greg_r 81 Posted April 10, 2009 I came across this watch following a post by Jameo, who owns a couple of Astbury watches. Astbury are an English company who sell attractive chinese-sourced watches - often of unusual design - at very reasonable prices. The watches are well finished and generally excellent value for money. They're not terribly commonplace as there are only 3 dealers currently - one in the UK, one in Oz and a third in the US. Both the UK and Australian dealers are active on eBay. Anyhow, I had done a search on eBay for Astbury - not really with much intent to buy, but just to see what was around when I came across this particular model. I'll confess that I have a thing for skeleton watches and the Unitas 6497 movement is a particular favourite (whether Swiss or Asian), so this pushed all the right buttons. It was listed at a BIN of £99 and I was very tempted to pull the trigger - only hesitating because I'd just ordered a PAM from Robert. Looking at the dealer's eBay shop, however, I saw that he had another one listed as a regular auction with a start price of £49. Not really expecting to win the auction - especially as it still had about a week to run - I threw in a bid of £55 and promptly forgot all about it, fully expecting to be out-bid. As it turned out, I was the only bidder and last Wednesday found myself the owner of yet another watch for the princely sum of £49 + shipping! The dealer despatched the watch the same day and it arrived yesterday morning, packaged in a very nice watchbox inside a card outer box. Very swish for the price. The watch is about 43mm but wears big. It feels a lot bigger than my Rolex Deep Sea and overall wears pretty similar to a 44mm PAM, although it's a lot lighter in weight. The movement is a highly-decorated Asian 6497 and has a small second hand in the standard Panerai position at 9. The hands are blued so, with the exception of the second hand which is a little small, are nice and easy to see. Obviously with a watch of this type, there's no lume. Mineral glass crystals are fitted front and back and the watch is gold plated (no idea how thick the plating is). It's a shame there's no AR as I think it would benefit the watch, but at the price I can't really quibble. The crown has a nice positive feel to it when winding. The strap is a glossy, slightly padded croco-print with a gold buckle and is very comfortable. It does feel a little flimsy, but replacement Astbury straps are very inexpensive if it wears out too quickly (although I'm tempted to pick up a higher quality genuine gator strap for it at some point). I'm very pleased indeed with the watch - it looks far higher quality than a £99 gen has any right to (my wife thought I must have spent several hundred at least until I showed her the invoice) and at the £49 I paid is just stupidly good value for money. It's possibly the dressiest watch I own, so isn't going to get that much wear - it looks wrong with anything less than a suit and may be reserved for the occasions that I take my wife out to a decent restaurant or the theatre. Without further ado, here's the pics: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sconehead 5 Posted April 10, 2009 Great watch for the price Greg, I might consider getting one myself... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sconehead 5 Posted April 10, 2009 Are you going to post this on RWI as well? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oscarmadfish 0 Posted April 10, 2009 looks great greg and nice review Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jameo210369 0 Posted April 10, 2009 Enjoy her Greg, they are really well put together watches. Thanks for the pics Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
greg_r 81 Posted April 10, 2009 I'm seriously impressed - it feels like a £5-600 watch. Thanks for making me aware of 'em in the first place, mate Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AllergyDoc 40 Posted April 10, 2009 Fabulous deal and a very nice looking watch. I found them on ebay at $146ish w/shipping. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
phaedo 0 Posted April 11, 2009 Looks good, I do like the retrograde gmt they have too http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ASTBURY-CO-GENTS-RE...1742.m153.l1262 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bene3 0 Posted April 11, 2009 wow, looks really good greg. and also a fantastic price. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
greg_r 81 Posted April 11, 2009 Looks good, I do like the retrograde gmt they have too http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ASTBURY-CO-GENTS-RE...1742.m153.l1262 Yep, I saw that one - it would probably have been my second choice if the skeleton wasn't available. I'm trying to resist..... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
phaedo 0 Posted April 11, 2009 (edited) Looks good, I do like the retrograde gmt they have too http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ASTBURY-CO-GENTS-RE...1742.m153.l1262 Yep, I saw that one - it would probably have been my second choice if the skeleton wasn't available. I'm trying to resist..... Trying to resist it myself; got a watch box off these guys a few months ago, and it took a week to arrive. What is frustrating is they don't offer pick-up, and yet their depot is about 3km from my house, and still have to pay full postage. End rant. To clarify, the AAustralian company offering them is the one I got the box off that is 3km from my house, not the one Greg got his from. Edited April 11, 2009 by phaedo Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AllergyDoc 40 Posted April 14, 2009 I just ordered one of these, too. $103USD shipped. Damn good price! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
greg_r 81 Posted April 15, 2009 Cool, Doc. It's a lot of watch for the money, that's for sure @Sconehead - yours must have arrived by now, yes? PICS!!!!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Luthier 1 Posted April 15, 2009 Looks good, I do like the retrograde gmt they have too http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ASTBURY-CO-GENTS-RE...1742.m153.l1262 It's Quartz. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
greg_r 81 Posted April 15, 2009 Looks good, I do like the retrograde gmt they have too http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ASTBURY-CO-GENTS-RE...1742.m153.l1262 It's Quartz. Ah - yes. Quite so. There is also a retrograde model with an auto movement, though, which was the one that was tempting me until I looked at my credit card statement for last month . Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
trailboss99 994 Posted April 15, 2009 Nice buy for the money. Skels ain't realy my thing but I could grow to like that one. Col. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sconehead 5 Posted April 15, 2009 Cool, Doc. It's a lot of watch for the money, that's for sure @Sconehead - yours must have arrived by now, yes? PICS!!!!!! Arrived this morning Greg, don't know if I should post some pics of it, because although this is the exact same watch in every detail, mine looks better than yours... :P Must admit, I'm also quite impressed with it but as Greg has mentioned, this isn't a jeans and t-shirt watch... ^_^ edit: If Doc's getting one as well this could well become THE official forum watch...get them while they're cheap boy's... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
greg_r 81 Posted April 15, 2009 Arrived this morning Greg, don't know if I should post some pics of it, because although this is the exact same watch in every detail, mine looks better than yours... ^_^ Guess you must have left the TRL on, eh? :P Must admit, I'm also quite impressed with it but as Greg has mentioned, this isn't a jeans and t-shirt watch... oddly, that's exactly what I wore mine with when going to the pub for lunch last Saturday, but I'll admit it was a little OTT... It's the only watch I've owned that I catch people staring at... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jameo210369 0 Posted April 24, 2009 I have found that they are great watches, the movements are great and the price is stunning. The bestplace to get them is on Ebay AU, you get a better deal for your money. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
greg_r 81 Posted April 26, 2009 hmm - well as it happens, I just bought another Astbury... via eBay AU. I've seen this same watch under another manufacturer's name at Werner's flying watches for £149. More info when it arrives. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jameo210369 0 Posted April 26, 2009 Hi Greg, I am watching the same watch now on ebay only with a silver case and darker brown strap; stunning looking watch, I hope they accept my offer. Who was your dealer?? http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=190299193406 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
greg_r 81 Posted April 26, 2009 Same guy. Difference is that the one I ordered was listed at £30 - which looking at his current listings may have been a one-off as they're mostly double the price or more now. As well as the one you're looking at, I see he also has a black face version at about £40-ish, though... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oscarmadfish 0 Posted April 26, 2009 greg is an addict Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
