Comments:
Credit: Besthealth magazine Canada
First Impressions (what did you feel?)
They say, the first 5-10s of meeting someone will determine our lasting impression of them.
I was giving much thought about the state of this hobby while taking my mind off tedious things in life. I recall my first loves as follow (please chime in to share your first impressions of brands).
Credit: Besthealth magazine Canada
Omega:
My first encounter was with my dad’s SM300 Quartz in two tone. He never let me touch it. Sad really. It cemented my idea that Omega was something precious. In that era, the adults were discussing “why did James Bond switch from Rolex to Omega?”
Rolex:
Some manager of a gym I worked for liked to show people his success in hitting sales targets, by wearing a Seadweller. The other managers followed suit, and soon they were all clad in Seadwellers. When I first held it, it was chunky, heavy and incredibly macho. This has got to be the stuff of success.
Cartier:
Don’t really recall which piece I encountered first. It could be a Santos which my hairdresser used to flaunt. I thought it was incredibly beautiful from a design perspective, but lacking in engine power.=/
Jaeger Lecoultre
A gift from my girlfriend back then, was an 8 days Reverso. I remembered the feel of the silky smooth case and bracelet. Something about it oozed tradition and restrain, and WASP sensibilities. It was a proud moment to own a Reverso, when one’s mother who worked in stock market in the roaring 90’s always declared that JLC was the rich man’s Rolex (The older me would debate this, with examples from De Bethune, MB&F and FPJ and not forgetting the magical Lange)
Breitling
I never actually held a Breitling until I asked to see a Navitimer and Superocean Heritage during my visits to an AD. Breitling was in a confused identity crisis then. I still feel this identity crisis. They could overtake IWC on their aviators if they wanted to, but they haven’t got the Eureka moment. Limbo limbo.
Panerai
I saw Luminors dotting every yuppies wrist in Singapore. It was getting ubiquitous. It was getting cult-like with the Paneristi. My first touch was with a colonel’s submersible. This colonel has a knack for visiting me (a private) to talk about watches while I was in active service. This is one tough colonel, who is fighting fit in his 40s.I secretly bought a Blackseal to wear under my military uniform - it felt good. Yes I like Panerai, but I like it for myself, not for being a groupie squeezed in a crowded van playing a guitar while on a road trip.
More coming...i hope to hear from everyone.
Much like dating.....my first watches were not keepers and I got smarter as I progressed.
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Well said
Me too. Same thing.
Strange thing...I will always remember I let a very good one go. My first love..she was loyal but boring, but wife material. It is like letting a Reverso 8 days go, which I did regrettably.
Strange thing...I will always remember I let a very good one go. My first love..she was loyal but boring, but wife material. It is like letting a Reverso 8 days go, which I did regrettably.
Not me....
1. Capability...substance over style...don’t care (as much) what others think.
2. Style not just looks or status but brand ethos!!
3. Value...I don’t mean cheap...I mean paying a lot of $$$ for a brand that rests on its laurels.
There are a few brands (specifics are unimportant) that do more than satisfy these criteria and a few brands that in my judgement fall repeatedly and remarkably short.
2. Style not just looks or status but brand ethos!!
3. Value...I don’t mean cheap...I mean paying a lot of $$$ for a brand that rests on its laurels.
There are a few brands (specifics are unimportant) that do more than satisfy these criteria and a few brands that in my judgement fall repeatedly and remarkably short.
Well,was very long time ago,
right after my country escape the communism ,small shop down town Bucharest ,was a Breitling Navitimer blue dial,was love at first site,all those numbers on that superb dial,and all the calculations that where possible to make with that ingenious bezel! Was the first real good watch that I could see in person! Took me one year to raise the funds!
Great story
Must be a harrowing experience and a tumultuous period! My friend too had similar war experience. She cries at times from the post traumatic shock.
I feel Breitling is a sleeping giant. When it reawakens and sparkles our fantasies with Navitimers and the slide rules, they will capture the watch world once again.
Your story makes me want to get a Navitimer too and dress in a vintage military vibe. Cool innit?
Thank you,
I don’t know if it is great story but is my story,I wear the navitimer many years with great pleasure,but soon after this watch I start to discover the world of diving watches ,and that took me to an Omega Seamster Chrono ,this one was not my love of my life but I remember enjoying the water capability of it !Was a time when all the info about everything in general were very difficult to find and much more in an excomunist country(this days my kids can’t imagine a world without internet and google)
Again a great post of you Cookies
Meandering through your watch life is a journey i had through the world.
I started with Chinese fun park watches and Casio’s.
The Swatches came up, but as a child they where yuppy watches for kids from rich parents.
The first luxury brand watch i saw as a child was Breitling.
When i grew up and became an adult i lost the string of the watch world. At that that time the internet came up, got my first pc with an internet connection, it was a matter of some months i go to surf on websites to look watches.
Discovering that Longines is a great brand, because i like the dials. Quickly i saw Rolex, Audemars Piguet and Panerai.
Discovered chrono24 on the www, their website, i look at Air Kings, Oyster quarts (2000 - 2001).
In 2010 i bought my first Seiko.
In 2018 my first Longines.
So a Rolex and an Audemars Piguet still not in my possession.
Seen some other interesting brands, here and on the www,
Rolex and Audemars Piguet i put into the waiting row.
First i want another Baume and Mercier and after i want a Breguet Marine big date, GP ww tc, Breitling Navitimer, Omega Planet Ocean, Chronoswiss, Grönefeld, Christian van der Klaauw, AP RO diver, Hulk, YM, UN chronometer diver, UN executive dual time, UN freak, etc etc.
Almost forgotten, i want a H.Moser and Cie Streamliner with the green gradient dial.
I started with Chinese fun park watches and Casio’s.
The Swatches came up, but as a child they where yuppy watches for kids from rich parents.
The first luxury brand watch i saw as a child was Breitling.
When i grew up and became an adult i lost the string of the watch world. At that that time the internet came up, got my first pc with an internet connection, it was a matter of some months i go to surf on websites to look watches.
Discovering that Longines is a great brand, because i like the dials. Quickly i saw Rolex, Audemars Piguet and Panerai.
Discovered chrono24 on the www, their website, i look at Air Kings, Oyster quarts (2000 - 2001).
In 2010 i bought my first Seiko.
In 2018 my first Longines.
So a Rolex and an Audemars Piguet still not in my possession.
Seen some other interesting brands, here and on the www,
Rolex and Audemars Piguet i put into the waiting row.
First i want another Baume and Mercier and after i want a Breguet Marine big date, GP ww tc, Breitling Navitimer, Omega Planet Ocean, Chronoswiss, Grönefeld, Christian van der Klaauw, AP RO diver, Hulk, YM, UN chronometer diver, UN executive dual time, UN freak, etc etc.
Almost forgotten, i want a H.Moser and Cie Streamliner with the green gradient dial.
Interesting story Weems
It will come to u soon. U gotta be patient with Rolex and AP and beware of scams involving faked pieces, esp those with closed caseback designs.
I remembered my first encounter with the fabled Patek Philippe. It was a random day at the AD and the nautilus was sitting on the shelf. Back then the nautilus was common, and one could get it for 22k or less USD brand new. They didn’t wrap pieces up then.
I asked to see the piece.
When I held it, the buttery smooth steel polishing hit me first. It almost had no sharp edges. It seemed so steampunk, yet so thin. The caseback was beautiful too, with the gold rotor, and the geneva stripes. It was like a gentleman was wearing something sporty.
Ahh, those were the days when the Swiss weren’t that much concerned about supply.
I remembered my first encounter with the fabled Patek Philippe. It was a random day at the AD and the nautilus was sitting on the shelf. Back then the nautilus was common, and one could get it for 22k or less USD brand new. They didn’t wrap pieces up then.
I asked to see the piece.
When I held it, the buttery smooth steel polishing hit me first. It almost had no sharp edges. It seemed so steampunk, yet so thin. The caseback was beautiful too, with the gold rotor, and the geneva stripes. It was like a gentleman was wearing something sporty.
Ahh, those were the days when the Swiss weren’t that much concerned about supply.
Now; fast forward a little.
Grand Seiko:
A friend bought a Quartz GS at a thrift store. No one knew what a GS was back then. He paid $300 for it.
The steel case and bracelet were so well crafted, it had no sharp edges (IWC, Rolex, Omega often have these sharper edges which are more industrial). The first impression of GS was thus, “the Japanese are taking this to Patek case finishing levels.” The design reminded me a a Rolex datejust, much like how Japanese pen-makers often mimick the Montblanc classic pen proportions.
Agree
Time changes the market.
I follow prices throughout time to time.
Around 2001 the Rolex Air King 34mm was in American Dollars 4000. new.
A Milgauss GV was in 2002 5700 Euro - new.
A Day Date white dial steel model 10.000 Euro - new.
The ladies date just was a cheap E2700 - used.
AP RO used E8000. New E 10.000.
Panerai Radiomir/Luminor new E4500.
Patek Philippe was in that days around 2002 something exotic for me. For the rich and wealthy, i was sure that brand means something huge in high horology. The same F.P Journe is now in 2019 - 2021.
I follow prices throughout time to time.
Around 2001 the Rolex Air King 34mm was in American Dollars 4000. new.
A Milgauss GV was in 2002 5700 Euro - new.
A Day Date white dial steel model 10.000 Euro - new.
The ladies date just was a cheap E2700 - used.
AP RO used E8000. New E 10.000.
Panerai Radiomir/Luminor new E4500.
Patek Philippe was in that days around 2002 something exotic for me. For the rich and wealthy, i was sure that brand means something huge in high horology. The same F.P Journe is now in 2019 - 2021.
My horological St Valentine were various. Rolex, in the early 80's with Thomas Magnum 1675. I knew I would have one, one day.
The Jaeger Lecoultre Memovox and Master Geographique, in the 90's. I understood that JLC is mandatory, when you love watches.
Panerai, with their pre vendome watches, in the late 90's.
Patek with the World Time ( 5110 ). My dream watch.
And Ulysse Nardin, in the early 2000's. Madness at its best.
Those built my love and culture for watches.
Best,
Nicolas
Great story Nico
I actually did not know what a Thomas Magnum was, and searched it. Is it the Rolex GMT master on the movie character’s wrist? It is gorgeous.
Credit: Sportern
Yes JLC is mandatory for every collector - no one has found a way to escape the inevitable. Maybe one can escape the wrath of the Holy Trinity, but never the maison waiting with an apple in the Garden of Eden. One touch of JLC brings unspoken knowledge and experience to a higher realm.
Ulysse Nardin was a hot house in the era when you wrote more about it. I recall your posts about Strangers in the Night most. I felt it was the most romantic watch a Romeo could ever wear. And then there was the Trilogy series and more.
Credit: Sportern
Yes, Thomas Magnum was the main culprit for my horological madness. Funny how a TV series can have an impact on you. Another example, The Prisoner: I was totally mad of the Lotus 7, because of this series...
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I will watch Thomas Magnum
Just read his character synopsis. This is one interesting and deep character.
This part reminds me of myself:
“ Magnum lived in the guest house on Robin Masters' estate, Robin's Nest, as part of his being in-charge of security on the estate, which likely explains the almost unlimited access to the Ferrari.”
Yes. Here is one picture which made me fall for that watch....
Thomas, at his daddy funerals, wearing his daddy's watch...
Sad scene but..
It speaks a lot, like a young man forced into a grown man’s world by life’s tragedies.
I must watch this today.
If I may share my path
Rolex was the first childhood dream. A celebration of achiements.
Cellini WG in grey croc.
I have always love white/cold metal over warm metal ever since.
IWC Porsche Design was an exciting and active dream. Titanium and black dial for a sense of simplicity, exotic, aristocratic yet misterious. Moon phase and Date was chosen as it reminds of passion and perseverance. A true battle proven piece, perfect for everything illegal by pre-teen 😉🤐 This piece started my preference of exotic metal over gold.
IWC Da Vinci Chronograph as romantic yet lively dream of teen. This is my only gold piece ever. Lets see if I ever fall for warm metal again ever.
Piaget was chosen for a final Achiement of education and starting point of corporate life. White Dial and Manual Movement as a reminder of integrity, commitment, perfection
IWC Porsche Design was an exciting and active dream. Titanium and black dial for a sense of simplicity, exotic, aristocratic yet misterious. Moon phase and Date was chosen as it reminds of passion and perseverance. A true battle proven piece, perfect for everything illegal by pre-teen 😉🤐 This piece started my preference of exotic metal over gold.
IWC Da Vinci Chronograph as romantic yet lively dream of teen. This is my only gold piece ever. Lets see if I ever fall for warm metal again ever.
Piaget was chosen for a final Achiement of education and starting point of corporate life. White Dial and Manual Movement as a reminder of integrity, commitment, perfection
Wonderful story!
Those are gorgeous pieces.
What made you transition to warmer hues of gold?
When I saw the P. Design piece, I was thinking “they don’t make such beautiful things of late.” That design echos a bottom-to-top design process instead of the top-to-bottom process often used to reduce costs. Juxtaposing that to the new Tag Heuer x Porsche collaboration, it becomes very noticeable.
I am not sure
It was a mixed feeling of 1st love and love of speed. 😂
Somehow i am always attracted to IWC, over Daytona and AP.
Somehow i am always attracted to IWC, over Daytona and AP.