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

[Keith T]

1500 pages! Had to post something....so, Happy Friday.

You may resume.

 

[in stitches]



I think your example presumes that everyone would purchase a brand new flashy car, all blinged out with 20 in chrome rims, wings, spoilers, etc. A car person could say, well who wants some goofy, oversized, overprice rubberized hunk of jewelry...thinking that you would buy something like a multicolor Hublot.   Just as you chose a pre owned Lange, someone could choose a pre-owned classic car that isn't all blinged out, and have something that isn't headed down the depreciation curve.  In fact some classics are either quite stable or go up in value.    Sure when I see someone driving a totally tricked out MB, BMW, Audi, Ferrari, etc I think what a waste of a car and the driver must be an attention seeking goofball.  However, when I see a beautiful car older car on the road on a sunny day, I just enjoy looking at it, and I appreciate the effort it takes to keep something like that looking and running its best.  

As for value during someone's life time or passing it on, have you seen what a Ferrari 250GTO goes for today?  I saw an interview, a guy bought one in the 1970s, for about $12,000 and the motor wasn't running.  He had it fixed and drove it for a few years.  He sold it for I think $50K in the late 1970s to finance some other venture and figured he would buy it back or buy another.  He said he never figured it would become so valuable that he would not be able to buy it back.  Today...if you can find one that an owner will part with they are about $30-35 Million.  Even a 1964 Aston Martin DB5, which could have been bought used in the 1980s for about $20-25K....those are now $500-600K all day long.

I can see what people appreciate about cars and watches, provided they are the right watches and cars.  

solid point. however, you have not answered the question. though im not sure how relevant it is to you, lol.

 

[Cylon]

I would go for the watch.

 

[in stitches]

mah man!

 

[Newcomer]

There we go! Although the Audi R8 is

 

[Keith T]

Since we're just spitballin' here....I ripped this from Car & Driver's website:

"Bentley announced pricing of its 2013 Continental GT V-8 and GTC V-8 today at the New York auto show. [....] The Continental GT V-8 coupe starts at $176,725 and the Continental GTC V-8 convertible will command a $195,125 base price, which includes a $1000 gas-guzzler tax that the coupe isn’t subject to...."

 

[rnguy001]

R8 V10

...

There we go! Although the Audi R8 is [/quot

 

[Dino944]

@ dino - thanks for elaborating on the metal differences. i was on my phone posting before bed and was too lazy to write it out.

No worries mah man...

solid point. however, you have not answered the question. though im not sure how relevant it is to you, lol.

I think I have to plead the 5th or recuse myself from making a determination.

 

[in stitches]



No worries mah man...

I think I have to plead the 5th or recuse myself from making a determination.

 

[Flake]



There we go! Although the Audi R8 is

Got a friend in Tampa who is on his third R8. Great car.

 

[no frills]

Some random thoughts about our ongoing conversation (but im too lazy to dig up quotes)

I am pretty sure I am responding to our dear brother No Frills, but I could be mistaken


1. the picture of the platinum nautilus on the sleeve is the first time ive ever liked that watch (damn you)

2. The appeal of a no date sub? Going waay back to the Forbes article on 3 types or 3 stages of rolex ownership, I used to be in the camp of eh rolex is overrated blahblahblah. Now my thoughts have changed. While Rolex may cater to flashier types, there is an undeniable truth the submariner is a beautiful watch. The longevity alone should tell us something else is going on here--that its more than a passing fad.

I only realized this when I saw it in the wild at a restaurant, and then when I tried it on. Now mind you, I do not like the newer versions with the wide lugs and the ceramic bezel. I am talking about older ones with slim lugs (think 5513, 1680, 14060) and the beauty lies in the proportions. Its really perfect. The appeal of the no date sub is contained right there. Symmetry is an integral part of the overall balance/proportions. While at the same time, the date bubble is iconic, there is something about the unspoiled dial of a perfectly balanced submariner that is just....

Moreover, I think within a broader context, you can get a date window on ANOTHER rolex, (in my case a pepsi GMT, or in yours a DSSD) and save the symmetry for a no date sub. This is more applicable to collector than a one time purchaser, but I thought id just throw this out there.

Cylon - thanks for elucidating your thoughts so well on the lovely symmetry of a no-date Sub. Captures my not-so-latent feelings perfectly. I am not enamored of the date bubble on my end, so that doesn't help the cause of date Subs.

And yes, I will take full responsibility for your damnation regarding the Nautilus...

 

[no frills]

I think your example presumes that everyone would purchase a brand new flashy car, all blinged out with 20 in chrome rims, wings, spoilers, etc. A car person could say, well who wants some goofy, oversized, overprice rubberized hunk of jewelry...thinking that you would buy something like a multicolor Hublot. Just as you chose a pre owned Lange, someone could choose a pre-owned classic car that isn't all blinged out, and have something that isn't headed down the depreciation curve. In fact some classics are either quite stable or go up in value. Sure when I see someone driving a totally tricked out MB, BMW, Audi, Ferrari, etc I think what a waste of a car and the driver must be an attention seeking goofball. However, when I see a beautiful car older car on the road on a sunny day, I just enjoy looking at it, and I appreciate the effort it takes to keep something like that looking and running its best.

As for value during someone's life time or passing it on, have you seen what a Ferrari 250GTO goes for today? I saw an interview, a guy bought one in the 1970s, for about $12,000 and the motor wasn't running. He had it fixed and drove it for a few years. He sold it for I think $50K in the late 1970s to finance some other venture and figured he would buy it back or buy another. He said he never figured it would become so valuable that he would not be able to buy it back. Today...if you can find one that an owner will part with they are about $30-35 Million. Even a 1964 Aston Martin DB5, which could have been bought used in the 1980s for about $20-25K....those are now $500-600K all day long.

I can see what people appreciate about cars and watches, provided they are the right watches and cars.

A great question re: $200K car versus $50K watch. I fear that I cannot relate much as I have not owned a car in 15 years... ever since I started living in big cities with decent public transportation networks (Philadelphia and New York).

My wallet is, however, very thankful that I haven't fallen under the spell of cars... Shiyeez.

Good points as always, Dino944, about "the right watches and cars."

 

[no frills]

rnguy001 - wow, this ad actually really did run for Aston Martin?

Reminds me of one of the ads from "Crazy People" (1990) starring Dudley Moore and Daryl Hannah:

okay a little topical cause we segued into cars

But this was the controversial ad for AM, and someone out there was wondering if it would make a good advertisement for pre-owned watches. I'm ashamed to admit it came from a mind of a Paneristi (not me though!!)

 

[no frills]

First post to say how very much I enjoy this thread. And not just the candid photographs.

Hope I can make an occasional contribution -- this is my beater, which I've worn at least a couple days a week over the 10 or so years since my wife gave it to me. Was by far the nicest thing I'd ever owned in my life at that point. I'm a big guy, but it's never felt too small at 36 mm and I enjoy the simplicity and consistency of the hands and batons. Also like that the dial has the faintest hint of gold in it (exaggerated here by the lousy white balance in the lousy phone photo, sorry), which every now and then has made me think of putting it on a brown strap. But I think I'll keep it how I got it.

Thanks again. I've learned a lot lurking around here and had a few good chuckles along the way!

Welcome, Omega Male. I "came out" from the "lurking closet" a few months ago after reading every page of this thread - learned a lot, laughed too, and continue to learn from the amazing peeps here.

36mm for the win! Almost all of my watches are 36mm and I think it wears fine on me, although to be fair my wrist is eensy weensy at 6.25". Beater looks great for a 10 year old piece that's used often!

... and to how to rapidly purchase two Patek grand complications within a span of a couple months (do I even need to say who, hmmm

).

Nuke, this can't possibly be me because when my wallet read your post it LOL'd and said "ha! If only it were two."

But seriously speaking - good peeps in this thread.

 

[Kaplan]

'