definitely a watch. I have 2. An Omega Seamaster I got for my 21st and a Tag I bought myself for my 50th
When sailing, the phone is often buried inside two layers of trousers and two layers of jacket, with a significant risk of loss overboard.. So the £100 Casio solar powered radio- controlled G- Shock wins out.
Love a multi band G myself, Mike. For my work, I wear a cheap and lightweight MRW-200H. The Casio ‘Submariner’. Dosnt matter if I knock it about, and it reminds me when to eat. My phone is usually in my cargo shorts pocket under a pair of overalls. Still gets knocked about though, hence it being in an armoured case.
I can’t remember how many I have now, tbh. My ‘poshest’ one, is my Seiko ‘Dress’ KX on a jubilee strap, for weddings and funerals. Either way, I just remember that even on a cheap Casio, or a million pound Richard Millie, they still both just tell the time, and we all only have so much of it, so wear that watch if you want, do that thing and be that person.
There are fakes, and there are good fakes, like this copy of the Gold 2001 Smurf Submariner. After 2001, the holographic sticker ceased to be used as it was too easy to copy as we see here, also, Rolex introduced the engraving of the word ROLEX around the inner rehaught ring. ( The gold ring around the circumference of the watch face.) They also later etched the coronet ( not a crown) into the glass at 6 O’clock. So yes, this one dosnt look like a Submariner today, but it is pretty much a AAA copy of one from 2001. The movement in a cloned miyota 8325(?). The Date just in the Rolex box is an exact copy of the 1954 version. They are both gold plated.
And if the idea of Fakes sketches you out, because you think you are fuelling drug dealers and darker associates, as some people do, you can always go into the safe world of ‘Homage’ watches, like my Steeldive 1958 Submariner or the 1970 Captain Willard homage. Both have Seiko movements in them, both under £100.00.
Do people actually pay good money for a good fake watch, more than the cost of a genuine 'less flashy' watch? Do good fakes appreciate in value? I can undertsand people buying genuine watches as investments or to wash drug money, but the fake market seems a bit odd to me?
Most will say they are "worthless" but unless you plan on visiting China or buying off the looky looky man on the beach, there's lots available on the Chinese wholesale websites. Ive had a few, some pretty good copies and have lasted well. Generally cost is £20-£40, but Ive heard stories of several hundred pounds for "Super-Clone" versions which would need to be taken apart and inspected by a pro to tell the difference. These will usually come with box and papers, as opposed to the cheap replicas which just come in a plastic bag. Based on this, if you are ever buying second hand - BE CAREFUL. Its worth using places like Watchfinder rather than your local Gumtree, or small ads - you might get bitten.
A good fake DOES have its place, if you have the original that it copies. It’s a good ‘stunt watch’, so that the one that’s worth 20 or so grand, is locked away in a safe, but you still like the idea of wearing it. It’s not like you are trying to fool anyone then. Gives the person a ‘clear conscience’, I would imagine. I was given all the fakes I have/had, but I have most of them away for a laugh. My friend gets a bank loan out every three years and buys a real Rolex, as he knows he Will easily treble his money by the time the loan is paid back. He says they come in handy for large future outgoings, like his kids educations, or if he has to get a new car, etc. They are just investments to him, but he does wear his Rolex Sea Dweller to work, as it’s a ‘tool watch’. His original Daytona will pay for any concours VW splitty, if he wanted one. But he’s restoring a Ford Cossie at the moment. But yes, unless you know what you are looking at, some fakes are brilliant.
Yup. This is my Casio GAW-100b, one of 156 watches originally issued to our British Naval Divers in 2000. They changed a couple of years later to the Casio Frogman, which I think they may still use today.
£3 from a car boot. The battery cost more. Annoyingly I didn’t realise Timpsons had damaged the glass face a bit when changing the battery. I can wear it easily at work too as it’s easy to quickly take off with the stretchy strap.
