Given that they retail for a fair bit of cash, I suspect the fact that they won't reveal who manufactures them is because it is not a top line watch maker....

 

Not really sure if a watch is necessarily fishing tackle. So apologies to those that think it's not.

I've been having a look at the Orvis site and like the look of a few of their watches:

http://www.orvis.co.uk/store/shop.aspx?pageType=GROUP&dir_id=6224&Group_ID=9825&shop_id=9216

Though realising that Orvis are not watch makers i contacted them asking who manufacturers them. This i was told was top secret info and couldn't be revealed.

So does anybody know who makes them?[/QUOTE

I was told ingersoll.

Dont know if it is true or not but the dealer who told me posts on this forum.

Collin

 

If it doesn't say; "Swiss Made" on the face of the watch, you can bet your life it was made in China. They certainly will not be mechanical watches, not that I have anything against quartz watches, but be careful that they may not be what they seem.

In my opinion, the best watch makers in the world are the Japanese, especially the company Seiko. I have a Seiko quartz watch that I purchased ca 1970, and it still gives perfect time, and it still looks smart and it only cost me the equivalent of £50 at the time.

Swiss watches?

They might be fine as a very expensive item of jewellery, but as a reliable time-piece, most of them are c**p.

A Friend of mines Rolex loses 2 minutes a month in winter and gains 2 minutes a month in summer. My Seiko gains about 10 seconds a year!!

 

I don't know who makes the Orvis watches, but they offer both mechanical/automatic watches and quartz watches, so the maker may well vary depending on the model.

As far as Swiss (mechanical) watches being ****, you're very much mistaken. They are supremely reliable because they aren't prone to sudden and complete failure when the battery dies.

Also, the best Swiss mechanical watches are capable of lasting hundreds of years with only routine service. All quartz mechanisms have a finite lifespan and will eventually need to be replaced.

You are correct, though, there is more natural variation in the accuracy of mechanical watches in general when compared to quartz watches.

Grouse

 

I can't speak for the whole range but one or two bear the hallmark [sic] of Citizen. They would be of Japanese manufacture.

Gerald

 

Ron, please could you tell me exactly how many quality Swiss watches you have owned?

To suggest that most are them are **** is quite ridiculous.

Dan

 

i'm sure that if it was a reputable company the would have told you who made them .... may be there actually cheaper if they were bought without the orvis badge ?

 

They're not overly expensive given the Orvis 'premium' brand name. if you take off orvis's premium over the maker (say 30%) and then the 30% (minimum) the maker is getting and you have a cheap watch under that body. I don't think Seiko or Citizen could do it for the price, and would suggest brands like Lorus.

 

I don't think Seiko or Citizen could do it for the price, and would suggest brands like Lorus.

Lorus is a Seiko brand.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seiko

Study the fine print, at least Orvis admit the movement is Japanese and is quartz.
The Swiss are clockwork/automatic.

Edit: 'calson' the Orvis you have in the second link does have a Swiss action. I'll study the Orvis range in greater detail when I get a chance.

Gerald

 

Thanks for the replies chaps.

I found this one on the Ingersoll site:

http://www.williwunder.de/engl/50063095f907b7a01/50063098db0a7bf01.php

Which is very close to this one on the Orvis site:

http://www.orvis.co.uk/store/produc...oductchoice.aspx?pf_id=52G2&dir_id=466&group_id=6560&cat_id=6567&subcat_id=6568

With a difference of £80 of course.

 

If you like the look of the Orvis watches then the Timex expedition series may appeal. I do like the orvis range, but the fact it has orvis written across it puts me right off, always been wary of buying products that look like I'm 'buying' into a lifestyle.

And I agree, swiss watches are rubbish, myself, my father, friends, Rolex, Breitling, Omega, yes grouse they're reliable and will last for years, but accurate? Nope, not a chance. Just one example, my father recently bought a brietling, £2,500. It was 3 minutes a day slow, sent it back, 4 minutes a week fast, sent it back, 3 minutes slow a day, sent it back etc etc etc, he gave up after 12 returns and settled with it losing 20 seconds a day. He bought it to replace an omega seamaster as that was inaccurate to about 5 seconds a day. Reliable, pretty, yes, accurate, god no!

 

Just one example, my father recently bought a brietling, £2,500

Jesus Christ! Two and a half grand to tell the time. Somebody, please explain.

 

Two, an Omega Seamaster in 18k gold, a 21st birthday gift from my grandfather and a Rolex Perpetual in stainless steel, bought for me by my late wife.

The Omega was nicked from my hotel room in Durban and the Rolex ended up in 15 feet of water when it slipped off my wrist. I was on a float tube at the time.

Neither watches were all that accurate. certainly nowhere near as accurate as the two I own now. 1: a Seiko Premier kinetic perpetual calender which was a retirement gift and 2: a Citizen Ecodrive with perpetual calendar.

Both are almost clinically accurate and look smart too. One operates automatically by a weighted wheel that moves and winds with the action of your body, and the other using a light sensitive cell. I also have an old Seiko ca 1970 that still works, although it needs a new battery and probably a service.

I have always liked to own a good watch because my job used to depend on accurate timekeeping and we didn't have mobile phones then.

 

Darren,

In my opinion Swiss watches are horribly overpriced and the truth is most people are taken in with the hype.

The incredible price of say a Rolex Oyster Datejust in 18k gold at ca £25k is daylight robbery, especially when the damn thing isn't particularly accurate and if you want it servicing it also costs an arm and a leg.

The top Seiko watches will also last for many many years, including some of the best Seiko mechanical and quartz watches.

But for the best value in the world you cannot beat a Citizen. They are accurate, have some incredible features and are very smart too. If my life depended on a watch, I would choose a Citizen Ecodrive before any of the Swiss top mechanical watches.

 

But for the best value in the world you cannot beat a Citizen. They are accurate, have some incredible features and are very smart too. If my life depended on a watch, I would choose a Citizen Ecodrive before any of the Swiss top mechanical watches.

I often wear a Citizen Eco-Drive TITANIUM WR100 which I used to sell 3 years ago for just under £70. It's a great watch and a smart looker, but I wouldn't stake my life on it.
Eco-Drives need to be worn or 'see light' regularly to keep time. They soon stop if left in a fishing bag or drawer.
My company used to get a lot of 'run down battery' warranty claims for this reason mostly during the darker winter months.

There was a thread about which watches various forum members wore a couple of months ago. I thought it was great fun, here it is for those who missed it the first time:

http://www.flyforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=27503

Gerald

 

Couldn't agree more ron, to my mind now buying a rolex is like buying a gold plated rolls royce whose gearbox is missing 3 gears, looks flashy and showy, and it'll never break down, but in reality doesn't do what it was intended to do very well, and costs a fortune to keep it spluttering along. Shame, as I STILL like some of the sea masters, even knowing how unreliable mine was. MY dad now has two breitlings, two omegas and a rolex, and when I went over last sunday he was wearing a citizen he bought when he was 18 ( he's now 62 ) which he broke and had repaired when he clouted my brother over the head

 

Just to add; my watch is a Lorus, which was bought as a birthday present 11 years ago. It has phosphorescent hands and is brilliant for night fishing. It keeps excellent time, still has its original (nylon) strap, oh, and it cost about £28.

 

Quite right Darren.

I might believe what they say about true handmade Swiss watches such as Patek Phillipe or Blancpain, but Rolex????

Piece of overpriced mass produced junk it is, well hyped up by clever marketing and advertising. £25k for a blinkin wristwatch?? I doubt if there is much more than 2 oz of pure gold in the damned thing. They use 18k gold which is 75% pure so you are only talking about say 1 1/2 oz. At the current gold price that is about £400 x 1.5 = £600!!

That's right, only 600 quid of gold in the watch, add to that another £200 for the movement and you have the finished watch

Heck of a mark up innit?

But the gullable are taken in!

 

I'm getting married up your way in July, feel free to give me any swiss watches you don't like any more as a wedding pressie

 

ive got several Orvis watches and I have to say as every day watches they are very good. I use and abuse them and then I use my good Sieko the rest of the time. They aren't expensive, they are Jap movements unless you spend about £190 and they clearly state the Jap ones and the Swiss ones. Worth getting as an every day watch but if you want something a bit more special and not stupid money I like the Sieko and tags (would love a nice Brietling!)

 

Ah ha! Got internet access sorted at your new place then?

 

If that was directed at me Darren then the answer is yes it took a bit of doing but got there in the end

 

I see some silly watch prices bandied about here, my old watch cost 50p at a boot sale, the bloody battery cost me a quid. Its a beautiful watch, very thin, midnight dial, gold batons, keeps perfect time

 

£30 timex, bought in America for £20, perfect time and it suits me perfectly, clean analog face, brown leather strap ( that can be replaced!!! ), illuminated for night fishing, waterproof, job done!

 

Yeah but you won't pull the birds with that thing!

 

Got me a good bird already, I'd like to think I'm needing to repel all the others now, although the reality is far from that I fear.............

Thats the beauty of getting a good girl, you can let yourself go !!!

 

Jeltz,

With comments like that you must come from Barnsley!

 

No,

 

I agree with Darren, I was thinking of getting an Orvis watch last year and got instead a Timex Expedition for about £24 from Argos. It is really robust and has the date too, and one of those light things (indiglo), that you can see in the night. It still looks like new though I've worn it every day. I don't understand how a £2,500 watch can make you feel 100+ times or so better about the time. I suppose if I had the money I'd probably buy one though, but might be a bit worried about scratching it if I took it fishing.

David

 

My we do seem to have quite a few watch enthusiasts on the forum and i thank you for your helpfull advice.

I am as i type sporting a well worn world famously renowned Hunter and Dowes model which i was given one Christmas with a matching pair of equally fantastic binoculars in the same tin. I also have about half a dozen others lying around the house. A Lorus, a Timex or two and as for the others, well i'm just going to have to find their hiding places.

I was really looking for a Christmas gift for an elderly relative who casts the occassional line.

Cheers, Calum

 

I was really looking for a Christmas gift for an elderly relative who casts the occassional line.

Cheers, Calum

What about a nice waterproof / windproof fishing jacket.

 

I can never keep a watch...they always spot a nicer wrist and run away with that!

I used to do a lot of diving and used various seiko divers watches..all of which where rather good.

My fav watch though was an ultra thin Skagen watch..which I smashed whilst fixing one of my Landies..upset at that

I work in the oil industry where Rolex etc are 10 a penny...and as far as i can see, they all have big numbers on the faces coz the folk wearing them can't tell the time