Watch talk

dks · **on:** May 08, 2016, 01:38:09 PM

Just a thread to post any general watch related links/thoughts/information/videos that may not need their own thread

So, I was wondering what happened to Swatch, that was a popular plastic/trendy watch maker in the 80s... I assumed that they just went out of fashion and closed down... Apparently, they changed into the Swatch group which owns several known companies, like Omega, and the ETA movement company (the engines for most Swiss made/powered watches..)

Swatch Group, Brands and Companies:
http://www.swatchgroup.com/en/brands_and_companies

dks · **Reply #1 on:** May 08, 2016, 01:38:51 PM

What Swiss Made means now and in the future

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIRnqMoYD9w&index=16&list=WL

lowtech · **Reply #2 on:** May 10, 2016, 09:59:47 AM

Are you aware that Swatch made (IIRC) the first automatic movement assembled by machines? I think it´s called system 51.
And you can still buy swatches, standard, women´s bijoux watches , Chronos, autos, Automatics, Scuba etc.

i owned one in my youth, it was my first swiss watch and a basic black design with classic dial.

Ricardomfs · **Reply #3 on:** May 10, 2016, 10:14:28 AM

They sell quite a lot here in Portugal, have almost one boutique in each shopping, they are still considered a fashion watch and keep going not strong like on late 90's beginning of the 00's but they sell... I own, our I have at home 4 swatches, I don't wear any, because I don't like them, neither my father our my brother they re just in a drawer ticking till the battery die, and occasionally I fitted them a new one...

Fashion but not realible watches, but I would first buy a swatch then for example a fossil our an ecko, our diesel watch.

firiki · **Reply #4 on:** May 10, 2016, 10:45:01 AM

Swatch is still around, as far as I can tell. They churn out funky designs of essentially the same thing every ~~wear~~ year. I quite like some of their (older) Irony series watches. Nowadays their designs are too funky for my taste, plus I want day/date implication that they don't do much.

I disagree with not reliable, I have two and they have been keeping very good time. What I don't like is that they can't be opened to give them a cleaning. I need to use SAK pliers to adjust the time on this one http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,32457.msg720262.html#msg720262 , the Irony one is older and I've worn it much more but it hasn't accumulated muck aroung the crown.

I'd be interested in their Sistem51 models if they weren't so funky it makes it hard to see the time... which is a shame as I've always thought most of their watches were easy to read.

dks · **Reply #5 on:** May 10, 2016, 04:43:10 PM

They used to be everywhere in the 80s, but the shops selling mes seemed to have disappeared. I assumed that they just went out of fashion. I do not remember seeing anybody wear one for decades.
I looked at them in my youth, but they were too expensive for me.

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #6 on:** May 11, 2016, 12:22:26 AM

I just happened to see Swatches in a store just the other day. They aren't as garish as they used to be, but it's not hard to tell they are the same watches.

Def

firiki · **Reply #7 on:** May 13, 2016, 12:47:27 PM

Quote from: dks on May 10, 2016, 04:43:10 PM

They used to be everywhere in the 80s, but the shops selling mes seemed to have disappeared. I assumed that they just went out of fashion. I do not remember seeing anybody wear one for decades.
I looked at them in my youth, but they were too expensive for me.

There are several Swatch shops around here, either on some street or in some shopping mall. No idea about the rest of the country, though. People visit them but I don't know how many actually buy a watch. Now that you mention it, I haven't seen many people wear a Swatch either.

Agreed, in the '90s the cool kids wore a Swatch but they definitely were too rich for my blood. I got my first Swatch (and first watch in a decade after I'd stopped owning and wearing one) in 2008.

For €60 I think it's pretty good value

Edit: It needs a new strap though, the old one is pretty worn, still functional but I can't tell for how much longer. At 20€ I am reluctant to change it since I rarely wear that watch nowdays.

pfrsantos · **Reply #8 on:** May 13, 2016, 12:54:09 PM

Quote from: dks on May 08, 2016, 01:38:09 PM

Just a thread to post any general watch related links/thoughts/information/videos that may not need their own thread

So, I was wondering what happened to Swatch, that was a popular plastic/trendy watch maker in the 80s... I assumed that they just went out of fashion and closed down... Apparently, they changed into the Swatch group which owns several known companies, like Omega, and the ETA movement company (the engines for most Swiss made/powered watches..)

Swatch Group, Brands and Companies:
http://www.swatchgroup.com/en/brands_and_companies

General Watch!

firiki · **Reply #9 on:** May 13, 2016, 01:01:44 PM

One thing I like about Swatch watches is the battery level indicator. Many models will skip a beat every four seconds when battery is low.

captain spaulding · **Reply #10 on:** May 27, 2016, 10:40:34 PM

Well my Casio GD-350 1B just reset itself again. Not sure how or why it is doing this, but its not good.

metasyntax · **Reply #11 on:** May 27, 2016, 11:41:57 PM

Quote from: captain spaulding on May 27, 2016, 10:40:34 PM

Well my Casio GD-350 1B just reset itself again. Not sure how or why it is doing this, but its not good.

It's never happened to me, but I've seen this mentioned a few times before.

http://forums.watchuseek.com/f17/g-shock-gd350-just-reset-itself-962797.html

Was it exposed to some static electricity?

dks · **Reply #12 on:** May 28, 2016, 05:14:49 AM

Maybe the battery is not held securely or the contact points are dirty.

Also, make sure nobody was playing with your watch.

captain spaulding · **Reply #13 on:** May 31, 2016, 08:37:46 PM

Quote from: metasyntax on May 27, 2016, 11:41:57 PM

Quote from: captain spaulding on May 27, 2016, 10:40:34 PM
Well my Casio GD-350 1B just reset itself again. Not sure how or why it is doing this, but its not good.

It's never happened to me, but I've seen this mentioned a few times before.

http://forums.watchuseek.com/f17/g-shock-gd350-just-reset-itself-962797.html

Was it exposed to some static electricity?

Thank you for the link.

As far as the static electricity..... I don't think so.

captain spaulding · **Reply #14 on:** May 31, 2016, 08:41:49 PM

Quote from: dks on May 28, 2016, 05:14:49 AM

Maybe the battery is not held securely or the contact points are dirty.

Also, make sure nobody was playing with your watch.

No one is playing with my watch as I live alone. Well I have a dog and if she figured out how to reset my watch and is doing it for her own amusement I think I have a much bigger problem than my watch resetting.

I thought the same about the battery not being held in properly. I do not really think it is that as it did it once before the battery replacement and once after. I guess the latch could have been faulty the entire time though. I was thinking about this the other day. When you tighten down the case back does it "smoosh" everything together or is the battery "free" in there. Obviously I do not mean moving freely, but does the case back touch the rubber and in turn the battery cage?

dks · **Reply #15 on:** May 31, 2016, 08:45:44 PM

I would presume that the battery is held securely, but I can not verify it.

captain spaulding · **Reply #16 on:** May 31, 2016, 08:54:06 PM

Quote from: dks on May 31, 2016, 08:45:44 PM

I would presume that the battery is held securely, but I can not verify it.

Thanks.

Sparky415 · **Reply #17 on:** June 12, 2016, 07:53:24 AM

I try not to look in ‘Watch it’ if possible as I see

But I thought you Guys might like this (it’s not out yet)

http://www.neemantools.com/en/products/watches

dks · **Reply #18 on:** June 12, 2016, 09:16:23 AM

Nice, but a lot will depend on what movement type/brand he uses.

dks · **Reply #19 on:** June 28, 2016, 12:22:00 PM

http://www.watchsleuth.com/seiko5finder/

an interesting tool/site, for sorting through the various Seiko 5 models, found on watchuseeek

dks · **Reply #20 on:** July 01, 2016, 12:18:49 PM

I was looking into serial numbers, on this site
http://mygshock.com/wiki/Trivia
and found this, fun, trick:

How do you display the test screen mode on a G-Shock?

To get this screen, push ADJUST, MODE and START simultaneously.

metasyntax · **Reply #21 on:** July 01, 2016, 02:57:37 PM

Quote from: dks on July 01, 2016, 12:18:49 PM

I was looking into serial numbers, on this site
http://mygshock.com/wiki/Trivia
and found this, fun, trick:

How do you display the test screen mode on a G-Shock?

To get this screen, push ADJUST, MODE and START simultaneously.

Great way to make sure there's no missing segments (either inspecting a new watch or proving one that you're selling is good). I've had to return a watch before after I showed the seller it had a segment out. Also handy if you've forgotten what some little part of the screen is used for. :-)

I didn't know about the auto E.L. test modes, that's pretty cool.

dks · **Reply #22 on:** July 01, 2016, 04:43:36 PM

I assume it should work on other casios as well, since they share modules.

dks · **Reply #23 on:** July 07, 2016, 12:44:18 PM

for any fans of automatics with the Seagull movement, I was just notified that chinesewatch.net has the sea master model back and on sale.

these watches/model are quite popular and there is a huge thread on them in watchuseek