Horological Meandering

To signal that you are seriously into collecting without flashing serious money. Something no one else would truly appreciate but another collector? For me, it’s vintage 50’s thru 70’s and perhaps a polerouter, an enicar, or maybe a bubble back. Nothing e... 

Pretty much anything that isn't a stainless steel sports model from Rolex, Patek, VC or AP.

With Instagram many non collectors buy. The game requires that another collector can identify you as a collector with certainty. Sure you might get the 1/1000 wearing hand me down, but leave them aside, they will be rarer than the watches they wear.

Even Lange is very mainstream now. Montblanc Villeret wearers are true watch lovers and not status seekers.

The case, short hands, and megalithic hour makers are easy to spot. ...  

...  

Although with a slightly different watch, not the VFAs but the Specials.

This is one of my favorites... ...  

...most people have no idea what the brand is, and the simple pieces will not break the bank...

And I bet some over $10k could be had for less So yes you can get them for less than $10k unless you only buy brand new

Where is that strap from? Here's another Breguet with a nice looking summer strap! Linen suit, summer strap, on the French Riviera... Bon. Tres bon. ...  

...I have a 'Watches' folder on my desktop with hundreds of pics (as I'm sure many here also have) : )

...I was thinking 'under $10k' in 'Collectors dollars' : ) In the grand scheme of things, these are not very expensive as far as this hobby goes...

But from what I don’t own, probably something from unimatic or a airain sous-marine diver.

...  

and know that it won its category, minimum effort maximum satisfaction ...  

One I’ve wanted for such a long time but just never gotten around to it.

...  

Vintage Tudor, vintage Seiko, vintage military watches. Those you mentioned were pretty perfect as well.

There are some incredible watches.

Or reeditions like Navitimer or Nivada. A Gerald Genta, big name only some people know. ...  

...  

Sorry the images uploaded out of order. Some of these obviously don't qualify for under 10K. Just for fun as it all is, these are some of the more famous watches documented in publications. Not the type of watch, but the exact watch shown here is in the p...  

No one I know (100 most active Longines enthusiasts[author's, historians, hertage museum]) has ever seen another Longines Jean Finger Double Boitier Hermetique case. Plenty of Rolex, IWC, Eberhard, etc., but I don't think there are any other Longines Jean... 

But what is a collector as opposed to someone that buys many watches? My personal opinion requires multiple watches from your "collection" to be widely known and were used in published books or magazines. A collector's personal watches must be subjects of...  

is also someone who has a thesis and logic for buying and they are passionate about watches.

I think that is a good characterization of a collector. I think often the term watch collector is over used and loosley used. I come across many individuals that just like to buy new, old, weird, etc. A G-Shock buyer or Timex buyer will then be a collecto... 

If it’s in great shape you know the person is focused on condition (a give away).!that it’s a brand that no longer exists eliminated all but collectors, and it’s not sufficiently different from a lack of complications that would have anyone but a polerout... 

There's a better way to identify a collector. Aurel Bacs and Livia Russo come out to shake your hand. No appointment needed. Not me but my friend, I am just taking the picture. The other person in the white pokadot shirt is the worlds most famous Longines...  

...  

Ochs & Jr. IKEPOD ...  

The logic being most people know what a Speedmaster is, this is the lesser spotted iconic chronograph, for me...

. . . for every self-professed watch guy.

...  

Christopher Ward C1 Bel Canto... sure you are 'flashing' yet it is not, well, ummmm, **relatively speaking** of course, it is not much in modern cheap currency. ...or, sure, follow the rules and wear something old-timey cool vintage like an Omega Tank. ...  

For me the answer has always been vintage Grand Seiko. Some others have highlight the VFA’s above, but these days those watches may no longer meet your criteria for a price ceiling of $10k. I’ve never chased the VFA, instead the next level down was someth...  

If it is a brand, quite unlikely there is one mainstream brand that's under radar with so much social media going on... Modern - maybe a Grand Seiko as many still think a GS is just a seiko; Nomos, Doxa, Habring? I am excluding the "Micros". For me, a cle...  

And under $10k So you really have to be thinking vintage or if it is new then a derivative with a story like Grone.

Great topic! I often choose the Glashutte Original Panoinverse. An IYKYK watch that can come in under that $10K threshold. ...  

...  

I love the Panograph is SS, especially on a bracelet--long on my "buy" list.

...  

Strong WIS signals to me.

Never seen one in the wild Julian ...  

on the budget in this exercise

How about this one ...  

...  

Very unlikely to have been handed down.

. . . are still available < $5K. Only twenty thousand 30T2rg / 30T2SCrg movements were made altogether. It's unknown how many made it to production but presumably most if not all them were fitted to five references over a period of roughly ten years. A...  

I think the problem is 20 thousand were made.

. . . max. Here's an ad from ~ 1946 . . . . . . indicating a price well beyond the means of working class Americans. Steel models weren't much less. ...  

I remember when these AT Olivers used to be under 10K. Now this is major respect from collectors to have one of these in a collection. Probably less than 20 left of these. ...  

From 1958 ...  

Would pick the Hentschel H1 37 Stainless/Anthracite... Try impressing anyone not into watches with that one

Gallet Multichron 3 register chronograph from the mid-60s. It was nicknamed the Jim Clark for the F1 driver used in advertising. ...