Everyone has heard of the “Holy Trinity” of watches, but what about the “Frugal Trinity.” This video shows 3 such ‘Trinities’ for thost thriftier collectors.
The Seiko 5, SNKL23J1, is my daily wear wristwatch. Pluses include: reasonable accuracy; durability; lume which glows throughout the night; and, a see through case-back. Minus include: a crown which is too small; the watch doesn't hand wind; sharp feeling parts on the interior side of the folded link bracelet; and, the hand set is too shiny and too short. Conclusion: It's an old school Seiko 5. It was built up to a set of standards. It was also built down to a price -- but not to the point of becoming a disposable watch.
I just in the last couple of months bought the Nomos Alpha 701. It's the immediate predecessor of the one you've included in your Video. I chose that watch because I was looking for a timepiece under USD1,500, 3hz, manual wind, made by an independent and in possession of eye appeal. Maintains very good time the Alpha is a charmingly good looking movement and for other reasons it is a keeper. I never thought I'd buy a 36mm watch, but it works on my 8 inch wrist as the lugs are quite long. Next is a watch of independent manufacture under or around USD5,000, 2.5hz, visually appealing etc. I have a very good candidate in mind and if I try it on and like it, I'll buy it. Cheers.
Nice video Bill. Good to see some good watches at an affordable price. Just a small correction, the third brand you mentioned is "Yema", not "Yerma" :)
All solid picks. I’d swing any one of them. The outlier for me would be that red Zenith. Just a bit loud for my usual look. I wonder how the selections would pan out for someone who wants to splurge on one of the three and go downmarket for the other two? Mix and match I suppose? Or would you reach a little with some additional options?
This has nothing to do with the video, but what do you think of 'high complication' movements that some brands make by putting their modules on simple ETA movements. For example Oris cal 581, or any watch from Maurice Lacroix masterpiece collections. It is a pretty cheap way, usually 1000-2000, some models less, to have a repeater, regulateur, jumping hour, a Patek Philippe wannabe or something else cool for not a lot of money
Some of these ETA+complication module watches are good watches and represent great value. Try to research who made the complication module for an indication of the quality of any you’re interested in. The complication modules often come from high end manufactures.
Its a great way to get a affordable but very unique watch. I used to have a Enigma Bezel Manual Winder. That used a 7001 with a pointer date, power reserve indicator and a bezel winding mechanism. Usually sell around 1000 usd when they come up for sale. (Only 3 have been publically sold in the last 4 years)
What about an “unholy trinity”. If you ask Pope Paul Pluta, don’t be surprised if he nominated Maurice Lacroix, Raymond Weil and Federique Constant. 😜 thanks for the thoughts.
@@obesetuna3164 Adolph Schild certainly were prolific, popular and very widely used. Most calibres were quite reliable, too. They can be found inside a wide array of vintage watches. They made a diverse enough range of movements that they could be found in cheaper watches, middle of the road watches and even at the higher end - for example some AS movements were used by Tudor. They made small movements for ladies watches, through to sturdy larger movements, and some very thin movements.
@@watchartsci Hi Bill, I am making the claim based on my experience as a watch collector as well as a believer in the self-regulating, arbitrage-free market pricing (hence, by exclusion, a non-believer in miracles). First, I can't find a JLC like this, or even similar, anywhere else on the internet. Second, the prices for vintage, running Club models are generally in the ~$1300 range on Chrono24, as one would expect for a brand of JLC's caliber. And finally, most of the low-priced Etsy listings that I saw are being sold from India, which is known to produce "frankenwatches" in numbers. Personally, I highly doubt you will find caliber AS-1906 inside, but you are right that I can't claim it with 100% certainty.
@@watchartsci Hi Bill, my claim was based on my experience as a watch collector and the believer in the self-regulating, mostly arbitrage-free market (hence, by exclusion principle, a non-believer in miracles). First of all, I couldn't find a record of the JLC Club model like shown in the video anywhere on the internet. Second, all running JLC Club watches for sale that I could find look very different, and are generally in the ~$1300-$1400 range, as one would expect for a brand of JLC level. Finally, the Etsy sellers of "cheap JLC" are mostly from India, which is known to be the origin of a large number of "frankenwatches". Personally, I highly doubt that you will find Calibre AS-1906 inside, but you are right when stating that I don't have a proof, and that I can't argue this with 100% certainty. In my book however, this is not a lottery worth playing.
@@watchartsci Hi Bill, my claim was based on my experience as a watch collector and the believer in the self-regulating, mostly arbitrage-free market (hence, by exclusion principle, a non-believer in miracles). First of all, I couldn't find a record of the JLC Club model like shown in the video anywhere on the internet. Second, all running JLC Club watches for sale that I could find look very different, and are generally in the ~$1300-$1400 range, as one would expect for a brand of JLC level. Finally, the Etsy sellers of "cheap JLC" are mostly from India, which is known to be the origin of a large number of "frankenwatches". Personally, I highly doubt that you will find Calibre AS-1906 inside, but you are right when stating that I don't have a proof, and that I can't argue this with 100% certainty. In my book however, this is not a lottery worth playing.
@@watchartsci Hi Bill, my claim was based on my experience as a watch collector and the believer in the self-regulating, mostly arbitrage-free market (hence, by exclusion principle, a non-believer in miracles). First of all, I couldn't find a record of the JLC Club model like shown in the video anywhere on the internet. Second, all running JLC Club watches for sale that I could find look very different, and are generally in the ~$1300-$1400 range, as one would expect for a brand of JLC level. Finally, the Etsy sellers of "cheap JLC" are mostly from India, which is known to be the origin of a large number of "frankenwatches". Personally, I highly doubt that you will find Calibre AS-1906 inside, but you are right when stating that I don't have a proof, and that I can't argue this with 100% certainty. In my book however, this is not a lottery worth playing. P.S. I would appreciate if you give me a chance to respond to your question, as my previously posted comment was deleted.
