Has the Exit Watch to be expensive ?
picture courtesy of ablogtowatch
Our crazy hobby has many "exit watch"stories, where, after having sailed the perilous waters of on-line buying and selling for too long, read too many stories about Submariners, Speedmasters, El Primeros and Nautiluses, the tired collector decides to empty the sock drawer, take the hit, live the rest of his or her life with just ONE watch and read Town and Country instead of Hodinkee
And quite often, we see high to very high end stuff being referred to : Vacheron Constantin, Grönefeld, Laurent Ferrier, Roger Smith, Philippe Dufour and such like.
I have no plan to disengage from the watch world, but if I were to refocus my free time, I think my Tudor Black Bay 58 would be a much better single watch, collecting dings and scratches along the way without me worrying too much, rather than a six figure grail item.
What's your view, watchfam ? Do you have an Exit plan ?
Three-handler, no complications kind of guy Been into watches since 2012, took me 10 years to finally know what I like in a watch
I have had the incredible privelege to own some of the watches mentioned in your list and others even more rare....And I ended up selling a number of them because I had to be continually concious of not scratching them or having them stolen during business trips. Not to mention the very high insurance costs. Thieves today, (people as well as governments), are savvy, brazen and read watch catalogues in advance; it is a whole new ball game owning a nice watch.
I realized how relaxed I was in daily life with a simple and accurate Casio G Shock on my wrist without a care in the world...But I really prefer a mechanical watch in the end, even for everyday.
My soulution was a Rolex Explorer 39mm that I just wear to death without caring about anything. When it goes in for servicing in some year's time, it can be made up like new anyhow. A classic 'timekeeper' that is under the radar.
The vintage pieces and rare watches only come out for special occasions. Maybe that's a shame, but it's the reality of the world we live in today.
no exit plan here, but I agree that an only and everyday watch is much more enjoyable if you don't have to worry about it
I don't remember who said it, but a fellow member here had a post saying something along the lines of, "When it comes to toys, you should only buy it if you can afford to lose it or wreck it."
In line with that thinking, I can't imagine myself acquiring an "exit watch." 95% of the enjoyment of this hobby is the anticipation of the next watch - whether it's a $10 Casio or a $10k luxury piece.
I greatly admire the Lange Zeitwerk Honeygold Lumen, but per @theodore's comment, would never feel comfortable wearing it on my wrist.
I think the idea of an "exit" watch is a bit of a strange one. I may decide some day to stop spending as much time, and energy on watches as I do now, but I see no reason to get rid of what I have already bought. Perhaps it's because years ago I decided to stick in the world of "affordable" or entry level" watches, so I don't have tens of thousands of dollars tied up in watches.
If I was to choose an "exit" watch it would either be my CW C63, or my Damasko DS30. Simple three hander watches with a date, that can go anywhere, and do anything I'll ever do.
Similar to what @Omeganut said, I've heard, and agree with the idea that if you can't afford to buy the watch twice, you can't afford to buy it.