I’ve always been interested in watches, but only recently (within the past few years) started really getting into them and diving down the rabbit hole. For the uninitiated, that’s one REALLY big rabbit hole!
Anyway, I bought my first automatic,* a Hamilton Jazzmaster Viewmatic, about 2.5 years ago. While it’s nice, it’s really more of an entry level automatic, and I’ve been wanting to get into a slightly higher end auto—especially one with a chronograph function. But they can get really pricey—I’m talking many thousands of dollars—so I’ve been holding out until I could find one I really liked for about the price of a new Renown or less. And last weekend, I found one and pulled the trigger!
It’s an Oris Artix GT, which I found new (from a reputable dealer) for about 1/3 the price they normally sell for. So I bought it, and now I’m just waiting for it to arrive. I’ve always liked Oris watches, and while they don’t have as much brand recognition among non-enthusiasts, they are a very well respected horological brand. Probably equivalent to Longines or Tag Heuer.
Can’t wait for it to arrive!
*For those who don’t know about watches, an “automatic“ watch uses a fully mechanical self-winding movement. It’s completely spring driven, so no battery like a quartz watch, and incorporates an offset rotor that rotates—and winds the mainspring—as you move your wrist. Nearly all high-end watches, such as Rolex, IWC, Omega, Breitling, Patek Philippe, etc., use either an automatic or a hand-wound movement (another type of fully mechanical movement, but one you have to wind by hand).