"What do you hate on a watch?"

[DMB]

There are a few things that I really don't like on watches, that can be a deal breaker for me.

1. That small, (actually TOO small) round date window that you see on a lot of the micro brands. It's usually at the 4:00 position, and is so small that it almost cuts off part of the numbers on the date wheel. I HATE a round date window. The Muhle Rasmus has it, but it appears to be bigger and doesn't look as bad from what I've seen.

2. 24mm, 5 row bracelets. If a watch comes with this ... I'd just as soon have it on a strap.

3. Polished center links on an Oyster bracelet. Unless it's two tone, leave 'em brushed.

4. Cyclops that don't magnify enough. What's the point? It's actually harder to read the damn date.

5. Long lugs ex: The Glycine Lagunare. I've wanted one of these since I first saw one. Those long ass lugs, plus the 46mm diameter has kept me from buying one. Damn you 7 inch wrists .... DAMN YOU.

Well, that's enough for now to generate some conversation.

[BSears]

Not a bad list to get this started. I'll see your five (that 5-link, 24mm bracelet bit was getting old and the long lugs on the Korsbek OE drove me away from it, even with ~7.5" wrists), and raise you another: the lack of sapphire crystal.

Mentioning the lack of sapphire is usually enough in and of itself to spark the ire of many out there, particulary Seiko fanboys. Hell, I love Seikos but I just don't see how they can justify the price tag on the 300m MM (now $2k+) and no sapphire. There's one for sale over on wus for a steal of a price, but of course it's got a hardlex and of course, there is a deep scratch, no gouge, on the crystal, right at the date window. It could go unnoticed, except that it's right over the date window! Maybe his price reflects this but even if you got an aftermarket sapphire you still gotta have someone else put that in (ain't no way I'd even attempt to do this to this watch). Yeah, so that's my beef today.

[SCM64]

At the office on a very long and boring con call, so replying via BB.

Too small a crown is a killer for me. Cyclops of any kind too.

A big one is NO micro adjustments on the bracelet. Otherwise I would probably have a aquagraph by now.

Not big on tachymeters in most cases. Speedmasters get a pass since their street cred is so high.

Diamonds are the last thing off the top of my head.

[Diaboliq]

errrrr....


1) plastic movement spacer (even on quartz but on automatic especially)
2) odd lug width (say 19 or 21)
3) stupid lug design (see oris divers)
4) inscription "WATER RESISTANT" on dial when mere 100m/200m/300m/500m would suffice(see Victorinox Dive Master series - dial is ruined with this IMO)
4) too busy dial where time isn't readable at a glance
5) misaligned seconds hand on a quartz ( I know it must be like that but hey...)
6) diamond watches
7) haute couture brands playing with haute horologerie (Louis Vuitton)
8) ridiculous oversizing and brands existing only for the sake of oversize watch making..
9) .... (can't think of anything else ATM)

[BSears]

In light of some recent posts, let me add one thing: quartz watches that lose time. If I wanted to be late, I'd just set all my clocks back and really screw myself.

[jimyritz]

Cool thread..

1. Small Crown
2. Lack of half links
3. Lack of micro adjustments
4. Watch straps on pricey watches

Sometimes it feels as if the strap on a pricey watch was an after thought.
This has happened to me twice, both on Pilot watches where the strap
seemed to be too thin and not wide enough. Also, if you are going to put on a nice
strap put on a deployant or offer one..

5. Price of aftermarket straps and deployants--ridiculous...

[andrema]

Invicta...

[andrema]

Invicta...

Plus anything over 45mm...just too big IMO.

[Seth]

Greasy finger prints
Mustard
Scratches
Diamonds, real or fake
Any cartoon character OTHER than Mickey Mouse.

[DMB]

Also ...

Sloppy bezels
weak lume on dive watches
Mercedes hands on other than Rolex
Subdials on chronographs that are only a "cross hair" without any numbers or tick marks.
Display backs when there is nothing worth displaying. I.E. cheap ass movements

[force_quit]

Ugly logos
Bad lume
Cyclops

[Diaboliq]

10) bad or nonexistant lume
11) tinny misaligned bezel on a dive watch
12) crappy logo (say that italic font on DEEP BLUE watches)
13) unobtainium made straps and watch parts (screws etc)
...

[BSears]

Greasy finger prints
Mustard
Scratches
Diamonds, real or fake
Any cartoon character OTHER than Mickey Mouse.

Mustard? Do tell Seth

I'll join the chorus - shitty and/or non-existent lume. Why even bother if it's not gonna glow for over an hour?!
Misaligned indices (or trit tubes )/misaligned bezels

[Seth]

Greasy finger prints
Mustard
Scratches
Diamonds, real or fake
Any cartoon character OTHER than Mickey Mouse.

Mustard? Do tell Seth

I have a toddler. She thinks its funny to put stuff on my watch when I'm not paying attention.

[cali kid]

I hate it when a nice watch is on someone's wrist and it isnt mine!! Really dont like it when they say invicta either!

[mattcantwin]

The lack of a seconds hand.

[Henryj]

And the flip side of a too-small date window. Why is it turning into a styling theme to cut out a date window that shows one or more numbers on each side of the current date? If you don't know that yesterday was the third and tomorrow is the fifth, you shouldn't own a watch 'cuz you might cut yourself on it. Besides, you can always ask the driver of your little bus.

It's just one more thing that makes a watch hard to read at a glance.

[ericf4]

i Hate when you buy a High dollar brand and they dont even AR coat the Sapphire WTF.......

Yeah Im talkin to you Anonimo, even though I got 2 and LOVE THEM, it still pisses my pants to think about no AR.....CMon already

[SCM64]

Adds to my original list would be:

Sloppy bezels for sure.

I want to agree with the high end "straps" comment too. I checked out a ltd Ed Blancpain 50f Shadow. It was amazing and pricey ($14.4k), but the strap was like one of those $20 maratac ..here it comes... ...Kevlar!

I also copy everything on Diaboliq's list. Especially #12 SO TRUE!

[Noisy Nova]

Cyclops,
wrist watches larger than my pocket watches,
cheap, crappy watches with names from old deceased companies (make up yer own damn name),
and invicta of course.

[ericf4]

i concur on lack of a seconds hand...WTF I was wearing/trying on a Panerai this weekend when out shopping for a new watch, and tried it on and loved it, but cant get past the no seconds hand on it....That killed it for me...

[Diaboliq]

i concur on lack of a seconds hand...WTF I was wearing/trying on a Panerai this weekend when out shopping for a new watch, and tried it on and loved it, but cant get past the no seconds hand on it....That killed it for me...

Actually.. I removed seconds hand on all my quartz divers I really like "tell-time-at-a-glance"

[SCM64]

i concur on lack of a seconds hand...WTF I was wearing/trying on a Panerai this weekend when out shopping for a new watch, and tried it on and loved it, but cant get past the no seconds hand on it....That killed it for me...

Actually.. I removed seconds hand on all my quartz divers I really like "tell-time-at-a-glance"

Sinn 757 gets a pass from me. Must have one of those sometime.

[dukerules]

Great thread. Echoing much of what's already been said:
I hate more than anything else bezels that don't line up perfectly.
Also hate those 5-link bracelets (though I still have one on my Rasmus)--they scream "micro-brand" to me...not that that's a bad thing, mind you.
Lack of bracelet micro-adjustment is a killer too. I can't believe the PO bracelet doesn't have this.

[ezcheese]

You fellas have covered a lot of ground!

Here are some I hate:

Small crowns, bezels with crappy action, bracelets with no micro-adjustments, SCREW BARS! (spring bars are way better. ) non-drilled lugs on divers. I would much rather have the functionality than the smooth look. Oh, and flat crystals!

I feel better.