Happy Anniversary!
A while back I posted about wanting to get a pair of Cartier Tanks for the Mrs. and I for our anniversary. After a fruitless search for Solarbeat watches, featuring many emails with an AD in London, I decided to stick a little closer to home.
Now, my inclination is to do things online. I know everybody here goes on about their AD, but I just don't like that. I don't like being sold things. I like to decide what I want and then buy it. I don't usually want the opinion of somebody I know will make money if I buy something. I mean, how can you trust a person like that? It's not their fault, it's just the nature of sales.
So I looked around online, but in the end decided to go to a local shop. I mean, I'm not fooling anyone, I'll be buying more watches in the years to come. Maybe I can make those purchases add up to a "relationship" that might pay off for me in the future.
As I strolled right into a local jewelry/watch store, I immediately remembered the other reason I don't do this. They've got home-field advantage. I mean, what kind of lighting is that? Everything sparkles and looks amazing. And there are so many watches you've seen online, but never in person. All the Rolexes bros be flexing? Right here. Those sweet Omegas (including a pretty special gold Speedy) you've seen? Take a look! Well, whatever, I came for one thing, and that's all.
I really have nothing bad to say about the experience, it turns out people are super nice when you start talking about dropping thousands of dollars. Go figure. Seems they had just gotten a few Tank Musts in the day before, and I quickly scooped them up. I think the salesman was surprised he didn't have to do more work. He mentioned that maybe I should try on the XL, but the large was sitting on my wrist looking classic as hell, so that was a no-go.
Anyone who read the previous post will know I was up in the air about getting the bracelet. In the end, I decided to spend the extra money and get them. Maybe it was logic, maybe the amazing lighting, but the bracelet is great. It's beautifully polished, articulates smoothly, and is super easy to change out. Well worth the price.
That said, I've got mine on a leather strap already as does Mrs. thekris. Once she gets her bracelet sized, I think she'll wear that as she said it didn't seem "fancy" enough on the strap. Although she also said she felt weird wearing something so fancy, so who knows what she'll do.
I don't think there's much to say about the watch itself, it's small, thinner than anything else I've worn and so classic I don't know if I deserve it. It's amazing in a way that makes me feel lucky to own it.
In the end, it seems I scored a win with my wife as well as got myself a great new watch, and you can't really do better than that can you?
Regular guy with an irregular love of watches.
Great to hear you had a nice experience and with the wife as well! Looks great.
Great to hear you had a nice experience and with the wife as well! Looks great.
Thanks, I was a little nervous. She's not much of a watch person, so I was worried it would look like I was buying myself a watch and using the anniversary as an excuse.
It occurred to me reading your post that bracelets are a thing that Cartier should do really, really well. I hope that you both enjoy them for a long time.
Congrats on your anniversary! Enjoy your gifts. They will always be classic. 🍻
🍻 my friend and the watches looks gorgeous!!
Congrats!
I'm the same way, don't like being sold to. Just got a Tank myself, and I was in and out of the AD in about 10 minutes. The decision was already made, so why stick around.
It occurred to me reading your post that bracelets are a thing that Cartier should do really, really well. I hope that you both enjoy them for a long time.
That’s very true Which is why it’s odd I prefer a strap. On most watches I prefer the bracelet, and this is a really good one, and yet that’s not my choice. Also, this is probably the only watch I’ll ever own where I don’t care about the movement. This one is purely about the look and feel of the watch.
Congrats!
I'm the same way, don't like being sold to. Just got a Tank myself, and I was in and out of the AD in about 10 minutes. The decision was already made, so why stick around.
I spent more time there while they sized my bracelet and registered the watch and such. It was actually a good experience. That said, I’m pretty much a salesperson’s best friend…I already know what I want and won’t take up much of their time.
Cheers on the new pieces!
Cheers on the new pieces!
Thanks. Is that the XL? Love the dial, it just seems a little big for me. Would have like that dial on the large, but it’s probably too small to really appreciate.
Beautiful! What I great experience. I got my wife a vintage tank a few years ago. Now I’m eyeing the new back Tank Must. Wish it was a manual wind tho.
Thanks for sharing! Cool experience and they both look great!
Congratulations, those are great looking pieces!
Beautiful! What I great experience. I got my wife a vintage tank a few years ago. Now I’m eyeing the new back Tank Must. Wish it was a manual wind tho.
Funny, I’s never seen that watch until the other day, but it looks amazing. While I still prefer mechanical, these are some of the only watches where I don’t mind a quartz movement.
Wishing you both many years of Cartier wearing devotion together.
I was considering this with a set of NOMOS Orions, but for myself, I want something different. My wife still likes the Orion the most though.
Very nice and a happy aniversary to you, my friend.
I was considering this with a set of NOMOS Orions, but for myself, I want something different. My wife still likes the Orion the most though.
Nomos makes lots of great watches, and who says they have to match? My wife and I aren’t the type of people that like to match or tend to like the exact same things. It’s actually surprising that we both liked the same watch.
Thanks. Is that the XL? Love the dial, it just seems a little big for me. Would have like that dial on the large, but it’s probably too small to really appreciate.
XL. To be honest, I prefer the dial, lack of a seconds hand, and the size of the large. I just wanted the automatic 1847 movement at the end of the day and the size doesn’t bug me that much. Cheers!
Congratulations on your Anniversary 🎉🎉
Enjoy your lovely new watches together in good health 👌
Love the story on this! I totally feel the “using the anniversary as an excuse” thing. LOL
Congrats on the successful hunt and on another year with Mrs Thekris.
I just love the tank, even though I'm not totally sure it would fit in with the rest of my style.
In fact, I keep showing my wife (who does not care about watches, is sick of hearing about watches) the WatchCrunch and YourTerrific videos of the tank solarbeat. I also casually mentioned your post to test the water on getting matching tanks...
I think that moving the goal posts to buying two tanks may have worn her down--she's now opening up to the idea of getting one--"to share"
Happy Anniversary ! Great choice for Mr and Mrs !