Anyone into watches?

jsatek · 01-12-07, 04:51

I think there is a crew here that is interested in watches.

I dont want to post if I am incorrect.

ZaneO · 01-12-07, 04:54

There are many members here who appreciate watches.

jsatek · 01-12-07, 04:58

I have 2 06 Panerai's I got over the holidays. I would like to sell one.

I have a 1950 Luminor 8 days and a Luminor power reserve. To me, its like the same watch.

(I bought the 1950 while I was shopping for my wife's x-mas gift and she ended up buying me the power reserve for x-mas)

I have a 04 Rolex Explorer II and a 01 Yacht Master. Ill never sell them, they were monumental purchases.

I am looking for an IWC Portuguese? Anyone have it?

Spilchy · 01-12-07, 07:42

I've got about 20 watches of all makes and models. My big dogs are two Rolex's; one Submariner from 1963 and the other an 18K tank style dress watch from the 1940's.

I just purchased an Orient tonight with an exhibition case back and open heart dial. Orient is a very, very high quality 21 jewel automatic movement made in Japan. They are 52% owned by Seiko but the automatics are Orient's own and built in house (not common anymore). They are not well known in the United States. I will be purchasing a tan alligator strap to replace the stainless bracelet.

jsatek · 01-12-07, 08:02

Nice looking watch. I have not seen an Orient before. I work with watch crazed people (when at a trading floor, my office is into the ususals)

Spilchy · 01-12-07, 08:34

Yeah, I have the usuals; a TAG an Omega, etc... But it is the unique ones that I have that I like the most. I've got WW2 watches and rare Elgin Avigos that I search out not to mention pocket watches.

Many people like the watch because of the name (and no nothing about watches). Half the fun is owning a watch like a high end automatic Seiko that is just as good as the well known high end watches in regards to time keeping. My Dad just bought a beautiful $2000 Baume & Mercier and it has picked up 44 seconds in a week where as some of my much "cheaper" automatic watches are +/- 2 seconds!

The one thing the high end watches have is craftsmanship. The fit and finish on many of them is superb. My father's new Baume & Mercer is awesome to look at: http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.c...1929_431435218

In the end, like waxes, buy what is appealing to you, interests you and what you can afford.

jsatek · 01-12-07, 08:59

I have been lucky with watches. And it is luck, I just buy what I like.
The Explorer II retails for $4850 now, I paid $3,050 2 years ago. The Yacht Master was about $6,500.00 in late 01, now they are $12,000+. Its ugly to me now, all that gold.
I have a Cartier Roadster (which I wear daily) that I got for peanuts.

jsatek · 01-12-07, 09:01

A watch runs on batteries.
A timepiece is automatic. And they tell terrible time......
If I didn't have a cell phone, I'd be late to everything.

Cactus1 · 01-12-07, 09:33

I enjoy fine watches as well. I have a Rolex two tone Submariner and a couple of Eterna 1958 KonTiki's, one chronograph and one normal one.

I find quartz watchs to be "souless", they do a fine job but are boring. Mechanical watches are intricate miniature machines with "personalities".

35TH LE · 01-12-07, 09:49

I just recently started collecting.... I dont have anything as high end as you guys speak of, yet. Ive recently been intrigued by this Hamilton Automatic and hopefully Ill pick one up this year.

So far I have 3 Seikos.. Seiko 5 Auto, Honda F1 Racing Special Edition Chrono, and gorgeous Seiko Premier Perp Cal. I also have a couple Citizens.. Eco Drive Calibre 9000 Minute Repeater Perp Cal. and a Eco Drive Nighthawk with black ion plating.

Anyways.. its funny how good I can feel just by wearing a watch I really like. I cant wait to add more to the collection.

robertrinaustin · 01-15-07, 06:53

I am watch nut with everything from a Casio to a vintage Rolex Sea Dweller. I also like the Pams, own a 183 and am trying to find a deal on a 159.

Jsatek - check out Overstock.com for the IWC. Their selection varies, but I've seen Portugueses there. I was really tempted by their Portofinos.

EdLancer · 01-15-07, 09:56

Watch collectors usually are into 2-3 different camps, the very exotics like Cartier, Vacheron etc..., swiss like Rolexes, IWCs, Breitliegs and Omegas etc... and then they are the Japanese watch crowd like Seikos, Orients, Citizens and Invictas etc... that are into affordable quality that is more interesting since there is more models and more affordable to collect, this is not to say that they do not have a high end like the Grand Seikos that are just as prestigise and as expensive as the Swiss brands, but just less known and less available to the general public. I like to collect and wear Seikos and Orients, since I can aquire a dozen of them for the cost of one Swiss without a large difference in quality is a big plus for me, but they all must be mechanical movement watches for me to own.

Currently my daily beater is a Seiko Black Knight, I also have a Seiko Samaurai and Black Monster, Orient diver and a slew of military watches like Sinn, SandY and Marathon.