Back to square one
Well I’ve just had an eye opening afternoon…
I posted a few weeks back about the Tudor Black Bay 58 and how it’s the one I kept coming back to and couldn’t escape the itch to buy it.
Well today I waltzed into the AD to finally try one on as recommended by a few of the replies…and something just didn’t feel right.
I usually like a watch around 39mm but for some reason this felt too small and just didn’t sit right on my wrist. I couldn’t believe it, I was ready to part with my cash there and then if it felt right but it just didn’t.
So I’m back to square one, the watch I thought would always be my first luxury purchase wasn’t what I was expecting it to be.
Very thankful I didn’t pull the trigger online and listened to the advice of the fellow watch nerds on here who have been in the game for far longer than me!
Has this happened to anyone else before? I feel so disappointed that I’ve got to start all over again and go back to the drawing board.
Welcome to my WatchCrunch profile.
This happened to me when I tried on the Longines Spirit 37 mm. The sunburst dial was so pretty online but for whatever reason on wrist it was disappointing. Do you like any of the other BB variants? They have larger case sizes.
Nothing beats the experience of trying it on. It's so easy to pull the trigger when you've spent hours seeing images and hearing other people's opinions, but none of that captures your experience of putting it on the wrist.
This happened to me when I tried on the Longines Spirit 37 mm. The sunburst dial was so pretty online but for whatever reason on wrist it was disappointing. Do you like any of the other BB variants? They have larger case sizes.
I did try on the Burgundy bezel version of the back bay, a little larger and it was ok but it really didn’t blow me away. Maybe I was just grumpy because the 58 didn’t feel right!
I did try on the Burgundy bezel version of the back bay, a little larger and it was ok but it really didn’t blow me away. Maybe I was just grumpy because the 58 didn’t feel right!
https://www.tudorwatch.com/en/watches/black-bay/m79230n-0009
Maybe this is the one you need? If it didn’t blow you away though then its okay! Just means your hard earned money is best spent on a different watch. 😃
It happened to me a couple years back with the Tudor Heritage Ranger.
I have but the other way around. Went to a fair and tried on a brand and model that I had no inkling of liking and I fell in love. It was out of my price point but I was like "Damn, ok I see you green nomos on a bracelet....."
I was convinced the BB54 was the perfect diver for me (I prefer watches in the 36-38mm range) but when I tried it on at the AD I was seriously underwhelmed. I'm going to go back at some point to try again in case I was just having a bad day.
I have but the other way around. Went to a fair and tried on a brand and model that I had no inkling of liking and I fell in love. It was out of my price point but I was like "Damn, ok I see you green nomos on a bracelet....."
I hope to have this moment with another watch one day! Need to get out of my grump about it all first 😂
I was convinced the BB54 was the perfect diver for me (I prefer watches in the 36-38mm range) but when I tried it on at the AD I was seriously underwhelmed. I'm going to go back at some point to try again in case I was just having a bad day.
It’s a horrible feeling isn’t it when you feel underwhelmed by something you’ve wanted for so long!
Yea I’d say try it on a few times just to be sure. This happens to me with watches I own. Some days I put them on and just ain’t feeling it. Other days I can’t stop staring and messing around with them.
I recommend the Black Bay Bronze. I like the 43mm case much better than the 39mm.
Did you try on the new 41mm heritage black bay with the red bezel and metas movement? Maybe you’ll like the feel of that one better. If so, I’m sure the color variation you want will be coming out soon.
I recommend the Black Bay Bronze. I like the 43mm case much better than the 39mm.
Did you try on the new 41mm heritage black bay with the red bezel and metas movement? Maybe you’ll like the feel of that one better. If so, I’m sure the color variation you want will be coming out soon.
I tried the 41mm Burgundy whilst I was there but I think I was so thrown off by not liking the 39mm I wasn’t in the right frame of mind, another trip after Christmas needed for sure!
I tried the 41mm Burgundy whilst I was there but I think I was so thrown off by not liking the 39mm I wasn’t in the right frame of mind, another trip after Christmas needed for sure!
You can never have too many trips to the AD to check things out. At least that’s what I have found 🤣
The exact same thing happened with me and the BB58.
I loved it the first time I tried it on. The second time I was underwhelmed. The third time it was on the fabric strap and it just felt… cheap.
About a year later I tried it on once more to see if my tastes had changed. Nope.
Much as I believe it would be a perfect first luxury watch or even a one-and-done, it’s just not a watch for me.
This happened to me when I tried on the Longines Spirit 37 mm. The sunburst dial was so pretty online but for whatever reason on wrist it was disappointing. Do you like any of the other BB variants? They have larger case sizes.
I’ve been tempted many times with the Spirit 37 but am waiting to try it on. What didn’t feel right for you?
I’ve been tempted many times with the Spirit 37 but am waiting to try it on. What didn’t feel right for you?
The lugs are too long in my opinion and the male end links did not help on the bracelet. Perhaps it’d be better on a leather strap.
I blatantly ignored the P01 for years. Had no interest in it. And then my partner (who has no real interest in watches) told me that she REALLY liked it, so I went into a store and tried it on.
24 hours later I bought the watch I never liked, because on the wrist it somehow worked for me.
As the saying goes, the proof is in the pudding!
Its a diver, will wear smaller than other watches of same case size. 39-40 is my sweetspot for a daily but I prefer 41-42 for divers and chronos
The lugs are too long in my opinion and the male end links did not help on the bracelet. Perhaps it’d be better on a leather strap.
Longines lugs are always long!
I tried on the 39mm Rolex Explorer at an AD back in 2018 when it was the current model. I had devoured everything thing I could find about the Explorer online and was smitten. But when I tried on the 39mm version I realized it was not for me. Something juts didn't feel right. Honestly, I was a bit crushed. As luck would have it I couldn't afford the watch anyways, so put the Explorer out of my mind and moved on to other great watches that were more in my "in between jobs" budget range.
Fast forward a couple of years to a new career and job that allowed me to pursue frivolous "wants" once my "needs" were met, and the release of the new 36mm Explorer, ref 124270 and the Explorer was back on the menu. Got mine earlier this year and love it. Ironically enough, shortly after I got the 36mm Rolex released the 40mm Explorer. While it's an improvement over the 39mm version, I'm still firmly Team 36!
I guess the morale of my story, if there is one, is patience. While it may feel like you're back to square one, you won't be there long!
So as always, pics when you get it!
I was convinced the BB54 was the perfect diver for me (I prefer watches in the 36-38mm range) but when I tried it on at the AD I was seriously underwhelmed. I'm going to go back at some point to try again in case I was just having a bad day.
Funny - the first time I tried the Black Bay 54, I was pretty underwhelmed too. But the second time, I liked it a lot more. Same with the Ranger - I didn’t like it at all initially, but liked it a lot more each time I saw it (neither enough to pull the trigger though). I’ve had the opposite reaction too: loving a watch on the first try, but liking it a lot less subsequently (The Grand Seiko SBGE285 springs to mind).
Tudors strength isn't in their first impressions. They are humble and robust beaters that grow on you over time as your "ol' faithfuls" in the collection.