Watch Musings, Deals, Opinions & No Doubt More

Anyone looking for spring bars, I bought these from AliExpress and they seem pretty good quality. I bought 270 pieces from 8–25mm with 1.8mm diameter. Total was £5.74 including shipping & taxes.

a.aliexpress.com/_EJecFaD

(edited)

As I was just modifying a strap to take quick release spring bars, I thought I would do an idiot's guide based on how I do it, for anyone who was thinking of doing the same and had not previously given it a go. Note: when it comes to the drill and scalpel, new and SHARP is a must to keep things tidy as the leather naturally wants to fray.

Tools:
1. Sharp pointy scalpel.
2. Sharp 1.0mm to 1.25mm metal drill bit.
3. Toothpicks or sections of coffee stir sticks.

First off, just offer up the quick release spring bar to the strap and dab a couple of marks on the strap indicating where the spring bar slider slides from and to.


Slide toothpick/wood into the spring bar hole and use drill bit by hand to twiddle the drill bit (technical term ) to drill a hole through the leather at each of the two dots. Note the red ring indicating second hole and green lines indicating two tiny scalpel cuts. You will feel and see the drill bit start pulling out sawdust, confirming you are through and no damage to strap front. Once you have the two holes, open the slot with two small scalpel cuts on the green lines.


Point to note is that the part of the spring bar that sits in the slot is the narrow neck indicated. So the slot only need be narrow.


Once the slot is cut, push the spring bar in as far as it will go as depicted, then just ease the other end of the leather over the end of the spring bar at the spring bar button end.


Then that's it, job done.


Footnotes: ideally there would be a very sharp punch available to cut the slots, but I am not convinced it would be very easy to use as it would be all a bit fiddly punching on a radius. Some straps have recently shipped from Watchgecko with plastic pins in them, which could be used to drill against instead of a toothpick. Personally I like having the drill cutting into the wood, but that's just me. (edited)

Following on from an earlier question, I have just spoken to eBay CS and found out how to add videos to eBay listings using the advanced Sellers Hub. Whilst the ability to add videos to listings may not come as news to some, I know it will to others. At this point I will mention that the advanced Sellers Hub is far more detailed than the classic view and has a whole bunch of data and options that are not in the classic view, not least of all sales stats by year, month, Etc. . So to get the advanced Sellers Hub, do as follows and could someone check it works?

a) Go to your main eBay page.
b) At the top left you will see "Hello Your Name"
c) To the right of that you will see "Help & Contact". click on it.
d) On the page that pops up, in the field "Search eBay Help"... search on Sellers Hub.
e) Click on the "Seller Hub" button that appears
F) You are now in the Advanced Sellers Hub and you can add videos and more. You can also click the "Opt out of Seller Hub" to opt back out if it's not to your taste.

Lastly, who knew that this function or advanced Sellers Hub existed? @ThingyGuy @Chris2jz (edited)

Cheape Nato straps seem to be having a sale worth checking out:

cnswatchbands.com/col…ale

Decent-ish price for a Seastar?

Tissot Seastar 1000 Automatic Men's Green Steel Watch T120.407.11.091.01 - £540.32 Amazon US (no extra charges)
amazon.co.uk/dp/…c=1
Nearest price I see is from Rivoli Jewellers but it's OOS anyway (£564) rivolijewellers.com/sho…463

Official Tissot webpage: tissotwatches.com/en-…tml (edited)

Good price for the Sugess ST19 chronograph, £90 delivered with code UKAP08 (a bit more for the swan-neck version)

s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_EQUfgwF


The lug-to-lug is 51mm so not for small wrists!

There seems to be lots of good deals so I'll follow up with links, use codes UKAP08 above £59 or UKAP02 above £19

s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_…kWT
s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_…odp
s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_…5hl
s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_…Lyj (just black)
a.aliexpress.com/_Ej…zGF
s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_…Uyr (edited)

Surprised the Christopher Ward sale hasn't been put on here yet. Lots gone today but they keep adding more at random times. Will probably be on for a week so keep checking if there's something you're interested in

christopherward.com/sal…=72

Not sure how bargainous these two are, when comparing them to Jomashop prices, but these have cropped up on TK Maxx.

Rado R22862735 Coupole Automatic Diamond Markers White Dial Ladies Watch
£640 TK Maxx (5 left) tkmaxx.com/uk/…559
$649 Jomashop jomashop.com/rad…tmlTissot Couturier Black Dial Black Leather Quartz T035.446.16.051.00
£160 TK Maxx tkmaxx.com/uk/…676
$150 Jomashop jomashop.com/tis…tml
(edited)

20% off WatchNation on eBay..

Great price for this Citizen automatic titanium diver from John Lewis

johnlewis.com/citizen-nb6004-83e-mens-automatic-promaster-diver-date-bracelet-strap-watch-silver/p6341054

Surprisingly wearable at 50mm lug-to-lug!

Nice photo of it from Citizen's website:

(edited)

Quite a few Pagani Design watches included in Prime Day sales. Not sure how they compare to AliExpress sale prices, but quite useful that you can get them shipped from a vendor such as Amazon. I presume it will be much easier to return should any issues arise. I know homages aren't for everyone, but I don't mind them personally. There's many more on offer that I've not included. Unfortunately no BB58 homages, which is typical as it's the only one I actually want

Example 1, Homage to Omega's Seamaster 007? £91.20



amazon.co.uk/dp/B08Q8DBWHN/ref=cm_sw_r_apa_i_496GBP6SCF2STT9AQP40_0?psc=1

Example 2, Homage to Tudor Black Bay 36? £83.19 with voucher.


amazon.co.uk/Automatic-Sapphire-Mechanical-Stainless-Bracelet/dp/B09V55LC4X/ref=sxin_20?content-id=amzn1.sym.17dc9548-f4a4-463c-bdb2-af952b6f08f9%3Aamzn1.sym.17dc9548-f4a4-463c-bdb2-af952b6f08f9&crid=W7O0UNZ3Z6K3&cv_ct_cx=pagani&keywords=pagani&pd_rd_i=B09V557BRZ&pd_rd_r=b887d808-5e7a-4818-a6af-d70007e016c0&pd_rd_w=fgaLJ&pd_rd_wg=C69FF&pf_rd_p=17dc9548-f4a4-463c-bdb2-af952b6f08f9&pf_rd_r=TTTP6Y10C9DKKHPVQYNP&psc=1&qid=1657627534&sprefix=pagani%2Caps%2C150&sr=1-4-e55460a1-4bd8-4eef-b294-b47c67b7d3e1&th=1 (edited)

Relating to the last 2 posts: I had to return a defective watch to AliExpress and it was pretty much the same experience as returning to Amazon:

Online complaint form with a couple of pictures
Preprinted label to take it to the post office
Dropped it off Friday, money in my account on Tuesday

No complaints from me!

Nice Pulsar solar in Amazon warehouse.

amazon.co.uk/Pul…c=1



Solid link bracelet by the looks of it too. If the scratches really are minor then that’s a heck of a bargain.

Having always liked the Promaster BN0150-10E and 28E on a non fitted end link bracelet, I took a punt on an eBay offering costing £12.45 delivered. Strap was tracked and arrived in two weeks. Having fitted the strap a couple of days ago, my feedback is as follows and the verdict is, well worth the money.

Bracelet weight 74g. Links may well be solid as it feels as such and there are no telltale joint lines on outside edges indicating links being formed. Brushed finish is uniform. Polished sides. The pressed clasp is basic but works well. No micro adjustments. All link pins pressed out and back in nicely. Quick release spring bars are ok but I changed them for a pair with a marginally bigger diameter that fitted more snuggly. 20mm width is full length with no narrowing at the clasp. Thickness approx 3.25mm which suits the watch IMHO. End links could be a tad closer to the case but a long way short of being a show stopper.

(edited)

Invicta Angel 20315 Women's Quartz Watch 100M WR - £39.46
amazon.co.uk/dp/…VBU
Official Invicta EU webpage: invictastores.eu/col…mm/