Slum Watch

[Rolesium]

Just picked up a new slum watch.

This is for wearing when I don't want anyone to get the mistaken impression that I have money - you know, on the subway, or especially at the dentist's office ;-) Or in court ;-)

Citizen Eco-Drive BM6400. I don't even have to bother with changing the battery. It charges in ambient light.

Anyway, less than a hundred bucks delivered. Keeps pretty good time, too.

What do you wear on the cheap?

-James-

[raptor]

now i saw this threat and i posted about 'summer' watches

[ChrisEdu]

I bought my wife a Citizen Ecodrive (she didn't want a Rolex!). She's been very happy with it and it's not a bad looking watch. I tend to wear my Polar RS800CX if I'm not wearing my Sub.

[harb]

What do you wear on the cheap?


An Omega Speedy Pro Moonwatch...;)

Actually, the only time I considered wearing a less conspicuous watch was when I was a junior doctor applying for my next job. At that time I only ever wore my TT Sub, but I also had a vintage Favre-Leuba which would be my "interview watch" - ever so slightly more discreet than the Sub! :)

http://newturfers.com/mwf/attach/76/357676/FavreLeuba-black.jpg

And last year when I was doing some renovations in the house, I bought this Luminox Evo.

http://www.luminoxwatchshop.co.uk/images/p/l/1/4601/Luminox-Watch-Luminox-EVO-Navy-Seal-3055-Color-Mark-Yellow.jpg

I'm sure my LV Sub would've handled being around a sledgehammer and masonry, but I just didn't want it to! Hadn't worn it for months until last Friday when I saw it lying in the back of my dresser and thought "Why not?!"

[ChrisEdu]

Harb, what do you think of your Luminox? I've just been looking at them and am tempted to get one.

[harb]

I like it.

Saying that, it practically never gets worn thesedays unless I'm doing some heavy DIY stuff (which is now practically never ;))

[ChrisEdu]

That explains those soft hands of yours! :) How does the illumination compare to that of a Rolex? I presume it's much brighter.

[Cmaster03]

This is a lousy pic, but I wear this Benrus WWII commemorative for doing dirty yard work and other such tough work sometimes.

http://www.fototime.com/A0D91F862617920/standard.jpg

[harb]

That explains those soft hands of yours! :) How does the illumination compare to that of a Rolex? I presume it's much brighter.

:)

The illumination difference between this and a Rolex is like night and day. The tritium vials glow like lights - very impressive.

[red herring]

...although in fairness the battery crapped out about 3 months ago and I haven't gotten around to replacing it; just wearing the GMT II as a beater these days. The T-Touch is pretty much arguably the world's most useful watch, but anything with a battery kind of leaves me cold (and the T-Touch would tell me how cold, that's how useful it is).

[ChrisEdu]

Along with plenty of other things, I've been looking at those T-Touch watches recently. How long have you had one? How have you found it to be? Any good? Build quality? Battery life? I've got a ProTrek but the T-Touch looks a bit neater and better built.

[Thecollector]

My Slum watch is this Glycine Combat, it has had some very hard knocks and never misses a beat.:D

[John]

Zeno Army Diver. Big "n" tough.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41Y5SWGEAQL._SL500_AA280_.jpg

[red herring]

Sorry for the late reply, Chris--I've actually had too much work to do at work lately to check in.

I've had the T-Touch for at least 6-7 years (don't recall exactly) and the battery's just crapped out for the second time, so I think that's pretty good. It's solid as a rock, also--I pay it absolutely no attention when wearing it, so it's been knocked around pretty brutally; it was my old boating watch (when I had a boat) and suffered through a lot of close quarters engine work. Has some "character lines" but nothing major--I keep hoping the rubber strap will break at least so I can put it on something more interesting, but still looks sturdy to me.

[red herring]

A quick update on the above--finally took the ol' T in for battery replacement. Gak! Was told the movement was corroded and not sure it would work even with new battery. Had one installed anyway and the time was correct, however when I got it home and tried the myriad functions found they're all f'd up--the digital time doesn't match the analog time and can't be reset; the barometer works digitally but the hands don't move to show the trend (which is the most valuable part), and when using the chrono the analog time display doesn't reset. Crap! I paid top dollar to have the battery replaced the last time specifically so they'd get the waterproofing right, and this is what I got. Don't know if it's worth replacing now or if I need a new beater.

Maybe that's not a bad thing...

[harb]

Sorry to hear that, Marek.
Looks like you need a new watch... oh, what a shame...;)

[red herring]

...but when I get right down to it buying a new beater is somewhat more troublesome than buying a new good watch, because there's no passion involved. We all know the "gotta have it" feeling when a watch is continuously in your head--that's absent here. I've actually been getting along just fine wearing the GMT II as a beater, but there are occasions (like painting and yardwork) where it's just not appropriate. I had originally thought of a Seiko Orange Monster, or even a used Doxa if I could find one, but since I'm out of winder space I'm thinking I should just bite the bullet and get something with a battery--unfortunately none of them stir me whatsoever.

The T-Touch, though battery driven, at least had enough gadgets on it to maintain some modicum of interest. Sigh.

[harb]

...buying a new beater is somewhat more troublesome than buying a new good watch, because there's no passion involved.

Funny, but I know what you mean.

I still like my Luminox.
Sure, it's not been worn for months but I know it'll be there if needed.

[JohnT]

Seiko 7002-7039 for when I am travelling in places where even a second hand Seamaster Pro is more than a year's wages, also use a G-Shock Mudman and a CWC SBS.

Here's the 7002 :)

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_k4tK1eMzfPM/SoavpvpDAqI/AAAAAAAAGb4/_0VD6F9SJTU/s800/DSC01120.JPG

[Rolesium]

...but when I get right down to it buying a new beater is somewhat more troublesome than buying a new good watch, because there's no passion involved. We all know the "gotta have it" feeling when a watch is continuously in your head--that's absent here.

That's pretty much how it was with my slum watch (the Citizen at the top of the thread). It was a completely logical purchase. It wasn't to be a "beater," but rather, a watch that would not lead people to think I had a lot of money. It's hard to plead poverty trying to drive a bargain, when you're wearing a $5,000.00 watch. Jeezus, I'm a chip off my old Scottish Grand-Dad's block :-)

My criteria were:

No winding, b/c it wasn't going to be a daily wearer and I didn't want to deal with winding it; solar-powered, b/c I didn't want to have to deal with battery changes either (call me lazy, but my two Rolexes keep me busy enough); it had to be decent-enough looking (I don't want to wear a butt-ugly watch for any reason); and last: It had to cost around a hundred bucks. Definitely less than $200.

What's funny tho' is that I ended up really liking the watch!

-James