What is a watch you won't buy but are thrilled it exists?
One of the most freeing things I experienced in this hobby is when I decoupled the exclusivity of "appreciating a watch" from "owning a watch".
You CAN appreciate a watch and thoroughly enjoy its mere existence without ever intending to, aspiring to, or actually owning the watch. It's an okay thing to do - I promise.
It's a silly thing to even need to say this, but when you are in the throes of passion in the watch collection journey, it can be lost on you.
The watch I am presenting as something that tantalizes the dopamine plant in my melon, but I'll refrain from purchasing is this 1990's Sinn Titan 8828 T&G with a full lume dial. Incredibly cool! I had no idea this existed.
I've had a couple Sinn 8828 ownership touch points in the past including the black dial in all titanium and the black dial in titanium and gold. I really enjoyed both. For those unfamiliar, it's a 90's gem of a German chronometer with an automatic movement and a total thickness of under 9mm! If this one was on my radar at the time I purchased my titans previously, I would have chose this and worn the daylights out of it! With that said, I am perfectly content to know it just exists and admire it from afar.
What watches are on your radar that also meet a similar criteria?
self-proclaimed king of unnecessarily long comments. recovering watch glutton who has bought and sold >75 watches over a decade to eventually whittle the collection down to just a few. i still love co...
The Heuer Monaco.
It’s an iconic watch, but it’s one I admire rather than desire.
I love serica watches but don't know if I would buy one. Their designs are very unique that's for sure.
CIGA Design Mechanical Watch Series U Blue Planet.
I really find this watch interesting, but I don't see myself wearing this. Perhaps I'm not that bold just yet
I like vintage watches and re issues. One I'll never own but love reading about and looking at is the 1913 Omega pilot chronograph. It's know as the Lawrence of Arabia watch.
CW Bel Canto - I can appreciate what they have done, but I would never wear it as it’s not “me” at all
Lorier Falcon (version 2), Seiko SBDX001 and a vintage Air King on a leather strap. I can love them from afar.
I’d say probably every IWC Pilot. Love them but just. It for me to wear.
Hot take maybe.. but Omega Speedmaster (the original /classic look). Looks great.. but at this point I’ve seen it a million times and I’m not a huge fan of the hands. I appreciate that it’s one of the most iconic watches ever produced. But probably would never purchase that particular model.
Absolutely. The same can be said for many things in life. There are certain cars I really like and even though they're within my budget, and I could make them work reasonably well with my lifestyle, there are other cars out there which tick more boxes, in more areas, so I'd be stupid to ignore them. So, totally agree, you can be really into something without needing to possess it, for whatever reason. Watches absolutely fall into that area, too.
Speedy. Chronographs aren’t my style and I tend to like fewer complications, easier to service, etc., but I respect its place in watch lore.
Love that Sinn. Where was it for sale?
The IWC Timezoner collection falls in this category for me. I think they look cool, and turning the bezel to interact with the movement's time zone changing function is so satisfying. But they're too expensive and way too large for me
Speedmaster
In many ways the Ultimate, love Omega & space, but won't ever have one as I can't be doing with manual wind and don't do chrono's. Love it tho 🚀
Rolex Milgauss 1019
This, it's just glorious but a) it's £200k and b) that domed dial would get scratched in seconds!
I love serica watches but don't know if I would buy one. Their designs are very unique that's for sure.
I'm also fond of what Serica is doing. I was once very compelled by their "6190 - commando dial" model.
Speedmaster 😱
Any beautiful gold pvd watch
For me, it's the two-tone gold Rolex Day-Date 40 with the champagne dial. I admire how beautiful it is; and it's out of my price range, so I can't afford to get it in any case. However, if someone gave me that watch as a gift, I'd be reluctant to wear it.
Why?
Because it's an "old man" watch. 🤣 I would officially be a senior citizen if I wore that watch, and I'm not ready to be an old man just yet!! 😂😂
The IWC Timezoner collection falls in this category for me. I think they look cool, and turning the bezel to interact with the movement's time zone changing function is so satisfying. But they're too expensive and way too large for me
I agree. These are awesome!! If case and crown were shrunk 15-20% but function, movement, bezel were the same this would be in my sweet spot... but then alas, the price. This is why it is a perfect candidate for this category: I appreciate that it exists, won't be buying.
This, it's just glorious but a) it's £200k and b) that domed dial would get scratched in seconds!
The MB&F "shatter dome"... so cool yet so impractical. Definitely the point. I am so glad people challenge themselves to make something like this and I am glad digital media exists to cover and showcase what otherwise would be undiscovered territory.
Any beautiful gold pvd watch
Yes!
The MB&F "shatter dome"... so cool yet so impractical. Definitely the point. I am so glad people challenge themselves to make something like this and I am glad digital media exists to cover and showcase what otherwise would be undiscovered territory.
It's fantastic isnt it, I love it but so costly and impractical 🤣🤣
Zenith Defy Extreme
Absolutely stunning. Incredible case materials, 2 escapements ! ( one at 36k and the other at 360K 🤯) 100th of a second chronograph hand. It’s way too huge … and expensive to me. But I think this perfectly aligns with your question
This, it's just glorious but a) it's £200k and b) that domed dial would get scratched in seconds!
I Would recommend living in a crystal bubble orbiting the earth with this one. But it’s a stunner
I feel this way about many Rolex models. They make some beautiful watches (I especially like the Explorer I and II, no-date Sub and Datejust) but to many people seeing a Rolex on someone‘s wrist just gives off “I made some money and now I gotta flaunt it“ vibes. So for the same money I would prefer something more under the radar.
Odds are I'll never have the money to indulge, but I love Ressence watches, particularly their Type 1 Squared designs. A new way of winding, reading and thinking about the telling of time and executed with a really clear and defined design language. Makes me happy looking at these.
I'm taking this into left field: just about any Casio G-Shock. I'm glad that they are out there, I'm glad Casio can sell as many as they can build, I'm glad someone is innovating in the "quartz watch" area... but it's just not what I want to wear.
Rolex Explorer, such a beautiful watch. Probably my ideal 1-watch collection. But it’s too dang expensive and besides I am hella awkward and not classy so no self-respecting AD would ever sell me one 😅.
Blue dial vacheron overseas. I cant buy it because i cant afford it but i appreciate it a lot 😍