Am I mad?

[MartynJC (UK)]

The subject line is a retorical question btw

So, I go into my AD to talk him into lowering the price of a bracelet for my Omega PO that came on a leather strap - which he agreed to look into. Anyway we got talking and to cut a long story short - I asked him to show me the Patek Phillipe world time:
(from PP website)
which he most kindly did. I immediatelly fell in love with this time-piece and the strange thing was even the price tag on this master piece in white gold, of £16,600 didn't put me off. I was actually thinking of getting one of these babies. He told me the 4 yearly service was about £600.00 - even that didn't seem to deflect me. Until I noticed one thing: it had no date complication , so I took a look at this 'grand complication'
(PP website)
Ah - this one was £32,000

Ok - I know when I am beaten.

I had to lower myself down to reality by taking a look at a Rolex Two-Tone Explorer (I think) at a mere £4,040 - a lovely example of a Rolex.

I came away with the notition of getting my wife a Rolex Oyster for £2000 in preperation.....

So I guess the men in white coats are outside - ready to take away my Credit Cards and Cheque book.

Still it was fun dreaming

[mailman]

They're both beautiful watches.

[CHIP]

LOL

That is exactly how Sam and I feel every time we go to Bachendorff here in Dallas.
It's the only place around where they let you touch the $$$$$$$$$ watches.

Yeap. Call the men in white coats.

[mamas]

Actually i like neither of them from the aesthetics point of view.. although i do like some pp models..

[AntonisCy]

lol... the men in white

[bruces]

Yes Marty. You are! I remember when my mental limit for a watch was $2000. Then it went up to 3, then 4, then 5. Pretty soon, I was actually looking at $10K watches and thinking it wasn't too bad.

This hobby can get out of control, and I'm not being funny here. They're just bloody watches afterall....jewelery time tellers. I know I went off the deep end, and I see guys doing it on these forums all the time. We become obsessed, and the obsession is fueled off each other. Not good, unless you can keep it in perspective.

I think you were probably funning a bit, so I don't think you've lost it. But, I see many people who are, especially on TZ.

OK, I'll get off my soapbox now

[Warren]

My mental limit is about $200 but that buys me membership in my own personal "watch of the month club"

My motivation is perhaps a little different, I love to take pictures of watches and if I only had one or two expensive pieces I'd get bored with my subjects pretty quickly.

Each new watch is a "photo op" for me.

Variety is the spice of life and frugality makes it possible.

[bruces]

I think that's why I flipped them so much Warren. I would get bored taking pics of the same watches, and then see others on the forums. Most people just enjoy their one or two good watches, and their cheaper ones. That's where I want to be.

[mamas]

i found that when i owned quite a few omegas, i never really apprecaited what i had.. and most of them never saw wrist time.. i am down to 3 watches at the moment.. and even then, 2 of them dont get much wrist time.. i am a man of habit.. cant ever see myself having a large collection.. as i buy my watches to wear.. and if i dont wear them.. then i dont see the point in buying them for my collection.. others collect for the sake of collecting.. but not me..
mamas

[Sam]

Like Chip said...when we go the Bachendorfs store here in Dallas it seems that you lose all perspective of what a dollar is worth. You look at enough $40K watches, it makes that Submariner look like a steal! Maybe they do that on purpose? Naaaahhh!

I'm not sure what my limit on watches really is. As long as they all see some wrist time, that's all that matters. If something starts sitting around, it's off to the sales corner.

[MartynJC (UK)]

Thanks guys for your comments. My real budget is probably nearer £2,500. All the best

[choppersdad]

That Grand Complication is the nuts... "Cool, he said nuts" and didn't get scolded... Oh yes, by the way, you are mad... but thats o.k. we all have our little idiosynchrasies...

[erik]

Not my style of watches..
If you really want a work of art, i would take (my ultimate dream watch : Zenith El Primero Grande Chronomaster Open Black dial)
It has also saphire caseback.

[mike]

What an excellent thread! These types of discussions always get to the enthusiast v. collector.
I agree with Bruce,it can become easy to lose perspective when one sees watches with the history and recognition of PP and others.
I think it was Clifton who said it best in that one needs to remain focused in this hobby.
For me that has always been sports or professional model watches. Specifically Rolex,though in recent times I've come to garner a healthy respect for Omega.
I have always used that style of watch and have always identified with that type of watch. Could I purchase a Patek if I wanted? Sure,but at the expence of several other pieces I have now,and in the end that's just not the type of watch I identify with.

I will admit to being one of those that has watches in my "collection" that see very little wrist time. Does that mean I like them any less? Of course not. It does mean that for what ever reason,whether sentamentality or some other reason they are important to me and fill a niche in the "focus" of my collection.

[bruces]

Well said Mike, and I agree with Clifton as well. I've never been focused for very long. It's like I wanted to try them all, and I could only do that by unloading what I had in order to buy the new favourite.

In my new reincarnated watch collecting/enthusiast life, I will be more focused. It has been a good thread with many good thoughts. Thanks for starting it Martyn!
Cheers,
Bruce