Watches - another OCD problem
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@Giles the Swiss watch companies don't need an excuse to increase prices, they do it anyway. The trouble is that they also markup stock held in store, which was paid for a year or two earlier in some cases.
For example, I had an email off the Chopard Boutique in London in March last year, telling me that the LUC 8HF they had in stock, and they'd contacted me about a year earlier, was going up by around £1000. It was still there in September.
It's probably why some in trouble now, because they've made themselves less affordable. In fact, there was a trend at SIHH to bring down the prices of some models.
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@Graeme Thank you for the info!
I currently have a Sea Dweller 4000 circa 2014 and a Breitling Crosswind Special ~2004 (white face) in my arsenal. I often think the green “hulk” would be a nice colour to add into my rotation.
Blancpain was never on my radar until my frequent visits to this thread, making my decision on the hulk more difficult. In fact it is my frequent visits to this thread that slows me down from making another purchase altogether! There are a lot of really nice watches being displayed in here, as well as some of questionable taste (imo).
My grail would be one of the Patek’s, but out of my price range for the foreseeable future. There is also the justification of expense. The “smurf” is a great example of where do I draw the line in value and can justify it. For the money of the “smurf”, I can definitely find a Patek to my liking.
My honest feeling is that the stainless models of the Rolex’s are a decent value for the money spent (if Rolex didn’t keep raising their prices every year
). They also hold their value pretty well on the secondary market. -
@neph93 aren't you meant to stay in the other watch thread? A Rolex isn't in the less intimidating category, though if that's your grail, it might be better to go straight there.
Alright, alright, I’ll reel my neck in, I was just seeing how the other half lived [emoji1]
Seriously though,I’m definitely paying in the sub $1k category for my first watch. But the webshop I’m using for research has watches from $100 Casios to Pateks and Panerai.
I was trying to figure out what you get for your money when I got caught up in the Rolex vortex [emoji23]
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@goosehd the Tribute to Fifty Fathoms Mil-Spec is the Blancpain that I'd get if I was going that way. There's a piece at Hodinkee on the watch.
I'd also throw in the Cartier Diver's watch in blue. I think that this model has just been discontinued, so you might get a discount, but it's a lovely looking thing. Probably not your style, though.
I think that if I was spending a lot of money on a watch, I'd be putting it into the movement, rather than the case. So I'd go for a steel Patek over a precious metal Rolex. No idea what the price retention of either of those would be like, though.
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@neph93 you might say that, but I'm waiting for your "look at my new A. Lange & Söhne Triple Split" post.
I must admit, I don't really get the whole Rolex thing. Yes, I know that they're really well engineered, and hold their value well. But I find them really boring and conservative (except for the Air King, which is awesome), and the deliberate way that they make certain models (I'm looking at the Daytona in steel) completely unobtainable.
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@Graeme Once again, thank you! That blancpain is definitely one I have been considering. I’m more of a window shopper and dreamer, but I occasionally do give in.
Thanks for your advice and please keep posting the great pictures and links. I have read quite a few of your past recommendations.
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This one preferably….5015b-1130-52a
@Giles there's one on Chrono24. Otherwise they seem to be sold out.
I prefer the Mil-Spec model with the humidity indicator on the dial. They might be a bit easier to get, as they were released last year.
@goosehd glad to hear you're enjoying my ramblings. Today I'm trying to keep myself occupied by working on a coding test.
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I've been looking very seriously at the Hulk. It's interesting in that it is available to anyone willing to wait 4-6 months and pay the cash, yet they can be resold at a premium even after a year or two of gentle use. There's also the "kermit", which is more discreet. I don't think it's made anymore.
Last year we went to Hawaii for vacation. There was a fancy Rolex dealer with nearly everything (but no Hulk and no SS Daytona…) I got to see several of the platinum models, with the light blue dials. Gorgeous pieces but oh so heavy (not to mention the price).
I went to a Seattle AD yesterday and they had no SS Sub or Deep Sea. Apparently they're still waiting to get a new load after everything was sold at Xmas.
In the much-less-spendy category, Seiko is rumored to be releasing an all green version of their 300MM dive watch, which uses a movement derived from the Grand Seiko line. The thing about Rolex vs other dive watches of comparable style is that they're often smaller and easier to wear for a given level of performance. The Sub for example is quite a bit smaller than the Seiko 300MM.
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I hear you. I never really cared for Rolex either, but then I bought my first one a while back - an SD. Fell in love with their sport watches…their history...they're a bullet proof timeless watch. Are they my personal favourite. Nope. But, I am guilty of having a few!!
Too bad IWC produce mainly fugly watches now. They're not like this anymore...
My next purchase is going to be a ceramic iWatch. The fit and finish is incredible. Besides I've given Apple so much cash these last 6 months the watch is sadly a rounding error. :o
@neph93 you might say that, but I'm waiting for your "look at my new A. Lange & Söhne Triple Split" post.
I must admit, I don't really get the whole Rolex thing. Yes, I know that they're really well engineered, and hold their value well. But I find them really boring and conservative (except for the Air King, which is awesome), and the deliberate way that they make certain models (I'm looking at the Daytona in steel) completely unobtainable.
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I’ve made the fatal error of contacting my AD on availability and pricing on the Blancpain. Even though they are closed on weekends, she promptly replied back and said she will have info on Monday!
I am 99% sure I won’t pull the trigger, but…..Does anyone have a couch to rent out for the next year or two?
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@Giles one thing that I like on the Mil-Spec model is that the date disk has a black background, which makes it less obvious. The No Radiation model has a white disk, which stands out more.
I prefer the Mil-Spec, but would probably go for one of the Aqualung models that lose the rotating bezel.
@goosehd enjoy your new watch!
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Seems like Neighborhoods Sin Takizawa shares the love for the 50 Fathoms
https://www.instagram.com/p/Beflx2WBE6w/?taken-by=sin_takizawa
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I've been looking very seriously at the Hulk. It's interesting in that it is available to anyone willing to wait 4-6 months and pay the cash, yet they can be resold at a premium even after a year or two of gentle use. There's also the "kermit", which is more discreet. I don't think it's made anymore.
the kermit is not made anymore and is part of the older series of submariners that were non ceremic. hence the lesser 1 in their reference no.
kermit 16610lv (LV- Lunette vett)
hulk 116610lv (the extra 1 denotes ceremic)
models that have LN is black (lunette noir/ black) and as a fun fact, xxx13 denotes half YG bracelet. there's a whole bunch more that i cannot remember because the list is freaking long..anyway the kermits are more collectable as they have 4 different dial variations that's based on the serial number which are based on the year produced.. examples include, flat 4 font or not, where the oyster O sits in relation to the R in the Rolex, the maxi dial without maxi case etc. some variations are more valuable than others as well..
i honestly think the kermit is much better looking than the hulk just because it's less flashy and less in your face and only people that know the model would go oh….
i know rolex controls their stocks but i'm pretty certain that certain AD do that as well. i know 1, whose name i shall not mention, that controls their stock of 'sport' rolexes (especially with that recent release of the daytona) very tightly and will sell them to highest bidder or "family and friends". they also do not have a fixed number of models in their stocktake and they will not release the number of models they have or receive to auditors as well.
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@louisbosco Yes, that Patek would be a grail (unrealistic and possibly life threatening (mine)), and I can only imagine the conversation with the better half. It would not be pretty…..
