Watches

I've recently caught the watch enthusiast/collecting bug. I don't have plans to spend a ton of money on it, but we'll see.
I'm really only interested in automatic mechanical watches. My first purchase was this Tissot PRX Powermatic 80:

It's an integrated bracelet design reviving one of their designs from the 70s. I also bought a black leather strap to dress it up and a blue rubber strap with a texture matching the dial to dress it down. Good all-purpose sports watch.

My next purchases are likely a Seiko Cocktail Time and Seiko Alpinist, but I'm really not looking to get heavily into Seiko. They just have a bit I like in a reasonable price range. I'll probably end up getting these two pretty soon.
Overall, I like brands with a long watchmaking history, mostly in Switzerland or Japan.
But I'm also really interested in a newer microbrand Maen Manhattan 37.
I have one or two more expensive watches I'm interested in, but these are what I'm eyeing right now.

I'm in un-collecting mode .. disposing of the stuff (mostly junk) I've collected over the last 50 years. The powers that be might have a use for the camping stove but apart from that it all has to go.

My mother is in decollecting mode. She says it's so I have less of her junk I have to sift through when she's gone.

(Oct 4, 2025 07:49 PM)Syne Wrote: My mother is in decollecting mode. She says it's so I have less of her junk I have to sift through when she's gone.

A very good friend of mine works with a number of horologists so she will ask them about your purchase. Hopefully she gets back to me on that.

(Oct 4, 2025 10:07 PM)Zinjanthropos Wrote: A very good friend of mine works with a number of horologists so she will ask them about your purchase. Hopefully she gets back to me on that.

I'm definitely not in the high horology price range. These are all very well-known, but financially accessible, watches.

My newest watch, a Maen Manhattan 37:

I found this on the secondary market. With the current Swiss tariffs, I ended up getting this top grade movement for cheaper than buying the standard grade new.
This is an homage to the 1975 Vacheron Constantin 2215 Royal Chronometer. Vacheron's current integrated bracelet sports watches run about $26,000 now, but I love the dial on the Maen so much more.

^^^ Not my 'thing' but I do think the movement is gorgeous - much nicer than the Tissot.

I don’t know much about watches, but this kid that I met at an estate sale was telling me how he makes a fortune on his finds. Do you know enough about them, Syne, to tell me which brands to look out for? Antique ones, as well?

(Oct 23, 2025 11:11 PM)confused2 Wrote: ^^^ Not my 'thing' but I do think the movement is gorgeous - much nicer than the Tissot.

Yeah, the Tissot uses a Swiss movement shared by many watch brands owned by the Swatch Group. I think all Tissot adds is the etching on the rotor.
The Maen uses a movement that many micro/independent brands use (also a Swatch Group movement). You usually don't get in-house built Swiss movements at this price point. Maen just regulates it for accuracy and pretties it up.
For affordable in-house movements, you're usually looking at Japanese watches that sell large volumes, like Seiko or Orient.

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(Oct 23, 2025 11:30 PM)Secular Sanity Wrote: I don’t know much about watches, but this kid that I met at an estate sale was telling me how he makes a fortune on his finds. Do you know enough about them, Syne, to tell me which brands to look out for? Antique ones, as well?

There's a ton of good watches to be on the look out for. The big names are Phillipe Patek, Audemars Piguet, Vacheron Constin (the holy trinity of Swiss luxury brands), Tag Heuer, Omega (James Bond watches), F.P. Journe, and of course Rolex and Cartier. There's others, so you probably want to research anything you find online. Luxury watches tend to hold their value better, and there's some antiques that are extremely sought after.

I don't know if he sells them as-is. If not, servicing luxury watches can get pricey. And if you want top dollar, you'll also be spending to have it certified as genuine... lots of convincing fakes out there. Servicing or certifying could mean shipping to the manufacturer for a few months. But if you're lucky, you can find watches worth up to tens of thousands.

Thanks! I made a list. I'll let you know if I ever find a good one.