wrist watch, despite its quirks and irritations.

YMMV

 

It’s a Rolex Day-Date. An older one so it only has a single quickset function for date. You have to do a lot of cranking to get to the proper day. Nice watch, though.

 

As much as I adore the artistic beauty of a well-made, fine-tuned automatic timepiece (or manual-wind, for that matter), I have always found that, in my college-student price range, I can get a lot more quality in a Quartz watch than I could afford in an auto. This being said: a good friend of mine who owns a beautiful Omega Seamaster DeVille has mentioned that he’s needed to wind it more often

As for me, I’ll stick with batteries, although I’m outta luck if the battery in my Concord dies while jewelers are still closed...


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I have 2 quartz’s and one solar out of +20 watches. I keep these because they are Chronos. I like playing with them. I wear them out when I don’t have time to set the watch of the day. Other than that Autos rules.

 

I still walk my dog at least twice daily, so my automatics managed to stay energized, but as I moved through the quarantine, I certainly cycled through my watches more than usual. I found myself turning to G-Shocks over my mechanical watches basic housework often leads to more bumps and dings (for me).