Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Watches

This is topic Watches in forum Film-Yak at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Richard Hamilton (Member # 321) on 12-30-2011, 05:54 AM:

Real Tag Heuer vs. fake Rolex, which would you wear? I've been wearing the Tag and just found the Rolex when cleaning my dads room. Up close, it's a fake (a good fake), I think. The Tag is bigger and last month I had it cleaned at a jewelry shop ($100 bucks just for that). The Rolex is thinner, but it has that "crown" on the face of it. I've just been into watches lately. Last month it was "pinky" rings, soon I'll probably re-pierce my ear and wear a dangly cross, or pierce both and sell a watch and get 2 diamonds. I haven't cut my hair in about a year. Mid life crisis?

Posted by Bill Enos (Member # 440) on 12-30-2011, 10:34 AM:

Does the Rolex second hand move smoothly or in jumps like most every thing else? The Heuer being real would have more snob appeal, though an acquaintance who has a sizeable collection says that these days there are some older Timexes that are sought after.

Posted by Richard Hamilton (Member # 321) on 12-30-2011, 11:13 AM:

Bill, The Rolex "jumps". Like I said it's a fake,but....It's a Rolex. As far as "snob appeal", the Tag stands out and the "Rolex" is slimmer and you have to get in close to see the logo. Too bad I left my Swatch in China. I bought it during a layover in Germany and ended up getting my dad the same watch on my next trip.

Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 12-30-2011, 11:28 AM:

Working in "rough and ready" situations, I buy the "Wally-World", 10 buck specials.

Something happens to them..no cry over spilt milk - get another one.

-Monte

Posted by Frank Cox (Member # 6258) on 12-30-2011, 12:00 PM:

I didn't think anyone actually wears a watch any more. Cell phone == pocket watch. I have at least two watches, maybe three, and haven't actually worn one for years.

Posted by Kurt Zupin (Member # 2751) on 12-30-2011, 12:14 PM:

I wear a watch every day, its a Fossil. I have 4 of them. I'd go with the Tag Richard, and probably pass on the ear piercing if it was me. But hey, to each his own.

Posted by Aaron Garman (Member # 1653) on 12-30-2011, 12:43 PM:

Skip both and buy an Omega. [Smile]

AJG

Posted by Rick Raskin (Member # 1561) on 12-30-2011, 03:14 PM:

I had one of those $40 fake Rolexes once, only mine was an exceptionally good fake. The second hand beat 4 times to the second while a real one (I'm told) beats 5 times. I'd get lots of wild looks when I would tell people my brother-in-law gave it to me for Christmas.

Posted by Paul Mayer (Member # 355) on 12-30-2011, 03:54 PM:

As Frank noted, younger people don't wear watches anymore, except as bling. Me? I still wear one even though these days I always have at least one cell phone with me (one for personal use, and when I am given a company phone, one for work). But I find that glancing at a watch is much quicker/easier than pulling out the cell phone to get the time. Old habit I'm sure.

I have two watches - my daily beater is one of those Casio "WaveCeptors". It listens and syncs to WWV or JJY five times a night so it keeps very good time. It also has solar cells embedded in its face, so it never needs either winding or replacement of its battery. It displays two time zones which are selectable with just a couple of button pushes. Great for when you're traveling as much as I was these last couple of years. I've had it for some five years now and it runs perfectly.

My dress/bling watch is a Longines replica of their Hour Angle Watch - the one that Charles Lindbergh commissioned after he flew the first solo flight across the Atlantic in 1927. It has a good ol' mechanical escapement movement (though the replica has a modern self-winding movement). Beautiful watch! I've owned it since 1990 and wish I had more suitable opportunities to wear it.

For Richard, I'll second the vote to go with the Tag. I remember back in the late '80s in SoCal there was a wave of shootings and muggings where Rolex wearers were the target. It'd be a pity to get shot/mugged/robbed over a cheap $100 knockoff watch. [Big Grin]

Posted by Claude S. Ayakawa (Member # 1401) on 12-30-2011, 07:29 PM:

I used to wear a real Rolex when I used to fancy those things but as I got older and wiser, I thought wearing such a watch was pretentious and sold it for just about what I had paid for it. The watch I am wearing now is a SKAGEN, a Swedish watch I bought from Costco for about seventy five dollars and is very nice. It has a gray stainless band with a black face and keeps perfect time. I like the watch very much.

-Claude

Posted by Bruce Hansen (Member # 281) on 12-30-2011, 08:18 PM:

I have one of the $25 Casio watches that sets itself to the NBS. I have had it for many years, and it still keeps better time than any over priced Rolex. After all, what is a watch for? To tell you the time.

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 12-30-2011, 08:23 PM:

I would go with whatever keeps the best time.

I normally wear a battery-operated Seiko that that I have worn for about fifteen years. I have replaced the battery and band several times each, but the movement keeps on ticking (no pun intended; it does not actually tick audibly). It looks nice, but it is not "valuable" and thus not a target for theft.

I also have a nicer-looking Citizen for "dress" wear. My Seiko is generally accurate to within :30 to :60 every month.

As much as I admire the craftsmanship of mechanical movements, the quartz models seem to keep better time.

Posted by Sam Graham (Member # 2889) on 12-30-2011, 09:46 PM:

quote: Bruce Hansen
I have one of the $25 Casio watches that sets itself to the NBS. I have had it for many years, and it still keeps better time than any over priced Rolex. After all, what is a watch for? To tell you the time.

That (Casio Waveceptor) was my weapon of choice as well until I stopped wearing a watch in favor of just using my phone.

Still works. Sits in my office desk drawer, beeping at the top of the hour.

Posted by Aaron Garman (Member # 1653) on 12-30-2011, 10:49 PM:

I'm still young and I wear my ESQ every day. You're right though, I don't see it that much among my peers.

AJG

Posted by Kenneth Wuepper (Member # 1174) on 12-31-2011, 09:25 AM:

I still wear my Bulova Accutron tuning fork watch. It was my parents high school graduation gift in 1954. Batteries are hard to retrofit but it still keeps great time.

KEN

Posted by Edward Havens (Member # 4715) on 12-31-2011, 11:14 AM:

I wear my Benjamin Button watch that tell time backward. Best studio swag ever.

Posted by Bill Enos (Member # 440) on 12-31-2011, 03:47 PM:

I've been using a Citizen EcoDrive for 8 years, charges itself on even the lowest light, the wife gave it to me for my birthday. Being the doubter Iam, I put it on the dash of the car for 3 days to be sure it was fully charged then put back in the box and into a closet, after 18 months it was still running so I put it on, so far zero issues.

Many places one cannot take a cell phone or anything similar at work so a watch might be necessary.

Posted by David Favel (Member # 1125) on 12-31-2011, 04:42 PM:

My Skagen was stolen, great watch.
Wear my Tag now.

Posted by Jeffry L. Johnson (Member # 453) on 01-08-2012, 03:24 PM:

I prefer a Casio Databank watch with Schedule Memo. I can program the day's show schedule into the watch. I'll hear an alarm, look at the watch, and see which cinema screen starts next.

I haven't found a Casio WaveCeptor Databank watch that has schedule memo.

If I wanted a watch to show off, I'd like a YES Watch .

Cellular telephone time isn't accurate enough for me. Mine is seven (7) seconds slow.

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 01-09-2012, 08:40 PM:

I used to wear a watch all the time. I never had a "name" watch, the standard issue Timex was all I ever used. When my most recent one quit I never replaced it -- I realized that I am virtually always somewhere with a clock in view.

Posted by Randy Stankey (Member # 64) on 01-09-2012, 08:49 PM:

I quit wearing watches when I reached inside a projector and got the watchband hung up on one of the power wires inside.

Yes, I always disconnect the power before reaching in but that incident made me realize that a metal band around my wrist, hung up on a 220 volt connection is basically an electrode attached to my skin.

At first, I just took my watch off before working inside machines but it was a pain in the ass. I often left it behind or ended up digging through my pockets or tool cases to find it again. Finally, I just quit wearing it.

Haven't worn a watch in over ten years. I just use my cell phone. [Shrug]

Posted by Robert E. Allen (Member # 1351) on 01-10-2012, 12:13 AM:

I no longer use a watch. I carry a cell phone.

Posted by Lionel Fouillen (Member # 1475) on 01-10-2012, 01:15 AM:

I had my first watch when I was a kid, a Rodania offered by my grandmother. After that I only wore Swatch watches.
Watch vs mobile phone ? With me it goes the other way round. I always wear a watch and occasionally leave my phone at home. I hate being harassed for unimportant things and the world will survive even if I don't take calls or reply to mails/SMS in the next nanosecond.

Posted by Richard Hamilton (Member # 321) on 01-10-2012, 05:55 AM:

As far as cell phones, I quit using mine about a year ago. I just told people they can call me at my parents house if they needed to reach me. This christmas I got my kids IPhones and had my old number transferred to one of them. 2 more years of paying for a number [Mad]

. Kids these days can't live without them, but they never seem call me unless they need something. I want my daughter to have one, she is driving now and It's peace of mind for me. My son just plays games on his.

Anyway, back on topic, I wear the Tag most of the time. I wear the "Rolex" when I go to the courts office to pay "child support" [fu]

That finger was aimed at the ex, not the kids.

Rick "the timepiece" Hamilton

Posted by Ian Parfrey (Member # 5122) on 01-10-2012, 04:06 PM:

When I was a kid, my parents asked me what I wanted for Christmas.

I said a wanna watch ... so they let me. [Big Grin]

Posted by Pete Naples (Member # 761) on 01-10-2012, 05:26 PM:

Kenneth, I thought I was the only person on the planet who had ever heard of the Accutron! Was there not a Hamilton Hummingbird about the same era? My late father had learned watchmaking with the RN, and collected interesting watches, there's an Accutron in the drawer, plus a Sinclair black watch.

I've a few watches, Rolex Submariner datem which is currently undergoing docking and essential defects on a RTB basis. My day to day watch is the oft overlooked Omega Seamaster Co-Axial. Various Seikos and a $14 Casio that I use as a reference to set the others to.

I appreciate the craftsmanship that goes into a good mechanical watch. My Omega manages to keep time to within 4 seconds a day, for something powered by springs that's pretty good going.

Posted by Frank Cox (Member # 6258) on 01-10-2012, 05:32 PM:

Powered by springs? Wouldn't that make it one of these?

Posted by Kenneth Wuepper (Member # 1174) on 01-11-2012, 07:16 AM:

Hello Pete,

I don't know of any other tuning fork operated timepieces. This was an interesting patent and it still works very well.

The big advantage in my work was that the watch keeps good time even when drawn to the magnet on the back of a loud speaker. My organ and sound work often caused me to reach past a big magnet and the watch was drawn to it. I never had to remove the watch. A fellow worker lost several watches when he forgot to remove them and they became magnetized from this occupation.

KEN