Experience with ZRC Grands Fonds?
Having come to the conclusion that not having a 3:00 crown is now my primary watch criteria, I'm looking at a few options. Some, like the Sinn U50 and various Seikos are pretty obvious, but I was wondering if any of you all have experience with ZRC.
I see a few blog posts, but I'd like some first hand reports.
Also, any other suggestions? Open to vintage (to a point, it will need to be ok in the water). <=40mm-ish, <$3k-ish.
Thanks!
10 comments
Sort by
Devon
Appreciating watches since childhood in the 80s; rhythmically accumulating and divesting since the early 2000s.
Boston
Member since
Last active: 1 year ago
Loving that watch! Very different 👌
As for other watch suggestions, Squale is the first one that comes to mind with crowns at 4 o'clock.
No crown at three ? Only one way to go :
No crown at three ? Only one way to go :
Most importantly, incredibly accessible.
Old Seiko 5s (SNK, SKX, etc.), current SRPD, SRPE ... you can go really low budget that way.
No crown at three ? Only one way to go :
You laugh, but if it were a no-date and actually purchasable, I'd consider it.
Why no 3:00 crown?
Here's my favorite hidden crown watch...
Why no 3:00 crown?
Here's my favorite hidden crown watch...
I struggle to get them comfortable; almost all of the scores that I've owned have dug into the back of my hand. Oddly enough, the ones that do it the least are the big case Doxas, but 45mm is too much for me these days.
That's a cool watch!
Who needs a 3:00 crown?
This was our take.
Relevant paragraphs:
"The thing that worried me most about the watch was the crown position, and whether this would allow easy adjustment of the time. Once tested, I can say that it is not comfortable to adjust the time on this watch, yet it is not as difficult as I had first imagined. I guess it is all in the mind… The crown is unscrewed clockwise, which is the really unexpected feature, but an arrow on the crown reminds us of this.
Manual winding is possible once the crown is unscrewed and is clockwise in the traditional way (the watch uses a standard caliber, after all). For the date adjustment, the crown is pulled to the first position, although this is the French Navy reissue, so it is a no date version. For the time adjustment, the crown must be pulled to the second position. There are satisfactory clicks when pulling into each successive position, but it must be noted that the top of the swivel end link is in the way when pulling and manipulating the crown."
This was our take.
Relevant paragraphs:
"The thing that worried me most about the watch was the crown position, and whether this would allow easy adjustment of the time. Once tested, I can say that it is not comfortable to adjust the time on this watch, yet it is not as difficult as I had first imagined. I guess it is all in the mind… The crown is unscrewed clockwise, which is the really unexpected feature, but an arrow on the crown reminds us of this.
Manual winding is possible once the crown is unscrewed and is clockwise in the traditional way (the watch uses a standard caliber, after all). For the date adjustment, the crown is pulled to the first position, although this is the French Navy reissue, so it is a no date version. For the time adjustment, the crown must be pulled to the second position. There are satisfactory clicks when pulling into each successive position, but it must be noted that the top of the swivel end link is in the way when pulling and manipulating the crown."
Thanks!