Talk Morgan Forums Community The Malvern Arms Watch Shock!

I have owned many Rolex watches down the years, including a Daytona and vintage Subs. The current situation with Rolex sports models is a disgrace with new watches being sold on the grey market at a huge mark up and dealers requiring multiple purchasers before they will put your name down for a coveted model. I’m fed up with the whole thing and it put me of watch collecting and I have sold the majority of my fine watches. The one watch I will never part with is my 2003 Rolex GMT, bought new by me then, it was the first really expensive watch I ever bought and it seemed a lot of money then but it’s peanuts compared to the new GMT. I also think the newer Rolex models are getting quite ugly with their larger and thicker cases and polished centre link bracelets. The older models had more of a tool watch aesthetic and were more elegant, in my view.

I'm with you on this, David. Even though the majority may rate it differently I do not like ceramic bezels. Since 2005 or so watches like the GMT have such ceramic bezels. Maybe they are more robust but for me it looks synthetic. It is the mixture of very monochrome flashy colors and the slightly greasy shine that irritates me.
I tried on a new Super Ocean Heritage with ceramic bezel last year. Even black looks specky shiny. The older version with aluminium bezel looks more like a real mechanical watch. But that's just my opinion.

Aluminium bezels do have a better look, Heinz. They are easier to scratch but cheap and easy to replace. The colours are also wrong on the ceramics - as you point out, black is too shiny and the colours on the GMT “ Pepsi” ceramic are just wrong.

However, at least Tudor watches are keeping the flame alive with a range of tool watches which are true to the spirit of the old Rolex tool watches. They are reasonably priced as well.

Nice analysis Submariner V Seamaster

https://youtu.be/NoRstEITESg

I haven't read the entire thread but I do hope that someone has told you that you should call a few dealers and ask them to put you on a waiting list for a SS Sub, date or non-date.

They will wax lyrical about wait lists on all sports models but a good friend did the above and within three months, he had a call from an approved Rolex dealer saying they had just received a Sub and would he like it. No premium, just a new watch from a Rolex AD.

My first quality watch was a Tudor, followed by a steel & gold Rolex GMT with the jubilee bracelet. I agree is looks so much nicer than the oyster (big link) bracelets. I sold them both many years ago. Should have kept the GMT

I have my GMT on a Jubilee bracelet as well. It just sets the watch of nicely.

It’s all personal taste and choice. My GMT has the all black bezel which I feel is subdued and does not look bling compared to some of the coloured ones IMO.

A question to all of the keen horologists on the thread. I am very hard on watch straps and tend to wreck them quickly. When I got the Apple Watch I got one of the Milanese metal/magnetic straps and found it excellent. It has lasted several years and still looks smart.

I need yet another new strap for one of the other watches and was wondering if you could offer any recommendations. The watch is one of the fashionable large clunky men's diver style in steel. The lugs are 24mm with a medium wrist size. I like the Apple bracelet so have been looking for larger/chunkier versions of this which I told are called Sharks Mesh. Magnetic clasps seem rare sadly so I am looking at a butterfly.

At present I was pointed towards watchgecko by a few people and have seen this as a starting point. https://www.watchgecko.com/butterfly-h-link-shark-mesh-316l-stainless-watch-strap
They have one similar to this at £160 and without playing with them I wonder about the difference.

There is a ton of £20 stuff on amazon and eBay bt I am guessing this will be thin and have horrible buckles which will spoil it.

The only other thing I was looking at was a leather NATO style but apparently the blokes on holiday or maybe https://rios1931.com/bratislava-shell-cordovan-nato-4-polished-rings/

Any comments or guidance ?

Alistair, check out my mate Steve over at https://www.steveostraps.com/

Steve is a very good friend of mine, we used to work together. Steve does a ton of leather stuff and has loads of options for different hides etc.

The strap on watch Geko I have a similar version but I got mine from Amazon Not bad quality for the price but a bit rattly but it does have a loose mesh rather than the tight Milanese mesh. I haven't put the Amazon one and the Geko mesh together but id hazard they are from the same place !

If you want to splash out then the German Staib is unparalleled. Extremely well made and comfortable. A lot of money but worth every penny IMO Staib