My ~$30k Dream Watch Collection (Right Now 😉)
It’s a moving target, for sure, but I think I’ve nailed down my “realistic” dream watch collection. Not talking win-the-lottery-buy-Lange’s-whole-catalog sort of dreaming here, just what might be possible over a lifetime of hard work and wise decisions (or if things were to go very well sooner than that 🤞)
Grand Seiko SLGA007—THAT DIAL!! 🤤
JLC Reverso Monoface — classic, beautiful, technically refined, and just plain interesting.
Omega Speedmaster— Because you have to, haha also I’m something of a NASA nerd.
Omega AquaTerra Small Seconds— sporty, capable, and with a beautiful dial layout and finishing. Not to mention I really dig small seconds complications.
Tudor Pelagos— My idea of the, admittedly oxymoronic, “luxury beater.” I love the titanium, the proportions, the crisp lines, and striking blue.
Ultimately this is all just dreaming, as my most expensive watch is currently sitting at about $1100, but hey, this is something of an aspirational hobby by nature and that’s part of the fun!
How about you? What would be your ~$30k five watch dream lineup?
Just a man with a few too many watches…
I have a co-worker who I lent my SLGA007 to. He absolutely fell in love with it, and told me that he was obsessed with the watch. And then he recently went to an AD and they showed him the new SLGA021, and he says now that he prefers the 021, because the dial is more subtle!
My response...
I have a co-worker who I lent my SLGA007 to. He absolutely fell in love with it, and told me that he was obsessed with the watch. And then he recently went to an AD and they showed him the new SLGA021, and he says now that he prefers the 021, because the dial is more subtle!
My response...
I agree with your co-worker, I think the more subtle dial is nicer as well.
I agree with your co-worker, I think the more subtle dial is nicer as well.
It’s an interesting topic. I’ve often thought what my ‘exit’ collection would look like and I’ve acquired a couple of pieces with a few more to go.
Santos
SMP
BBPro (didn’t realise how much I’d like this watch even when I bought it. It’s defo grown on me the most)
GMT II Pepsi (waiting for the call….)
And the grails - VC Overseas Dualtime and a Cartier Tank Louis in yellow gold.
The Speedmaster you’ve chosen is a tricky one for me because I’m not sure if I like it for what it is or because of what it represents and how iconic it is.
Great looking fantasy collection. Very blue focused!
Great looking fantasy collection. Very blue focused!
What can I say? 🤷♂ lol
Maybe swap the monoface Reverso for duoface with black on the other side? Just to have my bases covered, of course. Haha
What can I say? 🤷♂ lol
Maybe swap the monoface Reverso for duoface with black on the other side? Just to have my bases covered, of course. Haha
I feel like you gotta switch out the speedy pro for the 57" in blue, or a silver snoopy just to complete the theme. But hey, also can't go wrong with the classic. 🙂
I feel like you gotta switch out the speedy pro for the 57" in blue, or a silver snoopy just to complete the theme. But hey, also can't go wrong with the classic. 🙂
You have a point, it’s awfully hard to argue with this…
I have a co-worker who I lent my SLGA007 to. He absolutely fell in love with it, and told me that he was obsessed with the watch. And then he recently went to an AD and they showed him the new SLGA021, and he says now that he prefers the 021, because the dial is more subtle!
My response...
Totally agree! I think it’s missing the pop of gold from the logo and seconds hand. That’s actually one of the little things I love about my Alpinist ‘59 reinterpretation.
This part killed me because that’s literally me 😂
A reasonable amount for me to spend on a dream collection one day, say for a retirement gift to myself, would probably be a similar amount. I’d have to go with a similar collection.
Grand Seiko SLGA007, SLGH013, or SLGA013
Moonwatch (like you said, you just have to lol)
Glashütte Original PanoMaticLunar
CasiOak
Casio F91W
I have a co-worker who I lent my SLGA007 to. He absolutely fell in love with it, and told me that he was obsessed with the watch. And then he recently went to an AD and they showed him the new SLGA021, and he says now that he prefers the 021, because the dial is more subtle!
My response...
Love this. I was dead set on getting a 007, then realized if I flip it 90 degrees and paint it white, it is more or less a white birch, which is an awesome watch, so. Now, I know it is a different stamp, etc, but I could not unsee it at the time since they were dropping different versions of the birch. That said, if I come across one for $6K, I will wear the hell out of it. In terms of the 007 vs. 021, I am going for less subtle every time.
I have few in my collection and would love to add to my fantasy collection and working hard to get there.. I would like to add for now..
#rolex GMT master-ii Pepsi & Explorer-ii polar
#jlc reverso with annual calendar and moon phase
#panerai with 10 days reserve and day-night indicator
Beautiful collection, I think I’m there with 4 <$30k, but not done yet.
GS Winter and Skyflake
Omega Seamaster 300 NTTD and Speedmaster Moonphase
I have a co-worker who I lent my SLGA007 to. He absolutely fell in love with it, and told me that he was obsessed with the watch. And then he recently went to an AD and they showed him the new SLGA021, and he says now that he prefers the 021, because the dial is more subtle!
My response...
The 007 wins hands down. I need a touch of color on the seconds hand.
That is a classic collection already! The two-tone would be a sweet addition. There’s something about the gold in the bezel of that particular subby that just makes the blue look so rich. Beautiful!
As for redundancy, I think you can probably tell from my dream picks that I don’t believe in such a thing as a “redundant blue dial” haha.
I am really trying to get to a 4 core watch collection (plus a few affordables to keep things fun) of Explorer, Santos, Speedy, and Pelagos (debating between 42mm blue, FXD, or whenever a 39mm blue Pelagos gets released)
Basically same as you! I’d make it an Olympic Speed-master though.
Woooow… you weren’t kidding. That’s amazing
Probably the best looking movement under $10k. Maybe some JLC movements and the new Grand Seiko 9SA5 can compete but I’m not sure they beat this GO for the price.
I have a co-worker who I lent my SLGA007 to. He absolutely fell in love with it, and told me that he was obsessed with the watch. And then he recently went to an AD and they showed him the new SLGA021, and he says now that he prefers the 021, because the dial is more subtle!
My response...
Subtle? More like boring. *slap-punch
This is a great collection, but you are missing a diver and/or a GMT. That Aqua terra is really nice, but I reckon either a Seamaster 300 or a planet ocean GMT would be better. The JLC is a dress watch and the Aqua terra is as well. You only need one dress watch, but at the end of the day you could dress up or down any of them.
Love the dial on that GS! I have that AT, but in two tone. It’s a great watch, even better than pictures online show.
This is a great collection, but you are missing a diver and/or a GMT. That Aqua terra is really nice, but I reckon either a Seamaster 300 or a planet ocean GMT would be better. The JLC is a dress watch and the Aqua terra is as well. You only need one dress watch, but at the end of the day you could dress up or down any of them.
Thanks! Good point about the dress watch and GMT situation. I’d say my rationale is this: the Pelagos covers the diver/daily/“beater” arenas, and I like that the AquaTerra can bridge the gap between dress and sport. On leather it’d be classy enough for semi-dress yet the 150m wr and the blue rubber strap it can have a more casual vibe. As for a GMT, it’s a really cool complication, but it would have eaten up a bigger chunk of the budget than it would be worth for me. I don’t travel more than one maybe two time zones all that much, and if I did travel internationally, I probably wouldn’t be comfortable wearing a multi-thousand dollar watch doing so. I would either rock my Casio Royale, Oceanus, or maybe something affordable with the Miyota 9075.
Nice post ! A white gold Calatrava , A Glashutte Panamatic, and a JlC burgundy reverso, ((so I am a little over 30 , ) hah
Great choices! I feel like we are kindred spirits. My current line up includes a number of those.
a reverso, but I went with the Duoface.
A GS, but I went with the new Hi-beat
An Aqua Terra, but I wanted the orange seconds hand.
And a Tudor diver, but the bronze pulled me in.
The Speedy never spoke to me, but I’d love to add a JLC Master Control chrono one day. But, because of the above watches my piggy bank is quite empty, lol.
Kindred spirits indeed, sir! 🤝 — that AquaTerra is super sharp, love it.
Thanks! Good point about the dress watch and GMT situation. I’d say my rationale is this: the Pelagos covers the diver/daily/“beater” arenas, and I like that the AquaTerra can bridge the gap between dress and sport. On leather it’d be classy enough for semi-dress yet the 150m wr and the blue rubber strap it can have a more casual vibe. As for a GMT, it’s a really cool complication, but it would have eaten up a bigger chunk of the budget than it would be worth for me. I don’t travel more than one maybe two time zones all that much, and if I did travel internationally, I probably wouldn’t be comfortable wearing a multi-thousand dollar watch doing so. I would either rock my Casio Royale, Oceanus, or maybe something affordable with the Miyota 9075.
I think that you are right about traveling with an expensive watch. You are better off with something inexpensive. I like the Pelagos as another option. They look really good and they are tough, and robust and they still have that Rolex DNA.
If I think on this my brain will implode 🙂 I do like most of your choices though:)
That’s pretty much my current line up! I was lucky enough to bag the GS007 pre-order. I have a Speedy reduced which I love.
SLGA007, SBGH267, SBGW255 , SBGA485
I know, I'm GS nerd