The Watch Appreciation Thread (Reviews and Photos of Men's Timepieces by Rolex, Patek Philippe, Brei

[mimo]

So it appears I have gotten the wife a proper (mechanical) Patek...........

But you've stopped buying watches for a while, I remember that. I mean, after you bought the "endgame" watch...with a bonus extra watch for Madame. Yep. Can quite clearly see that your appetite is sated. No problem here at all. Who needs that house in the Hamptons anyway?

 

[apropos]

Hamilton jumps the shark.

Yes that is not one but two ETA movements in a watch that you have to physically flip around - you only see one dial and movement back at any one time.

Cherry on top of this? It's 53mm across.

So... basically it's a Reverso that rides the short bus? I'd love to see if watch #888 is ever sold.

 

[mimo]

I find that quite revolting. Here's something I found pretty, to take your mind off it.

 

[dddrees]

Thanks. It seems only proper, 'no?

But seriously, the wife adores it. How could she not.

And that's what matters the most.

Tell her congratulations, great choice.

 

[Flake]



I find that quite revolting. Here's something I found pretty, to take your mind off it.

Thanks for the eyewash Mimo

 

[Benjamin Chee HH]



Been thinking about this. Yay or nay?

Might have to sell off a couple of watches and top up to buy this. It's more expensive than many of my kidneys put together.

Beat Haldimann is a one-man independent making watches mostly by hand. But I think watches is one product that does not benefit from the benchmade artisanal handmade process like suits or shoes. They benefit from tight tolerances and replaceability that can only be delivered by factory production and interchangeability.


After all, you would admire a pre-war Rolls Royce Phantom II with a coachbuilt chassis, but you wouldn't take it on a Grand Tour of the Continent. A modern Ferrari FF would be far more reliable. (Did I just call a Ferrari reliable?!)


Doesnt Omega have a central tourb as well? I think the Haldimann looks nice, but resale value and reliability and longevity of service is always the issue with independents. What's the retail price on that piece?

 

[Benjamin Chee HH]



A couple of German beauties. Classic looks, perfect proportions. I'd love to have either by my side.

(warning huge photos)

Spoiler: Warning: Spoiler!

I like how the subdials on the 1815 echo the... erm... subdials on the other model.

 

[Benjamin Chee HH]

Stitches - Yes Wempe. How did you guess?

 

[Benjamin Chee HH]



Very nice, I can't wait to see what you dial looks like.

Did they give you any idea what exactly is going to be on it?

Thank you. Me too!

Well it's a bespoke dial so it's going to be an enamel painting of my beloved dog. I'm doing another one with a traditional Chinese painting with calligraphy.

 

[Benjamin Chee HH]



~B~ - i think its very pretty. i agree with some of the criticism regarding the movement finishing, but its still very nice.

Thank you Stitches, I agree that the movement finishing could be improved. But it's still early days. The layout of the calibre itself is very nice, so that's a good start.

 

[Benjamin Chee HH]



This just gave me an idea: A thin bone china dial in a case with a display back. Would look white when worn, but held against a light source you'd be able to slightly glimpse the movement through the dial.

Though probably not a watch you'd wanna wear playing golf ;-)

Would be too thin. I've been discussing using a porcelain dial with the maker, and indeed it is possible. But the porcelain would have to be of a certain thickness to hold the hands and indices.

 

[Benjamin Chee HH]



Take all the time you need, you don't need to rush this decision!!

Is the USA TTR1931 really a "LE"? IIRC there was a number - 100 pieces - quoted and I find it a little difficult to imagine they still have stock lying around 2 years on.
Hmmm, not noticed anything on the usual fora I've been browsing.

100 pieces per year. Black strap for 2011, Brown cordovan for 2012. Mine is the brown.

 

[mimo]

I like how the subdials on the 1815 echo the... erm... subdials on the other model.

Meh. The "subdials" on the other model are plastic - total reject as far as I'm concerned. Also she has no buttocks, is too thin, doesn't appear to have a top lip, and bears a disturbing resemblance to Tom Cruise. Frankly, Der Vaterland can do better.

And does. There's no silicon in a Lange. You can quote me on that.

 

[apropos]

Super long post, took time to read through every reply over the last week instead of skimming through photos!!

Oh man, dddrees, as much as I hate putting on rubber I may have to make a concession for the Aquanaut...

I... see what you did there.

Hi everyone, I have been looking through this thread with much interest and have drawn my conclusion that many here agree that Lange watches are becoming the closest rivals to PP watches in this day. I personally have had the opportunity to have worn a few Lange's (Lange annual calendar in white gold, Lange 1 timezone, Lange 1 pink gold) and PP's (5296, 5960). While the Lange's are beautifully crafted and manufactured, specifically its movement, which possesses an almost incomparable amount of details and fineness, i continue to find Lange's to be a little too mechanical (pun intended), and missing that personal (emotional) attachment to them compared to a PP. Putting the brand or the price tag aside, I find the current range of Lange to be superior to PP, especially when it comes to the finishing of the movement and the amount of details that goes into making a Lange movement. Comparing the price tags of both watches, the decision is straightforward - Lange is the outright winner, with the prices of equivalent models close to 50% cheaper than its PP counterpart, however when comparing the full package, i will always choose the PP ahead of the Lange, while the Lange is an excellent and excellent watch, I have seldom been drawn to stopping in my path and just admiring it on my wrist, while this urge continues to resonate whenever i have a PP on my wrist. While this is my personal opinion, i would love to gather some feedback from you guys, am i the only one that feels this way?

Been thinking about this. Yay or nay? Might have to sell off a couple of watches and top up to buy this. It's more expensive than many of my kidneys put together.

Spoiler: Warning: Spoiler!

Something like that is IMO a watch someone gets when he has "completed" his watch collection (sport, dress, rectangular, vintage, etc) and just needs that last thing to round things up nicely. ~ B ~ raises quite a few good points. Reliability and serviceability were the first things I thought as well. Red apples are not the same as green apples I know but medtech_expat has posted here about the problems he experienced with his FP Journes, which apparently eventually precipitated his movement away from the marque.

I agree, I very much enjoy my Casa *** edition 1931.

Spoiler: Warning: Spoiler!

You should put up more pics of your new Rouge too! Thats a real showstopper.

Thank you. I would post more photos of R, but it's having... stuff done to it now (good stuff).

Thanks guys, I was not aware that this thread is mainly for mechanical watches.. I understand it would have been more valuable if it had not been a quartz, but I still holds sentimental value to me.. Is the manufacture of decent quality, taking into account its a quartz? I'm looking to replace the wrist band, any suggestions to what would look good with the watch? Really appreciate your help!

I reread my earlier reply, which I find now to be rather brusque. I apologise as that was not my intent, but typing on a phone is hell. Anyway, with a gold linen finish dial like that I would stick with dark non-brown colours - black, navy, dark green. I would go large reptile. I don't think there is a way to successfully "casualise" or "sportify" this watch if that is what you are looking for.

Thanks. It seems only proper, 'no?

But seriously, the wife adores it. How could she not.

Nice!! Oh man. My wife to be would kill me if I ever surprised her with a perpetual calendar.

 

[Benjamin Chee HH]

^

Thanks apropos, People forget that Vacheron got big in the 19th century by basically pioneering machine made watch production, thus allowing greater serviceability and reliability of watches, through tighter tolerances and parts availability. Prior to this, watches were benchmade essentially like a bespoke shoe is now. But a fiddleback sole is cheaper to make by hand than a balance cock for example.

Likewise with the Americans and Swiss during the machine-made/hand-made wars of the latter half of the 19th century.