In Love, Won't Marry
Is there a brand or model that you absolutely love or love the idea of loving that, for one reason or another, you just won't buy? You've been looking at it online, you probably even memorized the reference number. It's within your price range, you have the desire, fits well, on paper it's just perfect. However, you just know it's never gonna happen. You will never buy it.
For me it's the Timex Marlin Quartz Chronograph 40mm with the champagne dial.
I love the look, I've put and removed it in my shopping cart so many times. Every time I go to the mall, I always--ALWAYS--visit the Timex store and ask to try it on. It fits and looks even better in real life. It's certainly within my price range, a little over 200 USD. To me it's just, uhm, what's the word? Ideal.
However, everytime I think I'm ready to pull the trigger and I can see the excitement in the sales lady's eyes, I always--ALWAYS--say the same time, "I need time to think about it. Let me grab lunch and get back to you." I go to lunch and I never go back.
I don't know what it is. I love this watch but I just can't.
What about you? Any watch you love but would never commit to? What's a watch that's within your price range and you have the budget for (these parameters are important, you can't just say Patek Philippe Calatrava when 90 percent of us can't afford the damn thing) that you absolutely love but, you know in your heart of hearts, you will never buy?
I've got a god-shaped hole in my life that I'm trying to fill in futility with watches.
The Tissot Excellence in 18k solid yellow gold.
There's no occasion for me to wear a solid gold dress watch in my life.
My nemesis is the Pelagos 42. I had just sold my Submariner and I pulled the trigger and had my buddy that owns a jewelry store order it for me. Two days later he calls me to tell me he can't get it for me. They won't sell to him. He can get Rolex but not Tudor. After that I look at them online but just don't try an alternative way to get it.
JLC, I have a good friend who obsessed over the brand, especially Reversos. They were never my style but was convinced that I should at least own one or two. I was ready to pull the trigger on a triple calendar moonphase last year but opted for a Breitling Datora instead, just my last minute choice. I reached out to my friend to negotiate purchase of one of his beloved Reversos. Shockingly I am informed that he became bored with the watches and sold off, traded all but one which his wife likes. Helpfully he tells me that they are easily found at ads, pre own shops, grey market and even from his wife if I can pay her asking price.
The Tissot Excellence in 18k solid yellow gold.
There's no occasion for me to wear a solid gold dress watch in my life.
I do have an 18k solid gold watch but I still maintain that gold is a color, not material. Gold-plated is good enough. No one needs something that's solid gold. Lovely choice. I bet it'll look good on you as well.
I do have an 18k solid gold watch but I still maintain that gold is a color, not material. Gold-plated is good enough. No one needs something that's solid gold. Lovely choice. I bet it'll look good on you as well.
Sadly, there's no occasion for me to wear any gold dress watch, solid or plated. But maybe I can invent one! Thanks for the vote of confidence.
My nemesis is the Pelagos 42. I had just sold my Submariner and I pulled the trigger and had my buddy that owns a jewelry store order it for me. Two days later he calls me to tell me he can't get it for me. They won't sell to him. He can get Rolex but not Tudor. After that I look at them online but just don't try an alternative way to get it.
I'm on a waitlist for the Black Bay 54 but I really don't think I'll get the call or even get it if I did. The Pelagos is a great looking watch. I can see why you'd want one. I can also see why you won't go far and above to get it, I certainly wouldn't.
JLC, I have a good friend who obsessed over the brand, especially Reversos. They were never my style but was convinced that I should at least own one or two. I was ready to pull the trigger on a triple calendar moonphase last year but opted for a Breitling Datora instead, just my last minute choice. I reached out to my friend to negotiate purchase of one of his beloved Reversos. Shockingly I am informed that he became bored with the watches and sold off, traded all but one which his wife likes. Helpfully he tells me that they are easily found at ads, pre own shops, grey market and even from his wife if I can pay her asking price.
I'm the opposite. If I could buy only JLC I'll totally do it. If I could afford it, I'd get another Reverso too, redundant that might be.
Sadly, there's no occasion for me to wear any gold dress watch, solid or plated. But maybe I can invent one! Thanks for the vote of confidence.
I wear my dress watches at the office and in casual settings--short sleeves, shorts, sneakers and all. Just saying. Maybe that helps.
I'm the opposite. If I could buy only JLC I'll totally do it. If I could afford it, I'd get another Reverso too, redundant that might be.
lol! Your love for JLC is real and an excellent choice. Good luck on your new gig in Germany! Somehow I have never connected with the brand for a lot of curious reasons.
If you look at my postings, you'll see that I am firmly in the Timex camp.
For me it's dress watches. I love certain models, but know that they would get almost no wrist time, since I'm so drawn to sports watches. Here are a few examples:
Yep .. that’s the one
Mine is always the price affordability:)
Junghans Max Bill. Love the style, shape, everything, but it just does not look good on me. Morale: always shop at ADs with big mirrors. 🥸
This one:
Love Breguet, love everything about this watch, can afford it, been on my list for years but just can't justify the cost vs. wear time as I simply don't see myself wearing it daily/casually, hence limited to special occasions and/or dress attire.
3 things I'd change on this Timex: 1. Put back the missing 6 (in the same format as 9, 12, 3, and obviously beveled); 2. Remove the date window; 3. Pushers & crown in steel
For me it's the #rolex submariner, purely because you are either robbed or people think its a fake. Still love it though 😍
I've been going back and forth between new and vintage Hamilton Ventura. 2 years later, I have neither.
Two vintage watches: a Germinal Voltaire and a Timex 21. The 21 because it is American, not a pin pallet, and was the best mechanical watch Timex ever made. The GV was a smallish Swiss brand that produced dressy little gold three handers.
I have had the ability to buy each in the past few months in good condition and for not a lot of money. I passed each time. Maybe the allure of plated gold is not what it used to be. Maybe I already have too many in the same vein. If I dither long enough the fever breaks.
Two vintage watches: a Germinal Voltaire and a Timex 21. The 21 because it is American, not a pin pallet, and was the best mechanical watch Timex ever made. The GV was a smallish Swiss brand that produced dressy little gold three handers.
I have had the ability to buy each in the past few months in good condition and for not a lot of money. I passed each time. Maybe the allure of plated gold is not what it used to be. Maybe I already have too many in the same vein. If I dither long enough the fever breaks.
I often worry about having too many vintage dress watches. I mean, they're all dress watches now at this point, aren't they? I had to say no to a 1960s Junghans 17 jewel manual wind. I certainly can afford it but I'm wondering (worrying) where I'll end up if I just keep buying vintage.
The Germinal Voltaire (I had to look it up) looks like something I would buy and hate myself afterwards for getting.
I've been going back and forth between new and vintage Hamilton Ventura. 2 years later, I have neither.
I never saw the appeal of the Ventura, new or vintage. It's certainly unique and a head-turner. But the only value I see with it is that once upon a time Elvis wore the same watch, which means diddly squat to me. I like some of Elvis' music but not enough to get the Ventura.
For me it's the #rolex submariner, purely because you are either robbed or people think its a fake. Still love it though 😍
Agreed.
3 things I'd change on this Timex: 1. Put back the missing 6 (in the same format as 9, 12, 3, and obviously beveled); 2. Remove the date window; 3. Pushers & crown in steel
You're not wrong.
Junghans Max Bill. Love the style, shape, everything, but it just does not look good on me. Morale: always shop at ADs with big mirrors. 🥸
Ohhh. I would love to own a Max Bill. I think it will look good on me, even if I'm just being delusional.
This one:
Love Breguet, love everything about this watch, can afford it, been on my list for years but just can't justify the cost vs. wear time as I simply don't see myself wearing it daily/casually, hence limited to special occasions and/or dress attire.
But what a watch to wear on those rare occasions though. If you can afford it, I wouldn't count the number of times you get to wear it vs cost. That's just girl math at work. My two cents.
For me it's dress watches. I love certain models, but know that they would get almost no wrist time, since I'm so drawn to sports watches. Here are a few examples:
I would love to own that Chopard. But I can't afford it so...
But what a watch to wear on those rare occasions though. If you can afford it, I wouldn't count the number of times you get to wear it vs cost. That's just girl math at work. My two cents.
Yea it is a perpetual struggle not to pull the trigger