Horological Meandering

Hi,

I have been rethinking my collection lately with a mind towards consolidation. 

Background:

I have 6 automatic watches with a manual wind incoming in April.  I am finding that like many of you in the same situation, the rotation and wrist time is becoming difficult; hence my thought regarding consolidating the collection to a smaller number of watches. Also, my watch winder is a 4 head Orbita so, some watches are kept wound and others are stored in the drawer.

Automatics:

1.       Ball Watch Engineer Master II Diver Chronomter (Ref. DM1022A-SC1A-BKSL)

2.       Glashutte Original Panomatic Lunar (Ref. 90-02-02-02-24)

3.       IWC Aquatimer 2000 (Ref. 3568-05)

4.       Jaeger-LeCoultre Reserve de Marche (Ref. 148.84.04)

5.       Sinn 756 Diapal (Ref, 756.030)

6.       Stowa Antea 360 (Chronometer)

Manual:

·         Chronoswiss Regulateur 24 (Ref. CH 1123) incoming

The watches that I am considering “letting go” are the Ball, Sinn and the Stowa.  The Ball is a great watch, but it is a bit redundant with the IWC which I prefer.  The Stowa doesn’t get worn as much vs. the JLC these days.  I do wear the Sinn but two things in retrospect bother me about this watch. The Sinn has poor lume and I miss the seconds hand does not move unless the chronograph is engaged. I also would like a somewhat thinner chronograph and I know that the ETA 7750 drives the depth of many. So if I sold these, it would leave room on my winder for one new automatic watch.

So I am trying to identify potential options based on holes in my collection if I sold these three off. It would leave me with:

·         Sporty Diver on a Bracelet (IWC)

·         Dress Watch with a Power Reserve on a Strap (JLC)

·         Casual/Dress with Lunar on a Bracelet(GO)

·         Casual /Dress Regulateur Manual Wind on a (Chronoswiss)

This leaves me without a plain day-date watch, chronograph or a GMT/dual Time watch. I find that when I travel, I don’t want to take my better timepieces due to airport security, so I usually travel with an inexpensive radio-quartz watch. I also find that use the chronograph timing functions not too often and some of my quartz watches have this function. 

So I am thinking about a straight ahead casual/dressy day date watch. Stainless case, >36 mm, <42 mm in diameter, fits under a shirt sleeve on a 7-1/4” wrist, depth, display case back, with a dark dial, on a bracelet or strap and

Part of me wants to look at brands outside of what I have, but another part of me likes certain models that they make in these types of watches.  This is likely a common dilemma among collectors even though it really should not be a constraint.

Candidates:

·         Blancpain Leman Ultra Slim (Ref. 2850B-1130A-71-Retail $12,400)

o    large date for old eyes

o   In-house caliber 6950 with 70 hour power reserve

o   40 x 11.4 mm

o   display case back

·         Grand Seiko SBGH005 (Retail $7,200)

o   40 x 13 mm

o   in-house 9S85 caliber, 36,000 bph

o   display case back

·         Nomos Zurich Datum Anthracite (Ref. 804-Retail $3,660)

o   39.7 x 9.5 mm

o   In-house Zeta caliber with 42 hour power reserve

·         Omega De Ville Hour Vision Annual Calendar (Ref. 431.30.41.22.06.001-Retail $10,700)

o   annual calendar function

o   In-house 8611 co-axial caliber with 55 hour power reserve

o   41 x 14 mm

o   Display case  back

Questions:

·         Which of these 4 watches would you choose and why to diversify my collection?

·         Is trying to exclude existing brands a poor decision (Chronoswiss, GO, IWC and JLC)?

·         Are there other watches that I should consider?

Thanks,

Bob

Might I suggest that you take a look at Rolex.

Always a good watch to have in your collection, whether day/date or GMT.

Best regards,

George

George,

I was at one point considering a ROLEX Datejust 116234 for the very reason that you suggested,  I am a bit torn about Rolex in general.

Thanks,

Bob

Images from google image

Sorry, I did realize how small the images were...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MIH=?

personally i would go for the Omega annual calendar or the MIH which you possibly havent considered. the MIH is an uncommon watch and you'll probably never see another on a wrist unless its at a GTG. its lightweight being titanium, its very minimalist but is an annual calendar and chrono. its also only CHF5000. a true purists watch.

best

Graham

both very good suggestions although you need to bear in mind that the chrono on the MIH is pretty much useless (but then it did not show up in your specs).

Best
Andreas

A bit too Adrian Fruitiger for my tastes....

Thanks though!

and it is a really nice watch. I have a relatively big collection and no other watch is as readable as Blancpain. Furthermore, the watch is very accurate. However, I would call the movement "manufactured". I guess it is a F. Piguet movement which nowadays is merged with blancpain.

Finally, if you want to find a really nice, reasonably priced watch with rock solid movement, have a look at Rolex. Submariner or GMT Master are nice 40 mm watches.

Best, Kari

Black dial stainless steel. Being Rolex this watch can take tons of beating while this new model will accompany nice with jeans or suit.

It is one of those watch that will stay in your collection no matter what kind taste you develop further.

Every man should own at least one rolex in his life even though the he hates the thought of it.

It's been true for me.

Just my 2 cents
Tyler

Travis and Others,

Why a Rolex GMT II vs. say a Datejust?  The GMT II seems so close to being a Submariner which is like my IWC Aquatimer in the class of watch that it is (sporty diver).  I would rate the other three autos and the manual as:

JLC=Dressy

GO=Dressy/Casual

Chronoswiss=Dressy/Casual

IWC=Casuai

I guess that I am looking for a Casual/Dressy option that falls betwen the IWC and the GO/Chronoswiss that is a touch more towards sporty?

Bob

...offers you 3 Timezones, by using the bezel as another time zone, its tough, its solid, and if you wear it for ocassions, under the cuffs or with a suit, you will be told a man with very good taste..   as opposed to a Datejust, there is only one function which is the Date and also, it is aimed for businessmen, and the design is a bit mature, the GMT will make you feel like travelling, flying overseas, track your friends overseas through different time zones, younger, make you feel more alive!!!! This message has been edited by KCKL on 2011-03-13 20:47:06

1. The numbers on the bezel is larger. It gives a certain formality compare with the bar in the submariner. The ceramic reflect lights better than the old metal bezel and contrast nicely with the numbers.

2. The bracelet is different from the old model whereby you've the mirror polish middle link that show off nicely as a luxury watch.

3. Well ... a gmt function fit well into your collection.

4. Trust me. No one make watches that last thru life like rolex. I hate to admit it but is true. We can all trade in and out for all our heart desire however there always something special about the one that be with you all the time.

I am thinking of this or the Yachtmaster.

Best
Tyler

In many respects it does fill the bill, but it leans a bit closely to the IWC with its pronounced bezel and alas ike all Rolex's has no display back. Yes, it has a GMT function, but my mind still sees Submariner due to the iconic dial and similarities with the case and bracelet. Thanks for the photos though!

..lately, where have u been?

No message body

..which i think gives you Love Hate relationship...?

The Blancpain. That's the best of the four. Rolex is always a reliable choice but rolex is always the same style and everybody has a rolex.
Best
SamEE

I would go for the blancpain too.You lack gold on your collection which is very classy and uncommon nowadays. For $12k+, the leman is a good buy if it's made of gold. I would not consider a rolex now, unless rolex re-releases the coke gmt master with a ceramic bezel. Rolex is too tacky and common nowadays- and you'll feel like every other guy wearing a sub/gmt unless it's something uncommon.

Whilst it is true that it might be rather common to see Rolex's a lot compared to other brands, this does not make Rolex a tacky watch to wear.

It is all a question of taste and once you have worn a Rolex, you are vaery happy to have one.

Just go out and count the number of GMT's that you see on people's wrists, not htta many really.

Best regards,

George

4. gaudy; flashy; showy.
If this is the definition, I stick to my words. If you'd see my user gallery, I have an lv sub I wear for diving, and still I find it too showy. I like a diversity of brands, for different uses. In Singapore, you'd see a rolex every corner you turn. I'm sure you have a diversity of brands in your collection too, George?

Cookies,

I read that definition of Tacky and it also says something about looking like a pimp. I don't consider that wearing a Rolex makes you look like a pimp or causes people to believe that you dress in an extravagent manner.

I agree that some people feel that Rolex's are flashy, but can you really say that a guy that has been wearing a Rolex for 20 or 30 years is wearing a flashy watch. I personnally don't think so.

As you state yourself, you use your Rolex for diving, not to flash it around. I am sorry that I didn't check your picture gallery to view your collection, did not dawn on me to be honest.

And yes my collection has a varity of different brands, I am not exclussively a Rolex man, but I do love my Rolex's especially the Sub my father gave me 20 years a go for my gradulation. A familly heirloom as some would say.

I think that we have a real subject to debate here.

Best regards,

George

..and I think your basic premises are good.

Personally, I would go for the Grand Seiko out of the ones in your list. I bought the GMT model about 18 months ago and am still impressed with the functionality and quality of craftsmanship.

The Rolex seems to have been been generating some controversy here. I have several modern models and a vintage Day-date. Some of them are not always the most attractive watches, but practically speaking they generally work beautifully. By far the most reliable of all the watches I own. However, if you want a day-date model, it is a significant investment since they are all in precious metals. Unless your funds are in a very good state it's a good long term ("my one good watch") investment but may tend to suck money away from any number of other interesting and more reasonably priced watches.