Greubel Forsey Vision 30 Forever Watch

Bernard Cheong shares a deeply personal reflection on his journey as a luxury watch collector, focusing on his acquisition of Greubel Forsey timepieces. His post delves into the philosophy of 'Forever Watches' and the financial realities of collecting high-end independents, sparking a candid community discussion.

I
 

I am head over heels about the Harry Winston's Tourbillon G number 2.

I am also crazy about getting a Jacob & Co tourbillon from this year's Basel.

Here is where I have to practice what I told forum fols back here and on 2 oher purist's forums..AHCI and the HWRT Opus projects...can one enjoy and yet recover the costs?

Not always. That does not mean no.

This applies to the lesser known but worthy pieces.

I played a dangerous, and misunderstood game.

Buying offset from mainstream.

Making it hard to sell, but when things move, they move big.

I missed ALL of the Greubel Forseys first time, except for one.

I was drawn out, cash down.

Disciplined, I bought only with 10% of my income, and never with salary or fees from work, rather, I traded in collectables, not waches.

This hampers me, but it honed my skill to buy Richard Mille, Freaks, Franck Muller, Opus , MB&F, Urwerk and Vianney.

I bought these way back into boondock era, before the cellphones were sold, before laptops and cars cost $18,000 sgd for a Mercedes 190E. 1984 onwards to 1995 plus.

The internet came, stayed, grew.

I never sold anything till my Panerai lesson...no one bought any Panerais when it was first launched.

It's true, I do sell my watches, less than 12 actually, bec I needed to keep my budget to below a 2 million mark, that was what was placed into the hobby from 1973 to 2011.

Not a cent more.

So..it hurt to sell.

It didn't hurt buying a few used, bec I hadn't talked much about them, and no one else did much too, heaven is kind to me.

So biting back tears, I sold 12 watches, got my Greubels.

Now, recovering from my last Greubel. I am back to chasing down my old personal watches.

Did I make money? Yes.

Do I think it can be repeated? No.

Now, I am buying my "Forever Watches"...these I will own, pass on, and my kids can enjoy or sell, so the new me begins with a mix of used and new pieces.

The market, after 30 years, with rapid AHCI and other independents, have enough used and new to balance a good economy. I hope.

These are wrist shots taken today...mostly.

I chose the Greubel Forsey because of Opus 6, my last of the Opus I worked with on the web, they are really a mix of the best machine and hand work, the best of technical old charm mixed with 10% computer genius, maybe less.

Drawback...costs.

They are similar to the British grandmasters, and the Lange's best work.

Careful examination of the edges, joints and the techniques employed in the joining, metals used, and surface and jewels used for all.

Note the black polish and all that is done to protect a watch from scratches! Designing.

I like, love, the old world thick..not thick, but just thin enough to keep the double tourb.