Watch addiction and addiction to life!
Dear fellow watch addicted PuristS,
I spent the last 20 years dreaming about
watches and the last ten years buying some (just a few, definitely not enough).
One common intention for all my watches was
to wear them daily! I generally don't keep those I don't want to
wear, I'm not a collector. I admit it's a bit hard sometimes but
what would be the point to keep a watch once you honestly think you would not
wear it anymore?
As many here I've been often tempted
by diving watches. How surprising as I live a few hundred meters from the
seaside, even if a said-to-be cold one. In fact I have few occasions to justify
the need for such a watch lacking the necessary time, but at least I have a
nearly permanent potentiality of going at sea.
This month I spent 8 consecutive days with
my Eterna Kontiki on the wrist, swimming everyday in the warm Corsican waters.
How lucky I was you may say! You can.
in such a context I didn't feel the
need for a more dressed watch.
But now I even more feel that diving watches
are my type of watch. Not that I appreciate them more, but I'm tempted to
adopt a cooler way of life, the permanent Dolce Vita on the southern coast of
…….Brittany! For sure it's a seasonal disease as spring
is strong this year, the weather is hot, the dress is out there (no X cross
needed this is not a rated post). Certainly this fall I'll look back at
my dressed watches and find them more interesting than today, but who knows!?
So are we young in summer and get older
back in winter?
So coming back to my point, diving watches,
cool life !
I was lucky to
be able to acquire the two versions of the Tribute to Polaris.
Certainly it
was the perfect time to own such watches in my current state of mind. My Pam
210 and Eterna Kontiki are both perfect complements. Still the Tribute to
Polaris may not be tough enough to allow a totally freed state of mind in
sporting times.
I'm
hoping to complete my JLC collection with an Atmos Newson, but my wrist would
be more pleased with a Diving Alarm Navy Seals.
Or should I opt
for a larger Tides of Time Alarm? I'm not too fan of the military
connection of the Navy seals, if I'm fan of the product in itself?
In fact the
large choice offered by Jaeger-LeCoultre is certainly enough to allow anybody
to find its perfect choice, but you know that! You never get done with
JLC!
Let's say
the Diving Alarm would be my choice.
So here is my
problem: are there any of you here who gave up their dressed ladies for the
more sporting ones?
To what extent
should I plunge into the big deep's world?
The diving
watches market is extremely rich, both with vintage offer (you've seen
Nicolas' collection) and new watches. Imagine all the JLC offer, the new
Blancpain FF watches, the Submariner and Sea Dweller collection, the PAMs, the
Omegas, and the Patek Philippe 5167R, maybe the classiest current diving watch!
You can
certainly add your own choices to this list.
We have been
fast to wonder why some fantastic calibres have equipped diving watches like
the JLC Master Compressor Tourbillon, now I regret……..
Can we be
satisfied with just diver's watches?
Or do we also
need dressed wrist queens?
Or more
straightly said, should I dump all my suits?
Are our watches
depending on our life style, or is our life style influenced by our watches? What
is our truth?
If you can help
me, please do!
Cheers
Dje
congrats !
Which will be next ? Your choice
I prefer Amvox or Revereso Squadra OR something from the classic line, eg Reverso, Ultrathin or the complicated watches.
Cheers, Milan
Thanks
Indeed once I'll have got (and paid what the problem is) the Atmos Newson, then the Diving Alarm Navy Seals, I may opt for an Amvox2 and a Squadra Polo Fields!
Then maybe winter will come and I'll look for an ultra thin 38mm and a Duometre before the Master Tourbillon and the Amvox3.
I'm sure JLC will have launched new watcehs before I get to the Extreme Lab, and Gyros!
Cheers
Dje
Ouchh!!!
your bank account will not be very happy-
On the other hand your wrist will be lol
Cheers
Very interesting post, Jerome
"Are our watches depending on our life style, or is our life style influenced by our watches?" What a great question. My truth is neither. I often want watches that are not suitable for my lifestyle, but just because they strike my fancy or push some buttons. Maybe if I get a diver, I will start diving, however...nah, doubtful.
I wonder why so many of us get bitten by the diving watch bug, when we have no intention to dive nor need for such watches. First of all, one must distinguish between diving and swimming watches. I would not include either the EWA (Tides or otherwise) or the PP5167 among diving watches -- they are more for casual swimming, no? Ah, but what beautiful swimmers they are! They are both, to me, very luxurious sportswatches, but just outside of the true diving class.
I fully agree with your observation, "You never get done with JLC!" I could easily welcome almost any number of additional JLCs onto my wrist and every year there seems to be yet another object of my desire from Le Sentier. Which brings me to another thought, Jerome: I do not think you need both re-editions of the Polaris and the Navy Seal alarm and the AMVOX1 -- really, you are too greedy with the JLC alarms. I propose that you allow your 65 Polaris to migrate to my collection, where it would find a happy home and would not be jealous of the other alarms on your wrist.. I have no alarm yet, after all. ;-)
And don't get rid of your suits. Just add wet suits to your collection.
Thanks for the intersting Sunday post.
respo
Very interesting answer Respo.....
First let me be clear! The 65 is not going to leave my modest stable. In fact the Amvox1 recently made room for it!
I've too long been tempted by watches that didn't fit my life style. I'm still! I'm resisting.
Did I let watches influence my lifestyle? I dare say yes!
I feel I may have been sometimes be stopped doing stuff because of a watch on my wrist. Isn't that stupid?
Now I'm not ready for that anymore, at least for the time being.
I want to swim if not dive, bike, run, ......
I want to wake up!
Cheers
Dje
No more AMVOX1?
I sincerely hope....
that they are not safe queens....
A watch is made to be worn, maybe not all of the time, but at least sometimes
A great watch that is not worn is, in my opinion, a great shame and an "insult" to the watchmaker that did his/her best to create it
Cheers
I love this post
Perhaps an anology could be the business man overhauling his wardrobe in favour of contempory fashion's slimmer cuts, consisting of one and two button jackets. I seem to do this every couple years, but I always keep the classics. Whatever fits and is classic and makes you feel confident and content will always please. Now for watches, are they seasonal? Yes, I think they are. I have been going crazy for diver watches with the new Blaincpain Fifty Fathoms, Longines Legnd Diver and the JLC Master Compressor collection since it broke 10 degrees celsius here in Canada a few weeks ago. I find diver watches envoke romantic ideas of exploration and adventure. Just wait unil it gets hot in July and August
Have you ever regretted selling a few watches to fund some new purchases only to regret one of the dearly departed pieces? I know I have. I suppose it all depends on the individual's state of mind, stage in life and current interests. I love sports watches and I love classic dress watches. I like concept watches, and any piece that stimulates the romantic or the adventurer in me. The watch can transcend the function and form of its intended purpose to mean so much more to its grateful owner. Each watch in my modest collection has a story and an adventure. When I strap on my Master Geographic, I feel like a world traveler... an explorer of far off lands. All this while it sits quitely on my wrist in my office. Sometimes the watch inspires me. I know my Panerai and MCDGMT have compelled me to jump in the Ocean on Kanapaali beach in Hawaii on more than a few occasions. I am by no means a collector, just an enthusiast who enjoys the passion these beautiful watches instill. Personally, I like having something for the beach, the sky dive, the boardroom or the elegeant dinner. Perhaps I too am in need of psychologist!
Enthusiast
"I am by no means a collector, just an enthusiast" -- I like the choice of words. I think "enthusiast" is the perfect word to describe many of us non-collectors.
respo
I wonder what would be the perfect psychologist watch?
I'm happy to hear that you're back to the positives in Canada!
You express what I wish: I want watches that will inspire (and aspire) me to new adventures or activities!
I've not regreted departed watches so far! Hopefully others will go soon and I'm sure I won't regret them!
New adventures......
Cheers
Dje
We're now at 20 degrees in Toronto and my AD called
I'm still looking for the watch that makes me younger, smarter and better looking, but I'm sure JLC will make it. lol
23° here today!
Hi,
25 new watches to choose from should be enough !
No idea which ones it could be!
Good luck for the challenge.
Cheers
Dje
You're welcome!
Watches are part of our existences! They must not define us as materialists IMO!
Please don't hesitate to share your thoughts!
Cheers
Dje
difficult choices....
the Tides of Time is a great watch- I tried it for size (not the exact one, its brother- the regular edition) but it seemed a tad to big on my wrist- I guess it is the way it wraps around my wrist.....
But if it fits on your wrist, go for it is a great choice
Cheers
In fact it does not fit my wrist
I love the colour of the Tides of Time, but it does not fit my wrist!
The Diving Alarm on the contratry......
Cheers
Dje
then....
the answer is quite obvious- Navy Seals, a beauty that I am also considering
Cheers
James Bond Makes Do With only Diving Watches...
We live in a day where the elegance of a Rolex Submariner (or any other diving watch of your choice) is easily paired with even a Tuxedo at a formal dinner.
I'd personally keep some of your choice dressier pieces, but just be aware, it's possible to have a diving watch for all occasions.
Don't dump your suits, but don't be afraid to wear a diving watch with the tuxedo; as James Bond does all the time.
I'm not ready for that
I would not wear a watch on bracelet with a tuxedo! Not a diving alarm either!
But I don't wear tuxedos!
The Polaris is nice with a suit, a modern waterproof Geophysic would be nice too!
Cheers
Dje
Wow! What a post, Dje!
I'd keep your dress watches, but I do think that with today's dive watch offerings a person could "live" on dive watches alone! There are plenty of dive watches that make the transition to dressier events perfectly IMO (like your Polaris, or the Fifty Fathoms, Legend Diver, GO Sport Evo), and others like Rolex's Submariner that are simply so classic that I would question the taste of anyone who would chastise you for wearing one with a tuxedo.
Some watches simply transcend the purposes for which they were originally crafted.As for your dilemma regarding which new JLC alarm you should grab, my vote is for the NSA. The Tides of Time is nice, and beautifully massive, but there is something much more primal and gorgeously basic about the look of the NSA. Good luck with your decision! Either way you'll be picking up a winning watch, so it's a no-lose proposition! Enjoy your summer, Dje! May it be filled with sun, sand, gentle waves and a dive watch on each wrist...flip-flops are optional!
Cheers,
Daos
Enjoy your summer too!
A vintage Submariner or a Legend Diver are indeed excellent proposals for diving tuxedo watches!
And I could have worn them this afternoon while swimming in the ocean (still a bit cold at 17/18°).
The NSA would have been perfect!
Cheers
Dje
