Has anyone “settled” and it turn out okay…
Recently I was at Ben Bridges in Honolulu window shopping. The store, which has an awesome selection of brands was practically empty and the staff there was super friendly and helpful despite me announcing that I was “just looking around”.
I’ve wanted a blue dial OP for the last 3 years, I had previously put a request at the local AD back home and got a call within a couple months but had some unexpected expenses just before and had to decline. Since then , Tudor has released the Black Bay Heritage in 36 (2023) in this blue with a jubilee bracelet and I got to try it on. And I really, really liked it. Kind of got the same feeling when I tried on the blue dial OP. I was very close to pulling the trigger but thought if I settled would I still be yearning for the OP, and waste the $3800 on a watch I would hardly wear after getting the OP.
Has anyone “settled” and everything end up okay? Love to hear people’s thoughts.
I’ve always worn a watch as far as I can remember starting with a Texas Instruments digital watch with a Star Wars theme. Mostly interested in mechanical watches but I don’t snub my nose at a nice qua...
If you are asking the question, you already know the answer.
Right ?
For me, if there's a watch I've always wanted & that watch is one of the classics, no other watch, no matter how beautiful, will fill that gap.
The blue OP is exactly that type of watch. It's a watch that I own & will never let go. It's a classic, it's beautifully designed & finished. I'd hold out for it, you won't regret it.
My wife ended up settling on me. We're still married and have a couple of kids.
I bought a Lorier Neptune as a "placeholder" for a Black Bay 58 and have since really started to prefer the Neptune over the Tudor. I have spoken to others who had this same experience, which is lucky for us because it's like 1/7th the price.
If you're choosing between two luxury watches though, I might just hold off for the one you want. In for a dime, in for a dollar.
If you are asking the question, you already know the answer.
Right ?
No, no I don’t, that’s why I’m asking…😊
No, no I don’t, that’s why I’m asking…😊
LOL .
Ok. I will answer for you. You want the Rolex.
If you are asking the question, you already know the answer.
Right ?
Your Tudor Day Date is beautiful, do they still produce it?
Yes 14mths ago I purchased the Tudor RP Chrono after asking about a Daytona.
Love it & the Daytona has not been on my list since.
It’s the same company and virtually the same watch. So, I think if you like both equally, then go Tudor.
BUT - nobody else will notice a Tudor on your wrist. Buy it for your you. Everyone will notice a Rolex and assume you are rich or flexing or both, buy that watch to impress others
I had the same moment with you brother, i got the bb41 anthracite and thought “hey this is it”. But the AD called to let me know that the OP41 black dial that i wanted is ready for pick up. I still bought the watch and wore it every now and then. I wore the bb41 anthracite daily and wear the OP41 black dial on weekends. Cheers!
If you know what you want, don’t Settle…
Stick to your guns and hold off.
Nothing will replace your grail. The Tudor is a great watch. But you don’t want the Tudor. You want the Blue Bezel OP. Wait. They are great and classic.
Your Tudor Day Date is beautiful, do they still produce it?
Thank you. In fact, I was wearing today.
Yes, it is still produced and it is on their website. I have the Champagne-colour jacquard dial with a 18K bezel and crown. It is on the Tudor leather black strap because I think with the gold/steel bracelet it may have been too much gold. I am in Canada and I asked my AD 3x time to order it for me. On the 3rd try, Tudor said this watch was not intended for sale in the North American market. So, I bought it on a trip to Asia. The movement is an ETA and not a Kinesis movement so this model is not as expensive as my BB58 or BB Pro.
BTW, I am in a very similar boat as you are. I have been looking for the last 9 or 12 month for a "dress" watch with a pronounced blue sunburst dial. I have never seen the blue OP and it seem to have a sunburst that I would like. However, I do not hang out in Rolex AD with all the little green signs that nothing is for sale. They are like museums. I have seen the Tudor BB blue and the sunburst was so so as I recall but the bracelet was stunning. My problem is that I already have 2 snowflake watches.
I have been looking at GS but their blue dial might be too dark in regular light.
PS. Found this picture on the net. Not sure to whom give credit :(
Meanwhile, here is the slot in my watchbox for my blue "dress" watch.
Yes , I wanted a black date submariner; story short I end up buying the blue black bay, after a couple of months I got the call for the submariner and got it ( pure luck) plot twist I use my black bay more, I feel it’s my first expensive watch and just love it. And me saying so casually that I went to the AD and got it … I basically had to control any type of spending for a while
Considering my dream watch collection would cost $45k, I can safely say that all my watches are me essentially settling. Personally, if settling still evokes that feeling I was hoping to get or if it checks off the box I wanted it to, is it really settling?
IMO don't settle. Wait for the OP.
I was trying to decide between an Oris Divers 65 and BB58, ended up copping the Divers 65 as I could just resell it if it didn’t scratch the itch. I’ve since tried a BB58 and compared the two and I prefer the Divers 65 in pretty much every way.
My wife ended up settling on me. We're still married and have a couple of kids.
Cuz your a diamond in the rough!! 🍻
Op is very nice watch, but tudor has nicer indexes ( 3 and 9 specially), hands...
But again, tudor is rolex's son. So if you are looking for flex, history, heritage, go for the Rolex.
I like op and daydate, but for me it is too much of a flex, so my first choice always was aquaterra. I bought it and I am very happy with it.
I was after a blue Milgauss, as I loved the dial and green crystal, but when I tried it on I felt it was a bit too thick and sat a lot higher than I was expecting. Disappointed, I had a look round the AD and when I saw the blue dial on the Royal I was smitten. I bought it and love it. So although it’s not a direct replacement or comparable to the Milgauss, the Royal was a great addition to my collection in its own right. I’ve other Tudors, but would never tried on the Royal if it wasn’t for my Milgauss Quest! I still love the Milgauss and will likely get one in the future, but the Royal dial bowled me over like the Milgauss! I did the same when looking for a Daytona and as the Rolex dial looked a little small on my wrist (sacrilege, I know), I fell in love with the Speedy Pro and ‘settled’ for that!
At the start of covid I agreed to buy a rado captain cook the buyer after a week refunded my money and said he wasn’t prepared to go to post office. So after the initial disappointment I bought a sinn 104 and wow I loved it I’m now on my 6th and I’m thinking of my 7th so yes it’s possible. Also I have had my name down for a OP41 silver dial id given up expecting one and bought a grand seiko gmt while putting my details in the computer the lady serving said would I like the OP today I laughed and said I was spending the money on the GS she said I could have the Op instead as I hadn’t yet paid. I declined best move I’ve made I love the Gs it’s a fantastic watch and I made the right move. Just make sure the replacement floats your boat and you won’t regret it
No, it doesn't work for me. Not that I need expensive watches, but each watch has to convince me based on its own merits.
Never settle. Go for what you really want.
I’ve always been a fan of the Rolex Submariner. At this point in my life, it’s too much of a stretch for me to spend this kind of money on a watch - this may change later down the line. But I recently picked up a Tudor BlackBay 54 and I absolutely love it. You get so much for the money - in-house movement, glide lock clasp, vintage/modern style etc.
Just to keep this topic going, these 2 watches are obvious (to me) as options that pay respect to what I’d ideally want if I had the pockets for it.
This is what I ended up buying in lieu of a green Omega AT. It checks so many of the boxes and roles that I’d want from an Omega AT.
I bought this because I love the retro vibes and it pays respect to the Omega Seamaster 300:
While I technically “settled”, I don’t feel like I’m inherently missing out (within reason) because of the roles I wanted these watches to fill and the overall look/emotions that these watches fulfill.
Behold my Rolex OP36 and my Doxa Sub300:
I really don't regret them at all. In time I have found that I probably with the ones I got instead of "upgrading". A higher price or more reconizable brand does not make a watch more attractive too me.
Just to keep this topic going, these 2 watches are obvious (to me) as options that pay respect to what I’d ideally want if I had the pockets for it.
This is what I ended up buying in lieu of a green Omega AT. It checks so many of the boxes and roles that I’d want from an Omega AT.
I bought this because I love the retro vibes and it pays respect to the Omega Seamaster 300:
While I technically “settled”, I don’t feel like I’m inherently missing out (within reason) because of the roles I wanted these watches to fill and the overall look/emotions that these watches fulfill.
Both very nice watches. The Baltic with a few more years (well maybe more than a few) will become iconic.
Don’t settle. Make it a goal and take small steps. You will get there. It took me three years to get the Tudor GMT.
For a while I wanted a Rolex Explorer. I instead purchased a Longines Conquest in black. It has a little Explorer like DNA. Since doing so I’ve been happy with my purchase and the desire for the Explorer has subsided.
Considered buying a Tudor pelagos at one point. Bought the nodus sector deep on a whim and it’s become one of my favorite watches. I definitely won’t be buying the Tudor now. I think a lot depends on you and your tastes. If you really want the Rolex( for the heritage I.e flex factor) it might bug you to settle but if it’s more a certain style or look you are going for I think you got a good shot of it being enough to go with the Tudor.