Different Way to Think of Your Grail Watch
I just read a new article on www.theescapementroom.com (I highly recommend subscribing!) about the “grail” watch and the timing couldn’t have been more perfect! I was literally thinking today if I should trade-up my Speedy to a potential grail watch (such as the ‘57 Speedy, a Datejust or an Explorer), next year when I have a milestone moment… or keep my current Speedy and just get something else cheaper that I can afford next year at that time.
The dilemma in my head is exactly as described in the article… the root questions I have to answer is do I have enough meaning tied to this Speedy to keep it? It’s clear to me that just replacing one watch with another doesn’t equal a grail. But the key in the article that really made me think is, do I actually want to be done with the hobby? Or do I prefer the endless research, articles, videos, window shopping, etc.? Right now I tend to buy a watch one month and sell it the next and on to the next, not really progressing, always wanting the next watch.
I think I will make memories regardless with watchever watch I am wearing. So for me, I think the specific question comes down to what is the right one watch for me to make those memories with, given my lifestyle. It seems like I’m getting to the point where I only want to wear one nice watch most of the time (fitness/beaters aside). Otherwise, I’m constantly wearing a bunch of different decent watches and never really accumulating those memories to make one watch special (this point was made in another article but I don’t remember where).
Anyway, enough rambling.. what do you all think?
Kudos @DeeperBlue fantastic article! Thank you for making me think!
Disciple of Christ, Husband, Father, Son, Brother, Cousin, Nephew, Uncle… Air Force Veteran, Space Nerd, Watch Enthusiast, Pianist, and Baseball junkie.
I don’t believe in the concept of a “grail” watch, for me there will never be one.
I’m delighted to have this belief as it means my love & interest in watches will never wane.
I approach it more as having a solid collection that I love that will fill every need. I’m building a 6 watch collection: Diver, Chronograph, GMT, Dress, Field, and beater. Throw in a sentimental piece that I’m hunting for as well. I know a lot of people love having that one watch but for me I love being able to swap around straps and bracelets and pick out a new watch every couple of days.
My belief in collecting
I don’t believe in the concept of a “grail” watch, for me there will never be one.
I’m delighted to have this belief as it means my love & interest in watches will never wane.
Couldn't agree more.
I think we look at 'Grails' in the wrong way.
All watches on our list are just we want to buy. Some happen to be expensive, some happen to be cheap. I think a 'Grail' isn't what we have always been told.
I approach it more as having a solid collection that I love that will fill every need. I’m building a 6 watch collection: Diver, Chronograph, GMT, Dress, Field, and beater. Throw in a sentimental piece that I’m hunting for as well. I know a lot of people love having that one watch but for me I love being able to swap around straps and bracelets and pick out a new watch every couple of days.
Yes! This is precisely where I come from too! 🍻
Thank you for mentioning my article 🙏
I wonder if 'the journey' (sorry @Aurelian ) is wrapped up in us creating meaning and context also. 🤔 Maybe I need to do a part two.
I have been a fan of mechanical watches most of my life, certainly after earning a proper pay check but have never understood the concept of a final item achieved only after a self imposed series of situations and circumstances to arrived at a grail watch. I think that I did feel that way about my Italian 10 speed bicycle manufactured by the legendary Legnano factory when I was 15 but never attached the idealistic pursuit to any watch. I do respect other enthusiasts and their quixotic chase for something unique and special but that is not how I view my many watches. A certain model catches my interest, depending on the cost and my disposable income at the moment, I might plan for a purchase. Memories connected to certain watches occur organically those tokens become significant to me but were never planned.
Sometimes I think the grail watch is the one you already have,
if you have a watch that you enjoy wearing, and is tied to memories or experiences then how would buying a new watch be able to replace that?
A few years ago, I thought my grail watch would be any brandnew Rolex sports watch from my AD. After reaching this „goal“, the watch wasn’t a grail for me anymore. So I have chosen the Patek Philippe Nautilus as my grail watch. I have always loved this watch and maybe I will never ever have one. So it will stay my grail watch forever.
Thank you for mentioning my article 🙏
I wonder if 'the journey' (sorry @Aurelian ) is wrapped up in us creating meaning and context also. 🤔 Maybe I need to do a part two.
You’re very welcome! Great article! I’m really glad I found your site because a lot of the articles (and yours specifically) really resonate with me and it helps me think outside myself, sort of the metacognition about watches!
Couldn't agree more.
I think we look at 'Grails' in the wrong way.
All watches on our list are just we want to buy. Some happen to be expensive, some happen to be cheap. I think a 'Grail' isn't what we have always been told.
Like you said in the article, the previous understanding of buying a specific watch as either the be-all-end-all exit watch that may or may not exist shouldn’t be the definition. It’s really whether or not you’ve reached the point of achieving or experiencing everything you wanted to do in the hobby, thus reaching watch nirvana. Christian made this point in a recent T&H video about starting out with “competitive collecting” (keeping up with the Jones’) but once you’ve experienced all the popular or high-end watches, there are niches that you go down for very particular or special watches that may be rare or important to the individual.
Thinking back to before I got bit by the watch bug, I was content with a pretty decent watch that I wore for 12 years, including a deployment to Afghanistan. But then I took the red pill and the world of mechanical watches opened for me. Now it’s seemingly endless choices, only limited by budget and self-imposed restrictions to help narrow down what I spend my time on researching. It’s just overwhelming at times, which is when I get to the point to say, should I just buy 1 great watch and be done with it, like I had for the last 12 years?
For me it’s a never ending cycle of buying, selling, trading and holding. I do the same thing with cars, tools, gear. Certain items stick around for decades some for hours.
I try not to get to attached to things.… The memories I make and experiences that I share with others are not tied to physical totems or keepsakes.
Couldn't agree more.
I think we look at 'Grails' in the wrong way.
All watches on our list are just we want to buy. Some happen to be expensive, some happen to be cheap. I think a 'Grail' isn't what we have always been told.
The word "grail" implies a long and arduous endeavor. If someone desires a watch and it will take years and big $$$$ to get it, that is a grail watch.
I don't have one either. Why would I do that? I collect watches for the exact opposite reason that it's not an arduous endeavor, and in fact gives me release from things I have to deal with that really are long and difficult endeavors.