Watches - another OCD problem
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@Graeme actually, i didn't like anything i've seen so far. the pepsi is still the goal… hearing rumours that they are discontinuing that black. which might work well for me
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It's such an underwhelming Baselworld for Rolex (and for others) that I hope the focus is on production of existing watches.
The YM revision is nice, but who asked for that? It's their least popular line. If they are seeking to breathe life into it, then a precious metal case doesn't seem like the way to do it. The Oysterflex bracelet is great to see, and I hope that it will proliferate to the Submariner and SD lines.
Sea Dweller, a "tool watch," in two tones? The blog post I posted yesterday explained the historical context, but not sure I get that decision either.
There do appear to be some new Roman numeral, unlumed dials (and with them unlumed hands) available in the Datejust line, and there are modernized movements in DJ and DD in 36 out as well, so that's good news for the ladies, those with smaller wrists, and those looking to have a very precious DJ that is as non-sports-watch as possible (e.g., fluted bezel, jubilee bracelet, unlumed Roman numeral dial). That to me is one reason DJ is the most interesting line, you can range from dress watch (perhaps even going further than my example with diamond indices and/or bezels) to something like a black or white index dial, smooth bezel, Oyster bracelet 41 for a sport watch, and what's in the case is robust enough to go either way.
In two years I think Explorer II has its 50th anniversary. So, 3285 I hope will make it into that line, and maybe there will be some other changes to it. Perhaps then, NEXT year is when the Subs finally get the 32XX movements, as I'd assumed they would this year. Who knows with Rolex, but it was a disappointing Baselworld for them and Tudor (with its FUGLY diver) in my eyes.
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Bulgari announced the Octo Finissimo Chronograph yesterday. It's just over 6 mm thick, and is the thinnest on the market. I like it.
More at Hodinkee and Monochrome.
Rolex seem to be pushing precious metal and two tone watches this year. The only steel models are a new Datejust and the Batman, and the former isn't mentioned in the press release. It does feel like they're spinning their wheels.
We haven't heard much from the Swatch Group. They've got an event on in Zurich to unveil their new range, but there haven't been any announcements yet.
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Love the Bulgari. Cool that you can advance the hour for travel purposes, if disappointing (and understandable on a chronograph, and the right decision) that there's no date. I think it's probably better off as a pure chronograph, perhaps with a quick-set hour capability at the crown. I might worry about accidentally depressing the button advancing the hour as it's configured.
I had hoped Seiko would take advantage of Rolex's Baselworld flop with a splash of their own, but IMO this ain't it. I didn't like the "thin" ones they already introduced, though I do like seeing that Spring Drive that lacks the PR on the dial. I like the thinner ceramic bezel on the GMT chronograph, but it is entirely too busy and fussy. I don't think the crowded, gaudy design will stand the test of time and is not a timeless design that could become iconic. The Prospex dive watches are alright, but you can basically get a turtle that is nigh indistinguishable from the cushion case for 10% of the price. I hear that even upper-echelon Prospex mechanicals are often compromised in their performance by being drenched in lube, and I saw a chapter ring misalignment in one of their own marketing photos, so these are not in a position to command the asking price from my perspective. Seiko's ambitions to move upmarket are clear, but I don't think they're going about it the right way, and based on their depreciation on the secondary market, I think I'm not the only one.
A disappointing Baselworld almost all the way around for me.
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faux patina is getting out of control!To revisit the topic of Grand Seiko and dial back or at least frame some of my negativity, I do like the sunray steel handwound GS with no PR indicator on the dial. I also like some of the unobtanium that they dropped. I am just disappointed in GS's sport watch game, particularly in the segment where they could battle Rolex.
What I'd love to see from Grand Seiko would be around 40mm 200M dive watches in svelte, zaratsu-polished steel cases, 14.5mm or less thickness, with mechanical and/or Spring Drive movements. It seems that the direction is towards dress watches, and to push Prospex dive watches, which means a lower level of finishing and that terrible Prospex logo that looks cheap (I say this as one who wears a Prospex diver most days). They could build on the GS brand equity instead of trying to elevate Prospex, which will be an uphill battle.
It might also be interesting in their high-end quartz to see if they could replace the battery with solar or kinetic power.
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Me too, the monochrome GMT is especially cool. But for $2k less you can get a Grand Seiko spring drive diver on the secondary market.
Question to the forum: anyone have experience of Blancpain's Fifty Fathoms Automatique in steel? I've long admired it from afar but have not had the chance to experience in person. It is on my short list. Any reasons it should or shouldn't be?
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Are you OK with the size? I like the watch very much but have held off because of the 45mm size…I draw the line at 44mm.
The calibre seems solid.
So many awesome divers...so few wrists:)
Me too, the monochrome GMT is especially cool. But for $2k less you can get a Grand Seiko spring drive diver on the secondary market.
Question to the forum: anyone have experience of Blancpain's Fifty Fathoms Automatique in steel? I've long admired it from afar but have not had the chance to experience in person. It is on my short list. Any reasons it should or shouldn't be?
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That's why I want to try one on. I don't have large wrists but I usually wear a gigantic Seiko diver, so I think the downturned lugs and the size across the wrist of the BP might work, as it's surprisingly reasonable in that dimension and the strap goes straight down from the lugs. I wish there were a boutique near, I may try to hit a jeweler in Dallas Monday to try one on while I'm there. I had hoped there would be one while I'm fishing in Cabo next month but it looks like Cabo and Mexico City are the only places in MX.
I don't care for the Bathyscaphe so it's either this or back to other options on my list.
Thanks gents.
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@mclaincausey the Fifty Fathoms is a good watch, and I think that the finish is a step up from something like a Rolex. I really like the sapphire bezel and case shape.
They come in various sizes. The Mil-Spec has a 40 mm case. I think that there's a 36 mm that was done as a limited edition.
The Swatch Group is unveiling their 2019 products at an event in mid-May. If you're not in a hurry, it might be worth waiting for that.
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@mclaincausey the Fifty Fathoms is a good watch, and I think that the finish is a step up from something like a Rolex. I really like the sapphire bezel and case shape.
They come in various sizes. The Mil-Spec has a 40 mm case. I think that there's a 36 mm that was done as a limited edition.
The Swatch Group is unveiling their 2019 products at an event in mid-May. If you're not in a hurry, it might be worth waiting for that.
Thanks, @Graeme , great points. I'm not in a hurry, but I am also not buying new! Though, perhaps something new could produce some good deals on the secondary market (I have already found some right now, but I need to try one on first). I definitely think it's a better value than a Sub, particularly if you can find a gently used example and let someone else take that initial depreciation.
I like the Mil-Spec, but I LOVE that 5015 (and the 5050, large date at 6, with my presbyopia), just the simple black one with the radial center, no guilloche… I think strikes the perfect balance between sport, elegance, and timelessness. It looks like one of the two boutiques in Dallas listed as a retailer is still open, so I'll try one on Monday and make a decision soon.
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@mclaincausey I saw the 5050 for $14K on Chrono24 versus $17,500 new. But I'd be inclined to negotiate with a boutique on the grounds that you'll get a better warranty.
I'm a fan of big date complications, and was keeping an eye out for the IWC Big Pilot Big Date at the local dealer, but it never showed up. (I'm just starting to feel presbyopia creep in myself, so I can understand why you like it!)
The NY Times has a piece on watch collecting. I suspect that all this is another bubble that'll cost people in the long run.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/20/style/collectible-watches.html
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I've been wondering for awhile if the bubble was going to burst on vintage watches. I feel like quite a bit of the vintage scene is being pushed by the hipster crowd.
Perhaps the bubble will burst when their watches begin to die an awful death and they have to pay an exorbitant amount of money for a service.
I still think that the sub $700 market is the market that has the most potential to increase in value beyond hype. JDM Seikos that are discontinued continue to raise in value, where most watches other than Rolex have trouble holding their value altogether. The Seiko Alpinist was up in value not long ago, and Hodinkee's release of their limited blue model sold nearly instantaneously. -
I think that I've posted this article before on watch flipping.
The vintage watch bubble is probably another manifestation of the everything bubble. Interest rates have been at zero for most of the past decade, along with Quantitative Easing, and that's driven the prices of pretty much any asset into the stratosphere.
I don't know how long it'll last. Property prices are starting to trend downwards in several property markets (London, Sydney, possibly LA and SF), so it might be sooner rather than later.
