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I have a Zenith, with the El Primero movement, first released in 1969. Massively accurate, was the most accurate watch movement in the world at the time, not far off today.
Better, these things actually make money over time too. I have a Breitling Navitimer that is now worth about double what it originally cost. And it looks friggin ace too, ;p
THe truly wealthy people I've met over the years are nothing like that. The people who ARE like that are often just simply crass - gpt a bit of money (or a large credit card facility) and are of the midhled belief that showy material things make them more appealing as people.
That;s very different to buying something you believe to be special, nice, well made etc.
After all, why doesn't everybody just buy a 3 year old Skoda, instead of any other car? If its a question of function and value, then surely the argument on which car to buy is solved??
No, you spend your money on what you choose, and what you like and enjoy.
Is a £700 mexican strat a couple of grand worse than an American? Course not, but the American, is for most, nicer to have and own than the Mex, for lots of soft and almost intangible reasons. It certainly won't play and sound 2 grand better.
Or will it? To the buyer? You cant quantify these things IMO. It's a question of choice and judgement, and is, as such, very personal.
Are all people who own Bentleys brash show offs? I dunno. How could you? MAybe the majority just like a fine hand built high teck motor with a hell of a history, drives like a dream and is all round very special. MOre to the point, what's it got to do with anyone anyway??
I would say your take on watches is refreshing to see. I repeat that I don't see anything wrong owning expensive watches. What baffles me the most is when I speak to people who have Rolex, Omega and comment how nice it is, they are nice. All they say is "yeah, I love it, great watch, always wanted one". It is only on forums where I get reasons like the ones above given. I have never heard anyone said in real life say "Yea, I love it, so when I die my son can have it and when he die his son can have it." That to be is an weird reason to buy a watch, almost as to justify to one self having spent so much on it and feels guilty so using it as an heirloom justifies it.
re: service costs, look up the official service charges for Rolex. I am not quoting what you can get done in your local corner shop watchmaker.
Re Hamilton, it's part of the SWATCH group, I know Tissot and the like, uses ETA movement, probably very similar to the one in my Steinhart even. It's a nice watch.
Look, I repeat again, I have nothing against the nice watches, or even the price. I just find some of the reasons people come out with utterly ridiculous.
p.s. I have 3 PRS
Lol, if an atomic bomb goes off, the last thing to worry about is a watch. My family is what I care about, it's a watch, a hunk of metal. Think you missed my point, nothing against mechanical watches, I have 3, I am wearing one now.
Service costs - yep, they are on the face of it expensive, but when you look into the work done, by highly qualified people, it's cheaper than what an accountant or lawyer would charge. If you can get the same work done, to the same standard, by a local watchsmith, do it.
YEars ago I had a problem with the ocsillator on a Breitling. I got it repaired by a watchsmith for £28. Breitling wanted about 200. However, the watch in question is a diving watch, with a helium filled escape valve and is waterproof to 1000m. Breitling would have regassed it and resealed it in the price. If i was a diver, that would have been a factor, as I'm not, it wasn't!
The service on the Navitimer was £320. However, in that price is any replacement parts, and a full strip down and clean, recalibrate, by a qualified horologist. Something I'd have done every 10 years or so. Cheaper than servicing a car.
and you are right, some people, maybe a lot, get them cos they feel its a status symbol or a rite of passage that they need to have. So what though?
anyway, you can't say anything, what with your 3 PRS's!!
You know, I have a real growing hankering for a PRS. It's getting worse with each day. It started again the other week when I went to the local guiatr shop and they had a rack full, I got all dithery and that. Had to walk away, before I knew it, my hand had got my wallet in it and I was on my way......
I think 'pathetic' is a bit harsh good sir. I would say calamitous and accident prone is probably fairer.
The world of watches is like any other interest: there's a shitload of stuff to know and discover, and too many people half arse their way into it, don't research enough, and buy something too obviuous, and probably not the best value (for their pocket).
This is why so many people buy the Rolex Submariner - cos they want a Rolex, and then go for the obvious. Whereas IMO an Explorer II or a Seadweller is far nicer, and less obvious/common. Something different appeals to me more.
If you get something obvious, it won't hold its value as well, as there's lots of them about. And IMO it requires less thought and imagination in the first place. The hunting down, research etc is for me, the best part of it all.
IWC, they make some of my favourite watches. They did a St Exupery limited edition, my Dad has one. It's lovely. I think he paid about £3500 for it 12 years ago. I was in Lucerne recently, and they had one in a shop - £9000! Really nice watch.
I also like Panerais. Nice styling.
As I said earlier, I've wanted one of these ever since I owned my first watch, and the wife got me one for my 30th birthday because she is awesome.