Customer Reviews

Stuhrling Original Men's 165.334514 Lifestyle 'Winchester' Skeleton Automatic Watch

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Up until now, I don't think I've ever owned a watch that cost more than $20.00 (incl. tax!). However, I recently saw a competitor's skeleton watch and, being an engineer, I was intrigued. I did some research and selected this watch for several reasons. First, I like the look, it seems like the workings are more visible in this watch than the others I seen. But I also like the fact that it is self-winding, water resistant, and I prefer the copper color over gold or silver. I really like the fine engraving on the back crystal (I wonder how many people don't even realize it's there). I also felt comfortable with this purchase knowing that Stuhrling is an established watch maker.
As another reviewer mentioned, the band is stiff, but being leather, I'm hoping it will soften up as it is broken in. I've only had the watch for a couple days now, so I can't comment on its reliability, but it seems to be keeping good time so far. The only negative comment I would make is that since the hands are the same color and finish as the face and workings, they tend to blend in and are hard to see in dim lighting. I think it would help if they were a slightly different color or maybe just polished as opposed to the brushed finish.

I bought two Stuhrling watches - this one and the silver version.
They both came in the same shipping box with NO packing material between the watch boxes and the bottom of the shipping box!!! To make it worse, the packing material on the top of the box was overstuffed- assuring that any stress the outside of the shipping box received was directly transferred to the watches.
The shipping box was not marked fragile or handle with care.

This brass-colored one works fine after winding-
But the silver one was DOA.
Was it defective to begin with or was it the bad packing job?
Will the brass one fail early because Amazon does not understand the importance of properly shipping automatic watches?

A good packing job assures that even if the outside of the box is subjected to the stress of an impulse or severe vibration that the valuable contents do not.

Packing automatic watches should assure that packing material SURROUNDS the fragile contents and is NOT overstuffed- Overstuffing just transfers the stresses directly to the contents.

Product was returned but Amazon gets to keeps your money for 2 months.

AMAZON - PLEASE CHANGE THE WAY YOU PACK AUTOMATIC WATCHES!!!!

I collect unique watches and so I was delighted to identify the Stuhrling Men's Skeletonized Watch on Amazon and other sites. The watch is indeed beautiful and it's fun to see the inner workings of this automatic watch. The leather grained band is attractive, but a bit stiff. A softer, more pliable leather would have been preferable. The most surprising thing about receiving this watch was the lack of any detailed operation manual. Since this was my first automatic watch, I had to place a call to Sturling Customer Service to learn how exactly to get it started, how much to wind it, etc. For a fine watch like this, it should come with a manual that would take the guesswork out of its operation. Amazon's price was the very best anywhere and the delivery time was exceptionally quick. It's a fine watch, especially for the price. I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a beautiful, unique timepiece at an affordable price.

Watch is a looker. Strangers would regularly stop me to comment on the attractiveness of the watch.

Too bad it no longer keeps time.

After running well in daily use for several months, it started running slowly and would stop periodically even though fully wound.

No way to contact Stuhrling Original expect by mail so, after some digging, I found the protocol for warranty return (including need to provide original invoice, $10.00, and possible wait of two to three months) and closely followed it.

Sent off watch, check, paperwork. Seven weeks later, watch was returned. IN SAME CONDITION AS SENT: runs hours slow per day, sometimes outright stopping even though fully wound. No explanation was provided as to repair. Near as I can tell, they did nothing but age it.

(Included an insert explaining that watch must be fully wound for self-wind to work. Duh! My inference is, since they provided no explanations, that they simply think I was not fully winding the watch. Not my first self-wind; I understand these watches; can actually see the main spring fully and tightly coiled because of skeleton design; and, if winding was the only issue than how come, as I explained in the return letter, watch worked fine for initial several months?)

BEWARE! You may be left with an expensive decoration.

And, as frustrating, because six months have now elapsed since my purchase (Amazon was the seller), Amazon is providing only this means for feedback. Cannot get to "resolve issues" pages or "leave seller feedback" pages because of time elapsed. Like so many, I depend upon Amazon's generally excellent reputation for taking care of its customers but it fails totally here.

Up front, I have never really owned a watch of any real style or quality so I don't have a lot to compare this to. I've always been the Timex or worse "generic" watch kinda guy. But while surfing Amazon I saw this watch and the reasonable price and decided to take a chance on being "fashionable". I'm impressed! This watch is sweet looking, substantial and just all around impressive. I haven't owned it long enough to comment on it's time keeping qualities, but barring a major problem, I couldn't recommend this watch enough.

Being a watch neophyte, I didn't realize that "automatic" in the description meant it winds itself by the movement of your wrist. Now I do. It has a cool little weight in the back that you can see swinging around as you move your hand.

The only ding I would have for this watch (and I didn't remove a star for it as it's personal and minor) is that the watch hands do not contrast well with the workings. This makes it difficult to read the time in anything but good light.

Other than that, if you're looking for a fine watch, this one is very nice!

This is an outstanding watch. I had been searching for a skeleton watch and when I found this one I thought this was the one I should make mine. One of the things that made this watch appealing to me is that it almost looks nautical, like a ships wheel. I also liked the rose gold. It was given to me as a birthday present a couple of weeks ago and I couldn't be happier. It is an great value for the price. I wondered if I would need a winder with this watch but after two weeks it seems to keep perfect time just by my own movement.

This is a watch that demands/commands attention. I've gotten quite a few positive comments on it from people who know me and some who don't. I've been stopped by strangers who wanted to look at the watch. Though I've always been one to check the time frequently throughout the day I've found myself checking it more often just to gaze upon the beauty of this watch. Beauty...when my wife and children saw the watch they said it was beautiful...then quickly change it to "handsome" since it is a man's watch. My 21 year old son stated he wanted it as an heirloom when I tired of it.

I was speaking with my wife yesterday and metioned it reminded me of the story "The Give of the Magi" that Lorne Green used to read...the man of the house in the story had a beautiful watch that had been his father's but he didn't pull it out to gaze at its beauty as often as he could because he only had a worn leather strap on it rather than a nice chain. I don't have that problem with this watch. I look at it often and enjoy watching the works inside. The crocodile leather look strap is attractive.

Overall, as I say, I am very pleased with my purchase and would highly recommend it. The only downside (as metioned in some other reviews I've seen) is that the hands on the dial are sometimes difficult to see since they are the same color as the rest of the watch. Perhaps in later models they could use a different shade of gold or make the dials stand out in some other manner. Even with that I am quite pleased with this watch and proud to wear it!

I ordered this watch because I collect skeletonized watches and because Stuhrling has such a high reputation for quality. I was so impressed with this watch when it arrived, the only thing keeping me from ordering it in every available color is my wife. Based on this watch, I highly recommend Stuhrling watches to anyone.

Well, I'm so pleased that I purchased this watch. The craftsmanship is exquisite, and I would definitely recommend this watch (especially if the "gold" standard pleases you!). I can't stop staring at the wonderful workmanship and care in the creation of this watch. I specifically wanted a watch that would emphasis my gold rings, and special my gold wedding band and "Hu" (God) symbol-oxidized ring which I wear. The dark leather brand brings out the black oxidized symbol of my ring, and the two make a wonder combination. I love everything about the watch, all the way to the smooth action second hand, watching the inner-mechanism (always good to look inward!), to the stunning bright gold finish. If you are thinking twice about this watch, think no further, it is wonderful, and I strongly recommend that you consider getting one. You won't be disappointed.

This watch looks awesome... I get constant comments on how great it looks.
The automatic winding is different, make sure that this feature is acceptable before purchase. If you're not going to wear the watch often, you are going to have to give it a "warm-up time" before you will be able to set it..
The price on Amazon is much better then anywhere else I looked.
Delivery was quick.
Some people have commented on the similarity of colors making it difficult to tell the time... I disagree. I have had no trouble telling the time on this watch.
Other comments concern the band being "cheap." It does appear that the band is of lower quality, but the leather is a very deep brown, making it easy to wear the watch with just about any outfit. It starts stiff, but softens quickly and it is very comfortable.
Overall, I am extremely pleased with this watch, and if you're looking for a cost-effective, high quality skeleton watch, then you will be too.

When I decided I wanted a 'skeleton' watch I started searching online & discovered that there aren't that many products to choose from. This was the only 'full-skeleton', where the entire watch face exposes the inner workings, that I could find.
This watch is really striking and very beautiful to look at. It is also very affordable considering that it is an automatic, self-winding watch and not a quartz, battery driven watch.
Mine does make some audible sounds when I move my arm & the winding pendulum moves (hence, the 4 stars) but I don't mind that for the cost of this watch. I have some other automatics, and they are completely silent, but they cost at least twice as much as this watch.
Overall I would say it is a great watch for the money & is very unique looking.