Anyone else love a watch so much in pictures, but just no excitement in the flesh?

[tough]

Does this happen to anyone else?

I love a certain watch so much in pictures, see couple of threads and incomings and tell myself that she will be my next purchase.
When I finally see it in the flesh, I just don't get excited.
I don't get that feeling where my heart won't stop beating, and I just know I need to have the watch.

Come weeks later, I still REALLY like the watch in pictures.
I actually made the mistake of buying a watch that I fell in love with in pictures before, and I let go of the watch about 7 weeks after buying it.

Anyone else know this feeling?

[Sir Larry Wildman]

For me it's the Tudor Black Bay. When I see it in pics, I am always blown away. In person, I am just not enthralled. I don't know if it's the polishing, or the dimensions in person, but it just doesn't do it for me.

That's also my feeling with quite a few Pateks.

On the opposite end is the Speedmaster. I was never enthralled in pics. Even in a case, I was always like "eh". But on wrist it's just sublime.

[locutus49]

The Platona: I could not see the brown working until I tried one on. Yeah, it works big time.

[Wing-Co]

SS Daytona and Sub

[cervantes]

SS Daytona and BLNR (gulp) and JLC's Ultra Thin case.

[guelerct]

Originally Posted by cervantes

SS Daytona and BLNR (gulp) and JLC's Ultra Thin case.

Not loving the blnr is blasphemy on this board

I definitely love all the gmts in pictures and then I put it on and I lose the attraction.

[Slider817]

Pretty much every Large case sized Panerai, love the look, but not on me. Maybe some of the smaller and thinner Radiomirs are more my speed

[xeal]

Originally Posted by Sir Larry Wildman

For me it's the Tudor Black Bay. When I see it in pics, I am always blown away. In person, I am just not enthralled. I don't know if it's the polishing, or the dimensions in person, but it just doesn't do it for me.

That's also my feeling with quite a few Pateks.

On the opposite end is the Speedmaster. I was never enthralled in pics. Even in a case, I was always like "eh". But on wrist it's just sublime.

My feeling with the Patek Aquanaut actually.

[mfer]

Yes, several. There were some that were the exact opposite as well.

Loved the polar explorer ii back in the day. Tried it on, didn't go well.
The LVc looked ok in pictures, thought to green. AD made me try it on....loved it.

I have other examples as well.

[joe100]

Quite a few, mostly Omega these days. The GP PO GMT made me giggle like a school girl in photos, but in person it looked like a hockey puck

[mps354]

JLC master ultra thin moon and the speedmaster pro have both been underwhelming in the metal vs pics for me

[AK797]

It happens a lot with Daytonas, it looks so much bigger in large online pics. Also found the blue Nautilus a little underwhelming in person compared to many great pics.

[Israguard]

Happened to me not log ago with the Glashutte Panomatic Inverse. I drooled over it in the magazine.. I had to have one.

I see it in the window finally and it did absolutely nothing for me.

[watchucallit]

This has happened to me. I purchased a Louis Moinet watch. These are hard to find in the flesh. I do admit that some brands do a great job at making things look a lot better in photos than others. Generally what i find is the readability of the dial is so hard to define from photos especially for us middle aged folks. If the photo is taken with contrasty light even taking into account the short distances used for most photos--- the readability really can be misleading. Some dealers who sell less common brands are willing to accept a full refund as long as the watch is not worn. There is a good lesson here about how important in life visualization is.

[jjnd08]

Loved in pics not in person: TT DJII with Slate dial and Green Roman

Loved in person but not in pics: Daytona, pretty much every AP (I'm convinced that people that say they don't like them have never taken the time to handle one).

[lapince]

I noticed that when you need a long time to like a piece, took me 1 year to like the 5712/5711, same for AP ROO's and RM's, the love lives longer, I loved the Hulk at once, for 2 years liked it in real and pics, I got one, put it maybe 10 times and sold it...

[GB-man]

Yeah happens all the time. For me, 5980 blue...reverso...BP bathyscaphe chrono..

[Hairdude1]

Daytona was great in pics, on my wrist not so much

[B. Doggy]

JLC MUT Moon. Man I love that thing in pictures, but it's just too small for me. On that note, I've purchased most of my watches sight unseen and haven't been disappointed yet.

[brandrea]

ive had this happen many times. That's why I always go to my AD and try on before buying

[Igor01]

I drooled over the pictures of VC Overseas chrono in titanium but was underwhelmed when I received mine. It's not blingly and almost too understated. Or so I thought :) After a while, I finally saw its beauty, and it's easy to recognize once you saw the watch in every kind of light and from every angle. Now all I have to do is turn it a certain way to make it catch the light at one of the magic angles and the damn thing just blooms with awesomeness. The fact that the watch doesn't seem to pick up any marks or scratches (while worn on the rubber strap), is super comfortable and goes with just about any outfit makes it even easier to love :)

[watchucallit]

Interesting.. I had a very similar set of feelings and reactions to the VC overseas chrono. Even over time though--- just not feeling the real love--- so still trying to decide if i should flip or not.

Originally Posted by Igor01

I drooled over the pictures of VC Overseas chrono in titanium but was underwhelmed when I received mine. It's not blingly and almost too understated. Or so I thought :) After a while, I finally saw its beauty, and it's easy to recognize once you saw the watch in every kind of light and from every angle. Now all I have to do is turn it a certain way to make it catch the light at one of the magic angles and the damn thing just blooms with awesomeness. The fact that the watch doesn't seem to pick up any marks or scratches (while worn on the rubber strap), is super comfortable and goes with just about any outfit makes it even easier to love :)