I saw this years and years ago, and it's actually one of my favorite things I've ever seen on the web. I recommend reading from start to finish.
Mechanical Watch (2022)
121–130 of 135 posts
Re: Mechanical Watch (2022)
#122This blog remains one of the most inspirational interactive websites for me. It really nails both clarity and remains interactable, fun. When (if ever) LLMs are able to generate interactables like these, is when I will hang up my coat.
Re: Mechanical Watch (2022)
#123Earlier quoted context omitted.
Go for the second hand speedmaster from a reputable seller. This is the one you want and will eventually buy. If you really want to know more than you should about the watch, get the moonwatch only book. This is the bible that will help you to check everything from every version ever of the myth. Even if you don’t buy at the end, if you’re a geek I can assure you you’ll dig the content. The movements in those Tissot…
> The movements in those Tissot watches are crap Interestingly, if you'd like to see a really cool site that showcases how these crap Tissot movements work, just click the link at the top of this page. (The Powermatic 80 movement in the entry-level Tissot models is a modified version of ETA 2824 which Ciechanowski is showing on his site.)
Well, crap was maybe too strong of a word but they're nothing to write home about and not very precise (–4 to +10 seconds). OP seems attached to historical value, and if you ask me there's more interesting vintage watches to buy for that money, and some watches that will hold their value and aesthetics way more than PRX, which is all the rage now and will probably get old pretty fast.
Re: Mechanical Watch (2022)
#124always loved myself a mechanical timepiece.
Re: Mechanical Watch (2022)
#125Earlier quoted context omitted.
I'm in a similar boat and I find it really hard to talk watches with folks who are experienced in the way of the Rolex AD. I really enjoy cheaper vintage watches that call back to when everyone had one of them on their wrist. Something about a semi-autonomous machine ticking away on your wrist, whether you're looking at it or not, using no electricity, is just intrinsically satisfying to me. I got into watch servicin…
Rolex ADs are just a para-social gatekeeper for Veblen goods, but there's a huge resurgence in the entry level Swiss Automatic space with some fantastic value propositions in the likes of the enormously popular Tissot PRX 80 line (hello Rolex Land-dweller), or the more recent output from smaller marques like Christoper Ward who are producing COSC certified swiss-made watches for about 4x markup whilst Omega and the r…
You're not wrong.
There is a particular irony about Rolex, as historically they made good quality tool watches, aimed at divers, pilots, scientists etc. These were affordable, akin to a photographer buying a good quality affordable camera. It's bizarre to see these workaday watches with prices jacked up astronomically and sold as luxury goods.
It's also sad to see Omega beginning to play this game, though at the moment they are the only company using the brilliant coaxial escarpment which any watch geek has to appreciate.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coaxial_escapement
Whilst you mention decent entry level Swiss watches, don't forget the humble Seiko 5. Models are available for less than £100, use a wonderfully basic entirely in-house movement and (if you are vain enough to care about these things) will get a nod from any self-respecting watch geek.
Re: Mechanical Watch (2022)
#126Earlier quoted context omitted.
> The movements in those Tissot watches are crap Interestingly, if you'd like to see a really cool site that showcases how these crap Tissot movements work, just click the link at the top of this page. (The Powermatic 80 movement in the entry-level Tissot models is a modified version of ETA 2824 which Ciechanowski is showing on his site.)
Well, crap was maybe too strong of a word but they're nothing to write home about and not very precise (–4 to +10 seconds). OP seems attached to historical value, and if you ask me there's more interesting vintage watches to buy for that money, and some watches that will hold their value and aesthetics way more than PRX, which is all the rage now and will probably get old pretty fast.
> nothing to write home about and not very precise
A work-horse is neither a show-horse nor a race-horse.
Re: Mechanical Watch (2022)
#127Bartosz has this rare ability to make a mechanism feel obvious without making it feel simple
Re: Mechanical Watch (2022)
#128This article inspired me to build an exploded view of a mechanical watch movement in real-life (2025): https://fellerts.no/projects/epoch.html
This is wonderful
Re: Mechanical Watch (2022)
#129This article inspired me to build an exploded view of a mechanical watch movement in real-life (2025): https://fellerts.no/projects/epoch.html
Were my father still alive I would pay you nearly anything for such a model. Or would totally be inspired to work on this for his next year's birthday (he would have had his 80th bd next year). This made me smile and in remembering cry. Thanks a ton kind stranger. It was a lovely stroll down memroy lane. I still have a few pieces from his collection that are near and dear to my heart.
This is one of the nicest things about objects like watches
Re: Mechanical Watch (2022)
#130Earlier quoted context omitted.
> The movements in those Tissot watches are crap Interestingly, if you'd like to see a really cool site that showcases how these crap Tissot movements work, just click the link at the top of this page. (The Powermatic 80 movement in the entry-level Tissot models is a modified version of ETA 2824 which Ciechanowski is showing on his site.)
Well, crap was maybe too strong of a word but they're nothing to write home about and not very precise (–4 to +10 seconds). OP seems attached to historical value, and if you ask me there's more interesting vintage watches to buy for that money, and some watches that will hold their value and aesthetics way more than PRX, which is all the rage now and will probably get old pretty fast.
Rolex just launched a integrated bracelet model and Royal Oaks have been popular with celebrities for decades, that style is probably here to stay.