Interesting visit to the AD today....

[BruceS]

I went in to have the watchmaker look at my Sinn 142. The inner rotating bezel was hosed up and the chrono wouldn't reset. The 142 is an old Sinn design and no longer in production due to the discontinuation of the Lemania 5100 movement. Two things struck me: 1) I got to see the movement which was much better looking than I would've thought, and 2) In discussing where some of the chrono reset problem was coming from, he said "this is a cheap watch".

Here's a guy who's used to working on Rolex, JLC, and other high end watches. If one only listens to popular opinion on watch fora, you get the idea that Sinn is right up there with a lot of the mid range stuff, but then you have a watch maker crack one open and you get a technicians opinion! Again, the 142 is an old design and Sinn has probably come a long way (I've had 3 of them and been pretty happy with the quality).

My point here is that despite what the Rolex detractors out there say, watchmakers, the guys who actually know something, talk about how good they are. I've had 3 different watchmakers tell me how good Rolex was and how few true manufactures there are anymore (Rolex being one of them). I've also had the same ones tell me that certain other VERY popular mid range models (which I wont' mention) aren't worth the money, which is quite the contrary to a lot of what you read on many fora (you know the Rolex isn't worth the cost and Omega, etc are such a better VALUE). I prefer to listen to the guys who fix them everyday and really do know what they're talking about!

So, that was all pretty interesting. He got my chrono to reset for the time being, but wants to clean it and make it right after the holidays. Then we looked at some watches and got out of there before we lost control

[dman]

I just don't understand the Rolex haters at all. Or any brand that makes good watches for that matter. To me it is more like a (donning flame suit) jealousy issue on another forum more than anything else.

People use the same old and outdated argument, it's movement is basic, the look is everywhere, yada yada.....

Let's call a spade a spade. 98% or more of the people on the street don't know or care what is on my wrist, although the Panerai does bring that number down a bit.

We don't buy these watches to 'impress' anyone, we buy them because we know what we like. Are there 'better' watches out there than Rolex? Sure if you are looking in a category other than sports watches with a history of been there and done that.

The line speaks for itself and sells the way it does because it is that good, period!! It is just like so many people that bag on Panerai or other companies that buy their base from an outside source. The fact is, any 'engine' can be tweaked and overhauled to run like a champ.

People are just too stupid to listen or understand.

[BruceS]

Well said Daren! And, as I've told you, I'm so f'in sick of all the ignorant people that I've just walked away from TZ. I have a lot of friends there, and there are quite a few level headed and knowledgable people, but I'm sick of all the idiots on the public forum spouting out the same total bull shite day in and day out.

My watch forum time will now be limited to WUS and here with the occassional visit to our friends over on WWF. I know what I like and I know why I like it, and while I'm no technical expert, I do know something about watches if from only having owned so damn many of them from so many different brands. I'm sick of reading pure crap from as many twats and I don't need the aggravation.

[mailman]

Originally Posted by dman

. The fact is, any 'engine' can be tweaked and overhauled to run like a champ.

People are just too stupid to listen or understand.

Very true Daren. How many people own a Zenith Daytona and don't know or are too ignorant to listen?

[Goodwatch]

Originally Posted by dman

We don't buy these watches to 'impress' anyone,

Liar!

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by Goodwatch

Liar!

LOL!! And perhaps true!!

[baseballduck]

I have to agree with you there Daren. When I get my Sub I'm not going to give a crap on what people think I'm wearing, or how much I paid for it or anything. Hopefully by the time I get one I will have saved up enough to pay for it. Sure there are "better" watches out there, but you have to go outside of the sport line to find those. Like you said though people are to stupid to listen or understand.

Tyler

[Rockrolex]

Well said, guys. I think one of the things that brings us together here is that we are not dogmatic. We all have our preferences, but none of us is so closed minded that we cannot accept the fact that there are many watch brands out there, some good, some really good, some great, and some p!ss poor. We all appreciate Rolex for what it is - a high quality, durable watch. But we also appreciate other good brands and don't feel a need to bad mouth any "good" brand.

Of course there are some really ugly watches out there that we like to make fun of, but that goes to the visual design and not the inner workings.

So as long as maintain that balance in our lives and on this forum, we will continue to attract like minded people - those who can appreciate many points of view and a myriad of brand preferences.

[dman]

Even ugly watches need loving too Ed!!

But I know that most here would not want a 44mm tuna can that says Panerai strapped to their wrist. The same way that many would not want a 36mm "girly" watch. We all like different things, and that is what makes this place and our 'hobby' so great.

[mailman]

Originally Posted by baseballduck

I have to agree with you there Daren. When I get my Sub I'm not going to give a crap on what people think I'm wearing, or how much I paid for it or anything. Hopefully by the time I get one I will have saved up enough to pay for it. Sure there are "better" watches out there, but you have to go outside of the sport line to find those. Like you said though people are to stupid to listen or understand.

Tyler

Atta boy Tyler. I don't care what anybody thinks about how much I paid or why I wear it either. People that ask how much you paid for the watch just don't get it and probably never will.

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by BruceS

I went in to have the watchmaker look at my Sinn 142. The inner rotating bezel was hosed up and the chrono wouldn't reset. The 142 is an old Sinn design and no longer in production due to the discontinuation of the Lemania 5100 movement. Two things struck me: 1) I got to see the movement which was much better looking than I would've thought, and 2) In discussing where some of the chrono reset problem was coming from, he said "this is a cheap watch".

Here's a guy who's used to working on Rolex, JLC, and other high end watches. If one only listens to popular opinion on watch fora, you get the idea that Sinn is right up there with a lot of the mid range stuff, but then you have a watch maker crack one open and you get a technicians opinion! Again, the 142 is an old design and Sinn has probably come a long way (I've had 3 of them and been pretty happy with the quality).

My point here is that despite what the Rolex detractors out there say, watchmakers, the guys who actually know something, talk about how good they are. I've had 3 different watchmakers tell me how good Rolex was and how few true manufactures there are anymore (Rolex being one of them). I've also had the same ones tell me that certain other VERY popular mid range models (which I wont' mention) aren't worth the money, which is quite the contrary to a lot of what you read on many fora (you know the Rolex isn't worth the cost and Omega, etc are such a better VALUE). I prefer to listen to the guys who fix them everyday and really do know what they're talking about!

So, that was all pretty interesting. He got my chrono to reset for the time being, but wants to clean it and make it right after the holidays. Then we looked at some watches and got out of there before we lost control

Great post, Bruce...and some good replies from the others.

One day, David (Mansor) took Zemina and me on a full tour of his workshop on the mezzanine floor of his shop. It took him more than half an hour and he painstakingly explained most of the high-tech equipment he had there.

He also told me how he did get the opportunity to visit the Rolex facilities in Geneva and how impressed he was with the QC there. He swears by Rolex and even compared it with other brands (same as Bruce's fella did) explaining to us how good the movements were.

JJ

[padi56]

Well that Lemania 5100 movement,is a fine long lasting movement would put it the top 10 of chrono movements ever
made.As I understand it, the 5100 had a direct drive rather than an intermediate wheel which allowed more reliable continuation of chrono measurement during "extreme" shock loadings.A fine old movement been in service now for almost 25 years,and as reliable as the Valjoux 7750.

[BruceS]

Originally Posted by padi56

Well that Lemania 5100 movement,is a fine long lasting movement would put it the top 10 of chrono movements ever
made.As I understand it, the 5100 had a direct drive rather than an intermediate wheel which allowed more reliable continuation of chrono measurement during "extreme" shock loadings.A fine old movement been in service now for almost 25 years,and as reliable as the Valjoux 7750.

I agree Padi. It wasn't the movement he was dissin'. It was the way the watch was put together. The movement itself was much better looking than any pics I had seen of it!