samwan
2729
I bought the Cartier Santos-Dumont to match the tuxedo I wore on my son's wedding day some 9 years ago
Unfortunately I parted with it a few years later - it is a bit chunky on my small wrist as a dress watch. Worse, because of the thickness, it scratches the cuff of the shirts from time to time. I am a retired person and a dress watch is not of much use to me as I am often casually attired.
The bad news is that I lost a chunk of money for selling the watch (something like 40% from the list price). I guess that's the price to pay for owning a brand new Cartier. If you are serious about getting one, I strongly suggest you get it from the secondary market so that somebody will take the hit before you do.
I hope I have not discouraged you. At the end of the day, it is a beautiful watch but one that is unable to hold its value, if that is ever a factor...
"Time Only"....the Finale
Over the past couple of days, I posted several threads of my timepieces categorized by - Tourbillon - Perpetual Calendars - Chronographs - Travler/GMT - Moon phases - Power Reserve Here are the rest of my watches: For the purpose of this post, 'Time Only'...
Sam thank you so much for your posts this week
and as a lover of time only watches, I had to go through your post twice to ogle at your remarkable collection. But for me, one watch stood head and shoulders above the rest - the Patek Philippe with the wood marquetry dial. It is wood marquetry or am I h...
Yes Sham
This watch features marquetry art and the dial is made up of 166 pieces of wood. If you visit the top floor of the Patek Salon (where all the grand complications are displayed), there is a "painting" made up of marguetry art. I will send you a picture whe...
The lady is the consultant at the salon looking after me. She is very pleasant and extremely knowledgeable....
The "paintings' behind us are the marquetry art ...
And if I may politely say so Sam
she is also stunning!! This is what I call the Patek experience!
Hehe...not exactly
Here is a group picture, taken a few months back, so not really up-to-date ...
Very good
Yes, the big boxes are made by Underwood and the smaller ones Giobagnara (Italian)
You have a most thoughtful and considered collection, Sam
That truly does justice to the very best of modern horology. I salute you, Sir, and thank you for sharing these fantastic watches with us over the past few days. NickO
Thanks again Sam, another great lineup! Within this remarkable group, my vote needs to go towards your 5089G-020, which I believe is the third ever that I see in the wild!
Here's my version, that I received in 2015. Is it still in your collection? Thanks again for a superb and impressive series of watches this past week! Enjoy. ...
Well, I think my favorite in this selection is the Patek Philippe, I can only imagine how hard it should be to realize the dial.
Do you mind me asking you who is the artist behind the Lang & Heyne Friedrich II. I’ve noticed this painting a couple of time behind your wristshorts. I can hardly name who is or at least from who it’s a “homage” it sounds like a Miro to me. Sorry to be s...
I think you asked me the same question before
the answer is - it is the work of a famous contemporary Chinese painter "Wu Guanzhong". He was very much influenced by the impressionists, Fauvism and Chinese calligraphy... You can Google to see his work.
Excellent thank you. I’ll google it
It wasn’t me, I make a quick search and a fellow purist asked you that same question and thought about Miro too.
Sorry for the mix up
I assumed erroneously it was the same person.... :P Anyway, I love Wu Guanzhong's work.
No problem. I support a local artist who is a huge fan of Zao Wou Ki
I attended one exhibition of his works in Paris back in 2018 at The Museum of Modern Art. This is by far one of the best-know Chinese artist I know, sorry about that, something I have to improve.
Although I am not a big fan of Zhao Wuji
His works fetch incredible prices at auctions
Thank you for sharing your collection!
Really have been looking towards the new installments, pity that is now over. But sometimes even the best shows must end! I think when it comes to tv the British understand that better than the americans I love the fact that your collection is diverse yet...
Like watching a TV series?
I love them too, and movies, of course.... Thank you for the nice words about the collection.
Amazing! I have to be the person who asks which are your favorite and why?
Maybe I should ask your top 3 time-only watches and what puts them over the others for you and how those 3 match up to each other? Thanks!
All categories considered, my favourites are
- 1815 PC Rattrapante HWK - Roger Smith Series 2 - FPJ titanium Tourbillon - Voutilainen Observatoire - Laurent Ferrier Galet Tourbillon - Lang & Heyne monopush chronograph - 1815 Tourbillon HWK I guess I can go on and on.... The reasons are quite evident...
I have always liked their creations
dating back some 20 years ago..... My first one was the Friedrich August I. Love those Louis XV hands
Thank you! I’ve enjoyed your posts over the last week. The Credor has always impressed me—that porcelain dial!
I like the Kari, of course the Patek that others have commented on and I could continue, but I will cease. All good things must come to an end, but I will miss your thematic posts. Take care and thank you for sharing your marvelous collection!
Thank you
I had to wait 9 months for the Eichi II but I just saw a brand new one at the AD the other day. They make 25 pieces a year on this model. I guess business must be slow these days....
RG prestige😍😍😍
Impressive collection. Have you ever considered opening a horological museum? You should. What’s next on your list? How do you offload your pieces? To reputable watch dealers, or to other collectors? I’m hoping that it’s the latter. Thanks again for makin...
A museum....that's very flattering...no way
As for off-loading, based on my experience, the options are: 1. sell it to a friend. That way, there is no intermediary asking for a cut and you know that your once-treasured timepiece is in good hands. The downside is that you often have to negotiate wit...
I truly appreciate the prompt, detailed and informative response.
...and don’t give him on the museum idea. It’ll allow people with simpler means to enjoy your lovely timepieces so, in a way, you are giving back. You can even use it as a tax write-off😝 I’ll try to drum up some other reasons to convince you 😁 ...
I counted like 30-40 of my grail or exit watches in you group photo 👏🏻😂
Lock me up in a cell with these watches and I’m not complaining. Great and awesome dream collection. Huge congrats to you to be so fortunate 👍🏻
Trust me
There is no such thing as an exit I bought the 1815 PC Rattrapante HWK , I thought it might be my exit watch but no, it only raised the bar for my next acquisition - you become more selective (which is good). Human desire is insatiable...
Huge thanks again Sam for sharing with us your incredible collection
All marvellous pieces and the photos of them are not less splendid. I am sure it took you hell of a time to sort, organise, and gather them for this series of posts. You have a fantastic collection and we are very lucky and thankful that you shared all th...
You are so kind Mike
By now you may have discovered that a fair portion of my watches are from independent watchmakers. And I almost forgot about this one... ...
Na come on you cannot forget this one, it is unforgettable !
You put me « Upside Down » with your collection 😍😍😍 And yes of course I saw very well you are fond of Indies too just like many of us here 😉 I am totally amazed by the number of master pieces you have, you have a delicious taste 👌👌
That's a killer collection you have, Sam. Wonderful. Among all the marvels you posted above, there is one which made me smile, the Panerai Independent, PAM 80.
You should post more pictures of this one in our Panerai Forum. It brings back to so many good memories. I loved when Panerai used some cool outsourced movements for their watches. It was a great era. Chezard movement, if I am right? Best, my friend. Nico...
Coming from you Nico it is reassuring
Yes, it has a Chezard movement. I also know that you have a soft spot for vintage Panerais. Unfortunately I cannot find another nice picture of the PAM 80 in the archives. Here is one in a different strap .... ...
Great watches! How do you like the cartier santos dumont skeleton? I‘m thinking about it a lot.
I‘d also love to hear more about your experience with Lang & Heyne, as you own (or owned) quite a few.
I bought the Cartier Santos-Dumont to match the tuxedo I wore on my son's wedding day some 9 years ago
Unfortunately I parted with it a few years later - it is a bit chunky on my small wrist as a dress watch. Worse, because of the thickness, it scratches the cuff of the shirts from time to time. I am a retired person and a dress watch is not of much use to...
In that case, you may wish to consider
Tank Louis Cartier Sapphire Skeleton instead. It was introduced in 2014.
That is the most amazing collection I've seen. Wow.
I don't think I've ever seen many pieces like those in all the watch shops I've visited over the years. A privilege to see. Great photo shots too. Did you ever buy any without already having tried them on? Cheers S
Of course I have
The Roger Smith for example I had to commission without seeing the real effect of the engraving. The Lange 1815 PC Rattrapante HWK is only limited to 20 pieces and when I decided to hunt one down, I had to make a commitment before seeing the real thing (a...
Yes, I chose the color/metal/index combo
over 10 years ago and still love it today...
I believe a few dozen were made
But because they are all commissioned, each one is more or less unique. But I have no idea why that is imprinted on the case.
Bcos there were only so many movements he found...
the Peseaux observatory caliber 260 was created for observatory trials and never commercially produced. Kari found those unused movements, bought them & re-finished to fit it to his case. Kari took off the entire original escapement and inserted his balan...
Thank you for sharing your amazing collection!
You put a smile on my face as I take my coffee and enjoy your post before starting my day in my home office!
thank you for sharing
Really love your collection (all series), from this post the KV sings to me and the ALS PLM. I also appreciate seeing all the L and H pieces as we don't see them often. Wear in good health.
As you can tell
My tastes are really traditional. Thanks for your appreciation. L & H makes about 50 watches a year so may not be represented in all markets...
Wow!! Such an awesome and amazing collection you got there!!!
I love the Moritz Grossman, the Lang and Heyne, and ofc, the other indies you have there!! GReat collection
I am a sucker for Indies and so I always pick them as my fav but I do have a soft spot for Breguet, Credor, Audemar Piguet (not the royla oak) Richard Mille (only the BonBon collection), and others
If you are ever bored of them and want to "donate" them to a "starving student" like yours truly, please do not hestitate to call me :P Just joking. In all seriousness, what is next on your list of indies to buy?
That is a great choice!!
When you pick your next indie, please share!!! I would love to see it
You obviously have an amazing, over the top collection of which
you should be very proud of. This begs one question, how can you possibly give them all wrist time and how on earth can you keep track and maintenance them all?
Well....feel free to check the other threads
I mentioned at beginning of the post. Also in the Horological Meandering Forum.
What a series and what a finale! Superb!
So many GRAILS in this collection that you have share with u in these 7 days! Be safe and stay healthy !
You hit it on the head....
Yes, it took over 10 years to build and it has been a great learning process for me. Many ups and downs along the way
Sam, what a fantastic and expansive collection!
That you chose to end with the Time Only group sends a strong message of maturity in your collection. Appreciate you taking the time to share such stunning pieces this week and I thoroughly enjoyed viewing so many top artisanal Independent watchmakers wor...
You have been very kind Tim
Yes, I prefer Time Only watches. As I have always said, my tastes are very traditional so the transformer type of novelties are not for me :P
I will post some interesting statistics here
At stop press, the number of members browsing the respective threads are: Time only 2,362 Perpetual Calendars 1,478 Chronographs 1,352 Tourbillons 1,264 Power Reserve 895 Traveler/GMT 611 Moonphase 533 While the figures reflect how interesting the time pi...
If you will alllow a contrary opinion, Sam, it may well be the post-count of the final installment . . .
. . . is more an indication of audience preparation than mere popularity. ;-) For my part, I would be happy with the RS as a collection of one.
You have an absolutely special collection; one of the finest I have seen. Thank you SO much for spending as much time as you have sharing it with us.
You have a captive audience here who I can most assuredly say appreciate your posts. I wish you well and much enjoyment with your collection and thank you again for allowing us to enjoy it too.
It took me this long to reply...
As I’m still recovering from the the highly-pleasurable sensory overload of these lovely pictures. What an incredible series of wonderfully-taken pictures, and I learned a lot as a novice fan of time-only watches. Especially the marquetry dial, what a dia...
The Pam 80
Incredible collection yet I was most impressed that you have a Pam 80! That is a true grail.
Breathtaking collection!
So many personal grails in this group. From a pure movement perspective, I'd have to go with the L&H Georg. For the whole package, the choice becomes harder. Please post photos of the Day-Night Cartier as well! It's such a great watch.
Wow. I too am drawn to time-only watches, and there are some of the best....
thanks for a wonderful post. Darren