I just can't buy another watch. I'm stuck.
I think I want a Rolex datejust but they don't make a size I want. I can't abide Omega having tried them all on (plus Daniel Craig ruined Bond and the two are now inseparable in my mind). Tudor feels like something out of one of those crane machines at the amusement arcades to me (plus Beckham, ugh!). I have loads of money. LOADS O' MONEY (cue Harry Enfield impersonation), but I'm also nearly 54 and feel like I'm going to die soon anyway so why bother?
What's good out there that would make me happy? The new Ebels are all kind of horrible, and nearly all the vintage rebrands like Titoni and Roamer make great big 42mm monstrosities worse than Citizen but 10 times the price. IWC? Nope. Panerai? I'm not a muscle guy with 10 inch wrists. Breitling? Clarkson and Ramsay like those, so nope. There's a retro Certina with a Powermatic 80, but they are kind of weak now too, like Tissot. I kind of want gold and lots of it! I don't know what I want anymore.
I don't like Patek or AP or Genta things, and I'm all Bauhaused out anyway. I reckon I'm too jaded for this game now.
I'm pretty much done with collecting now, but I've certainly got a good variety of affordable watches. As an occasional YouTuber, I'm a comedian not an influencer. Skmei is the new Casio!
I feel like the issue here is a little deeper than watches.
That said, if you're going to let other people wearing a watch ruin it for you, you won't have many options.
Time to wear a clock around your neck like flava flave
Sounds like you need an Invicta.
having loads of money takes the fun out of it. Most of the excitement comes from buying the watch that you know your barely can afford but still pulling the trigger because you want it that much.
You are so right. Since I got all this money, I just can't spend it on anything. I feel it's a ripoff for mediocre quality goods with a brand name which is overhyped, and I go into the ADs and try them all on, and they are all very disappointing. Rough or sharp edges, dials which look like kids toys whether they have precious metals on them or not, and they all feel horrible on the wrist. The money opened the doors to experience these things, but also showed the Wizard behind the curtain and ruined it all.
When you can own anything you want there's no dopamine high from the gratification of days of research and eventually taking it under your possession. They are afterall just objects, if there's no chase there's no reward. I think you could try other ways of making your life happier. Often people say helping those in need brings more joy than possession. 54 is still prime for men if you take care of yourself.
JLC, GO and VC haven’t been bashed yet. There are models from each of these that are very high on my list of wants.
Now that I think of it, you may find what you are looking for in the independents. Grönefeld, Moser, Kudoke, etc.
Depending on what LOADS O' MONEY stands for, an A. Lange & Söhne could suit your needs. One of the most respected high horology brands in the past few decades.
If you're looking for more reasonable options, I'd recommend looking at Grand Seiko or a Cartier, both fantastic brands with rich history that make quality watches.
First of all, you have phrased your quandary in a way that elicits little to no sympathy. If I were you, I would sell all of my watches, donate my worldly goods to charity and live at Mount Athos. If that is not an option, Bréguet is the answer you seek.
If you're having trouble finding something new, how about something vintage?
Mmmmm - rebelling against the norm, no dubious endorsements or associations H Moser!!!
... and gold
(pics from H Moser website)
Dude...love your enthusiasm but...you have issues! LOL
https://topperjewelers.com/collections/topper-pre-owned-select/products/pre-owned-artisans-de-geneve-12605
You have to think beyond watches. Don't think small, think feudal! An estate in Tuscany, plenty of space to exercise the hounds and hunt all kinds of things. That should cheer you up.
From what I can glean, I don't think you are going to find happiness in watches.
Why do you feel compelled to find one to buy if the passion has gone? I don't think it will fill the hole you are feeling.
Find something else that puts that fire in you. 🍻
Apple Watch.
Show me your warez, I has coin. Those brands have never been on my radar, and I don't think I've ever seen them in real life. So please post some pics.
If you have not heard of JLC, GO, and VC, then you have much learning left.
I didn’t know that Vacheron actually made custom designs/watches… I am scared to even ask for the price of those ahah
If you have to ask…
Ok man, good luck!
It’s not that hard to google or pay a visit to a luxury watch store.
Ok, this has "troll" all over it. You go on about all the money you have and how no expensive watches please you. Then I notice that a month ago you declared you were done and showed off your collection of Invictas and such.
I've never done this on here, but I'll make an exception. I think you're full of sh*t, and I think it's in poor taste to troll folks who've come here to get away from such nonsense. Take your bullsh*t somewhere else and leave us alone.
If I had a ton of money I would travel. You could even travel to ADs in all the big cities until your journey helped you find what you’re looking for, both in watches and elsewhere.
You are a vile human being and I'm going to mute you. People like you ruin forums like this for everyone. You are the one who should go back under the rock you crawled out from. The rest of this comment is for those who want to see my reply, I don't honestly care if you read it or not.
Yes, I was done a month ago, or so I thought, but bereavement and inheritance has strange effects, especially when you suddenly get a huge amount of money and property dumped on you somewhat unexpectedly. Although it's absolutely none of your business, suffice it to say that there's pretty much nothing I can't afford now other than the ridiculous concept/art timepieces that look like aquariums or celebrity auctions which go for really silly money. I've also reached the time of my life where what I buy doesn't actually matter, it's not to impress anyone else and it's just for me. If something doesn't make me happy, even for only a moment, I'm not going to buy it, no matter what the price.
You were going pretty well there for like 50 posts, but now you're overdoing it.
5513 vintage submariner. Plexiglass dome. Longer tighter lugs. Lighter. It is one of my favorites. Reminds me of a simpler time with less bs marketing. To me it was the perfection of the design from the turnograph sub. It just makes me happy. Go find one to try on moneybags, you might just like it old man....
How about watches with unusual complications, like Christopher Ward's Bel Canto?
I feel like the issue here is a little deeper than watches.
That said, if you're going to let other people wearing a watch ruin it for you, you won't have many options.
Agreed I'm with you on this one. Why does OP 'need' to add a watch yet loathe on the choices available to him? Have you ever considered that maybe you need to look at other things.
But these in the end are simply material things. If you said you got loads of money, then why not go travelling. And do you really need to spend it all on yourself?
If you're going to thing about how soon you're gonna die, basically having watches around you kind of just makes it easier to see time ticking by until the day you kick the bucket.
I like it, obviously, but I'm trying to move away from Submariners having bought so many "homages" over the years. A proper Sean Connery sub is still the holy grail of grails though. I think I want something more gold really, but thanks for your suggestion.
I'll read back over all the comments when I'm ready to make a final choice again, but right now, certain people in the comments above make me want to just quit this forum and watch collecting entirely. I'm thicker skinned than that, but it's made my experience of this whole post kind of shit now.
Most of the messages on this forum is just that, short form bits of information. Not much in terms of long form journalism. Hodinkee has interesting articles and so does ID watch youtube. I like the watches I like and I don't care for ones I don't. Give me a sub or ranger any day. I moved on to screwing up and modifying my watches at this point. This should give whoever ends up with my collection one day having a very interesting conversation with a dealer if it goes there... and why did grandpa building a 1972 submariner / explorer using a 3135 movement? He was that type of man... he did what he liked....
I know, it's ironic like so many things. The time in my life when I needed money and wanted everything, I had none, and now I'm winding down, I have it. And time is moving quicker too, people didn't lie about that. I saw the guys on the Sopranos podcast on YouTube talking about the same thing and how they don't care about fancy watches at their age now unlike in the show, and it has stuck with me somehow.
What you aren't getting is how now I have the money to do it, and without worry, when I tried on a lot of these so-called luxury watches, I saw the wizard behind the curtain and felt it was a bit of a scam, and the disappointment was immense. I could liken it to Archieluxury and Thai girls for a cheap joke, but it's a horrible feeling.
I actually went into an AD with the line, "My dad died and I'm thinking of buying a luxury watch to remember him by." It wasn't entirely the case, I just like watches and I have the money to do it, plus he wasn't a watch guy, and other reasons. But you know, you have to break the ice somehow. Then when offered every brand and model in the shop to try on, certain prejudices came to play as I was trying to choose, and I left with nothing. Hence my current dilemma. Again, to quote Paul Pluta who asked someone once, "Do you even really need a watch?" I'm stuck for an answer about that now too.
Lol. Tell me about it! Honestly these swearing youtubers can really turn someone off. I used to watch their videos but now I watch channels who don't waste time with their "what am i wearing" plugs. Bet it was better when people met to talk about their watches.
On a serious note right, after the age of 50 we'd be lucky to even be able to see the numbers on our watches 😀 Cataracts, Glaucoma....list goes on!
I believe what you feel is what many have also felt and that we are literally paying a lot more for something which in theory should cost less. But these days marketing is power so most of what you are paying is for the hype and the brand ambassadors.
What is sad is that with all the inflated prices, we will end up forgetting the true value of the watch. No 20k watch will ever replace that $200 watch that was gifted by your parents or your spouse.
As we age, we want to look for something functional, not expensive.
Haha 😂 you truly deserve an Apple watch ⌚️ no harm no foul 🙂
You are so right. Since I got all this money, I just can't spend it on anything. I feel it's a ripoff for mediocre quality goods with a brand name which is overhyped, and I go into the ADs and try them all on, and they are all very disappointing. Rough or sharp edges, dials which look like kids toys whether they have precious metals on them or not, and they all feel horrible on the wrist. The money opened the doors to experience these things, but also showed the Wizard behind the curtain and ruined it all.
You need a cause not a watch ! Kudos to you for bring honest !
In all seriousness you have stated you've already had the expensive quality watches and they do nothing for you, so why would you even consider another?
You are clearly a Casio man given your collection and username, so why not get a new 18ct gold Casio!
Brand you love, design you love, expensive... ticks that box, and you'll have the memory you are searching for.