Hey Guys 👋 …and please help me!
Self confessed newbie watch nerd here 🙋🏻♂️, hi all and thanks for having me!
I‘m Si, based near Liverpool in England. I’ve been collecting watches for over 10 years but I’ve got a lot deeper in this strange, expensive and frankly absurd hobby over the last few years. Weirdly enough, I enjoy the chase of a new watch just as much as I do the ownership - I can’t be alone here surely?
Ive had a couple of new additions to the collection over the last 12 months, including a Tudor Black Bay Pro, Smiths Everest and a GShock. My wrists are way too girly to host anything over 40mm (pretty sure my GShock is a “unisex” but you get my drift…) so I tend to favour smaller watches.
I was blessed with the birth of my daughter just before Christmas and want to mark the occasion with a new purchase, which I intend to keep forever. I almost registered last year for a Rolex Explorer but I’m so indecisive it’s just ridiculous. My shortlist is:
- Rolex Explorer
- Rolex Oyster Perpetual 36
- Sinn 556a
- Cartier Tank Solarbeat
Let me know what you think, what would you choose? Is there anything else you guys would recommend?
Cheers!
Si
Amongst that list, the Rolex Explorer 36 is timeless and will fit nicely on any wrist. You may want to hand it down to your daughter one day, and it would be perfect sizing for her too!
I own the Cartier Tank Solarbeat and it’s phenomenal.
The OP 36 and the explorer are both brilliant watches - great for your wrist size. They are a little pricy compared to some others - but being Rolex should hold their value well (I am on the list for both the steel explorer and a Green OP.)
Something to consider - the Grand Seiko SBGX261. It is just as good as the Explorer - but only £2k retail - even cheaper used. It’s quartz but a masterful quartz - in its own ways better than a basic mechanical.
The SBGX261 and the Tank are my two recommendations for new watches for smaller wrists.
Congratulations on the birth of your daughter. Lovely idea to buy a piece to keep and celebrate her birth.
Welcome to this mad site, which will only push you further down the rabbit hole we call watch collecting 😉🤓
Depends on your budget. All lovely pieces. I think the OP 36 or the Explorer myself. I have the OP 41mm in green. Perfect do it all watch. Explorer is lovely too. Both are cracking pieces.
I like the Sinn. I'd go for the Sinn 556rs myself, with the little pop of red on the second hand.
I would always say buy what you like. I also agree about the chase!
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE MY OP 41MM 🔥
Amongst that list, the Rolex Explorer 36 is timeless and will fit nicely on any wrist. You may want to hand it down to your daughter one day, and it would be perfect sizing for her too!
I love the Explorer for its simplicity but the size of the 36 makes it perfect for me! I need a lottery win then I can buy all four!
I own the Cartier Tank Solarbeat and it’s phenomenal.
The OP 36 and the explorer are both brilliant watches - great for your wrist size. They are a little pricy compared to some others - but being Rolex should hold their value well (I am on the list for both the steel explorer and a Green OP.)
Something to consider - the Grand Seiko SBGX261. It is just as good as the Explorer - but only £2k retail - even cheaper used. It’s quartz but a masterful quartz - in its own ways better than a basic mechanical.
The SBGX261 and the Tank are my two recommendations for new watches for smaller wrists.
The Tank was a late contender but I’m a huge fan. It looks incredible on so many strap variants and the 16 year battery change is essentially mainten free ownership!
Crazy to think that I could potentially have the Tank, the GS and the Sinn all for the cost of the Rolex…
Congratulations on the birth of your daughter. Lovely idea to buy a piece to keep and celebrate her birth.
Welcome to this mad site, which will only push you further down the rabbit hole we call watch collecting 😉🤓
Depends on your budget. All lovely pieces. I think the OP 36 or the Explorer myself. I have the OP 41mm in green. Perfect do it all watch. Explorer is lovely too. Both are cracking pieces.
I like the Sinn. I'd go for the Sinn 556rs myself, with the little pop of red on the second hand.
I would always say buy what you like. I also agree about the chase!
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE MY OP 41MM 🔥
I love the Green OP, congratulations! I tried this on at the AD but I didn’t think I’d wear it enough, I don’t have enough green in my life!
I hear you about the 556rs, that’s another rabbit hole I’ve been down, between that and the 556a they’re both incredible!
The Tank was a late contender but I’m a huge fan. It looks incredible on so many strap variants and the 16 year battery change is essentially mainten free ownership!
Crazy to think that I could potentially have the Tank, the GS and the Sinn all for the cost of the Rolex…
Welcome to WatchCrunch! I see a lot of similarities between you and I.
I enjoy the chase and the research as much as the purchase and ownership.
I also added the Tudor BB Pro in 2022.
I have a small wrist as well and favor watches under 40mm.
My wife is pregnant and are expecting our 2nd child in late June/early July.
I am looking to add a grail watch to celebrate my 40th birthday this year. I too am indecisive, but I finally decided on the Rolex Explorer. It will be interesting to see if I get it by November in time for my birthday.
I own a Cartier Tank (Francaise) with an automatic movement, so not exactly the same as the solar beat you are looking at. It is currently my favorite watch due to its sentimental value. It was a 10 year anniversary gift from my wife in 2020. (We were going to go on vacation or throw a big party but the pandemic foiled our plans, so we gifted each other nice gifts instead.) It’s more of a special occasion watch type watch for me, so if you’re looking for something you’ll wear on the regular maybe you’d be better off going with one of the other three options.
A thing of beauty 😍
Thanks! I’ve been a long time fan of Sinn, just never pulled the trigger. Maybe now is the time 🤔
Welcome to WatchCrunch! I see a lot of similarities between you and I.
I enjoy the chase and the research as much as the purchase and ownership.
I also added the Tudor BB Pro in 2022.
I have a small wrist as well and favor watches under 40mm.
My wife is pregnant and are expecting our 2nd child in late June/early July.
I am looking to add a grail watch to celebrate my 40th birthday this year. I too am indecisive, but I finally decided on the Rolex Explorer. It will be interesting to see if I get it by November in time for my birthday.
I own a Cartier Tank (Francaise) with an automatic movement, so not exactly the same as the solar beat you are looking at. It is currently my favorite watch due to its sentimental value. It was a 10 year anniversary gift from my wife in 2020. (We were going to go on vacation or throw a big party but the pandemic foiled our plans, so we gifted each other nice gifts instead.) It’s more of a special occasion watch type watch for me, so if you’re looking for something you’ll wear on the regular maybe you’d be better off going with one of the other three options.
Congratulations on your impending arrival! The AD in the UK couldn’t give me a timeframe on the Explorer although I imagine it was over 12 months - fingers crossed you get yours sooner. Big year for you, wishing you all the best!
Congratulations on your impending arrival! The AD in the UK couldn’t give me a timeframe on the Explorer although I imagine it was over 12 months - fingers crossed you get yours sooner. Big year for you, wishing you all the best!
Thanks for the info and the well wishes! I’m not getting my hopes up. I did register for it over 12 months prior to my 40th and I have a purchase history with the family owned AD, so I think it will be close. I purchased the BB Pro and the rose gold fluted bezel Tissot PRX from them in 2022. I honestly think it’s more about how much you’ve spent with the AD rather than how long you’ve waited, unfortunately. Maybe I’ll add an Omega this year as well to help speed up the process.