Watch thread, how much do you need to spend?
 

Didn't want to hijack the fountain pen thread, BTW thanks a bunch for getting me thinking of $200-$300 pens!:D

No doubt a Rolex will outlive you, but for a couple of grand I would expect that. I own a few nice Seiko's that appear to built like tanks and I have no reason to believe that they won't be ticking a hundred years form now So at what point do you think you are paying for brand recognition in a watch?
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And yes, I'm still saving up for a BMW R90...
then I'll look at $200 fountain pen...

I bought a used GMT from a jeweler friend of mine a few years ago for $2,200. I was looking for a Submariner, but actually like this better. Didn't buy it because it's a "Rolex," but just because I like the look of their divers watches. Never get tired of looking at it.

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Scott,

There is already a watch thread going somewhere. Do a search for it and you will find some very nice examples there.

The R90 is worth it, try a R75 until you get the money. My R75 will shortly have R90S pistons, cylinders and heads on it. Ultimate sleeper, lighter and same power as the R90S. Could be very fun!

Also, regarding the $200 pens. I just picked up a new in the box ST DuPont roller type pen. List is $280 or so and I paid $60 or so plus $20 in shipping. Its the real McCoy and evidently had been sitting in the store too long so they sold it. If you look you can find deals like this. I do not spend $200 for them and thats how I can afford the plane and motorcycles!

JoeA

Steve,

Believe that you can change the GMT master that you have now into a SubMariner if you really like that style. Its the same body I believe and the jeweler just switches the outside bezel, face plate and hands.

Nice looking GMT, I have a steel and gold (two tone) and one like you have. They will last forever if taken care of and hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Just got a Tag Heurer Monaco recently and love it. Goes very well with my Pelican "LeMans" jacket. Like ladies get shoes, I have the same problem with watches, but at least they last longer!

JoeA
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Wow. When I think of watches and pens, the brands that come to mind are "Timex" and "Bic".

Yeah me too. I have the timex that I purchased when I was in 5th grade that still works. I paid $65 of my own money for the timex. I also have a gold seiko that is about 15 years old that still works - I paid nearly $400 for it way back then. I woke up one morning and thought, "I don't need to know what time it is in 50 countries, I don't need a stop watch, and this thing is just too big." So I recently purchased a Bulova C960354. It's a gold watch with a gold face with numbers (not roman numerals) and it displays day-date. Price $120.

Joe, I remeber the old watch thread I'm just being lazy, besides I think we should have at least one (each) new thread a week on watches/guns/motorcycles on OT.

So where do you find "deals" on pens?

I have gotten pretty good at finding bargains on watchs, picked up a few used ones:


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$2200 for the GMT above is a screaming deal. I like watches, but I never got into the pens. I could care less if anyone recognizes my watch or thinks Im putz because of what it cost. I actually prefer that non watch people not recognize it. I'll wear it for the rest of my life or give it to my kid at some point. I dont know why I want one, but I do really want to own a Patek Phillipe in the future.

Hoot! Guess that means I'm very upscale. As I said on the other thread, the pen I carry most these days is a chrome Fisher bullet, (Yes, the pen that starred in a Seinfeld episode.) and the watch is a Seiko day-date. Oh, and I bought a Timex chronograph for wearing to the track. It'll record lap times as accurately as a Rolex Daytona. ;)

Shuie, you found me a guitar yet? :D

It was a year old when I got it, but cleaned up as new. He offered it to me for his cost of $2,200, but I paid him a little extra.

JoeA- I had asked for a Submariner, but he came back with the GMT. When I saw it, I liked the red in the bezel and the extra hand better, so it worked out well.

Probably more accurately, but I bet youd get in a wreck before you could read a current Daytona while driving. In any kind of sunlight the dial and tachymetre bezel are impossible to read. Thats one that I owned just to say I owned. Sometimes its more fun to chase things like that down that it is to keep them. I couldnt use it on the interstate between mile markers, I cant imagine trying to use it while going around a track.

Scott, sorry Im banning myself from looking at any guitars for a while. I cant buy any more guitars until I sell some of the ones I have. If I cant buy, then I shouldnt look :)

ON the track? Not my car, nope. I'm just one of those who likes to sit in the stands, push the buttons on my Timex, and say to a buddy: "Monte did a 1:16 on that lap"... ;)

A quartz watch will keep much better time than a mechanical, so for the most accurate time get a casio or timex, or even many of the seikos. For a watch that is built and engineered like a Porsche get a mechanical watch. It's more about the idea and function than the accuracy or price really.

I have a $900 watch that is a true 24 hour watch, the numbers go from 1-24 and the hour hand goes around once a day. It's a nice watch that will be around a long time. I don't like giant plastic watches or digital watches, and if I get a watch with a body that's made from pot metal the sweat/oils from my skin eventually etch the plating off of the outside and start to eat through the case (cool, huh ;) ). That mostly rules out timex and casio watches. I just don't like the looks of many of the cheaper watches. So many are like modern cars, scoops and vents that don't actually do anything or are unnecessary, but added just to be cool. I like Seiko's, I think they are a quality watch. I may have one some day. I also would eventually like a Rolex GMT, but it'll be a while before I spend a few grand on a watch.

My next will probably actually be an Ollech & Wajs for about $300 that I will wear when mowing the lawn, working in the back yard, etc... It'll be my tool watch.

I know that I could just get a new timex once a year for several years for less money, but again, it's more about what's inside the watch.

It's a lot like the guys that would choose a 911 motor over a small block chevy just because of the OHC instead of the pushrods. They both get the job done really well and the chevy is much cheaper, but lots and lots of guys here wouldn't even consider the chevy.

The best watch is the one that leaves the most money in my bank account. Anything more is all about ego.

The best Porsche is the one that leaves the most money in my bank account. Anything more is all about ego.

Well, after paying around $300 for my steel and gold Rolex GMT master some 30+ years ago, and its being worth $5500 now, someday I hope you are smart enough to have a terrible ego like mine. I have used it all this time and can make $5200 profit on it should I sell it, so I figure that if I can make a few more "terrible deals" like that I will be set. Oh yea, paid only $220 for my stainless GMT master in 1982, and its valued at over $2000 now, so it looks like I am still doing terrible on investing in watches.

Scott, if you know what you like, keep an eye on Ebay or Craigs list. I never pay list for anything and if you keep looking and have cash you can get deals from time to time. The key is to get the back opened and get it inspected to confirm that its real and not copy of the watch you want.

Bought my Daytona in Saudi right after the first Gulf war. 18k gold and with the complete gold (not leather) band, it sold for $16k new. Guy heading back to the states needed money to ship his extra car home and no one on the compound was interested. I gave him $3.5k for the watch and its appraised at $12k right now. These watches are given out by various companies to various govt officials as presents. The locals wear them for a while then sell them to local resellers for 30-45% of the list price. This guy had bought it there for under $10k and needed cash. No one else had it when he needed it so it worked out. Another "terrible" watch deal...

If you are at the right place and right time and can get the cash, there are times it just works out.

Joe A

You've got it! That's why I drive an old P-car, and not a new one. :)

I bought a Two Tone from Lance Thomas back in 89..the watch was new and cost me $1800 out the door.... had to step around the blood stains in front of his shop. I use it as my everyday watch, changing oil or Gardening it don't matter to me...

Why a Carrera when a 924 will do? :p

I have always been partial to Tags.....maybe thats cause they name their watches after our cars?

The Carrera: Re-Edition 2004
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I have an SS Tag Pro that I prefer (cause I hate ostentation) to my ostentatious (yet elegant masterpiece) Rolex stainless/18k Date with diamond bezel.

I have a current fantasy about a solid 18k white gold (cause it looks like stainless but it is $$$not) day-date with presidential band.

EBay is a great resource for getting a Rolex.

I prefer my Tag because it isn't as flashy and still a comparable time-piece...I am pretty sure Tags were ex- Rolex injuneers.

Sending someone thats new to the Rolex thing to eBay right off the bat is a recipe for disaster. It's a great place to sell a Rolex, but you will have much better luck as a buyer at a place like the timezone.com salescorner or at watchnet.com. Whenever you buy a preowned watch, always ask for and follow up on references, never buy anything that doesn't come with a 3 day inspection period, and always get the watch checked out during the inspection period.

There are also plenty of reputable shops that have been in the preowned Rolex business for decades if you would rather not deal with this much money over the Internet. You are going to pay a tad more with these people than you will if you go the best deal you find on watchnet or timezone, but there is no risk or worries of checking references or getting ripped off by them. Here are two that I have bought, sold, and traded a few watches through:

Wingates
B.Gray

Seriously, I would never make a significant watch purchase on ebay. I'm not saying there is nothing good on eBay, but there are a lot of auctions that get yanked early because of guys on watch forums report the merchandise as fake to ebay. Pick your brand and hang out in the corresponding timezone forum for a week. The amount of fake stuff on ebay is alarming. With so many of auctions for fakes getting yanked on a weekly basis, its hard to believe that at least one or two them don't end with someone getting jacked.

www.chase-durer.com you can get one of these with actual metal from a B-52!

anyone know/have these?

http://www.junkers.ch/e/

Um, ok. The watch wearers in this thread appreciate your input.

I bought mine from a seller in Singapore, did the escrow route...you pay attention to seller and go escrow, throw in some patience and good luck, and you could score like I did.

So there!

Philistines!

I gave up wearing watches two years ago but still like the look of them. Just feels nicer to have nothing on the skin.

Some of the responses in this thread totally baffle me. We're on a Porsche forum and there are replies in this thread about "redundant jewelery" and "ego booster", time to setup a mirror in the driveway so you can look at yourself drive away in your redudant ego boosting jewelery.

The funny part is, when I see someone pull up in a 911 to a nice restaurant at a hot spot in town, I almost always take a look at their wrist figuring they have good taste driving a 911, they probably appreciate some of the other finer things in life like nice watches. Most of the time I'm right, but there are times when I'm wrong and I can't help but laugh at the guy with the Casio calculator on his wrist. More often than not he looks like his wife or mom dressed him and has no clue WTF he's doing when he gets out (usually slips the valet a dollar and some pocket lint like a total a$$clown).

The point is, there's nothing wrong with not wearing a watch. There are plenty of people who can't or choose not to for a number of reasons. But, you're doing the nice car you drive and yourself a disservice by wearing a craptacular pile of plastic garbage on your wrist. You don't have to wear a $50000 platinum dumbell with diamonds in it, but spend some money and buy something that's built well and has a nice movement and take pride in yourself.

my $.02

EDIT: BTW, almost forgot. I have an Oyster perpetual as my daily driver and when I'm wearing a nice suit I'll break out the Corum bubble to make a statement. I also have a few one-of-a-kinds that nobody's ever heard of that were left to me after a relative passed away. I think my next purchase is going to be either an Omega or possibly an old Porsche Design if I can find one at the right price in good condition.

I have a 2 tone Movado my wife gave me some years ago. I am happy with it. I actually dislike most Movado watches...to girly. But this one has a more rugged look to it, and not much gold, mostly stainless.

Prolly get a GMT at some point down the line.

That watch is cool as hell.

You know, I'm not sure that I agree with that. I'm a member of a couple of watch forums, and over and over again people that actually use their watches as part of their profession may have nice watches, but they also often use something like a Casio as a work watch because the functionality fulfills their needs better than almost any mechanical watch. Pilots for instance. Most of the "pilots" watches that you see on the internet really aren't as useful to a pilot these days as a digital casio.

I guess my point is that there's nothing wrong with a timex or casio. Actually if anything they are intelligent watches to wear. They are inexpensive, reliable, and so much more accurate than a mechanical watch that it's not even funny.

I didn't drive, and won't drive again a Porsche because I care in the slightest what other people think of my car. I don't care what anyone thinks of my current watch. Hell, 99.9% of the population would probably think it was a $40 watch because it's a brand that most people haven't heard of. It's accurate to within seconds a day, but then a $30 quartz watch is probably accurate to seconds a year.

By getting out of a 911 in jeans a t-shirt and a timex I'm saying that I'm comfortable, on time, and frugal. None of that sounds bad to me. By getting out of a 911 in jeans, a t-shirt, and a rolex... I may be a watch enthusiast that gets wood knowing about the inside workings of my watch and knowing the precision and engineering that went into it. I may be a dweeb that wants everybody to think I'm rich or important because I have a crown on my watch, or I may be a self-indulgent, superficial prick that wants everybody to stare at me. To most people seeing me get out of a porsche I may already be #2 or 3 and the Rolex will just reinforce the idea. Like I said earlier, someday I'd like to have a Rolex GMT Master, and to hell with anyone that makes any sort of assumption about me because of my rolex or any other watch that I wear.

There's nothing wrong with wearing a timex or casio as long as everything else matches IMHO. It's fine if you drive a beat up Civic, and wear a $15 throw away watch, there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. As a matter of fact, I think that shows that you have your priorities in order vs someone who blows a bunch of money on their car and wears a Fossil with flaking "gunmetal" finish band.

BTW, depending on what kind of t-shirt and jeans you're wearing and what shoes and watch and other accessories you have on, it can make any number of statements.

What bothers me the most are the duds (there seems to be a lot of them in SoCal) who go to the hot spots in town because they want to be seen in their nice car and get out looking like they just got off the boat from a 3rd world country. No idea how to dress, how to carry themselves, no idea WTF they're doing. All that matters to them is that they pulled up in front in a nice ride and they think they've got everybody fooled, when in actuality the people who know are already laughing and clowning and the people who don't could care less in the first place.

Figure to spend at least $2000 for a quality Swiss mechanical watch. That's the price of quality, with or without brand recognition.

I'm sure Rolexes are fine pieces, but I equate them with real estate agents and car dealers. Shmoozers. But that's my personal bias (no offense intended), and part of the reason I went with the lesser known Ventura brand. I wanted a smaller, automatic titanium chronograph:

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Amir,

Totally agree and for me I want something that is going to last and look nice as well. My Father had a platinum dress watch from the '30s that I still wear today. Small and stylish and keeps excellent time. Still looking for an Omega Speedmaster "Moon watch" as well as a Patek I can afford.

Hard drive, thanks and loved it since I saw it in "Le Mans" with McQueen. Just now able to afford it.

jfw834, very nice looking watch! As well seeing lots of "rose gold" watches lately and kinda like the style.

Joe A

If wearing watches is about image, I guess I don't get it. I admire nice watches, but I haven't worn one since 1996ish. I would be lying if I didn't lust for the IWC Mark XV or Tudor Submariner. I just haven't convinced myself to part with the bucks, when there are so many other nice toys. :)

Big deal! My Uncle Gordon carried around "actual metal" from a B-17 for decades. He also picked up a nasty scar on his right thigh at the same time. All delivered for free by a not so friendly German.

Yes, but what kind of WATCH does he wear???

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Originally posted by rattlsnak
www.chase-durer.com you can get one of these with actual metal from a B-52!
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Big deal! My Uncle Gordon carried around "actual metal" from a B-17 for decades. He also picked up a nasty scar on his right thigh at the same time. All delivered for free by a not so friendly German.

Time doesn't matter much to my Uncle Gordon these days..but he wore his military Hamilton for decades...He was one of the kindest and gentlest man I ever knew. Not an ounce of macho show-off in him. Probably because being a B-17 Captain at an age many of us would consider still a kid made him realize he didn't need to prove anything to anybody later in life.