I detest "which watch" threads - but...

[mapalfa]

I really don't see the point of asking other people what watch you should buy. It's such as subjective matter, but in this case I'm going to break my own rule - to a point at least.


A bit of background will help you see why I'm struggling. My wife and I live a pretty comfortable life. She's a dentist and earns well above the UK average and I run my own small business. The house is paid for and neither of us have any debts other than monthly bills. On the face of it I should be able to go out and drop £5k on a watch with very little thought, but for one problem.

About 15 years ago I got into serious financial trouble and ended up going bankrupt and homeless. Everything is back to normal now, thank God, but as a result of this I've resisted every suggestion made by my wife that we should treat our finances as joint. I won't even have my name on a bank account with her. I can't see the same thing happening, the circumstances and personal issues are well in my past, but I don't want even a 1% chance that I can hurt her financially.

Because of this her bank accounts are nice and fat and mine are a bit on the thin side! She's never stopped me from spending my money on something I want, from cars to watches, but in return I make sure I can justify the money I spend to myself before I even raise the issue with her.

When I got back into watches a few years ago I knew there was a risk that I could get carried away, so made a deal with myself that I'd limit my serious watches to a small list all from my birth year (1968). That list has coalesced into my grail list - Stainless DateJust, Grand Seiko, Pre-moon Speedy and a Tudor Sub. Partly due to my business doing a little better than I expected, but mainly due to you bunch of enablers, I'm looking at a new watch. That's where the confusion starts.

I'd made my mind up, as much as I could without actually trying it on, that I wanted a blue dial 39mm OP. At the moment I've got stainless/silver dialed 1603, GS and De Ville plus a couple of divers watches for, you've guessed it, diving. That meant I was thinking about adding some colour while also trying to stay in the region of £4k. Then the new Air King came out! OK, it's not a big thing, take a day trip to Cardiff and try them both on back to back and buy the one I like the most. I don't have all the cost in the bank at the moment, but as long as I can get 0% on about half the cost I can pay it off within a few months. I've done that sort of thing over the last few years and know I've got the self control to not let that cause me problems.

Unfortunately I have a search set up on ebay for 1968 watches and a Speedy came up a couple of weeks ago. It stopped taking bids at just over £1k and, given that it had a bad lume job and needed a new dial, I hoped it might not go for more than a couple of grand. It jumped to £2k a couple of days before the end and I decided I'd go for it if it stayed under £3k. In the end it went for £4.5k, which was a pretty good price considering the condition (excluding the dial) and a recent service, but I know when to let things go and I did. It got me thinking, though, about adding a new Speedy to the collection instead of a new Rolex. Cheaper and a lot less flashy, but a possible duplication if I get the '68 in the future. That led me to considering a Tag Monaco Steve McQueen after seeing one on a celeb being interviewed on TV and that led me to reconsider the Tag David Guetta special edition GMT.

So, do I add a brand new watch to the collection? Newer, manufacturers warranty, better build quality than late '60s models, give the vintage watches a break from time to time. There's a lot to say in favour of this, but if I do what to go for? The possibility of a UK Rolex price rise happening soon has to be taken into account, but that's offset by my very nice credit card company who've given me a year of interest free purchases to stop me closing that particular card. If the prices go up before I buy then they're most probably off the cards.

I wouldn't pay full retail for an Omega or Tag, but might have to for a Rolex as I have no AD history, so based on Rolex.com/Chrono24 prices it leaves me with:

OP39 - £3,750.00 retail
AK40 - £4,150.00 retail
Monaco Steve McQueen Cal 11 - £3,150.00 grey market
Speedy Moonwatch - £2,500.00 grey market
Speedy Racing chronometer - £2,750.00 grey market
Speedy auto chronometer - £2,850.00 grey market
Tag F1 David Guetta GMT - £1,300.00 grey market from Europe

I nearly bought a Moonwatch last year, but didn't want to charge it at the end of a holiday that had been quite expensive diving-wise. I was also very tempted by the David Guetta this year, but ran out of time before having to run for a flight before I could make my mind up. I know it's a marmite watch, but I like the looks and a dive-rated GMT for under £1,500 isn't to be sneezed at. I wouldn't buy a Monaco without trying one on, but would take a chance on buying a different version of the Speedy unworn having been happy with the size of the Moonwatch.








I think everyone knows what an OP and AK look like and a Moonwatch is pretty well known too.

[mattty]

The blue OP39 looks far better in the flesh, id stick with that.

I would downsize your collection and have one new watch, a proper keeper with all your details on the Rolex card, 5 year warranty and spread the cost over a year.

best of luck matty

[ref1655]

Originally Posted by mapalfa

At the moment I've got stainless/silver dialed 1603, GS and De Ville plus a couple of divers watches for, you've guessed it, diving.

perhaps the key question is to ask yourself how many watches do you actually need vs how many more do you want. it looks like you've already accumulated some nice ones...besides, you can only wear one watch at a time (unless you're Fidel Castro).

it's easy for others to chime-in & say, 'buy this one or buy that one' because they're not footing the bill...but since you asked, try to select something that will be a keeper over the long haul.

[m j b]

No one needs more than one watch, really. It's jewelry, farkles, fun to collect, nice to wear.

Buy whatever makes you happy. Rationalization or logic doesn't really fit into it. As long as you can easily afford to pay for it, just get what you want.

Now, me personally, I prefer to buy used so that when I get tired of a watch, I can sell it and not lose too much money and get something else. Ideally, I'd keep them all, but that's not financially possible for most of us.

[fskywalker]

Blue OP gets another vote

[Flywheel]

Can you repost with the cliffs notes?

[AS1]

Monaco

[AK797]

You detest which watch threads and then write the longest one I've ever seen.

I'd probably go for the AK of the ones there, altho a used Subc for £4K is a good idea too, and probably no loss should you ever need to sell.

[joli160]

I'd go for the AK :thumbs:

Looks like together you are rock solid financially, nothing to worry than

[mapalfa]

Originally Posted by Flywheel

Can you repost with the cliffs notes?

Originally Posted by AK797

You detest which watch threads and then write the longest one I've ever seen.

Yeah I know - sorry. I just didn't want a load of what about xxxxxx that costs way beyond my budget. Only a few days ago someone asked about a £50 beater only to be given multiple c£1000 options and a handful nearer £2k.





Slimming down the watches I've got isn't really something I want to do at the moment. I spent a long time looking for the 1603 and GS and the Omega was my father's watch. The divers watches aren't valuable, but are good for their purpose.

[SearChart]

Moonwatch would be my choice.