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

[no frills]

For all you AP fans, by a good friend:

http://www.supercompressor.com/gear...u-didn-t-know-about-audemars-piguet-royal-oak

 

[cyc wid it]

P 15300's should be hovering around $10k in good condition these days right?

 

[bkotsko]

AP 15300's should be hovering around $10k in good condition these days right?

I would expect slightly higher. 11,500 ish for a good one.

 

[Dino944]

^^^ Is it just the angle of that pic or does that chrono that Dolph is wearing look like it has two additional pushers beside the crown?

I think it was the angle and simply the shoulders/crown protectors.

I gave my brother my 16520 and after all this Daytona talk am considering asking for it back. It's probably so beat up now it probably looks pretty vintage! LOL

Get it back!!! I really like my current 116520,....but I LOVE my 16520.

I get you, really. Maybe it's just next-level **** to seek out the rare and antiquated and my semi-evolved TWAT brain cannot yet appreciate their wonders in full. I can understand it intellectually, but it just doesn't press my love buttons. For now my primitive urges revolve almost universally around the new and the shiny.

There are lots of great new products, be it watches, cars, pens, knives or whatever other items people tend to collect. New items are under warranty, have the latest technology, and parts are readily available. Vintage items for me are cool in that we can often see the evolution of a items (for example I've seen a collection with a 6265, 16520 and 116500 Daytona), but also because they are not as commonly seen on most people. With respect to modern items, anyone can have one if they have money. Vintage items, are about more than having the means, it can be about searching and finding something in exceptionally good quality and its condition and completeness (if it has boxes papers) make it relatively rare. Beyond, that years ago watches, cars, etc were generally made in smaller numbers, so vintage items are rarer than modern ones. Furthermore, in the world of watches, years ago people bought a watch, be it a basic watch or a Patek perpetual calendar and they wore them. Over the years some have been damaged, lost, dinged, and dented...so really nice vintage pieces are again rare. Today, lots of Pateks, APs, VCs, and other collectibles end up in collectors' safes and are rarely worn or never worn...so pristine examples of modern pieces will probably never be as rare.

There is nothing wrong with liking shiny and new...I just think there is a lot to be said for vintage pieces. If its not your thing, no worries, brands keep churning out more new pieces every year.

I'm not sure I agree with Cage's character in Gone in 60 Seconds...but perhaps this brief clip explains in a humorous way the perception some have of vintage vs new (while this involves cars, perhaps it applies to watches also).

For all you AP fans, by a good friend:

http://www.supercompressor.com/gear...u-didn-t-know-about-audemars-piguet-royal-oak

Cool article! I knew most of it. I did not know the Shah of Iran was the first RO customer, although I had seen pix of him and his wife wearing them, so that would have been back in the 1970s.

 

[in stitches]

yeah, when i was browsing 11-13k was what i was seeing.

 

[Dino944]

AP 15300's should be hovering around $10k in good condition these days right?

Get the best example you can find/afford. Repairs on these are very costly, if the watch has been mistreated or damaged. Also, keep in mind some of these are now several years old and may be in need of a service. Only have it serviced by AP. Do not skip and take it to your local watch maker. I've seen plenty of RO's butchered by local watchmakers that mean well, save a guy money, but who make a mess of the watch. Good luck.

 

[DLJr]

Get it back!!! I really like my current 116520,....but I LOVE my 16520.

Dino, would you mind expanding on this for me (specifics as to why)? Would love to hear your perspective on it.

 

[mimo]

I'm not sure I agree with Cage's character in Gone in 60 Seconds...but perhaps this brief clip explains in a humorous way the perception some have of vintage vs new (while this involves cars, perhaps it applies to watches also).

All fair comment, and like I said, I get it intellectually. But I guess the difference with watches is that they're not so well known among people who don't love watches. Most people know what a Rolex looks like, and what a Ferrari looks like. But they're more likely to recognise which of the latter are old and rare, even if they don't know much about them. Funny thing about watches versus cars though: it seems that a cheap watch might end up being collectible just by virtue of an unusual colour or short production run. With cars, there's more likely to be a fine line between "vintage" and "*************".

 

[NonServiam]

 

[rnguy001]

NS for the win with that awesome pic

 

[CMT1]



nice.jpg

Nice.

 

[in stitches]



Spoiler: Warning: Spoiler!

 

[Betelgeuse]

TWATers what's your opinion on Jean Ricard watches? I saw one today that I liked.

 

[Dino944]

All fair comment, and like I said, I get it intellectually. But I guess the difference with watches is that they're not so well known among people who don't love watches. Most people know what a Rolex looks like, and what a Ferrari looks like. But they're more likely to recognise which of the latter are old and rare, even if they don't know much about them. Funny thing about watches versus cars though: it seems that a cheap watch might end up being collectible just by virtue of an unusual colour or short production run. With cars, there's more likely to be a fine line between "vintage" and "*************".

Hi Mimo,

If new is your thing, no worries. I get it, and there are lots of great new watches in the market place.

As for the the comparison of the above, I'm afraid we'll have to disagree on some points. As for most people being able to determine which of the latter are old and rare...In my experience, not really. People can often tell old, but not rare. Just because something is old, doesn't mean its rare. Sure average people can look at a Ford Model T and tell its really old, or that a Corvette or Ferrari are from a certain decade (as that is what they looked like when those people were growing up)...however most have no idea which are truly rare and collectible. I've been around cars a long time, I've been to car shows and heard self proclaimed car people make all sorts of comments about vehicles that were not even remotely accurate. Cars can look a lot a like to many people, but having slightly different body work or a different engine, can make all the difference between a nice old $25,000 car and something special that's well into 6 figures...a prime example would be a Porsche 911SC with front and rear spoilers vs. a 1975 930 Turbo Carrera...to the uneducated they look about the same...but the rarity, performance and value couldn't be more different.

In addition, I don't see cheap watches become very collectible/valuable. Just because something was made for a short period of time in an unusual color doesn't mean it will become collectible or sought after.

Short production runs and unusual color combinations can make a watch or car more valuable, but generally only if its from a brand that people truly value (and they often started out being relatively pricey). I've mentioned it before, I know of a 2nd hand dealer who only buys "Top tier brands"..he said his clients aren't interested in anything else. A friend tried to sell him a beautiful nearly new platinum limited edition (1 of 200) JLC, and the dealer said no thanks its not truly collectible and his clients wouldn't be interested,(I thought it was a stunning watch). This dealer will buy Pateks and Langes, even if they are basic models and a few thousand were made, but he wouldn't touch a JLC of which only 200 exist.

As for cars, there isn't really a fine line between vintage and junk. Junk is junk, whether its new or vintage.

 

[Dino944]

Dino, would you mind expanding on this for me (specifics as to why)? Would love to hear your perspective on it.

I'll try to reply to that tomorrow, when I have more time. Cheers.