Blue Dial Automatic Recommendations?

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3,106
Hello chaps,

To complete a small watch collection, I'm looking for recommendations for a blue dial automatic ideally with a sapphire crystal and prefferably Swiss movement (not a deal breaker, though). Sub £500 please. You gents know much more about this subject than I so humbly await your responses.

Many thanks indeed!

Best,
Graeme
 
@Boycie83 they actually do automatic versions of these watches with an 80 hour power reserve however there appears or seems to be an issue with plastic parts in the movement. I've just read it could be a cheaper 'throwaway' movement but conversely, another suggests the 'plastic' is Silizium which has a higher abrasive rating than metal, is anti-magnetic and actually makes the watch more precise. I really like the PR100 Powermatic with the date at the 6 o'clock position as oppose to the Hamilton Jazzmaster 3 o'clock date. At the moment though, I'm leaning towards the look of the Jazzmaster's face as thus far, I like the hands and indices more. Having mostly larger face watches, the 39mm of the Tissot does appeal though.

@Nisse as to the Bambino, I do have an Orient Curator in Gold PVD with a white face and black strap. It's a lovely watch, keeps great time and has a sapphire crystal. Phenomenal value from Creation watches and this watch is certainly a keeper. I also have a Bambino in stainless with a black face that I popped a brown buffalo strap on. I love the classic/vintage look especially the domed crystal but it scratches very easily and mine is quite marked up. I don't find the crystal on mine all that clear either - it often seems like it needs a polish or a wipe but it's just the crystal. That's the difference in price I guess and if you're more carfeul than me, it's amazing value again.

This is excellent stuff gents so thank you again,
Graeme
 
Or a Stowa or a Laco flieger or Archimede was it (nice watches if you fancy the design, though I do not remember how much they cost as it was a couple of years ago now since I was cured from my watch buying disorder)
 
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Thank you again, gentlemen. Most kind of you especially @Nisse who's clearly spent some time on this which I greatly appreciate.

The Certina's are quite nice and I do like the Tissot collection. Said model @Major_Hayes pointed out would rape my pocket in import/custom fees as everything gets caught nowadays thus negating any sale price, sadly. It is lovely however.

I already have a Laco auto albeit a lesser model with a Miyota movement, The Hamilton watches in my range are actually quartz abd whilst I have no problems with quartz watches per se, I rather like the distinction and precision engineering/craftmanship that goes into an auto or mechanical watch. I did say preferrably Swiss movements but I have been looking at Seikos as their Hardlex glass I know to be tougher and more scratch resistant than ordinary mineral glass if not at the levels of sapphire. There are three rather lovely watches and the first is quite the bargain price but the dial is more blue grey and duller, the second has a domed crystal and would likely be more prone to scratching (in keeping with my experiences of the pretty Orient Bambino) whilst the third is just under budget but features sapphire.

SRPA25K1 - £195: Hardlex, 4R35 movement 23 jewels, 100m WR


71ewTHn3OTL._UX522_.jpg


SRPB41J1 - £295: domed Hardlex, 4R35 movement 23 jewels 50m WR
237370028


SRPD41J1 -£450, Sapphire, same movement as above two, 30m WR


Seiko_Presage_Watch_Mens_SRPD41J1.jpg


How is it the more expensive they become, the less water resistant? Also, same movement in all three. Really paying for the Sapphire here, I guess. I like the dial on the middle one best of all but the metal bracelets are all but identical. Sheesh, what to do...

And then there's the Christopher Ward C5 Malvern although I prefer the dial on the older model:

New model

c05-39ada3-s00b0-ok_fr.jpeg


Old model

85f06fe8f67104dfe0597a27b2a082cb.jpg


Regardless of what strap it comes with, I hope to make my own once I've had a good gander at the Horween strap I've ordered for my Laco.

H E L P M E !!!
 
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I remember Aevig watches from a couple of years back, was really tempted by their diver but now they also have a nice dress watch (in blue - sapphire - but Miyota not Swiss movement and hand winding at that)
 
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That's really rather lovely and I would love to add a manual wind at some point but I feel it's somewhat expensive for a Miyota mechanical given that the Ward has a 26 jewel Sellita Swiss movement. I'm not saying that Swiss is better than Japanese as I love my Orient Curator but surely an 8 ticks per second auto would reasonably expect to command a higher price than a 6 tick mechanical? Of course brand, image, build and other factors come into play. I'm a fussy bugger and not all that keen on red and blue together in a watch face. However, thanks again to @Nisse for pointing out a brand I never even knew - they make some lovely watches!

I'm now leaning heavily towards the Ward. 'Tis a lovely shade of blue and has a bonnie, subtle ray effect even if I'm not keen on the left hand side placing of the overly plain logo. The 'shelving' in the dial is a nice touch and the tan strap made from oak bark tanned leather is a beauty and clearly a premium item in itself. Cannot rule out the Seiko's though as the build quality is undoubted and value outstanding.
 
'Tis done. :cool:

c05-39ada3-s00b0-oc_fr.jpeg


I have ordered the Christopher Ward C5 Malvern MkIII in blue with a tan oak-bark leather quick release strap. After ordering, I did have a wobble and kept looking at those Seikos especially the least expensive of the three as it is such a lot of watch for the money and looks gorgeous irrespective of cost. In the end, I kept true to the C5 as it ticks every single box and I'm coming round to the new, left-aligned logo. I did initially put the brown strap model in my basket only to remove and switch to tan. A further wobble ensued but this was resolved by ordering the brown strap as with them being quick release, I can change them as my mood and choice of leather belt suits.

A huge thanks to all for your invaluable assistance and to TSR for allowing me to think out loud and ramble on witlessly.

NO MORE WATCHES, RAZORS, BRUSHES, SOAPS OR SHOES.....
 
I have a nice Orient Mako. The dial is bluer than a blue thing! I took the original mineral glass crystal out and replaced it with Sapphire. If you don't have a crystal press, a decent watchmaker can do it for peanuts. The sapphire crystal was less than £20.. Quite an economic method of getting a sapphire crystal'd watch for less cash.
 
'Tis done. :cool:

c05-39ada3-s00b0-oc_fr.jpeg


I have ordered the Christopher Ward C5 Malvern MkIII in blue with a tan oak-bark leather quick release strap. After ordering, I did have a wobble and kept looking at those Seikos especially the least expensive of the three as it is such a lot of watch for the money and looks gorgeous irrespective of cost. In the end, I kept true to the C5 as it ticks every single box and I'm coming round to the new, left-aligned logo. I did initially put the brown strap model in my basket only to remove and switch to tan. A further wobble ensued but this was resolved by ordering the brown strap as with them being quick release, I can change them as my mood and choice of leather belt suits.

A huge thanks to all for your invaluable assistance and to TSR for allowing me to think out loud and ramble on witlessly.

NO MORE WATCHES, RAZORS, BRUSHES, SOAPS OR SHOES.....


Don't just leave it there, how about a pic of your entire collection?
 
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