Watch thread, how much do you need to spend?

[Shuie]

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.

[Shuie]

Originally posted by ZAMIRZ
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.

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.

[pwd72s]

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

[Shuie]

Yeah, when the cameras are on him.

[pwd72s]

Originally posted by Shuie
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.

[island911]

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."

[scottmandue]

Porsche watch?

I keep this picture for giggles.

[Tim Walsh]

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

[911teo]

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...



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






I'd like to buy one of these






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

[porsche356a]

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

[Noah930]

That's a beautiful watch. Enjoy.

Tourbillon

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.

[bob tilton]

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?

[jyl]

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".

[pwd72s]

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

[jyl]

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



And some history on the Bundeswehr.

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

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

[jyl]

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.

[Shuie]

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

[bob tilton]

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:

[Shuie]

Bob, what is that last one?

[bob tilton]

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