Advice needed
Hi everyone, I need your advice. Has anyone bought a watch that they have wanted for years, then when you’ve owned it, its just felt a bit stale? I picked up an absolute bargain a few weeks ago – Maurice Lacroix Aikon Automatic 39mm for £650! Brilliant deal for an 8/10 condition watch that RRPs at £2050. I’ve wanted this watch for years since I first saw its bigger brother – the ML Aikon Chrono 44mm – in a Swiss airport. However, after a few weeks on the wrist it feels a bit stale to wear. I love the design and I am always looking at it and taking it off, feeling the bracelet etc – but when I’m wearing it, I don’t get that same feeling. I might go as far as to say I don’t like wearing it. Maybe I’ve outgrown its design and my tastes have matured since first wanting one…. Hell, I have bought a house and had two kids since I first saw this watch. Furthermore, the watch that has been on my radar for ages is the Smiths PRS-25 Honeycomb. A much more understated design and more versatile wear on the wrist. Am I an idiot for potentially selling an amazing Swiss automatic, integrated bracelet sports watch for a microbrand Rolex homage with a cheap Japanese movement. Please let me know your thoughts and your stories if you’ve had regrets buying or selling your grail watch.
Impulse buyer and seller of watches, never really have more than 4 in my collection. Latest purchase was a Maurice Lacroix Aikon 39.
Yes and no regrets since my watch habits were formed decades ago, remain constant.
Congrats on home ownership and children! Good luck.
Nah,tastes change over time. I’ve regretted a few but I like the ones that I replaced them with more.✌🏻
Yes and no regrets since my watch habits were formed decades ago, remain constant.
Congrats on home ownership and children! Good luck.
Thank you!
Nah,tastes change over time. I’ve regretted a few but I like the ones that I replaced them with more.✌🏻
Mine certainly have changed. This was always going to scratch the AP Royal Oak itch that I would likely never afford/own. Since having that desire I think I've matured (wife disagrees) and I don't think the "flashy" style sports watches do it for me at this moment in time.
I would offer another alternative. Not for everyone, but if you didn't need the $$ to fund the purchase, keep it and buy the Smith's. Tastes change, but they also change back. You may settle into a daily wear with the Smith's and break out the Aikon for more bling worthy events!
Thank you!
👍
I would offer another alternative. Not for everyone, but if you didn't need the $$ to fund the purchase, keep it and buy the Smith's. Tastes change, but they also change back. You may settle into a daily wear with the Smith's and break out the Aikon for more bling worthy events!
That is a really good idea! But it may be the case that my interest in this watch has come and gone.
👏 well done for admitting and now accepting decision. No point keeping a watch if you won’t wear it.
First of all Smiths aren’t a Rolex homage brand, they legitimately have history & well beat Rolex to the summit of Everest. How ever you are probably right they now produce homages to other known watches.
The ML you own I would say is more a homage to the AP than the Smiths is. The price you paid wouldn’t loose much if any if you were to sell it. ML resales isn’t great I’m afraid & you got a good deal on it.
It happens sometimes we build these watches up in a our head, especially when the purchase takes a while our tastes change.
Been their and done it myself.
In my experience if you don't gel with a watch immediately you probably won't gel with it at all - that said I'd put it out of mind and sight for a month (at least) and re-visit it before you move it on.
The Smiths watch is available (well, as much as Smiths are) and you can pick it up later.
As far as the Smiths being a copy of another design - if you like it you like it and if you will enjoy it more it's money better spent imho and the Japanese mov't isn't a factor either.
I do like @JMckenty's comment though.
☻
We all thought the cheerleader in High School was the hottie as well but years later it turns out the nerd with glasses looks amazing and stuns at the reunion. Same with watches.
Just saying….
yes, I experienced this in both directions. I have had watchers that I have sitting in my boxes for a while, then all of a sudden I start wearing them and have a love affair all over again. There are also watches I wanted so bad, but now I don't feel the excitement when I wear them. However, that also changes and then I am in love with them again. I think it's part of the hobby and I actually like that part. I think it's important to wear a watch for over a week daily to bond with it and go from there. I also wear a watch when doing something special and that watch even if it's not one of my favorites always brings me back to that place.
Over time, as we collect these watches, there are micro changes in our taste. I have a couple watches that I own that I wouldn’t buy again. I still cherish those pieces but my tastes have changed-ever so slightly.
If one waits too long to get a watch they really wanted, they risk losing the wow factor when they buy it…
Not at all. I did the same thing about 2 months ago with an Aikon Chronograph Auto after trying to love it for a few months. It was sold to someone who may truly love it. It happens.
I totally get what you are saying, I'll give you £400 for it
The name alone puts me off this watch, let alone the „clone-like“ looks and that bezel.
And here comes the kicker: I also liked this watch, like, 3 or 4 years ago (was it out then?).
Sell it off, get what you like. No point in keeping it.
Happens. Can always sell and hold onto the money until you find something more interesting.
One thing I like to do is write it down and after a week or two ask myself if i still like it enough to buy it. Helps weed out options
It’s perfectly normal that over time, your tastes/interests change; and sometimes that feeling of why you no longer like a watch can be inexplicable, but you just know it doesn’t feel right.
I’ve sold a couple watches and I’ve noticed it’s ones I’ve bought on a whim or ones where the deal was just too good.
Watch collecting simply is a nightmare
I can’t say that I’ve owned it, but after trying on a Cartier tank in person I can say I never want one.
I still think they’re beautiful, but for some reason it doesn’t feel right for me. Maybe I feel like a poser or something.
It happens i would say hold on to it some trinkets are tricky they have moods so dont rush into anything it is called grail for a reason
Mine was this one: The Seiko SPB147.
I lusted after this watch for months. I even went to an AD to try it hand on and shortly after I bought it I realized that it was not the modern 62MAS that I was looking for and it that it had a few annoyances typical to Seiko that made me almost drop it into a drawer and forget about it.
It took me some time to like it again but this time I adopted it as a flawed but pretty diver's that pairs very well with a rustic looking leather strap. It's now basically a fancy desk diver.
I would offer another alternative. Not for everyone, but if you didn't need the $$ to fund the purchase, keep it and buy the Smith's. Tastes change, but they also change back. You may settle into a daily wear with the Smith's and break out the Aikon for more bling worthy events!
Came here to say this! Buyer’s remorse is nowhere near as bad as seller’s remorse.
Sucks to feel that way. Better to fall in love with something that wasn't even on your radar than to fall out of love with something that you had been looking forward to.
More than I'd care to admit.
Mine was this one: The Seiko SPB147.
I lusted after this watch for months. I even went to an AD to try it hand on and shortly after I bought it I realized that it was not the modern 62MAS that I was looking for and it that it had a few annoyances typical to Seiko that made me almost drop it into a drawer and forget about it.
It took me some time to like it again but this time I adopted it as a flawed but pretty diver's that pairs very well with a rustic looking leather strap. It's now basically a fancy desk diver.
Thanks for sharing your experience, I think this might be the outcome of my watch.
Before I sell a watch im iffy about, I remove it from the watch box and put it back in its packaging. Then I just put it away. If I don't miss it within about a month or so, I sell it. I have done this with a few pieces and only once have I missed a piece enough to then return it to the watch box and that was my Glycine Airman Noon. Sometimes you are expecting a perfect watch, until you realize that the watch is perfectly imperfect for you.
Before I sell a watch im iffy about, I remove it from the watch box and put it back in its packaging. Then I just put it away. If I don't miss it within about a month or so, I sell it. I have done this with a few pieces and only once have I missed a piece enough to then return it to the watch box and that was my Glycine Airman Noon. Sometimes you are expecting a perfect watch, until you realize that the watch is perfectly imperfect for you.
That's a great exercise to try. I think I've made my mind up about selling it but I'll definitely store it away for a bit to see if feelings change 👍🏼
Im worried that im going to feel that way when i get an spb143
UPDATE - thank you all for your helpful insights. I sold the watch last week, with little sellers remorse. Looking back at photos and wrist shots, I think I just outgrew the design having obsessed over it for so long.
No longer looking at a Timefactors PRS25 either, as I queued on the online shop for ages and came away with nothing - has put a sour taste in my mouth with the brand.
Currently looking at Seiko divers now.