Hello there.

As per usual, I'm procrastinating and generally overthinking the purchase of a new watch.
It could be a substantial purchase, so a bit of thought is required, but due to my search parameters, the options are pretty limited.

After cleaning up my Speedmaster and wearing it for a couple of days, I'm pretty frustrated.
When I got it a couple of years back, I genuinely believed, my collection was complete.
But the truth is, I can only appreciate it with my glasses on. I only wear them occasionally, hence my frustration.
It's a beautiful watch, and for the money, I don't believe, it can be beaten.
But ultimately, I need it to be legible, without my glasses.

I currently have 2 definite Keepers, which as anyone who has either will know, are very legible.

I've got my C60 MK2 black/red which I will never get rid of. I can't see the date but I don't set it so no worries there.
Pressie from my wife.

I have a Rotary Elite for work.
My first Swiss made watch, it's worn 5 days a week and is highly legible, and comfortable on a NATO.
It has a Cyclops over the date, but I still can't see it, so I don't set it.
Until it breaks it's going nowhere.

I also have a C60 MK2 Black/White
There's no attachment to it, but for the money I can't seem to better it, such a versatile watch and I got it from sales corner, so it was a bit of a bargain.
But if I need to balance the books, it could go.

So the desicion was, everything else can go, including the speedmaster.

Then I just need, to get 1 Final watch to complete the collection. Easier said than done.

Diver, Black or Dark blue bezel, black dial or dark blue.
No date, as explained I can't see it anyway.

My thoughts turned to Tudor.
And from there the BB58 stood out, but having owned a 40mm plain Diver before (Tissel submariner homage) I feel 38-40mm is too small on me, plus I can't visit dealers to try on, and I'm impatient.
I had the Standard Black bay before, but I didn't like the slab sides.
So I'm pulling away from the Tudor.
Maybe if they thinned down the 42mm version, it would be perfect.
Love the heritage of the brand.

I then scoured the internet and I'm still struggled to find something that tickles my fancy.

Budget wise.
I have a fund of around £1k and whatever I get for the Speedy could be added to it. If required, but it would have to be something special. In the league of the Omega.
But again, after searching I've come up with a few options, but nothing that's made my decision any easier.
All sub £1k
I'm going round in circles.

I could list everything I've shortlisted, but this is already a bit too wordy.

So this is where I'm at now.

I could buy a C60 Dartmouth or Lympstone.
Obviously I've been around CW for a while and for the money, I think they're fantastic.

Also I wouldn't have to make an immediate desicion on the Speedy.

So the Dartmouth is very appealing.
No date
Legible
Logo in the correct position

But for some reason I'm more drawn to the Lympstone.
No date
Legible
Logo in the correct position.
A bit less like the MK2 Trident. Not such a dressy diver.
Unecessary compass but I like the look.

I could buy it today, and put this matter to bed, fingers crossed.

But am I missing something, is there something out there, I've overlooked.

I'll probably order the Lympstone, I need to see it in the flesh anyway.

As I write this, I've just looked at the Omega Planet Ocean, could I live with that date window ?
I deliberately, discounted all watches with date windows, as I can't read it, I don't like Cyclops and it narrowed down my search massively, which I thought was a good thing.

I will try not to make a rash decision today, so any thoughts are welcome, if you're still awake.

Kind Regards Steve

Steve, I'm hoping to be helpful here.

If your Speedmaster is in great shape and has full box and papers I think you'll be pleased what they sell for now pre-owned. They have had a nice lift in price since being discontinued by Omega in December 2020. Perhaps hop onto watchrecon.com to see what they're going for?

Super compressor?
No date, you like Cw, logo in the right place, on budget.
And, you could keep the speedy

Buy the Dartmouth and Lympstone and return the one (or both) you least like. Hang on your Speedy for now until things open up a bit and you can try out some other high end watches to replace it with. It sounds like the resale value of the Speedy is strong and likely to hold/increase a little so no rush to sell.

For a longer term replacement for your Speedy, you could try the SMP, lovely watch and a wearable 42mm, not too tall. I love my white dial/black bezel version. Very legible too.

Thanks for the replys.

Re. the Super Compressor, the dial is a bit busy for me.

I've had a look at Watchrecon. Thanks for the tip.

Now I've put my thoughts down here, I feel I can assess them more clearly.
I certainly realise, I've no need to rush, so waiting for things to open up, certainly makes sense.
At the very least an interim purchase, will calm me down a bit, fingers crossed. So I think I'll try the Lympstone.

Regards Steve

For the same reason you feel the Super Compressor is too busy, I'd advocate the same for the Dartmouth.

Perversely though, I feel the Dartmouth is too busy but am ok with the Super Compressor as it is perhaps busier and it all then starts to blend together.

As for the Lympstone? Being all black / gunmetal it will wear smaller and the twin crowns give it a different look.

Remember 100LOUPE20

Good luck.

Guy

Sent from my Xperia 5 using Tapatalk

That’s a shame about your Speedy. When I was reading your very recent post about cleaning it I thought that you had decided to keep it and was pleased for you.

The Speedy is a great watch that IMO creates just 1 problem - it puts an owner in a strange situation as there’s no obvious replacement because it is SO good and a relative bargain if bought around 2 years ago when you did.

So much so that I’d be quite happy to own 2 so I could have 1 permanently on a bracelet and the other on a QR leather or hybrid strap.

As you already have 2 C60 Tridents the Lympstone would be another diver in style and to me looks more a “tool” watch so not quite a direct replacement for a Speedy. I would probably order the Dartmouth due to size and style. The blue or the black would be a reasonable replacement for the Speedy if you decide to sell it.

However, as suggested in other replies, try to hold on until the shops re-open before making a final decision and in the meantime make use of CW’s 60/60 to order the Lympstone and Dartmouth for closer inspection.

Personally, I would be happy with the CW C60 Blue special edition. Blue dial, blue ceramic bezel. I am happy to wait to see if one comes up in a sale in a year or so.

https://www.christopherward.com/dive/c6 ... B1-B0.html

The current voucher is also valid on the C60 Blue whereas the last one wasn’t.

JAFO wrote: ↑Fri Feb 05, 2021 6:54 pm Personally, I would be happy with the CW C60 Blue special edition. Blue dial, blue ceramic bezel. I am happy to wait to see if one comes up in a sale in a year or so.

https://www.christopherward.com/dive/c6 ... B1-B0.html

I think I would already have a MK3 in black if it wasn't for the logo at 9. Not keen.

Regards Steve

No rush, I said !

Just ordered the Lympstone.
Really hoping it fits the bill.
I'll use the rest of the weekend, to make a decision on the Speedy, but I'm pretty sure it will be in Sales corner soon.

Imagine if I had the same approach to women, I certainly wouldn't be celebrating 30 years of marriage soon.
Very settled and happy in that department.

Regards Steve

The 42mm Lympstone looks smaller on the wrist than the 41mm C65 GMT. Also feels slightly smaller than the regular C60 Mk3 and quite a bit smaller than the Mk2.



Pretty awesome watch and not 'just another dive watch'.

nordwulf wrote: ↑Fri Feb 05, 2021 8:14 pm The 42mm Lympstone looks smaller on the wrist than the 41mm C65 GMT. Also feels slightly smaller than the regular C60 Mk3 and quite a bit smaller than the Mk2.



Pretty awesome watch and not 'just another dive watch'.

Judging by those photos, I will be chuffed to bits when it arrives.

Regards Steve