the even poorer man's James Bond watch...

Danimal

Seems to be a fun topic lately... I am sure many people dropping into a poor man's Bond watch thread didn't expect $3K+ kind of prices, but to be fair in economics of scale compared to the insanely inflated Rolex prices $3k is a steal.
I can appreciate the real deal high end stuff, and have had the pleasure of great friends treating me to exposure on some of those things, but still find myself hitting an acceptable wall of $$ going out for what I am getting on most items.
Perspective plays a big part, as many look at what modest stuff I sport and still sometimes say, "you paid how much?"
Anyway since this also came up in the subject of a look-a-like watch with a friend, thought I'd throw out a little list with a lot less coin attached, although I am sure most have been seen or listed at some point, I figured what the heck...

The thought was to start with as close to the first Connery Rolexalikes while being genuine watch companies with good standing reps and not replicas of course...so the first few are even nice automatic movement type with similar dimensions, probably the same Japanese movements many replicas go for to mimic the Rolex type. Of course had to toss in a nice reliable battery model on the end there that everyone really can manage. :007)

http://www.amazon.com/Seiko-SKX173-Stainless-Polyurethane-Automatic/dp/B00068TJ76/ref=sr_1_2?s=watches&ie=UTF8&qid=1378318647&sr=1-2&keywords=automatic+dive+watch

http://www.amazon.com/Seiko-SNZF29-Stainless-Steel-Analog/dp/B001JQC96W/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=3881PQL5O7SOT&coliid=I2E7M2EST1R3HR

http://www.amazon.com/Invicta-Diver-Collection-Automatic-Watch/dp/B000GXAUYW/ref=sr_1_5?s=watches&ie=UTF8&qid=1378318775&sr=1-5&keywords=automatic+dive+watch

http://www.amazon.com/Invicta-Collection-Stainless-Coin-Edge-Automatic/dp/B000JQFX1G/ref=pd_sbs_watch_1

http://www.amazon.com/Casio-MDV106-1A-Black-Analog-Reverse/dp/B009KYJAJY/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=3881PQL5O7SOT&coliid=I2SNMID8SWDANA

And to finish it off with a choice of either Nato strap Connery wore in your appropriate size needed...

http://www.amazon.com/Military-James-Bond-Style-Nylon-Watch/dp/B00667VUNC/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=3881PQL5O7SOT&coliid=I1FV4N2KXGRBV3

http://www.amazon.com/20mm-James-Bond-Black-Green/dp/B005KKB4SW/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=3881PQL5O7SOT&coliid=IPEQY5MRU1CIX

Danimal

If you have some huge wrists and need to scale up the size you could try something like this...

http://www.amazon.com/Bulova-98B131-Marine-Black-Bracelet/dp/B002WJIQG2/ref=sr_1_3?s=watches&ie=UTF8&qid=1378413130&sr=1-3&keywords=bulova+marine+star

Or if you want some blue action in the 40mm range...

http://www.amazon.com/Bulova-Mens-98C62-Marine-Watch/dp/B0007QMBBS/ref=sr_1_1?s=watches&ie=UTF8&qid=1378413130&sr=1-1&keywords=bulova+marine+star

Anyway, feel free to have fun adding on... go up the line as you please as I only did a quickie Connery style grab.

minigeff

Good alternative to the genuine seamy;

http://www.watchshop.com/mens-rotary-aquaspeed-watch-agb00068-w-05-p99951420.html

Ps, don't buy anything from the watch shop though, they're completely useless half brained inbred cunts who couldn't organise a pile up on a bridge.

Jag

minigeff wrote:

Good alternative to the genuine seamy;

http://www.watchshop.com/mens-rotary-aquaspeed-watch-agb00068-w-05-p99951420.html

Ps, don't buy anything from the watch shop though, they're completely useless half brained inbred cunts who couldn't organise a pile up on a bridge.

Thanks, minigeff, while the Connery Rolex is a classic, of all the Bond watches the Brosnan Seamaster has always been my favourite, and didn't realise that affordable tribute models were manufactured. I have just ordered the Rotary, which I found for A$199 incl. delivery. Looks like got the last one, as it is now showing as "sold out", though they still have it in black. Wonder what it will look like in the flesh, as pricewise it is not much different from the knock-offs sold by "replica watch" shops.

http://www.oo.com.au/Rotary-Aquaspeed-Mens-Watch-_P191227.cfm

SpectreBlofeld

This is a great watch with Seamaster overtones:



Besides being a handsome watch in its own right, I like that it's "just right" in the way that it's close enough to having the Seamaster feel without crossing the line and becoming a full-on knockoff.

Review with great photographs: http://wornandwound.com/2011/09/02/review-seiko-5-snzh53-diver-in-blue/

Amazon link: ($189) http://www.amazon.com/Seiko-SNZH53-Automatic-Stainless-Steel/dp/B0041LG08U

Bias Disclaimer: I have this watch on my wrist. I alternate it with my Seiko Black Monster and an old wind-up green faced Soviet officer's watch I came across in an antique shop.

SpectreBlofeld

Here's the Soviet watch, if anyone was curious:



Interesting little piece of history, from around 1980-ish. I like the way the second hand is in its own little subdial. Interesting to note that Soviet watches of the ~1980 era were manually wound and not automatic.

Le Samourai

SpectreBlofeld wrote:

This is a great watch with Seamaster overtones:



Besides being a handsome watch in its own right, I like that it's "just right" in the way that it's close enough to having the Seamaster feel without crossing the line and becoming a full-on knockoff.

Review with great photographs: http://wornandwound.com/2011/09/02/review-seiko-5-snzh53-diver-in-blue/

Amazon link: ($189) http://www.amazon.com/Seiko-SNZH53-Automatic-Stainless-Steel/dp/B0041LG08U

Bias Disclaimer: I have this watch on my wrist. I alternate it with my Seiko Black Monster and an old wind-up green faced Soviet officer's watch I came across in an antique shop.

That's a very nice watch. The Seiko 5s are among the best deals in automatic watches.

Incidentally, a Seiko Black Monster is my daily watch.

SpectreBlofeld

Le Samourai wrote:

Incidentally, a Seiko Black Monster is my daily watch.

Honestly, if I were forced to pick one wristwatch to wear for the rest of my life, it would be the Black Monster. It's not as 'dressy' as other watches (though it's certainly attractive in its own right), but it's durable as hell, and VISIBLE. I've woken up at 5 A.M. and glanced at my Black Monster, and the lume is still glowing brightly enough to be clearly readable. I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. To bring it back to Bond, the Black Monster reminds me of Olga Kurylenko's (great!) line to Bond in Quantum of Solace: 'There's something terribly efficient about you'.

Jag

This thread is becoming more interesting that the ones about genuine 007 Omega/Rolex! Does it mean I'm a poor man?

NeverSayDie

minigeff wrote:

Good alternative to the genuine seamy;

http://www.watchshop.com/mens-rotary-aquaspeed-watch-agb00068-w-05-p99951420.html

Ps, don't buy anything from the watch shop though, they're completely useless half brained inbred cunts who couldn't organise a pile up on a bridge.

I have almost that watch. Mine doesn't have the date at the bottom. My dad is a jeweller and I got to go through almost ever watch catalogue to find the closest one to the Goldeneye seamaster. My brother has the same watch in black.
This is mine. The picture does not do it justice.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rotary-AGB00026-W-05-Mens-Aquaspeed-Watch/dp/B003E51J3U

NeverSayDie

minigeff wrote:

Good alternative to the genuine seamy;

http://www.watchshop.com/mens-rotary-aquaspeed-watch-agb00068-w-05-p99951420.html

Ps, don't buy anything from the watch shop though, they're completely useless half brained inbred cunts who couldn't organise a pile up on a bridge.

I have almost that watch. Mine doesn't have the date at the bottom. My dad is a jeweller and I got to go through almost ever watch catalogue to find the closest one to the Goldeneye seamaster. My brother has the same watch in black.
This is mine. The picture does not do it justice.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rotary-AGB00026-W-05-Mens-Aquaspeed-Watch/dp/B003E51J3U

Peppermill

I have an SKX007K, it looks a lot like the SKX173 that Danimal posted in the original post but with round markers. It is a fantastic watch and like SpectreBlofeld said about his Seiko, it looks like a real dive watch (and is with an ISO water resistance of 200 m) but isn’t a cheap copy of a Seamaster or Sub like the Rotary. I wear it on a Bond NATO strap (black/red/green) and looks like this http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/155/007greybond.jpg/

Nice to see some other fans of the Seiko Monster. I was about to buy a black one when my girlfriend advised me to buy the orange one because I already had a black faced dive watch and the orange one was more special and looked more fitting with the case and strap. I’m glad I listened to her because I think she was absolutely right. Although I think the BM looks great I am sure that I would have also bought the Orange one not long after receiving the black one. After buying the orange I had no need for the black one. However, black or orange the old monsters are great watches. I don’t really like the new version of the monster, it looks a bit kiddie with the tooth markers.

Anyway, on topic, you can decide to buy a cheap copy of a Rolex or Omega or you can buy a watch from a genuine watchmaker that has a style of its own.

Higgins

@Peppermill, totally agree*

Having a Seiko SKX007 myself, I agree on all your remarks.
The quality is phantasic, the watch is unique and a legend itself.

Every comparison to Rotary Invicta and others is a pure insult.

* but that does not make your wrong pov on Dalton any better

Peppermill

Bondtoys wrote:

@Peppermill, totally agree*

Having a Seiko SKX007 myself, I agree on all your remarks.
The quality is phantasic, the watch is unique and a legend itself.

Every comparison to Rotary Invicta and others is a pure insult.

* but that does not make your wrong pov on Dalton any better

I'm not even sure I ever gave my opinion on Dalton on AJB

Jag

NeverSayDie wrote:

minigeff wrote:

Good alternative to the genuine seamy;

http://www.watchshop.com/mens-rotary-aquaspeed-watch-agb00068-w-05-p99951420.html

Ps, don't buy anything from the watch shop though, they're completely useless half brained inbred cunts who couldn't organise a pile up on a bridge.

I have almost that watch. Mine doesn't have the date at the bottom. My dad is a jeweller and I got to go through almost ever watch catalogue to find the closest one to the Goldeneye seamaster. My brother has the same watch in black.
This is mine. The picture does not do it justice.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rotary-AGB00026-W-05-Mens-Aquaspeed-Watch/dp/B003E51J3U

And what is your opinion of the watch then? By the way, I just realise that you can buy it even cheaper model with a polyurethane strap instead of steel bracelet. You can then replace the strap with a NATO one and you will be wearing a Rolex-Omega-Connery-Brosnan hybrid. Pure 007 style! )

Bondtoys - Of course the Rotary or Invicta discussed here are budget alternatives, no-one says that they will be as good as a genuine Rolex. But at least we can afford to have a few different models instead of just one. Having said that, the Rotary comes with some kind of a lifetime warranty, so it may be not as bad as you are suggesting.

Peppermill

I think the point Bondtoys is trying to make (sorry BT if I'm wrong) and I wholeheartedly agree with is that there is a very big difference between buying a cheap automatic watch that is a design on its own compared to buying a watch that is obviously and proud to be a knock off of a familiar design of a quality (and often expensive) watch maker like Rolex, Omega etc. In all honesty, the Rotary does not claim to be an Omega like replicas do, however it is very obvious what it is trying to be like. The wave dial is a very distinct feature of the Seamaster so copying this is really like ‘stealing’ a design made famous by another brand. The same goes for all the Submariner rip offs that are abundantly available on the net.

Danimal

I definitely didn't start this to be a replica/homage watch debate. Seiko is a well-known and great watch company, but it's dive watches are not that original, and many are definitely tributes to the Rolex Subs... one of them talked about here even has a blazing tribute in it's model designation SKX007
It just takes typing in "dive watch" to see all kinds of makers doing sub variants... and really isn't the Omega Seamaster Professional another take on the earlier Rolex Sub style? (that should start a nice little debate :007) ) The thread is just meant for all to contribute their affordable close enough finds to all the Bond watches, without being replica companies stepping on trademark laws.

The Seiko Sports line really has some nice finds in it...
http://www.amazon.com/Seiko-Black-Stainless-Automatic-SNZF17/dp/B001IBF15Y/ref=sr_1_17?s=watches&ie=UTF8&qid=1378483649&sr=1-17&keywords=seiko+dive+watch

And for looks this Casio rings some nice bells...
http://www.amazon.com/Casio-MDV106D-1A2V-Silver-Stainless-Steel-Quartz/dp/B005GTLSNS/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_S_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=3881PQL5O7SOT&coliid=I3F7TE9O794V8T

Donald Grant

I would tend to agree. Watch companies have been "borrowing" each others designs for ages. For example, there is a long held debate regarding who created the modern dive watch. Blancpain claims it was them with their Fifty Fathoms while Rolex claims their Submariner was first. Both have strikingly similar designs. No doubt, the Submariner is today vastly more sought after and well known. However, the Fifty Fathoms was originally designed for French combat divers. My money is on the Blancpain. But seriously, who gives a damn? If you like a watch for whatever reason, buy it! It's what Bond would do!

WWBD = What Would Bond Do?

DG

Higgins

Jag wrote:

Bondtoys - Of course the Rotary or Invicta discussed here are budget alternatives, no-one says that they will be as good as a genuine Rolex. But at least we can afford to have a few different models instead of just one. Having said that, the Rotary comes with some kind of a lifetime warranty, so it may be not as bad as you are suggesting.

If you re-read my post, you may find out that my point was, that the mentioned Seiko is superior in many regards to the Rotary,Invicta etc. alternatives - imo

Peppermill

Dear Danimal,

I never intended this to be a discussion about ‘fake/homage/real’ watches and I appreciate your starting of this topic. However, there is a thin line between copies/fakes and cheaper alternatives that is almost impossible to avoid when talking about watches. Anyway, I think this tread has already given us some very nice watches with a ‘Bond feel’ within a few days.

Because watches are practically the only jewellery I wear I’ve collected quite a few over the years. Some of them I wear very often, some have lived inside my watchcase for months without seeing daylight. So I have to be careful not to buy every nice and affordable watch that is posted here 

I’m not sure the 007 in the SKX line is really meant to be a reference to Bond because there is also a 005 and 009 watch in the same line.

So, here is a watch that has absolutely nothing to do with Bond but is one of my favourite watches when I’m not wearing a diver style watch. I wear it on a slim brown leather strap and for some reason gives me a Roger Moore suave feel. (I can’t find a picture of it, will post it as soon as I have).

Danimal

BTW even though the astronauts had Omegas on their wrists heading to the moon the instruments surrounding them in the cockpit used to get them there were Bulova...

Pepper - that wasn't directed at you or anyone by any means, I just wanted to make the blanket statement so as to not let things go down that path...as there is the potential in your very valid statement about the lines starting to blur.

Kittlemeier

My humble submission. It's a 7040 with a 6105 face. Bought it at my buddy's pawn shop for a great price. He's got a customer that's always bringing in new/newly refurbished vintage watches to sell. A few months after I bought it a service call customer asked about it, where I got it, etc. Turned out he was the customer always bringing in watches. Awkward.

About time for a new band as the Corvus has about had it. Guess I'll go with a Maratac since Corvus seems to have disappeared.

I'd love a Black Bay. Maybe my wife will get me one some anniversary.

SpectreBlofeld

For those that don't mind buying what essentially a shameless knockoff, Alpha Watch sells this guy:

http://www.alpha-watch.com/details.php?myid=908

...which is a knock-off of the Planet Ocean, and this one:

http://www.alpha-watch.com/details.php?myid=359

...which apes the Brosnan-era Seamaster.

Nemesis980

minigeff wrote:

Good alternative to the genuine seamy;

http://www.watchshop.com/mens-rotary-aquaspeed-watch-agb00068-w-05-p99951420.html

Ps, don't buy anything from the watch shop though, they're completely useless half brained inbred cunts who couldn't organise a pile up on a bridge.

Your description of these ladies and their organizational inabilities is truly hilarious! I hope that you don't mind if I use the "couldn't organize (sp~American) a pile up on a bridge," over here in Austin, Texas, USA. Very, very clever! )

Jag

Peppermill wrote:

I think the point Bondtoys is trying to make (sorry BT if I'm wrong) and I wholeheartedly agree with is that there is a very big difference between buying a cheap automatic watch that is a design on its own compared to buying a watch that is obviously and proud to be a knock off of a familiar design of a quality (and often expensive) watch maker like Rolex, Omega etc. In all honesty, the Rotary does not claim to be an Omega like replicas do, however it is very obvious what it is trying to be like. The wave dial is a very distinct feature of the Seamaster so copying this is really like ‘stealing’ a design made famous by another brand. The same goes for all the Submariner rip offs that are abundantly available on the net.

I by no means consider myself to be a watch aficionado, but have noticed online that people are pretty opinionated about some brands. Have never had a Rotary, so can't really say how their products compare with Seiko.

Ryfall

I was convinced that the Alpha was my best budget Seamaster alternative, but the Rotary Aquaspeed has just thrown that opinion!

Jag

Does it mean that Alpha is so bad? I had the Aquaspeed and sold it on eBay as soon as I could - though I actually think I made a little profit. It was ugly and rattly, and he bezel was hopeless. It was much worse in reality than in the photos.

Ryfall

Jag wrote:

Does it mean that Alpha is so bad? I had the Aquaspeed and sold it on eBay as soon as I could - though I actually think I made a little profit. It was ugly and rattly, and he bezel was hopeless. It was much worse in reality than in the photos.

I don't own any at the moment but I've been looking for a suitable contender for a while. The hunt will continue in light of your experience.

Penfold Heart

Nice Rotary homage to the Seamaster 300 Master co-axial from SPECTRE.

There is also a white dial version, stick a NATO on it and you are good to go...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rotary-Watches-Analogue-GS02694-04/dp/B00TDSBV6W

Submariner homages like Moore's or Dalton's are ten-a-penny from pretty much most manufacturers.

Connery vintage Rolex types are a bit more difficult, but there are some that are similar:

http://www.steinhartwatches.de/en/OCEAN-One-Vintage,817.html

http://www.sizzlinwatches.com/product/ticino-40mm-sea-viper-vintage-sub-diver-watch-white-lume/

http://www.tiger-concept.com/watch.html

Tiger concept I think are based in Hong Kong, but seem to get generally positive reviews on watch forums. And the guy will even build a custom watch from different dials and hands if required.

I actually owned the Alpha Planet Ocean for a little while and found it a pretty solid watch to be fair. The only thing that let it down a bit was the bracelet.

Jellyfish

Penfold Heart wrote:

Nice Rotary homage to the Seamaster 300 Master co-axial from SPECTRE.

There is also a white dial version, stick a NATO on it and you are good to go...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rotary-Watches-Analogue-GS02694-04/dp/B00TDSBV6W

I own a Rotary from the same line. It has white lume rather than orange and comes on a metal bracelet. Here it is on a NATO:

genericguy

I picked up one with the orange lume from eBay.
Whilst the watch is lovely (bezel and domed glass are superb) the lume is a very pinky orange, compared to the faded yellow it looks in most pics.