• Hi, I am the owner and main administrator of Styleforum. If you find the forum useful and fun, please help support it by buying through the posted links on the forum. Our main, very popular sales thread, where the latest and best sales are listed, are posted HERE

    Purchases made through some of our links earns a commission for the forum and allows us to do the work of maintaining and improving it. Finally, thanks for being a part of this community. We realize that there are many choices today on the internet, and we have all of you to thank for making Styleforum the foremost destination for discussions of menswear.
  • This site contains affiliate links for which Styleforum may be compensated.
  • We would like to welcome House of Huntington as an official Affiliate Vendor. Shop past season Drake's, Nigel Cabourn, Private White V.C. and other menswear luxury brands at exceptional prices below retail. Please visit the Houise of Huntington thread and welcome them to the forum.

  • STYLE. COMMUNITY. GREAT CLOTHING.

    Bored of counting likes on social networks? At Styleforum, you’ll find rousing discussions that go beyond strings of emojis.

    Click Here to join Styleforum's thousands of style enthusiasts today!

    Styleforum is supported in part by commission earning affiliate links sitewide. Please support us by using them. You may learn more here.

~$3,000 for a decent watch, need opinions please.

wj4

Distinguished Member
Joined
Aug 8, 2010
Messages
4,621
Reaction score
1,056
Hi MC gang, I know this topic has been posted in a repetitive cycle...so here's another one.
laugh.gif
I'm looking to buy a first nice watch at around the $3,000 mark. My first choice is the IWC Portofino. I'm not really into busy looking chronos. I suppose a popular 2nd choice would be Omega Seamaster. Oh, and I'm only considering new watches at the moment. Also, would you pros recommend to buy from a brick and mortar establishment or online? The only watch I've bought online was a $600 Oris watch from Authenticwatches.com and I had to meet up with them to pay cash to avoid the sales tax since we're in the same state. If anyone has any recommendations of quality shops around the Southern California area, I would appreciate that. Edit: Just wanted to give an update. I went with IWC IW371401. The white/gold combination is too killer. I originally wanted IW500114 since it has a date box, but the watch is just too big for my wrist. It was more than $3,000 but I am content with it. Got a nice deal on it from an AD.
 

cioni2k

Distinguished Member
Joined
Jan 18, 2010
Messages
1,388
Reaction score
9
Originally Posted by wj4
Hi MC gang,

I know this topic has been posted in a repetitive cycle...so here's another one.
laugh.gif


I'm looking to buy a first nice watch at around the $3,000 mark. My first choice is the IWC Portofino. I'm not really into busy looking chronos. I suppose a popular 2nd choice would be Omega Seamaster. Oh, and I'm only considering new watches at the moment.

Also, would you pros recommend to buy from a brick and mortar establishment or online?

The only watch I've bought online was a $600 Oris watch from Authenticwatches.com and I had to meet up with them to pay cash to avoid the sales tax since we're in the same state.

If anyone has any recommendations of quality shops around the Southern California area, I would appreciate that.


I was going to recommend the Omega as well. Maybe a lightly used Rolex?
 

wj4

Distinguished Member
Joined
Aug 8, 2010
Messages
4,621
Reaction score
1,056
I'm going to work my way up to a Rolex. But not now, haha.

Over the course of the upcoming years I plan on adding a Breitling, Rolex, & Panerai. I really like the PAM 000 and would try to acquire that by my birthday in November. The Breitling and Rolex...those are probably years away.

I plan on keeping my watches forever and not selling them as I see them as bookmarks in my life. I still have the crappy Swatch watch I got in the 7th grade. Had to maintain a 4.0 GPA for the whole year to get it, haha.
 

fss

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 8, 2010
Messages
83
Reaction score
1
With a $3k budget I wouldn't consider online buying. I'd rather pay a little extra for service and safety. I'd take a Portuguese over a Portofino, but you can't go wrong either way.

Too bad you only consider new. Lightly used more rare watches like Dornblüth & Sohn might come in reach - http://horologyclub.com/forum/viewto...&sd=a#p1687527
 

Alan B.

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 12, 2006
Messages
80
Reaction score
0
It's a trick question. There really is nothing in between the $500 and $5K+ watches. Decide if you want to really man up to the big leagues.
 

fss

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 8, 2010
Messages
83
Reaction score
1
Originally Posted by Alan B.
It's a trick question. There really is nothing in between the $500 and $5K+ watches. Decide if you want to really man up to the big leagues.

BS.
 

changy

Senior Member
Joined
May 9, 2008
Messages
561
Reaction score
1
I wont get the portofino, its really not that interesting.
 

wj4

Distinguished Member
Joined
Aug 8, 2010
Messages
4,621
Reaction score
1,056
Originally Posted by Alan B.
It's a trick question. There really is nothing in between the $500 and $5K+ watches. Decide if you want to really man up to the big leagues.
I don't really have a problem 'manning' up...collecting watches certainly wouldn't be the most expensive hobby of mine. But why rush? It should be hobby, something that is enjoyable. If I went out and dropped $30,000 on several watches in a day, that certainly will not make the process worth while.

To those that stated the Portofino is bland, is it because it is a lower tier IWC?
 

zippyh

Stylish Dinosaur
Spamminator Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Sep 16, 2007
Messages
11,094
Reaction score
22,618
Originally Posted by wj4
I'm going to work my way up to a Rolex. But not now, haha.

Over the course of the upcoming years I plan on adding a Breitling, Rolex, & Panerai. I really like the PAM 000 and would try to acquire that by my birthday in November. The Breitling and Rolex...those are probably years away.


Beware. This path leads to madness. Stick with shoes; it's so much less money.

But seriously, skip Breitling. I still own a few that I like and wear, but there are a few that I look at and wonder wtf I was thinking.

Also, don't work your way up the chain. You're just spending money. If you want a PAM000, just get a PAM000 or save until you can afford one. Same with a Rolex. I've got lots of watches but I probably end up wearing my Sea Dweller or GMT IIc about 80% of the time.
 

Akeem

Distinguished Member
Joined
Oct 2, 2007
Messages
2,173
Reaction score
1,419
I agree with saving for the PAM or the one you really want. You can find a 000 new for under 4K if you search. Lots of grey market dealers out there. I wouldn't drop 3k on a stopgap watch.
 

Eli

Member
Joined
Aug 21, 2010
Messages
12
Reaction score
0
If you really want to stick to the 3000$ price point.
IWC Spitfire Chronograph on brown leather band.

If you can wait it out, get what you really want... it's not that far out of reach. Just trim here and there in your budget.

Edit: Oh and I too would skip on Breitling. Had them all, literaly and I only kept one. I barely wear it. Breitling Chrono-Matic which is actually beautiful on a light blue crocodile band.
FYI off topic - did you know crocodiles don't die from old age? I just found that out and I find it astonishing.
 

wj4

Distinguished Member
Joined
Aug 8, 2010
Messages
4,621
Reaction score
1,056
Originally Posted by Akeem
I agree with saving for the PAM or the one you really want. You can find a 000 new for under 4K if you search. Lots of grey market dealers out there. I wouldn't drop 3k on a stopgap watch.

FYI I'm not settling or anything. For some reason the simplicity of the IWC just really calls me. I don't want any chronographs since they're too busy for my taste. It's not like I'm going to get this watch first because I can't afford the PAM. At one point, I want to have a nice rotation with quality watches.

I'm not familar with the lingo, my friend.
laugh.gif
stopgap? grey market? I'm holding myself from joinning watch forum because I know I will become an addict and spend countless hours on that site.
confused.gif
 

wj4

Distinguished Member
Joined
Aug 8, 2010
Messages
4,621
Reaction score
1,056
Originally Posted by zippyh
Beware. This path leads to madness. Stick with shoes; it's so much less money.

But seriously, skip Breitling. I still own a few that I like and wear, but there are a few that I look at and wonder wtf I was thinking.

Also, don't work your way up the chain. You're just spending money. If you want a PAM000, just get a PAM000 or save until you can afford one. Same with a Rolex. I've got lots of watches but I probably end up wearing my Sea Dweller or GMT IIc about 80% of the time.

The Aldens were childs play. The real madness was when I was into cars, zippyh.

I posted this on another thread, but I saw a really nice IWC at Costco last week or so for around $10,000. I stood there for 10 minutes actually considering it, mind you I'm very enlightened when it comes to watches.

You guys are making me feel like the IWC I want is crap. So if I should get a PAM 000, do I get it online? Or just walk into a mall and buy one?
 

Featured Sponsor

How important is full vs half canvas to you for heavier sport jackets?

  • Definitely full canvas only

    Votes: 45 40.5%
  • Half canvas is fine

    Votes: 44 39.6%
  • Really don't care

    Votes: 5 4.5%
  • Depends on fabric

    Votes: 18 16.2%
  • Depends on price

    Votes: 25 22.5%

Forum statistics

Threads
504,443
Messages
10,573,992
Members
223,704
Latest member
nother
Top