Wore an Apple Watch until a year and a half ago when I got into mechanical watches and have never looked back. Speaking of health, my new watch hobby brings me joy and that has genuinely helped my mental health. Always a pleasure Gents! Multiple watches for me. Going hack with a Kamasu, Bambino, and a 5600.
Same here. I did really enjoy the Apple Watch for working out but i get so much enjoyment from my Mechanical watches and love that i can hand them down some day.
When I hike is the only time I wear a smartwatch. A Garmin Instinct. The step counter and GPS functionality are useful I can't deny it. But I have two wrists so I still wear a real watch out there too.
Never in my life would I have thought that a Q&Q would be mentioned let alone recommended on the Urban Gentry but here we are! I have a few of them and they are superb for the money!
Mark really did go for Q&Q with his whole collection ey!? 😆 Sorted from price low to high and took anything and everything. Love that from him. Great two piece selection by you T. Few straps for that Hammy and you're sorted for everything. I hope there's more dynamic duo videos in the bank 🙏
I took the Greg Anderson approach to this selection. Blue Casio duro $11 Walmart clearance, G-shock gwm-500 $22 Walmart clearance, timex expedition chronograph $13 Walmart clearance.
I have an Apple Watch, Omega Speedmaster Professional, SKX009 and G-Shock 5000U. They're all fantastic when used in the right context. Just wear what you love and what works for you. Great video as always guys.
Just a comment on the smart watch discussion at the end, for those of us in the military its very common to wear a Garmin/Polar/Apple Watch for tracking runs/rucks. This is due to the fact that most of these are timed and it is important to know cadence/pace. In recent years however, wearing smart watches to work is being frowned upon as the GPS tracking aspect is considered a security risk. For me I wear a Polar Grit X for PT to track my workout, then switch to a Hamilton or G shock during the work day (depending if its an office day or field day). I know there seems to be a bit of hate towards the smartwatches, but they do have their place and in my experience, a lot of guys start with the smart watch and then move to the classic watch over time. Also the Polar Grit X is being issued to certain forces in the military, so I guess they are up there with the watches so commonly talked about as "classic military watches"?
This is a great concept for a video and you both offered some really great picks. It’s wonderful that watch enthusiasts can get such outstanding collections for such a cheap price. Thanks for the great content gents. PS: I’m on my 3rd or 4th rewatch of the X-Files. Don’t forget to watch The Lone Gunment spinoff series as well which is a ton of fun.
Haha, nice!!! I think Fox gets an Omega later right? I am almost tempted to get the "I want to believe" poster for the war room. Always a pleasure my friend, how are you doing? Best as always, TGV
@@theurbangentry Yeah he went to an Omega I believe in season 10/11. There’s a website dedicated to Mulder’s watches (I can’t link it because it’ll put the comment in spam) but it’s easy to find. Also, the I Want To Believe poster is a classic. Definitely belongs in the war room.
An Apple Watch is no more a wrist watch than a cell phone is a pocket watch. Thank you for highlighting good, affordable, mechanical watches that can objects of appreciation and pride.
“Watch: 1. a small timepiece worn typically on a strap on one's wrist.” By definition an Apple watch is most certainly a watch. Your preferences does not change reality. However, an Apple watch is also a distracting piece of consumer electronics, that constantly disrupts one’s life . I have one in my watch collection, but my daily driver is a G Shock, my favourites are a Brew Metric and a Mr Jones Sun and Moon. I appreciate the Apple’s technology, but I prefer the simplicity of a traditional watch.
Awesome video again TGV and Marc! I was building a collection under $400 I would pick the turtle of course! But the Kuoe Kyoto Old Smith 90-002 in 35mm would be a phenomenal choice as well!
Q&Q is big in Europe, southeast Europe to be precise. It has been present there for last 30+ years. Ridiculous selection, fairly reliable, intriguing designs for very little money. When I was kid, flea market watches were the jazz (when nobody could afford anything), and if you had enough money for Q&Q, you were top dog.
What a great watch channel! Love your conversations. So genuine and down to earth. Keep it real. I have a Timex Expedition from the early 2000s. I found it at the Grand Canyon South Rim. I looked down and spotted a wristwatch and half a strap. The owner must have snapped a spring bar or the band split and the watch fell off. It was in the dirt off a trail. It was still running. I replaced it with a Timex appropriate nylon and velcro strap. It ended up being a favorite daily watch. So comfortable, so versatile. The Indiglo feature is handy. The 3V lithium battery runs for a decade! A banged it up and it never scratched the crystal. The field watch style is so endearing. I ended up choosing it as my watch for a 50th birthday bike tour of the Pacific coast of the USA. I started in Seattle, WA, traveled north to Vancouver, BC, and rode south to San Diego, CA. The watch was a reliable and dependable companion on my wrist. I went through deluge storms in Oregon and Northern California. Rode in pitch darkness through Big Sur to San Simeon. The Indiglo functioning like a champ. The field watch dial and numerals so easy to read. And the size was perfect for this endeavor. Timex, it takes a licking and keeps on ticking. That was the old ad when I grew up in the 1960s. I have since wore out that Timex nylon and velcro band and replaced it with a handsome gray NATO nylon strap. It looks so right! I must say, everyone should have a field watch. It will end up becoming your favorite go to watch.
I have been collecting watches for almost half of my life. As someone that can’t spend a lot on timepieces I have over 150 watches. Most are “designer” brands manufactured by bigger brands, but it is what I could afford. As a horological nerd I LOVE these videos! It’s not the MSRP of your watch, it’s the quality of your watch. I am in an area where Timex had a factory so I do have quite a few of those as well as the Nautica branded “Timex”. Hope to own a Long Island one day…as well as my grail, the Tudor Black Bay!
Here's my collection: $138 Dress - Baltany Model 1921 with Salmon burst dial $50 Diver - Casio mdv106 stainless steel case with black dial. 200m water resist $40 Everyday - Timex Easy Reader 40mm stainless steel case with blue dial $50 Digital - Casio A168WEM-1VT silver coated resin case with negative black display $54 Field - Bertucci DX3 plus - Black polycarbonate case with ghost gray dial on black nato $62 Dress - Cadisen Model C8227M in light metallic green with gold indices - automatic, NH35, sapphire AR coated crystal Total $394 For Smartwatches I like the Samsung Galaxy 3 because its a round case with 20mm lugs. It still never gets wrist time because I hate they way they go black most of the time. If battery tech ever improves to where the screen can be on all the time, I will love them. Being able to change your watch's face is really cool.
Loved this discussion, guys. I was interested in getting into automatic watches, but learned that the service cost costs more than the watch, sometimes. So I turned my attention back towards quartz - and what are some nice quartz watches... and it was really nice to see this video pop up, and you guys not take a shit on quartz watches, but really talk about the advantages of these more affordable options. Cheers!
it's funny that the watch that you started with is the one that I get the most compliments on.. that yellow casioak with the bluetooth. Quite a few times actually.
I had 2 series of Apple watches before ditching them and coming back to real watches. I love tech, but the constant alerts, the feeling of needing to respond/read as soon as you get a message is really bad. It was causing me real stress and mental health issues which I hadn’t realised, and after selling them and getting off social media, my mind is in a much better space. And going back to using more cash really helped me control my watch buying urges. Enjoying my collection again, and my first watch, a Citizen Avion CA4210-16E. Wife bought it for my 30th, and the meaning to me and it being my first will always put it above any other watch I will own (depending what she gets for my 40th 😂). Thanks for all the content TGV and Mark. Onwards and Upwards.
Top notch video as always. So refreshing to have a video of two experts with different views and preferences having a civilised and thought-provoking conversation. All too rare in the clickbait and outrage era. Shout out also to Seiko's Q&Q equivalent: Lorus. They do a titanium field watch for under £50. And automatic watches in the same mould as the previous generation of Seiko 5s for under £100. Interestingly those are still powered by the 7S26, rebranded as a "Y676" which suggests it may still be in production. Re: smartwatches I found the health stuff from a GPS running/cycling/swimming watch and heart rate chest strap very useful when I was training for marathons and was following a pretty strict regime to achieve a specific target time and prevent overtraining and injury. But the great thing is that I put the GPS watch on to train and then took it off when I was finished and enjoyed putting on something dapper, gold and dressy. The other thing is that the "health tracking" on smart watches tends to be terrible for any serious training - the optical heart rate monitoring is notoriously unreliable compared to a chest strap. I see a Garmin or a Suunto as an excellent modern "tool watch", to be worn for sports and sports only.
I am a watch enthusiast (I am a repeat customer,et of Marc’s) and also have an Apple Watch with cellular. I use it mainly as a fitness tracker, but it also saved my life in 2019 when cycling at 4:30 am and I hit a deer running across the road; I was doing about 30 mph downhill. I flew for 70 feet and landed in the street with multiple fractures. Couldn’t move, my bike was 100 feet away with my phone. My Apple Watch detected the fall, called 911 for me, and sent the exact location to 911 and they came right to me. You are absolutely correct, they are disposable technology that will be obsolete and have no value after a few years. That said, you can be a watch guy and own a smart watch too. They are not mutually exclusive. Everyone has their own use case.
I have a small collection going, but had been exclusively wearing a smartwatch until this past Christmas (2023). I'm back to mostly quartz watches with an analog hand display. In that vein, I just received a Bulova Precisionist for my upcoming birthday. It's a high-frequency quartz with all-analog display, including 1/1,000 chronograph. The ultra-smooth sweeping second hand is captivating. I'm loving my reignited wristwatch addiction.
Glad I hear Q&Q for once, I really hoped you'd cover one someday, they are basically Casio from Citizen and kinda big in Asian market as they are readily available, affordable and have a huge collection. I owned one as a replacement to G-Shock which I couldnt own back when I was 18 and since pricing here in my country is above what Americans pay. This watch lasted a while, its strap snapped after 4-5 years so I let it sit in my dresser and after 8 more years, when I checked it, it was still running, its battery died last year and I'm 33yo now 😅
It’s always fantastic enjoyment and entertainment when Mark and TGV team up for a video. My picks are actually a blend from both of yours. The Hamilton, the Invicta, the Timex, and the Casio Royale. You guys are both pure class! 🥃
Great vid, nice to see the difference in what collection you both went for. The GBD-200 is a great watch, but (and I don't know if I'm doing anything wrong) resetting the stopwatch takes Forever. It's almost as if it's trying to send it to a phone, double checks to see if it really can't find it, I don't know but that really bugs me. The watch, everything else is great though.
First, my Islander Northport is my most noticeable piece , by far! And the last time a total stranger complimented, out of the blue, on a watch I wore (he needed to say 3 times and raise his voice because I didn’t expect it)- it was on my Tactical Frog FXD homage 🤷🏼♂️
Orient Bambino, Vostok Amphibia with mods and a G Shock. No matter what I buy I always keep coming back to these 3. Bambino is my no. 1 dress option, G Shock as a beater and the Vostok is my favorite daily. I've fallen in love with all its idiosyncrasies and the silent bezel is so useful in meetings.
many things in your discussion felt likewise. also finding renewed hopes on watch affection that's actually establishing the time, money & effort spent all along never went to the wrong direction. Thanks.❤
If used prices, you could easily get a perfect Japanese automatic duo. I’m doing Orient Bambino 38mm silver/white dial (RA-AC0M03S10B) as my dressier/office wear and for everyday/beater a Seiko. Depending what you like (diver/style, GMT) you can’t go wrong with a cushion cased Turtle SRPE93, a GMT SSK001, or 5kx SRPD55 - in whichever variant/ color combo you prefer. I’d also eventually invest in a LIW/Strapcode bracelet upgrade for the Seiko, it makes a world of difference!
Seiko has you covered in every price range, because if the limit was $5000 I’m going probably a similar answer, except replace the Orient with a piece from the Grand Seiko Heritage collection - Snowflake, Shunbun, Shubun, SBGR051/053 come to mind!
For under $400 (used) a JDM Citizen NB1050-59E could easily be a great do-it-all piece as well, maybe enough money left to buy an original G-Shock square. I do like my Japanese watches
Picked up that Mudman a few weeks ago. Great watch. Those pushers take some pushing! Got the pro diver 5-6 years ago, running well and still looks good on the wrist.
My first automatic was the Swatch body and soul and it's such a shame it's not easily serviceable (but there are videos where people have managed to open it up and service it). For my 3 watch collection I would go for: - Seiko Selection SBTM321 (JDM) for a GADA watch ($230) - Casio (square) G-Shock for a beater ($50) - Vostok Watch Amphibian Classic 100654 ($70)
I got a Seiko very much like that 45 years ago when I turned 13. I still have it and really need to put it in the rotation. I haven’t worn it in 40 years.
Would love to see a video on Freestyle Shark watches. I love the whole company and have been wearing their watches since I was a child, as it was my first watch. Never seen anyone in the watch community even mention them and I think they make a great watch.
Great conversation, as usual. I have moved my Apple watch to the junk drawer, half the time it's on my wrist it's not even charged. I have replaced it with a Seiko 5 SRPJ45, and that will be my everyday beater for quite some time.
Great video and great suggestions! In regards to your X-Files comment, I remember Mulder wearing an Omega DeVille in at least one episode and a few different Swiss Army / Victorinox watches.
Two great takes, but I have to side with TGV. Based on the title alone, I was thinking any vintage or modern Swiss watch with a *serviceable* ETA or ETA clone (e.g. Sellita) in a dress/sport or field design. I find Seiko & divers over suggested for a first decent watch, but a non-diver Seiko would be my 2nd suggestion. If you save a little more, you can get a vintage chrono with a Valjoux 7733. Lots of small brands that disappeared in the 70s/80s (Bucherer, BWC, etc.) would case up some nice chronos. Search by the movement rather than the brand & you find some interesting stuff!
The Seiko SNE525P1 is a fantastic watch for the money. I picked up one recently. 150 bucks gets you a sapphire crystal and 100 meters of water resistance. I've had the same Timex Expedition T40051 since 2016. I think it's cheaper now than when I bought it. Love the green dial and Indiglo is awesome. Comes in handy camping and I also wear it often to the movies. If I check the time twice, I know the movie is too long.
My Timex Scout has been going strong for 8+ years now. The coating chipped off the back since I have remove back for the battery change. But for around $30 it has been a great watch. Only negative is the very loud ticking sound Timex is well known for.
Even with a limited budget you can have fun with this hobby, both new and vintage. Was looking at a Citizen eco drive , 100 metres water resistant with 6 year guarantee and great field watch vibes for £129 😮. Mark and yourself both enjoy different aspects of watch collecting, but, it really comes together in the conversations to make compelling viewing.
What a coincidence. The 2 watches TGV chose are what I own 😊 I have the Hamilton on a black elasticated nato strap with a red pinstripe through the middle, and the blacked out MudMan (I think you previously owned) with red text on the dial. Keep up the good work, sending my best all the way from the U.K. 👍
T murdered it with that Hamilton auto. Absolutely perfect watch. I was looking at picking up a samurai or turtle as a daily wearer but now I’m thinking about the khaki instead. Field watches have always been my fav design
Loved the video guys, for some context I've been following you both since January when I began this lovely hobby that consists of endless rabbit holes of research 😂 I've bought an islander last week (the bethpage Ameri graph) and I've binged tons of your videos as well urban. Love both of your work. Cheers from New Jersey!
UGH! Had back surgery a few years ago re a ruptured disc between L4 and L5, so I know how bad it can be. Hope both you guys are back in tip top shape soon!
You can reverse the yellowing on the clear watches with Retrobrite and a UV light. Q&Q is like Armitron... often overlooked value for money. Great video guys. 👍🏾
Hi TGV Always a pleasure with your and Marc’s videos together. Apple makes good products...but not for my wrist, please. I’m dealing more than enough with digital products every day... I can see the point in Marc’s approach, you really can build a fun and versatile collection within the price frame. But I’d probably go for the one watch solution too. Complimented for the watch? A month ago I was wearing my IWC Mark XV and someone said: “Nice Hamilton you got there...”🙄 Could have been worse, like: “I like that Smart Watch of yours”😂 Keep up the good work👍
I have an Invicta Pro Diver 9937. I've had it for 20 years now. It had to be repaired once due to a motorcycle crash. It's running the 2824-2 movement. It is running great and has never had a full service. Also, the lume is great on mine; I don't know what lume was used but it's nice and green.
My Seiko 5 SRPE 55, the black dial “Dress KX” currently is my one watch collection, absolutely love the design language of this piece, great timeless Explorer/BBay 36 feel and can look appropriate in any situation depending on the strap and easily serviced if needed. Would love to find a nice champagne dial as a campion for it though.
I have the all silver Casio ani-digi AQ-800, it's quickly become one of my go-to watches overall and gets the most wrist time of all my non-G-Shock casios. That Timex Expedition with black dial and yellow seconds was my daily wear watch in the auto shop before I got the ISL-82 (v2) Mitchell, which is black dial, black case, with yellow seconds.
I live in Europe and i haven't seen Q&Q. I recently watched the x-files series as well and remembered i used to own a timex ironman when i was in high school.😅 When you guys brought up the subject of serviceability it reminded me of an issue i had with my mobile phone, my screen was cracked and when i went to a repairer to get it repaired i was shocked to find out it was cheaper by far to just buy a whole new (referbished) phone. Repairer wanted 360euro for a new screen and i got a new phone for 199euro
I recently bought a Spinnaker dumas GMT automatic for 440 euro. For me that's a lot of money and i wanted a watch that's of a proper quality and looks great. Sadly i can't buy Islander watches in the Netherlands . But i realy love my Spinnaker...it's great !
I'm wearing my H70555533 today. It was my first automatic. It may have been my first mechanical tube but I may have had a mechanical back when I was younger and don't recall. It was a gift for my wife. I do wish it was a 40 mm or maybe even a 38. I've considered seeing if anyone wanted to trade, but it's sentimental and I just live with it bring slightly too large
This would be my choice TGV, having a quick look 1 Bulova Precisionist Chronograph 96B356 £160 Casio MTP-1302PD-3AVEF (date just). £38 3 Rotary GS03641/04/KIT (Flighty style) £100. 4 Invicta Pro Diver £73 5. Casio World timer AE-1000W. £25. To be really critical about the Apple watch, but there are Smart watches that have same functions for a quarter of the price. By the way, great choices from both of you guys
I wore my Garmin Tactix smart watch for years and decided to "upgrade" to an Apple watch. Got the thing and liked how compact it was compared to my Garmin, enjoyed getting notifications on my wrist for work. Just couldn't get behind having to charge it every night, Garmin was alright with 1-2 week charge but ended up getting a flight master stealthy and panda watches and don't have to charge them all the time. Ill take changing a battery every year or two anyday.
The way I bounce around my collection is to have a watch for any occasion. The smart watch, for me I wear a Garmin Instinct Solar is worn when I'm exercising, rowing, swimming, hiking etc. Once that activity is done, I swap it out with another. I either go to work or spend time at home or University lectures, so I just put on another watch, that fits my needs for those occasions. A watch for each occasion is my philosophy, they could be extremely expensive or affordable. I have found I make more memories when you regularly swap the same ones. A never ending collection means you always have to worry about picking the right one.
How wonderful. I have this conversation with myself in the car all the time. I started out collecting. If I started from scratch I feel like I would have been better off with one good watch.
My wife loves her two-watch collection of the Casio A168W-1 and Seiko Tank, totaling under $150. My 7 are about $2000 total, but if I were to start over and needed to stay under $400, I would go with two watches: (Islander Manhasset or Relax Sub or Seiko srpd) and Seiko Tank.
There are so many solid choices… Honestly, I’d go with a Glycine Combat Sub for my first pick. You can find those for $3-350 all day. Dress it up or down, if Bond could wear a Submariner, why not a Combat Sub? With the remaining $50-100, I’d go with a G-shock of some sort, I’ve heard you can’t go wrong there. 1. Glycine Combat Sub 2. G-shock
The Casio MTP-E715C-3AV and other similar models keep getting mentioned if you are looking for a cheap dress watch. The watch case reminds of a Cartier watch but since it a Casio this model with a Nylon strap is only $70 on Amazon. The normal retail price is $115.
Can also recommend the Casio EF-121 analog quartz watch as part of a beginner collection, a bit Explorer-esque, unique 40mm stainless steel case shape, glossy black honeycomb dial, nicely finished, 100m water resistance, a real strap monster, 90 EUR but on sale sometimes for around 60 EUR.
I had that Timex Expedition... only watch I've ever broken. I was doing yard work and didn't even notice that the crown and threads had sheared off the case. It wasn't even a hard knock.
The brand Q & Q i remember was big in the early 90s in East Africa (Kenya) I always wanted one in high school but it was too expensive for me back then.
Honestly, the unbiased and honest nature of your channel, along with Mark is so refreshing. But how sad, that this hobby is so hard to find unbiased and non motive driven recommendations and insights. I’ll be honest. You got me into this hobby many years ago. I own a speedmaster racing based on your video on the reduced. So thank you for bringing me into this hobby. If I could offer one observation, and feel free to ignore me, please don’t give the trend seeking TH-camrs in your videos any more shout outs in frustration. Ignore the short term gain seekers. Your channel and your audience already value and know your honesty and love for this hobby, you’re preaching to the choir. All love and respect.
When I was a child I came across Q&Q quite often in Belgium, Europe.I think my mother or sister used to have one. But I've not come across Q&Q anymore lately. I should check some more jewellers in bigger cities to see if they still sell them.
I bought a slim dress Q&Q watch, gold tone, in the mid 1990s for likely ~$50 in Columbus, OH (Macys-?) for my daily business casual office wear watch. Still have it and it still works (and looks pretty sharp). It is not a gas station watch.
Great episode, as ever. I have never heard of Q&Q in the UK. For $400 I would go for pre-owned to maximise the budget. I would go for a Casio digital as a beater and Orient Star for the other, perhaps the RE-AU0001S00B
Wore an Apple Watch until a year and a half ago when I got into mechanical watches and have never looked back. Speaking of health, my new watch hobby brings me joy and that has genuinely helped my mental health. Always a pleasure Gents! Multiple watches for me. Going hack with a Kamasu, Bambino, and a 5600.
Same here. I did really enjoy the Apple Watch for working out but i get so much enjoyment from my Mechanical watches and love that i can hand them down some day.
Apple Watch monitor your health, mechanical watches improve your mental health 😉👍🏻
This sounds like my life 😂 stopped wearing my Apple watch around 18 months ago and haven’t looked back! I do however now own around 15 real watches 😅
I gotta get me a Bambino... 👍🏽
When I hike is the only time I wear a smartwatch. A Garmin Instinct. The step counter and GPS functionality are useful I can't deny it. But I have two wrists so I still wear a real watch out there too.
The intro about the Apple Watch made my day 😂
Terry Graham Vienersdorf's laugh is so hilarious - gets me every time. Genuine and contagious 😅
Never in my life would I have thought that a Q&Q would be mentioned let alone recommended on the Urban Gentry but here we are! I have a few of them and they are superb for the money!
Mark really did go for Q&Q with his whole collection ey!? 😆 Sorted from price low to high and took anything and everything. Love that from him.
Great two piece selection by you T. Few straps for that Hammy and you're sorted for everything.
I hope there's more dynamic duo videos in the bank 🙏
I took the Greg Anderson approach to this selection. Blue Casio duro $11 Walmart clearance, G-shock gwm-500 $22 Walmart clearance, timex expedition chronograph $13 Walmart clearance.
$11 for a Duro ??? 😳
And $13 Timex Expedition ? DAMN !
@@edwardfletcher7790bro i got a bluro for 6 bucks once, and a dw5600 for 5, walmart has good clearance rarely
I have an Apple Watch, Omega Speedmaster Professional, SKX009 and G-Shock 5000U. They're all fantastic when used in the right context. Just wear what you love and what works for you. Great video as always guys.
Just a comment on the smart watch discussion at the end, for those of us in the military its very common to wear a Garmin/Polar/Apple Watch for tracking runs/rucks. This is due to the fact that most of these are timed and it is important to know cadence/pace. In recent years however, wearing smart watches to work is being frowned upon as the GPS tracking aspect is considered a security risk. For me I wear a Polar Grit X for PT to track my workout, then switch to a Hamilton or G shock during the work day (depending if its an office day or field day). I know there seems to be a bit of hate towards the smartwatches, but they do have their place and in my experience, a lot of guys start with the smart watch and then move to the classic watch over time. Also the Polar Grit X is being issued to certain forces in the military, so I guess they are up there with the watches so commonly talked about as "classic military watches"?
Great to see TGV and Marc again! My picks would've been the Orient Kamasu red dial, the all-black G-Shock GA-2100, and the Casio Tank (LTP-V007).
This is a great concept for a video and you both offered some really great picks. It’s wonderful that watch enthusiasts can get such outstanding collections for such a cheap price. Thanks for the great content gents.
PS: I’m on my 3rd or 4th rewatch of the X-Files. Don’t forget to watch The Lone Gunment spinoff series as well which is a ton of fun.
Haha, nice!!! I think Fox gets an Omega later right? I am almost tempted to get the "I want to believe" poster for the war room. Always a pleasure my friend, how are you doing?
Best as always,
TGV
@@theurbangentry Yeah he went to an Omega I believe in season 10/11. There’s a website dedicated to Mulder’s watches (I can’t link it because it’ll put the comment in spam) but it’s easy to find. Also, the I Want To Believe poster is a classic. Definitely belongs in the war room.
I love the banter and chemistry between you two. Great video idea and execution.
An Apple Watch is no more a wrist watch than a cell phone is a pocket watch. Thank you for highlighting good, affordable, mechanical watches that can objects of appreciation and pride.
I like this comparison. Seems accurate to me!
The comparison I've been looking for
“Watch: 1. a small timepiece worn typically on a strap on one's wrist.” By definition an Apple watch is most certainly a watch. Your preferences does not change reality.
However, an Apple watch is also a distracting piece of consumer electronics, that constantly disrupts one’s life . I have one in my watch collection, but my daily driver is a G Shock, my favourites are a Brew Metric and a Mr Jones Sun and Moon. I appreciate the Apple’s technology, but I prefer the simplicity of a traditional watch.
You guys are so fun to listen to! Thank you for the great content. Please keep it coming.
Awesome video again TGV and Marc! I was building a collection under $400 I would pick the turtle of course! But the Kuoe Kyoto Old Smith 90-002 in 35mm would be a phenomenal choice as well!
Q&Q is big in Europe, southeast Europe to be precise. It has been present there for last 30+ years. Ridiculous selection, fairly reliable, intriguing designs for very little money. When I was kid, flea market watches were the jazz (when nobody could afford anything), and if you had enough money for Q&Q, you were top dog.
What a great watch channel! Love your conversations. So genuine and down to earth. Keep it real. I have a Timex Expedition from the early 2000s. I found it at the Grand Canyon South Rim. I looked down and spotted a wristwatch and half a strap. The owner must have snapped a spring bar or the band split and the watch fell off. It was in the dirt off a trail. It was still running. I replaced it with a Timex appropriate nylon and velcro strap. It ended up being a favorite daily watch. So comfortable, so versatile. The Indiglo feature is handy. The 3V lithium battery runs for a decade! A banged it up and it never scratched the crystal. The field watch style is so endearing. I ended up choosing it as my watch for a 50th birthday bike tour of the Pacific coast of the USA. I started in Seattle, WA, traveled north to Vancouver, BC, and rode south to San Diego, CA. The watch was a reliable and dependable companion on my wrist. I went through deluge storms in Oregon and Northern California. Rode in pitch darkness through Big Sur to San Simeon. The Indiglo functioning like a champ. The field watch dial and numerals so easy to read. And the size was perfect for this endeavor. Timex, it takes a licking and keeps on ticking. That was the old ad when I grew up in the 1960s. I have since wore out that Timex nylon and velcro band and replaced it with a handsome gray NATO nylon strap. It looks so right!
I must say, everyone should have a field watch. It will end up becoming your favorite go to watch.
I have been collecting watches for almost half of my life. As someone that can’t spend a lot on timepieces I have over 150 watches. Most are “designer” brands manufactured by bigger brands, but it is what I could afford. As a horological nerd I LOVE these videos! It’s not the MSRP of your watch, it’s the quality of your watch. I am in an area where Timex had a factory so I do have quite a few of those as well as the Nautica branded “Timex”. Hope to own a Long Island one day…as well as my grail, the Tudor Black Bay!
Here's my collection:
$138 Dress - Baltany Model 1921 with Salmon burst dial
$50 Diver - Casio mdv106 stainless steel case with black dial. 200m water resist
$40 Everyday - Timex Easy Reader 40mm stainless steel case with blue dial
$50 Digital - Casio A168WEM-1VT silver coated resin case with negative black display
$54 Field - Bertucci DX3 plus - Black polycarbonate case with ghost gray dial on black nato
$62 Dress - Cadisen Model C8227M in light metallic green with gold indices - automatic, NH35, sapphire AR coated crystal
Total $394
For Smartwatches I like the Samsung Galaxy 3 because its a round case with 20mm lugs. It still never gets wrist time because I hate they way they go black most of the time. If battery tech ever improves to where the screen can be on all the time, I will love them. Being able to change your watch's face is really cool.
36mins watching, 36hrs thinking and my selection is vintage Zenith + Casio/GShock. Great question and video. All the best
Loved this discussion, guys. I was interested in getting into automatic watches, but learned that the service cost costs more than the watch, sometimes. So I turned my attention back towards quartz - and what are some nice quartz watches... and it was really nice to see this video pop up, and you guys not take a shit on quartz watches, but really talk about the advantages of these more affordable options. Cheers!
You guys rock! The whole length of the video I had ear to ear smile on me. Such a genuine content and real treat for the watch-loving soul.👌👍
I haven't heard of Q&Q here in the UK but I'll be sure to check them out.
Love your channel. Discovered it recently. You gentlemen are wonderful together too.
Hello and thank you from Switzerland 🇨🇭
it's funny that the watch that you started with is the one that I get the most compliments on.. that yellow casioak with the bluetooth. Quite a few times actually.
Marc wears that watch *a lot* in the Long Island Watch videos for the last six months or so.
A great day when my favorite watch duo uploads!
I had 2 series of Apple watches before ditching them and coming back to real watches. I love tech, but the constant alerts, the feeling of needing to respond/read as soon as you get a message is really bad. It was causing me real stress and mental health issues which I hadn’t realised, and after selling them and getting off social media, my mind is in a much better space. And going back to using more cash really helped me control my watch buying urges. Enjoying my collection again, and my first watch, a Citizen Avion CA4210-16E. Wife bought it for my 30th, and the meaning to me and it being my first will always put it above any other watch I will own (depending what she gets for my 40th 😂). Thanks for all the content TGV and Mark. Onwards and Upwards.
Top notch video as always. So refreshing to have a video of two experts with different views and preferences having a civilised and thought-provoking conversation. All too rare in the clickbait and outrage era.
Shout out also to Seiko's Q&Q equivalent: Lorus. They do a titanium field watch for under £50. And automatic watches in the same mould as the previous generation of Seiko 5s for under £100. Interestingly those are still powered by the 7S26, rebranded as a "Y676" which suggests it may still be in production.
Re: smartwatches I found the health stuff from a GPS running/cycling/swimming watch and heart rate chest strap very useful when I was training for marathons and was following a pretty strict regime to achieve a specific target time and prevent overtraining and injury. But the great thing is that I put the GPS watch on to train and then took it off when I was finished and enjoyed putting on something dapper, gold and dressy.
The other thing is that the "health tracking" on smart watches tends to be terrible for any serious training - the optical heart rate monitoring is notoriously unreliable compared to a chest strap. I see a Garmin or a Suunto as an excellent modern "tool watch", to be worn for sports and sports only.
I am a watch enthusiast (I am a repeat customer,et of Marc’s) and also have an Apple Watch with cellular. I use it mainly as a fitness tracker, but it also saved my life in 2019 when cycling at 4:30 am and I hit a deer running across the road; I was doing about 30 mph downhill. I flew for 70 feet and landed in the street with multiple fractures. Couldn’t move, my bike was 100 feet away with my phone. My Apple Watch detected the fall, called 911 for me, and sent the exact location to 911 and they came right to me. You are absolutely correct, they are disposable technology that will be obsolete and have no value after a few years. That said, you can be a watch guy and own a smart watch too. They are not mutually exclusive. Everyone has their own use case.
Wow, great to read the Apple Watch saved you
I have a small collection going, but had been exclusively wearing a smartwatch until this past Christmas (2023). I'm back to mostly quartz watches with an analog hand display. In that vein, I just received a Bulova Precisionist for my upcoming birthday. It's a high-frequency quartz with all-analog display, including 1/1,000 chronograph. The ultra-smooth sweeping second hand is captivating.
I'm loving my reignited wristwatch addiction.
Glad I hear Q&Q for once, I really hoped you'd cover one someday, they are basically Casio from Citizen and kinda big in Asian market as they are readily available, affordable and have a huge collection. I owned one as a replacement to G-Shock which I couldnt own back when I was 18 and since pricing here in my country is above what Americans pay. This watch lasted a while, its strap snapped after 4-5 years so I let it sit in my dresser and after 8 more years, when I checked it, it was still running, its battery died last year and I'm 33yo now 😅
It’s always fantastic enjoyment and entertainment when Mark and TGV team up for a video. My picks are actually a blend from both of yours. The Hamilton, the Invicta, the Timex, and the Casio Royale. You guys are both pure class! 🥃
Only adds I like on TH-cam is Long Island watches adds.
Go Mark!!
Literally. Every time it comes on i say it with him. “But you WANT a wrist watch” Yes Marc, yes I do.
"ads" :)
@@emdblyou thank you so much! I’m sorry my English is not really good
@@akabeko05your English is fine dude , I am an Englishman
Great vid, nice to see the difference in what collection you both went for.
The GBD-200 is a great watch, but (and I don't know if I'm doing anything wrong) resetting the stopwatch takes Forever.
It's almost as if it's trying to send it to a phone, double checks to see if it really can't find it, I don't know but that really bugs me. The watch, everything else is great though.
First, my Islander Northport is my most noticeable piece , by far!
And the last time a total stranger complimented, out of the blue, on a watch I wore (he needed to say 3 times and raise his voice because I didn’t expect it)- it was on my Tactical Frog FXD homage 🤷🏼♂️
Thank you for the mention, never heard of the Tactical Frog. Definitely might pick that one up!
Orient Bambino, Vostok Amphibia with mods and a G Shock. No matter what I buy I always keep coming back to these 3.
Bambino is my no. 1 dress option, G Shock as a beater and the Vostok is my favorite daily. I've fallen in love with all its idiosyncrasies and the silent bezel is so useful in meetings.
Do you polish out acrylic scratches on your Vostok with metal Polish like I do ? 😁
many things in your discussion felt likewise. also finding renewed hopes on watch affection that's actually establishing the time, money & effort spent all along never went to the wrong direction. Thanks.❤
If used prices, you could easily get a perfect Japanese automatic duo. I’m doing Orient Bambino 38mm silver/white dial (RA-AC0M03S10B) as my dressier/office wear and for everyday/beater a Seiko. Depending what you like (diver/style, GMT) you can’t go wrong with a cushion cased Turtle SRPE93, a GMT SSK001, or 5kx SRPD55 - in whichever variant/ color combo you prefer. I’d also eventually invest in a LIW/Strapcode bracelet upgrade for the Seiko, it makes a world of difference!
Seiko has you covered in every price range, because if the limit was $5000 I’m going probably a similar answer, except replace the Orient with a piece from the Grand Seiko Heritage collection - Snowflake, Shunbun, Shubun, SBGR051/053 come to mind!
For under $400 (used) a JDM Citizen NB1050-59E could easily be a great do-it-all piece as well, maybe enough money left to buy an original G-Shock square. I do like my Japanese watches
I really like these types of conversations.
You both have a great dynamic 😌👍🏼
… and it’s nice to discover new affordable watches!
Picked up that Mudman a few weeks ago. Great watch. Those pushers take some pushing! Got the pro diver 5-6 years ago, running well and still looks good on the wrist.
Whoa. I am saving this for Friday night viewing. I live for these episodes.
the discourse between the two of you is absolutely brilliant. I actually laughed at a few of those quips, very entertaining!
Nice selection Marc, you absolutely nailed the brief even got some money left over for a Hamburger. (not a German gentleman from Hamburg.....)
I have found myself growing found of g shock especially the metal versions. I find out they make good secondary watches
So happy to hear that, enjoy!!!
Thank you,
Best regards,
TGV
Love Marc's Apple Watch joke, too funny. Another fantastic episode. I could watch both of you every day discuss watches. Thanks TGV (and Marc).
Awesome topic for this installation of Marc and TGV!
Hello TGV and Marc. Another great video. Thank you. At 6:46, do you have a reference for the ana digi Casio? I'm taken with the green one. Best. Mark
My first automatic was the Swatch body and soul and it's such a shame it's not easily serviceable (but there are videos where people have managed to open it up and service it). For my 3 watch collection I would go for:
- Seiko Selection SBTM321 (JDM) for a GADA watch ($230)
- Casio (square) G-Shock for a beater ($50)
- Vostok Watch Amphibian Classic 100654 ($70)
A Hamilton 9721B + Casio LF-20W + Seiko Dolce 9531 would be my picks! Couldnt think of a fourth watch..
👏👏👏 Pure class,
Thank you,
Best regards,
TGV
I got a Seiko very much like that 45 years ago when I turned 13. I still have it and really need to put it in the rotation. I haven’t worn it in 40 years.
Thankyou for the perfect birthday gift TGV, Thankyou for the video guys.
Happy birthday sir! I Celebrated mine yesterday!!!!
Auguri!!!!
Best regards,
TGV
@@theurbangentryHappy Late Birthday!! Hope you had a great day! 🎂 🎊 🎉
Would love to see a video on Freestyle Shark watches. I love the whole company and have been wearing their watches since I was a child, as it was my first watch. Never seen anyone in the watch community even mention them and I think they make a great watch.
Great conversation, as usual. I have moved my Apple watch to the junk drawer, half the time it's on my wrist it's not even charged. I have replaced it with a Seiko 5 SRPJ45, and that will be my everyday beater for quite some time.
Great video and great suggestions!
In regards to your X-Files comment, I remember Mulder wearing an Omega DeVille in at least one episode and a few different Swiss Army / Victorinox watches.
Watched this video 9 months ago wearing an Apple watch. I now have a 6 watch collection and saving for my first Rolex. Thanks guys!
Two great takes, but I have to side with TGV. Based on the title alone, I was thinking any vintage or modern Swiss watch with a *serviceable* ETA or ETA clone (e.g. Sellita) in a dress/sport or field design. I find Seiko & divers over suggested for a first decent watch, but a non-diver Seiko would be my 2nd suggestion. If you save a little more, you can get a vintage chrono with a Valjoux 7733. Lots of small brands that disappeared in the 70s/80s (Bucherer, BWC, etc.) would case up some nice chronos. Search by the movement rather than the brand & you find some interesting stuff!
The Seiko SNE525P1 is a fantastic watch for the money. I picked up one recently. 150 bucks gets you a sapphire crystal and 100 meters of water resistance. I've had the same Timex Expedition T40051 since 2016. I think it's cheaper now than when I bought it. Love the green dial and Indiglo is awesome. Comes in handy camping and I also wear it often to the movies. If I check the time twice, I know the movie is too long.
My Timex Scout has been going strong for 8+ years now. The coating chipped off the back since I have remove back for the battery change. But for around $30 it has been a great watch. Only negative is the very loud ticking sound Timex is well known for.
Even with a limited budget you can have fun with this hobby, both new and vintage.
Was looking at a Citizen eco drive , 100 metres water resistant with 6 year guarantee and great field watch vibes for £129 😮.
Mark and yourself both enjoy different aspects of watch collecting, but, it really comes together in the conversations to make compelling viewing.
What a coincidence. The 2 watches TGV chose are what I own 😊
I have the Hamilton on a black elasticated nato strap with a red pinstripe through the middle, and the blacked out MudMan (I think you previously owned) with red text on the dial.
Keep up the good work, sending my best all the way from the U.K. 👍
T murdered it with that Hamilton auto. Absolutely perfect watch. I was looking at picking up a samurai or turtle as a daily wearer but now I’m thinking about the khaki instead. Field watches have always been my fav design
Loved the video guys, for some context I've been following you both since January when I began this lovely hobby that consists of endless rabbit holes of research 😂 I've bought an islander last week (the bethpage Ameri graph) and I've binged tons of your videos as well urban. Love both of your work. Cheers from New Jersey!
UGH! Had back surgery a few years ago re a ruptured disc between L4 and L5, so I know how bad it can be. Hope both you guys are back in tip top shape soon!
You can reverse the yellowing on the clear watches with Retrobrite and a UV light. Q&Q is like Armitron... often overlooked value for money. Great video guys. 👍🏾
the two of you make my heart smile. I loved many of ther comments written to you as well.😀
Great review, guys. Not sure what I would buy. On a side note, being a poor watch collector, I bought an Invicta Grand Diver. One beautiful watch IMO.
Hi TGV
Always a pleasure with your and Marc’s videos together.
Apple makes good products...but not for my wrist, please. I’m dealing more than enough with digital products every day...
I can see the point in Marc’s approach, you really can build a fun and versatile collection within the price frame. But I’d probably go for the one watch solution too.
Complimented for the watch?
A month ago I was wearing my IWC Mark XV and someone said:
“Nice Hamilton you got there...”🙄
Could have been worse, like:
“I like that Smart Watch of yours”😂
Keep up the good work👍
I have an Invicta Pro Diver 9937. I've had it for 20 years now. It had to be repaired once due to a motorcycle crash. It's running the 2824-2 movement. It is running great and has never had a full service. Also, the lume is great on mine; I don't know what lume was used but it's nice and green.
My Seiko 5 SRPE 55, the black dial “Dress KX” currently is my one watch collection, absolutely love the design language of this piece, great timeless Explorer/BBay 36 feel and can look appropriate in any situation depending on the strap and easily serviced if needed. Would love to find a nice champagne dial as a campion for it though.
I would choose a dw5600 and a sarb, unfortunately the sarb now is so expensive it would no longer work for under $400
Funnny. I own the Duro, the Expedition Scout, a G Shock and a Pro Diver! I love all of them.
Love the Hamilton Khaki, I own two and they really hold their weight against my more expensive stuff!
I have the all silver Casio ani-digi AQ-800, it's quickly become one of my go-to watches overall and gets the most wrist time of all my non-G-Shock casios.
That Timex Expedition with black dial and yellow seconds was my daily wear watch in the auto shop before I got the ISL-82 (v2) Mitchell, which is black dial, black case, with yellow seconds.
I live in Europe and i haven't seen Q&Q.
I recently watched the x-files series as well and remembered i used to own a timex ironman when i was in high school.😅
When you guys brought up the subject of serviceability it reminded me of an issue i had with my mobile phone, my screen was cracked and when i went to a repairer to get it repaired i was shocked to find out it was cheaper by far to just buy a whole new (referbished) phone. Repairer wanted 360euro for a new screen and i got a new phone for 199euro
Can we agree to start using "digilog"for Ana digi? Or is that too much? Just rolls off the tongue better.
I recently bought a Spinnaker dumas GMT automatic for 440 euro. For me that's a lot of money and i wanted a watch that's of a proper quality and looks great. Sadly i can't buy Islander watches in the Netherlands . But i realy love my Spinnaker...it's great !
did u see how denzel got the drop on the bad guy in equalizer 3. he asked him if he was wearing a timex
I always have the Apple Watch on my right wrist and one of my 70 „real“ watches on my left wrist. I love them all.
I like that, ready for anything!
Thank you,
Best regards,
TGV
I do the same@@theurbangentry
I'm wearing my H70555533 today. It was my first automatic. It may have been my first mechanical tube but I may have had a mechanical back when I was younger and don't recall.
It was a gift for my wife. I do wish it was a 40 mm or maybe even a 38. I've considered seeing if anyone wanted to trade, but it's sentimental and I just live with it bring slightly too large
This would be my choice TGV, having a quick look 1 Bulova Precisionist Chronograph 96B356 £160 Casio MTP-1302PD-3AVEF (date just). £38
3 Rotary GS03641/04/KIT (Flighty style) £100. 4 Invicta Pro Diver £73 5. Casio World timer AE-1000W. £25. To be really critical about the Apple watch, but there are Smart watches that have same functions for a quarter of the price. By the way, great choices from both of you guys
I wore my Garmin Tactix smart watch for years and decided to "upgrade" to an Apple watch. Got the thing and liked how compact it was compared to my Garmin, enjoyed getting notifications on my wrist for work. Just couldn't get behind having to charge it every night, Garmin was alright with 1-2 week charge but ended up getting a flight master stealthy and panda watches and don't have to charge them all the time. Ill take changing a battery every year or two anyday.
Didn’t know where this video was going but man, was it fun from start to finish. 👏
I have an Apple watch and a JLC Polaris Date currently, both have very different appeal, one practical and the other emotional, you decide!
The way I bounce around my collection is to have a watch for any occasion. The smart watch, for me I wear a Garmin Instinct Solar is worn when I'm exercising, rowing, swimming, hiking etc. Once that activity is done, I swap it out with another.
I either go to work or spend time at home or University lectures, so I just put on another watch, that fits my needs for those occasions. A watch for each occasion is my philosophy, they could be extremely expensive or affordable. I have found I make more memories when you regularly swap the same ones. A never ending collection means you always have to worry about picking the right one.
Great chat, love both your choices.
I totally agree with TGV about buying the older ETA'S
How wonderful. I have this conversation with myself in the car all the time. I started out collecting. If I started from scratch I feel like I would have been better off with one good watch.
My wife loves her two-watch collection of the Casio A168W-1 and Seiko Tank, totaling under $150. My 7 are about $2000 total, but if I were to start over and needed to stay under $400, I would go with two watches: (Islander Manhasset or Relax Sub or Seiko srpd) and Seiko Tank.
Q&Q is one of the first brands I knew as a kid along with Casio, they're always been everywhere in Mexico, i remember then since the late 80's
I'd go vintage with a vintage Zenith Surf and a Longines tank gold-plated... You may even have room to afford a casio digital.
Nice selection guys 👏
Great to hear from you gentlemen again ❤ your videos
There are so many solid choices…
Honestly, I’d go with a Glycine Combat Sub for my first pick. You can find those for $3-350 all day. Dress it up or down, if Bond could wear a Submariner, why not a Combat Sub? With the remaining $50-100, I’d go with a G-shock of some sort, I’ve heard you can’t go wrong there.
1. Glycine Combat Sub
2. G-shock
YESSSSSS, Combat Sub is awesome. I need to re-review it this year deffo.
Thank you, excellent suggestion.
Best regards,
TGV
@@theurbangentry I’ll be looking forward to that re-review, for sure!
Good evening
The Casio MTP-E715C-3AV and other similar models keep getting mentioned if you are looking for a cheap dress watch. The watch case reminds of a Cartier watch but since it a Casio this model with a Nylon strap is only $70 on Amazon. The normal retail price is $115.
Can also recommend the Casio EF-121 analog quartz watch as part of a beginner collection, a bit Explorer-esque, unique 40mm stainless steel case shape, glossy black honeycomb dial, nicely finished, 100m water resistance, a real strap monster, 90 EUR but on sale sometimes for around 60 EUR.
I had that Timex Expedition... only watch I've ever broken. I was doing yard work and didn't even notice that the crown and threads had sheared off the case. It wasn't even a hard knock.
Just bought the Casio mtp1302 Green dial for all my groomsmen so that was nice validation from mark
I got a timex explorer ani/digi for my 14th birthday and it ran for 20 years until battery corrosion finally did it in.
The brand Q & Q i remember was big in the early 90s in East Africa (Kenya) I always wanted one in high school but it was too expensive for me back then.
Honestly, the unbiased and honest nature of your channel, along with Mark is so refreshing. But how sad, that this hobby is so hard to find unbiased and non motive driven recommendations and insights.
I’ll be honest. You got me into this hobby many years ago. I own a speedmaster racing based on your video on the reduced. So thank you for bringing me into this hobby.
If I could offer one observation, and feel free to ignore me, please don’t give the trend seeking TH-camrs in your videos any more shout outs in frustration. Ignore the short term gain seekers. Your channel and your audience already value and know your honesty and love for this hobby, you’re preaching to the choir.
All love and respect.
When I was a child I came across Q&Q quite often in Belgium, Europe.I think my mother or sister used to have one. But I've not come across Q&Q anymore lately. I should check some more jewellers in bigger cities to see if they still sell them.
I bought a slim dress Q&Q watch, gold tone, in the mid 1990s for likely ~$50 in Columbus, OH (Macys-?) for my daily business casual office wear watch. Still have it and it still works (and looks pretty sharp). It is not a gas station watch.
Great episode, as ever. I have never heard of Q&Q in the UK. For $400 I would go for pre-owned to maximise the budget. I would go for a Casio digital as a beater and Orient Star for the other, perhaps the RE-AU0001S00B
I wore an all stainless steel Q&Q for ten years (about 20 years ago I paid less than equivalent of $25). They are very good watches for the price.