If you don't mind me asking, what type of 911 do you have A4s? *** Big Porsche fan***
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WATCHES: Question for all you Aviators
- Thread starter MIDNJAC
- Start date
If you don't mind me asking, what type of 911 do you have A4s? *** Big Porsche fan***
I use my watch all the time as well. It's nice to have the dual timezone feature for instant reference to zulu, and the stopwatch is usually easier to operate (and more realiable) than the old school 8 day clock.
Brett
Respectfully disagree with A4s
Sorry A4s, I respectfully disagree, and as that you please tell me why you think Rolex are the best.
Rolex makes great watches, rugged, reliable and proven. The 3135 movement in your two tone Sub (also used in the Seadweller, Yachtmaster, and Datejust) and the 3185 movement in the GMT II (and, yes, the GMT watch was developed with input from Pan Am pilots, see: http://www.ukwatches.com/Notes/rfgmt.htm), have both been around since 1988 and were based on earlier, reliable designs. And the designs for the Sub are pretty much archetypes for what we think of as a dive watch. Which is great...but both of your watches look alike. In fact, for the most part Rolexes for men look like Subs, Datejusts or the very dressy Cellinis (I guess you could throw in their chronograph, the Daytona). Classic, but pretty staid.
Are they the finest watches made? No, that tier belongs to the so called haute horology brands like Alain Siberstein, Audemars Piguet, Blancpain, Chopard, Franck Mueller, IWC, Jaeger-Le Coultre, Patek Phillipe, and Ulysse Nardin (list from Chronocentric.com). Many of these watches are hand made, with complicated movements that are highly finished. Rolex are second tier with the likes of Omega, Breitling and Panerai, brands with mass produced movements, but still extremely nice. There is a whole 'nother world of high-end watches that most have not heard of because they are marketed toward the super-rich. I don't read the likes of Town & Country, but you can see ads for some of the above brands in that type of magazine. A basic analogy: Rolexes are more like Mercedes while the upper end is more like Rolls Royce or Bentley. :icon_king
Is Rolex the best because they are expensive? Well, there are Pateks that cost in excess of $100,000 so I guess they must be better.
Do you think they are the best because they are so well known? Well, I guess then Sony makes the best electronics, Bose makes the best speakers, Britney Spears is the best singer, etc., etc. Hype has made every rapper think that Rolex is the bling of choice for their wrist (see the hideous Leopard print Rolex Daytona attached).
Do you think they are the best because everyone says so? You wouldn't be alone if you did.
Do you think they are the best because you own one and it has been very accurate? You can find a lot of pilot-type watches at different price points that are as reliable and accurate (within COSC specs) as your Submariner and GMT II, made by German and Swiss watchmakers. I would definitely recommend the GMT II to a pilot, but I would also recommend watches by Archimedes and O&S for below $800; Fortis, Sinn and Glycine for around $800 to $2000, as well as the Breitling Colt GMT, and Omega Seamaster GMT for the $2000 to $3000 price point (sorry, those Breitling Navitimer dials are too freakin' busy for me and difficult to read). Some of the ones I mentioned are much like your issued one from your picture (sans compass) with very easy to read faces and handwound as well as automatic movements.
A4s, I'm not trying to argue, just honestly wondering why you think your two watches are the best; backed up with your usual well-written & lacerating reasoning, not just bluster in larger and larger typeface. :icon_glas
Three piece asbestos suit is out of the closet (usually reserved for discussions with the wife) and on, awaiting response.
In or out of the aircraft .... there is only one answer:
One of these .....
Or one of these .... anything else is rubbish, effeminate, or Euro-trash.
Sorry A4s, I respectfully disagree, and as that you please tell me why you think Rolex are the best.
Rolex makes great watches, rugged, reliable and proven. The 3135 movement in your two tone Sub (also used in the Seadweller, Yachtmaster, and Datejust) and the 3185 movement in the GMT II (and, yes, the GMT watch was developed with input from Pan Am pilots, see: http://www.ukwatches.com/Notes/rfgmt.htm), have both been around since 1988 and were based on earlier, reliable designs. And the designs for the Sub are pretty much archetypes for what we think of as a dive watch. Which is great...but both of your watches look alike. In fact, for the most part Rolexes for men look like Subs, Datejusts or the very dressy Cellinis (I guess you could throw in their chronograph, the Daytona). Classic, but pretty staid.
Are they the finest watches made? No, that tier belongs to the so called haute horology brands like Alain Siberstein, Audemars Piguet, Blancpain, Chopard, Franck Mueller, IWC, Jaeger-Le Coultre, Patek Phillipe, and Ulysse Nardin (list from Chronocentric.com). Many of these watches are hand made, with complicated movements that are highly finished. Rolex are second tier with the likes of Omega, Breitling and Panerai, brands with mass produced movements, but still extremely nice. There is a whole 'nother world of high-end watches that most have not heard of because they are marketed toward the super-rich. I don't read the likes of Town & Country, but you can see ads for some of the above brands in that type of magazine. A basic analogy: Rolexes are more like Mercedes while the upper end is more like Rolls Royce or Bentley. :icon_king
Is Rolex the best because they are expensive? Well, there are Pateks that cost in excess of $100,000 so I guess they must be better.
Do you think they are the best because they are so well known? Well, I guess then Sony makes the best electronics, Bose makes the best speakers, Britney Spears is the best singer, etc., etc. Hype has made every rapper think that Rolex is the bling of choice for their wrist (see the hideous Leopard print Rolex Daytona attached).
Do you think they are the best because everyone says so? You wouldn't be alone if you did.
Do you think they are the best because you own one and it has been very accurate? You can find a lot of pilot-type watches at different price points that are as reliable and accurate (within COSC specs) as your Submariner and GMT II, made by German and Swiss watchmakers. I would definitely recommend the GMT II to a pilot, but I would also recommend watches by Archimedes and O&S for below $800; Fortis, Sinn and Glycine for around $800 to $2000, as well as the Breitling Colt GMT, and Omega Seamaster GMT for the $2000 to $3000 price point (sorry, those Breitling Navitimer dials are too freakin' busy for me and difficult to read). Some of the ones I mentioned are much like your issued one from your picture (sans compass) with very easy to read faces and handwound as well as automatic movements.
A4s, I'm not trying to argue, just honestly wondering why you think your two watches are the best; backed up with your usual well-written & lacerating reasoning, not just bluster in larger and larger typeface. :icon_glas
Three piece asbestos suit is out of the closet (usually reserved for discussions with the wife) and on, awaiting response.
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tailspin
New Member
After 40 years and 10000 hours of flying, I wear a stopwatch and never have used it. Actually what I want is a watch with a squat switch. I usually remember to start it at teh beginning of a flight, but NEVER remember to hit the damn thing after landing. Too busy doing other things.
Nope ... those things aren't great, rugged, reliable, or proven ... they're NOT classics. Sony was crap and low-end back-in-the-day. Bose has been good ... not so good ... good again. Britney? Rappers? We won't waste bandwidth talking about them ... all your examples are social trends and here for today ... possibly and/or probably gone tomorrow .... unlike Rolex.HercDriver said:
Who says so?? Everyone ??? Who is everyone, anyway ???
I say so ... I don't care what "everyone" or "anyone" says ...
Yup ... my GMT has been to hell and back with me .... taken it's share of lickin's ... and keeps on tickin' .... two factory cleanings over the decades .... the SUB was given to me by Trophy Wife for a Christmas present ... she believed it to be more "dressy" (?) than the GMT ... I wear it on those occasions when I wear a wedding ring.HercDriver said:
... not "everyday" nor working conditions.You just said it .... great, rugged, reliable, accurate, and proven .... Classic.HercDriver said:
Just like some of the best pilots I have known.
'I rest my case....
I know A4s secretly slips on his Hello Kitty watch when nobody is looking.
Brett
I always figured him as a Flavor Flav devotee...complete w/ grille.
Gift from my very generous sister a few years ago, she bought it when she was in Hong Kong, much better prices on all the nice stuff there.
Are you sure it's real and not a copy? Hong Kong is famous for forgeries...
Gift from my very generous sister a few years ago, she bought it when she was in Hong Kong, much better prices on all the nice stuff there.
Copy or not, if it runs, looks enough like the real thing to impress your (jewelry obsessed) jet-type buddies, and it wasn't too expensive, I say great!
Well I just thought I'd add my 2 cents into this conversation. I'm a long time reader but first time poster so take my advice as you will. I currently am working towards my Navy commission, but my job other than being a student is working at a high end jewelry store. Our store carries both Rolex and Breitling. As far as which is better, it's totally a matter of opinion.
Both watches are completely produced and assembled in Switzerland. All Breitlings are COSC certified (a certification testing the accuracy of the watch) while only about 10-15% of Rolexs are certified. Both have good re-sell values, but Rolex typically keeps a higher re-sell value due to it's brand status. Breitlings typically can be discounted more because Rolex is a heavily price protected brand. As to terms of quality, honestly Rolex's tend to have more problems (lossing time, gaining time) than Breitlings. I base this on the amount of repairs we have to send back to the respective vendors. All this being said, I love both watches, Breitling tends to be a watch that gets more attention due to their larger size. But more people recognize the Rolex brand, so it's a trade-off. So to pick between the two rests totally on a matter of opinion, in the end most people buy for looks. Omega is also a brand that's considered a high quality watch, but I find the X-33 painful to the eyes; but I do love the basic seamaster and speedmaster. Lastly Tag's are considered more of a mid-level watch by the jewelry industry. One of my fellow employee's calls them, "A poor man's Rolex" since many of their designs look like they're heavily based on Rolex's. Not to say that they're not good quality watches, but they don't have the brand status of Breitling, Rolex, and Omega.
As to wearing the watch in the cockpit, although not being a pilot I can't attest to whether its pratical or not. I can say that banging up a high end watch is not that bad of a thought. A stainless steel watch can be repolished and made to look brand new, although this does cost (~$200+). A titanium watch can be repolished I believe, but it's rather pointless as titanium isn't shiny to begin with. But I do remember seeing a show on the Blue Angels on the Military channel and all of them were wearing Breitling Emergency's. Again, since I'm not a pilot I can't really say if it's pratical or not, but I do know that overall the Breitling Emergency has contributed to saving 19 lives to date. While this isn't a huge number, I find it considerable since it's just a watch.
As to Audemars being the highest quality brand of watches, I would disagree. While Audemars are great watches and you'll never see me turn on down, if you base quality on the degree of complications and complexity of the watch, then I'd say your highest quality brands tend to be IWC, Patek Philippe, or Ulysses Nardin. Sorry for the long post, but I thought I'd add my perspective to the issue.
Both watches are completely produced and assembled in Switzerland. All Breitlings are COSC certified (a certification testing the accuracy of the watch) while only about 10-15% of Rolexs are certified. Both have good re-sell values, but Rolex typically keeps a higher re-sell value due to it's brand status. Breitlings typically can be discounted more because Rolex is a heavily price protected brand. As to terms of quality, honestly Rolex's tend to have more problems (lossing time, gaining time) than Breitlings. I base this on the amount of repairs we have to send back to the respective vendors. All this being said, I love both watches, Breitling tends to be a watch that gets more attention due to their larger size. But more people recognize the Rolex brand, so it's a trade-off. So to pick between the two rests totally on a matter of opinion, in the end most people buy for looks. Omega is also a brand that's considered a high quality watch, but I find the X-33 painful to the eyes; but I do love the basic seamaster and speedmaster. Lastly Tag's are considered more of a mid-level watch by the jewelry industry. One of my fellow employee's calls them, "A poor man's Rolex" since many of their designs look like they're heavily based on Rolex's. Not to say that they're not good quality watches, but they don't have the brand status of Breitling, Rolex, and Omega.
As to wearing the watch in the cockpit, although not being a pilot I can't attest to whether its pratical or not. I can say that banging up a high end watch is not that bad of a thought. A stainless steel watch can be repolished and made to look brand new, although this does cost (~$200+). A titanium watch can be repolished I believe, but it's rather pointless as titanium isn't shiny to begin with. But I do remember seeing a show on the Blue Angels on the Military channel and all of them were wearing Breitling Emergency's. Again, since I'm not a pilot I can't really say if it's pratical or not, but I do know that overall the Breitling Emergency has contributed to saving 19 lives to date. While this isn't a huge number, I find it considerable since it's just a watch.
As to Audemars being the highest quality brand of watches, I would disagree. While Audemars are great watches and you'll never see me turn on down, if you base quality on the degree of complications and complexity of the watch, then I'd say your highest quality brands tend to be IWC, Patek Philippe, or Ulysses Nardin. Sorry for the long post, but I thought I'd add my perspective to the issue.