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Watches

wm02 said:
Does anyone have any experience with Time Factors/Smiths?
Really like the look of these two watches
www.timefactors.com

TIMEFACTORS | BABY DREADNOUGHT PRS-52

The original Dreadnought was introduced in 2003 as a limited edition of 200 pieces and immediately sold out, used examples now sell for as much as 5 times the original selling price. The new "Baby" Dreadnought will appeal to those who don't have a gorilla's wrist but still want a top...
www.timefactors.com www.timefactors.com
www.timefactors.com

SMITHS CARIBBEAN 1000 PRS-55

Caribbean watches were very popular in the 1960s and had very high (for the time) water resistance and bold vibrant coloured dials. Introduced by the watch company Jenny (later to aquire Doxa in 1997), they were also made by several other companies, all using the Caribbean name. The companies...
www.timefactors.com www.timefactors.com
Click to expand...

Not Time Factors but Smiths (at least by name)...UK brand, isn't it?
 
wm02 said:
Really like the look of this one but the idea of buying a watch without trying it on first is a little daunting. Any advice?
View attachment 143502
Click to expand...
Buy it, try it, send back if you don't like it. From what I remember, they are a decent company. You used to get 60 days to send the watch back if you didn't like it. Worth checking if that is still the case.
They were well made watches and had fantastic customer service in the past.
 

wm02 said:
It’s lovely.
Fairly slim too, right?
Click to expand...
Thinner than than you would expect for the movement and also case diameter at 38.5mm is a pretty discrete. Tbf that’s why I’m not sure if it is one as it looks bigger on his wrist.
31B7C364-971B-48E2-AC75-6946B5581F79.jpeg
One day maybe ?, although the depreciation on them it quite eye watering for a Patak, circa £25k used iirc
 
wm02 said:
Really like the look of this one but the idea of buying a watch without trying it on first is a little daunting. Any advice?
View attachment 143502
Click to expand...

For me, the two biggest "under-thought" factors are diameter of case and thickness. If you have tiny wrist circumference and the watch is 45mm in diameter and 17mm thick, it's gonna look like a can of tuna on your arm. I speak from experience having purchased a way too big/too thick watch early in my watch collecting days online w/out trying it on. It felt way too large and I resold it (the watch was 45mm and 17mm thick). My wrist circumference is about average or a little below average.

For some watches you already own, measure their thickness and case diameter. They will likely be between 39-42mm (diameter) and about 12-16mm thick. If the above watch is in the range of what you already own, you'll be fine (assuming your wrist size is within the average of all men). And if the colors and design of the watch speak to you (and the thickness/diameter is in this range) then you are golden. And as someone pointed out, you can always return it, though be sure to read their return policy and do not remove any hang-tags and other critical packaging when trying it on for the first time.

A few additional "rules of thumb":
Diving watches are traditionally thicker/larger than non-divers due to pressure issues.
The case shape matters: small but square cases "wear larger" than round cases (since the corners are filled out).
Thickness contributes to weight and "top-heaviness" of the watch can create issues for some people in terms of comfort.
Bezel size can influence how you perceive the size of the watch diameter: thinner bezels (more dial/crystal) make the watch look bigger.
 

verreauxi said:
For me, the two biggest "under-thought" factors are diameter of case and thickness. If you have tiny wrist circumference and the watch is 45mm in diameter and 17mm thick, it's gonna look like a can of tuna on your arm. I speak from experience having purchased a way too big/too thick watch early in my watch collecting days online w/out trying it on. It felt way too large and I resold it (the watch was 45mm and 17mm thick). My wrist circumference is about average or a little below average.

For some watches you already own, measure their thickness and case diameter. They will likely be between 39-42mm (diameter) and about 12-16mm thick. If the above watch is in the range of what you already own, you'll be fine (assuming your wrist size is within the average of all men). And if the colors and design of the watch speak to you (and the thickness/diameter is in this range) then you are golden. And as someone pointed out, you can always return it, though be sure to read their return policy and do not remove any hang-tags and other critical packaging when trying it on for the first time.

A few additional "rules of thumb":
Diving watches are traditionally thicker/larger than non-divers due to pressure issues.
The case shape matters: small but square cases "wear larger" than round cases (since the corners are filled out).
Thickness contributes to weight and "top-heaviness" of the watch can create issues for some people in terms of comfort.
Bezel size can influence how you perceive the size of the watch diameter: thinner bezels (more dial/crystal) make the watch look bigger.
Click to expand...

I'd add that lug-to-lug width might be the most important thing...IMHO. I'm sure they're out there, because "watches", but rarely does the case diameter exceed the lug width. And, just in case anyone's wondering wtf that is, see below. I'd also say be wary of any online seller that doesn't list this measurement. Sure, you can probably find it if you Google it but, if they're not listing it, at least use it as a light measuring stick of their attention to detail as a seller...especially if they're a specialist shop.

It's not anything to really base your purchase from them on but it gives you an idea about them, in general.

20181204_1554440111.jpg
 
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