Want a Bondian watch at far less than the price of a Rolex?

nms75

I have a Rolex Submariner myself but if you would like something similar, but at a much reduced price, then you might be interested in this: http://www.steinhartwatches.de/index.php?id=67&artnr=14&Sel_ID=9#14

This young company is getting excellent reviews on the numerous well known watch forums from a lot of happy customers (many of them luxury watch owners) so they must be doing something pretty well! While I won't be buying one myself (as I saidI have a Rolex Submariner) I have ordered a GMT version with the Pepsi bezel - should members be interested I can post pics of this when it arrives with an honest review as to the quality and feel of the product.

Posted purely for the interest of members and apart from being a customer I have no connection with this company!

NMS

jimmybondi

Looks promising!
Thanks for sharing.

tlo

I bought a Steinhart watch a while back, I sold it again, but the quality was great. They use swiss ETA movements, some of them even used by Omega.

They are very solid watches, and have about the same quality as Tag Heuer.

nms75

Good to hear the Steinhart was a quality watch and on the same level as a Tag Heuer - and that's saying something for a 340 Euro watch!

NMS

tlo

nms75 wrote:

Good to hear the Steinhart was a quality watch and on the same level as a Tag Heuer - and that's saying something for a 340 Euro watch!

NMS

Yes indeed.

I have collected watches for a few years now, mostly high-end watches. And I have heard so much good about Steinhart.
So I ordered a watch from the website, an aviation model. Because I personally love WWII flieger style watches, and I didn't wanna pay so much, for a big watch if I didn't knew if it was going to fit me.

I was surprised by the quality, even the finishing on the movement was great. And the packaging was like Omega's standard leather boxes. Cardbord outer box, and inside a leather box to hold the watch.

The customer service was top notch! And I got the watch about one week after I placed my order.

nms75

Thanks for the feedback tlo, much appreciated! I pre-ordered my GMT-Ocean 1 Blue Red asit wasn't in stock but withing 72 hours they told me it was in and gave me their shipping number. Hopefully it will be with me in a day or two - I can't fault their customer service!

NMS

tlo

nms75 wrote:

Thanks for the feedback tlo, much appreciated! I pre-ordered my GMT-Ocean 1 Blue Red asit wasn't in stock but withing 72 hours they told me it was in and gave me their shipping number. Hopefully it will be with me in a day or two - I can't fault their customer service!

NMS

No problem at all nms75 :007)

I hope you will post some pictures when you get the watch. I'm sure you will be very happy with it, it's a beautiful watch.

nms75

tlo

Will do mate, I think from what I've heard I will be impressed. Maybe of interest to some members I hope.

NMS :007)

nms75

Just a few images in case anyone is interested. The watch is extremely good quality for the price with a fast delivery time from Steinhart and friendly customer service. Quite a weight to this watch, well built and robust yet still elegant. The one I linked to above is, of course, different being a non-GMT model with a black 'Submariner' style bezel. However, they are very similar. Overall a very good alternative to a Rolex Submariner for those who do not wish to spend thousands on a watch.

NMS

minigeff

sorry to crash the thread a little guys, but has anyone got any opinion/info/views/experience with christopher ward watches?

nms75

minigeff wrote:

sorry to crash the thread a little guys, but has anyone got any opinion/info/views/experience with christopher ward watches?

Hi minigeff

I have a Christopher Ward C70 Grand Epreuve. Sadly its a quartz but the quality is excellent. They do a number of automatic watches but I have yet to own one. From my limited experience with them I am left feeling quite positive about their brand.

NMS

minigeff

cheers nms, much obliged -{

tlo

Congrats on the new watch, it looks great!

nms75

tlo wrote:

Congrats on the new watch, it looks great!

Thanks, I must admit the watch is even better than I thought it would be. Many have said the quality of Steinhart watches is good but until you own one I guess you don't fully appreciate what great value for money they actually are. :007)

NMS

tlo

Yes they are extremely good value for money These Steinhart watches gives me the feeling i'm paying way too much when buying a luxury watch 8-)

nms75

tlo wrote:

Yes they are extremely good value for money These Steinhart watches gives me the feeling i'm paying way too much when buying a luxury watch 8-)

Yeah, I know exactly what you mean mate - I have thought the same numerous times

NMS

Troubleshooter007

Hi I have the C60 Trident Pro automatic which looks similar to an early Rolex Submariner, although a little bigger. Would definitely reccomend them, good service watch keeps very good time and a fraction of the price of a Rolex.
They do a GMT too and have a good selection of watches.

Thats my thoughts if it helps at all.

nms75

Troubleshooter007 wrote:

Hi I have the C60 Trident Pro automatic which looks similar to an early Rolex Submariner, although a little bigger. Would definitely reccomend them, good service watch keeps very good time and a fraction of the price of a Rolex.
They do a GMT too and have a good selection of watches.

Thats my thoughts if it helps at all.

They are releasing a new chronograph later this year called the C700 which will be powered by the Swiss ETA 7750 automatic movement. This movement is used by a number of the luxury watch brands (including Omega, IWC and Longines) but the CW one will be a fraction of the price. Maybe one to keep an eye open for...

NMS

SilentSpy

I think many companies use ETA movements as a base but then modify them. My next two watches use ETA movements, one isn't very expensive but the other is by 5 times...I'm interested in the movements but also the design and materials of the watch. If I have to save a bit longer for it then fine. Rolex, Omega, etc. are priced that way for a reason. That said, the Steinhart Ocean Black DLC looks really nice and Rolex doesn't want to make a version like this it seems...If I didn't have a similar watch on order, I would seriously consider this watch after a bit more research on the company.

ics

Yes ETA movement is many watches – in addition Swatch Group owns ETA and a lot of different brands including Omega I belive…

Voituer

is it just me or does any one see these as copy watches?

minigeff

Voituer wrote:

is it just me or does any one see these as copy watches?

nah, people having been going down the rolex look-a-like road for years.

if i could afford a rolex, id get one, if i can afford something of good quality that looks similar, i'll get that.

for me, its not about labels, its about whats 'under the hood' as well.

if a watch has 'omega' written on it, but it isnt a real omega, then imo, its a replica/fake/copy. if its someone elses design, size wise etc, then its a totally different watch althogether, even if it might look similar.

SilentSpy

ics wrote:

Yes ETA movement is many watches – in addition Swatch Group owns ETA and a lot of different brands including Omega I belive…

Yeah, all I own are Swatch Group watches. My next two will be the first non Swatch group but still with ETA movements. One day, I'll get a Breguet which is another Swatch Group company.

The thing with these watches that look like Submariners...There is a legal reason companies can make a watch that is like the Submariner. I don't think they should and if they do it should be as different as possible. The MKII Kingston is a good example. The watch is different enough on the inside and outside to be its own watch. But if Rolex were to make a classic Submariner design then MKII would have a problem to me. The same goes for Steinhart if Rolex made a PVD version. Although Project X, Bamford, and Time & Gems have PVD Rolex watches...I don't know enough about Rolex's (and other companies) present and past product line to make a firm decision yet, but Steinhart seems to be very close to being a copy company with their lineup.

nms75

Its true that Steinhart have very much produced watches which have been influenced by Rolex's designs. That said they also have a number of designs unique to themselves. I have compared the GMT-Ocean 1 Blue Red to both my Rolex Submariner and GMT-Master II watches and they are very different beasts despite the design similarities. The Steinhart is both bigger and heavier than the Sub and GMT-Master and feels different on the wrist. It is built like a tank but is of pretty decent quality.

Of course, of you can afford a Rolex I would suggest getting a Rolex but if you want a decent quality watch to knock about in without fear of trashing a £5000 watch the Steinhart does the job

NMS

nms75

Another cheaper alternative to the Rolex Submariner is the Tudor Submariner of very similar design. These can be found pre-owned at much lower prices than the Rolex Submariner (although they are not themselves cheap). The beauty of Tudor is, of course, they are in fact a Rolex brand so you can excuse the similar designs

NMS

thesecretagent

I do wish that both watch manufacturers and customers would find their own style. These knock-off look-a-likes are even more desperate than fakes. There's nothing wrong in not wanting or being able to drop a few grand on a watch - but it's kind of weird to buy a watch that looks identical to another, yet you find yourself having to explain yourself all the time.
"Oh a Rolex!"
"Well, actually no... But it cost a tenth of the amount and looks almost identical..."

Thunderpussy

I wouldn't feel comfortable walking around with a watch costing a couple of grand on my wrist,especialy in the area where I live, I'm not saying it's rough but at night we have to put the houses in a circle. )

thesecretagent

Your house isn't so bad Thunderpussy. That burning Vauxhall Cavalier outside lights the garden up nicely at night.

Thunderpussy

It's the talk of the neigbourhood, well I say neigbourhood. Most of the houses are Boarded up, so it's mainly the talk of the crack house up the street. )

David Schofield

thesecretagent wrote:

I do wish that both watch manufacturers and customers would find their own style. These knock-off look-a-likes are even more desperate than fakes. There's nothing wrong in not wanting or being able to drop a few grand on a watch - but it's kind of weird to buy a watch that looks identical to another, yet you find yourself having to explain yourself all the time.
"Oh a Rolex!"
"Well, actually no... But it cost a tenth of the amount and looks almost identical..."

Totally agree.

Shows a total lack of creative imagination and endeavour on the part of the manufacturer and low-rent cheapness on the part of the owner.

It may or may not infringe copyright, but it's certainly equally tacky and unseemly.

nms75

David Schofield wrote:

Shows a total lack of creative imagination and endeavour on the part of the manufacturer and low-rent cheapness on the part of the owner.

So what about those of us who own multiple Rolex watches as well as a Steinhart? Despite spending thousands on Rolex watches am I considered "low-rent cheapness" simply because I have a Steinhart in my watch box?

NMS