Watches
 

So the big 3 0 is coming up and I've decided I'm gonna treat myself to a nice watch. However, I'm not a watch guy so I don't have many strong opinions on brands, movements etc.

Anyway these are my preferences:
-40mm or less case diameter
-leather strap.
-manuel wind
-men's watch (in case that's not obvious.)
-A classic style
-Between $4,000-$5,000 (I would be willing to go up to $8k if I truely loved it)


With that in mind here are the watches I've been thinking about.


Girard Perregaux Classic Elegance
http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/8...9830997uk9.jpg

JAEGER-LECOULTRE Master Ultra-Thin
http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/1393/1458404ia7.jpg

JAEGER-LECOULTRE Master Control
http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/8191/1398420yl9.jpg

Breguet Classique Manual Wind
http://img518.imageshack.us/img518/9...ba12984pp6.jpg


Since only the most sophisticated and cultured members post in this forum [img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img] I was hoping you could help me.

Re: Watches
 

the perregaux is, by far, the best. search for watch threads both here and in bbv if you want a tonne of pics and opinions.

Re: Watches
 

WoW. These are all very nice. You've got good taste, Manque. I'm sort of digging both of those Jaeger-Lecoultre watches.

Re: Watches
 

https://www.iwc.com/collection/_img/...3714_001_l.jpg

i like IWC, i actually dont know the price for that one.

also i someone in BBV had the sicked IWC watch eevr but i cant find the thread because there have been so many watch threads in bbv.

Re: Watches
 

I like that IWC watch.

Re: Watches
 

This is the same watch I think, only in gold. Could I have read the price correctly, $13,000? Is that possible? I've never heard of anyone paying that kind of money for a watch!


http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/...TL._SS500_.jpg



I like this one too,



IWC Portuguese Automatic steel black men's watch. ($10,000!)
http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/...2L._SS500_.jpg

Re: Watches
 

this is what i wear on those rare occasions that i put on a watch:

http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/9...coultrefz6.jpg

Re: Watches
 

I've always been a fan of watches, and those are all really nice... but seriously can someone explain to me why those watches are worth 4-10 THOUSAND dollars or more? I don't know much about movements or watch construction - all I know is a watch is supposed to look good and keep the correct time. I've got a nice Timex with a leather band that keeps perfect time, and it cost 45 bucks.

So what I'm asking is, is this (as nice as it is) -



http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/8...9830997uk9.jpg

honestly worth $8,000 or so more than this? -

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/...Y292_SH45_.jpg

Re: Watches
 

They are all very nice watches...but for the life of me I have never understood why dress watches like the ones pictured are so expensive...unless they're solid gold or platinum or something, what am I missing?

Do they really time any better than my $400 Hamilton?

Re: Watches
 

quality is better, yes. components are far better. also, you pay a premium for the prestige of paying a premium.

also 2.0, mine unlocks my car.

also 3.0, is your $400 hamilton that much better than revots $45 timex?

Re: Watches
 

None of them even have calculators.

Re: Watches
 

An expensive watch is the one piece of really nice jewelry that it is acceptable for men to wear. I don't have any problem with that, but it's still expensive jewelry. That side, those are some really nice looking watches.


[ QUOTE ]
you pay a premium for the prestige of paying a premium.

[/ QUOTE ]
This about sums it up.
An expensive watch, like expensive jewelry, is priced on a combination of what went into making it (both materials and skilled labor) and what the market will bear. It has only coincidental relation to the functionality/reliability of the piece.

In fact, many expensive timepieces are less reliable than a Timex or Casio (in much the same way that a Jaguar is less reliable than a Toyota).

Re: Watches
 

The functionality of a time piece GREATLY affects value in the higher priced pieces. A tourbillon is a $40,000 addition to a wristwatch, and that is just to build to predesigned specs; after factoring in R&D the cost is stratospheric. A minute repeater adds at least $25,000 whereever it appears.

Patek just released a version of their new 10 day power reserve in a tounneau case, and after adding a tourbillon the cost at retail is $260,000. And the thing is that this watch is this price exclusively because patek found a way to incorporate two exceedingly hard complications into a wristwatch movement.

A combination of complication and asethetics rules the watch world at the highest levels; when a watch can take 2 years of continuous work to build, youn won't get it for a hug and some candy.
A very good fried of mine proffessionally trades fine watches, and has always said that if you want to buy a watch for less that 5, stick with vintage rolex or a very well kept but undesirable patek. They will produce monetary advantages later on that cannot be consistently had with even a fine watch like Girrard Perrigeaux or Jaeger le Coultre.

Cam

Re: Watches
 

what he said ^

what he said v

Re: Watches
 

[ QUOTE ]
The functionality of a time piece GREATLY affects value in the higher priced pieces

[/ QUOTE ]

No.
You are confusing input and output.

The functionality is what the consumer gets from it, not what goes into it. The design, craftmanship, and complication of an expensive timepiece make it cost a lot of money to produce. However, the consumer won't be able to tell it "functionally" from a quartz Timex. It may look much nicer and be more satisfying to own, but the "function" will be close enough to the Timex that the user is unlikely to notice a difference.

Re: Watches
 

[ QUOTE ]
The functionality of a time piece GREATLY affects value in the higher priced pieces. A tourbillon is a $40,000 addition to a wristwatch, and that is just to build to predesigned specs; after factoring in R&D the cost is stratospheric. A minute repeater adds at least $25,000 whereever it appears.

Patek just released a version of their new 10 day power reserve in a tounneau case, and after adding a tourbillon the cost at retail is $260,000. And the thing is that this watch is this price exclusively because patek found a way to incorporate two exceedingly hard complications into a wristwatch movement.

A combination of complication and asethetics rules the watch world at the highest levels; when a watch can take 2 years of continuous work to build, youn won't get it for a hug and some candy.
A very good fried of mine proffessionally trades fine watches, and has always said that if you want to buy a watch for less that 5, stick with vintage rolex or a very well kept but undesirable patek. They will produce monetary advantages later on that cannot be consistently had with even a fine watch like Girrard Perrigeaux or Jaeger le Coultre.

Cam

[/ QUOTE ]

Ok I understand how a great G-P can cost a quarter million +.

It's a grande complication, 18k gold, croc-snap clasp band,

Most of that 250k goes in to the fact that it's a grande complication, for those that don't totally understand that means that the watch will do stuff like lunar phases, minute repeater(push a button, the watch chimes the time for you) tourbillon(keeps accurate time even when the watch is upside down, rotated, etc) and so on and so forth.

The first watch, which I like as an example because G-P makes my favorite watches, costs $4,900 at first glance online. I wouldn't be surprised if it was a little more in a store. Whatever.

http://www.jomashop.com/girard-perre...-0-11-114.html

What does this watch offer me?

Date.

Steel case.

Leather strap.

wtf kind of premium am I paying for here? If this is simply a "watch" thing then so be it. But I spend way more money on things than I should, mostly because society tells me it's cool. That's fine, I don't mind. When it comes to watches like this one though, I just DO NOT get it.

It is a good looking watch but can you really tell me this watch cost more than a hundred dollars to make? Including labor?

Re: Watches
 

[ QUOTE ]
It is a good looking watch but can you really tell me this watch cost more than a hundred dollars to make? Including labor?


[/ QUOTE ]
Quite a bit more, and it's almost all labor (both for making the individual parts and assembling them).

Re: Watches
 

All right. I guess I just don't understand how a hand-machined gear is going to be better than a factory-produced one.

Re: Watches
 

[ QUOTE ]


also 3.0, is your $400 hamilton that much better than revots $45 timex?

[/ QUOTE ]

LOL...no, not really. A standard Seiko looks just like a Rolex to me...

It's odd...I'll spend a premium on certain items like clothes and a car...but not a watch!

Re: Watches
 

[ QUOTE ]
This is the same watch I think, only in gold. Could I have read the price correctly, $13,000? Is that possible? I've never heard of anyone paying that kind of money for a watch!


http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/...TL._SS500_.jpg



I like this one too,



IWC Portuguese Automatic steel black men's watch. ($10,000!)
http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/...2L._SS500_.jpg

[/ QUOTE ]

Gold is trading at over $700 an ounce and platinum is over $1,200 an ounce. So precious metals add considerably to the cost.

I like your choice as well. Unfortunately I would need you to spot me a few grand. [img]/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]

Re: Watches
 

I own these watches


the rolie
http://www.blowers-jewellers.co.uk/i...rl_diamond.JPG

the omega
http://www.pmwf.com/PMWFGallery/Arch...eamasterMW.jpg

the jacob
http://www.jacobandco.com/watches/ftz_m/jc_m47sr_b.jpg


they are all fun and it's nice to have a selection of fairly different watches for different occasions/moods/etc

i definitely wear the rolie the most as it's really nice, that picture doesn't do it justice.

a side note does anyone know anything about watch maintenance/cleaning?

Re: Watches
 

i'm not gonna lie: cole is a pimp.

Re: Watches
 

[ QUOTE ]
This is the same watch I think, only in gold. Could I have read the price correctly, $13,000? Is that possible? I've never heard of anyone paying that kind of money for a watch!


[/ QUOTE ]
IWC actually does sell several watches in OP's price range, including several in the Portofino line that are less than $3k:

http://www.orolus.com/cgi-bin/ShoppingCa...ofino+Automatic

http://www.orolus.com/images/iwc/3533-01.jpg

Re: Watches
 

Omega looks awesome, by the way. Never seen that one before. Rolex looks great too, nice watches :P

Re: Watches
 

cts, is the Rolex an Oyster Perpetual Datejust? I'm straining my eyes but can't make out what it says.

From what I know about watch maintance, you are looking at getting the water resistance of the seals checked every year or so and a servicing every 4-5 years.

Re: Watches
 

A few of you have wondered why someone would want to buy a machanical watch when a quartz is more accurate, requires less maintaince and is a fraction of the price.

I can only speak for myself but, in general, I'm interested in low-technology crafts, ie. masonry or carpentry. More accurately I'm interested in the finished product (having spent about 6 months spilting and cutting stone I have no intention of practicing masonry even as a hobby). The craftmanship and tradition involved in many low-tech trades are very appealing to me.

A machanical watch take a great deal of skill and precision to make and maintain. I love the idea that a talanted horologer has used his skill and expertise to create, what is to me, a complex and very beautiful machine.

Re: Watches
 

I hate every one of these watches, and I'm a watch lover...no offense, just not my taste...

Re: Watches
 

[ QUOTE ]
I hate every one of these watches, and I'm a watch lover...no offense, just not my taste...

[/ QUOTE ]

You think I should get something like this?


http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/2...01largeeq2.jpg

jk

Re: Watches
 

Idealwatches.com

Re: Watches
 

I like the other two, but the Jacob is the ugliest thing ever created by man.

[ QUOTE ]
A few of you have wondered why someone would want to buy a machanical watch when a quartz is more accurate, requires less maintaince and is a fraction of the price.

I can only speak for myself but, in general, I'm interested in low-technology crafts, ie. masonry or carpentry. More accurately I'm interested in the finished product (having spent about 6 months spilting and cutting stone I have no intention of practicing masonry even as a hobby). The craftmanship and tradition involved in many low-tech trades are very appealing to me.

A machanical watch take a great deal of skill and precision to make and maintain. I love the idea that a talanted horologer has used his skill and expertise to create, what is to me, a complex and very beautiful machine.


[/ QUOTE ]
I have no problem with this at all.
You appreciate a fine watch as a work of art, and are willing to pay for that artistry.
To me, that's quite different that someone buying an expensive watch just because it's expensive and they want to look balla.

Re: Watches
 

exactly...or maybe a sun dial? It would be more fashionable than the $5000 Timex look-a-likes that were listed previously...

Re: Watches
 

[ QUOTE ]
exactly...or maybe a sun dial? It would be more fashionable than the $5000 Timex look-a-likes that were listed previously...

[/ QUOTE ]

or maybe a monolith, hmm?

Re: Watches
 

BTW, this is the 2nd best looking watch in this thread:

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/...Y292_SH45_.jpg




This is the best looking, but costs $10k more

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/...2L._SS500_.jpg

I think I'll go with the Timex.

Re: Watches
 

[ QUOTE ]
BTW, this is the 2nd best looking watch in this thread:

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/...Y292_SH45_.jpg




This is the best looking, but costs $10k more

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/...2L._SS500_.jpg

I think I'll go with the Timex.

[/ QUOTE ]

just buy the iwc here for the price of the timex, ldo

Re: Watches
 

[ QUOTE ]
All goodes will be sent by EMS, UPS or DHL. All goods will be shipped fron China.



[/ QUOTE ]

Re: Watches
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
All goodes will be sent by EMS, UPS or DHL. All goods will be shipped fron China.



[/ QUOTE ]

[/ QUOTE ]

sounds goode to me.

Re: Watches
 

[ QUOTE ]
I like the other two, but the Jacob is the ugliest thing ever created by man.

[ QUOTE ]
A few of you have wondered why someone would want to buy a machanical watch when a quartz is more accurate, requires less maintaince and is a fraction of the price.

I can only speak for myself but, in general, I'm interested in low-technology crafts, ie. masonry or carpentry. More accurately I'm interested in the finished product (having spent about 6 months spilting and cutting stone I have no intention of practicing masonry even as a hobby). The craftmanship and tradition involved in many low-tech trades are very appealing to me.

A machanical watch take a great deal of skill and precision to make and maintain. I love the idea that a talanted horologer has used his skill and expertise to create, what is to me, a complex and very beautiful machine.


[/ QUOTE ]
I have no problem with this at all.
You appreciate a fine watch as a work of art, and are willing to pay for that artistry.
To me, that's quite different that someone buying an expensive watch just because it's expensive and they want to look balla.

[/ QUOTE ]
Why isn't that a valid reason also?

E.g., lots of people buy BMWs because they are (according to driving nuts) very well made, well balanced cars that are easy to drive at high performance levels.

But I think most people buy BMWs because they want people know they can afford a BMW.

Similarly, some people buy $10k watches because they appreciate craftsmanshihp. But I would guess that most buy it to show they can afford it.

(Especially considering that a CDMA cell phone (i.e., any Verizon phone) regularly syncs with an atomic clock and is much more accurate than any watch you can buy.)

Re: Watches
 

[ QUOTE ]
exactly...or maybe a sun dial? It would be more fashionable than the $5000 Timex look-a-likes that were listed previously...

[/ QUOTE ]

Something like this?

http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/2437/rtmt7.jpg

Re: Watches
 

I have a $9 Fossil watch. It works. Want to trade CTS?

Re: Watches
 

I am a huge IWC and JLC fan. That JLC Master Control should be your choice. I like most GPs, but definitely not the one you listed.

You have great taste in watches. Congrats on your upcoming purchase. I expect wristshots when you close the deal [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]