I had a few moments spare on Wdnesday this week and went into a couple of ADs at the Mall in Bristol (which is usually an odious pit I avoid like the plague).
It was clear they were stocked up for the Christmas rush, and there were a few watches there that interested me, so in no particular order I got to handle and check out

The New Ploprof
Longines Legend Diver
Breitling Chrono-Avenger M1

And a few others, so I thought I would share a few observations.

The Legend Diver (Date version)

(official Longines photo)

It is a lovely case shape, and hugs my 7.5″ wrist very nicely indeed. I am pre-programmed to love internal bezel watches, but I have to say I was a little underwhelmed by the Legend in the flesh.
Why?
Firstly, the strap and buckle. Putting it on it is the first mechanism you encounter on a watch, and the buckle is laughably skinny and insubstantial. Not a good start. It was on a quite thin and cheap feeling “sailcloth” or similar strap too. A bad start. Then I turned it over and had a good look.
Next, the bling. every conceivalbe surface is shiny. Very shiny. Very shiny indeed. It is just too much. The AD was blessed / cursed with spotlights everywhere (as the assistant said, great for diamonds, crappy for watches). But the case, dial, hands and of course the crystal just had reflections all over them.
I’ve probably spent too much time with tool watches, but I think it is a mistake to make everything the same (high gloss) finish, there should be some matt, brushed or other texture to break up and highlight the shiny bits (imho). The dial at least should be matt. Perhaps brushed case front. The above photo is misleading in that respect, it gives the impression of some flat surfaces, but there are none.
To my mind it would add greatly to the perceived value of the watch, too much shine just looks a little cheap, to me at least.

New Ploprof

Again, official photo (I think)

This is a hunk of love. A really impressive piece. They have done all the right things here, I think, in elevating the original (which seemed to be hewn from a tractor part) into the world of expensive horology.
The fine graining to the front, the polished chamfered edges, the lovely caseback with furrowed section in a nod to the original, razor sharp dial and hands, lovely polished and matt crown, fantastic rubber strap and beautifully engineered clasp with ratchet fine adjustment for the wetsuit extension.
All good. Better than good. Really great.
Well worth a look if you can find one.

Breitling Chrono-Avenger M1

picture from Ebay seller

I like this watch, and always have, was sad to see it discontinued a while back, so was surprised to see one in Goldsmiths, and asked about it and was told they have 25 left in the group (all black dial versions, not white, blue or yellow), and without really trying they offered it to me at 14% discount off a (high) ticket price of ￡2600. It’s too much for this, but I do like it, not just because of the Lemania-like centre chrono-minutes.

It’s pretty huge and unnecessarily thick for its quartz movement, but light as due to the fact that it is titanium. It oozes understated quality, despite the blueing of AR on the crystal (accurately portrayed above).

I have thought for a while that it would be nice to have a bombproof quartz chrono of some quality to be able to pick up and put down without re-setting and so forth, and I have to say this is probalby the one for me. My problem is that I would only really be willing to pay a fraction of the price for it, so in the shops it must stay.

Sorry if this is a bunch of boring rambling, but thought I would share my findings, in case there is anyone interested.

Dave

PS – one watch made me laugh. a blue-dialled 18K white gold Rolex Submariner. For ￡18K (coincidentally)

What’s the point? ￡18k for a gold watch that looks like a steel one? Bling, but in disguise. Huh?
I mentioned it to Al, and Top-Gear like we reckoned this was decidedly uncool because you would have to explain to everyone that asked that this was the dogs’ because it is gold. No, really it is, that’s why it’s so scratched….