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Luxury Watches

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I'm interested in getting a lower end entry level watch.

Not at a Rolex level, but ready to wear something nice. I'm thinking of a Baltic, Tag Heuer, Seiko, Tissot, Orient, Citizen, etc.

I'd like to know what the watch snobs think and thanks.
 
Okay, on topic...

Unless i've missed it, there doesn't seem to be any mention of Vacheron Constantin in this thread yet.

The only watch of value that I own is a very understated steel VC that my mother gave as a birthday present to my father half a year after their marriage 76 years ago (it's engraved on the back).

I've always felt that knowing I had a 'good enough' watch with a meaningful backstory set me well for any full-dress fancy occasion, and otherwise 'insulated' me from ever considering the purchase of a luxury watch, which would neither fit my style or resources.

Similarly, I've always assumed that because it wasn't a precious metal, my watch wasn't particularly valuable, but this thread has piqued my interest.

Toward @SubbaBub, @UConn Esq, or anybody else who has an informed pov, what's a good recommendation toward getting more information and a better sense of what I have? I don't know the model or anything else, but a cursory Google look gives me the impression that it might now be worth quite a bit more than I've imagined.

I figure that I ought to at least know, especially with a daughter who would reflexively say, "Sell it, and give me the money," if I were to give her a heads up that it's among some things I've told her aren't just clutter to hastily discard when I move on from this earthly splendor.

I've very rarely worn the watch, though I do like it beyond its "my father's watch" status.

Some time in the late 90s, I sold a non-running Jaeger-LeCoultre reversing face watch (also from my father, but that felt gimmicky and way out of character for me), and used some of the money to have the Vacheron cleaned & such. Last night, I wound it for the first time in more than a decade. It's keeping correct time. It's a nice watch.

Kudos to @B1GEast for a good thread for the days leading up to the Gonzaga game.
Gorgeous and less-flashy brand than Rolex et al - but also not entry level luxury!
 
Well I'm done shopping and I've built my Tag Heuer Connected Calibre E4 at $2k. Just need to decide which trim combo. That escalated quickly. It's a chronograph smartwatch so it will connect to fitness apps. I like the metal band but not sure how it feels during exercise.

tag.JPG
 
Looks like they have a store in Boston on Newbury Street.


Looks like Shreve, Crump & Low on Newbury Street also sells them.

So is Vacherin Constantin considered "high end luxury"? Because after looking at the prices I know I won't be buying one. :)

you can pick them up much cheaper preowned but AP, Patek and Vacheron watches are never inexpensive........for two grand (or less used) you can buy a beautiful Swiss-made watch from Oris and for well under 1k Hamilton offers many Swiss made models.....
 
There was an episode of the Bob Newhart Show (the one with Suzanne Pleshette as his wife) where she bought him a $10,000 watch. His response was "if you were going to spend that much money and after buying a piano, ypou had $20 left over and bought me a watch..... Well, you can't buy a $20 piano".

Similar to my belief that while it is seldom a wise investment, everyone should own at least one new car in his or her lifetime, if somneone wants to own a higher quality watch (and it makes economic sense), he or she should do it.

I own quite a few reasonably good watches (nearly 20, cost anywhere between $300 and $650 , accululated the collection over a few decades), but for more than a yer (due to the benefit through my health insurance of having a watch that counts my steps) use almost exclusively the least expensive watch in my collection.

I can speak of the benefits of the watches that retail for less than $1,000 but at this point I could also make an argument that it would have been better served owning fewer watches at a similar cumulative cost as better watches do hold their value.

Take your time making the decision. Whether it ends up being a good or bad decision will depend on the time after the purchase, not necessarily the purchase itself.
a big mistake I see with many newer watch collectors (I plead guilty too) is that they get caught up buying a bunch of $500-$1k watches when they just could have saved up to buy one high-quality watch........
 
Okay, on topic...

Unless i've missed it, there doesn't seem to be any mention of Vacheron Constantin in this thread yet.

The only watch of value that I own is a very understated steel VC that my mother gave as a birthday present to my father half a year after their marriage 76 years ago (it's engraved on the back).

I've always felt that knowing I had a 'good enough' watch with a meaningful backstory set me well for any full-dress fancy occasion, and otherwise 'insulated' me from ever considering the purchase of a luxury watch, which would neither fit my style or resources.

Similarly, I've always assumed that because it wasn't a precious metal, my watch wasn't particularly valuable, but this thread has piqued my interest.

Toward @SubbaBub, @UConn Esq, or anybody else who has an informed pov, what's a good recommendation toward getting more information and a better sense of what I have? I don't know the model or anything else, but a cursory Google look gives me the impression that it might now be worth quite a bit more than I've imagined.

I figure that I ought to at least know, especially with a daughter who would reflexively say, "Sell it, and give me the money," if I were to give her a heads up that it's among some things I've told her aren't just clutter to hastily discard when I move on from this earthly splendor.

I've very rarely worn the watch, though I do like it beyond its "my father's watch" status.

Some time in the late 90s, I sold a non-running Jaeger-LeCoultre reversing face watch (also from my father, but that felt gimmicky and way out of character for me), and used some of the money to have the Vacheron cleaned & such. Last night, I wound it for the first time in more than a decade. It's keeping correct time. It's a nice watch.

Kudos to @B1GEast for a good thread for the days leading up to the Gonzaga game.
Just don't let any watchmaker open it up and whatever you do don't get it cleaned/polished no matter how dusty or dirty it looks..........patina means a lot with older watches just like with antiques........
 
What about Ulysse Nardin watches? Anyone know anything about them? See how much I'm learning from this thread.

 
.-.
Picked up a Breitling- Navitimer Montbrilliant Datora. Got a great price ..just needed to be serviced. There are good deals out there if you are patient
 
One thing I haven't seen anybody write about is the crazy number of fake watches on the market........there are fakes for every decent brand, and while fakes used to be laughably bad now some of them are even fooling watch dealers..........the bottom line is you need to be very careful where you purchase your watches......
 
My former boss gave me a Rolex Submariner as a bonus/gift 15 or so years ago and while I wear it for special occasions, nice dinners, weddings, etc, it’s not really ‘me’. I also drunkenly made an impulse buy of a $100 all-matte black MVMT few years ago which I actually prefer to the Rolex.
 
One thing I haven't seen anybody write about is the crazy number of fake watches on the market........there are fakes for every decent brand, and while fakes used to be laughably bad now some of them are even fooling watch dealers..........the bottom line is you need to be very careful where you purchase your watches......
Agreed. My daily beater is a Panerai, which is notorious for its fakes. I would never buy one from something like eBay even if they authenticate.
 
What about Ulysse Nardin watches? Anyone know anything about them? See how much I'm learning from this thread.


Cool brand with interesting pieces like the Freak

1702353880320.jpeg
 
I probably should have just titled this thread nice watches instead of "Luxury"

I love just about every dial on the Seiko Presage Cocktail line watches and the blue Citizen Millennium Falcon and Black Rebel pilot with the orange band just look so much fun.

The Baltic MR01 is sweet
Thanks for starting the thread, I fear I have a new obsession. !

Let us know what you end up getting. I don't get spending so much money on some of these watches unless the metal is worth that much and it's made out of Rhodium or some sheet.
 
.-.
Thanks for starting the thread, I fear I have a new obsession. !

Let us know what you end up getting. I don't get spending so much money on some of these watches unless the metal is worth that much and it's made out of Rhodium or some sheet.

Lol, a ton of knowledge in this board. I learned a lot.

I might go with a couple of watches, but I think for sure, the Seiko Presage style will make the cut
 
It’s always funny to me when people say buying a nice watch is a waste of money, meanwhile they’re blowing money on dumber things. When you’re wearing a nice suit especially, it’s a good idea to have a watch on, i think it looks tacky when people wear their Apple Watch or garmin with a suit (I’m sure some will shout me down for this, just my opinion). You don’t need to spend a ton of money on a watch, just something decent. It’s hard to beat the value that Seiko provides, they’ve got tons of models you can find under $500 and last a long time.

What’s your budget? If you’re just starting, don’t go crazy, just get into the hobby, tons of options under $1000. Hamilton, Seiko, Tissot, Bulova, Mido, tons of others. I’d say look at Hamilton or Seiko personally, really can’t go wrong there and easily can find these slightly used for even less. If you have a higher budget, look at Omega or Grand Seiko. I saw someone else mention spending good money on nice shoes as well & I agree. Things that last are worth spending a premium for and I see a nice mechanical watch as the same. Don’t need to buy a Rolex to still enjoy a nice watch.
So basically you’re saying you make sweeping judgements on a person on the clothes he wears and the watch on his wrist.
 
I had once tried to buy a Breitling Chronomat off of Poshmark. For transactions over $500, They hold the funds and the watch until they can positively authenticate the watch. This watch was not able to be authenticated. The transaction was voided and my money was returned.
 
I think it depends on the situation and field. The simple reality is that plenty of Tech billionaires and millionaires will be wearing a T-shirt, jacket, jeans, expensive but comfortable shoes, and an Apple watch (you can get nicer bands). Fancy suits are now reserved for Wall Street, law firms (not even those unless in court) and Congress (except Fetterman). The suit isn't dead but it's on life support. Wearable tech is only going to increase. But yes, everybody who owns a suit can own a watch that looks dressy to go with it.

The suit isn’t on life support in the sense it’s never going to die but certainly it’s never going to be what it was even 4 years ago—much less 10, 20 or 50. I think we’re all on the same page that an actual watch pairs much better with business formal clothes—I’d say business casual too—than an Apple Watch. It just does. I appreciate a lot of people don’t care what they look like.

Tech billionaires dress like dorks for the most part.

Give me a billion dollars and I’ve got Kendall Roy’s wardrobe, not Zuckerberg’s.
 
.-.
So basically you’re saying you make sweeping judgements on a person on the clothes he wears and the watch on his wrist.
You’re constantly being judged by the world based on what you wear and how you appear. Tons of people dress “sloppily”; suit jacket way too big, trousers too long, doesn’t match etc. Doesn’t take a ton to put some effort into it and have your one nice suit put together and tailored properly. Add in a watch and you’re doing it better than most.
 
The suit isn’t on life support in the sense it’s never going to die but certainly it’s never going to be what it was even 4 years ago—much less 10, 20 or 50. I think we’re all on the same page that an actual watch pairs much better with business formal clothes—I’d say business casual too—than an Apple Watch. It just does. I appreciate a lot of people don’t care what they look like.

Tech billionaires dress like dorks for the most part.

Give me a billion dollars and I’ve got Kendall Roy’s wardrobe, not Zuckerberg’s.
succession-still05.jpg
 
Sorta can... I sold my 2004 Rolex in June for 30% more than I paid almost 20 years later. Will your Garmin do that?

1.5% per year is hardly a rate of return to crow about.
 
You’re constantly being judged by the world based on what you wear and how you appear. Tons of people dress “sloppily”; suit jacket way too big, trousers too long, doesn’t match etc. Doesn’t take a ton to put some effort into it and have your one nice suit put together and tailored properly. Add in a watch and you’re doing it better than most.
So judge a book by its cover.
 
.-.
1.5% per year is hardly a rate of return to crow about.
You’re looking at it as something I consciously bought to earn money. I didn’t. What object that you own that you’ve worn for 20 years and beaten up is still increasing in value?
 
So judge a book by its cover.
It's human nature. I work in technical sales and wouldn't dream of dressing as casually as most do these days. I never wear a tie but I have a sport coat on most days. It matters.

You don't have to wear expensive clothes but at least look professional in a coherent, well-fitting outfit.
 
So judge a book by its cover.


He said some people dress sloppy. He didn't make any judgments about their character, competence, etc.

That's not judging a book by its cover. That's pointing out what the cover looks like.
 
.-.

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