apropos
Distinguished Member
- Joined
- Dec 2, 2008
- Messages
- 4,461
- Reaction score
- 402
$5000 is not going to get you anything unique and special. Sorry but it is what it is.
Getting into vintage watches when its clear you don't know much about watches in general in the first place is a disaster waiting to happen. Can you tell a real Ingeniuer from a fake or franken? Can you look at a photo of a movement and diagnose a franken movement?
If not, move on.
Vintage watches in a >39mm width are scarce too. The suggestions above are 33 and IIRC 35mm respectively.
A second hand watch is OK, but good luck finding a "mint" safe queen for a good price.
The IWC is OK, but the Explorer I is objectively a more versatile watch. The AT is OK. All 3 are pretty much the benchmark for your price range - entry level luxury watches.
Grand Seikos are watches internet nerds who never actually purchase them work themselves up into a frenzy over - such good value they coo, but somehow no one actually puts their money where their mouth is and buys one. I find them soulless with insipid designs, and the logo design alone is dreadful enough that I would avoid the whole marque because of it.
Last thing - and only because I keep hearing it - watch snobs are usually not thoroughly impressed by Grand Seikos. Dufours, yes. FP Journes or Pateks, yes. Grand Seikos, no. Grand Seikos impress Grand Seiko owners and the aforementioned nerds who always mention but never commit to actually purchasing one.
Getting into vintage watches when its clear you don't know much about watches in general in the first place is a disaster waiting to happen. Can you tell a real Ingeniuer from a fake or franken? Can you look at a photo of a movement and diagnose a franken movement?
If not, move on.
Vintage watches in a >39mm width are scarce too. The suggestions above are 33 and IIRC 35mm respectively.
A second hand watch is OK, but good luck finding a "mint" safe queen for a good price.
The IWC is OK, but the Explorer I is objectively a more versatile watch. The AT is OK. All 3 are pretty much the benchmark for your price range - entry level luxury watches.
Grand Seikos are watches internet nerds who never actually purchase them work themselves up into a frenzy over - such good value they coo, but somehow no one actually puts their money where their mouth is and buys one. I find them soulless with insipid designs, and the logo design alone is dreadful enough that I would avoid the whole marque because of it.
Last thing - and only because I keep hearing it - watch snobs are usually not thoroughly impressed by Grand Seikos. Dufours, yes. FP Journes or Pateks, yes. Grand Seikos, no. Grand Seikos impress Grand Seiko owners and the aforementioned nerds who always mention but never commit to actually purchasing one.
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