What watch do you wear?

[Pazuzu]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

Whatever watch you fellas are wearing, be careful out there. This was posted on Planet F1 this morning; the story details high profile people in crowds being mugged for their expensive watches.

Read the report of the gang targeting Richard Mille watches at the USGP last weekend. I wouldn't want to be the target of that scrum!

http://www.planetf1.com/news/us-gp-spectators-in-court-brazen-watch-theft

Considering the cost to get several people into the USGP, they probably would have lost money if they only had the chance to steal a few watches...

[Pazuzu]

Earlier this year I decided to get a new watch (my last one went 15 years). I fell in love with the classic field watch style.
This one is a hand made custom from an Airman at Minot AFB, he builds a few each year for fun. Seiko NH36 movement tuned to +6 sec/day, NATO band, clean lines. It's turned out to be an exceptional purchase, I love it.

[charlesbahn]

I love watches, especially mechanical and more especially mechanical chronographs. I repair them, and even make them. I've invested heavily in the tools to make parts for them. One of my favorites:


But I recently fell on the stairs and landed on my back on the bottom tread. I couldn't move and I was sure I had broken my back, and I was home alone, no phone near. I was finally able to pull myself up and off to the ER. After a total body ct, it was determined I had not broken anything and did not have a brain bleed (I'm on blood thinners). Now I am fine.

But have come to realize that my beloved mechanical watches cannot help me if I fall. So... I've gone over to the dark side.



An apple watch knows you've fallen and asks if you are OK. If you don't reply or say you are not, it calls 911. It works, I've had a second chance to test it.

If you are an old geezer like me, please consider this as an alternative to your Omega, Breitling, or maybe even a Phillippe Patek. It could save your life.

Charles

[pwd72s]

^^One hellofa story...glad you're okay. Any medical reason for your fall?

[charlesbahn]

In a word, stupidity. Going down hardwood stairs in wool socks. I've made the same trip at least a thousand times before, but in retrospect I should have known better.

But that is how accidents happen.

Charles

[plexiform]

^^its very hard to ignore the benefits of a smart watch. I love mechanical watches but I also have an Apple Watch and I use it all the time for workouts. The practicality of the Apple Watch is undeniable. But it doesn’t scratch the mechanical watch itch. As a watch enthusiast I’m fine with having both.

Love this chronograph!

[rwest]

I just got this one back form service. It had been out of commission for over two years, I think I had overwound it many times as I wore it to work daily and every morning, I hand wound it even though it’s an automatic and probably was fully wound. The spring seemed to be hanging up and the winding felt like it was missing a tooth of a gear.

I made the mistake of dropping it off at a fancy jewelry store in town that said they worked on many models not just brands they sold- well, I get a call a few days later saying that had to send it out to the manufacturer and that was going to be $125 shipping plus the repair charge. It needed a complete overhaul, so at the end of the day, it cost me a total of $1,100! I think I paid less than that new, but I really liked the watch and hadn’t found another to replace it, so that’s that. I should have just sent it to the service center myself; I bet it would have been closer to $800 taking the jeweler out of the equation, live and learn! It does work silky smooth now though.

[ckcarr]

Bringing back to the top.

Question on Rolex watches. Although some feel they're overrated, I still like.

30 years ago in 1995 I walked into the mall in Fort Collins to Sartor-Hamann jewlers and bought a Rolex Datejust watch for around $3,700. They had many available, lots of choices. Now the same watch, although more refined, better mechanism etc. is retailing around $14,400 but there aren't any available anyway.

Today, I call some regional authorized retailers to try and locate one and they confirm they don't have any.

I am seeing that like concert ticket scalpers, the watches are being bought at retail somehow and then show up on the secondary market for huge markups, brand new just bought but often at double Rolex's suggested list price.

Is that just how it is now? Then I look at on-line auctions or stores and see seriously bad reviews... especially if you're spending $10K or more, your money seems at risk...

Do I just need to go to bigger cities like Phoenix or Los Angeles? Do they have any in the retail stores? Not sure what on-line presence I could trust....

[pwd72s]

Look like you've figured it out...Rolex has gone Ferrari and Porsche in their marketing. First you have to buy an entry level to get on the list for a higher model. Seems to work for Rolex...but hey, it's not just a watch...it's status, right?

Just noticed you live in Utah...maybe buy one of these? Immediate delivery...

https://gettrumpwatches.com/collections/election-watches

[Steve Carlton]

Yes- factory owned stores only charge MSRP. Getting the one you want is the hard part. Didn't you have an Explorer, Craig?

[Seahawk]

VVV What a unique, beautiful watch.

I did a quick search, I think you are ok

Originally Posted by rwest

[javadog]

Originally Posted by ckcarr

Today, I call some regional authorized retailers to try and locate one and they confirm they don't have any.

Is that just how it is now? Then I look at on-line auctions or stores and see seriously bad reviews... especially if you're spending $10K or more, your money seems at risk...

Do I just need to go to bigger cities like Phoenix or Los Angeles? Do they have any in the retail stores? Not sure what on-line presence I could trust....

Calling them won't get you an honest answer, pay them a visit.

There should be watches available at some dealers, it's just probably pot luck when you go to any particular store with respect to what they have.

Rolex has a CPO pre-owned program which might be of interest.

In this day and age, fakes have gotten so good, including genuine cases with fake movements that I wouldn't buy a used watch from anybody unless I waked with it into a Rolex service center first and got an inspection and service quote. That means shopping in NYC or Dallas.

As an aside, I bought my first new Datejust in 1982 for $650. That's the equivalent of about $2,200 today. I look at what they charge now and I have no interest in what they offer. Not to mention, I like the older ones better anyway, as I don't like the larger case sizes that the market has embraced.

[pwd72s]

I'm telling you boyz...this is the hot watch of 2025...

https://gettrumpwatches.com/products/presidential-fighter-gold

[rwest]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

VVV What a unique, beautiful watch.

I did a quick search, I think you are ok

Thanks Paul.

I’ve gotten over the cost now and am just glad to have it back in service.

[berettafan]

Has anyone mentioned the black bezel Rolex 42 yachtmaster? maybe I did? don't recall but saw one in person and holy smokes is it dead sexy.

2x msrp on secondary market. will only ever admire those from afar.

[berettafan]

[aschen]

I have tried on a ton of watches lately since I turn 50 this year and have vowed to get a real life big boy watch (for me anyway).

YM42 in white gold / oysterflex has been my favorite to date. Well under msrp used but msrp is huge.

Its a meaty chunk of gold though

[Gus Berges]

The titanium Yachtmaster is one of the hardest to get new from an AD. Prices on the gray market have come down quite a bit on them, but still at a premium over retail.

The white gold Yachtmaster is an awesome piece.

[berettafan]

If there is such a thing as a subdued Rolex diver I think this is it. The black bezel just makes it look so good yet so un-blingy at the same time.

[ckcarr]

Thanks for the help Steve!
I got exactly what I wanted, although there was a "Rolex Tax" but hey, it's Christmas... Can't worry about a few dollars.

Originally Posted by Steve Carlton

Yes- factory owned stores only charge MSRP. Getting the one you want is the hard part. Didn't you have an Explorer, Craig?