What is something that would withhold you from buying a watch?

(apart from money of course🤑)

Okay, so imagine you found a perfect watch: it looks the part, has all the functions and water resistancy you need, but then you see that it has a mineral crystal.

This happened to me, I really like the Citizen Promaster GMT BJ7100-82E, and would use it daily when travelling, but I'm kind off afraid that the crystal will be full of scratches pretty quick.

I'm stilling doubting whether or not to buy the watch since it seems like a perfect watch in every other aspect to me.

Is there anything that makes you think twice before buying a watch? This can go from water resistancy, to being a quartz, the lug width,...?

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Proportional case size. Don’t mind a big or small case but if its thickness or lug lengths are too big or small then I won’t buy it. I may still appreciate it but it won’t be ‘for me’.

Dial design. If it doesn’t hit the right ‘design chord’ with me, then it’s also a no.

Movement, purpose, colour, age, brand and origin are all non-dealbreakers with me

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Lug to lug length for me as well. 48mm is the absolute max for me. But really I discount most above 46mm.

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Inverted lugs (Y-type) or integral band.

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Brand - certain brands just don’t appeal. You can call me a snob, but as someone who buys generic vintage Swiss jobbers it also doesn’t bother me as much as I’m kind of implying, but there are certain brands I will just pass on as I have no real desire to own them. Similarly, there are brands that I adore and will always have time for regardless of market position: Corum, for instance - have my Bubble, want another one day.

Size - don’t want too big, has to fit comfortably. Nothing too complicated.

Style - don’t do generic divers, not a fan chronographs, don’t like try-hard vintage, love bling and out-there designs. 
 

To be honest though, I don’t have anything in mind when I buy a watch, I just absorb what is around and jump on what I like.

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The thing that gets me every time is WR. I need 100m as I often have a need to get into the hydro pool at work and use my watch as a timing device while in there. A lot of the more expensive (for me) watches I like do not meet this criteria.

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I was very close to purchasing the Fortis Flieger 39, but the lug to lug distance was 50 mm for a 39 mm diameter watch. Without being able to try it on, I was nervous it may look awkward on my wrist. This has happened with a couple other watches as well. 

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My wife 💯

Mineral crystals don’t bother me too much, there used in divers because they don’t shatter like sapphire when under pressure and they are quite easy to swap out if that’s an issue for you.

Size wise, 38mm with a short lug to lug of nothing more than 48mm and a thickness of 10 to 12mm tops, plus the bracelet can’t have male end links.

The watch has to grab my attention straight away, overall case and dial design need to speak to me, then I go into it’s size, movement ect. 
As far as the crystal goes it’s probably one of the last things I worry about, a lot of earlier watches had nothing but mineral crystals and it adds to their charm and character and there’s always polywatch if the scratches bothers you, also the option to fit a sapphire crystal as I said before.

Anyway, if the mineral crystal bothers you, then you probably shouldn’t buy the watch, it will always bug you 👍

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TonyXXX

My wife 💯

Mineral crystals don’t bother me too much, there used in divers because they don’t shatter like sapphire when under pressure and they are quite easy to swap out if that’s an issue for you.

Size wise, 38mm with a short lug to lug of nothing more than 48mm and a thickness of 10 to 12mm tops, plus the bracelet can’t have male end links.

The watch has to grab my attention straight away, overall case and dial design need to speak to me, then I go into it’s size, movement ect. 
As far as the crystal goes it’s probably one of the last things I worry about, a lot of earlier watches had nothing but mineral crystals and it adds to their charm and character and there’s always polywatch if the scratches bothers you, also the option to fit a sapphire crystal as I said before.

Anyway, if the mineral crystal bothers you, then you probably shouldn’t buy the watch, it will always bug you 👍

Dang et!! Tony you beat me to it!! 😂…

my answer as well my wife!! 💯 

when I show my wife a watch that I like and then she’s like..”meh! It ok”, that means she doesn’t like it so a no go for me…weird  I guess I value her opinion after all … 😜

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An integrated strap or bracelet. Can't stand 'em. Detest 'em. Need to be able to easily change the strap or bracelet on my watch. While I do have a few with integrated straps or bracelets (mostly Casio), those were purchased knowing the strap could not be changed. It drives me crazy that I cannot change the straps on my GMWB5000 and my PRW2500, but I wanted those watches in my collection enough to overlook the integrated strap. For the most part, an integrated strap/bracelet will keep me from purchasing a watch for the most part.

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With regards Seiko mechanical watches, although I love em and would wish to buy one, I’m put off by the fact that are never regulated and consequently the time keeping is below average. 

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Lewis17

With regards Seiko mechanical watches, although I love em and would wish to buy one, I’m put off by the fact that are never regulated and consequently the time keeping is below average. 

Buy a time grapher and regulate the watch yourself. There’s plenty of tutorials on YouTube on how it’s done. Even get yourself a second hand cheapy and practice first, you’ll be surprised at how easy it is 👍

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TonyXXX

Buy a time grapher and regulate the watch yourself. There’s plenty of tutorials on YouTube on how it’s done. Even get yourself a second hand cheapy and practice first, you’ll be surprised at how easy it is 👍

The problem is that many Seiko movements are haphazard ie they gain 10 seconds one day and lose 10 seconds the following day. As you have no template to work on it would be impossible to regulate! 

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Dimensions are the most common problem for me. I try to stay under 43mm and 50mm lug to lug. Also bling. Too much polishing has prevented several purchases or grail list additions. 

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apart from looks and the price point for me the factor that withold me from buying a watch is:

  1. size and thickness, since i have typical tiny wrist i happen to buy under 42mm and preferably not too thick case
  2. crystal preferably sapphire. i can live with mineral crystal but acrylic, i dont think so
  3. strap width, my laco aachen 39mm has 18mm strap, and it is too small. it bother me much but i try to live with it
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I'm a Secret Service Agent for MI6.   I definitely need a watch that does it all (hard to find). Some days, I may be well over a hundred feet in the ocean and 50 WR will not cut it.  Other days I may be in bed with a beautiful female agent and I need a watch to unzip the back of her dress via magnets.  Of course, a special tool to cut through steel.  You may know my partner 007, they call me 008. 

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tempus

I had the same concern, and went for the WSSA0037 which has an ADLC bezel with a SS case. I've only had it since the beginning of the year, and it's part of a regular rotation, but it still looks brand new. When I was looking at the blue dial version, I had seen posts and comments from people complaining about bezel scratches within weeks or even days of getting the watch, so if the style of the black dial version with ADLC bezel appeals to you, I'd suggest you check it out.

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Looks great! Love that design.

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It just simply has to 'speak' to me. As long as I believe what it's telling me...I end up buying it. 

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DariusII

It just simply has to 'speak' to me. As long as I believe what it's telling me...I end up buying it. 

Totally agree, as silly as it sounds there has to be some kind of "connection" , yes I know its an inanimate object .  but when you look at it or put it on, it has to be seen and felt as an extension of your personality. This kind of logic is also why I wont wear sweet fragrances or grow a beard lol

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If it was the perfect watch I could afford, I’d buy it. If it meets all the criteria, there is nothing to dismiss it. If it doesn’t meet my set criteria, then I don’t want it. Simple as that. 

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Only 5 bar?

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For me buying or wanting a watch is like looking for a tie (at least I used to do that). I have something in mind and it’s not until I see it I know it’s the one. But then starts the evaluation process. Lot of things can make me walk away from a purchase. Size, thickness, lug to lug. As of today my smallest is 33mm and my largest 41mm. My max lug to lug is 50mm. Price is a parameter but that is valid all over the spectrum, is the watch priceworthy (to me).

Lug design can be a dealbraker and I’m no fan of integrated bracelets.

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An undefined waiting list or other unclear requirements for purchase. I'm just not rich enough or sexy enough to get bumped in line...

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AllTheWatches

Others have hit on the big ones; but a big one for me is overall value. A $10k watch can be a great value at the same time a $1k watch can be an awful value. As other said, it’s the sum of the parts.

For example, I’d love an IWC Mk XVIII Le Petite Prince, but I have a hard time pulling the trigger on a watch well over $3k with a basic Sellita 300 movement found in <$1k watches. With some exceptions, I tend to have a $1500 cap on those using off the shelf basic movements.

This embrace Sinn watches as they use Sellita movements but regulate them to be very accurate 

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Lewis17

The problem is that many Seiko movements are haphazard ie they gain 10 seconds one day and lose 10 seconds the following day. As you have no template to work on it would be impossible to regulate! 

I've regulated quite a few Seiko's over the past 20 odd year's of collecting, even one of the newer models, the Alpinist 6R15 movement and when I did regulate it, I made sure I did it in the 5 different positions and I had that watch down to + 1 second a day. It just depends if you want to put the time and effort into the watch and of course not all watches are the same, so I may just have been lucky, but with over 500 odd Seiko's going in and out of my collection over the years I'm not so sure it was just luck.

Anyway you do what makes you happy in your collecting journey, I'm not here to lecture or tell you what is right or wrong, I just share my experiences with everyone.

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Lewis17

This embrace Sinn watches as they use Sellita movements but regulate them to be very accurate 

Many great watches have them including my 104 granted a 200 and they can be absolutely spot on accuracy wise, but the difference is, my 104 was $1200. Definitely not a movement snob, I simply have a ceiling I’m willing to pay for one short of and amazing and unique overall packaging. I spent $3k on the MAD Red, which has a Miyota 821A, something that can be had in <$500 watches , but no one looking at that watch is going to question where the money was spent.

A novel written on the dial. I have a few like that, won't buy another, it's cluttered. Just my personal taste, nothing wrong if someone else likes it. 

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Quartz...I don’t like replacing batteries. 🤣🤣

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Thin hands on a chronograph which then get lost amongst the sub dials so you have to squint to see the time.

Polished centre links on a bracelet which pick up scratches immediately and spoil the look.

small date windows.

not enough micro adjustments on bracelets.

plastic bezels.

Hollow end links.

small crowns.

printed dials 

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I think it’s great that you can all hold yourselves to your restrictions. I’ll make up a list of must haves for a watch and then break the most important one when I inevitably get drawn to something. I bought my Bulova Marine Star with keeping the size to 40mm or under and it’ll give some g-shocks a run for their money size wise. 

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I had a rule of buying watches only with a 22mm lug width as that was the size I had on all my watches then and I buy a Boldr Venture and Wise with 20mm lug widths. 

The only rules I haven’t broken yet are needing to have a date complication and 100m wr. But that’ll provabl vanish the next time I walk into my local dealer. 🤷‍♂️

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It would be a deal breaker for me if the watch is not comfortable to wear at all.