This watch broke my heart

Maybe there's some truth in the saying You should never meet your heroes. 
Though, I'm certain another piece to desire will come along, one that might fulfill that anticipation in the flesh. Until then, a Seiko as consolation sounds like a great idea.

You know, funny enough, I think I've felt that way about every single watch I've purchased.  I mean, you want it for soooooooooooo long, and after the 3 day wait, nothing can live up to the expectations.

But, also funny enough, I've also found that after some time, my excitement for the watch starts to grow again.  This is precisely what happened with the GS White Birch.  Bought it, and within a couple of weeks, was thinking of getting rid of it, and now 9 months later, I really can't imagine parting with it.

Also, also funny enough, this is precisely what I think my wife went through when she finally agreed to marry me.  Took 16 years of me stalking...  er...  being persistent, and she finally said "yes."  And, right away, I think this summed up her feelings on the whole being married to me thing...

[Me = Dwight, her = Jim]

But, after 12 years of marriage, I think she's gone from unhappy to just bored now, which is a marked improvement!

Part of our masochism is the amount of time we spend researching, watching videos, etc. It is hard to live up to the expectations in our head.

I love this watch on paper and really want to support Fears, but simply haven’t pulled the trigger.

Yes…I know how exactly how you feel sadly…😔 

once The hunt is over it feels empty… you look at your collection and when you feel contentment it’s just feels boring…

I was talking to my wife about it yesterday on the way home from Costco…

Me: finding and feeling content or full just felt so boring, I’m dont feel excited or wanna learn more about something it’s just feels blah?!

wife: what did you say?!!

oh well 🥲😟

Love the cushion case, but the lugs look awfully straight!

Internet watch shopping is like internet dating, full of disappointment in the flesh 😅

Just talked about this in this thread. 

There's that element of wonder and anticipation that the imagination can overwhelm us with that reality can seem so dramatically dull upon arrival.

i think this one doesnt look right sitting on your wrist because of the big size. the shape case remind me of panerai watch. it look nice but when you put it on your wrist it doesnt sit right because you and me have a tiny wrist. but this one will suit you better in my opinion

It's certainly taught me that spending more won't give any more satisfaction. The Fears costs about £3.5k. I've got several watches that cost <£100 that give me a better feeling on the wrist than this did. I guess.... that's a good thing? 😆

So what's my takeaway from this babes?

Buy it and hope my crushing disappointment turns into mild resentment? 

Like you I really like the ethos behind Fears and really really wanted to love this little known watch. The only other time I've had this feeling is with the Alsta Nautoscaph reissue. Again, I was convinced this watch was made for me but it just didn't spark joy on the wrist.

I used to be a big researcher before pulling the trigger, but other than the Fears I have been more spontaneous with my watch buying recently, and that certainly has its advantages.

Maybe I don't WANT to find the perfect watch. Where's the fun in that? 

Thrill of the hunt is where it's at. 

I feel your pain.  I circle around the SBGM221 every couple of months and whenever I put it on wrist, I feel less than I think I ought to.

I'll just leave this here.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/284906922132?epid=5052092300&hash=item4255c6a094:g:WbIAAOSwzMFi22yg&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAA0A4kysivDSXfY%2Fqc0HVGFbRZTnYtGOHvZq5bZSiCOVGtMP0aGntwYftCQZWMXFl52gJx6R8nmY6Xl5sy3BRIeYY6Jtw%2Ff2n6PrSNH1KpJ41qygF2VMOo%2Bz%2BQgMUvtB%2Bf8HTSyhct8coQJplTcPkG7WDx7k%2BDAsOdZrB3UFTfZ7l%2BvpMqxGBiW65TOM4Vwm24LXhPR4y4eDmOWDH4eXPZEW%2B0AQYiVjQr9xg8553MiBHb%2BEBxdnxELKtU5PC6tsuRES%2FLiDaaHx1xwchMh%2Frv6pM%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR66nksHXYA 

Can't get your link to take me anywhere 😟

But yes, I agree. I think the long period of anticipation didn't help in my scenario. But that's not the same for everyone, surely? Surely there are people who are living the dream with the grail they have lusted after? 🫤 I hope so.

I don't see it. It screams old world european from the 40's with hands they forgot to lume and the small seconds in a square case. Dial color is 1950's. 

I actually saw this in the same AD a month or so ago but didn't try it on at the time. Obviously a mistake 😟

It was actually the version without the small seconds that they had, which I think isn't quite as beautiful as the one you have pictured.... Maybe I should ask them to get it in again for me to look at?... Or would that make it a rebound watch? 😆

Did you get that feeling straight away out of the box that it wasn't going to work out? Or was it a gradual realisation?

It's so strange isn't it when on paper a watch should be everything you're looking for... but it isn't... 😕

Yes, I can totally relate to it. I had been eyeing the Longines Legend diver for some time now. The local boutique called me up the other day to let me know that it was back in stock. This green dial beauty was what I had been waiting for the last 10 months... I went there to buy myself the greatest feeling ever (if you know what I mean) and suddenly when I saw the watch in flesh, everything chaged. I no longer wanted to buy it... I dont know why.. I guess my hear what drenched in wine or something😉. I was depressed and there was feeling of dismay that rose out of nothing. I was new this feeling and  couldnt  logically justify the reasons or the questions I was asking to myself. I went there the very next day and bought me a Seiko King Turtle. I am a bit content now.. 

Maybe it is a subconscious issue with the aesthetic which just doesn't sit right with me and stops me falling for it.

I do very much love vintage watches but have only dared go back as far as the 70's so far. Spending 'proper money' on watches older than that will involve a good deal of research into trusted retailers I think, rather than my usual eBay approach of: Search Seiko -> Filter UK Only -> Sort by lowest price first.

Wise words 🍻 I already have my eyes on a commiseration piece and have £3.5k in the bank towards it now 😁

Its a great watch for lots of reasons and I'm sure it'll make some wearers very happy. I almost feel a bit guilty for not liking it as FEARS themselves seem like a great company. But you're right... it is liberating to be able to put it behind me and move on. 👍

It's been a gradual realization for me. I just don't seem to click with it.

I remember your post, and yes, a similar experience! 🍻

Yes, perhaps part of our journey in collecting is to try and refine our understanding of that intangible quality that makes a watch a true keeper.

So so true. Aurelian has sent me off down the vintage rabbit hole now.

I meant to reply to this when you originally posted and I'm sure I am echoing what others have said above and what you know already, but I have found that the watches I have bought on a whim: I tend to have an amazing passionate honeymoon with and then.....nothing, but the watches I have thought about for ages and ages and either deliberated on or waited on, well, when they arrive: they don't live up to what my desires thought they would be and they go into the watch box and are unworn for a while, with a sense of disappointment. But then, after a few weeks or months, I remember them, and I wear them and, more often than not, the love affair rekindles and those are the watches I keep forever, whilst the others tend to be sold on.

(I am literally going through this now with my Sinn 556 I RS, a watch I waited for for months and then I finally bought it, and, well, it didn't live up to my dreams so sat in the watch box unloved for 6 months, but I put it on today for varieties-sake and it has been like the experience I always hoped it would be and I may not take it off for quite a while, and it's a keeper)

TL;DR: lust is not the same as love. You've lusted after this watch for ages, it's no surprise that the reality doesn't live up to your fantasy....

...or it could just be a crap watch.

i can't help but see the resemblance to a Panerai. Probably the radiomir would be even closer haha but the case and bezel are 1:1 to my Luminor Due. 

100% can identify with your post. 🥴🤣 I’ll fall in love with a newly released model. Adore all macro photography of its intricacies and let youtube seduce me further with countless reviews.  Then try it on and … it’s too thick, it sits awkward, it doesn’t sparkle in the light right and it just doesn’t do it for me. I used to purchase online before trying on. No more. Gotta pretend to care at a watch dealer first before any major online purchases go down. Lol. Happy watch hunting! ⏱✨⏱

How much did Fears borrow from this?

Ok, no cushion case, but it is pretty close.

Man it is crushing to have that happen but also what keeps us honest. I commend you on not just buying it. That is the first step to being a watch lover and not a hording collector, Cheers sir!

the salmon dial looks amazing in photos...when not on a wrist. i see it on a wrist and the dial just blends in the the skin and there isn't enough contrast. however their champagne dial looks amazing on wrist!