I think that the worst watch is the basic ROLEX oyster in TT for women on jubile bracelet with smll face !!!!! Many granies have that since their wedding !
I see amongst Madoff's items being sold at auction, is one of the Rolex watches made for Allied POW's in WWII, it seems he is a man of some taste in watches.
I've just received one of these, the Laco Pilot Support Chrono, a big, chunky watch:
http://forums.watchuseek.com/showthread.php?p=2368693#poststop
Has more pedigree than a Breitling, and unlike the Aztec calender hands and faces of a Breitling, can be read at 10,000 feet or in extreme turbulance when piloting the Sopwith Pup.
Nice watches are an interesting topic. I can appreciate them, without wanting to have one. I have a close friend who is hooked on Panerai and Glasshutte. I like to look at them, and I can tell they are nice articles, but I think he's something of a nutter over the timepieces. I suppose that's the case with collectors in most any field. I am fine with my Timex and Enicar.
The Glasshutte fleiger/pilot watches are seriously expensive, around 5 to 6 thousand Euros in the same league as IWC. When you compare the Glasshutte pilots with the Stowa and the limited edition Laco's, what exactly are you getting to justify the extra money? A few gold parts in the calibration and a high grade diamond hidden inside. Nothing that anyone would notice, not even time itself.
I love nice watches. My prize watches are the white gold Patek Calatrava that Mother bought me as a graduation present and an IWC Novecento Perpetual, which is my daily wearer.
I also have several vintage watches, of which my favorites are a '50s vintage LeCoultre stainless bumper auto and power reserve with an original ivory dial that my watchmaker refused to refinish, and a '60s JLC iteration of the ultra-thin in 14kt with a black enamelled dial.
I also have a couple of Omegas that I wear as knock-around watches.
IWC Portugese is an outstanding watch. Quietly understated yet oozes quality. Still prefer Rolex...just my preference. At 50 I am not trying to impress anyone, in fact in most circumstances I keep it out of sight up my jacket sleeve. In fact, the only person ever to mention it was one of our clients after a meeting, but then only in passing. Do not think, like most things in life, you can pigeon hole someone just for their preferences.
I wear a Tag Heuer F1.
Black Plastic strap. Purchased in 1995 for about £200. They changed the design shortly afterwards I believe.
I've also got a Timex digital. Cost about £20.
I do like watches, but not the oversized faces or anything too 'showy'.
Nor do I like watches that are branded with names like 'Armani', or any other name that should be found on a catwalk.
IMO watches should be made my watchmakers, not clothes makers. It's a prejudice, but there it is.
Last edited by Trojan (2010-08-17 11:52:11)
I wear a Rolex Explorer 1. Bought in the Pacific Exchange in Vietnam in 1969 for $175. It has only been cleaned and oiled twice. Last time 5 yrs. ago. It has the old face with the curved 9 and 3. Have worn it every day for 41 yrs. It seems like it is part of my body. I was going into the ocean for a swim about 25 years ago and a kid told me I should take my watch off. That was the only time a person ever commented on the watch.
The Explorer 1 was Flemming's choice of watch, I had one and sold it and have regretted it a number of times since. Its one of the few Rolex's to rise above being a workhorse into a thoroughbreed.
Recently been wearing the Precista PRS-50-B, a homage to the Blancpain Fifty-Fathoms with a refurbished deadstock FF calibration.
I'm more interested in middle of the range watches from independent makers these days: Timefactors, Stowa, MKII and the likes.
Rolex?
Seiko. Now that's a good watch.
Last edited by yachtie (2010-08-17 14:48:27)
When it comes to exact time keeping, yes.
Thanks a lot for sharing the information and the links. I rally like your posting.
Those of us, who can't now afford an Explorer I will be making do with ones of these:
http://www.mkiiwatches.com/WSWrapper.jsp?mypage=cg02_new.htm