Fine Watches

quote:

Originally posted by wine+art:

quote:

Originally posted by snipes:
Is anyone else interested in seeing the upcoming Apple watch?

Not in the least.

Are the days of traditional mechanical watches and craftsmanship winding down? I mean let's face it, a high percentage of sub $5k watches use purchased movements from Swatch that can't cost much more than $100.

Snipes, just the opposite has happened. More and more companies have moved towards in-house movements than ever before. Montblanc and Cartier being just two examples alone. Also, do not forget that the finer companies greatly upgrade and modify the ETA movements when they buy the basic 2824 or Valjoux 7750 designs. Also, do not overlook the custom cases, their materials, ( much difference) their testing and straps.

Will the younger generation continue to prize the simple elegance in a single function mechanical piece of jewelry?

Snipes, horology has never been about the masses, so yes there will always be a market for the few that seek out the finer timepieces. Much like wine, art and other forms of collecting, horology nuts rarely own just one fine timepiece. Also keep in mind, with few exceptions fine watches are not mass produced all things considered. ( Rolex being an exception)

W+A . . . agree. I do think the apple watch will make a big splash. But a digital computer on your wrist is no substitute for a hand-crafted time piece. For me, my watch is really the only jewelry I wear other than my wedding ring. I like the functionality promised by the apple watch but time pieces aren't just about functionality . . . they are the true culmination of fashion + function in one complete package. apple watch is just in a totally different ball park

I'm not sure it qualifies as 'fine' but the nerd in me couldn't resist any longer and I picked up a blue swatch sistem51. It will be interesting to see if this movement lasts over time and ends up as revolutionary as the marketing group would have one believe.

quote:

Originally posted by vinoevelo:
I'm not sure it qualifies as 'fine' but the nerd in me couldn't resist any longer and I picked up a blue swatch sistem51. It will be interesting to see if this movement lasts over time and ends up as revolutionary as the marketing group would have one believe.

Interesting. Combien?

Definitely qualifies as nerd, but in a good way. Fine? I'm not qualified to judge on that one. If the watch keeps accurate time and doesn't break down, it could be a true breakthrough, and high on the watch nerd scale. The timepiece that tops the nerd list for me isn't an expensive watch, but rather the favorite clock of my mother's cousin who was a Swiss watchmaker in Zurich. I was a very simple gold with a simple face. Inside was an extremely accurate self-winding movement driven by changes in the barometric pressure.

99.000 chilean pesos (about $165).

quote:

Originally posted by vinoevelo:
99.000 chilean pesos (about $165).

Cool. Thanks.

I have been looking at three watches for the last three months or so. I went out this past weekend to look again and all three were less than before. A strong $ has had a positive effect.

Well look what the cat dragged in.....hope all is well Mr W+A. I heard Patek reduced there prices by 7% due to the strong dollar...I assume the rest are following suit. Good for you buddy!

Prices in europe are going up due to the strong Swiss Franc. I would have to think that will sooner rather than later transfer over to this side of the pond.

quote:

Originally posted by Rob_Sutherland:
Prices in europe are going up due to the strong Swiss Franc. I would have to think that will sooner rather than later transfer over to this side of the pond.

+1

Did you guys see this story?

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/...llar35000/ar-BBhHiKP

Would you have kept the watch or sold it?

quote:

Originally posted by patespo1:
Did you guys see this story?

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/...llar35000/ar-BBhHiKP

Would you have kept the watch or sold it?

I would've sold it. But the only vintage I like and own is Rolex.

The MSN article is also a bit misleading. The buyer who paid $35K and an Omega Speed Master for the JLC is one of the foremost vintage timepiece vendors in the world. Though he may be keeping it, he will be selling it (now or in the future) for significantly more than he paid.

quote:

Originally posted by patespo1:
Did you guys see this story?

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/...llar35000/ar-BBhHiKP

Would you have kept the watch or sold it?

Kept ...

quote:

Originally posted by marcb7:
Well look what the cat dragged in.....hope all is well Mr W+A. I heard Patek reduced there prices by 7% due to the strong dollar...I assume the rest are following suit. Good for you buddy!

Marc, prices down 8% - 12% at the watches I looked at last weekend.

snipes, not sure if you are a reader of Joe Thompson, ( Watch Time) but he had an interesting article in this months magazine. He talks in detail about smartwatches and his thoughts.

quote:

Originally posted by patespo1:
Did you guys see this story?

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/...llar35000/ar-BBhHiKP

Would you have kept the watch or sold it?

Sold. Not a fan of the style

quote:

Originally posted by patespo1:
Did you guys see this story?

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/...llar35000/ar-BBhHiKP

Would you have kept the watch or sold it?

Sold it, and given a nice donation to the Goodwill. I would feel like a huge dick if I got a steal like that and didn't pay it forward a bit. 10% of purchase price seems fair enough I suppose.

quote:

Originally posted by patespo1:
Did you guys see this story?

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/...llar35000/ar-BBhHiKP

Would you have kept the watch or sold it?

Sold or perhaps traded for a unicorn watch that I would never have been able to consider before . . . or perhaps traded for a nice car!

Like Danyull's suggestion of a donation to Goodwill as well.

A lot of exciting news coming out of Baselworld 2015 this year.

The news that surprised me was that Patek Phillippe introduced a classically styled pilot watch. ( Ref: 5524) I never saw that coming!

From what I have heard, it stole the spotlight at this years Baselworld.

You would never know it was a PP. It's a very very handsome watch but for $50k I personally think its a bit silly. Get an IWC if you want a pilots watch.

Loved the retro Dark side of the moon (white side not so much), The Glashutte senator was nice, The duometer Breguet 7077 pretty spectacular but I loved the Chopard LUC regulator and the Maurice Lacroix Masterpiece Gravity. The UN anchor Tourbillon was a good watch from them and the 4N from Francois Quentin while not my thing at all is a masterpiece.

Rob, the Glashutte senator is a watch I have nearly bought twice now.

The thing worth watching to me is, what if PP only produces this watch for one or two years. If that happens, the $47k will be a nice buy.

I'm a fan of Zenith's pilot watches.