I have a Rolex that I did not buy. It was given to me by a past boss upon my 10th year with his company. I am a very hard worker and he appreciated it and gave me a $1000 Rolex. I have had this watch for 10 years now. Every three years I take it to an authorized Rolex repair shop and have it tuned up. Basically cleaned lubricated and any wear and tear parts replaced. (Crystal, stem, etc..)

How often should I do this? Can I wait 5 years? Or should I not bother unless its giving me a problem.


On a related note, my Grandfather had givem me a Tag watch back in 1984 when I graduated high school. about 5 years later a repair shop butchered it and deemed it unfixable. It breaks my heart to this day especially since he passed away. I still have its rusted remains. The shop did not seal it and I was too young and dumb to realize how valuable it was and too broke to get it repaired after it took on water. Breaks my heart today to look at it.

Jim,

3 years is a bit too often, but would try to do it at least every 10 years or so. If you have a problem with it, or it changes how its keeping time, get it in there now.

Regarding your TAG, I would find a retired watchmaker or someone who was not with a large repair place and give it to them. A lot of the time these guys retire and enjoy working on something in their spare time. I have one like that here in Phoenix and he is excellent. He just putters with them and a month or so later I have my watch back in "NEW" condition. You should still be able to get parts for it and would try to get it working again. If you want me to contact my guy here in Phoenix for you will be glad to do so.

Joe A

You've basically summarized everything in one paragraph: it's all about being see in the right place in the right car with the right bling, either with a trophy wife or on the hunt for one.

Translation: mooooooooo

Thanks for the info on the Rolex. As far as the Tag goes, yes shoot me his info, between you and me the watch is invaluable and I am willing spend an untold amount to make it right again.

I have some Rolex models and I'll never think on it like a fancy clock actually the only good looking rolex is the Cellini Classic and Danos, I admit they are a good time machine but just that, if you are looking for a great watch you need to look other brands and don't look in the jewelry brands

my favorite brands are Piaget (altiplano model) and Girard Peeregaux

Anyone have A Porsche watch? I have heard of them but not the quality.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1133811025.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1133811043.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1133811060.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1133811087.jpg

Ironically, when I read Amir's posts, I thought about how some people own Porsche's for reasons other than image, and immediately your car came to mind. Then I thought to myself, I wonder what type of watch Thom wears? I bet it didn't cost more than $30. For the record, I don't think you're a "dud."

Who cares what watch other people wear, or what car they drive? Wearing a Rolex for the bling factor, or to "fit in" with other accompaniments is like driving a 996 Tip Cab, because hey, its a Porsche and it looks cool. Wearing a Rolex for the engineering and heritage is another thing, just like a Porsche.

more info please. I like smaller watches, although I haven't worn one for quite some time. My ex bought me a Rolex Explorer about 5 years ago and I feel odd wearing it most of the time. But I like the size. Most chronographs are too huge for my taste.

And Titanium...mmmm, Ti

Yes, for a lot of people it is. Why go to a nice restaurant when you can buy everything you need from the supermarket to fill you up and have tons of money left over? Why drive a Porsche when a Civic or other econobox will get the same job done for a lot less? Why wear a nice watch when you can wear a throw away SpongeBob watch for $3.00 from Carls Jr? Why wear a nice suit and tie to an important event when you can buy one from kmart for $50? Why live in a house when a studio apartment will do? Why spend money on a bed when a futon is just fine?

It doesn't necessarily have anything to do with trying to impress some materialistic slut for money, but if it helps you get laid that night, what's so wrong with that?

I certainly don't wear a watch to impress others, but am aware of how I'm percieved when I have one on. If I wanted to impress, I'd sell all the "boring" ones I have now and get an obnoxious one with rocks all over it.

Just for *****s and giggles Thom, here's my favorite watch:

http://www.thepurists.net/Patrons/me...9/DSCN0553.JPG

http://www.thepurists.net/Patrons/me...9/DSCN0558.JPG

It's the lightest mechanical watch ever built, the case is made of Aluminum Silicone Carbide. MSRP somewhere around $380,000, but I bet most people would think it cost a couple hundred bucks from Costco.

ICW a great quality time machine

The first manufacturer was Orfina: ok without being great.
Then, IWC probably the second best watch maker in the world.
Now it's Eterna.
I think Eterna is now owned by PorscheDesign which was Butzi's company but I think it is now part of the Porsche group. Can anyone confirm?

JK, I purchased my first Rolex because I had always liked it and the simple fact that I felt that I deserved it, period. I could care less what someone else feels or thinks about me and its not about showing off.

When my Father died I got his President and I rarely wear it, being that most people look at it and some realize what its worth.

If Thom, or anyone else for that matter, wants to wear a Timex, then thats up to them. There was a time in my life where I was very happy with a Timex. Now after working my rear off for a long time I feel that I deserve it. Thank God I can afford one or two trinkets and as long as that is possible will get what makes me happy. Again, am not showing off to or for anyone, its what makes me happy, kinda like the ladies and their shoes or handbags.

JoeA

Thank you for representing the American consumer, ZAMIRZ. ;)

Much like I've wanted a Porsche 911 since a very young age, I've also always wanted a quality Swiss watch. I started out liking Rolex, but eventually fell in love with Breitling. This is what I have now and just like my SIG Sauers and Porsches, I WILL own more of them.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1133839378.jpg

I am the prince of overkill so I cant help but appreciate a watch thats submersible to 10,000ft :) I always really wanted to get into Brietling watches. Great watch company, they just never grew on me.

Amir, is that watch is just a manual wind, or is there a Tourbillon cage in there? :confused: $380k will buy you several Breguet Tourbillon's and a Patek Philipe perpetual calendar to wear on the weekends. Whats so special about that little unit?

Sherman, it's Tourbillon.

There's nothing really "special" per se, It was designed with and for F1 driver Felipe Massa. I just think it's a marvelous display of engineering and watch-building. I suppose you could say it's sort of like the 959 or Carrera GT of watches.

I am not a person who wears jewelry or watches. I have been a mechanic almost my whole adult life, so that has much to do with it. But mostly, I'm just not into that.

When I go to meetings with customers and such, I wear a Breitling Chronomat that my wife gave me when we got married. And I wear it because I don't want a "craptacular pile of plastic garbage" on my wrist when I have to meet with people who expect to sit down with a professional business person.

For some reason, people are wary about giving a high-dollar contract to a guy wearing a Sponge-Bob watch and a clip-on tie.

What do folks think of this one?

I'm very seriously thinking about picking one up (with the leather band).

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1133915807.jpg

It's not about need with watches, it is about want.

very classy indeed.....is that cartier? i would also pick the leather band. oh p.s. my girlfriend approves it (that is a good indication)

Yes, Cartier. French watch :) Kidding, I like Cartier stuff. Neat company. My wife is a fan of that one, but IMHO, the crown is just too much.

Thanks. I thought I saw a cage in there and I figured it must be due to the weight comment, but it looked like most of the mechanism had been covered. Anyone able and willing to spend $100k on a watch can probably afford a $400k watch if its what they want. If its a Tourbillon, its special enough command a price like that. Even with the engineering and tooling advances of the last century there cant be more than a handful of people in the world that can pull a Tourbillon off these days.

The President of the United States of America wears a Timex...

Yeah, when the cameras are on him.

Nope. ALL the time. I mean, if Bush can't ask what time it is, who can? Clinton wore a rubber watch throughout his first campaign & term, and during his 2nd campaign. Clinton is a leftie, so look at his right wrist. After being re-elected, Clinton changed to a gold something or other. Check the footage, the dates the footage taken. Bush? Timex...throughout.

the expensive element, of an expensive watch, has got to be the lens.

Swatch and casio - usually plastic

Timex, and knock-offs -- usually glass

Brietling, Rolex, pd, ect. --sapphire . . . only diamond can scratch the stuff.

So, if you like, eh patina, of a scratched-up watch, go with plastic or glass.

For a cool presentation on what goes into making a high-end crystal (lens) check out www.breitling.com/en/made_by/ . .. then click on "crystal."

Porsche watch?http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1133971771.jpg

I keep this picture for giggles.

Never been much of a watch person, but I always thought this one was pretty cool(in a very geeky sort of way).Must be the idea of wearing tritium on my wrist

http://www.countycomm.com/tritiumsar.htm

Interesting thread...

I think if you can afford not to have a watch it means everybody revolves around your schedule and you can't beat that!

Having said that I love watches.. I don't care what other people think. It's not a reflection of how much money you have (when I met Bill Gates my watch was worrth prolly 50 times his) but of your preferences.
By the same token I prefer to wear Armani vs Tommy Bahama, drink Sassicaia vs Budweiser etc... Am I a snob? Naaaah. come over and I'll convince you.. We'll sit down and have a sip of Solaia...

I have 2 IWCs. Am I better than someone who wears a Tissot? No way... I have the means, I like watches, I buy what like.

This is the 1st... titanium chronograph...

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1133981951.jpg

This is the 2nd... Automatic Aquatimer (in Titanium). I actually wear this when diving...


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1133982118.jpg



I'd like to buy one of these



http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1133982316.jpg


BTW all these watches are not good at keeping time... So flame away...!

Picked up the Roadster. Fantastic watch. Classic, not too flashy.

That's a beautiful watch. Enjoy.

Wow, there's a term I haven't heard in years. It's rare to find people who are watch-savvy.

For those holier-than-thou people who think it's ridiculous to spend any more than $30 for a wristwatch: you're right--if you look at a watch as just an appliance to tell time. But if you appreciate the clever and delicate design of the mechanism, a watch is a bit more than the sum of its parts. As a Porsche guy, you've got to understand that, right? Heck, a fine painting is worth more than the cost of mere paint and canvas.

Personally, I don't know if I could ever pull the trigger on a watch costing thousands of dollars (favorites are Franck Muller, Roger Dubuis, and A. Lange & Sohne). But I'm glad there are people who do, so that they're still made. FWIW, I've got a couple of not-very-exclusive TAG-Heuer's, including a Formula 1 that I bought 17 years ago back in highschool (and still wear a couple times a week). I don't have any of those Timex's or Casio's from my youth, though.

I am completely ignorant about watches but can understand their appeal. I know what I like and what I can afford. It seems that I am always drawn to the "military" style watches with a black leather band with white stitching, black face, white san serif font, and brushed finish. Basically a very simple clean watch similar to the VDO gauges in my 68.
Who makes a nice vintage looking watch like that?

My would-like-to-buy watch list:

Heuer Bundeswehr - Pilot's watch issued to the Luftwaffe in the 60s and 70s. Wear one for your F-104 Starfighter mission.

Seiko Professional 300M Diver - Huge diver with a distinctive shield around the case. Perfect for my next deep-sea drowning.

Breitling Navitimer - Just love those slide rule chronographs.

Heuer Monaco - The distinctive square motorsports watch, popularized by Steve McQueen.

Rolex Submariner - The most faked watch in history, surely.

Omega Speedmaster Professional - Known as the "moon watch", worn on the Apollo missions.

Omega Speedmaster X-33 - Known (rather hopefully) as the "Mars watch".

Bob, me too...maybe there's something about the "military" style watch that appeals to early 911 people? The purity of design or something? Anyway, I'll confess to having been looking at watches, thank to the threads here. And for just funtional good looks, I find myself returning to this Hamilton line-up. I'd buy one...if my old Seiko would just die. ;)Here's a link:

http://www.princetonwatches.com/shop/hamiltonkhakiking.asp

Here's another watch I like, that reminds me of the Heuer Bundeswehr. I think it's a O&W watch, made in Switzerland.

http://www.westcoastime.com/miriiit3arnu.html

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1134840548.jpg

And some history on the Bundeswehr.

http://www.onthedash.com/Guide/_Chronographs/67.Bundeswehr/

The real ones are $3000+. Here's a real one.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1134840763.jpg

You military-look fans guys should check out that westcoasttime link I just posted. Howard Marx specializes in selling military-inspired watches, quality and interesting pieces for decent prices. He's a nice guy also.

He's also the guy to talk to if you want real NATO/G10 straps

Paul - we are simple men ;).
jyl - MANY MANY MANY THANKS for your link!
THis would be all the watch that I need and at a good price:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1134843282.jpg

Bob, what is that last one? :cool:

It's from jyl's link which has a great selection of the style I like. The one I pictured is only $219.
http://www.westcoastime.com/mpbritmilsty.html