The Watch Thread (6 Viewers)

[JScott]

I have a modest collection compared to many of you. But this Oris Clipperton is my daily timepiece and favorite due to the beautiful blue face.

I get complimented on this more than anything else by both WIS and non WIS alike.

 

[joeyshin]

My fifty fathoms is long gone but I’ve been looking for a bathyscape ceramic.

 

[PocketAces]

Big fan of the fifty fathoms although I think I could never wear it (too big)

 

[Perthmike]

Strongly considering selling some chips to fund the purchase of one of these.

I've got a nice looking dress watch, but it's the China clay of watches, so a jlc would be a sweet upgrade.

Chips > watch or watch > chips?

 

[PocketAces]

Chips > watch or watch > chips?

need both of course

I like JLC. Always wanted to own a Reverso. Old school, classic watch

 

[Perthmike]

The reverso is the other option actually. And a Patek is well out of my price range. As is a jlc without selling some chips lol

 

[PocketAces]

Watch prices have gone nuts in the past few years

Also like Longines!

 

[Changster]

Watch prices have gone nuts in the past few years

Also like Longines!

Watch prices these days are out of the world. Money printing governments are awesome.

Until they're not.

 

[PocketAces]

The reverso is the other option actually. And a Patek is well out of my price range. As is a jlc without selling some chips lol

In my opinion, you can’t go wrong with a Reverso! Very classy watch. Cartier Tank also.

Check the Chrono24 app. A bunch of these dress watches sell at a discount in secondary market. Nothing wrong with buying second hand if the watch comes with box and papers. You will see, it’s a pretty deep market

@Changster I also blame footballers and rappers

 

[FlushBlack]

...Fangio driving a Maserati 250F in 1957 at Nurburgring.

Some nice time pieces....Fangio art piece dibs

 

[Perthmike]

In my opinion, you can’t go wrong with a Reverso! Very classy watch. Cartier Tank also.

Check the Chrono24 app. A bunch of these dress watches sell at a discount in secondary market. Nothing wrong with buying second hand if the watch comes with box and papers. You will see, it’s a pretty deep market

The reverso speaks to me, but I just feel nothing for the cartiers, or the men's ones at least.

Convinced my dad to buy my mum a tank, and I got my wife a rondo solo with a white strap and she loves it.

That was only a year ago, and I got it as a surprise and took it to her work, so I guess she can't complain if I buy myself another (especially with chip and poker money).

I've no experience with chrono, so I wouldn't have a clue how to purchase from it. And I'd be worried about fake parts even with papers. We had a local guy here with a great rep that was found to be flogging watches with fake parts.

 

[PocketAces]

I've no experience with chrono, so I wouldn't have a clue how to purchase from it. And I'd be worried about fake parts even with papers. We had a local guy here with a great rep that was found to be flogging watches with fake parts

Valid point - with those price tags better know exactly what you are buying. You need to find sellers you’d trust. I know a few in Europe but I don’t know the market in Asia at all.

The reverso speaks to me, but I just feel nothing for the cartiers, or the men's ones at least.

I see exactly what you mean. It took me a while to come around the Tank. But I saw it worn, tried it and it just worked.

Convinced my dad to buy my mum a tank, and I got my wife a rondo solo with a white strap and she loves it.

There are often great stories behind some watch acquisitions. Celebrating a life event with a purchase is perfectly acceptable One for her...one for you...

 

[RudysNYC]

A little disappointed not to see any Baume et Mercier on this thread...

I’ve taken to a piece of junk watch now that I don’t have work to go to everyday and nobody to impress, but here are the two (non-pandemic) go-tos and the two I keep put away for specials occasions. If you couldn’t tell, B&M runs in the family

 

[Perthmike]

Ok so I've got wife approval to buy the new watch, provided the funds come from chips/poker.

Winning

 

[Perthmike]

Here are my two frontrunners so far.

Watch nerds assemble. What are your thoughts? Any other suggestions? @Changster @Windwalker
@gopherblue @Numerobis @PocketAces @jun @boltonguy @Pesto628

 

[Changster]

Both are gorgeous... in the end it’ll come down to what looks good on your wrist (try them from an AD!). I’ve seen watches which I thought would be awesome but when I put it on my wrist it didn’t look right. The size of your wrist, your skin tone, your normal wardrobe all makes a big difference.

 

[gopherblue]

Here are my two frontrunners so far.

Watch nerds assemble. What are your thoughts? Any other suggestions? @Changster @Windwalker
@gopherblue @Numerobis @PocketAces @jun @boltonguy @Pesto628

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Reverso, and it isn't close.

However, are those the only two watches in the running? What do you like in watches? Brands? What's your budget? (Can PM this if you prefer.)

 

[Perthmike]

Reverso, and it isn't close.

However, are those the only two watches in the running? What do you like in watches? Brands? What's your budget? (Can PM this if you prefer.)

I'm open to other brands. Ive already got a speedy pro, so I'm looking for a more elegant, clean dress watch this time around.

Price point would be max 7000usd rrp. And I'd hope to get some discount out of them too. I do like some iwc watches, but I have fairly small wrists and some of those are on the thicker side, given the monstrous power reserves they have.

Not personally a fan of any of the men's cartier watches. Most of my dream purchases would be out of my price range. But the master control and grande reverso have long been on my wishlist.

Reverso wins on history, but I do prefer the master control aesthetically.

 

[Perthmike]

Both are gorgeous... in the end it’ll come down to what looks good on your wrist (try them from an AD!). I’ve seen watches which I thought would be awesome but when I put it on my wrist it didn’t look right. The size of your wrist, your skin tone, your normal wardrobe all makes a big difference.

You are correct, it's all about the feel once you try them on. I've tried both, but it was years ago, I think I'll go shopping soon and try a bunch on.

I've got the skin tone of a true pastey Englishman lol. I work for government, so no suit. Will just be worn for work with a business shirt and pants, nothing too fancy.

 

[Windwalker]

Here are my two frontrunners so far.

Watch nerds assemble. What are your thoughts? Any other suggestions? @Changster @Windwalker
@gopherblue @Numerobis @PocketAces @jun @boltonguy @Pesto628

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So, given that your front runner includes the JLC master control date, (contains the new caliber 899, by the way), I’m putting your budget at between $6500 and $7500.

I create HEAVY distinctions between jewelry watches (like Cartier, who don’t make their own movements) and time-pieces, from houses that make their own movements and complications.

JLC is a lovely choice. Here are some others in the same price range that are equally amazing.


IWC Portugeiser and the Portofino:

A more acquired taste, is Panerai. I recommend the PAM914 or the Radiomir with white dial.

For true sophistication, you can’t go wrong with a Breguet Marine or Classique.

 

[Perthmike]

So, given that your front runner includes the JLC master control date, (contains the new caliber 899, by the way), I’m putting your budget at between $6500 and $7500.

I create HEAVY distinctions between jewelry watches (like Cartier, who don’t make their own movements) and time-pieces, from houses that make their own movements and complications.

JLC is a lovely choice. Here are some others in the same price range that are equally amazing.


IWC Portugeiser and the Portofino:

View attachment 613774View attachment 613775

A more acquired taste, is Panerai. I recommend the PAM914 or the Radiomir with white dial.

View attachment 613779View attachment 613780

For true sophistication, you can’t go wrong with a Breguet Marine or Classique.



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Certainly after a timepiece and not a jewelry watch.

Breguet and lange & sohne would be grail brands for me. Both are unfortunately far too pricey.

Panerias are cool, but not my style personally and probably too large as well. I am probably looking in the 38-41mm range.

I love the Portugeiser and portofino, but I think I'm after something a little cleaner.

 

[Windwalker]

Certainly after a timepiece and not a jewelry watch.

Breguet and lange & sohne would be grail brands for me. Both are unfortunately far too pricey.

The two watches I just listed sell on the secondary market for less than $8,000. I can connect you with my watch guy, if you’d like — he can source something for you.

 

[Perthmike]

The two watches I just listed sell on the secondary market for less than $8,000. I can connect you with my watch guy, if you’d like — he can source something for you.

Very kind of you. I think that sourcing overseas would be difficult though. I'd get slugged on import duties bringing it in.

 

[PocketAces]

Reverso for me! As @Changster says though, only when you see them on your wrist will you be able to tell.

 

[Numerobis]

Reverso for me as well. It s the JLC signature, and would work great since you have small wrists.

Perhaps you can try them on and share some pics

 

[Perthmike]

So trying on watches was slightly strange, as I didn't like the watches that I expected. Apologies for the crap pics, but here is a quick summary.

First up is the master control which was my no. 1 choice. But it sat a bit high and I didn't love the shape of the case. It just didn't have that refined feel that I was after. So it's out.

I liked the ultra thin. Didn't love it enough to want it though.

Also tried the portugieser, which I liked more than expected. But again, not enough that wanted to spend $10,800 aud on it.

Liked the reverso a lot. Its a watch I've always appreciated, but I think id need a few more watches in the collection before I got one. Another situation where I liked it, but don't love it.

Lastly I tried this on, just because I've always quite liked the look of pilot watches and the fact that they are so versatile.

And surprisingly I loved it. Plus its much cheaper than the others, so it's now a very strong candidate.

 

[Changster]

IWC Pilot/Big Pilot are awesome watches. I’ve always wanted one but never had one. They are so versatile, and can be worn at any time and occasion.

It’s great you tried on all those watches. It’s just so different in person than in pics.

 

[Numerobis]

I really like the non-chrono portuguese Simple and classy

 

[PocketAces]

IWC Pilot/Big Pilot are awesome watches. I’ve always wanted one but never had one. They are so versatile, and can be worn at any time and occasion.

agree with this I always wanted to own a top gun but unfortunately too big for my wrist.

I could tell you that I think one watch fits better than the other but only you will know that a watch is for you the moment you put it on your wrist.

I really want to buy a watch now just to experience that feeling again

 

[gopherblue]

+1 on the pilot. Classic and looks great. I like the JLC ulltrathin too—gorgeous dial with applied indices, in-house ultra thin movement. The reverso, too, is a classic style that only JLC does, and is lovely. Cant go wrong with any of those

Not to complicate it, but JLC makes their own movements and is just behind the big three, reputation-wise. In fact, they make movements for many other brands, including Audemars, IWC, and Vacheron. JLC is considered the “watchmaker’s watch” in that people in the industry tend to favor them.

Not to complicate things, but have you seen the Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda 1950? Exquisite movement finishing, on par with Patek at a fraction of the price. Should be in your price range in steel. https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/parmigiani-fleurier-tonda-1950-steel-hands-on

In any event, take your time...half the fun is trying on different watches. And bargain hard on price—sales are very slow and stores will make deals.