**** Smiths W10 vs Smiths Military PRS-29A/B ****

[is that my watch]

It's no great secret which way I went.


I looked at a lot of W10s prior to buying it, and basically frightened myself off of 'getting stung' with a franken. Because of the prices they are now fetching, it's inevitable that there'll be more & more questionable ones appearing on the market.
Yes, I would dearly love a 'proper one'; but unless it came with a cast iron guarantee that it was totally original, I'd be hesitant to spend around a grand for one.

When I finally decided that the PRS29 was a sensible alternative, and I'd exhausted all practical excuses not to buy one - I went for the 29B for the following reasons:
1. The 29A was out of stock
2. 39mm was more appealing to my ageing eyes.
3. Sapphire glass
4. Drilled lugs
5. It was (is) half the price of a W10

I remember the chats was thinking about it since It first came out and still never went for it but suppose got to be careful not to wait to long if I am as the prs-60 was it ? the seiko looking one when it got discontinue after so long and you can't get one for love or money (well you can for money but more then they sold for original ) so yes might start to sell some watches and see what happens ..

[meijlinder]

It's no great secret which way I went.

Also getting more and more tempted by this one...

[Strela167]

Got to admit similar thoughts with the cushion case. The older two tone dials look amazing, but the price, and condition usually, swung it.

[tribe125]

The days of taking your pick of W10s at watch fairs have gone. The original is nicer than the reissue, so I have considered going vintage.

This is how it looks to me:

Vintage

• £1,000 for a good one
• Fuzzy lume that will deteriorate further
• Correct font (obviously)
• 35mm with 17mm lugs
• Specialist servicing
• Romance
• For collectors

New

• £345
• Pristine lume that will last
• Approximate font
• 36mm with 18mm lugs
• Easy servicing
• Practicality
• For everyday use

This is a good one -

• £1,000 is a lot of money for a watch with a lumed triangle that becomes less of a triangle by the day. Ownership would be an ongoing project.

• £345 is cheap for something that is nine-tenths of what you want. You buy it, you wear it.

But then compare the '8' of the old with the '8' of the new, and then the other numerals -





You can also look at the hand length. It's not easy.

If I had a lot of money, and could be bothered, I might buy vintage and have it relumed. That's scandalous behaviour to many, but not to me.

[is that my watch]

The days of taking your pick of W10s at watch fairs have gone. The original is nicer than the reissue, so I have considered going vintage.

This is how it looks to me:

Vintage

• £1,000 for a good one
• Fuzzy lume that will deteriorate further
• Correct font (obviously)
• 35mm with 17mm lugs
• Specialist servicing
• Romance
• For collectors

New

• £345
• Pristine lume that will last
• Approximate font
• 36mm with 18mm lugs
• Easy servicing
• Practicality
• For everyday use

This is a good one -

• £1,000 is a lot of money for a watch with a lumed triangle that becomes less of a triangle by the day. Ownership would be an ongoing project.

• £345 is cheap for something that is nine-tenths of what you want. You buy it, you wear it.

But then compare the '8' of the old with the '8' of the new, and then the other numerals -





You can also look at the hand length. It's not easy.

If I had a lot of money, and could be bothered, I might buy vintage and have it relumed. That's scandalous behaviour to many, but not to me.

yes thats basically my thought process too the W10 at the bottom of my op was sold at £1795 but they do vary so much in price, so yes looking any where from £800 to £2000 I have seen some being ask for .. if I did not know about the W10 the prs would be stunning to me. but as we have said the dial just does not pop as much as the old ones with the vintage lume wish they had maybe gone for the same colour lume like stienheart did on there ocean 1

[shameless]

The days of taking your pick of W10s at watch fairs have gone. The original is nicer than the reissue, so I have considered going vintage.

This is how it looks to me:

Vintage

• £1,000 for a good one
• Fuzzy lume that will deteriorate further
• Correct font (obviously)
• 35mm with 17mm lugs
• Specialist servicing
• Romance
• For collectors

New

• £345
• Pristine lume that will last
• Approximate font
• 36mm with 18mm lugs
• Easy servicing
• Practicality
• For everyday use

This is a good one -

• £1,000 is a lot of money for a watch with a lumed triangle that becomes less of a triangle by the day. Ownership would be an ongoing project.

• £345 is cheap for something that is nine-tenths of what you want. You buy it, you wear it.

But then compare the '8' of the old with the '8' of the new, and then the other numerals -





You can also look at the hand length. It's not easy.

If I had a lot of money, and could be bothered, I might buy vintage and have it relumed. That's scandalous behaviour to many, but not to me.

if its done well and with superluminova thats faithful to the original shade i think that would be quite acceptable and not at all scandalous if the watch is to be worn in this day and age and not for a cabinet

[tribe125]

if its done well and with superluminova thats faithful to the original shade i think that would be quite acceptable and not at all scandalous if the watch is to be worn in this day and age and not for a cabinet

Yes, I was interested to read your comments about restoring another watch. I think we're in the minority, though.

But I wonder how purists are going to maintain their position in the future. One day, all this lovely creamy lume will have fallen off.

[skywatch]

I think there's a similar conundrum with American service watches. You can find grubby and badly worn Viet-Nam issue pin-levers for high prices on eBay, or buy a Hamilton Khaki field ETA for $350 on Ashford. Hamilton also made some of the better '60s field watches, and except for the tiny size they look a bit similar. I wouldn't buy one of the originals though. I prefer the Smiths by far!

[is that my watch]

I think there's a similar conundrum with American service watches. You can find grubby and badly worn Viet-Nam issue pin-levers for high prices on eBay, or buy a Hamilton Khaki field ETA for $350 on Ashford. Hamilton also made some of the better '60s field watches, and except for the tiny size they look a bit similar. I wouldn't buy one of the originals though. I prefer the Smiths by far!

well yes I love looking at the old hammy mechs and the old benrus .. if funds was not an issue I think I might have collected all the types on this theme

[DJW GB]

I have this one to restore someday http://www.intlwatchleague.com/showt...-SMITHS-ANYONE ( post 7-8)