What makes a Grail?

I suppose for me, my grail has always been just one watch. A 90s era Explorer 1. I’ve bought and sold another Rolex model that I thought would scratch the itch but it didn’t. Will I ever get the explorer? Maybe? Possibly? I really don’t know. But it’s what I think about when I think about buying another watch.

To distill down your definition, would it be accurate to say the following?

A grail watch is:

• Something you have wanted to own for a considerable amount of time

• Has remained outside of your budget/ability to find for that entire time.

Would it further be accurate to say that it is reasonable that at some point in the future you MIGHT be able to obtain it?

The basic definition is “a thing that is eagerly pursued or sought after”. With that said, and the points you put forward, I don’t think price should be a requirement. For me, a grail watch is one I have dreamed of owning and one I always make sure to check out when I am at an AD.

I am a watch enthusiast without any grails, I have goals and events that hopefully will be realized sooner than later but do not involve a timepiece. Lately, I have been mulling over the extent of my passion for watches, has never been more than the nice feeling of a functioning timepiece on my wrist. Lol.

I always wanted an SM300 heritage, it was my Grail for many years. Then I had an inheritance & got it. I now own 3 Omega's, including my "Grail" ...

So I'd argue there's levels - attainable,no matter the cost as circumstances can change, & "Holy Grail" level pieces, the actual watches that make those stories we read about, like Buzz's Speedy, Newman's Daytona, Cousteau's whatever. 🤔

I think the difference is that you CAN have it; it will just take time and effort to obtain it. I see many people have these outrageous grails where only 100 were ever made, and that cost the GDP of a small country. What's the point of that? I would rather dream of owning a BMW or Audi rather than a Bugatti. a bit more realistic. I understand that we all have to dream but it is better to reach your goals, right?

mostly hype. hype makes a grail.

A grail is a watch that is out of reach by a massive amount because it is so popular, if it wasn't you could just go and buy it (because there is less demand making prices lower) or at least save up for it in a reasonable amount of time (and so it wouldn't be a grail).

And I think the word is over used, grail to me means something you will never own unless you win the lottery and do so on an occasion with a large jackpot.

on top of what’s already been listed;

When or if I ever get my Tudor… I won’t make a poll asking should I get X or Y. I won’t ask if it’s a good price, I already know. Most importantly, there’s no alternative or place holder. There’s probably hundreds of watches similar in design, none will suffice.

I have Grail watches (capital G) and attainable grail watches (lower case g). I can only afford to spend $$$ on lower case grails at the moment.

I try to justify a grail by attaching meaning or major milestones to them, give them importance to me.

I haven't bought a watch on a whim besides cheap Casios. I want to keep my grails more special that way.

Personally, I use the term ‘grail’ in the same sense as ‘holy grail’. It’s a unique, possibly-mythical entity that you could spend your whole life seeking, and never get close to.

Some watch examples might be: a flight-used Apollo Omega Speedmaster; the actual Rolex 6538 worn by Sean Connery as Bond.

I definitely don’t use the word ‘grail’ to mean ‘watch I can’t afford’. So, although there are plenty of watches I desire and may never afford, they are not grails.

“Indiana Jones and The Saved-A-Bit-Longer-And-Bought-It-Second-Hand” is lacking a lot of the romance, don’t you think? (Although it’s probably still more watchable than Dial of Destiny!)

I agree with the general consensus regarding the various definitions of a "grail" as it relates to wrist watches. The term can and does mean different things to different people ...

Can't help but think of the Monty Python film every time I read or hear the word "grail" though! LOL!! Classic comedy! 👍

Bizarrely I have just posted about having an epiphany around my watch collecting and the realisation that I actually own my grail pieces. Pieces that were unattainable in the 80s/90s literally unavailable. But I have been lucky in life and that my unattainable became attainable. And even though I own them they remain my grail pieces, nothing else gives me the wearing satisfaction like they do. No matter the watch.

I want to be known as Judith 😂

For me there are different levels of Grail watch. There is the watch that is currently financially unattainable, but with a a year of saving or so I "could" get it. Maybe in the 1-2 thousand dollar range. Then there is the watch that I could only get after the lottery like an RGM.

For now I'll stick with NH movements and enjoy.

To me, it's very much something rare and/or outside your budget. If you literally could up and buy it today, I don't think it is a grail.

For example, this watch is 50 pieces, US only, and $45,000. Even if I had the money (I don't) and could get hands on one, where on earth would I wear it?

The problem is, if we allow terms to mean anything to anyone— they start to mean nothing.

A grail can't be both an object that inspires an entire lifetime of hard work, and also a watch that someone just happens to want next. When we dilute the recognition of significant achievement, we erode our ability to have meaningful connections with other watch folks.

(and that's why we're all here, right? to connect with folks that 'get it'?)

Life often favors the specific ask and punishes the vague wish.

I think a Grail watch is one you have wanted for a long time, is clearly out of you cost comfort zone and you realize that you may or may not be able to get one some day. I don’t expect a person will have more than one or two Grails. I don’t have a Grail, mostly because I think money is too valuable to spend it on something like a watch that is such a stretch financially.

I disagree slightly, everything from food to cars to sexual attraction is about your own individualism and your psychological interpretation of of it, which is overwhelmingly based on emotion. So the perception of ‘Grail watch’ is literally interpreted slightly differently by all. I own my Grail watch, I refer to it as my grail watch, but is it? Now that I own it. As it is not now something that is out of my reach.

In general the Grail is a fantasy and exactly like the origins of the word, it refers to whimsical fairytales and dreams that are out of reach or do not exist. And in all honesty I refer to my watches as grail because its become part of Watch lore slang.

A grail should be something that you want and is different from everyone else’s. Everyone has his/her own taste, budget, wants and needs.

All of us are different and it is not about the price. For some, a $500 watch can be a grail and it’s totally fine. I don’t think the value defines as a “grail”. It is something that you want and you work hard for it. So it can apply to anything.

Watch collecting is fun and sometimes stressful. Why not make it more fun? It’s the joy of working hard for a piece, wearing and enjoying it. That’s a grail piece for me.

Cheer to all!