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Late to the party here, but I own a 99.1 and it is quite possibly the best purchase I have ever made (be it a watch or something else). Absolutely love it, a beautiful piece. Highly recommend!
Let us know what you're thinking. We're looking to plan a repeat visit as we had so much fun the first time but somehow didn't see all the watches. We're definitely up for expanding the crew!
So I approached this as an exercise in adding to my current collection, not in a vaccum. Current collection:
Rolex Datejust: Classic look but with just a touch of WOW with the red second hand. The first premium watch I owned and one that will be with me forever.
Dornbluth 99.1: The next watch I bought, ~15 years after the Rolex. I was looking for something classic, dressy that not everyone knew about. Love this watch (side benefit of bringing me into the WC community, courtesy of @HotWatchChick69 who saw it on my wrist and sparked the conversation that led me here)
https://www.dornblueth.com/ref.cal.99.1
And finally:
Grand Seiko SpringDrive: Also courtesy of @HotWatchChick69 , great addition to my collection. I wear it with a casual strap, never bracelet, to dress it down. Love that I can wear it to blue collar places for work without it seeming ostentacious, yet real watch nerds know it's much more baller than the Rollee:
https://www.exquisitetimepieces.com/grand-seiko-sbge257-sports-gmt.html
With that in mind, my picks for the $30K collection adds:
(1) Omega Aqua GMT Worldtimer (MSRP: $9,200) - I expected to have an Omega on my list but walked into the boutique thinking it would be the Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon. I was surprised that after closer inspection and trying a bunch on, the DSOM didn't even make my top three in the store. I loved this GMT Worldtimer. It just felt like a much more expensive watch, great texture on the dial, nice fit and finish and cool but totally useless functionality (in my current job I only travel domestically). This watch has jumped to the top of my want list and a good chance I'll take one home in real life as well as in this exercise
(2) Breitling Superocean Heritage Chronograph 44 (MSRP: $8,300) - I end up with my black chronometer, only it's a Breitling and not an Omega. I save a bundle in the "trade down" and come out with a watch I completely love. A year ago I'd have said the 44mm case was way too big, but now I'm more open to cool watches of all sizes. I don't have a black face watch in my collection...until now.
https://www.breitling.com/us-en/watches/superocean-heritage/b01-chronograph-44/AB0162121B1/
(3) Cartier Blue Du Cartier (MSRP: $6,050) - A real, no doubt about it dress watch. I tend to like watches that you can dress down, but there's no dressing down this baby. When I first got back into watches I completely dismissed Cartier as a "vanity brand", but I learned a little about the craftsmanship that goes into each piece and I came around. This has some familiar elements to me (blue hands, simple with just a touch of pop) and a couple new ones (I love the blue crown and, even more, how the face of the watch is shaped around the crown). Black tie events, meet your new watch.
(4) Panerai Radomir Base Logo (MSRP: $4,700) - I'm cheating a bit here because the Panerai that I'd actually buy, the Luminor Due Luna Rossa, didn't quite fit the budget so we're going with this one. This is probably the edge of the big size watches I could wear at 45mm, but f it, we got to 44 with the Breitling so why not. Clean look and another black face, but very different from the Breitling I picked up above. I've thought about pulling the trigger on a Panerai before, and now I finally do.
(5) Nomos Club Campus 38 Future Orange (MSRP: $1,650) - I'm running low on funds but not too low to pick up a cool, very fun piece. Super unlike anything I own, but something I'd definitely wear and, as I'm a Cincinnati bengals fan, it has a nice color match opportunity to boot. Here's hoping I get to wear it to next year's Super Bowl!
https://nomos-glashuette.com/en/club/club-campus-38-future-orange-729
I pick up five new watches that are both unlike each other and unlike anything I own. I'm thrilled with the way I spend my fake budget, and hope one day I get to do this spending spree for real!
Dornbluth & Sohn FTW (says the guy who has one as his profile pic...).
But seriously they're amazing and should be part of this!
The second part of my story was how in recent years I’ve changed the way I collect to be closer to that if my friend, and while my economic results went down, my enjoyment of my hobby went way up (which is much more important, it is after all a hobby). Now I’m all for changing it up for the sake of change. Can’t wait to see your new piece @HotWatchChick69 !!